Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha (2402.240117-2200)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

System Update Details:

OS Version: XB_FLT_2402ZN25398.3429.240117-2200
Available: 2 p.m. PT – January 19, 2024
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – January 20, 2024

New Features and Experiences

We have exciting news! Alpha users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.

My Games & Apps – Improved Filtering and Sorting

We’ve added some new filters and sorts to My Games & Apps to help you find exactly what you’re looking for! You can now filter games by Accessibility Options, Supported Languages, and Technical Capabilities. Additionally, subscription tabs have been updated to sort by recently added making it easier to see what’s new. Of course, you can always change the sorting if you prefer something else. Just head to My Games & Apps then Full library where you can find all the new filtering and sorting options.

Xbox Guide

Starting today, a random subset of users will notice a new experience in some areas of the guide. If you have feedback, be sure to submit it via Report a Problem!

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

Home

Fixes to improve unexpected errors loading Home during sign in.

System

Fixed an issue where recently added profiles were being removed after the console was restarted.
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
- Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console. To learn more visit: What’s This? Learn More About Pseudo-Loc in Preview.

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If you’re unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
  - When did the issue start?
  - Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
  - Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
  - Does rebooting resolve the issue?
  - What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
  - And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.

Networking

We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
- Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide. Learn more here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha (2402.240117-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Embark on a Heroic Quest in Knights of Braveland, Coming to Xbox

Knights of Braveland brings an epic action RPG experience to Xbox, offering players an endlessly replayable adventure set in the mesmerizing Braveland universe. Whether venturing solo or teaming up with up to four knights, the journey from a rookie to a kingdom hero is filled with excitement and unpredictable challenges.

Unique Gameplay Mechanics

In Knights of Braveland, each quest is uniquely crafted from hundreds of different events, creating a distinct story every time. The game’s innovative mechanics allow for diverse playstyles, thanks to an extensive array of equipment including swords, magic staffs, and more. The four-player co-op mode adds a communal dimension, enabling friends to battle together on the same screen.

Expansive World and Upgradeable Castle

Players can immerse themselves in the richly detailed world of Braveland, where knights reveal secret paths and ordinary characters may hold extraordinary secrets. The option to upgrade your castle before each raid adds a strategic layer, enhancing the gameplay experience.

Becoming a Hero

Choose your origin – be it a peasant, blacksmith, tracker, or rogue – and embark on a journey to become Braveland’s most renowned knight. Each choice impacts your path, making every playthrough unique.

Exciting DLCs Released with the Main Game

Alongside the main game, we are launching four DLC packs on February 1:

Fantastic Beasts DLC: Battle new bosses, play as the Wizard, and collect unique gear.
Fun And Memes DLC: Introduces whimsical items like a pigeon mask or a carrot sword for a humorous twist.
Around The World DLC: Offers globally inspired weapons and hats, along with a new hero, the Pirate.
Hero Pack DLC: Adds two new characters, Monk and Blacksmith, with additional gear.

Preorder Today

Knights of Braveland, along with its exciting DLCs, is available for pre-order today, offering players early access to this captivating world, and will launch on Xbox on February 1st, 2024. .

Get ready to dive into the action-packed universe of Knights of Braveland and carve your path to glory. Whether you’re a solo adventurer or a team player, a grand quest awaits you on Xbox!

Knights of Braveland

Ellada Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

$17.99

Pre-order

Xbox One X Enhanced

Knights of Braveland is a cooperative beat’em up action game with a generated story. You will hack, slash, and smash your way to victory. And with your friends it is much more fun.

Smash your way to victory solo or in a team up to 4 knights. Infinite replayable action RPG in Braveland universe.

Join the Heroes Guild and travel the path from a rookie to the hero of the kingdom. Head on a hunt for the vicious boss solo or with your friends. Your adventure will be randomly generated from hundreds of different events.

Once you sign up a contract to catch the villain, you’ll head into an adventure. Each quest is created from hundreds of particular events, melding into a unique story. The Elves will reveal secret paths to you and the ordinary pub owner might very well turn out to be a werewolf.

The post Embark on a Heroic Quest in Knights of Braveland, Coming to Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 22 – 26

Category: Next Week on Xbox

January 19, 2024

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 22 – 26

Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor

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!

Howl

astragon Entertainment GmbH

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99

$13.49

Pre-order

Howl – January 23
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A turn-based tactical folktale set in medieval times. Play as a deaf heroine plunged into danger in search of a cure of a sinister “howling plague” that has ravaged the land, turning all who hear it into feral beasts.

Lil’ Guardsman

Versus Evil, LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Lil’ Guardsman – January 23
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Question humans, elves, goblins, cyclopes, and other fantasy creatures using your powers of deduction to determine who to admit or deny based on how they respond to your questions and your trusty tools. Sending visitors to jail, inadvertently zapping them to smithereens, or letting them go on their merry way are all part of the job.

Stumble Guys

Scopely, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Stumble Guys – January 23
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Join millions of players and stumble to victory in this fun multiplayer knockout battle royale! Are you ready to enter the chaos? Running, stumbling, falling, jumping, and winning has never been so fun!

Anomaly Agent

NAISU

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99

$12.74

Pre-order

Anomaly Agent – January 24

Become Agent 70 and stop the anomalies threatening to destroy the balance of the world! With memorable characters, unique Anomaly Bosses, a story full of twists, and smooth gameplay, Anomaly Agent is an adventure to be savored. We hope you enjoy your journey!

Climber: Sky is the Limit

Art Games Studio S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$12.49

Pre-order

Climber: Sky is the Limit – January 24

A mountain walking simulator game where you are a climber who takes on the most difficult and dangerous peaks on Earth. To succeed you need to plan your journey carefully by preparing appropriate equipment, choosing a suitable trail, facing extreme weather conditions, and surviving. Conquer your limits, overcome your fear, and reach the sky.

Remains

SoloQ

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$9.99

Pre-order

Remains – January 24

After a terrible incident, you were left in complete silence and absolute loneliness in the orbit of your planet. There is no one to help you, and you must survive and find out what caused such an incident. Find a way to restore oxygen, create tools for your needs, built a shelter in orbit while managing the dangers of outer space.

Saga of the Moon Priestess

Eastasiasoft Limited

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Saga of the Moon Priestess – January 24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Tragedy strikes the world of Lunaria as the illustrious prince is kidnapped by an unknown assailant! The well-being of the land itself now rests in the hands of a young hero, Sarissa, as she must fight, explore, and figure out how to rescue the young prince in this retro, top-down action adventure inspired by 8 and 16-bit classics.

Shalnor Legends 2: Trials of Thunder

Johnny Ostad

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Shalnor Legends 2: Trials of Thunder – January 24

A Story-Rich RPG/Action-Adventure game, made by one person over the span of five years. Step into the shoes of the young Orc Mogren and explore all of Thunder Island. Venture into dangerous dungeons, explore caves, solve puzzles, and help the residents of the island with their quests.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$49.99

Pre-order

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy – January 25
Xbox Play Anywhere

Join rookie attorney Apollo Justice and his mentor, the legendary Phoenix Wright, in this collection of 3 games! This title features the 14 episodes of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice, and the two DLC-only Special Episodes for a total of 16 episodes!

Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil

QUByte Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil – January 25

A story focused horror game where you play as a priest and help a family with their cursed house. As Aughust Heylel, an exorcist legitimized by the Vatican and a relevant priest doesn’t believe in his own faith anymore. He writes a letter talking about his life and his worst mission, the case “Roots of Evil”, which started in 1984. His mission was to investigate a house with paranormal activities, but the problem was way deeper. The case stuck into Aughust’s head for more than 30 years, and now, it’s finally the time to finish it!

Go Mecha Ball

Super Rare Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Go Mecha Ball – January 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

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

Hidden Through Time 2

Rogueside

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic – January 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Join Clicky on a new, enchanted adventure in Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic! This charming 2D hidden object game is sure to delight with its playful tone, cozy vibes, and endless fun. Search for all the hidden objects scattered around beautiful hand-drawn worlds and unlock more as you go.

The House of Da Vinci

Blue Brain Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

The House of Da Vinci – January 25

Enter The House of Da Vinci, a must-try 3D puzzle adventure game. Solve mechanical puzzles, discover hidden objects, escape from rooms and dive into the authentic atmosphere of the Renaissance. Use all your wits to find out what’s behind your master’s disappearance.

Jett Rider – Reduce, reuse and BLAST IT OFF!

JanduSoft

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$12.49

$9.99

Pre-order

Jett Rider – Reduce, Reuse, and Blast It Off – January 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Jett Rider, the most unlikely hero, stars in the biggest 2D adventure of the year. Save the planet Gravos, free its people, face the toughest bosses… And don’t forget to recycle!

Phantom Abyss (Game Preview)

Devolver Digital

☆☆☆☆☆
153

★★★★★

$24.99

$19.99

Get it now

Xbox Game Pass

Free Trial

Phantom Abyss (1.0) – January 25
Game Pass

A massive asynchronous multiplayer game that casts you into procedurally generated temples and tasks you with retrieving the sacred relics hidden within deadly chambers. Dodge scores of hidden traps, leap treacherous chasms, and flee relentless guardians through branching paths until one of the relics are claimed or the devices of death overwhelms you.

PuzzlePet – Feed Your Cat

Afil Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

PuzzlePet – Feed Your Cat – January 25

If you are passionate about kittens and enjoy solving puzzles, we have the perfect game for you: Feed Your Cat! Move the cat’s paw to grab the canned food and please the adorable kittens that appear on the map. The difficulty gradually increases, and players need to think about the order of obtaining the food before delivering it to the felines.

Starward Rogue

Klabater

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Starward Rogue – January 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Starward Rogue is a bullet hell twin-stick shooter. Blast your way through the Megalith, a rogue-lite labyrinth lodged in the side of a star. Customize your mech with a huge variety of weapons, perks, and upgrades. Steel yourself for the dangers that lurk in the depths of the dungeon.

Classic Pool

Revulo Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Classic Pool – January 26

Dive into the captivating world of Classic Pool, an exhilarating game that invites you to showcase and elevate your skills in the timeless realm of pool. Immerse yourself in the challenge as you select from a diverse array of AI opponents, each with their unique strategies. With an extensive collection of cues and tables at your fingertips, the possibilities are as endless as your ambition.

Dead Tomb

8 Bit Legit

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$4.99

Pre-order

Dead Tomb – January 26

A point-and-click adventure game that will take you back to the heyday of retro gaming. Your employer sends you on a study that takes you back in time, but as fate would have it, you find yourself in a serious predicament. A malfunction in your ship forces you to land in Egypt 1300BC where luckily you spot a huge pyramid you can set your craft down on.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Standard Edition

SEGA

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – January 26

Live it up in Japan and explore all that Hawaii has to offer in an adventure so big it spans the Pacific. Two larger-than-life heroes brought together by the hand of fate, or perhaps something more sinister… Ichiban Kasuga, an unstoppable underdog, and Kazuma Kiryu, a broken man facing down a battle of his last days of life. Experience one-of-a-kind combat with dynamic, fast-paced RPG battles where the battlefield becomes your weapon, and anything goes.

sCATch 2: The Painter Cat

Colossus Game Studio

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

sCATch 2: The Painter Cat – January 26

sCATch 2 is a puzzle game where the goal is paint all colorful places of the maze and come to the exit. Combining colors and items with different mechanics on the way.

Croc’s World 4

Sprakelsoft GmbH

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Croc’s World 4 – January 26

After millions played the first 3 parts of “Croc’s World” it´s now time for “Croc’s World 4”! “Croc’s World 4” is a classical platformer with a lot of new enemies and new twists!

The Adventures of Panzer: Legacy Collection

Ratalaika Games S.L.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

The Adventures of Panzer: Legacy Collection – January 26

After nearly a decade; the legendary raid leader, General Panzer returns from his mysterious hiatus. Rejoined by his trusty lieutenant, Blarghe, the two of them set off on an incredible adventure to revisit their old raid team members.

Tardy

Drageus Games S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Tardy – January 26
Xbox Play Anywhere

Ramto isn’t the smartest guy in the Universe. He enjoys finding troubles – and solving them. But when he woke up on a spaceship, it was too much even for him. Now among heaps of weird devices created by a schizophrenic engineer, he’s on a quest to deal with crazy machines, solve a mystery of a vanished crew, and try to find a way back home.

TEKKEN 8

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Tekken 8 – January 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Get ready for the next chapter in the legendary fighting game franchise! Fist meets fate by bringing the fight to the new generation. Completely redesigned character visuals. Elaborate, highly detailed models built from the ground up, and high-fidelity graphics break the limits of new-generation hardware by adding a new weight and atmosphere to Tekken’s signature battles. Vivid environments and destructible stages combine to create an overwhelming sense of immersion, creating the ultimate play experience.

Tibetan Quest: Beyond World’s End (Xbox Version)

Artifex Mundi

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

Tibetan Quest: Beyond World’s End – January 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Journey to the mystical city of Shangri-La to find your missing niece. Embark on an adventure at the edge of the world to save Larisa from the clutches of the ancient labyrinth in this captivating hidden object game that blends elements of the thriller and adventure genres with oriental esotericism and lore.

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 22 – 26 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Xbox App [2401.1000.59.0]

Hey Xbox Insiders! We are releasing a new Xbox App for Windows build to Xbox Insiders who are enrolled in the PC Gaming Insiders preview! Thank you all for being Xbox Insiders. Continue read to learn about fixes and known issues. Make sure that you update the Xbox app, and Gaming Services to ensure you get all of the fixes!

New Versions of PC Gaming prerelease products:

Xbox App version: 2401.1000.59.0

Available: 5:00 p.m. PT – January 18th, 2023

Current versions of Windows Gaming prerelease products:

Game Bar version: 6.123.11012.0

Released: 5:00 p.m. PT – November 3rd, 2023

Xbox App Bug Fixes:

Fixed an issue where certain pages weren’t loading when trying to preinstall games.
Fixed an issue where the tooltip for games in MRU doesn’t always show the full title
Fixed various UI issues, including some cut-off text, misaligned buttons, truncated text, etc…
Fixed an issue where the “only show unread messages” setting did not persist after changing it
Fixed an issue where playtime might not correctly show up in a friend’s profile.
Fixed various issues where content was not correctly displaying upon initially loading the app

Known Issues:

The team is investigating an issue where you might see an error when trying to install a small number of games.
The team is investigating an issue where some buttons on certain screens do not properly render

How to Get Xbox Insider Support

Don’t forget! If you encounter any issues, you can leave feedback by navigating to the feedback option on your profile menu.

You can also provide feedback, as well as interact with the community, on the Xbox Insiders Subreddit. Please be as specific as possible when providing feedback.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to threads with the same issue before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can!

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information!

Thank you to everyone who participates in the Xbox Insider Program! Your feedback helps us continue to build a great gaming experience in the Xbox app on PC.

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Xbox App [2401.1000.59.0] appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Gameplay Reveal

The post Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Gameplay Reveal appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Free Play Days – UFC 5, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, AEW: Fight Forever and Make Way

Get ready to rumble, embark on a swashbuckling adventure, grapple your way to victory, and make your way to the top this weekend on Xbox with Free Play Days! UFC 5, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, AEW: Fight Forever and Make Way are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday January 18 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, January 21 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.

How To Start Playing

Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Keep The Fun Going

Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.

Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)

UFC® 5

Electronic Arts

☆☆☆☆☆
331

★★★★★

$69.99

$48.99

Get it now

Free Trial

UFC 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Powered by Frostbite, EA Sports UFC 5 is the next evolution of the fight game. From unrivalled graphics upgrades to all-new damage systems and doctor stoppages that affect gameplay in truly authentic fashion — this is as real as it gets.

AEW: Fight Forever Bring the Boom Edition

THQ Nordic

☆☆☆☆☆
52

★★★★★

$89.99

Get it now

AEW: Fight Forever
Developed by YUKE’S, AEW: Fight Forever combines nostalgic arcade-wrestling with All Elite Wrestling finishers and moves. Fight Forever features a big roster of AEW talent, multiple match types including 4-way, tag-team, unsanctioned lights-out, and tons of customization options. Career mode, more than 40 weapons, and so much more for fighting and grappling fans alike!

Make Way

Secret Mode

☆☆☆☆☆
6

★★★★★

$14.99

Get it now

Make Way
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Grab your friends and join the chaos! Make Way is a chaotic multiplayer racing game where up to four players battle to cross the finish line, all while avoiding obstacles and blowing each other up with wacky weapons. The twist? There are no pre-built courses. You’ll have to build your own tracks from a random selection of ridiculous pieces, race on your creations, then add to the track and repeat until a winner is decided. Play with up to four racers locally or online with cross-platform play. Join the fun for free from January 18-21.

ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4 Ultimate Edition (Xbox One)

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
59

★★★★★

$94.99

$47.49

Get it now

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4
All aboard, pirates! Battle your way through waves of enemies as your favorite One Piece characters in One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4. In a search for treasure, relive some of the One Piece series’ most memorable moments that span all the way from the beginning. Adventure awaits as One Piece Film: Red pack – featuring new characters from One Piece Film: Red– is available to purchase now and is included for owners of Character Pass 2. The new additional episode DLC and One Piece Film: Red Anime Song pack is also available on digital stores.

Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.

The post Free Play Days – UFC 5, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, AEW: Fight Forever and Make Way appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Exoprimal: The Hunt is On With a New 10-Player Monster Hunter-Themed Co-op Mission

Hi, everyone! Your local, friendly Aibius Corp. PR rep here to tell you about the latest free Title Update coming to Exoprimal, and just in time, too – Exoprimal is on sale for 50% off across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC now through January 30! Buckle up because we have two new 10-player co-op missions with boss fights – including a truly special Monster Hunter crossover – new Exosuit variants to take for a spin, a new map to explore, more rigs and modules to augment your gameplay, and out-of-this-world cosmetics that’ll have you looking like you’re living in 3043 while everyone else is stuck in 2043. Don’t check your calendar, check out what we have in store for you!

We’re proud to share that our roster of Exosuits will be expanding with a set of unlockable β (Beta) variant suits! Just like the α (Alpha) suits before them, these suits have unique weapons that change up the way you play, adding new ways to roast dinosaurs and toast the competition. And that’s not the only roster that’s getting an upgrade: the list of missions provided by Leviathan, who we’ll remind you is our extremely stable, reliable, and trustworthy AI, is also expanding with two new 10-player co-op missions!

Exoprimal Screenshot — The Barrage Beta Variant Exosuit

First up, we have the Neo Triceratops. This multi-horned terror has been uphanced on its journey through time, resulting in fun-tastic mutations that you wouldn’t see on a normal dinosaur. While a typical Triceratops is a challenge on its own, this is a particularly vicious fight that requires rival squads to work together as a team of 10. Skilled Exofighters who exhibit how teamwork makes the dream work will be rewarded with bonus existence. Do your best out there!

In addition, Aibius Research and Development has recorded what appears to be a Rathalos from the Monster Hunter series (based on data recovered from charred Exosuits). While we’ve seen our fair share of dinosaurs, we haven’t seen anything quite like this. Rathalos is capable of flight, fire breathing, and devastating attacks with its tail, claws, and body. We’ve even received reports that small, raptor-like creatures called Velociprey tend to show up alongside the Rathalos as well. Good luck coming back in one piece! Remember, per your employee agreement, Aibius is not responsible for any on-the-job loss of pieces.

Following in the footsteps of Monster Hunter: World, seasoned Exofighters may begin to see monster tracks across a variety of maps while working towards Dino Survival objectives. In Monster Hunter: World, gathering up enough tracks will help guide you to the monster that you’re looking for. What do you suppose that means if you gather enough of them in Exoprimal? (That’s your cue to go find some tracks, Exofighters!)

We’re also pleased to bring some additional information on this monstrous encounter to you, courtesy of Exoprimal’s development team!

Several members of Exoprimal’s dev team have also worked on Monster Hunter titles in the past, so they felt that bringing these two worlds together was a natural fit. It makes sense, really, as both Exoprimal and Monster Hunter are about a team of people working together to take down fearsome foes. When fans expressed their hopes that there would be a crossover with Monster Hunter in the future, the Exoprimal team decided that they’d lock it in.

In addition, the Rathalos is an iconic monster from the storied series, so it felt like a natural fit to include this flying wyvern as both a representative of Monster Hunter and as a formidable threat in Exoprimal. Based on player feedback and the popularity of 10-player missions, the dev team adjusted the scope of this boss battle to ensure it was both fun and challenging for a 10-player hunting party.

The dev team also made sure that the Rathalos’ movements and attacks are true to Monster Hunter, re-creating the thrill of the hunt for Exofighters while reinforcing the role-based co-op gameplay and strategy that Exoprimal is built on. We won’t spoil the details, but fans of Monster Hunter who know the tricks of the trade will have an edge when it comes to fighting the Rathalos. Meeting certain conditions will also change the in-game music. Make sure you’re communicating with your fellow Hunters – er, Exofighters – to work together and make your hunt successful!

That about wraps things up for us, but there’s even more included in Exoprimal’s Season 3 update, including new Monster Hunter cosmetics, a new season of the Survival Pass, limited-time campaigns for Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day, and a Double XP Campaign on top of the rigs, modules, map, Exosuit variants, and boss fight missions we already mentioned. Exoprimal is available now for 50% off, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to pick it up while it’s on sale and join the hunt on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (also available with Game Pass)!

Exoprimal

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆
587

★★★★★

$59.99

$29.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Exoprimal is an online, team-based action game that pits humanity’s cutting-edge exosuit technology against history’s most ferocious beasts – dinosaurs.

Exosuits are grouped into different roles, and players will pilot these exosuits to hold firm against overwhelming dinosaur swarms in online-only, team-based action game modes.
Dino Survival, the main game mode, sees two teams of five players compete in a variety of PvE and PvP missions.
Players will be transported to the scene of the latest dinosaur outbreak and follow Leviathan’s guidance to complete objectives. The team that completes the mission first will emerge victorious.
Whether players are engaging the other team directly, or fighting alongside them against a common enemy, the aim is to accomplish objectives as quickly as possible. Missions vary depending on player skill and other factors, meaning no two matches will unfold the same way.

The post Exoprimal: The Hunt is On With a New 10-Player Monster Hunter-Themed Co-op Mission appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead (2408.240114-2000)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring today.

Details can be found below!

System Update Details:

OS Version: RS_XBOX_DEV_FLIGHT26029.1004.240114-2000
Available: 2 p.m. PT – January 17, 2024
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – January 18, 2024

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

System

Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
- Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console. To learn more visit: What’s This? Learn More About Pseudo-Loc in Preview.

Known Issues

Audio

We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If you’re unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
  - When did the issue start?
  - Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
  - Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
  - Does rebooting resolve the issue?
  - What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
  - And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.

Networking

We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
- Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide. Learn more here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

System – Profiles

We are aware recently added profiles may be removed after restarting the console, and a fix is coming in a subsequent update.
Workaround: While signed in, open the guide then navigate to Profile & system > Settings > System > Access restrictions > Access restrictions options then disable the Delete profiles on sign out option.

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead (2408.240114-2000) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

How Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Builds on Rayman’s Platforming Legacy

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches tomorrow, January 18, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and is available now with a Ubisoft+ subscription or for purchasers of the Digital Deluxe Edition. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an adventure inspired by Persian mythology and the Metroidvania genre, in which players step into the boots of Sargon – the youngest member of Persia’s most elite warriors, the Immortals – and brave the dangers of the mysterious Mount Qaf on a journey to save the kidnapped Prince Ghassan. Wielding acrobatic parkour abilities, mystical time powers, and fluid, combo-driven sword skills, Sargon discovers a world shattered by a time curse, where he’ll battle sand zombies, screen-filling monsters, and even alternate versions of himself.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio behind Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends – and some of those games’ DNA persists in Sargon’s adventure, particularly when it comes to platforming. Like Rayman and crew, Sargon has a certain rhythm and bounce to his movements that helps make exploration a blast, and a lot of his time is spent navigating deviously designed platforming sequences that dare players to thread their way through gauntlets of spikes and traps with increasingly less room for error. To find out more about this connection, and how Ubisoft Montpellier’s experience on the Rayman games helped shape Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, we spoke with Game Director Mounir Radi.

Rayman Origins, Rayman Legends, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown are obviously very different games, but is it fair to say the Rayman games were a starting point or reference for The Lost Crown?

For the platforming aspect, yes; not for the combat. Those two things are quite different, but for the platforming aspect, the flow, we are talking about how to convey the weight of your character and the musicality. When we are talking about level design and the way you progress through levels, I like to compare Rayman and Prince of Persia to musical partitions, and this is where we used our expertise the most in mastering the flow of progression.

Some developers tend to build a game before a toy, and we took a lot of time to make a toy first. Before having Sargon and his animation, we worked with just a capsule. Sargon was, for one year, a capsule – and yes, it was super weird! But if you establish a good weight, a good flow, and a good feel with the capsule first – and then bring the animation, the VFX, and the background, you can upgrade this feel in phases. If it’s the other way, you might miss something.

We took a lot of time after that to try to figure out how to convey Sargon’s weight, and to think about his physicality. The weight, for me, is the whole thing, and we took a lot of time figuring out the lengths of specific animations to convey it – sometimes it was just about one frame. One frame, I swear it! We were like, “One frame! No, remove this frame!” We were jumping, bouncing. And it was super-important, because while this approach is super-demanding, it pays off in the end.

Speaking of weight – what do you need to do differently to communicate the weight of a cartoon character like Rayman, versus a more anime-inspired hero like Sargon? What needs to be different about how they move?

You know, when you deal with a character who has no arms and no legs, you are not exposed to the uncanny valley. Your brain can accept everything; Rayman is using his hair to fly, and that’s OK. But when you are playing with Sargon, you are in semi-reality. You are expecting specific things from his movements. Sometimes you can trick players, but you have to do it step by step, and use specific references that players may know, so they can accept new things.

Sargon is an Immortal; he’s part of a specific world-building logic. Even if it’s mythological, people have weight, so when we were working with our animators and VFX team, and even with the 3D models, we took a lot of time to find the right balance. It’s during special abilities, like when you parry, when you are using fancy executions, and when you use your Athra Surge abilities, that you reach the highest point of spectacularity, of superheroic capacity. During this, we bring in these flashy colors, which is our way to indicate that you just unleashed a super ability, and you performed it the right way – because these are not something you can perform without a challenge. To perform an execution, you have to parry; to perform an Athra Surge, you have to build up your gauge.

So we used fighting games as a reference, like Super Smash Bros. or Street Fighter, because in those games, there’s purity in the balance between each attack; one attack, one function. That’s why there’s one button in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for attacking.

Musicality in the Rayman games and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is something you’ve spoken about previously, with the idea that platforming has a clear rhythm. How does that affect the shape the level design takes? How do you find a beat that works consistently?

It’s about foreshadowing the path for the players. We used the camera to ensure that the path is super-readable, and made sure that the blocking elements of level design present a specific variety. Imagine that you’re on the ground and you have to go upward; in some games, you’d jump three times to rise three levels, so it’s hitting the same button three times – pam, pam, pam! The same button triggers the same sound, the same animation, the same VFX. That can cause fatigue, and we tried to manage this fatigue – to bring short notes, long notes, and to be sure that players have the ability to create a partition.

Level design offers different ways to create different partitions, and it involves a lot of iteration, because sometimes you have friction. Wwhen you see people being exposed to a challenge for the first time, and you know that they are in the zone, and they are able to pass the challenge, that means that you got it right. That means that you took enough time to train them before, so that they could absorb the mechanics – and that now, with their reflexes, they can predict the path. They have the ability to stay in the flow.

One clear callback to the Rayman games is the Xerxes Coins, which echo the Skull Coins in Rayman Origins and Legends. They float in midair close to hazards that can often be very challenging to navigate, and players need not only to grab the coins, but to land safely in order to claim them. Have the developers always had that affinity for this kind of very tight “splatforming,” or is it something that developed over time?

It was right from the beginning. When you’re talking about exploration, people are free to experiment with different abilities in this world. So sometimes, when you have a specific path and you give players some tools, you cannot control how they beat that path, even if there’s a specific challenge. By offering them Xerxes challenges, we were more in control. We were saying, “you have to beat it like this, to play it like this, in order to play as intended.” That was our way to get players to play specific notes in a place where they’re aware of the composition. They can use the same attacks, they can use the same amulets, they can use the same abilities to progress, but when we use Xerxes challenges, we are telling our players to play with these specific conditions or elements.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has a few superficial similarities with Rayman in terms of combat – the feel of the aerial slam attacks, for example – but The Lost Crown’s combat is much more elaborate and responsive, in a way that’s rare even for Metroidvanias. How did that new approach take shape?

First and foremost, before even going into the Metroidvania genre, we wanted it to be a Prince of Persia game. In Prince of Persia, when you venture into the world and fight against enemies, colliding with enemies is not a danger. In a lot of Metroidvanias, enemies are obstacles: if you touch them, you’ll take a hit. But that was not what we wanted to achieve here, because for me, Prince of Persia is about experimentation.

In the previous games, and even in the Sands of Time trilogy, the choreographic aspect of the combat was animation-driven: You press a button, you execute an animation. Sometimes it’s a flowy animation and an execution, but there’s a balance between execution and spectacle. To make sure that this new choreography is in the hands of the player, we wanted to be sure that the game is super-responsive. So the choreographic aspect is back, but now it’s the player doing their own choreography with the toolsets we give them.

This is a new approach, and one intended for fairness – but also because if a player uses a defensive mechanic like a parry, dodge, or even a jump, it could cancel any animation. And that was the beginning, because this is less a vertical approach to game design, and much more of a horizontal approach to game design: Give them toolsets, amulets, and special abilities, and they can compose their own playstyle. I think that’s part of the legacy of Prince of Persia, of respecting players’ cleverness. This is authored gameplay, and players are free to compose, to create, to build their own choreography.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches on January 18 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC – and players with a Ubisoft+ subscription, or who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition, can start playing Sargon’s adventure right away. Secrets and danger abound throughout Mount Qaf – along with plenty of opportunities to push your combat and platforming skills to the limit – so get ready to explore, battle, and see just how warped a time-cursed mountain citadel can become.

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown

UBISOFT

☆☆☆☆☆
34

★★★★★

$49.99

Pre-order

Pre-order to get an exclusive in-game Warrior Within outfit!

Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate. Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities.

UNLEASH YOUR INNER WARRIOR
Use your Time Powers, combat, and platforming skills to perform deadly combos and defeat time-corrupted enemies and mythological creatures.

LOSE YOURSELF IN THE PRODIGIOUS MOUNT QAF
Discover a cursed Persian-inspired world filled with larger-than-life landmarks and explore a variety of highly detailed biomes, each with their own identity, wonder, and danger.

LIVE AN EPIC ADVENTURE
Immerse yourself in a Persian mythological fantasy through an intriguing and original story as you use your wits to solve puzzles, find hidden treasures, and complete quests to learn more about this corrupted place.

This game leverages Smart Delivery allowing access to both the Xbox One title and the Xbox Series X|S title.

The post How Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Builds on Rayman’s Platforming Legacy appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2402.240111-2200)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Beta ring today.

Details can be found below!

System Update Details:

OS Version: XB_FLT_2402ZN25398.3410.240111-2200
Available: 2 p.m. PT – January 16, 2024
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – January 17, 2024

New Features and Experiences

We have exciting news! Beta users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.

Xbox Wireless Controller – Thumbstick Calibration

For users in the US who have independently replaced the circuit board on their Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 or users in all regions experiencing minor thumbstick issues, we now offer a user-guided self-calibration tool for thumbsticks through the Xbox Accessories App.

Note: The support article linked at the end of the experience is currently unavailable. This will be available in the future.

Experience Changes

Please be aware this Xbox Update Preview includes the following experience or feature updates.

Capture & Share

Screenshots captured on Xbox Series S consoles will now have a maximum resolution of 1080p, matching the maximum resolution for game clips.

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

Games

Fixed an issue where syncing game saves would not complete.

System

Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
- Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console. To learn more visit: What’s This? Learn More About Pseudo-Loc in Preview.

Known Issues

Audio

We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If you’re unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
  - When did the issue start?
  - Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
  - Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
  - Does rebooting resolve the issue?
  - What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
  - And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.

Networking

We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
- Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide. Learn more here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

System – Profiles

We are aware recently added profiles may be removed after restarting the console, and a fix is coming in a subsequent update.
- Workaround: While signed in, open the guide then navigate to Profile & system > Settings > System > Access restrictions > Access restrictions options then disable the Delete profiles on sign out option.

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2402.240111-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.