It’s not an exaggeration to say that Cities: Skylines singlehandedly resuscitated the city builder gamer when it arrived in 2015; indeed it also made the genre relevant on console with a very slickly handled Xbox console port in 2017.
The announcement of Cities: Skylines IIpromised to take things even further: bigger cities, redesigned economies, dynamic seasons – even the ability to zoom in and observe any citizen, any time.
As I sat down to play Cities: Skylines IIat gamescom last month, I wasn’t thinking about any of that; I was more worried that in the years since I last built a town, I’ve forgotten almost everything I had ever known about the game.
Fortunately, Cities: Skylines II has your back.
The developers from Paradox led off by sharing that there is a renewed focus on “onboarding,” so while the sequel is more complex than the original Cities: Skylines, it’s actually easier to understand.
Instrumental for new and lapsed players is the new tutorial, a quick, but digestible introduction to road building, zoning (residential, commercial, industrial), and getting buildings powered and connected to water and sewage. Crucially, roads include power and water hookups, making initial infrastructure and city layout very easy; just build the road the way you want it and you’re good. Tips for (slightly) more advanced functions such as bulldozing and rezoning wait just off to the side so you can learn them when you need them and not a moment before.
Cities: Skylines II is loaded with quality of life touches that allow players to deftly address issues and focus on the fun parts of building and managing a city. For example, when getting new systems up and running, like adding in a water pumping station, you see a positive reaction (stars coming from nearby homes and businesses) indicating that yes, things are connected. No more wondering “did I do that right?” Another great feature: you can replace roads in place without bulldozing; cities can start with smaller roads and upgrade to higher capacity down the line, when your citizens demand it. And they will demand things!
In game social media channel “Chirper” keeps you keyed in on what’s going on in your city, good and bad. Someone complaining about housing prices? Your residential zoning demand may be spiking. You can even click through and learn more about the citizen who was tweeting at you.
Despite not playing the original in years, with all of these onramps, I got up to speed in Cities: Skylines II in under a half hour. In that time, I had built a functioning, growing “Tiny Village” – receiving some rewards including cash, and even a signature building, a “pop music mansion.” Taylor Swift is formally invited to relocate to my humble village.
Cities: Skylines II also lets you choose your new features via a skill tree, which unlocks as you reach these milestones. Around the time I hit Tiny Village status, I earned the right to build roundabouts, traffic lights, and more. Basic services are automatically added, others are only unlocked as you prove yourself a capable city planner. I may have gone crazy with roundabouts, replacing every 4 way stop in town. Don’t like it, leave. Or better yet, build your own town!
Preorder Bonus: Landmark Buildings
Set your City apart with 9 Unique Buildings based on famous landmarks from around the world. Included is also a map based on the geography of Tampere, home of Colossal Order.
Cities: Skylines II: Ultimate Edition gives you access to the base game, as well as the Expansion Pass.
This includes the San Francisco Set, Beach Properties Asset Pack (Q4 ‘23), two Content Creator Packs (Q1 ‘24), the Bridges & Ports Expansion (Q2 ‘24) as well as 3 Radio Stations paired with each release (Q4 ‘23, Q1 Q2 ‘24).
If you can dream it, you can build it.
Raise a city from the ground up and transform it into the thriving metropolis only you can imagine. You’ve never experienced building on this scale. With deep simulation and a living economy, Cities: Skylines II delivers world-building without limits.
Lay the foundations for your city to begin. Create the roads, infrastructure, and systems that make life possible day to day. It’s up to you – all of it.
How your city grows is your call too, but plan strategically. Every decision has an impact. Can you energize local industries while also using trade to boost the economy? What will make residential districts flourish without killing the buzz downtown? How will you meet the needs and desires of citizens while balancing the city’s budget?
Your city never rests. Like any living, breathing world, it changes over time. Some changes will be slow and gradual, while others will be sudden and unexpected. So while seasons turn and night follows day, be ready to act when life doesn’t go to plan.
The most realistic and detailed city builder ever, Cities: Skylines II pushes your creativity and problem-solving to another level. With beautifully rendered high-resolution graphics, it also inspires you to build the city of your dreams.
Deep simulation.
AI and intricate economics mean your choices ripple through the fabric of the city. Remember that as you strategize, problem-solve, and react to change, challenges, and opportunities.
Epic scale, endless possibilities.
Cities: Skylines II lets you create without compromise. Now you can build sky-high and sprawl across the map like never before. Why not? Your city is you.
Cities that come alive.
Your decisions shape each citizen’s life path, a chain of events that defines who they are. From love and loss to wealth and wellbeing, follow their life’s ups and downs.
A dynamic world.
Pick a map to set the climate of your city. These are the natural forces you’ll negotiate to expand your city amid rising pollution, changeable weather, and seasonal challenges.
Preorder Bonus: Landmark Buildings
Set your City apart with 9 Unique Buildings based on famous landmarks from around the world. Included is also a map based on the geography of Tampere, home of Colossal Order.
If you can dream it, you can build it.
Raise a city from the ground up and transform it into the thriving metropolis only you can imagine. You’ve never experienced building on this scale. With deep simulation and a living economy, Cities: Skylines II delivers world-building without limits.
Lay the foundations for your city to begin. Create the roads, infrastructure, and systems that make life possible day to day. It’s up to you – all of it.
How your city grows is your call too, but plan strategically. Every decision has an impact. Can you energize local industries while also using trade to boost the economy? What will make residential districts flourish without killing the buzz downtown? How will you meet the needs and desires of citizens while balancing the city’s budget?
Your city never rests. Like any living, breathing world, it changes over time. Some changes will be slow and gradual, while others will be sudden and unexpected. So while seasons turn and night follows day, be ready to act when life doesn’t go to plan.
The most realistic and detailed city builder ever, Cities: Skylines II pushes your creativity and problem-solving to another level. With beautifully rendered high-resolution graphics, it also inspires you to build the city of your dreams.
Deep simulation.
AI and intricate economics mean your choices ripple through the fabric of the city. Remember that as you strategize, problem-solve, and react to change, challenges, and opportunities.
Epic scale, endless possibilities.
Cities: Skylines II lets you create without compromise. Now you can build sky-high and sprawl across the map like never before. Why not? Your city is you.
Cities that come alive.
Your decisions shape each citizen’s life path, a chain of events that defines who they are. From love and loss to wealth and wellbeing, follow their life’s ups and downs.
A dynamic world.
Pick a map to set the climate of your city. These are the natural forces you’ll negotiate to expand your city amid rising pollution, changeable weather, and seasonal challenges.
The Xbox Digital Broadcast will be returning to Tokyo Game Show on September 21 at 6 pm JST / 9 am UTC / 2 am PDT. Tokyo Game Show represents a special time each year where we share news and updates on games that we hope will delight Xbox fans in Japan and across Asia.
Players can expect to hear progress updates from Xbox and Bethesda Softworks and see a creatively diverse collection of games from creators predominantly located in Japan and across Asia. We’ll also share exciting new games coming to Xbox Game Pass, which continues to grow with great content from teams all around Asia.
This year’s broadcast will be available on Tokyo Game Show’s official YouTube channel, as well as on select Xbox social channels in Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, French, German and Castilian Spanish. It will also be broadcast with Japanese Sign Language (JSL), Australian Sign Language (AusLan), and audio descriptions in both Japanese and English. A full list of where you can watch the broadcast will be available the week of the show.
Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show always comes with a unique, Japan-inspired look and this year we have brought together some of the most famous iconography of both Xbox and Japan. The Xbox Nexus and Xbox Series X console are featured alongside Maneki-neko (also known as beckoning cat) and surrounded by Mount Fuji, cosmos flowers, and a Japanese lantern. We hope that Maneki-neko brings good luck to all our players, whether they are tuning in online to TGS or visiting the Makuhari Messe in-person this year.
Xbox fans who will be in Japan and near the Makuhari Messe on Saturday 23 September are invited to apply for free tickets to a special in-person event with Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond hosted by IGN Japan. Fans can visit the IGN Japan website or Twitter account from today to learn more about the event and apply for tickets to attend.
We look forward to welcoming players from Japan, across the Asia region, and the world to celebrate the amazing games that creators are building for our platform. For more details and full schedule for Tokyo Game Show 2023, visit the official site from the show’s organizers. Join the conversation at @Xbox_JP #XboxJP #TGS2023.
For the first time in series history, EA Sports UFC 5 will use the Frostbite engine and run at 60 FPS, delivering stunning character likeness, authentic damage, and a cinematic experience.
Tons of new features including seamless submissions, real impact system, and doctor stoppages, create a truly authentic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) simulation.
Releases October 27 for Xbox Series X|S and is available for pre-order today. Bonus content for pre-ordering includes three of the greatest warriors to ever compete in combat sports.
There’s that moment in every major UFC event, where you’ve cheered for your fighters during the preliminaries, main card, and co-main event, but then the time comes for the main event. You’re on the edge of your seat as the arena lights go dark. The walk out song starts playing, the fighter begins the trek out to the octagon, the arena erupts in flashing lights, and a thunderous crash of cheers resonates throughout the arena – and you know two warriors are about to engage in violent battle until one emerges as the victor.
Watching the EA Sports UFC 5 reveal trailer perfectly recreates this heart-pounding rush of adrenaline experience. It’s so lifelike from start to finish – from the walk out, to Israel Adesanya “shooting arrows” into his fallen opponent, right down to Jon Jones staring out across the ring at his next victim. Chills!
In a follow up to the cover athlete announcement from a few days ago, Electronic Arts just shared the full reveal about EA Sports UFC 5, including release date, pre-order details, new features, and more! I attended a press event supporting today’s announcement and witnessed many of these new features firsthand and explained in greater detail. All I can say is, fight fans, you are in for a treat!
We already know Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski and Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko share the cover of EA Sports UFC 5’s standard edition, while Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya graces the cover of the Deluxe Edition in spectacular fashion befitting the iconic fighter and current Middleweight champion. If that wasn’t reason enough to cheer, check out what else is coming to the game when it launches in October.
My biggest takeaway from the event was how the team is so invested in creating the most realistic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) simulation in all of combat sports, and how many of the innovative new features and technology will be incorporated in the series for the first time. During the press event, the team focused on three main pillars in the development of EA Sports UFC 5 – making it as real as it gets; creating an authentic MMA experience; and celebrating the culmination of all the hard work and training with an exciting Fight Week.
As Real As It Gets
I mentioned EA Sports UFC 5 is implementing several “for the first time” features in the latest installment, and one of the most exciting instances of this is, for the first time in series history the game will be utilizing the Frostbite engine and will support 60 Frames Per Second (FPS) during gameplay and when rendering replays.
Using Frostbite technology allows for “highly detailed characters, next-gen lighting and shading, improved rendering quality, all new presentation of environment, and visual effects.” Simply put, the game looks and plays – as real as it gets! With features like strand-based hair, new facial animation technology (FaceRig) and advanced body technology (Shapeshifter), you will experience a level of realism never experienced in the games before now.
While Frostbite guarantee fighters look their best at the start of the fight, it will also ensure they look like they’ve gone through three (or five) rounds of all-out war. Damage is authentically represented with realistic accuracy. To put that in greater detail, your character model will have 8 regions for cuts, bruising, and swelling, with multiple levels of injury progression in each region, resulting in a combined 64,000 different possibilities. All inflicted damage carries true game play altering consequences – affecting stamina, mobility, and defensive ability.
All the technology used to bring a level of realism to gameplay will also be used to recreate those spectacular Knock Out moments with more intensity than ever before, with dramatic lighting, dynamic cameras, super slow motion, and immersive sound effects. The video I saw of this demonstration showed a devastating head kick that landed with ear ringing, jaw jarring effect that sent blood and sweat flying across the octagon – I thought I was watching an actual highlight reel from an Adesanya fight. Spectacular!
Authentic MMA
In addition to having lifelike athletes who look, sound, act, and bleed like their real-world counterparts, EA Sports UFC 5 must immerse you in an authentic MMA experience for you to fully feel like you are the next UFC champion, and feel it you will, with the new strike and submission animations, physics driven hit reactions, and Real Impact System.
The game features new and improved strike animations including ground and pound elbows, spinning attacks, calf kicks, body punches, and more. Plus, with the Real Impact System, the damage you and your opponent sustain isn’t just a visual representation but is translated into authentic damage impacting gameplay – a broken nose will result in slower stamina recovery; a cut or swollen eye will result in more vulnerability on the affected side; leg damage (those calf kicks can be a game changer) will result in slower movement and impaired takedowns. And any injury, if severe enough, can ultimately lead to a doctor stoppage.
In another series first, the ringside physician plays a role in EA Sports UFC 5. Sustain an injury severe enough, or badly damage your opponent, and the referee will pause the fight long enough for the doctor to come in and evaluate the severity of the injury. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll be able to continue (or is that unlucky), but if it’s too severe, the doctor can call a stop to the fight.
It’s important to note combat sports can be a bloody and brutal endeavor, and the level of realism on display in EA Sports UFC 5 has resulted in the game receiving a Mature rating for the first time for blood, violence, and language. The developers were careful to honor the fighters with the same amount of respect they often show one another after the battle is over and the dust settles, so some of the more gruesome and often career ending injuries will not appear in the game – they very rarely happen in real life, nobody wants to see them happen, so the decision was made to leave them out. Fine by me!
One of the most significant changes from previous editions in the series is the new seamless submission feature. Previous games relied on a submission system using multistage mini games, but the team felt this was too lengthy of a process that bogged you down and removed you from the excitement of the fight. The new method features over six hundred grappling and submission animations allowing you to focus on the fight while smoothly and seamlessly switching from transitions, counters, and reversals. You’ll feel like a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in no time, and to help you perfect your skills, you’ll have access to another series first – the Performance Institute (PI), hosted by none other than former Women’s Flyweight Champion – Valentina Shevchenko.
As part of your training camp and quest for the championship in UFC 5, you’ll have access to the PI where you can focus on improving and mastering your striking, grappling, health, damage, and stamina attributes. The whole training camp experience has been improved with the return of Coach Davis, upgraded sparring challenges, and a new challenge pack grading system.
Fight Week
Fight week is an exciting time for the fighters and fans and features several events leading up to the actual fight night. In real life, this manifests in press conferences, ceremonial weigh-ins, and the often-tense face-off between the competitors. And now for the first time in series history, EA Sports UFC 5 is incorporating real world UFC events into special in-game challenges and events. I don’t want to spoil some of the specific details since they will result in a unique player experience, but one feature I’m looking forward to is Fight Predictions.
Leading up the next UFC event, you will have the opportunity to view the fight card and pick your predictions for winners and losers, the method and round the fight will end, and who will get the fight of the night bonus. You’ll automatically be pooled to compete with others, and whoever scores the best based on the real-world UFC fight results will be rewarded with in-game coins. How cool is that!
There are also daily matches you can participate in for a chance to win in-game coins, and these matchups are also based on the real UFC schedule, with each daily match getting progressively harder as you near the end of the week. As a big fan of UFC in real life and the video game series, I applaud this innovative integration between the two.
There’s a lot for fight fans to look forward to in EA Sports UFC 5, and the good news is the launch is less than two months away, right around the time many of us will be watching UFC 294 and wanting to jump in a game and recreate the epic battles on that card!
EA Sports UFC 5releases October 27 for Xbox Series X|S and is available for pre-order today. The Deluxe Edition includes 3 days of early access, plus Fedor Emelianenko, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson – three of the greatest warriors to ever compete in combat sports. Check out the official website and follow @EASPORTSUFC for more details.
EA SPORTS™ UFC® 5 is as real as it gets. Powered by Frostbite™ engine’s advanced rendering capabilities, your favorite fighters now have unparalleled character likenesses to complement next-level environment fidelity that’ll make their walk to the Octagon feel like a PPV main event. The all-new authentic damage system brings the intensity and strategy of a fight to life, as cuts and strikes absorbed can affect mobility, defense, stamina, and more. Take too much damage, and the doctor will check to see if you’re able to continue. For lovers of the ground game, the new Transition-Based Submissions make grappling feel more fluid and realistic than ever before. And if you like to admire your handiwork, new Cinematic K.O. Replays capture your fight-ending finishes in all their punishing glory. Plus, a completely revamped live service schedule builds exciting challenges around all PPV fight weeks. Bring the next evolution of the fight game home with UFC 5.
Pre-order* EA SPORTS™ UFC® 5 Deluxe Edition and receive:**
-3-days early access
-Mike Tyson
-Fedor Emelianenko
-Muhammad Ali
-Bruce Lee Bundle
-4 Alter Egos (Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya, Alexander Volkanovski, Valentina Shevchenko)
-Origins Bundle (Conor McGregor [2013], Leon Edwards [2015], and 22 Vanity Items)
-30th Anniversary Vanity Bundle (4 Vanity Items)
-Online Career Mode XP Boosts (x5)
**EA account, internet connection, and all game updates required to claim and use pre-order content.
This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
*Conditions & restrictions apply. See http://www.ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-5/game-and-offer-disclaimers for details.
EA SPORTS™ UFC® 5 is as real as it gets. Powered by Frostbite™ engine’s advanced rendering capabilities, your favorite fighters now have unparalleled character likenesses to complement next-level environment fidelity that’ll make their walk to the Octagon feel like a PPV main event. The all-new authentic damage system brings the intensity and strategy of a fight to life, as cuts and strikes absorbed can affect mobility, defense, stamina, and more. Take too much damage, and the doctor will check to see if you’re able to continue. For lovers of the ground game, the new Transition-Based Submissions make grappling feel more fluid and realistic than ever before. And if you like to admire your handiwork, new Cinematic K.O. Replays capture your fight-ending finishes in all their punishing glory. Plus, a completely revamped live service schedule builds exciting challenges around all PPV fight weeks. Bring the next evolution of the fight game home with UFC 5.
Pre-order* EA SPORTS™ UFC® 5 Standard Edition and receive:**
-2 Alter Egos (Alexander Volkanovski, Valentina Shevchenko)
-Muhammad Ali
-30th Anniversary Bundle (4 Vanity Items)
-Online Career Mode XP boosts (x5)
**EA account, internet connection, and all game updates required to claim and use pre-order content.
This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
*Conditions & restrictions apply. See http://www.ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-5/game-and-offer-disclaimers for details.
Villedor is a lawless land used to looting here and there, but The City has never seen a heist of this magnitude. Dallas and the crew are ready to show Aiden and his fellow citizens how it’s done. That’s right, Payday 2is the second crossover of Dying Light 2 Stay Human’s Summer of Horrors, an event which promises new content, goals, updates and a lot more! So get ready to prepare your plan of action, put on your mask and grab some loot. But don’t forget, once you put it on, there’s no turning back…
“What’s up? You itchin’ for a new heist?”
Payday is a series which needs no introduction. Created by Overkill, Payday: The Heist took the world by storm when it released in 2011 and the sequel, Payday 2, just took it to a whole new level. With over a decade of support and updates, Overkill have certainly given a lot back to their community. Payday 2 is all about camaraderie as a single heister is only going to end up in custody. From casing banks and jewelry stores to prison breakouts and everything in between, Payday 2 sees four criminals get their hands on some well-earned loot (as well as their adrenaline fix), all while some banging tracks play during the chaos.
“Great work, my friends! Great work!”
Just like Starbreeze and Overkill, we want to keep the content coming with new updates, events and a whole lot more to reward our devoted communities. And speaking of community, both games are well-known for their memeability and if there’s something we know about our own community is that they love memes. As we are doing, Payday 2 has partnered with IPs to see a fair few notable characters join the gang: John Wick, Jacket from Hotline Miami and Ethan and Hila from h3h3Productions, to name but a few. Now, let’s move onto what players can expect this week!
“Honestly, I think this place is haunted or something.”
During the Payday 2 crossover event, Pilgrims will be tasked with looting a new commodity that’s well known to Dallas and the crew: Red Diamonds. These valuable items can be looted from Infected Robbers who will be found mainly in Forsaken Stores and Dark Hollows or players can hunt down Thieving Bolters, who are guaranteed to be holding some diamonds. Pilgrims, we mean heisters, will be handsomely rewarded for taking on such tasks with such items as Nightrunner Safety Pack, the Money Bundle weapon and Dallas’ own stars and stripes mask. To quote the Mastermind himself when masking up: “Time to break a little bad.”
As Payday 2 is all about camaraderie between the gang, we’ve also set up a goal for the community to come together to complete. For collecting over 11,000,000 Red Diamonds, players will be rewarded with 25 Pilgrim Tokens that can be used at the Pilgrim Outpost. These unique diamonds will be lootable throughout Villedor until 4PM CEST on September 21st. And to get you in the mood, Hoxton has prepared a little motivational speech for you: “Alright fellas, let’s do this. Mask up, wan…” Yeah, Hoxton, they get it.
“Put your game face on, buddies.”
Additionally, we’ve prepared a special bundle so you can look the part. Featuring the aforementioned Money Bundle weapon, you’ll also get your hands on the Payday Gang Outfit so you can blend in when sizing up a prospective target, the Payday Paraglider (perfect for a quick getaway, whether it’s with loot or without) and The Change weapon charm. The Money Bundle weapon stuns your foes and drops them to the ground, perfect if they disobey your call to “Get down on the ground!”, while The Change is more than just a reminder of the reason you’re doing all this: it will help reinforce your weapon, meaning it’ll withstand more hits. For more information about the Payday 2 crossover event, head to the Outpost, Pilgrims.
“Overkill – enough said. See you at the safe house.”
We are sure that our Pilgrims will be excited with the news of our latest crossover. Remember: As in Payday 2, just make sure when looting that you aren’t too greedy and get yourself killed. So, head to the Forsaken Stores and Dark Hollows. Encounter those Infected Robbers and loot their bodies. Now, there’s just one more thing to say: Keep those helmets flying, Pilgrims!
Dying Light 2 Stay Human is available for purchase on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Upgrade your experience with Smart Delivery. Buy the game once to both play it on Xbox One and get its optimized version for Xbox Series X | S
It’s been 20 years since the events of the original game. The virus won, and humanity is slowly dying. You play as Aiden Caldwell, a wandering Pilgrim who delivers goods, brings news, and connects the few remaining survivor settlements in barren lands devastated by the zombie virus. However, your true goal is to find your little sister Mia, who you left behind as a kid to escape Dr. Waltz’s torturous experiments. Haunted by the past, you eventually make the decision to confront it when you learn that Mia may still be alive in Villedor — the last city standing on Earth.
You quickly find yourself in a settlement torn by conflict. You’ll need to engage in creative and gory combat, so hone your skills to defeat hordes of zombies and make allies. Roam the city, free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot in remote areas, and be wary of the night. With every sunset, monsters take control of the streets.
A WORLD AFTER THE APOCALYPSE
Fifteen years ago, humanity was devastated by the Fall — a catastrophic event that would change the world forever. With the Harran virus spreading around the globe, people quickly found out that all hope for tomorrow is lost. By 2036, only a few settlements remain, and humanity is slowly dying, making way for the new species out there — a horde of relentless zombies.
DAY’S FOR THE LIVING, NIGHT’S FOR THE DEAD
Welcome to Villedor, one of the last bastions of humanity. During the day, survivors still try to have a life here and find a false sense of normalcy. Relationships are formed, dreams are dreamed, and life carries on. On the surface, everything seems… fine. Until sunset, that is. With the last ray of light dying out, other, more dreadful, dwellers of The City crawl out of their gloomy interiors, taking over the streets. If you are not vigilant and stay out too long in the dark, you may never return.
YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO SURVIVE
Not all fights can be won. Sometimes it’s best to run and, thankfully, you have the skills for it. Parkour lets you escape when odds are not in your favor. Jump from rooftop to rooftop, swing across the cityscape, ride ziplines, and much more. Whatever you do, experience a unique sense of freedom as you free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot or while running away from the dangers of the night.
GET BRUTAL AND BE CREATIVE ABOUT IT
In a world as dangerous as this one, only the strongest survive. Whether you prefer to smash, slice or dismember those who stand in your way, you have to be creative about it to make it through. And who says you need weapons? Utilize the entirety of your parkour moveset to get the jump on your enemies. Learn the ways of combat and parkour to feel the crunch of skulls and slices of flesh as you swing weapons or use your moves to fend off any forms of danger. And let’s not forget that Villedor has weapons that put the most advanced post-apocalyptic armories to shame.
FOUR PILGRIMS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Surviving in Villedor is easier with friends. Team up with up to 3 other players and increase your chances out there. Unravel the story together, take on Pilgrim Outpost challenges, or simply wreak havoc on the city streets.
September is here and with it, the gridiron, gangs, and a corruptive presence for you to tackle. Madden NFL 24, Control, and Crime Boss: Rockay City are available this weekend for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, September 7 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, September 10 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Starting September 14, Xbox Live Gold members will automatically become Game Pass Core members. 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 Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate 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 earned achievements during the event! Please note that discounts and percentages may vary by title and region.
Madden NFL 24: NFL+ Edition Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One
Play Madden NFL 24 for free during Xbox Free Play Days from September 7-10. Then maximize your football experience with the Madden NFL 24: NFL+ Edition that includes 3 months of NFL+ Premium and 3 monthly MUT packs (1 per month from September-November).
Take on the role of Jesse Faden as you investigate a corruptive presence that has invaded the Federal Bureau of Control. Do you have what it takes to regain control? Time to find out in this award winning third-person action adventure from the team at Remedy Entertainment and 505 Games. What’s more, enjoy 75% off for a limited time.
Hey buddy, grab your weapon, put on your cowboy boots, and walk into Rockay City like a boss! Take on the role of Travis Baker (Michael Madsen) who has his sights set on becoming the new King of Rockay City. Choose your crew based on their skills and expertise and execute daring missions with the hopes of walking away with the cash, the turf and, ultimately, the crown. For a limited time, Crime Boss: Rockay City is 30% off!
Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member! 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.
Starfield is finally here. The game launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC (with Game Pass) today – and we at Xbox Wire have been lucky enough to play it early. This is an enormous game, full of overlapping systems, mysteries, and mechanics. We’re sure you want to know more and, in the spirit of getting you ready to play it yourself, we’ve put together a series of articles focused on getting you out into the galaxy prepared for what’s to come. Allow us to present Starfield Starters, a four-part, spoiler-free guide to some of the game’s most important, complex, and lesser-known features – and how to succeed with them.
For more Starfield Starters, make sure to check out our guides on character customization, planet hopping, and space combat:
Welcome to space. Like… a lot of space. As you’ve started to step out into the final frontier you may just be starting to get a handle on all the things Starfield has started to throw your way – and some of it you may have just flat-out missed because you were too busy taking in the scenery of Neon to realize that you just picked up a half-dozen side quests, or that your inventory is full of spacesuits and coffee cups, and oh yeah, you have this huge starship to take care of.
Yes, there’s a lot to unpack in the early hours of Starfield and much of it will come in time. To help close that gap a bit, we’ve assembled some of what think are the more important things to know as you begin your adventure in Starfield. Is this all-encompassing? Hardly. But we feel these “things to know” will steer you in the right direction should the vastness of all that space feel a little overwhelming.
1: Invest in Yourself
Character progression is a bit different than previous Bethesda RPGs like Skyrim and Fallout 4. You still get XP for actions, like a successful persuasion, but you need to focus on Skill Challenges to really unlock those benefits for your characters. For example, if you want to play as a Stealth-based character, you need to invest in Stealth to “unlock” the Stealth meter for your character. If you want to then upgrade Stealth further, you’ll need to complete specific challenges to unlock the subsequent ranks. This applies to many skills. You’ll also see in the UI which ones are ready for a progression upgrade, as they’ll be flashing for you from the in-game menu.
While there are a bunch of areas you’ll want to dive into, some of the first we think you should unlock (if not already done so from your initial character build) would be Stealth (gives you a Stealth meter), Wellness (increases max health), Commerce (better prices at shops), Boost Pack Training (allows you to use Boost), and Persuasion (helps with conversation bonuses). You could also invest in Medicine (more effective healing) and Surveying (unlocks a zoom feature on the hand scanner).
2: You Can’t Take the Sky from Me
Perhaps you’d like to postpone your search for mysterious artifacts and the possible meaning of all life in the universe. Then you’re in luck, because Starfield pretty much lets you run wild after you get your starship in orbit. Following the “critical path” of the story will net you some companions and crew members, and progress the overall story of the game, but it’s not strictly necessary should you wish to explore this wide-open universe yourself.
Some of the many features that unlock for you early on, and will get you out into the universe, would be looking over the Mission boards dotted around port cities (which can allow you to hunt bounties, transport goods, or ferry passengers), or taking on one of the many Faction quests, each with their own standalone storylines. That said, our recommendation would still be to get a few of the core story missions under your belt first so you can get your bearings, and then really decide where to go from there. It’s a big game.
3: My Cargo Runneth Over
We like looting. Grabbing items from containers, cargo holds, lockers, and yes, even bodies. You can pick up pretty much everything in Starfield, and before you know it you have 37 pens, 17 coffee cups, and seven space helmets. Opening the Ship menu, and then hitting the button to see the cargo hold will let you shift items from your inventory to your ship’s (much larger) cargo hold — and you only need to be near the ship to transfer your accumulated wealth; you don’t have to be on board. Now you’ll have even more junk to sell at your next location! One recommendation – regularly empty the Resources section of your inventory into your ship’s cargo hold, as many of these items are a) heavy, and b) come in large numbers.
If you do find yourself maxing out your capacity far faster than you’d like, one trick we found – other than unloading surplus inventory on your companions — is that you can throw excess items from your inventory on the ground of your ship as a temporary solution. It will remain there and doesn’t incur a penalty for being in your ship’s cargo hold. But be warned, if you play around in Ship Builder and start to modify any components of your ship, those items will automatically go into your cargo hold, maxing out your ship’s capacity to take on anything more.
You can also play around in Ship Builder and tack on a few cargo containers to help build up your ship’s inventory. Just make sure to compensate with some additional thrusters so as to not impact your maneuverability too significantly.
4: You’re All My Favorites
To cut down on how often you’re cycling back and forth between your inventory and the game world, we recommend you get acquainted early on with the Favorites bar, which can be accessed far more easily. You have three items you can store in each major direction of the D-Pad (or if you’re playing on PC, these can be assigned across the number rows on your keyboard; pull up the radial dial with the Q key).
The Favorites bar can vary on what you’d like to put in there, and everyone will approach this in their own way. For us, a good overall set up will have you assigning one bar of key weapons, one bar of throwables, and one bar of aid. This leaves you with three more slots you can use to hot-swap equipment, which can be very useful when you’re in the middle of a firefight with some Spacers, like equipping a helmet that provides a -15% reduction in ballistic damage, for example.
5: Fun with Factions
As we mentioned earlier, you get a lot of freedom in the game very early on. To help focus that effort a bit, it wouldn’t hurt to take on some Faction Quests to not only start making some money but to help orient yourself a bit more in the universe. These Faction Quests can also lead you into discovering a variety of side quests as well (and some of these can be very involved!).
The way you find these missions varies a little. In many cases, you’ll be alerted to the beginning of a quest by overhearing conversations in the game’s major cities; New Atlantis, Akila City, and Neon — these will automatically land in your Activities tab in your Mission menu. Once you’ve started the quests proper, they’re assigned to a specific Faction section in your Mission menu. You can join the UC Vanguard, keep the peace with the Freestar Rangers, commit corporate espionage for Ryujin, and much more. We highly recommend checking them all out.
6: Resource Hunting
While you can go out into the wild and scan just about everything looking for that one precious resource, a much easier way for you to look for what ingredient you’re missing is by buying up the resources from the kiosks at starship ports and many other vendors you come across. Even tiny citizen settlements will have merchants with a wide array of goods.
Alternatively, upping your Surveying skill will let you detect the locations of harder-to-find resources from orbit, letting you know exactly where to land and scoop up what you need. And if you’re looking for a particular ingredient for a crafting recipe, make sure you utilize “Track” from the Resource menu — this little option will add an icon to any item you’ve designated while exploring.
7: Dress for Success
Clothing in Starfield isn’t just designed to make you look cool. Many of these outfits also carry with them stat bonuses to help improve your character. It’s very useful for swapping in and out as needed (see Favorites bar), whether you want an improvement to Persuasion, Stealth, or Oxygen consumption.
For example, early on you may come across some scientists wearing research uniforms, which… let’s just say they won’t be needing them anymore. Wearing them while conducting research holds a great perk: increasing the chance your player will have a Sudden Development. When contributing items towards research, like a new medicine, weapon mod, or starship part, Sudden Development allows for advances in research even if you don’t yet have all the necessary materials.
Just be sure to switch into that outfit before engaging in research and honor the memory of NPCs who paid the ultimate price for your convenience. So, make sure to check out all the apparel you find — you never know how it might help you.
8: Leave Your Friends Behind (if You’re Up to No Good)
There are many different quests and quest types that you’ll get a chance to explore. One of the more precarious are Stealth-based missions in which you’re tasked with breaking and entering areas where, if you’re caught, guards will shoot to kill.
To help ensure you’re not setting off alarms or drawing any unneeded attention, make sure you ask your followers to “wait” or simply dismiss them. If you ask your follower to wait, remember to come back for them before you head off on your next adventure – you’ll get a handy quest marker to track them down if you stray too far.
9: Get a History Lesson
Getting dropped into 24th century spacefaring may be a bit of a shift for us earthbound folk. Who are these Factions? What happened to Earth? Terrormorphs, you say? Here’s a great way to catch up on Starfield’s lore the old-fashioned way: in a museum!
If you take up an early offer to join the UC Vanguard on New Atlantis, you’ll gain access to an interactive orientation which shares a lot about what’s been going on these past few centuries, as well as the UC’s view on other factions such as the Freestar Collective and House Varu’un, including major conflicts, and (one perspective on) why things are the way they are in this brave new world.
10: Don’t Leave Home Without Them
If you’ve completed a few of the story missions thus far in Starfield, you should have four to five Companions tagging along now on your adventure. They each have something useful to bring to the table on your adventure and it’s vital for you in the early going that you ensure you have one accompany you on a majority of your journey.
Not only are they all wicked shots when you find yourself in a firefight with some Spacers, but bringing them along on these adventures will unlock their own unique story arcs for you to play out. This is vital if you’re hoping to build any meaningful relationships with them.
They also have a knack for finding useful things for you to use on your journey. Kinda like when Dogmeat would fetch ammo for you in Fallout 4, but now it can range from gigantic space minerals to an alien sandwich (it’s quite tasty). Just walk up to any of your Companions and ask, “Do you have anything for me?” and they will bestow their offerings upon you.
Bonus: Additional Tips from the Stars
On top of all the other fun things we’ve shared with you here today, we also have some quick tips to help you along the way.
Sort your weapons by ammo types so you can see where you’ve doubled-up on weapon and ammo capacity. We recommend keeping one weapon per ammo type to maximize both your carrying capacity and ammo.
While in space, you can quickly jump to your next mission objective by bringing up your Scanner and locating the blue nav beacon, selecting it, and then jumping away. Saves you a few clicks going in and out of the galaxy menu.
Disoriented on a planet or in a building and not sure where to go next? Bring up the Scanner to have a zipper arrow trail appear on the ground leading to your destination.
Pay attention to system levels. To have the best playing experience, make sure these align closely with your current player level.
Building your base and not understanding why you don’t have any power to anything? You need wires connected to your structures. Highlight your power generator, hold A, and then select “Wire” and tether it to what you want to power.
Make sure you create Output Links from your harvesters to your Transfer Container to store your resources. It’s not an actual component you have to craft; it’s a feature found in the Build menu tied to RT on your controller when highlighting your Transfer Container or Harvester.
Use the game’s Photo Mode! Not only is it fun to find that perfect shot, but your gallery will begin to be cycled onto the game’s loading screens, which is always a nice surprise.
Play Starfield Exclusively via Samsung TVs – No Console Required!
For those with an active Xbox Game Pass membership, you can start playing Starfield on September 6 through the Samsung Gaming Hub on supported 2023 and 2022 Samsung TVs, monitors, and the Freestyle 2nd Gen portable projector. You can also play Starfield through the Xbox app on eligible 2021 TVs worldwide and – starting today – 2020 Samsung TVs in the US – no console required! Samsung exclusively offers players a new way to discover and stream Starfield instantly on devices they already own.
Plus, Game Pass members can save up to 10% on the Starfield Premium Edition Upgrade and to receive the Shattered Space Story Expansion upon release, the Constellation Skin Pack, and access to the Starfield Digital Artbook and Original Soundtrack.
Hang Out with Friends While Playing Starfield
The new Play Together widget on Windows 11 Game Bar powered by Microsoft Teams (free) lets you see your friends’ videos overlaid directly on top of your game. Friends can join from any device for free to connect, chat, and more while playing Starfield along with many of your favorite games on this new widget. Download the Play Together widget here for free or click here to learn more.
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
Starfield is the first new universe in over 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
***
Premium Edition includes:
– Starfield Base Game
– Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release)
– Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack
– Access to Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
***
In the year 2330, humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. You will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of space in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
TELL YOUR STORY
In Starfield the most important story is the one you tell with your character. Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits. Will you be an experienced explorer, a charming diplomat, a stealthy cyber runner, or something else entirely? The choice is yours. Decide who you will be and what you will become.
EXPLORE OUTER SPACE
Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets. Navigate bustling cities, explore dangerous bases, and traverse wild landscapes. Meet and recruit a memorable cast of characters, join in the adventures of various factions, and embark on quests across the Settled Systems. A new story or experience is always waiting to be discovered.
CAPTAIN THE SHIP OF YOUR DREAMS
Pilot and command the ship of your dreams. Personalize the look of your ship, modify critical systems including weapons and shields, and assign crew members to provide unique bonuses. In deep space you will engage in high-stakes dogfights, encounter random missions, dock at star stations, and even board and commandeer enemy ships to add to your collection.
DISCOVER, COLLECT, BUILD
Explore planets and discover the fauna, flora, and resources needed to craft everything from medicine and food to equipment and weapons. Build outposts and hire a crew to passively extract materials and establish cargo links to transfer resources between them. Invest these raw materials into research projects to unlock unique crafting recipes.
LOCK AND LOAD
Space can be a dangerous place. A refined combat system gives you the tools to deal with any situation. Whether you prefer long-range rifles, laser weapons, or demolitions, each weapon type can be modified to complement your playstyle. Zero G environments add a chaotic spectacle to combat, while boost packs give players freedom to maneuver like never before.
Starfield is the first new universe in over 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
***
Upgrade from Standard Edition and receive the following bonus items:
– Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release)
– Up to 5-days early access**
– Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack
– Access to Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
* Base Game required (sold separately); Premium Edition Upgrade available only on Xbox Series X|S & Microsoft Store.
** Actual play time depends on purchase date and is subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences
Cloud play not available during Early Access
***
In the year 2330, humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. You will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of space in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
TELL YOUR STORY
In Starfield the most important story is the one you tell with your character. Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits. Will you be an experienced explorer, a charming diplomat, a stealthy cyber runner, or something else entirely? The choice is yours. Decide who you will be and what you will become.
EXPLORE OUTER SPACE
Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets. Navigate bustling cities, explore dangerous bases, and traverse wild landscapes. Meet and recruit a memorable cast of characters, join in the adventures of various factions, and embark on quests across the Settled Systems. A new story or experience is always waiting to be discovered.
CAPTAIN THE SHIP OF YOUR DREAMS
Pilot and command the ship of your dreams. Personalize the look of your ship, modify critical systems including weapons and shields, and assign crew members to provide unique bonuses. In deep space you will engage in high-stakes dogfights, encounter random missions, dock at star stations, and even board and commandeer enemy ships to add to your collection.
DISCOVER, COLLECT, BUILD
Explore planets and discover the fauna, flora, and resources needed to craft everything from medicine and food to equipment and weapons. Build outposts and hire a crew to passively extract materials and establish cargo links to transfer resources between them. Invest these raw materials into research projects to unlock unique crafting recipes.
LOCK AND LOAD
Space can be a dangerous place. A refined combat system gives you the tools to deal with any situation. Whether you prefer long-range rifles, laser weapons, or demolitions, each weapon type can be modified to complement your playstyle. Zero G environments add a chaotic spectacle to combat, while boost packs give players freedom to maneuver like never before.
Kairosoft is a development studio that creates management simulation games.
Five games will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC this summer.
We will introduce each game that will be released this time.
Do you like simulation games? We love them. Since 1996, we at Kairosoft have created a number of pixel art design management simulation games in order to fulfill the dream of “We want to do this kind of work…”
And this time, we have good news. Now you can play on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC! From among many titles, we will select five with different personalities and release them on September 15, 2023.
We hope you can find a game that fulfills your longing, such as a game company, an apartment, or managing a village in an RPG world. Now, let’s take a quick look at the five games we’re releasing this time.
Game Dev Story
Game Dev Story is a simulation game set in the development of the video game industry since the 1980s. It is up to the player to choose which hardware to enter and what genre and content to produce.
The player can enjoy the fun of hiring unique staff members, gathering their talents, and working together to create a game that will sell. Remember the days when you were excited every time a new game appeared on the market? Now you can experience the evolution of the game industry as the president of a game company.
Dungeon Village
Dungeon Villageis a town-building simulation game set in an RPG world. Towns full of characters are among the charms of RPGs. In this game, the player takes on the role of a village chief, not a brave adventurer, and builds a beautiful town to captivate the adventurers’ hearts.
While remembering the town you explored in a frenzy, skillfully arrange facilities and hold events to capture the hearts of the heroes.
Hot Springs Story
Hot Springs Story is a simulation game with a slightly different theme in which you create a Japanese-style hot spring hotel. You can create your own beautiful garden by arranging plants that bloom beautiful seasonal flowers.
Watching the characters relaxing in the hot springs will bring you a sense of peace and tranquility. This game is especially recommended for those who love beautiful scenery and want to soothe their souls.
Station Manager
Station Manager is a simulation game that lets you build a huge station. This game was born from the desire to recreate the excitement of getting off at a new train station.
In this game, you can recreate the station of the town where you were born and raised, or freely create a dream station full of attractive facilities and gourmet food. In addition, train cars can be organized, so various stations can be completed depending on your ideas.
Capture the hearts of many travelers with your ingenuity and ideas.
Dream House Days DX
Dream House Days DX is an apartment management simulation game. However, the game is not limited to building homes, but also allows the player to become deeply involved in the lives of the residents.
Players can get involved in the residents’ hobbies and love lives, and influence important life events such as marriage and employment. And you can witness the birth of a new life.
Build charming apartments and help your residents live a great life.
All these titles will be available on Xbox September 15, and are available for preorder today!
In addition, we plan to add new games one after another in the future. Have a great time with Kairosoft’s management simulations!
Manage your own game company and try to create a million-selling game in this unique simulation.
Features the ability to develop your company’s own game console, plus a system for changing your staff members’ professions.
Hire talented people and train them to develop their skills.
As your staff gets more experience, you will unlock a wider array of game genres and content to develop.
Try to find the most popular combinations and develop for the latest platform!
Your staff members can have a variety of game-related professions, from programmer to sound engineer.
Work hard and you may reach the top of the video game industry!
In the enchanting world of Chants of Sennaar, a mesmerizing puzzle game awaits, where language is not merely a means of communication but a captivating journey in itself.
Playable today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, players can now embark on this linguistic odyssey, where they will dive into the depths of five meticulously crafted languages, each with its own unique history, grammar, and cultural resonance. The creation of these languages was a labor of love, blending elements of real-world cultures and linguistic principles to create languages that slowly reveal the truth of the world and people around you. In Chants of Sennaar, words hold the key to unraveling ancient mysteries and forging profound connections.
Inspired by the myth of Babel, Chants of Sennaar casts you as a Traveler, who seeks to unite cultures fractured by language, all living within a single mysterious Tower. In this puzzle adventure, you’ll travel to different cultures and decode their languages yourself and, in doing so, learn the history of the world you’re travelling through.
In Chants of Sennaar, language transcends its traditional role, becoming a vital puzzle-solving tool and a conduit for storytelling. As players navigate the linguistic landscape, they immerse themselves in a world of diverse cultures, unraveling the mysteries that lie within. By embracing the power of language, we hope to inspire players to appreciate the beauty and complexities of communication in our own world.
The game Heaven’s Vault inspired us to pursue the concept of crafting an original language from scratch. We expanded upon this concept by creating living dialects actively spoken and utilized by the characters, fostering interactive linguistic experiences for players. By intertwining the languages with gameplay mechanics, we transformed the learning and discovery process into a puzzle itself, making language acquisition an integral part of the game’s progression.
To ensure that each section of the world felt fully realized, we established the cultures of each group of people within Chants of Sennaar early on. This includes their history, architecture, technological advancements, and fundamental beliefs. By bringing these fictional peoples to life, their languages followed suit.
For instance, the Devotees, the first group encountered in the game, are inspired by ancient Middle Eastern civilizations and medieval Latin Europe. Consequently, their written language fuses elements of Mesopotamian cuneiform writing and the Phoenician alphabet. The Devotees’ peaceful and disciplined nature, driven by their belief in a benevolent “god”, is reflected in their language through a vocabulary rooted in simplicity and exchange.
Each people in the game possesses their own language and grammar, intimately tied to their culture and primary concerns. Drawing inspiration from Nordic tribes, the Warriors employ a language reminiscent of the Futhark runic script, characterized by an authoritarian vocabulary and an imperative mode of expression. The poetic Epicureans and industrious Alchemists, on the other hand, exhibit entirely different writing systems and vocabularies, mirroring their distinctive pursuits.
Determining the number of languages was tough, but we settled on having five distinct groups inhabiting the Tower, each having its own language; with this number we’ve achieved a nice level of dramatic stakes while still ensuring accessibility for all players. The creation of these original languages involved a combination of cultural background, research, and artistic design. Our artistic director, with a deep-rooted interest in linguistics and visual communication, brought his expertise in graphic design to bear on the development process. Drawing from a wide range of graphic and semantic systems, including Phoenician, Kufic, Sanskrit, Futhark, Korean Hangeul or Cistercian numbers, we crafted distinct and credible languages for the game.
Beyond the mechanical aspects, Chants of Sennaar explores themes of division, mistrust, and the challenges of coexistence. Most importantly, it also highlights the transformative power of communication, open-mindedness, and embracing diversity.
Remember, the power of words can transcend boundaries and shape destinies. Are you ready to embark on this linguistic odyssey? Play Chants of Sennaar now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, or try the demo for free.
Divided since the dawn of time, the Peoples of the Tower no longer speak to each other. But it is said that one day, a Traveler will find the wisdom to break down the walls and restore the Balance. Explore and discover an enthralling world in a colorful, poetic setting inspired by the myth of Babel, where men have forgotten their past. Travel the endless steps of a prodigious labyrinth, uncover an ominous truth and unveil the mysteries of this fascinating universe where ancient languages are both the lock and the key.
Embark on a captivating journey with ancient languages to decipher
• Explore a beautiful, fascinating world with a strong narrative inspired by the myth of Babel
• Observe your environment and solve puzzles to unravel the mysteries around you
• Use stealth and cunning to outwit the Guardians and cross the forbidden zones
• Decipher ancient languages to restore the connections between the Peoples of the Tower
