Discover Across The Obelisk – the Deckbuilder that Lets You Cooperate with Everyone

Discover Across The Obelisk – the Deckbuilder that Lets You Cooperate with Everyone

Summary

  • Across the Obelisk is out now for Xbox Series X|S.
  • All DLC and content from the PC version are available now.
  • Players can cooperate no matter where they play or what they own thanks to crossplay and DLC sharing.

Welcome to Senenthia, everyone! It’s an honor and a pleasure to invite Xbox players everywhere to join our adventuring party today, as Across the Obelisk is out today for Xbox Series X|S!

From our humble beginnings in early access over three years ago, our team has been hard at work building Across the Obelisk, our unique party-based deckbuilding RPG, through expansions, updates, and improvements. Now, we’re adding a whole new group of heroes to our world – all of you – and we’re going to make sure you can jump right in whether you’re bringing more new friends to the party, or whether you’re catching up with folks who already know their way around our expanding world.

For those of you starting your journey with Across the Obelisk today, perhaps you’re wondering exactly what a “deckbuilding RPG” entails. It is firstly a deck-builder, where your abilities are tied to a deck of cards, and you have to choose a few cards to play during your turn to attack monsters, cast spells, put up defenses, etc. Over the course of the game, you will add more powerful cards and remove ones that are cluttering your selection, and thus build a deck that better fits your play style and can overcome the challenges in your path.

Now, mesh that with a four-character party – with each character managing their own individual deck – and a branching map full of decisions, sidequests, and key items that open new doors across the world, and you’ve got our game!

Across the Obelisk plays great for anyone familiar with managing a full RPG party in a single player game, but where the game truly shines is in multiplayer, with each of your four characters played and managed by a different person. Finding ways to support your friends, coordinate (or argue!) your group’s choices, and battle as a team all really come through when you’ve got a full party. That’s why we built our multiplayer experience with absolutely no barriers to entry. As anyone who’s ever had an RPG group can tell you: learning the game is easy. Getting four people to coordinate a game night is the hard part! We didn’t want there to be any challenges from the game itself in building your party, so our game has a few extra features to make life easier and your adventure more variable.

For starters, Across the Obelisk has completely open cross-platform multiplayer. All of you joining us from the Xbox community today can jump right in and play with folks on PC or consoles; it’s possible to have a four-player party where nobody is gaming on the same system!

 What’s more, we wanted to recreate that feeling at the RPG table where someone arrives with the latest expansion book and everyone can share the cool new options, so that’s what we’ve done with our own expansions. If anyone in your party owns any of our DLC, everybody gets to share! You can freely play any of our expansion heroes without worrying if your friends also own the DLC, and your party can travel to any expansion maps so long as just one of you has bought it.

With that in mind, we can’t wait to see what kind of adventures you all have in our growing realms. Load up on mages with four different damage types, build an indomitable defence and healing tank squad – go wild in a party with only animal characters allowed! We’ve got much more in store for you in Across the Obelisk, and we’re thrilled to have everyone on Xbox finally joining the party!

Across the Obelisk

Paradox Interactive

Team up with your friends and experience roguelite deckbuilding like never before!
Craft decks of enormous power and lead your party on a thrilling quest to rescue a realm in turmoil.
Choose wisely; your decisions have consequences. Dare you go Across the Obelisk?

• Plan your strategy, but be prepared to adapt as you encounter procedurally generated events.

• Build decks from 500+ cards, over 300 items and 16 heroes in four different classes.

• Take sole control of your party of four heroes, or bring fellow adventurers along for the ride in 2-4 player co-op.

• Coordinate your party in tactical combat and experiment with different class combinations for entirely new ways to play.

• Encounter powerful bosses and navigate events and quests where your decisions affect how the story unfolds.

• Enjoy endless replayability with three in-depth game modes to master.

Your quest carries great risk: rescue your king’s daughter from the clutches of the treacherous Lord Hanshek before she meets her end.
Your party’s fate, and that of Senenthia, is in your hands. How will you proceed?

Plan Ahead, but Expect the Unexpected
• The goal of your quest is set in stone, but there are twists and turns on every path. How will you fare when no two journeys are the same?

• Your choices matter. Which road will you take this time? Who will you save? Who will you leave behind?

• Cooperation is vital! Decide together what’s best for your party. Will you help the people of Senenthia on your journey or selfishly search for epic loot?

An Evolving Adventure
• Customize and upgrade your decks by earning XP and unlocking perk points. Tackle four acts – each with its own fearsome boss – but beware of random events on your journey!

• Build your deck from a vast choice of upgradeable cards and items. New and more powerful combos are yours to discover each time you enter Senenthia.

• Combine character classes in different ways to find your favorite play style. Will you overwhelm your foes with mighty warriors or use your cunning and employ sneaky scouts?

• Looking for a tough roguelike challenge? Try obelisk mode. Draft unique decks and embark on a randomized adventure where being prepared for anything is everything!

• Discover endless combinations of cards, items, heroes and classes. And just as many ways to strategize your way to victory.

A Deckbuilder for the Ages
• Regular updates and content drops will keep you coming back to Senenthia time and time again.

• Want to test yourself against other players? Take on the weekly challenge mode. The deck and map are predetermined; success comes down to your skill.

• Team up with other players on whichever platform they own, thanks to crossplay.

• Let your friends follow along on your adventure when Story DLCs you own are shared across platforms with your entire party.

• “Just one more run.” Enjoy unrivaled variety and endless replayability – Across the Obelisk rewards experimentation and keeps you coming back for more!

Paradox Account required for certain features of the game. You have to be 16 years or older to create a Paradox Account. See https://legal.paradoxplaza.com/eula for details.

The post Discover Across The Obelisk – the Deckbuilder that Lets You Cooperate with Everyone appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Support Virtual Agent is Here to Help for Xbox Insiders Today!

Introducing Support Virtual Agent

Support Virtual Agent is an AI-powered feature built to help Xbox players more efficiently solve their support-related gaming issues, and it is rolling out to select Xbox Insiders on support.xbox.com today. Support Virtual Agent can quickly access information from support.xbox.com to answer questions relevant to Xbox console and game support issues. Xbox Insiders located in the United States and with English selected as their preferred language can begin previewing the Support Virtual Agent today by visiting support.xbox.com while signed into an account that is registered with the Xbox Insider Program.

We value the feedback from Xbox Insiders for this preview experience and any feedback received will be used to improve the Support Virtual Agent. As you interact with the Support Virtual Agent, you can provide feedback via the “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” button on each of the responses or provide feedback directly via the “Give feedback” button at the bottom of the page.

How to Use Support Virtual Agent

Starting today, Xbox Insiders will see the Support Virtual Agent on the “Contact us” page on support.xbox.com. Sign in with the same account you registered with the Xbox Insider Program, then you’ll see a new option to ask our new Support Virtual Agent a question.

Xbox Insiders can launch the Support Virtual Agent by selecting “ask a question” on the “Contact us” page on support.xbox.com

Once you click on “Ask a question,” you will see the Support Virtual Agent launch in a new browser window. You can ask the agent questions via text or voice, and it will answer with relevant information from support.xbox.com. If the Support Virtual Agent cannot solve the issue, you can request to speak with a live support agent as long as it is within Xbox Support’s normal hours of operation.

During this preview, you can also customize your support experience by clicking on the ellipsis menu icon and choosing between two different Support Virtual Agents.

Players can customize their support experience and choose between two different Support Virtual Agents

How to Get Xbox Insider Support and Share Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please join our community on the Xbox Insider subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, you can provide direct feedback to Team Xbox by following the steps here under the “Report a problem online” section. 

If you aren’t part of the Xbox Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC

For more information on the Xbox Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at @XboxInsider.

The post Support Virtual Agent is Here to Help for Xbox Insiders Today! appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Celebrating 20 Years of Halo 2: Developers Discuss Rebuilding Classic Maps and the Iconic Halo 2 E3 Demo

Celebrating 20 Years of Halo 2: Developers Discuss Rebuilding Classic Maps and the Iconic Halo 2 E3 Demo

Summary

  • Halo 2 celebrates its 20th anniversary this November, and Halo Studios is paying homage to its legacy.
  • Revisit faithful recreations of iconic Halo 2 multiplayer maps and gameplay in Halo Infinite’s Delta Arena Playlist.
  • Play the lost E3 2003 Halo 2 demo, featuring content that never made it into the final release of the game in Halo: The Master Chief Collection

It’s almost been 20 years since the release of Halo 2, the legendary sequel that put us behind the eyes of both the Master Chief and the Arbiter for the first time, and propelled online console shooters to brand new heights. Two decades later, the Halo series is still going strong, and we absolutely couldn’t let the milestone pass by without a celebration of such a game-changing title. Grab your Mountain Dew and lock in for the ultimate Halo 2 birthday bash.

To mark the occasion, Halo Infinite sees the release of the Delta Arena, a playlist featuring recreations of some iconic Halo 2 multiplayer maps, complete with the same authentic gameplay inspired by that era. Outside of that, a fully playable version of the iconic Halo 2 demo shown at E3 2003, featuring gameplay that didn’t make it into the final version of the game, will be added to the Steam Workshop as a mod for the Halo: The Master Chief Collection for fans to play for the first time ever.

We also had the opportunity to chat with some core Halo Studios members about the celebrations, share some nostalgic memories, and revisit the importance of this groundbreaking title and the legacy it shoulders like a Brute Gravity Hammer.

“Halo 2 is a major pillar for the franchise that catapulted the series and community to new heights,” says Brian Jarrard, Community Director on Halo. “It was also a master class in games marketing at the time – creating a true worldwide pop culture phenomenon spanning celebrity appearances to musical crossovers and product partnerships to ARGs and cinematics and stories that rivalled Hollywood.

“The gameplay innovations, esports competitions, storytelling, online connectivity, and the overall cultural permeation fostered a new level of global fandom and community that elevated Halo beyond ‘just a game.’ As we look back on twenty years(!) it’s still remarkable how impactful Halo 2 was and how wide sweeping its impacts are even today.”

On Old Turf

Delta Arena launches into Halo Infinite on November 5 and features several modern recreations of classic multiplayer maps from Halo 2, lovingly and faithfully rebuilt in Forge with the help of key Halo community members known as Forgers. You’ll once again be able to hop around the hazy sniping spots of Ascension, duel with Energy Swords along the neon hallways of Midship, or get stuck in close quarters chaos within the structures of Lockout.

“The process began by looking at what had been recreated by the community and seeing what could work in tandem with the modes we were developing internally,” explains Evan Colson, Designer on Halo Infinite. “We ultimately strived to find fan favorites that were faithful to their original designs and that could play well within the Infinite environment. Each of these recreations have been given new life by the extraordinary Forgers behind them.”

Take a peek at some of the new maps below.

Nick Treitman, Producer on Halo Infinite, considers the selection a “healthy mix of maps,” with some adhering effortlessly to their original Halo 2 setting, and others opting for an artistic spin that works to enhance the map’s design, without sacrificing its legacy.

“Beaver Canyon feels exactly how you remember it and Conjurer takes the magical/wizard theme and cranks it to 11,” Treitman adds. “Midship has been one of our most requested maps and after finally getting the Covenant forge objects in game, it was a matter of time before a true-to-H2 version came together.”

Here’s the full list of maps with their original names, plus the updated names they’ll have in the Halo Infinite Delta Playlist:

  • Ascension
    Credits: bullet2thehead9, DISTORTED JAKAL, MikRips
  • Boulevard (Turf)
    Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, ArtNoob, MikRips
  • Canopy (Lockout)
    Credits: UneeQ, Mr GreenCastle, MikRips, ArtNoob
  • Conjurer (Warlock)
    Credits: MikRips, bullet2thehead9, DISTORTED JAKAL
  • Inquisitor (Midship)
    Credits: UneeQ, Mr GreenCastle, MikRips, ArtNoob, WookieCookies
  • Serenity (Sanctuary)
  • Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, MikRips
  • Beaver Canyon (Beaver Creek)
    Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, Azwilko1997, MikRips

Here’s the original Halo 2 Midship map, next to the brand new Inquisitor map coming to Halo Infinite.

Of course, it’s not classic Halo without the gameplay, and as such, settings in the Delta Arena Playlist have been adjusted to recreate the feel of Halo 2. With sprint and clamber disabled, a 120% jump height and friendly player collision enabled, you’ll be transported right back to those early online days of play.

“While utilizing custom game settings to recreate Halo 2’s movement is relatively easy, capturing that classic ‘feel’ was a bit harder to nail down,” says Colson. “Considering all the subtle difference between Halo Infinite and Halo 2, a 1:1 recreation was never quite in the cards, but what we did come to was that of an amalgamation between the two, with settings that move like legacy Halo, but plays with elements of the modern sandbox.”

These maps will of course be paired with iconic game modes – Spartans can jump into into rounds of Slayer, Oddball, Capture the Flag and King of the Hill inside the Delta Arena Playlist.

And an extra treat: The starting weapon in the Delta Arena playlist is the MA5K Avenger, a new addition to the Halo Infinite sandbox. Inspired by the Halo 2 SMG of the past and originally displayed 18 years ago on the cover of the novel, Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, the MA5K makes its debut as a playable weapon.

The E3 Demo

Many of us remember that iconic Halo 2 Demo shown at E3 way back in 2003. Not only was it an iconic moment for the gaming industry at the time, it also showcased what was possible not only in the Halo universe, but for the future of Xbox entirely. The demo was groundbreaking, and is fondly remembered by Halo fans today, but the effort to restore it has become a great journey in itself.

“The buzz and hype going into that event was off the charts and the stakes were higher than ever,” says Brian Jarrard, Community Director on Halo. “I have fond memories of so much playtesting and practicing, internal challenges to see who could take out every single enemy in a flawless playthrough.”

Now, for the first time ever, fans will be able step back to 2003 inside a recreation of the demo, playable inside the Halo: The Master Chief Collection via Steam.

“The response to the demo at E3 was electric, and nearly every Halo fan remembers that demo and where they were when they were first blinded by its majesty,” Jarrard adds. “Best of all, none of us ever would have expected that 20+ years later, a group of passionate community modders would bring this demo to life as a full-fledged mission.”

Screenshot from Halo 2 of Master Chief holding a plasma grenade
Betcha can’t stick it.

Several snags with technology have kept this demo locked away for many years, however, thanks to the work of the Digsite data archaeology archive and valiant efforts from the wider Halo community, the original assets and files were able to be recovered. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing from there either – the demo was built in a version of the Halo engine that no longer exists, and the assets were not compatible with any other existing versions of Halo 2.

“This put us in a bit of a quandary,” Halo Senior Franchise writer Kenneth Peters tells us. “Even the original executable is difficult to work with, as you need an Xbox developer kit to get it to boot, which is in increasingly short supply even within the studio. But now, in 2024, we have the Digsite-developed tools to analyze and automate up-porting old assets, and the unearthed knowledge to know why Bungie built things the way they did in the demo.”

“Steven Garcia (known to the community as General_101) was vital in getting this scenario stood up and even improved over the original. He was a one-man army and did a significant chunk of the work in developing tools, updating scripts, and even arting the levels. Digsite team members Ludus, Neo Te Aika, Sean T, xScruffyDaSasquatchx, and Killzone then provided finishing touches to replicate the original demo experience and test for bugs. Without them, we would probably have only had a rather unceremonious drop of raw assets and that was it.”

As part of the Digsite partnership between the studio and the modding community, players will be able to go hands-on with the remastered Halo 2 E3 Demo when this free mod releases on Steam Workshop on November 9.

Halo x Forza Celebrations

The celebrations are carrying over to other long-running Xbox franchises too. Halo and Forza have a strong history of partnership – the iconic Warthog vehicle made an appearance in Forza Motorsport 4 back in 2011, made its drivable debut in Forza Horizon 3, and in Forza Horizon 4, players were able to race it around a mission inspired by the environments of the Halo rings.

“The incredible potential of the EventLab tool in Forza Horizon 5 gives us an awesome opportunity to expand on this idea and allow payers to build their own Halo-themed tracks,” explains Corrinne Robinson, Franchise Development Director on Halo. “Our players have spent years creating amazing and inventive things in Forge within Halo and we can’t wait to see what the racing community does with the new toy box of Halo items at their disposal.”

The Halo 2 celebrations kick off on November 5 with the release of the Delta Arena Playlist as part of Halo Infinite – Operation: Great Journey.

Be sure to check out the Halo-themed Eventlab additions when they arrive in Forza Horizon 5 on November 7, and of course, the classic E3 Demo in Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Steam via the Steam Workshop mod when it launches on November 9. Get a good hold on that Covenant bomb Spartan, we’re diving in.

The post Celebrating 20 Years of Halo 2: Developers Discuss Rebuilding Classic Maps and the Iconic Halo 2 E3 Demo appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Coming to Game Pass: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Goat Simulator Remastered, and More

Coming to Game Pass: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Goat Simulator Remastered, and More

Welcome back friends to our latest issue of Coming to Game Pass, answering the question, “What should I play next?”. If constructing additional pylons isn’t your thing (subtle plug that StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II: Campaign Collection are coming to PC tomorrow) we have goats, we have planes, we have rougue-lites and more. Grab your mouse and your favorite controller, and let’s get to the games!

Coming Soon

Metal Slug Tactics (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 5
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one! Metal Slug is making an explosive return! Dive into this dynamic tactical RPG with a roguelite thrill and experience the iconic run’n’gun action of the original series, redefined. Grab your weapons, assemble your squad, and conquer the battlefield to defeat the infamous Rebel Army.

Go Mecha Ball (Console) – November 6
Now with Game Pass Standard

Load up and roll out in this twin-stick shooter with roguelike progression! Blast your way through arcade-style levels, using pinball-like physics mixed with an arsenal of devastating weapons. Defeat waves of enemy bots, battle big bosses, and upgrade your mech between runs!

Harold Halibut (Xbox Series X|S) – November 6
Now with Game Pass Standard

Harold Halibut is a handmade narrative game about friendship and life on a city-sized spaceship submerged in an alien ocean. Join Harold as he explores a vibrant retro-future world in his quest to find the true meaning of home.

The Rewinder (Console) – November 6
Now with Game Pass Standard

A 2D puzzle adventure game inspired by traditional Chinese folklore. You will take on the role of Yun, a “rewinder” who has the ability to enter people’s memories and influence their actions. By utilizing “senses” and swaying others’ “intentions”, you can change history.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (Console) – November 6
Now with Game Pass Standard

Join Turnip Boy in teaming up with the Pickled Gang to plan and execute the weirdest heist of all time. Shake down hostages, steal valuables, battle the fuzz, and use wacky tools bought off the dark web to move further into the vaults of the Botanical Bank. 

Goat Simulator Remastered (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 7
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one! The GOAT is baaa-ck! Lick, flip, and headbutt your way across a chaotic sandbox world where you make the rules. Enjoy wacky physics, upgraded graphics, and DLC classics in one neat package. It’s time to grab life by the horns and set out on an adventure!

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 19
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one! From Xbox Game Studios and Asobo Studios, pursue your aviation career with dynamically generated missions, compete against other pilots, and explore the most detailed digital twin of the world to date. Set out on your global adventure with our largest fleet of aircraft as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 takes simulation to new heights of authenticity and realism. Pre-install today to answer the call on day one!

In Case You Missed It

Botany Manor Now Available with Game Pass Standard
Explore the historic manor home of retired botanist Arabella Greene, who has amassed a collection of rare, long-forgotten flora that require special conditions to help them bloom. Unlock new seeds, look for clues in the items scattered around the residence, and solve each gardening puzzle to revive these plants.

StarCraft: Remastered (PC) – November 5
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Prepare to rediscover a classic. StarCraft: Remastered upgrades Blizzard Entertainment’s original sci-fi real-time strategy game and its acclaimed expansion, StarCraft: Brood War, from beginning to end. Experience the intergalactic battle between the terran, protoss, and zerg with improved graphics and audio, and the same classic gameplay that made StarCraft a global phenomenon.

StarCraft II: Campaign Collection (PC) – November 5
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

With millions of players already in the fight, StarCraft II has made gaming history. Now it’s your turn to take command and lead vast armies of terran, protoss and zerg to victory amongst the stars. Prepare for interstellar war, commander. You’re needed at the front. The StarCraft II: Campaign Collection includes Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, Legacy of the Void, and Nova Covert Ops.

DLC / Game Updates

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Nuketown Multiplayer Map – Available now
The original Nuketown is back! This homage to the version players first encountered in Call of Duty: Black Ops is an exact — though graphically much improved — version of the original, keeping the classic 1950s design of the Nevada testing site. Learn more about the latest content update on the Call of Duty blog.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Vault Edition Upgrade – Available now
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can purchase the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Vault Edition Upgrade to unlock bonus content including BlackCell, which includes the Season 1 Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP, and more. The Vault Edition Upgrade also features the Hunters vs Hunted Operator Pack, five Mastercraft weapons, and the Gobblegum Pack for Round-Based Zombies.

No Man’s Sky: The Cursed Expedition – Available now
No Man’s Sky’s sixteenth expedition, The Cursed, sees players battle against collapsing realities in an eerie twilight zone, with the promise of exclusive limited-time rewards, including the all-new, saucer-like Boundary Herald Starship.

Sea of Stars: Dawn of Equinox – November 12
In this free update, Dawn of Equinox will bring to life the completed vision for Sea of Stars, incorporating everything that couldn’t be included at launch, along with some of the most requested features and improvements including local co-op, combat 2.0, a revamped prologue, and much more.

Game Pass Ultimate Perks

EA Sports UFC 4: 1600 UFC Points – Available now
Waltz into the Octagon in style in UFC 4 with 1600 UFC Points to customize your fighter with unlockable gear, emotes, profile cards and more. Personalize your fighter and shape your legend!

Leaving November 15

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in to grab any remaining achievements before they go or use your membership discount to save up to 20% on your purchase to keep them in your library!

  • Dicey Dungeons (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Dungeons 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Goat Simulator (PC)
  • Like a Dragon: Ishin! (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Persona 5 Tactica (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Somerville (Cloud, Console, and PC)

As always, you can find the latest reminders of when these “coming soon” games turn into “available today” on Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox. We’ll be back soon with even more games!

The post Coming to Game Pass: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Goat Simulator Remastered, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 4 to 8

Next Week on Xbox Hero Image

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 4 to 8

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, 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!


Tinkertown

Headup

Tinkertown – November 4

Grab a shovel, pickaxe, or sword and enter a realm full of treasures, magic, and dangers. A magical place awaits you, where you can let your imagination run wild. Create your little fantasy kingdom – from a cosy adventurer’s hut with a garden to small towns with their own parks.


Let’s Sing 2025

Plaion GmbH

Let’s Sing 2025 – November 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Let’s Sing 2025 brings the ultimate karaoke experience straight to your living room! Sing along with your family and friends to the latest hits, as well as a generous selection of all-time classics. Complete your journey to stardom with a brand-new career mode, or join the VIP ranks to gain access to even more tracks. Perform at home or online with a global cast of singers!


Magical Girls vs Cat Aliens

Synnergy Circle Games

Magical Girls vs Cat Aliens – November 5

The city has been invaded by cat aliens and the only one who can stop them is an ordinary high school girl! But wait, this girl has a secret. When no one is looking she can transform into a Magical Girl and protect the city! Can the heroine defeat all the enemies in the name of hope and justice and save the city?


Xbox Play Anywhere

Metal Slug Tactics

Dotemu

Metal Slug Tactics – November 5

Metal Slug makes an explosive return! Dive into this dynamic tactical RPG with a roguelite thrill and experience the iconic run’n’gun action of the original series, redefined. Grab your weapons, assemble your squad and conquer the battlefield to defeat the infamous Rebel Army.     


Pancho’s Mission

Ternox

$4.99

Pancho’s Mission – November 5

A pixelated platformer where the brave panda, Pancho, rises to defend the world, liberating it from the tyranny of the sinister eagle and its faithful followers. Traverse through three unique locations — the forest, the desert, and the eagle’s cave — with a total of 45 thrilling levels.


Duck Run

Afil Games

Duck Run – November 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Embark on an exciting adventure with a brave little duck determined to make it through countless obstacles. Your mission is to guide the duck through a series of dangerous traps across 40 action-packed levels, all while keeping track of the time it takes to complete each challenge.


Factory Escape

Old School Vibes

Factory Escape – November 6

Has work ever tried to kill you? It certainly tried to kill Max, an ingenious employee who got trapped in a factory full of dangers. Determined to escape, he uses his rolling ability to navigate obstacles and avoid traps. Every move is crucial as he attempts to flee the factory that holds him captive.


The Fine Art of Murder

Infinite Zone

Xbox One X Enhanced

The Fine Art of Murder – November 6

Unravel the mystery, where every choice shapes your fate. A supernatural gamebook brought to life, with multiple endings to discover. Fully accessible – with or without the screen.


O.W.L Projekt

Eastasiasoft Limited

O.W.L. Projekt – November 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Get ready for an enigmatic and challenging adventure with O.W.L Projekt, a 3D isometric puzzle game that will test your mind and logic skills. Controlling Elysion, a young being created in a mysterious experiment, you will face the enigmatic Watchers in a journey to escape and uncover secrets.


Monarchy

Brain Seal Ltd

Monarchy – November 6

Unleash your strategic brilliance in this 2D side-scrolling strategy game, where you must build a base, manage resources, explore the mysterious forest and conquer your enemies.


Planet Coaster 2

Frontier Developments


19

$49.99

Planet Coaster 2 – November 6

Create a splash with Planet Coaster 2 – sequel to the world’s best coaster park simulator! Reach new heights of creativity, management, and sharing as you construct the theme parks of your dreams combining epic water rides and coasters to delight and thrill your park guests.


SlavicPunk: Oldtimer

Gaming Factory S.A.

SlavicPunk: Oldtimer – November 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

An isometric shooter based upon the works of Michał Gołkowski, a renown Polish sci-fi and fantasy books author. It is him who created the story of Yanus – a private investigator with a troubled past, now trying to solve an unexpected case revolving around a stolen data carrier, all this while fighting his own inner demons, the urban gangs and a nigh-omnipotent corporation responsible for the downfall of the city he used to call his own.


Bioframe Outpost

Omni Systems Publishing

$24.99

Bioframe Outpost – November 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Inspired by classic 70s and 80s sci-fi, Bioframe Outpost is a 2d sci-fi action-adventure game, dedicated to exploration, experimentation, emergent gameplay and narrative. Its unique, photography-based approach to non-linear exploration and action gameplay offers a fresh take on metroidvania gameplay.


Empire of the Ants – Pre-order

Microids

$39.99

Empire of the Ants – November 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Experience an immersive journey and defend your lands through tactical and strategic battles in an epic, microscopic world. Become #103,683, the Ant Savior: lead your colony, rebuild a home, protect it, make it prosper, and conquer new territories throughout different seasons. Exploration, strategy, combat skills, and alliances with local wildlife will be crucial to emerge victorious from the many challenges lying ahead.


Goat Simulator: Remastered

Coffee Stain Publishing AB

Goat Simulator: Remastered – November 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

If you’ve had your horns in the sand for the last 10 years, Goat Simulator is a game about causing as much destruction as you possibly can, as a goat. Headbutt, backflip and ragdoll your way around each level to earn points and come up with creative ways to ruin an NPC’s day.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Magical Bakery

SOEDESCO

Magical Bakery – November 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

A single-player cooking and management game set in an enchanted bakery that sells all sorts of sweets and pastries with a twist — they may contain traces of magic! Experience a life full of magic, challenges, and the joy of creating sweets that will leave a spellbinding impression on your customers.


Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

$49.99

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival – November 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Welcome to Omiko City, where everyone’s favorite Taiko elements come together in one place! Together with Don-chan, meet your new friend, Kumo-kyun and aim to become a Taiko Master! Drum along to the rhythm of your favorite songs and aim to play them from start to finish! Featuring 76 songs across multiple genres such as Anime, Game Music, and more.


Techtonica (Game Preview)

Fire Hose Games


253


$29.99

$23.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass

Techtonica – November 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A first-person factory automation game is set beneath the surface of an alien planet. Work alone or in co-op to build factories, gather resources, research new technologies, mold the destructible terrain, establish a base of operations, and uncover long-forgotten secrets.


ELDERBORN

Hyperstrange

Elderborn – November 8

In the times of legend, the barbarian tribes needed a new dark messiah. This self-described metal action fantasy slasher with brütal FPP melee combat and souls-like/RPG character progression has been five years in the making, combines old-school single-player feel, a classic heroic story, and modern level of skill-based challenge.


Grim Idle

Desert Water Games

Grim Idle – November 8

An idle RPG where the player explores shards of destroyed worlds and fights various enemies. Inspired by old-school dark fantasy RPGs, the game features complex character development, many unique items, and both active and passive playstyles.


Jetpack Kiwi

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Jetpack Kiwi – November 8

A classic 2D side-scrolling shoot ‘em featuring 20 challenging levels, endless hordes of enemy spaceships, and five epic bosses. Aliens have arrived and they’re up to no good and only you can stop them and their thirst for conquest. Choose between multiple characters to play, each one with a unique special attack ability.


Pets Hotel

Ultimate Games S.A.

Pets Hotel – November 8
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Start your adventure and open your own Pets Hotel! All your little guests have different needs. The owners will tell you all about them, and it is your job to feed the pets according to their demands. Don’t forget about grooming and play-time! A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all!


Shieldwall

OverGamez

$17.99

Shieldwall – November 8

Caesar needs you! Gaul won’t be conquered by itself in this funny, third-person tactical battle simulator with strategy elements. Feel like a squad leader right on the battlefield and stand under the Eagle and lead the legion for the glory of Rome!


Silver Axe – The Honest Elf

Happy Player

Silver Axe – The Honest Elf – November 8

As a Forest Elf created by the goddess, take up the goddess’s Silver Axe and seek out the lost power. In this fairy-tale adventure, will you choose to be an honest elf? How will you decide to save the goddess and the forest?


Slitterhead

Bokeh Game Studio lnc.

$49.99

Slitterhead – November 8
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Set in the densely cluttered streets of “Kowlong,” filled with obscurity and chaos, this battle action-adventure game casts players as the “Hyoki,” an entity devoid of memory and physical form. His only motive is to eradicate the monstrous beings known as “Slitterheads” crawling around the city, disguising themselves as humans.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 4 to 8 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Program Community Update – October 2024 ‘Spooky’ Edition

Hey Insiders! Happy Halloween to those who celebrate. The team is currently heads down working (and not at all playing Black Ops 6 between meetings) on getting the next releases and game previews ready.  

It’s been a while since we posted one of these. We wanted to touch base to give you an update about the program and celebrate some of the things that team Xbox and the Insider Program have delivered. As always: a great big thank you to those who have participated in the Xbox Insider program over the years. We’ve got a big list of things to go over.  

‘Freaky’ Feature Friday  

There is an elephant in the room that I wanted to address first: the ‘Feature Friday’ plans for the subreddit that were announced some time ago. We haven’t forgotten our commitment to increased transparency and sharing more in-depth information about our process and ‘Feature Friday’ is part of that.  

First, we read everything that is posted. We are here to champion your feedback and help make the Xbox community the best it can be. If we can’t do that in a way that the community feels heard, something needs to change. Right now, the team has renewed discussions about a few specific options internally. I don’t have more to share today, but I thought it was important to let you know that this is still on the forefront of our minds.

In spookier news, here are some of the terrifying highlights from our Operations team: 

Game “Error when launching store” Previews – Tim W.  

Everyone loves playtests as you get to preview new games or updates. We’ve had some great ones in the last few months including 33 Immortals, Starbound, Rhythm Towers, Off the Grid, FragPunk, and The First Berserker Khazan. We appreciate everyone participating and giving your feedback! We are continuing to partner with different developers to give you more playtests so keep an eye out for new previews and announcements in the Xbox Insider Hub app. The Rhythm Towers preview is still available to join, so if you haven’t already, give it a try. 

If you launch the Xbox Insider Hub and don’t see the game you were expecting, it might be because we’ve reached the limit on users for that preview. Sometimes the developer only wants to target certain regions or requires you to sign up on their website. There are many reasons why you might not see a preview. While we try to include details about preview eligibility in our posts, if you think there’s an issue we always recommend using the Report a Problem feature. 

Console “Gonna install right in the middle of your ranked match” OS – Joshua C  

The past few months have been marked by more than 100 updates across the Xbox Update Preview rings! Together, we’ve seen fundamental updates to the friends and followers experience, and quality of life improvements like being able to choose specific components before starting a game install. There have also been great accessibility features released like toggle hold and being able to map buttons to thumbstick directions, and improvements to custom images for backgrounds and gamerpics. From the smallest changes to the biggest features, Xbox Insiders are always the first to experience the latest and greatest we have to offer. 

Of course, we have also uncovered our fair share of issues these past months, and the feedback you’ve filed with Report a problem has been as invaluable as always. Your continued diligence in providing feedback has played a role in many of the issues resolved recently, including fixes to narrator and magnifier, unexpected game card navigation, as well as major improvements to capturing game clips and taking screenshots. Thank you for helping to make Xbox better for everyone! 

PC “Wait, there’s a PC Insider Preview?” Flighting – Jon H  

Over the past few months, Xbox Insiders on PC had the opportunity to preview several new features: Compact Mode for Game Bar, the new Friends and Followers Experience and just this week a new Home experience in the Xbox App. If you’re interested in previewing new features for PC and supported handhelds, make sure you register for the PC Gaming Preview in the Xbox Insider Hub. 

Interested in Registering? Find out how here 

The Haunting Lifecycle of Insider Feedback: 

I’d like to think I’m a good singer, and wanted to release this section as a video akin to a certain song some of you might have seen in school about how bills are passed on Capitol Hill (you know the one I’m talking about). Fortunately for everyone, that was vetoed.  

But I do want to give the community some insight into how bugs work and why we need specific feedback.   
 
So, you’re playing your favorite game, and it crashes back to the dashboard all of a sudden. You bring up the Report a problem prompt by holding down the Xbox button on your controller and selecting ‘Report a problem.’ After following the prompts and hitting submit, what happens to your feedback?  

Here is the simplified version: your feedback lands in pool of all submitted Insider feedback. The Insider team reviews all the feedback. All of it. Each day, the team sends actionable feedback into another pool where the engineering teams investigate and fix or reroute if necessary.   

That’s why it’s critically important to include specific details. What was the issue and when did you hit it. If you can tell us what you were doing, great! “It crashed” is helpful in that we know your game crashed. “It crashed on the splash screen” is even more helpful because we know when it crashed. “It crashed on the splash screen after I quit one game and then tried launching this one,” includes what you were doing. When in doubt, I recommend erring on the side of including more details. The easier it is for engineers to reproduce the problem, the more likely it is they can fix it. If you don’t want to use your controller, we have a couple other options (including a USB mouse and keyboard or using another device entirely). Read more here: Provide feedback to Team Xbox | Xbox Support 

Thanks again for being an Xbox Insider, we appreciate you.  

The post Xbox Insider Program Community Update – October 2024 ‘Spooky’ Edition appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Indie Selects for October: Game Developers Bringing the Treats

Indie Selects for October: Game Developers Bringing the Treats

Indie Selects October 2024 Hero Image

This month, indie game developers are swinging for the fences. Incredible visuals, inventive game mechanics, audio delights, and chaotic fun are all being showcased with this month’s six Indie Selects.

Indie Selects Image

Each of these games couldn’t be any more different.  Need something really special for you and your kiddos? Check! Something to curb your monster-like rage? Check! Does your eclectic music taste need a treat? Check! Are you so confident about your wordsmithing ability you would bet your afterlife on it? Check! Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):

The Plucky Squire

Plucky Squire Image

The Plucky Squire is a magical adventure game featuring Jot and his friends, who discover their world exists within a storybook. Jot must leap between the 2D storybook and the 3D artist’s table, solving puzzles, boxing badgers, and engaging in mini-games to save his kingdom. Firstly, the game’s art is stunning, just check out the gameplay trailer. In an all-ages story, Jot and his friends battle the wizard Humgrump with the help of DJing Gandalf figure, Moonbeard. The combat is simple, akin to a 2D Zelda game, but frequently interspersed with new puzzles and challenges requiring exploration in 3D on the artist’s desk.

Though single-player, it’s ideal for playing with a child, offering many accessibility options, including the option to skip mini-games and enable puzzle hints from a mini-Wizard. Another standout feature is the ability to collect art scrolls scattered throughout the world, providing insights into the game’s development process, including draft art and design elements that were cut. It’s a visual showcase of the non-linear nature of video game creation, where ideas are created, iterated and sometimes discarded. What better message could you have in a game, all about art, creativity and how media can inspire a lifetime of creativity?

The Plucky Squire

Devolver Digital


52

$29.99

The Plucky Squire follows the magical adventures of Jot and his friends – storybook characters who discover a three-dimensional world outside the pages of their book.

When the malevolent Humgrump realizes he’s the villain of the book – destined to lose his battle against the forces of good for all eternity – he kicks the heroic Jot out of its pages and changes the story forever.

Jot must face challenges, unlike anything he’s ever seen if he is to save his friends from Humgrump’s dark forces and restore the book’s happy ending.

Jump between 2D and 3D worlds in this charming action-adventure – solving puzzles, boxing badgers, flying with a jetpack, and enjoying many more delightful and surprising mini-challenges as you become the hero of a living storybook.

Kill Knight

Kill Knight Image

This game is not for the faint of heart.  Survive the onslaught of enemies in a constantly evolving arena and get rewarded for your aggression and precision with powerful equipment, special abilities and new arenas for slaughter. It’s safe to say, this will not be going in our cozy collection, ladies and gentleman.  Kill Knight is an addictive, violent, adrenaline-charged rampage that is incredibly satisfying.  Each run is fast, chaotic, and fun as hell.

Your character build is made up of your primary weapons, a secondary weapon, a sword, armor, and a relic which will provide some sort of boost to your stats, all of which can be upgraded by unlocking new weapons and equipment. Collecting red orbs, dropped by the enemies you kill, increases your damage, but can also be used to charge your secondary weapon’s special attack, which causes enemies to drop healing orbs to restore your health. This combat mechanic creates a really fun gameplay loop where you end up utilizing enemies as resources that you must maintain a balance between healing and damage. 

The game has high replayability with a ton of thoughtful mechanics, a wide variety of enemies, and painful environmental challenges. Individually, none of these elements necessarily reinvent the genre, but when these ingredients are carefully plated together, it creates one hell of a murder salad.

KILL KNIGHT

PlaySide


36

$14.99

Once a loyal knight, betrayed, and banished to the Abyss. A desecrated corpse inside reanimated armor. You rise to an eternal death. Branded KILL KNIGHT, you have one purpose – KILL THE LAST ANGEL.

FIVE ELDRITCH LAYERS
KILL, OR BE KILLED

MASTER THE DEMON WITHIN
Dance with death in the Abyss, and unveil intricate layers of gameplay lurking beneath the surface. Exploit enemy weaknesses, enact brutal executions, weave through your arsenal to tactically manage resources, and unleash destructive wrath blasts to turn the tide. Every encounter is testament to your mastery.

BEAUTY IN DECAY
KILL KNIGHT’s polished, minimalist aesthetic, and retro visuals pay homage to the neon-soaked arcades and shooters of the 90’s. Set across five relentless, hand-crafted eldritch arenas, KILL KNIGHT embraces lo-fi brutalism and revels in the dread and dream-like ruins that surround your descent into the Abyss.

ETERNAL DAMNATION
Survive the otherworldly onslaught and complete challenges to unlock powerful new equipment for your Knight’s Arsenal, and evolve your unique playstyle. Learn to harness the special abilities and fire-modes of KILL KNIGHT’s array of pistols, heavy weapons, swords, and armor. Take your fight to the global leaderboards against friends and foes alike. Enter if you dare, Knight, and revel in the carnage.

FEATURES
– Fast and visceral top-down, push forward combat that rewards aggression and precision
– An immersive otherworld dripping in corrosive atmosphere with a retro-inspired aesthetic
– Descend through five fatal layers, each more deadly than the last
– Choose your challenge, with four distinct difficulty settings to overcome
– Survive long enough to raise your Kill Power, increasing speed and damage
– Complete challenges to unlock your Knight’s Arsenal, and evolve your playstyle
– Dive into Sever Mode, combining all five layers into one extended arena challenge
– Ascend the global leaderboards, and compete with friends for high-score supremacy

Join the community on Discord!

Keylocker

Keylocker Image

On this planet, music is illegal.  So, naturally, it’s time to do crimes. Keylocker is a Cyberpunk music-themed turn-based RPG where the power of your attack is based on the real-time execution of moves in rhythm.  You are Bobo, a lady ready to rage against the machine and bring freedom to her world. The game allows you to choose between 4 different classes revolved around how offensive or defensive you want to play it: Juggernaut, Hacker, Samurai, and Sequencer. 

The turn-based combat system takes place on a hexagonal grid where you’ll need to time your hits to the exact moment needed, whether you are attacking or defending.  Placement is also critical to this game, so planning out your movements will make a huge difference whether you avoid attacks or receive special buffs and debuffs. You can also plan counters, charge your electricity points or even steal electricity from your opponent.  There’s definitely a learning curve with some of these opponents, but some trial and error can lead to some incredibly satisfying moments of clearing the board. 

Keylocker is a visually stunning and fun turn-based RPG that excels in combining a fresh combat system with a variety of mini-games and boss fights to keep the playthrough exciting.  Also, the music is *chef’s kiss* perfect.

Keylocker

Serenity Forge


3

$19.99

Keylocker is a Cyberpunk turn-based rhythm JRPG. Play as the singer and songwriter, B0B0. Fuel your moves with the electric power of music on this unforgiving planet by using real-time execution of moves in rhythm game style! Choose a unique class, battle the authorities, unlock the secrets of Saturn, play in your own bands’ concerts, and hack into the network to bring an end to this corrupt system, for better or worse.

Story:

| Saturn, Anno 801. |

| Music is banned for 141 years now. |

B0B0 is one of the Doppelgangers, twins born as perfect human beings fit to obey the purpose of the caste they were assigned to. Her purpose is to serve in the lowest caste for the prosperity of Saturn, but B0B0 doesn’t quite agree to that. Amidst a revolution against the Saturnian Satellites, the ultimate form of law, B0B0 hears news of a newfound music robot that’ll fit right in her illegal band as a drummer. Rebelling against the corrupt system using music is the only thing she knows how to do well and she only needed a drummer to join her pack of misfits. With every piece in place, she’s out to break some laws, and discover the truth behind the essence of music: the Keylocker.

Cryptmaster

Cryptmaster Image

Sticks and stones… well those won’t hurt you nearly as much as the words in this game.  In Cryptmaster, words control everything.  You can either type words or even use voice recognition to command your character, uncover lost abilities, fight enemies, and solve baffling riddles.  This may require some adjustment at first as it’s not a typical way you would usually traverse a dungeon, but there’s a ton of accessibility options available if you find yourself limited.

You’ll have 4 heroes to command, each with unique playstyles, and as you progress, you’ll need to help them find their forgotten powers.  This is one of the strangest and most original titles I’ve played in a while with a very creepy aesthetic, memorable side characters, a great story with a surprisingly funny undertone, and one-of-a-kind mechanics. If you are a collector of the strange and rare, boy do I have a gem for you!

Cryptmaster

Akupara Games


9

$24.99

SAY ANYTHING in this bizarre dungeon adventure where words control everything. Fill in the blanks with text or voice to uncover lost abilities, embark on strange quests, and solve mindbending riddles. Can you conquer the crypt and uncover the mystery at the heart of CRYPTMASTER?

In the ancient past, four brave heroes banded together to destroy a terrible evil, giving their lives to save countless others. But now their eternal rest has been disturbed by the Cryptmaster, a capricious necromancer in whose thrall they must ascend through the buried strata of the city above them – the gloomy Bonehouses, mysterious Sunken Sea and freakish Downwood.

With the enigmatic Soulstone in hand, the four adventurers must recover their memories, solve whimsical puzzles and defeat outlandish enemies. From fishing and card games to bardic rap battles, finding the right word is the key to success. Who knows, maybe you’ll even remember a little more than you bargained for…

Beyond Galaxyland

Beyond Galaxyland Image

Beyond Galaxyland is a gorgeous side-scrolling RPG that seeks to dig into the classic space adventure genre and give it a spark of humor and depth. The story focuses on Doug, whose life abruptly changes one day when a cataclysmic event “destroys” the Earth and Doug is transported to the other side of the galaxy together with his adorable guinea pig friend Boom Boom. From there, their adventure begins, and the duo journey through various planets, each with their own unique aesthetic and characters, with the goal of finding out what happened to their home.

The combat system respects the classic turn-based formula and builds on it by adding new members to the party as your progress and even a “catch” mechanic where you can catch various enemies and summon them in future fights. Overall, the game offers a great balance of things to explore, characters to meet, enemies to fight and mysteries to solve and it is astonishing that it was basically done by one person.

Beyond Galaxyland

United Label


26

$17.99

Inspired by classic sci-fi movies, Beyond Galaxyland is an intergalactic, 2.5D adventure-RPG set among the stars. Step into the sneakers of high-schooler Doug, as he’s whisked away to ‘Galaxyland’ – a zoo-like solar system of planets – on an epic quest to save Earth itself.

An all-new take on the beloved RPG adventures of old, prepare for a journey like no other, skyrocketing through teeming jungles, neon-lit cities, and cybernetic casinos, with each new planet brimming with intriguing characters, fiendish adversaries, and many other surprises.

Accompanied by Doug’s pet guinea pig – the pistol-wielding Boom Boom – and a sentient robot called MartyBot, together you must defend the world against an all-powerful entity known only as ‘The End’, before it conquers the Universe itself…

No pressure.

A Bold New Take on the Classic Sci-Fi Caper!
Experience firsthand all the thrills and spills of a retro sci-fi adventure, in an all-new take on the fish-out-of-water tale that sticks you right in the centre of the action! Laughter, loss, peril and friendship, Beyond Galaxyland has it all and then some, dipped in a dazzling layer of neon-tastic pixels.

Explore a Solar System of Extraordinary Worlds
From the blizzard-swept planes of Arcos to the tropical jungle ravines of Erros, the neon-buzzing cities of Neo to the arid sand dunes of Xalm, explore a cosmic cluster of unique worlds, each with its own quests, environmental puzzles, and out-of-this-world characters.

Overcome Cosmic Foes in Tactical Turn-Based Combat
Engage in strategic turn-based battles against a vast range of galactic nemeses, with time-responsive defensive gameplay to minimise damage. Each party member has a range of unique abilities at their disposal, but for an additional tactical advantage, sneakily scan your enemy pre-battle to discover their strengths and weaknesses.

Experience Epic Boss Battles
Each planet boasts its own distinct perils, but none more so than the epic bosses you’ll encounter throughout your extraterrestrial travels, including colossal space dragons, flesh eating flowers, and the all-knowing bionic behemoth that is Mother Brain.

Capture Enemies to Use in Battle
Successfully capture the many weird and wonderful creatures you encounter, to later unleash them in battle, with each possessing a number of exclusive abilities. Will you acquire every last one?

Starship Troopers: Extermination

Starship Troopers Image

Set in the same universe as the 1997 cult classic film, Starship Troopers: Extermination is a co-op first-person shooter with some twists to set it apart from the rest of the genre. You’ll join the Deep Space Vanguard, an elite Special Forces branch of the Mobile Infantry, as you battle against the Bug menace in an effort to claim victory for humanity.

Each match features 16 players joining forces to build a base, all while fending off wave after wave of skittering enemies. One innovative feature the game sports is that enemy corpses pile up on the battlefield, obstructing your line of sight while giving the next wave of enemies something to help them scale your base’s walls. Starship Troopers: Extermination is a refreshing blast of emergent gameplay, so there’s only one more question: Are you doing your part?

Starship Troopers: Extermination

Knights Peak


121

$49.99

Insectoid creatures known as Arachnids crawl from the bowels of Federation planets, with their endless, bloodthirsty hordes threatening humanity’s very existence. The United Citizen Federation needs YOU to put an end to this invasion. Join the Deep Space Vanguard as an elite Trooper and do your part — for freedom, for humanity, for the Federation!

Welcome to Starship Troopers: Extermination, a 16-player online co-op first-person shooter set in the cult classic Starship Troopers universe.

A GALAXY AT WAR
Your mission: scour expansive planets and warzones while battling relentless hordes of Bugs. With hundreds of Arachnids and carapaces swarming your screen at a time, you Troopers are the only ones holding back the tide in this immense planetary struggle!

DO YOUR PART
Take orders from the legendary General Johnny Rico (voiced by Casper Van Dien) in an all-new single-player mode. Squad up for the full 16-player co-op experience and fight together to crush Bug incursions across the galaxy. The battlefield expands in the Galactic Front, where you can join a Company, push for collective goals and special rewards, and influence the ongoing story.

WELCOME TO THE NEW VANGUARD
Choose from six classes to suit your playstyle and support your squad. Attack with the Ranger, squash Bugs at range with the Sniper, deal devastation with the Demolisher, cover your team with the Guardian, fortify positions with the Engineer, and save lives with the Medic. Progress with each class to unlock new weapons, equipment, perks, and customization options. Do your part AND look the part!

THE ONLY GOOD BUG…
Increasing threat levels beckon bigger, more dangerous Bugs… so you’re going to need to hunker down to stand a chance. Retake and rebuild bases, and construct refineries, towers, machine-gun turrets, and more to wrest control of planets away from the Bug menace. Get your defenses ready, then aim for the weak spots on Drones, Warriors, Gunners, Plasma Grenadiers, Tanker Bugs, and many more ugly varieties of Arachnid bastards!

The post Indie Selects for October: Game Developers Bringing the Treats appeared first on Xbox Wire.