How Fate: Reawakened Elevates the Series Like Never Before

How Fate: Reawakened Elevates the Series Like Never Before

FATE: Reawakened Screenshot

May will mark 20 years since the Fate franchise’s humble beginnings. Since 2005, players have taken up the mighty hero mantle and bested the Dungeon Gate’s many creatures into oblivion. Over the years, the iconic dungeon crawler series has shaped childhoods, inspired future game developers, and left a mark on the action RPG genre as a whole. The creators of Fate would actually go on and create Torchlight afterwards, another highly successful dungeon crawler.

Given the impact its had, it only seemed fitting that Fate’s 20-year anniversary be met with something just as special as the franchise itself – a thrilling remaster that actually stays true to why players loved it in the first place.

Fate: Reawakened, launching March 12 for Xbox Series X|S, is truly the definitive edition of the award-winning dungeon crawler – offering all four existing Fate games in one action-packed bundle.

The Rise of Fate

When it originally launched, Fate was a beacon of new opportunity for the action RPG genre. In a sea of dark and moody RPG options at the time, the game instead leaned into a more bright and colorful art style which made it more appealing to younger folks and families.

There was also a time when Fate actually came pre-installed on some Windows computers. This made the game extremely accessible and helped it rise in popularity and prominence over the coming years. People fell in love with the infinite challenges the dungeon depths provided, and the adorable pet options that could accompany them on their journey.  

As the franchise grew, so did its community. Despite not having a new game entry since 2011, places like Discord, YouTube, and social media were still active with passionate Fate fans and modders. Having such a dedicated and engaged community after all these years is truly a testament to the impact Fate has had, so when the opportunity presented itself to pursue a new project with the franchise, we were excited about the prospect.

An Idea is Sparked

The opportunity to revisit Fate started around 2019 when gamigo acquired WildTangent, who originally released and owned the Fate series. The COVID pandemic in 2020 caused some delay in deciding how to best revisit the series, but it was important to us that we approach the project thoughtfully and carefully. Eventually we decided that releasing a remaster in honor of Fate’s 20th Anniversary would be the perfect way to bring the nostalgic franchise back into the limelight.

A lot has changed since 2005 and while Fate’s gameplay still holds up today, we thought it was crucial that we expand its reach by modernizing it for the systems people flock to now. After all, up until Fate: Reawakened, the franchise had only been limited to PC platforms. Taking the game series to console and with additional language support meant tapping into a whole new audience we hadn’t yet explored.

A Delicate Undertaking

Tackling a beloved series can be an ambitious task, but altering Fate’s core DNA was never on the table. Instead, the goal with Fate: Reawakened was to take what already made the franchise great and make it even better.

One of the biggest steps we took to ensure we were staying true to the heart of the series was bringing an alpha demo to PAX West 2024. While a chunk of our booth visitors were brand new to Fate, many others were familiar with it and had even grown up playing the game. Receiving feedback from both groups ended up being so invaluable. Existing Fate fans knew what to look for, how it should play, and could speak confidently about what they would want out of a remaster. Most importantly though, they also knew how a remaster should not feel.

On the other side of the equation, watching brand new players venture through the alpha demo gave us insight into how someone not familiar with Fate would approach the game and revealed places they might get lost or confused. We went to PAX West eager to share our progress and left with a tremendously helpful list of bugs, improvements, and comments that we took very seriously as development continued.

While PAX West gave us a nice broad mix of players both new and old, we knew we needed to please hardcore fans if we had any chance of getting this remaster to land properly. To tap into that audience, we ended up doing a closed beta with a select group of very active and engaged fans across Fate’s community. These players knew the game inside and out and were able to provide vital detailed feedback that resulted in additional tweaks and polish. The closed beta’s open dialogue was instrumental in making sure that we were on the right track to do the series justice.

That’s not to say that we don’t have Fate fans internally though! Our team put in a lot of effort and care over the course of the development process. The dark and moody area of Druantia in particular was something that we spent a lot of time on. When we were initially adjusting the lighting for the remaster, we found that it was just far too bright and the area had lost much of its identity and flavor. It took multiple rounds of feedback to dial it in to a place that we felt truly captured the original vision.

Reawakening Your Inner Hero

Fate: Reawakened is meant to be a love letter not just to the series, but to the community. We’ve loved seeing all the creative ways players have continued to share their dedication all these years later. We’re excited to be entering the next era of the Fate franchise, and hope that you too will reawaken the hero inside of you. Are you ready to choose your Fate?

Fate: Reawakened launches on Xbox Series X|S on Wednesday, March 12 and is available to wish list on the Microsoft Store for Xbox.


FATE: Reawakened

gamigo US Inc.

Reexperience the iconic FATE series like never before!

Revisit the quaint town of Grove and the realms beyond as you prepare to enter the Dungeon Gate once again! The award-winning FATE series has gotten a modern facelift while remaining true to the nostalgic dungeon crawler classic. Will you tempt fate on your journey to fame and fortune?

Enhanced for a New Generation

Experience everything you already love about the FATE series in higher definition. Enjoy higher poly counts, real-time directional lighting, ambient occlusion, additional languages with full localized VO, and much more! The upgrades provide a deeper level of immersion all while staying faithful to what makes FATE … FATE.

All 4 Games, All Better than you Remember

Play (or replay) through all 4 FATE games in their reawakened greatness. FATE, FATE: Undiscovered Realms, FATE: The Traitor Soul, and FATE: The Cursed King are all included in this bundled release. No matter which game is your favorite, you’ll be able to dive back into all the dungeons and determine your FATE!

Unique Procedurally Generated Playthroughs

Test your battle prowess in challenging procedurally generated dungeons! No playthrough is ever the same with randomized dungeon layouts, monster encounters, and loot drops.

Action Packed Real-time Combat

Step into the heart-pounding arena of real-time combat, where every moment counts. Armed with an arsenal of diverse weapons and skills, you’ll face off against relentless monsters that hunger for your defeat. Will you wield the thunderous fury of melee strikes, unleash deadly precision with ranged weaponry, or harness the arcane might of magic? Adapt, strategize, and master your chosen path to determine your FATE.

Increase Your Fame and Power

Cater your character to your desired playstyle by utilizing a flexible skill point system. Gaining experience will allow you to level up, wield more powerful weapons, and develop proficiencies in different areas. Additionally, you can complete quests to raise your fame and unlock legendary gear.

Aid in the Form of a Furry Friend

Choose from 7 different pets to accompany you on your journey. This loyal companion will fight for you in combat, can hold onto various items, and even transform into powerful magical creatures to become the ultimate adventurer’s sidekick.

Reel in More than Just Fish

Gather your fishing supplies and head to the water to catch valuable items such as fish, artifacts, gems, rings, and more. Patient anglers might even be able to obtain rare items that will help them on their quest.

Choose Your FATE

When death beckons, choose from 3 distinct resurrection paths, each with its own cost. Decide wisely – your choices shape your FATE.


The post How Fate: Reawakened Elevates the Series Like Never Before appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Core Keeper’s Creepiest, Crawliest Boss Stomps into the Sandbox Adventure

Core Keeper’s Creepiest, Crawliest Boss Stomps into the Sandbox Adventure

Core Keeper - Bags & Blasts Key Art

Explorers! Gear up for a supersized battle against the creepiest and crawliest bosses of them all: Nimzura, Queen of the Burrowed Sands, featured in Core Keeper’s new Bags & Blasts free content update. If you’ve yet to discover this underground epic, Core Keeper is a sandbox adventure game that you can play as a solo explorer, or together with friends in 2-8-player online co-op. Best of all it’s available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass!

Nimruza – Queen of the Burrowed Sands

Before the rise of the Caveling empires, cicadas were a dominant species in the Underground. Their life cycles aligned with the natural order, earning them the title of “keepers of time.” However, as the Cavelings expanded, conflicts over territory escalated into a prolonged war. The cicada husks and ruined Caveling settlements that can be found across the underground are remnants of a struggle that nearly wiped out both sides.

At the centre of this conflict is Nimruza, a once towering cicada queen whose brood spanned the desert depths. That was until she was infected with a parasite that burrowed into her body, consuming her from within. Now driven by a dark, malevolent force, she is a formidable enemy in the latest Core Keeper update. Nimruza’s story in Core Keeper is one that expands the adventure and progresses the story of the Cicada-Caveling War.

But Nimruza is not just another boss fight. Her introduction marks a major turning point in Core Keeper’s world and the continuation of the game’s story. Her creation began with the idea of a massive cicada queen, a natural evolution of the cicada husks that you’ve come across during your adventures.

Designing Nimruza

Core Keeper Screenshot

The development team at Pugstorm spent a long time considering all the ways they could make Nimruza stand out from the other bosses in Core Keeper. The decision to design her as a corrupted force that has twisted into something unnatural and menacing is reflected in her attack patterns. You can expect a challenging battle with regimented, almost mechanical attacks designed to illustrate the loss of Nimruza’s natural instincts and transformation into a machine of evil.

Exploring the Oasis

Core Keeper Screenshot

In the Bags & Blasts free update, you will get to explore the Oasis, a brand-new sub-biome located in the Desert of Beginnings and take the battle to Nimruza in an attempt to quell this evil new force. Fend off cicada hordes, evade Nimruza’s crushing attacks, and avoid the devastating effects of dark energy to overcome this supersized insect in one of Core Keeper’s biggest boss fights yet.

While you’re in the Oasis, keep an eye out for the Drohmble, an adorable new camel-like creature that wanders the Oasis’s bountiful plains. Ranching these can uncover a valuable (but stinky) resource that’s useful for crafting brand new weaponry.

Explosive New Skills & Weapons

Core Keeper Screenshot

Wait, new weaponry?! Yep, you heard right! The Bags & Blasts update is all about bringing even more boom to Core Keeper, with the introduction of a brand-new Explosives skill tree that provides a blastingly powerful new way to play. Fend off enemies from afar with the introduction of Grenades, and discover brand-new bomb types, like the vacuum Void Bomb and multi-blast Blunder Bomb, to blast through cavern walls and create all new strategies to take down Core Keeper’s biggest threats.

Play it on Game Pass

Core Keeper Screenshot

It’s incredible to think that over 4 million players have already started their adventure in Core Keeper. Whether you’re a solo adventurer or you’ve been exploring the caverns together online, we’ve been blown away by the reaction the game has received – we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has played so far.

And if you haven’t started your adventure yet, or you’re excited to jump back in to take on Nimruza in this colossal new boss fight, don’t forget: Core Keeper is available right now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. See you in the underground!

Core Keeper

Fireshine Games


251


$19.99

$15.99
Xbox Game Pass

Awaken as an explorer in a long-forgotten cavern teeming with untold secrets.
In this award-winning, 1-8 player mining sandbox adventure, your choices shape an epic journey.
Harvest relics and resources, craft advanced tools, build your base, and explore a dynamically evolving world waiting to be unearthed.

Level up your skills, defeat legendary Titans, and unveil the power of the Core.
Grow your garden, fish in mysterious waters, master a vast array of recipes, raise and care for animals, encounter the Cavelings, and carve out your own unique world in an enchanting underground adventure.

Core Keeper

Fireshine Games


3

PC Game Pass

Awaken as an explorer in a long-forgotten cavern teeming with untold secrets.
In this award-winning, 1-8 player mining sandbox adventure, your choices shape an epic journey.
Harvest relics and resources, craft advanced tools, build your base, and explore a dynamically evolving world waiting to be unearthed.

Level up your skills, defeat legendary Titans, and unveil the power of the Core.
Grow your garden, fish in mysterious waters, master a vast array of recipes, raise and care for animals, encounter the Cavelings, and carve out your own unique world in an enchanting underground adventure.

The post Core Keeper’s Creepiest, Crawliest Boss Stomps into the Sandbox Adventure appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 10 to 14

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 10 to 14

Next Week on Xbox Hero Image

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!


Beyond the Ice Palace 2

PQube Ltd


$19.99

$17.99

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 – March 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Assume the mantle of the ‘Cursed King’ as you embark on a relentless journey of vengeance to reclaim your stolen throne. Traverse perilous lands fraught with danger as you hunt for the scattered fragments of celestial arrows, combining them to purge your curse and unlock your true power in this captivating action platformer.


Centum

Serenity Forge

$14.99

Centum – March 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

You’re a prisoner in a cell. You must escape. But is that really the goal? Centum appears to be a point-and-click adventure, but beneath the surface is something altogether different. Centum challenges traditional gaming conventions by weaving an intricate narrative where reality is as fluid as the mind of its narrator.


Chornobyl Liquidators

Frozen Way S.A.

Chornobyl Liquidators – March 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

This is not a fantastic tale of exploring the Zone. It’s a story about real people facing a real threat — the CNPP disaster. Invisible radiation, KGB, difficult moral choices… Do you have enough courage and strength to take on this challenge?


Wanderstop

Annapurna Interactive

Wanderstop – March 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A narrative-centric cozy game about change and tea. Playing as a fallen fighter named Alta, you’ll manage a tea shop within a magical forest and tend to the customers who pass through. But Alta does not want to be here. And if she gets her way, the tea shop will be nothing but a brief and painful memory.


Xbox Play Anywhere

3D Don’t Die Mr. Robot

Eastasiasoft Limited

3D Don’t Die Mr. Robot – March 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Take the role of Mr. Robot who has been trapped in a highly dangerous and rather fruity dimension called the Neon Dunjun. The only way to survive is to collect fruits which explode on contact, destroying any enemies in their blast radius, helping Mr. Robot to cheat death for a few more moments. Survive a fruity dimension of destruction in this fast-paced, arcade-style collect ’em up!


FATE: Reawakened

gamigo US Inc.

Fate: Reawakened – March 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Reexperience the iconic Fate series like never before! Revisit the quaint town of Grove and the realms beyond as you prepare to enter the Dungeon Gate once again! The award-winning Fate series has received a modern facelift while remaining true to the nostalgic dungeon crawler classic. Will you tempt fate on your journey to fame and fortune?


Legends Aligned

Afil Games

Legends Aligned – March 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A puzzle game where strategy and organization meet in the enchanting world of RPG miniatures! Your challenge? Arrange each piece precisely within a dynamic grid, ensuring no space is wasted. Rotate, position, and fit miniatures of different classes and shapes into grids that grow in size as your journey progresses.


Raccoon is Hungry (Xbox Series X)

Synnergy Circle Games

Raccoon is Hungry – March 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The second installment in the “Is Hungry” series. Follow the adventures of a gluttonous raccoon searching for food, but in the city, food isn’t as easy to find on the ground. To get a meal, the raccoon must search inside dumpsters for edible items such as apples, pizza slices, hamburgers, grapes, and more. But be careful — food isn’t the only thing hiding in the trash! What surprises await the curious raccoon?


Colorful Recolor

Acyntha

Colorful Recolor – March 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A fast-paced puzzler with a kaleidoscopic collection of brain teasers. Play through 100 levels with engaging mechanics, striking biomes, 10+ distinct elements and an abundance of colors. Paint your way through this colorful world!


Destino Indomable

JanduSoft


$12.49

$9.99

Destino Indomable – March 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Lights, camera, action! In Destino Indomable, you’re the rising star cast as the lead in a telenovela! Dive into a wild visual novel inspired by the most dramatic Latin soap operas, complete with humor, drama, romance, and more!


Xbox Play Anywhere

ASMR Slicing

QubicGames S.A.


$4.99

$3.99

ASMR Slicing – March 14
Xbox Play Anywhere

Choose your favorite cutting tool no matter if it’s a playing card, flosser or just a simple kitchen knife. Just cut, cut, cut and experience those satisfying ASMR sounds! Slice a variety of colorful objects made of kinetic sand in the shapes of food, toys, buildings, everyday objects and ordinary cubes or blocks!


Dwerve

PM-Studios, Inc.

Dwerve – March 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

An epic action-adventure with tower defense combat! Dungeon crawl through a ruined kingdom, fending off hordes with turrets and traps! Punch them into pits! Pull them into spinblades!


ESCAPE SITE 13

Happy Player


$14.99

$11.99

Escape Site 13 – March 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Step into the role of investigator, tasked with exploring the recently unearthed structure known as Site 13. As you navigate its foreboding corridors, you will unearth forgotten documents that hold the key to its mysteries, solve ancient puzzles designed to protect its hidden truths, and unravel a labyrinthine history buried in the darkness for far too long.


Hyper Mirror Run

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Hyper Mirror Run – March 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Race head-to-head in the exciting world of Hyper Mirror Run. Compete locally against your friends or challenge an AI opponent. You can navigate through mirrored worlds, mastering precision jumps and wielding weapons to triumph over foes.


Sticky Business

Assemble Entertainment

Sticky Business – March 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Create, pack, and sell your own unique sticker creations! Experience the joy of running your own cozy small business where you create stickers, pack orders, and hear your customers’ stories. Combine dozens of elements to create your own collection and sell them to like-minded people.


WWE 2K25 Standard Edition

2K


274

$69.99

WWE 2K25 – March 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

WWE 2K25 brings you an unparalleled lineup of current Superstars, Legends, and Hall of Famers. The 300+ stacked roster spans multiple generations and features Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Undertaker, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jade Cargill, and more. And in a franchise first, step outside the ropes and onto The Island for an immersive, WWE-themed world filled with epic arenas, challenges, and live events. Pre-order now to get the Wyatt Sicks Pack. Plus, you’ll receive a digital copy of WWE 2K24 Standard Edition to play while you wait! Or grab WWE 2K25 Deadman Edition or The Bloodline Edition to start playing today!


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 10 to 14 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

How WWE 2K25’s Island is Breathing New Life into Wrestling Video Games

How WWE 2K25’s Island is Breathing New Life into Wrestling Video Games

WWE 2K25 - The Island Screenshot

Summary

For decades, video games and WWE have formed an undeniable bond. Beyond being the most painless and advisable way to live out your dreams of becoming a WWE Superstar, the two have also shared a similarly passionate fan base. From the greatest wrestling game of all time (my opinion), No Mercy on Nintendo 64, to the iconic SmackDown series, developers around the world have repeatedly returned to recreate the magic of the squared circle. And now, the WWE 2K series walks down the ramp once again with WWE 2K25, launching with the Deadman Edition and The Bloodline Edition on March 7, and the WWE 2K25 Standard Edition on March 14.  

The folks over at 2K Games and Visual Concepts have the massive task of bringing players something fresh every year. And to be sure, with the all-new Showcase featuring The Bloodline’s Dynasty, intergender matches, over 300 playable characters, improvements to fan-favorite modes like MyGM mode and so much more, they’re doing just that.  

But the team wanted more. A mode that would require them to step out of their comfort zone (and the ring). Enter… The Island, a first-of-its-kind feature to let WWE 2K players rule beyond the ring. This brand-new online mode available on Xbox Series X|S allows you to enjoy a free-roam, WWE-inspired experience that can include up to 50 players at a time on Xbox Series X|S. To see this new feature in action, I was invited to WWE 2K25 Creator Fest, an annual event for creators and community, and spoke with some of the team behind the creation of The Island.   

Fans of the WWE 2K series’ sibling franchise, NBA 2K, may recognize the concept from “The City,” but on the latest episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, Lynell Jinks, Creative Director of WWE 2K25, explained how it was really a starting point from which to build – but also touched on the creative dilemma this raised. 

“It’s trying to figure out how the hell we not only develop a game that people are extremely passionate about, and support all the modes that they’re accustomed to — and add new match types and new stories — but build an online environment with 49 of your other closest friends on [a] server [to] play matches, go through the story and progression, and unlock cool things,” Jinks says. 

Upon starting The Island you’re presented with a backstage report from WWE announcer Cathy Kelley that fans have been left reeling from an announcement made by Roman Reigns earlier in the day. Cut to the Original Tribal Chief (OTC) himself, with The Wiseman Paul Heyman ever by his side, announcing that there’s a vacancy on The Island of Relevancy, a name fit for the ever-present struggle of a WWE Superstar.  

Heyman then goes on to drive home the true motivation for you as the player — a competition like no other will soon take place. You will be thrust on to The Island and the winner will be granted a WWE contract and, of course, the respect of your OTC. And in that moment, I truly couldn’t help but wonder which prize was more valuable — the prospect of a life-changing WWE contract, and its seeming equivalence to gaining reverence from Roman. This entire segment felt so much like it was pulled straight from an episode of “Monday Night Raw,” which contributed to giving the mode the proper motivation and the necessary weight. 

The experience starts with crafting your MySuperstar. WWE fans know that it takes more than executing fancy moves to make a name for yourself – it’s about the whole package, including your presentation. The greatest WWE Superstars all have notable levels of flair and aura.  

It’s at this point that The Island almost becomes a role-playing game to me. You truly build your MySuperstar from the ground up, selecting options and moving sliders across several different categories including gender, background, archetype, body type, weight class and more. My build is a high-flying, heavyweight, social media influencer who specializes in speed named Malik Millions. With 49 other players joining you in this space, I felt that MySuperstar specs and background would not only look the part and turn heads, but be respected as I roamed across the mode’s districts. 

And then you’re off, free to explore The Island. If you’ve ever been to WWE World at WrestleMania, think of The Island as the virtual representation of that but taken to a whole new level. In addition to other players, you’ll see NPC members of the WWE Universe roaming around, branded shops like Nike for you to drip-out your Superstars, pop-up shops that play on the various gimmicks of other WWE Superstars and much more. At the center of this opening location is a towering reminder of why you’re competing on The Island of Relevancy — a looming golden statue of OTC Roman Reigns towers over the hub as if almost to remind you that he’s always watching.   

The locations of The Island are just as flashy as the players who roam it. Taking place across four distinct, themed districts from the neon-lit Arcade of Tomorrow to the Undertaker-inspired Deadlands. Each location brings with it unique vibes and challenges for players to explore. My time at the event was limited so I didn’t get to dive into each district as deeply as I wanted, so you can bet exploring each will be near the top of my to-do list when the game releases. From a quick glance, they’ll of course be welcoming players who don’t keep up with WWE programming, but members of the WWE Universe will get the most out of it. 

“[We’re] trying to focus on making sure that people are having fun with their friends in this online world where it’s just WWE pop culture, right? There’s so much fanfare in there. You’re just like, ‘oh, look at that Easter egg,’” says Jinks. 

And as with any great rivalry in WWE, all roads lead back to the ring. You’ll compete in arenas themed after the district they’re located in and come with pre-defined match types. In Arcade of Tomorrow, an Extreme Rules match was presented where you’re tasked with winning by any means necessary. Once selected, you’re put into matchmaking to take on another real-life player’s MySuperstar. 

Themed arenas aside, it’s once I stepped in the ring for a match that it became apparent that that’s where years of constant innovation and refinement pays off with WWE 2K25. From the moment I locked-up against my opponent, I was hit with new and returning aspects of gameplay.  

My favorite by far was chain wrestling, a visual ballet-esque dance between competitors that has become a staple of early match strategy in WWE bouts. You and your opponent compete across a series of controller inputs that require you to outwit your rival. You use the left stick to select one of a few different maneuvers and then compete against your opponent to fill up a circular meter that allows you to either execute that move or counter.   

Attacks turn into submission holds, which then get reversed and allow you to re-take control. It felt like the most rewarding game of rock-paper-scissors (that also happened to allow you to inflict pain on your opponent and showcase a high level of in-ring technique). Seeing MySuperstar use a cartwheel to get out of an arm wrench and seamlessly enter a hold of his own and knowing I was in control as the player the whole seemingly provided a new dimension of agency.  

As you progress through each match, you can continue to take your opponent to school in the way you see fit or fulfill in-match objectives that will increase the score of your match which is graded on a 5-star system. Whether it’s on The Island or just in exhibition matches, the gameplay feels as polished as it’s ever felt in any wrestling game I’ve played in my 25 years of playing, dating back to WrestleMania 2000.  

Every emotional up and down can be experienced in one of these matches. From a triumphant comeback to a classic David vs Goliath upset, to the build up to a sick announcer table spot. When you see tiny details like a wrestler using the ropes to drag themselves off the mat to their feet, it’s one of countless reminders of why I love the art form of professional wrestling and why WWE 2K25 simply gets the storytelling right. Perfectly leaning on its simulation roots but allowing you to be as wild as you want to be within those bounds.  

Another result of The Island’s inclusion in the game is that, for the first time in WWE 2K franchise history, intergender matches are allowed. I played a match in which Rhea Ripley took on her ex-lover Dominik Mysterio and got all the payback she’s been due – a storyline that historically wouldn’t have been possible in previous games. Even small details such as the commentary adjusting were accounted for. 

For years the WWE 2K games have added modes and matchups to sweeten the offerings but it’s hard not to walk away from this event and my time with The Island feeling like this is one of the most impactful additions in a long time, if not ever. The team continually communicated the influence that this mode had on their development cycle. It’s not just adding a mode. It’s the time it takes to build each space, the insistence to build out the infrastructure for a stable open-roam space, the dedication to study WWE history for the hardcore fans, the level of dedication to the scripting within the mode and fleshing out the personalization and customization. It’s ensuring all these pieces come together to accomplish the goal of “fun” that the team was laser-focused on.  

All of that barely scratches the surface of the time you’ll spend on The Island. As I was playing, it truly dawned on me that the yearly task of building a game that can live up to the expectations of WWE video game fans is a daunting yet rewarding one. However, Producer of WWE 2K25, Bryan Williams best stated what continues to drive the team. The answer is a relentlessly passionate group of developers: “This is the best group of people that I’ve worked with…and I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years.”  

The Island is merely one of the many experiences you can expect when WWE 2K25 launches in early access on March 7 with the Deadman Edition and The Bloodline Edition, then March 14 for WWE 2K25 Standard Edition. Players who purchase the Deadman Edition on Xbox Series X|S will walk away with something even more special from the team at Visual Concepts: a dynamic background featuring The Undertaker. 


WWE 2K25 The Bloodline Edition

2K


336

$129.99

Pre-order* WWE 2K25 The Bloodline Edition for up to 7-day Early Access and WWE 2K24 Standard Edition (digital) while you wait!

The Bloodline Edition includes:
•The Bloodline Edition Bonus Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Mattel Elite Collection Greatest Hits Roman Reigns
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Mattel Elite Series 114 Jey Uso
-The Island Cosmetics (Xbox Series X|S only): Family Above All Hoodie, OTC Shirt, Yeet Tank Top + Sunglasses
•WrestleMania 41 Pack (Available Summer 2025)**
-WrestleMania 41 Arena
-MyFACTION Persona Card: New playable Superstar (TBA)
-MyFACTION Persona Card: WrestleMania Main Event #1 (TBA)
-MyFACTION Persona Card: WrestleMania Main Event #2 (TBA)
•The Rock Nation of Domination Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Card: The Rock (Nation of Domination) (not available for individual purchase)
•Ringside Pass
-Season Pass
-5 post-launch DLC Character Packs
-SuperCharger
-Superstar Mega-Boost
-MyRISE Boost
-100K VC
•Deadman Edition Bonus Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Undertaker ‘90
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Mattel Elite “Greatest Hits” Undertaker**
-Usable Urn**
-Brother Love Manager
-The Island Cosmetic (Xbox Series X|S only): Undertaker ‘95 Mask
•Wyatt Sicks Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Cards: Uncle Howdy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan
-The Island Cosmetics (Xbox Series X|S only):
-Uncle Howdy Mask
-Nikki Cross Mask
•15,000 VC

RULE BEYOND THE RING
In a franchise first, step outside the ropes and onto The Island for Xbox Series X|S—an immersive WWE-themed world with epic arenas, challenges, and live events. Fight to join the Bloodline with “The Original Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, as you upgrade and customize your MySUPERSTAR.

2K SHOWCASE: THE BLOODLINE’S DYNASTY
The all-new Showcase, hosted by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman, celebrates one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns or dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends.

EXPANDED GAMEPLAY
Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in the WWE 2K franchise! Chain wrestling makes a return, plus Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving and more.

MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE
Take your show on the road with MyGM 4-player online multiplayer! Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.

YOUR UNIVERSE, YOUR WAY
New upgrades give greater control over your Universe experience. Promos are back with multiple types and outcomes featuring new cutscenes and branching choices.

A UNIFIED MyRISE
Your Superstar takes center stage in an all-new intergender storyline with new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, objects + more.

A ROSTER FOR THE AGES
WWE 2K25 brings you an unparalleled lineup of current Superstars, Legends and Hall of Famers. The 300+ stacked roster spans multiple generations and features Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Undertaker, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jade Cargill, and more.

*Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2025. Digital copy of WWE 2K24 will be automatically entitled to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K25 and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. Offer is non-transferable and not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K24 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of digital copy of WWE 2K24 from platform account. Terms apply.

**Exact release date of the WrestleMania 41 Pack content, Mattel Greatest Hits Undertaker and Usable Urn to be announced post-launch and subject to change.

Certain features of the game, including online multiplayer, communication and other online features, may not be accessible by child accounts. A child means players under the age of 13, unless local laws specify differently.

Purchase grants a license to the digital product subject to the Terms of Service (“ToS”) and Privacy Policy in game and at www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy. Access to special/bonus/online features, content, services, or functions (“Special Features”), may require single-use serial code, additional fee, and/or online account registration (minimum age varies). Special Features may require internet connection, may not be available to all users or at all times, and may be terminated, modified, or offered under different terms in accordance with the ToS. See https://bit.ly/2K-Online-Services-Status for availability of certain Special Features. Violation of the ToS may result in restriction or termination of access to game or online account.


WWE 2K25 Deadman Edition

2K


270

$99.99

Pre-order* WWE 2K25 Deadman Edition for up to 7-day Early Access and WWE 2K24 Standard Edition (digital) while you wait!

Deadman Edition includes:
•Deadman Bonus Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Undertaker ‘90
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Mattel Elite “Greatest Hits” Undertaker**
-Usable Urn**
-Brother Love Manager
-The Island Cosmetic (Xbox Series X|S only):
Undertaker ‘95 Mask
•Season Pass
-5 post-launch DLC Character Packs
-SuperCharger
•Wyatt Sicks Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Cards for:
Uncle Howdy
Dexter Lumis
Nikki Cross
Joe Gacy
Erick Rowan
-The Island Cosmetics (Xbox Series X|S only):
Uncle Howdy Mask
Nikki Cross Mask
•15,000 VC

RULE BEYOND THE RING
In a franchise first, step outside the ropes and onto The Island for Xbox Series X|S—an immersive WWE-themed world with epic arenas, challenges, and live events. Fight to join the Bloodline with “The Original Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, as you upgrade and customize your MySUPERSTAR.

2K SHOWCASE: THE BLOODLINE’S DYNASTY
The all-new Showcase, hosted by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman, celebrates one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns or dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends.

EXPANDED GAMEPLAY
Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in WWE 2K! Chain wrestling makes a return, plus Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving and more.

MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE
Take your show on the road with MyGM, now featuring online multiplayer! Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.

YOUR UNIVERSE, YOUR WAY
WWE 2K’s sandbox mode receives new upgrades to give players greater control over their Universe experience, including the long-awaited return of Promos! The new system includes multiple promo types and outcomes with new cutscenes and branching choices.

A UNIFIED MyRISE
Your Superstar takes center stage in an intergender storyline, infiltrating NXT to fight for dominance over the entire WWE Universe. Includes new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, and new storylines involving Bayley, Kevin Owens, Jey Uso, Bianca Belair, and other Superstars.

A ROSTER FOR THE AGES
WWE 2K25 brings you an unparalleled lineup of current Superstars, Legends and Hall of Famers. The 300+ stacked roster spans multiple generations and features Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Undertaker, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jade Cargill, and more.

*Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2025. Digital copy of WWE 2K24 will be automatically entitled to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K25 and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. Offer is non-transferable and not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K24 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of digital copy of WWE 2K24 from platform account. Terms apply.

**Exact release date of the Mattel Elite Collection Greatest Hits Undertaker and Usable Urn to be announced post-launch and subject to change.

Certain features of the game, including online multiplayer, communication and other online features, may not be accessible by child accounts. A child means players under the age of 13, unless local laws specify differently.

Purchase grants a license to the digital product subject to the Terms of Service (“ToS”) and Privacy Policy in game and at www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy. Access to special/bonus/online features, content, services, or functions (“Special Features”), may require single-use serial code, additional fee, and/or online account registration (minimum age varies). Special Features may require internet connection, may not be available to all users or at all times, and may be terminated, modified, or offered under different terms in accordance with the ToS. See https://bit.ly/2K-Online-Services-Status for availability of certain Special Features. Violation of the ToS may result in restriction or termination of access to game or online account.


WWE 2K25 Standard Edition

2K


200

$69.99

Pre-order now to get the Wyatt Sicks Pack.* Plus you’ll receive WWE 2K24 Standard Edition (digital) to play while you wait!**

Wyatt Sicks Pack includes:
•MyFACTION Persona Cards for:
-Uncle Howdy
-Dexter Lumis
-Nikki Cross
-Joe Gacy
-Erick Rowan
•The Island Cosmetics (Xbox Series X|S Only):
-Uncle Howdy Mask
-Nikki Cross Mask

RULE BEYOND THE RING
In a franchise first, step outside the ropes and onto The Island for Xbox Series X|S—an immersive, WWE-themed world filled with epic arenas, challenges, and live events. Fight to join the Bloodline with “The Original Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, as you upgrade and customize your MySUPERSTAR through multiple storyline chapters.

2K SHOWCASE: THE BLOODLINE’S DYNASTY
The all-new Showcase, hosted by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman, celebrates one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns or dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends.

EXPANDED GAMEPLAY
Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in the WWE 2K franchise! Additional features include the return of chain wrestling, Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving, and more.

MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE
Take your show on the road with MyGM, now featuring online multiplayer. Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.

YOUR UNIVERSE, YOUR WAY
New upgrades give greater control over your Universe experience featuring commentary-driven promos with new cutscenes, branching choices, and multiple outcomes.

A UNIFIED MyRISE
Take control of your Superstar from the women’s or men’s divisions in a singular multi-gender MyRISE storyline where Bayley, Kevin Owens, and other Superstars infiltrate NXT in an attempt to take control of the entire WWE universe. Featuring new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, and more—plus new ally storylines involving Jey Uso, Bianca Belair, and other WWE Superstars.

A ROSTER FOR THE AGES
WWE 2K25 brings you an unparalleled lineup of current Superstars, Legends and Hall of Famers. The 300+ stacked roster spans multiple generations and features Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Undertaker, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jade Cargill, and more.

*Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2025. Uncle Howdy Mask cosmetic and Nikki Cross Mask cosmetic included for Xbox Series X|S version of WWE 2K25 only. Items will be automatically entitled in-game. The Wyatt Sicks Pack is included with Deadman and The Bloodline Editions. Terms apply.

**Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2025. Digital copy of WWE 2K24 will be automatically entitled to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K25 and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. Offer is non-transferable and not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K24 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of digital copy of WWE 2K24 from platform account. Terms apply.

Certain features of the game, including online multiplayer, communication and other online features, may not be accessible by child accounts. A child means players under the age of 13, unless local laws specify differently.

Software Terms of Service (ToS) in game and at www.take2games.com/legal. Non-transferable access to special features, such as exclusive/unlockable/downloadable/online & bonus content/services/functions/multiplayer services, may require single-use serial code, additional fee, and/or non-transferable online account registration (minimum age varies). See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details. Online and certain special features require internet connection, may not be available to all users or at all times, and may be terminated, modified, or offered under different terms without notice. For more information on the availability of online features and services visit https://bit.ly/2K-Online-Services-Status.


The post How WWE 2K25’s Island is Breathing New Life into Wrestling Video Games appeared first on Xbox Wire.

A Guide to Help You Become a True Hero in Slime Heroes

Hi there, Xbox Wire readers — do you have what it takes to become a hero? Today, we at Whitethorn Games are here to help you do just that in 3D action-adventure Slime Heroes — available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One!

In Slime Heroes you’ll take on the role of a slime, the unlikely hero who must save the world from a mysterious corruption. You’ll embark on a journey to explore the expansive 3D world — alone or with a friend — where you’ll encounter ferocious enemies, challenging but approachable puzzles, and uncover lost treasures. As you battle your way through the many obstacles in your path, you’ll gain magical skills that you can dynamically combine to create unique and powerful magic attacks that can take down even the most corrupt minions and bosses. You’ll discover a touching story of overcoming expectations, friendship, and forgiveness as you progress because even slimes can be heroes!

Now, this is quite the challenge for a small slime, so we’re here with a quick start guide to help your slime become the hero they were meant to be.

Slime heroes multiplayer

Explore a Stunning Open World

Dive into an open world that features six distinct regions filled with hidden secrets that will help you through your journey. As you explore off the beaten path, the world will open up, revealing hidden areas and barriers to unlock that will allow you to return to previously explored areas more easily.

You’ll also discover secret puzzle and challenge rooms, and challenging boss dungeons. While the rooms are completely optional to visit, by entering them and completing their challenges, you’ll gain some very helpful items to help you on your quest to save the world.

And be sure to search areas thoroughly, as there are many hidden items to be found throughout the world. From hats that give your slime powerful buffs to potent magical skills to big deposits of shards to help level up your slime, you’ll never know what you’ll find high up on a slightly out-of-view ledge or a crumbled-looking wall! Returning to previously-explored areas can fetch you some great items too, as the new powers you gain will help you reach even more secret areas.

Slime heroes leveling up

Take Your Slime to The Next Level

Very early on, you’ll meet Orion, who will need a little help from you! They will provide you with a place where you can save your progress and recover your health. They’ll also help you level up your slime — for a price. As you defeat enemies, you’ll collect shards that you can exchange there to boost your slime’s health, strength, magic, and speed. Be sure to return frequently to Orion’s spot to cash in your shards and gain that extra bit of power.

Now, what about increasing your health bar? That’s where those puzzle and battle rooms come in! The archaeologist, Pazmut, waiting outside is also eager to help you save the world. By defeating these rooms and returning tomes to them, you can earn extra hearts to increase your health bar.

Orion can also help you figure out your best build. Visit them to check out the practice arena, where you can test out new weapons and hat combinations, as well as different skill combinations so that you can perfect the build that fits your playstyle perfectly.

Slime heroes magic

Become the Ultimate Magic User

The world of Slime Heroes is full of magic, and even a small slime can become a powerful mage. As you defeat enemies, you’ll collect special skills associated with that enemy’s attack: powerful projectiles, twirling tornados, and more with a total of 18 skills to find. Take full advantage of these skills by combining them in your primary and secondary skill slots to create new, powerful skills. Placing two of the same skill in each slot makes that skill more powerful but consumes more MP. Combining two skills will create a new power, while swapping the skill into different slots will create a new power.

You can also find elemental skills to add to your basic skill combinations that will provide an added punch to your magic attacks. As well, earn powerful ultimate skills by defeating boss dungeons, and equip them in your ultimate skill slot. With ten elemental attacks and seven ultimate attacks to collect and combine with your skills you’ll be able to magically defeat any enemy.

Skills can be changed up on the fly at any time, allowing you to adapt to any challenge with ease. There are thousands of skill combinations you can make, so keep mixing and matching until you find the ones that best suit your play style.

Gear up with Weapons and Equipment

Slime Heroes has a variety of weapons and equipment earned by defeating bosses as you progress in the game. Each weapon comes with its own set of stats, so experiment a bit in the practice arena to figure out which ones best suit your play style and combat situation.

As for equipment, what works better for a slime than a jaunty hat? Like weapons, each hat comes with its own set of stats, from stat bonuses to bonus skills. And like skills and weapons, you can change them up at any time — even during battle — so you never have to sacrifice fashion over function.

Call in a Friend

While you can play Slime Heroes alone, saving the world is a big job for a little slime. It’s always more fun to play with a friend! Invite a friend to play at any time. With both couch co-op and online multiplayer, you can team up and tackle it together to take down the vicious enemy in no time flat!

Slime heroes accessibility menu

A Game for Anyone

Making sure games can be played by anyone, regardless of ability, skill, or experience with the genre is a value shared by Whitethorn Games and Pancake Games. Because of this, the team has put a lot of effort into making Slime Heroes as accessible as possible. You can explore them in the settings menu once you start your game. Some of these include multiple difficulty settings including sliders to increase or decrease enemy, world, or player damage, and puzzle timing, visual accessibility features to adjust cursor size and colour, character outline and a guiding arrow, button remapping, disabling flash effects, and more.

We hope these tips will help you on your journey to save the world in Slime Heroes. Don’t forget to pick up your copy on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One today to discover even more as you save the Guardians and save the world!

Slime Heroes

Whitethorn Games


1

$29.99

Journey with your fellow slimes to save the ancient guardians from a mysterious corruption taking over the land. Explore a whimsical world filled with secret passageways, challenging puzzle dungeons, and forgotten treasures. Consume special gems and dynamically combine them to create unique magical skills. Level up and fight back against the corrupted minions to restore the land.

Dynamic Abilities
-Collect an arsenal of skill gems consumed from defeated corrupted creatures.
-Dynamically mix skill gems to craft unique skill sets at any time.
-Discover all the different types of enemies to complete your gem collection.

Co-Op
-Jump into your friends’ game at any time and drop right into the action.
-The entire game can be played with a friend.
-All loot is shared; no fighting over that one pretty gem.
-Create different magical abilities that complement each other when playing with a friend.

Expansive World
-Discover secret passageways and challenging puzzle dungeons in a whimsical open world.
-Find the six gods of the realm and defeat the corrupted version of each. Once freed they will aid you on your quest!

The post A Guide to Help You Become a True Hero in Slime Heroes appeared first on Xbox Wire.

“Did We Actually Do That?”: Josef Fares Explains How Split Fiction Pushes the Co-Op Adventure Genre Further Than Ever

“Did We Actually Do That?”: Josef Fares Explains How Split Fiction Pushes the Co-Op Adventure Genre Further Than Ever

Split Fiction Hero Image

There was a moment, after years of development on Split Fiction began to come to a close, where director Josef Fares found himself playing through his latest co-op narrative adventure, and had something of a revelation.

“It’s kind of crazy. [During development] you play the game a lot – like over and over and over again. The last time I played it, with one of the lead designers, I was sitting there, like, ‘What the f**k have we done here?’ It’s almost like when you wake up from a dream: ‘Did we actually do that?’ It’s crazy how much stuff is in there.”

With Split Fiction coming to Xbox Series X|S tomorrow, March 6, Fares is in a reflective mood. The team at his studio, Hazelight, has already started work on their next game, but this feels like a brief moment where Fares can look back rather than forward. And the overall feeling I get from him is one of pride in how he’s seen his team progress.

Hazelight effectively created the genre it now makes games within – after experimenting with how a single-player, narrative-led adventure can be delivered with multiple characters in the modern classic Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Fares created his current studio with a goal of pushing that idea further. A Way Out saw the team create a truly original co-op only tale, and then pushed that into truly mind-blowing territory with the award-winning It Takes Two.

Split Fiction takes the idea forward again, using the more familiar video game worlds of fantasy and sci-fi, but blending them and blowing them apart with new ideas that arrive at breakneck pace – one moment, you’re escaping from trolls through a beleaguered medieval village, the next you’re a cyber-ninja slashing or laser-whipping scores of enemies, and then you’re suddenly a couple of magical pigs who… well, I’ll let you find out about that bit on your own.

It might initially seem like a familiar format for Hazelight – this is still a game that requires two players (either local or online), and uses a mixture of single- and split-screen sections to throw new mechanics at you constantly. But Fares sees this as a true step forward in how competently his team can make new mechanics, and tell experimental stories.

“It’s a natural evolution,” he tells me. “A more mature team, better technical tools, better understanding of design of the mechanics, we’re better at writing a story for co-op, and obviously we’ve become better knowing what and what not to cut early.”

He doesn’t think that an earlier version of Hazelight could have created Split Fiction, in effect – and makes clear that, no matter how familiar you are with their older games, Hazelight has hidden some truly magical new ideas in here:

“Play it through. You will understand what I mean. Trust me – get to the ending. You’ll see stuff that you haven’t seen in a video game.”

I ask, then, if the core drive for Hazelight is to make things no one else has tried to – but Fares sees his work in a more nuanced way.

“The number one key thing at Hazelight is that there is a passion to what we do. There’s no specific rule, like, ‘Oh there has to be a new thing all the time’. We just to have to feel that passion, because if it’s not there, the game won’t be good. Period. But we also love to push ourselves forward, like, ‘What can we do that we haven’t tried before? Can we do this thing that we haven’t tested before?’ It’s always nice to challenge ourselves.”

It was the idea of combining sci-fi and fantasy that was the initial passion for Split Fiction – the story sees two writers invited to a tech company in hopes of getting a publishing deal, before one realises that they’ll in fact have their ideas drained and repurposed by a newly invented technology. After an altercation, both writers are pulled into the same simulation based on their creations, and their very different ideas begin to blend into one another. You (and your co-op partner) will play through the wild results in what Fares describes as a playable buddy movie.

And it’s in that blend of ideas that Fares and his team found their way to go further than their previous work.

“It’s about taking this to the next level, then the next level – what can we do to keep the players on their toes, keeping this, ‘What the f**k is going on?’ feeling and making sure that the pacing feels right. There’s always something around the corner that’s going to surprise you and delight you.”

Of course, this is a huge amount of work. Split Fiction feels as though it’s introducing new mechanics every 15 minutes, and jettisoning the old ones – but it can’t allow each new idea to feel half-baked.

“In Split Fiction, [there’s a section where you ride] dragons – just one of those dragons took, I think, eight months to create. And in the beginning of my career, a lot of the team members were like, ‘Why are we doing all this and you’re only playing it for like 10 minutes?’

“But here’s the thing. [In a] movie, if you have a great scene that cost a lot of money, you don’t reuse that scene because it cost a lot of money. I do feel sometimes that cool moments like that wouldn’t have been as cool if we just reused them all the time. There is [an idea] in video games that, just because something was very expensive, it needs to be reused. But why? Why do you have to reuse it? Because that takes away the actual feeling of when you first experienced it.”

Split Fiction takes that philosophy to its natural endpoint by including huge sections of totally optional content. It Takes Two included some mini-games along the way, but these sections (accessed through portals you’ll find along the way) go so much further.

“Here, it’s actually full-blown worlds with new mechanics, sometimes bosses, new visual worlds. It’s literally almost like a new game inside the game.”

It’s a truly brave approach to design, but Fares has been emboldened simply by the success this approach has brought. Millions of people bought his last two games, showing a desire for exactly what he’s doing.

Not that he’d change course, anyway:

“Well, here’s the thing – I’ve never adapted to anyone, even on Brothers. I really don’t care, to be honest. At Hazelight, we always do our vision. We’ve done it since the start. On Brothers, there was a lot of questioning. A Way Out, a lot of questioning. It Takes Two as well.

“Sure, there are fewer questions from the outside [now] – it doesn’t really matter. The game will always be the game that we want to do. The one thing I guarantee is that Hazelight will always be about passion, about making games that we love to make. We’ll never change.”

Fares won’t let on what Hazelight’s next game might be – and even if will continue the co-op form of its previous work – but Split Fiction proves that his team won’t be sitting still. I’m almost certain that, in a few years, Fares will be sitting down again and asking himself, “Did we actually do that?”

Split Fiction

Electronic Arts


29


$49.99

$44.99

Embrace mind-blowing moments as you’re pulled deep into the many worlds of Split Fiction, a boundary-pushing co-op action adventure from the studio behind 2021 Game of the Year Winner, It Takes Two. Mio and Zoe are contrasting writers – one writes sci-fi and the other writes fantasy – who become trapped in their own stories after being hooked up to a machine designed to steal their creative ideas. They’ll have to rely on each other to break free with their memories in-tact, working together to master a variety of abilities and overcome diverse challenges while jumping between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in this unexpected tale of friendship.

Split Fiction is a unique action-adventure experience that keeps you on the edge of your couch with unexpected moments. One minute you’re taming adorable dragons and the next you’re fighting as cyber ninjas, escaping terrifying trolls, or dodging hover cars thrown by a robotic parking attendant. It’s weird, it’s wild, and it’s designed to be shared.
Grab your co-op partner and get ready to overcome any obstacle thrown your way.

• TRUE CO-OP ADVENTURE – This split-screen adventure is tailored for two. Experience co-op gameplay where you’ll have to coordinate your actions and timing as well as work together to overcome challenges. Invite a partner to join you for free, for cross-platform play, with the Friend’s Pass*. This wild ride comes to you from Hazelight, the co-op thrill-makers that brought you It Takes Two and A Way Out.

• UNPARALLELED VARIETY – Discover new mechanics and abilities in every level of your adventure, which will alternate between sci-fi and fantasy settings. Escape a sun that’s going supernova, challenge a monkey to a dance battle, try out some cool hoverboard tricks, fight an evil kitty, and ride everything from gravity bikes to a sandshark. Experience worlds that are entirely different from each other, unexpected new abilities, and a range of gameplay that includes platforming, stealth, puzzles, and more. There are surprises waiting for you and your partner in every new level.

• THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP – Mio and Zoe don’t get along at first, but soon enough they become each other’s only hopes. This journey will throw unexpected twists at them and if they want to make it through, they’ll need to have each other’s backs. They’ll encounter both bizarre situations as they traverse stories born from their own wild imaginations. Most importantly – they’ll face it all together.

*Friend’s Pass requires installation of the Friend’s Pass, persistent internet connection and applicable platform account. One user must own the full game in order for the co-op player to play the full game.

CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY. SEE www.ea.com/legal FOR DETAILS

© 2025 Hazelight Studios AB. Split Fiction and Hazelight are trademarks of Hazelight Studios AB. EA Originals is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc.

The post “Did We Actually Do That?”: Josef Fares Explains How Split Fiction Pushes the Co-Op Adventure Genre Further Than Ever appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Mecha Break Open Beta Begins Today: Tips on Choosing Your Striker

Mecha Break Open Beta Begins Today: Tips on Choosing Your Striker

Mecha Break Hero Image

Mecha Break is the PvP mech shooter you’ve been waiting for – and the game’s Open Beta Test starts today! In this test, you will be able to experience 3 distinct game modes: 3v3, 6v6, and a sprawling PvPvE extraction game mode called Mashmak.

Before you can take part in our mech battles you’ll first need to choose your mech, or “Striker”, each featuring its own unique weapons and abilities. With 13 different Strikers to choose from in the Open Beta Test, picking the right one will be key to your success. To help you on your way, here are our tips for every single one, and what kind of player fits them best.

Alysnes

Mecha Break Striker Image

Alysnes is your first Striker and a classic all-rounder. A Medium Attacker, featuring both devastating ranged and melee options, Alysnes is perfect for a jack-of-all-trades! If you find yourself low on health, don’t worry – Alysnes has a unique Armor Purge mechanic that gives you a second chance at victory!

Aquila

Mecha Break Striker Image

Aquila is a Heavy Sniper with some major firepower. It’s perfect for a crack shot who wants some beefy defense. Unlike most snipers, Aquila excels in maintaining advantageous positioning with their Airborne Kit, not to mention locking down enemy units with their Claw Drone to ensure their shot never misses.

Falcon

Mecha Break Striker Image

A terror in the skies, Light Attacker Falcon embodies the heart of an ace pilot zipping through the air, quickly striking opponents before they’re already moving on to another target. With multiple missile barrages available, Falcon can bombard an area and quickly reposition for another strike.

Hurricane

Mecha Break Striker Image

A storm is brewing! Hurricane is an Ultra-Heavy Defender. By focusing the crystals in its armaments, they can redirect their power to target a wide area, denying enemies the chance to retaliate. This one is for players who like to wipe out the competition while remaining safe amid the carnage.

Inferno

Mecha Break Striker Image

When we say Ultra-Heavy Attacker, we mean it! This Striker can focus a high-powered energy beam onto a single target for huge amounts of damage. Some call them a sleeping giant. We call them Inferno.

Luminae

Mecha Break Striker Image

This Light Support Striker has two modes: Support or Corruption. While in Support Mode, your Drone Launcher will repair allies over time. Swap to Corruption mode, and it will attach to an enemy Striker and directly attack its health, bypassing their shields. This mech is for those who want the best of both worlds.

Narukami

Mecha Break Striker Image

As a Light Sniper, Narukami excels in quick hits that pack a punch. Utilize their Optical Camo Drone and Decoy Drones to confuse the enemy and multiply their damage before grappling away. This Striker is for players who like to be sneaky.

Panther

Mecha Break Striker Image

Panther is a Medium Brawler that can charge and single out enemy Strikers with a giant lance to deal pinpoint damage that bypasses all shields. This is one Striker that will excel in the hands of a player who likes to get up close and personal.

Pinaka

Mecha Break Striker Image

Pinaka is a Medium Support that can deploy shields, wall off areas, and provide crucial support for Strikers in need of repair. This Striker is perfect for players who want to command the battlefield.

Skyraider

Mecha Break Striker Image

Aerial denial is the name of the game here. Skyraider is a Medium Attacker that comes equipped with armaments that excel in crowd control and area denial. Their ability to transform between a biped or aerial unit gives it the versatility to handle most situations.

Stego

Mecha Break Striker Image

With a front-facing shield, micro missiles, and rockets upon rockets, the Ultra-Heavy Attacker Stego is the epitome of ‘mess around and find out’! If you find yourself in a sticky situation, use your Complex Haze Diffuser to disrupt enemies and zip away to safety.

Tricera

Mecha Break Striker Image

The crown prince of “pull the trigger”, Ultra-Heavy Defender Tricera features four heavy-duty gatling guns that rip and tear through enemy strikers. Their turret mode comes complete with high-capacity shields and Healing Drones, meaning that it can take a beating and dish it out.

Welkin

Mecha Break Striker Image

A big mech deserves a big axe. Not only can the Heavy Brawler Welkin cleave through the opposition, but they can also lock down enemy strikers in their Stasis Shield to savor every last slash. Perfect for those who walk quietly and carry a big stick.


The most important part of selecting a Striker is… variety. You’ll have plenty of time during the Open Beta Test, so hop into the robust training mode, and give each Striker a try to find your favorites!

The Mecha Break Open Beta Test begins today. See you on the battlefield!

The post Mecha Break Open Beta Begins Today: Tips on Choosing Your Striker appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Returns on July 11

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Returns on July 11

THPS 3+4 Hero Image

Summary

  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Battle.net, Windows PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on July 11 – and it’ll arrive day one with Game Pass.
  • This new game is faithfully remade from the ground up, adding new skaters, new parks, new music, and much more.
  • Pre-order today to access the Foundry Demo in June – or pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition for three days of Early Access, Doom Slayer & Revanant playable skaters, and more.

The Birdman returns on July 11 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is back. Launching on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Battle.net, Windows PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and available day one with Game Pass, THPS 3+4 is at once a faithful remake of the original classic skateboarding games, but expands on the experience with new parks, skaters, and music, as well as cross-platform multiplayer, new creation tools, a New Game+ mode, and more.

Rebuilt from the ground up, THPS 3+4 will include parks from the original games as well as new locations (more on that later), plus a Career Mode that includes the original tours from both. Playing with friends? Cross-platform multiplayer supports up to 8 skaters at one time, meaning you’ll have plenty of competition.

Multiple new skaters are joining the original line-up, and you’ll also be able to create your own skater, not only customizing their appearance, but their hometown, skating style, and more. And of course, no Tony Hawk game would be complete without music, and you’ll be skating along to tracks from the original soundtrack, as well as new tracks.

THPS 3+4 builds on the work started by Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, bringing the easy-to-learn, hard-to-master controls and handling you’d expect – and for those taking on the series for the first time, an in-depth tutorial from Tony Hawk himself will walk you through exactly how to play.

Welcome to Waterpark

You may have caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar location in today’s reveal trailer – this is Waterpark, a new level added to THPS 3+4. Introduced as part of the revamped THPS 4 Tour, this is a broken-down, dried-out park in the heart of the Mojave desert – perfect for budding skaters.

The rides might not be functional any more, but they’re more than open for finding lines and trick opportunities. Six rides are open for you to try and trick off of – Down the Drain, Peak Cyclone, Twisted Vipers and more offer challenging trips down to ground level. Just skate to the entrance of each one, and you’ll be transported to the top to try your luck.

If you’re looking for something a little more chill, take a trip down the Lazy River, which snakes around the entire map, head to the Marquee for a ramp-filled area perfect for combos, or find a way to open up the Castle Slide for even more opportunities to earn points.

Pre-Order Now for Early Access and More

Pre-orders for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 open today, and will give you access to the Foundry Demo (not available on Nintendo Switch). Kicking off in June, this demo will include two skaters and two parks to try out – and your pre-order will also net you an extra in-game shader for Tony Hawk at full game launch.

Pre-ordering the Digital Deluxe Edition will give you three days of Early Access to the full game – as well as some far more unexpected bonuses. Play as both the Doom Slayer (with two outfits, two unique tricks, and a hoverboard) or a Revenant (with its own two unique tricks), not to mention themed skate decks, Create-a-Skater items and bonus soundtracks.

And if you want to go all-out, the Collector’s Edition of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will come complete with a limited-edition, full-size Birdhouse skateboard deck (deck-only, other skateboard components not included) featuring a reissued version of the iconic Wings graphic and a printed Tony Hawk autograph. The Collector’s Edition includes a physical copy of the game, and all the Digital Deluxe Edition benefits.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches on July 11. Pre-orders open today. Learn more on tonyhawkthegame.com.

The post Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Returns on July 11 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

A Cracking Clean-up: Peek Inside The Home of Wallace & Gromit With The PowerWash Simulator Devs

A Cracking Clean-up: Peek Inside The Home of Wallace & Gromit With The PowerWash Simulator Devs

Cracking clean Gromit! We hope you’re ready for a grand day out to clean up the world of Aardman’s endlessly inventive duo, in the new PowerWash Simulator Wallace & Gromit Special Pack, available today.

We worked closely with our partners at Aardman Animations to faithfully recreate the world of 62 West Wallaby Street in PowerWash Simulator. In the special pack’s five new levels, you can explore the nooks and crannies of their garden, kitchen and dining room and basement, before blasting into space to clean the Moon Rocket.

Grab the cheese and crackers while FuturLab’s Mark Ginbey, who writes PowerWash Simulator, and Animator Alannah Meek, who works on the game’s charming animations, take us behind-the-scenes of bringing the pack, and the WASH LAD, to life!

Get Cracking!

A key part of designing any PowerWash Special Pack is deciding why everything got so messy in the first place. In the case of the Wallace & Gromit pack, things have gone a bit pear-shaped over at 62 West Wallaby Street following a mechanical malfunction – the biggest disaster since the cracker catastrophe of ’89!

“Creating the story for such beloved creations was quite a daunting prospect, but luckily they’re a mucky pair who effortlessly find themselves in all manner of sticky situations, so ideas flowed as quickly as porridge from a malfunctioning AutoChef,” says Ginbey.

“There was no need for any convoluted over-arching narrative, we just needed to put the pair in a series of familiar environments and ask ourselves ‘what could possibly go wrong here?’ Then it was just a case of letting the dirt tell the story.”

“Incredibly, we were also helped by Aardman’s amazing writer Finbar Hawkins to finesse the script and give authenticity to our ideas.”

Concept art from PowerWash Simulator's Wallace & Gromit Pack

Well Done, Lad

The WASH LAD is all charged up and ready to assist you in your cleaning escapades, along with their very own industrial washer.

Based on Wallace’s existing LAD (Labor Assistant Device), that first appeared in Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention, the WASH LAD has been adapted in a couple of different areas to better suit this niche task. From the original, we changed the arms to hinge at the elbows – crucial to provide the elbow grease needed to slough off the muck in the pack. We switched out the wheels for legs, to give our WASH LAD the full range of motion to reach up, crouch down and clean every crevice.

“We created a brand-new character model for Wallace and Gromit, keeping as many elements from the original LAD character as possible,” says Meek. “This was then skinned to the PowerWash Simulator character rig, and a new set of animations were created to better match the LAD character, mainly focusing on making it feel more robotic than the PWS character.”

As you pilot WASH LAD’s stout and sturdy frame, you’ll notice a distinct height difference from the usual PowerWash Simulator character model, as well as the metallic sounds of the hydraulics powering the small bot. It’s also particularly fun to team up with your friends to tackle the filth as a small robot army.

Concept art from PowerWash Simulator's Wallace & Gromit Pack

Level Deep Dive

Before we all settle in front of the TV with some cheese and crackers, let’s take a look at our inventive pals’ cosy home, starting with the Dining Room and Kitchen.

Wallace & Gromit’s Dining Room & Kitchen

You’ll be able to spot references from throughout the brand’s history and interact with moving elements such as the train set to immerse yourself within the action.

 “The toy train was a challenge to set up animation for!” says Meek, “Washable objects in PowerWash Simulator can’t use the standard animation set up so we had to devise a new system to animate the train and make sure all the carriages follow the train tracks smoothly with a spline curve. Hopefully players will have fun riding the toy train around the circuit!”

Wallace & Gromit’s House

Soak up the serenity of sleepy British suburbs in this level, where you’ll hose down Wallace & Gromit’s quaint front garden and front façade of their classic two-up-two-down. Here, you’ll also walk in the pawprints of an icon as you stoop your way into Gromit’s kennel and have a snoop through his belongings, all in the name of cleaning, of course!

 As well as a couple of iconic inventions, like the Soccamatic and Shopper 13, you can also flip the pond to complete the driveway, just like in A Close Shave.

A screenshot from PowerWash Simulator's Wallace & Gromit Pack

The Knit-O-Matic

The Knit-O-Matic’s in a bit of a tangle, requiring some TLC (tender-loving-cleaning). Head down to the basement to scrub up the infamous contraption – there’s knot a moment to lose!

Power up the goliath machine to give it a thorough service, and don’t forget to check the technical (and-not-so technical) drawings!

Meek adds: “Animating washable items, like the Knit-O-Matic, really breathes life into the scene and adds an extra layer of detail for the players to have fun with!”

This lofty space is one to settle into, with high ceilings, heavy machinery and heaps of basement-dwelling odds and ends. When you’re done, give yourself a round of applause by powering up the auto-wash machine! Pfft, automatic washing is over-rated!

A screenshot from PowerWash Simulator's Wallace & Gromit Pack

Wallace & Gromit’s Vehicles

A rare rain-free day in the usually drizzly English climate can only mean one thing – time to give the car a hose-down! Not one for normalcy, however, Wallace’s collection of vehicles is far from your average hatch-back.

Everything from the Snomanotron to the Top Bun bakery van is caked in filth, even the iconic Techno Trousers need some soapy assistance – just don’t put them through the wrong spin cycle!

The Moon Rocket

Restore the Moon Rocket to its former brie-lliance in the final level of the pack. Covered in more than just stardust, the duo’s space craft has seen better days. Blast off the muck coating its bodywork, before venturing inside to revive the cosy cockpit.

Oh, and there’s also the aftermath of a certain extra-terrestrial picnic that could do with a quick spritz while you’re up there.

A screenshot from PowerWash Simulator's Wallace & Gromit Pack

We hope you’ve enjoyed this access-all-areas look at our new Pack. See you at 62 West Wallaby Street for a cracking cleaning adventure – I’ll stick the kettle on!

Xbox Game Pass members can play the base game, PowerWash Simulator, as part of their membership. The Wallace & Gromit Special Pack is available today for a separate purchase on the Xbox Store (a copy of PowerWash Simulator is required to play).

The post A Cracking Clean-up: Peek Inside The Home of Wallace & Gromit With The PowerWash Simulator Devs appeared first on Xbox Wire.