Category: Xbox

Sometimes you want a chill game that lets you explore sorrow (in game, I don’t want to explore sorrow IRL). Sometimes you want to explore wild environments while exploring mysteries, escaping flesh monsters, or even be the monster yourself. Some highly specific things you might want, and what a crazy happenstance, we’ve got just those games coming soon. Let’s take a look!

Available Today

Everspace 2 (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S) 
Step into the pilot seat in this fast-paced single-player space shooter where brutal challenges stand between you and epic loot. Embark on a sci-fi adventure where massive, handcrafted areas are packed with secrets, puzzles, and perils! Level up, craft, and loot better gear to survive on the edge of space.

Coming Soon

Firewatch (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 17 
Making a return to the Game Pass library, Firewatch is a single-player, first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness, where your only emotional lifeline is the person on the other end of a handheld radio. You’ll explore a wild and unknown environment, facing questions and making choices that can build or destroy the only meaningful relationship you have.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 18 
Available on day one with Game Pass: Take on the role of one of the notorious Slaughter family, or their victims, in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a third-person asymmetrical horror experience based on the groundbreaking and iconic 1974 horror film. Experience the mad and macabre for yourself in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Sea of Stars (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 29 
Available on day one with Game Pass: Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics. It tells the story of two Children of the Solstice who combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer.

Gris (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 5 
Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality.

Play Starfield Up To 5-Days Early Starting September 1

Game Pass members can save up to 10% on the Starfield Premium Edition Upgrade and play up to 5-days early starting September 1 on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. Members who upgrade their Standard Edition to the Starfield Premium Edition also receive the Shattered Space Story Expansion upon release, the Constellation Skin Pack and access to the Starfield Digital Artbook and Original Soundtrack. 

In Case You Missed It

Quake II (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now 
Quake II is back with a vengeance with an all-new, enhanced release of id Software’s legendary 1997 shooter on Xbox! Battle the monstrous Strogg in blistering-fast single player and co-op shooter action or take your skills to the arena with online and local multiplayer. With upgraded graphics, modern updates, cross-play functionality and so much more, there’s no time to wait – experience the enhanced Quake II on Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC today.  Read more about the release of Quake II on Xbox. 

DLC / Game Updates

Madden NFL 24 Early Access Trial – Available now 
You’ve got 10 hours to show ’em what you’re made of in Madden NFL 24 starting now. PC Game Pass or Ultimate members on Xbox Series X|S can experience the newest iteration of FieldSENSE, more realistic character movement, and smarter AI. Plus, members can unlock the EA Play Welcome Pack.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Overwatch 2 New Heroes Starter Pack – Available Now 
New adventures await! This bundle includes instant access to Sojourn, Junker Queen, Kiriko, Ramattra, Lifeweaver, and our newest hero Illari. Each of these heroes will come with a Legendary skin and other in-game cosmetics. This Perk requires Overwatch 2 to use. 

Madden NFL 24 MUT Welcome Pack – Available Now 
Try Madden NFL 24 and claim your EA Play MUT Welcome Pack to upgrade your Ultimate Team with new players! 

Fallout 76 Lunchtime Bundle – Available August 17 
Prepare to face the dangers of the Wasteland with these useful tools for survival and unlock new perks with Perk Packs. This pack includes: Perk Packs, Repair Kits, Carry Weight Boosters, Lunchboxes, and Scout’s Banners. Requires Fallout 76 base game. 

Leaving August 31 

The following games will be leaving the Game Pass library soon, which makes it a good time to wrap up where you may have left off or jump in fresh. Be sure to use your membership discount to save up to 20% off to keep them in your library! 

• Black Desert (Cloud and Console) 
• Commandos 3 – HD Remaster (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Immortality (Cloud, Console, and PC) 
• Nuclear Throne (Cloud, Console, and PC) 
• Surgeon Simulator 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) 
• Tinykin (Cloud, Console, and PC) 

That’s a wrap! Stay tuned on social at @XboxGamePassPC and @XboxGamePass for more games. Catch you next time! 

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Until one of us masters the art of interstellar travel, humans will always have an innate curiosity about space. We pore over fictional portrayals of astral colonization and visualize futures where Earth is just one port of call on our starlit adventures.

The standard view of a sequel is that it’ll do what the first game did, but bigger. Everspace 2 is different.

Yes, like the first game, this is a third-person, space-based looter-shooter. But where Everspace was a roguelike, Everspace 2 is full, open-world action-RPG. Everspace focused on short runs through increasingly difficult trials – Everspace 2 boasts a 30-hour campaign. Everspace was all-action – Everspace 2 has a more expansive mood, preserving those bursts of combat but slotting in gentler exploration, trading and story beats.

Games just don’t make this kind of shift very often, especially when the originals had already built a loving fanbase. So why did developer Rockfish decide to make such a drastic change? Ahead of the game’s launch on Xbox Series X|S on August 15, we had the opportunity to sit down with Rockfish CEO, Michael Schade to discuss the studio’s ambitious move, how it was always part of their plan, and how Game Pass helped it become a reality.

Schade tells us that the decision to build the original Everspace as a roguelike was driven by two main factors – creative direction, and resources. 

“When we made the first Everspace, we actually didn’t have the budget to really follow the vision that we had to make an open-space action RPG,” Schade tells us. “We delivered on that vision, but it was a compromise.” 

Fortunately, the success of Everspace allowed Rockfish to craft a prototype for Everspace 2, and really lean into the open-world approach that the team had envisioned for the first game. With more emphasis on exploration, the roguelike elements made less sense, according to Schade. 

“Everspace has a procedurally generated course that you have to follow, and if you stick around too long in one place, a giant battleship jumps in and makes sure you either move on or you die,” Schade explains. “In Everspace 2, you can go to other star systems, you can go back, take it at your own pace, and nobody is chasing you.” 

The roguelike element also made it more difficult to tell a compelling story. In Everspace, your character is a clone pilot, and every time they die as part of the game’s loop, there is a narrative explanation for dying. In Everspace 2, there is a cohesive story between characters that unfolds as you play, and things to discover in each of the game’s areas. 

“We start with a typical space setting, there are a few space stations, there are some asteroids, the stuff that you would expect,” Schade says. “Then you move into the next system, Union, which has these gigantic trading hubs and you can immediately tell there’s more going on.

“If you go to the system Drake, which we brought into Xbox Game Preview, you will see water planets, ice planets, and lava planets. We wanted to make sure that wherever you are in Everspace 2, you have a distinct feeling of being in a different place.”

We wanted to make sure that wherever you are in Everspace 2, you have a distinct feeling of being in a different place.”

Space For Everyone

Everspace 2 is a third-person, open-world looter shooter that puts you in control of a sleek spaceship, with a selection of galactic locations to explore. Throughout its 30-hour campaign, you can customize your ship, purchase upgrades, and tweak its capabilities to suit your playstyle. The game draws comparisons to other space simulators; from the classic Windows dogfighting escapade Freelancer to modern, monumental management experiences like Star Citizen. 

However, what sets Everspace 2 apart from similar games of its ilk is its approachability. It’s not devoid of choice and responsibility, but it makes those processes digestible for those that want to experience customizability without being bogged down in complex management systems. 

Everspace 2‘s controls are extremely intuitive, especially while playing with a controller. Flying your ship feels fluid, whether you’re cruising through a vast void or navigating through a small tunnel system. You can access all of the important functions at the click of a button without having to flick through bulky menus or memorise a series of button pushes. 

“Accessibility was very, very high on our list because there are fantastic space sims out there already, and we didn’t want to do something that somebody else had done already,” Schade explains. “We wanted to have this feeling of intense space combat and deep exploration but make it very easy to dive in and really get as lost in the world as possible.” 

Rockfish arrived at this moment prepared – Schade always had a console port in mind, so the UX was designed to accommodate controller users, whether they’re playing on PC or on a console. 

Schade notes the ongoing appetite for high-end, complex space sims, and points out that it’s an extremely ambitious genre and the list of features is demanding, especially for a smaller studio. Space game fans crave a bit of everything, he says; they want trading, shipbuilding, base building, and exploration to name a few aspects, spread across huge interstellar distances. Then there’s the planetary element – every explorable area has to be unique and offer a reason to go there.

“There are so many constraints you have to keep in mind, especially on the technical side of things,” Schade says. “I don’t want to say it’s impossible, but in games that are handcrafted, it takes so much development time and resources to make it happen.

“I understand from a user point [of view] that it would be great to have it all. So this is why we made some deliberate choices to focus the gameplay on what happens on the planets and in orbit.” 

Everspace 2 isn’t looking to rival any other games out there. You might say it actually serves as a gateway into the genre, an easygoing, exciting story set in a sci-fi world that might encourage a player to hop into a similar game later down the line. 

“The more space games there are and the bigger the variety, that’s better for all of us,” Schade says. “You can play one space game after the other because they always bring something different to the table.” 

The choice to hone in on specific elements does not mean Everspace 2 was compromised in any way – quite the opposite. The success of the original Everspace, plus a partnership with ID@Xbox meant the game had access to more time and resources than might otherwise have been possible. The Rockfish team was even able to add one additional year to their development plans thanks to working with Xbox and launching on Game Pass. 

“Ironically, not only is it good for Xbox and PC users, it’s also good for players on other platforms: everyone gets a better game because of Xbox Game Pass,” Schade tells us. “The extra funding helps us stay independent, and we can deliver the game when we think it’s ready – and it is.” 

Everspace 2 launches on Xbox Series X|S tomorrow and is available to play with Game Pass. 

EVERSPACE™ 2

ROCKFISH Games

☆☆☆☆☆
6

★★★★★

Get it now

PC Game Pass

EVERSPACE™ 2 is a fast-paced single-player spaceship shooter with worthwhile exploration in space and on planets, tons of loot, RPG elements, mining, and crafting. Experience a thoughtful sci-fi story, set in a vivid, handcrafted open world full of secrets, puzzles, and perils.

In the campaign, you will make some friends with their own story to tell. They will join you on side missions and provide certain benefits in the endgame, where vicious encounters and brutal challenges will stand between you and that next epic loot drop.

EMBARK ON AN EXCITING JOURNEY
Discover alien species, unveil mysteries, find hidden treasures, and defend your valuables against outlaw gangs. But don’t get cocky: there will be some high-risk/high-reward areas waiting for you where grabbing that ultra-special gear and getting out alive will require some serious piloting skills and all your talent for improvisation.

LET THE LASERS DO THE TALKING
Annihilate your foes the EVERSPACE™ way: Dodge, dash, roll, and boost guns blazing into frantic dogfights, leaving only a trail of space scrap behind. Use a wide range of weaponry and abilities to defeat a large variety of opponents like drones, fighters, heavy bombers, and powerful gunships all the way to massive capital vessels. Always look around and use your environment to your advantage, and gain the upper hand even if you are outnumbered.

MAKE THE WORLD YOUR OWN
Enter the world of EVERSPACE and explore it at your leisure. Cluster 34 is brimming with main and side missions, activities, events and secrets to be uncovered. So fire up your hyperdrive and shape your legacy among the stars.

HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY
Expand your private ship collection from a virtually endless supply of ships, composed of various unique ship classes and optimize your build to perfection. Cleverly combine modules, weapons, devices, and perks to fit your individual playstyle and the current objective.

EPIC LOOT AWAITS
Hunt for the next better gear and be ready to constantly re-evaluate your current setup. Look for loot that fits your playstyle but be willing to leave your comfort zone and try something new. Be ready to find and exploit synergistic effects between equipment, perks, devices, and ships to fully maximize their potential.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES
Roam the world looking for the best deals on certain commodities, becoming the part-time trader you always wanted to be. However, prices will vary based on supply and demand, so you better check about the latest offerings before you set course to the next trading station. Always be on the look-out against ambushes during interstellar travel.

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As we recently announced, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can now get 75-days free of Crunchyroll Mega Fan, a premium subscription for the global anime brand. However, with over 1,300 titles in the catalog, which ones should you watch first?

With that question in mind, we scoured the archives for shows that Xbox players will want to start watching now – these are gaming-themed animations and can serve as a great entry point into the otaku world.

Animes Based on Game Franchises

Persona 5 The Animation – Episodes: 28

‘Persona 5 The Animation’ follows the same story as the game, featuring the teenager Ren Amamiya, who lives a normal life in Tokyo during the day but roams the city at night with his group of friends, the Phantom Thieves, as they awaken entities known as Personas. They enter the minds of corrupt and malevolent individuals to change their hearts.

Fans of the series can also watch the anime ‘Persona 4 The Golden Animation’, an adaptation of the game with the same name, currently available on Game Pass, as is Persona 5 Royal.

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a – Episodes: 12 (season one)

An adaptation of the acclaimed action game Nier: Automata, which depicts planet Earth in a distant future where humanity has taken refuge on the Moon after an invasion of mechanical alien beings. The anime presents its own interpretation of the game’s events, with some changes to the plot, but still revolves around the android soldiers 2B and 9S, who are on Earth to investigate mysterious phenomena. The first season has recently concluded, with a second season already announced.

Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai – Episodes: 101

‘The Adventures of Dai’ is not based on any particular game, but it contains many elements found in iconic JRPG franchise, Dragon Quest. It follows the story of Dai, a human who lives among monsters who has his life changed when an ancient Dark Lord is resurrected, leading him to become a warrior with the mission of saving the world.

The anime will also serve as inspiration for a new game in the Dragon Quest series; Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventures of Dai will be released later this year on Xbox and Windows PC.

Anime with a Gaming Theme

Just because an anime isn’t an adaptation of a famous franchise doesn’t mean it can’t also be about video games. The following titles uses gaming culture as a backdrop to tell their stories:

New Game! – Episodes: 24

This anime presents a situation that is not often explored, showing the daily life of a game development studio through the eyes of the protagonist Suzukaze Aoba, a rookie artist who joins the team working on the sequel to her favorite game, the fictional Fairies Story 3.

Gamers! – Episodes: 12

The story of ‘Gamers!’ revolves around a group of students who come together out of their passion for video games in a school club. With plenty of humor, the animation focuses on the different types of relationships each of them has with the hobby, whether it’s a competitive spirit or simply to spend time having fun.

How to Redeem the Crunchyroll Mega Fan Subscription with Game Pass Ultimate Perk

Game Pass Ultimate members who are new or returning to Crunchyroll Mega Fan will be eligible to claim the 75-day free trial (not valid for previous trial users in the past year) through the Perks gallery on their Xbox console, on the Xbox app for Windows PC, or through the Xbox Game Pass mobile app on iOS and Android. Once the Perk is claimed, members will be directed to the Crunchyroll site to activate their subscription. Make sure you claim this offer by October 20, 2023!

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An All-New Spin on Crash is available to try absolutely free for a limited time! From August 11 – August 14, download the Crash Team Rumble Free Trial and jump into chaotic 4v4 Wumpa Fruit collecting madness. Play with your friends and foes alike in either public competitive matches, or private matches, and race to be the first team to collect and bank enough Wumpa to claim victory!

Pick from Crash Bandicoot Series Favorites

For newcomers to Crash Team Rumble, this team-based competitive platformer features heroes and villains from the Crash universe, all with unique playstyles and abilities. In the Free Trial, players can choose from Crash, Coco, or Dingodile, who fit into the unique categories of Scorer, Booster, and Blocker respectively.

Crash is an All-Rounder character who is easy to pick up and play. With fast movement and high Wumpa capacity, he helps the team pick up and score Wumpa Fruit in a flash. Coco is a Booster, meaning she’s a supportive character for the team. As Coco, players use her Quantum Wall ability to zone enemies out of locations, while also capturing Gem Pads that boost the team’s score. Finally, there’s Dingodile, a powerhouse Blocker who excels at knocking out opponents and defending your team’s Wumpa Bank.

While there are even more Heroes available in the full game, the Free Trial is a great opportunity to try each unique role, and see what playstyle fits you!

Equip Game Changing Powers

Each Hero can be equipped with a Power that further customizes their moves and abilities. In the Free Trial, players can use either the Flytrap Spitter or the Healing Fridge.

The Flytrap Spitter is a helpful plant buddy that fires projectiles at any opponents that enter its line of sight. If an enemy is hit, they’re slowed down for a period of time, making these a huge annoyance for any would-be attackers on your team’s Wumpa Bank!

The Healing Fridge supports the team by providing healing for any teammates who walk into its area of effect. Whether you’re a Blocker who needs a bit of extra healing to survive on the enemy Wumpa Bank, or a Scorer who wants to stay alive to capture a huge Wumpa haul, it’s a great tool to keep your team in the fight longer!

There are even more Powers available in the full game, which can be unlocked by earning Badges while playing. While the other Powers aren’t available in the Free Trial, any progression you make during the Free Trial carries over upon purchase of the Standard or Deluxe Edition!

Carry Over Progression into the Full Game

Season 1 is currently live, which features a completely free 100-Tier Premium Battle Pass (must be redeemed by September 12, 2023). Full of unique cosmetics, skins, banners, music, and more, players can customize the look of their Heroes with a wealth of quirky and stylish accessories! In addition, Heroes and Powers can be unlocked by earning Badges while playing in Competitive matches. New Heroes and Powers cannot be selected during the Free Trial, however any players who upgrade to the full game will carry over their unlocks and progression, allowing them to instantly play with any new Heroes or Powers available.

Season 1 Continues to Rawk with New Hero N. Gin

Earlier this summer saw the explosive release of Ripper Roo, a long-time Crash villain with a penchant for TNT and mayhem. That’s not all for Season 1 however, as Dr. N. Gin, a jetpack-powered Booster, will also be making his Crash Team Rumble debut! Support your team by activating Relic Stations, capturing Gem Pads, and bringing the beatdown to the opposing team. While N. Gin is not available in the Free Trial, he’ll be releasing soon for all Crash Team Rumble players as Season 1 continues, making this the perfect time to drop in.

The Crash Team Rumble Free Trial is available today for the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. For more information, head to the official Crash Bandicoot site and be sure to follow @CrashBandicoot on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok for more news and updates.

Crash Team Rumble™ – Deluxe Edition

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
32

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

This Edition includes:

– Crash Team Rumble™ for Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S
– Premium Battle Pass Unlock for Seasons 1 + 2*
– Digital Proto Pack. Includes:
— 8 ‘Blocky’ hero skins
— ‘Pixelated’ Shadow
— ‘Get On My Level’ In-Game Victory Music
— ‘Blocky’ Hat
— ‘Blocky’ Backpack
— ‘Blocky’ Score FX
— Unique Banner
– 25 Tier Instant Unlock for Season 1 Premium Battle Pass*

Get ready to dash, jump, slide, and bounce into an all-new way to Crash.

Crash Team Rumble™ takes Crash Bandicoot™ in a brand new direction, placing the series’ iconic heroes and villains into a 4v4 team-based competition. Players will duke it out across diverse and dangerous maps as both teams race to be the first team to collect and bank enough Wumpa fruit to claim victory! Rise as a hero, or feed your inner villain across a wild and N.Sane cast of characters, each with their own unique skills and abilities. Teamwork is integral to every match, as players must work together to battle the opposing team, defend their own Wumpa Bank, and capture key points around the map to boost their score.

There’s more to come for Crash Team Rumble™, with additional heroes, modes, maps, rewards, and more coming soon!

*Limited time only. Season 1 Premium Battle Pass and 25 Tier Instant Unlock must be redeemed by September 12, 2023. Season 2 Premium Battle Pass (or equivalent version) must be redeemed by December 4, 2023. Season dates subject to change.

Activision account and internet connection required. Online Multiplayer on console requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold (subscription sold separately).

For more information, please visit www.crashbandicoot.com for more details.

© 2023 Activision Publishing Inc. ACTIVISION, CRASH TEAM RUMBLE, CRASH BANDICOOT and CRASH are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

Crash Team Rumble™ – Standard Edition

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
35

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

This Edition includes:

– Crash Team Rumble™ for Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S
– Premium Battle Pass Unlock for Season 1*

Get ready to dash, jump, slide, and bounce into an all-new way to Crash.

Crash Team Rumble™ takes Crash Bandicoot™ in a brand new direction, placing the series’ iconic heroes and villains into a 4v4 team-based competition. Players will duke it out across diverse and dangerous maps as both teams race to be the first team to collect and bank enough Wumpa fruit to claim victory! Rise as a hero, or feed your inner villain across a wild and N.Sane cast of characters, each with their own unique skills and abilities. Teamwork is integral to every match, as players must work together to battle the opposing team, defend their own Wumpa Bank, and capture key points around the map to boost their score.

There’s more to come for Crash Team Rumble™, with additional heroes, modes, maps, rewards, and more coming soon!

*Limited time only. Season 1 Premium Battle Pass must be redeemed by September 12, 2023. Season dates subject to change.

Activision account and internet connection required. Online Multiplayer on console requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold (subscription sold separately).

For more information, please visit www.crashbandicoot.com for more details.

© 2023 Activision Publishing Inc. ACTIVISION, CRASH TEAM RUMBLE, CRASH BANDICOOT and CRASH are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

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Marble It Up! Ultra is the long-awaited marble platformer from the creators of Xbox 360’s Marble Blast Ultra. Available for pre-order now, it launches on Xbox One and Series X|S on August 17th. Master marble physics in a gravity-defying journey filled with hazards, obstacles, hidden treasures, and mind-bending challenges, then take your skills online to compete in robust cross-platform multiplayer! 

At its core, Marble It Up! Ultra is a platformer where players navigate through a series of intricate and dynamic levels, from the starting point to the goal, overcoming obstacles, hazards, and time constraints. Intuitive and buttery smooth controls allow players to perform precise movements, making it easy to learn but difficult to master. Race against your friends’ best times, or check out the top routes on the global leaderboards.

The standout feature is cross-platform multiplayer. Smash opposing marbles in Sumo, race to the treasure in Gem Hunt, run for your life (or hunger for brains) in Zombies, and team up to go for the goal in Soccer. Bring all of your marble skills to bear in these competitive game modes!

The game’s vibrant colors and meticulously designed environments create an inviting and visually captivating experience. From serene cloud-dotted landscapes to gravity-bending space puzzles, each level offers a unique and artistic appeal that keeps players engaged while challenging their skills. It also features an original heart-pounding soundtrack that complements the play perfectly.

Marble It Up! Ultra boasts an impressive array of over 117 single-player levels across 10 chapters. Multiplayer offers an impressive 24 Levels and 4 game modes, each with its own set of obstacles, objects, and power-ups. A new marble, hat, or trail is hidden in every level.  Customize and show off your collection in multiplayer and on the leaderboards. Physics-bending Weekly Challenges ensure there’s always something new to explore.

With its intuitive controls, brilliant level design, beautiful visuals, and driving beat, Marble It Up! Ultra brings new life to the physics-platformer genre. Whether you’re a fan of marble-based games or new to the subtle joy of rolling, Marble It Up! Ultra is an absolute must-play. Pick it up on August 17th, or pre-order now to get an exclusive marble, hat, and trail.

Marble It Up! Ultra – Pre-Order

Marble It Up, LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

$26.99

Pre-order

✰ Preorder Marble It Up! Ultra now to get the full game and unlock the preorder-only Hidden Gems pack – including an exclusive marble, trail, and hat combo! ✰

The Marble It Up! Ultra preorder offer is available from August 10th until launch on August 17th.

—

Marble It Up! Ultra is the pinnacle of marble platforming from the minds behind Marble It Up! and Marble Blast. World-class level design, buttery-smooth controls, gorgeous visuals, and exhilarating multiplayer – welcome to the ultimate marble experience!

A Vast Campaign
Roll through an extensive single-player campaign filled with dangerous obstacles, mind-bending paths, shifting gravity, bouncy floors, and potent power-ups.

Multiplayer Mayhem
Embrace the five competitive and chaotic multiplayer modes. Team up to hunt gems, score goals, escape zombies, and prove your marble mettle online. Blast your way to glory!

A Beautiful Collection
Unlock a magnificent collection of marbles, trails, and hats! Find hidden trophies, earn medals, and play online – all while earning your next piece of marble fashion.

Master Your Skills
Push yourself to the next level. Hunting achievements and climbing the Global Leaderboards are sure-fire ways to become a marble master! Weekly Challenges add new modifiers to levels for a fresh new way to compete each week!

Get ready to roll!

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The biggest update to Overwatch 2 since the game launched is upon us, ushering in a massive new map, a support hero: Illari, permanent game mode: Flashpoint, Invasion story missions, and much more! Plus, there’s new cosmetic rewards, an all-new hero progression system, and a Game Pass Ultimate Perk you don’t want to miss! 

As a player fascinated with the hero backstories and learning more about the lore of the game, I was particularly interested in focusing my attention on the story missions, before exploring some of the other content included in the Invasion update, which I’ve summarized below. 

Story Missions

Overwatch 2: Invasion features three all-new co-op campaign story missions. Team up with friends, matchmake with random players, or try your luck with bots as you choose from a handful of available heroes (each mission has specific heroes you can choose from) to take on swarms of Null Sector bots and more fearsome adversaries, like the Stalker and artillery war bots. These story missions are like Overwatch Archives missions, but on a much grander scale, with each occurring on its own unique map. These are the biggest maps ever featured in Overwatch and Overwatch 2, and they are swarming with Null Sector bots. As you progress through the missions and listen to the characters interact, you’ll discover more about their individual relationships and the lore of the game. 

• Resistance (Rio de Janeiro) 

• The new Overwatch team answers a distress call in Rio do Janeiro. 

• Liberation (Toronto) 

• Overwatch goes to Null-Sector-Occupied Toronto in search of an old friend. 

• Ironclad (Gothenburg) 

• Brigitte and Reinhardt head to Gothenburg for a family reunion. 

Additionally, each mission includes a list of challenges, and you will earn rewards for completing them. But be warned, even on normal difficulty, they are quite challenging (and seemingly impossible on the harder difficulty levels). Depending on the difficulty setting and how well your team does, and how much you stop to enjoy the view and explore, each mission will take approximately 20 minutes to complete, and completing each of the Story Missions unlocks a new Legendary skin and access to Sojourn as a playable hero in your PVP games. 

It’s important to note that while the core game of Overwatch 2 is free, the Story Missions require you to purchase the Invasion Bundle, which includes access to all Invasion Story Missions and 1,000 Overwatch Coins. There’s also an Overwatch 2: Invasion Ultimate Bundle available, which includes the Story Missions, plus Null Sector-themed Legendary skins for Cassidy and Kiriko, and the Invasion Premium Battle Pass, featuring 80 tiers of rewards to level up your look. 

Event Missions  

Event Missions are free co-op experiences and will be released each season. Each week the event will update with new challenges, heroes, and ways to play – so the experience will be different each week. To kick off the event missions, Overwatch 2: Invasion includes the King’s Row: Underworld event mission. 

King’s Row: Underworld   

King’s Row: Underworld is a co-op event mission included in the Overwatch 2: Invasion update and will be available until September 4. Team up and prevent Null Sector from taking over the Omnic Underworld in King’s Row. It will be up to you to reactivate and bring the combat-modified TS-1 push bot to the bunkers that hold innocent Omnics hostage. 

Hero Mastery Missions  

Coming later in the season, Hero Mastery Missions are free single-player experiences designed to help you learn, and ultimately master, each of the Overwatch 2 heroes and their specific skills. Performance is tracked via leaderboard, which is sure to add a competitive element and bragging rights for those looking to be the best. 

New Game Mode – Flashpoint 

Flashpoint is a new game mode incorporating features from other modes into a brand-new game type. Flashpoint uses randomized control points, and each time a Flashpoint is captured, the next will immediately unlock in a random location on the map. Capture three before the opposing team does and you win the match. 

New Junk City 

New Junk City is a Flashpoint map where each of its Flashpoints will have a different theme and mood that help to distinguish one from another – including a mech-crunching battle arena, the ramshackle living quarters of the ducts, and the polluted and broken-down refinery. This scrapyard metropolis features tons of unique environmental art designs, including posters, graffiti, and signs, all exploring the unspoken story of the Junkers and their leader, the Junker Queen, showcased in one of the biggest and most epic maps to date. 

 Players will need to stay sharp in New Junk City as they play Flashpoint. Both teams will be rushing from their spawns to get to the Hammer Mill, the starting point in the center of the map, as the starting control point to capture. It’s a nonstop, chaotic run-and-gun shootout between both teams as they work to capture three of the Flashpoints and be crowned victors of New Junk City!  

New Junk City and the Flashpoint game mode are available in unranked today, with it also coming to competitive play at a later date. 

New Support Hero – Illari 

The newest hero to answer the call in Overwatch 2: Invasion is Illari, a support class hero with healing abilities, but also combat ready and able to dispense with the damage. Her Solar Rifle fires a precision beam of sunlight that can either do heavy damage to enemies or heal allies. Illari is also equipped with a deployable Healing Pylon, which can be used at opportune times, like when the team is pushing the objective or to keep an outnumbered player or two alive until reinforcements arrive. Plus, Illari can knock enemies back and propel herself to safety with her Outburst ability and unleash a massive ball of solar energy with Captive Sun, her ultimate ability, which will leave those affected by the blast vulnerable to lethal explosions if they take too much damage. 

Game Pass Ultimate Perk 

Unlock Illari and the rest of the Overwatch 2 heroes when you claim the Game Pass Ultimate Perk – New Heroes Starter Pack. This unique bundle for Xbox includes instant access to all six Overwatch 2 heroes, a Legendary skin for each of them, and additional in-game cosmetics. You can also unlock Illari instantly with the Invasion Premium Battle Pass for 1,000 OW coins in the in-game shop. 

Overwatch 2: Invasion is out now! Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate battlefield brawl. For more information on Overwatch 2: Invasion, check out the official website and follow @PlayOverwatch on Twitter. 

Overwatch® 2: Complete Hero Collection

Blizzard Entertainment Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
2940

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

New to Overwatch 2? Unlock the full game experience with the Overwatch 2: Complete Hero Collection!

This bundle includes:
– Instant access to all legacy Overwatch heroes
– Instant access to 6 Overwatch 2 heroes
– 3 legacy Epic Overwatch skins
– 3 legacy Legendary Overwatch skins
– 1,000 Overwatch Coins
– 1,500 Overwatch Credits

With your Overwatch Coins, you can purchase the Premium Battle Pass (sold seperately) or in-game cosmetic items from the Shop or Hero Gallery to customize your heroes. With your Overwatch Credits, you can purchase legacy in-game cosmetic items from the Hero Gallery to customize your heroes. Owners of the Premium Battle Pass can also use Overwatch Coins to unlock Tiers and instantly access Legendary and Mythic content.

Overwatch® 2

Blizzard Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆
2005

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Team up with friends and dive into the reimagined PvP experience as a time-jumping freedom fighter, a beat-dropping battlefield DJ, or one of over 30 other unique heroes as you battle it out around the globe.

EVER EVOLVING HEROES, NEW MAPS, NEW WAYS TO PLAY AND UNIQUE COSMETICS! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s distinct heroes. Take them into battle across 24 futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.

EMBARK ON MYTHICAL ADVENTURE IN SEASON 5
Journey through the High Fantasy-themed Battle Pass and play through a new story progression experience, Questwatch. Get the Premium Battle Pass and unlock armor variations for the all-new Mythic Adventurer Tracer skin on Tiers 45, 65, and 80, along with other themed Legendary skins, and dozens of new cosmetics. Discover new ways to play and earn free rewards by jumping into Summer Games, with returning Lúcioball and new Beach Volleyball game modes. Make sure to sneak through the new prop hunt game mode, Mischief and Magic, to finish the season!

A mobile phone number must be linked to your Battle.net Account to play Overwatch.

Related:
Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Direct Double Feature: Every Announcement and Reveal
A New Threat to the World Begins in Overwatch 2: Invasion
Overwatch 2: Introducing the Origins of Lifeweaver, a New Support Hero

Shortly after the curtain rises on Stray Gods, Calliope—you know, the Muse from Greek mythology—drops dead in your apartment. But not before transferring her musical powers of persuasion and inspiration on to you.

While this might seem like an Olympean stroke of luck for Grace, a college dropout trying to find a new singer for her struggling band, some other members of the Greek pantheon suspect foul play. Now you find yourself with one week to prove your innocence, or else face the wrath and judgment of some seriously powerful immortals.

This is the dramatic setup for Summerfall Studios’ brand-new interactive role-playing musical, which just launched today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. A novel mix of urban fantasy, story- and character-driven RPGs, and Broadway, Stray Gods is a musical for video game lovers, and a video game for musical lovers. Let’s shine a spotlight on how each aspect of this epic fits together.

For urban fantasy fiends

Stray Gods takes place in a world where the Greek gods we all know—Apollo, Persephone, Hermes, Athena—live in hiding in our own modern-day world. These contemporary Idols are defined by the mythology we’re familiar with, but they’re also struggling with the complications of life as we know it today—and for many of them, the old stories were just the beginning of their personal drama. Apollo, God of Prophecy, struggles with how he’s dealt with thousands of years of visions. Persephone is Queen of the Underworld no more, cast out after slaying her husband Hades and usurping his realm.

Some of these characters will become your friends. Some will be your foes. And if you like a dash of romance in your fantasy RPG tales, some might even become your lovers. As you play, you’ll find yourself able to forge more serious relationships with Apollo or Persephone, as well as your mortal best friend Freddie and the delightful dubious (and ultra-stylish) Pan.

For role-players

Like your favorite RPGs where character and story take center stage, Stray Gods is driven by your choices and interactions—and if you’re familiar with the work of the game’s creative director David Gaider (lead writer of Dragon Age), that’s probably not a surprise twist.

Like many RPGs, Stray Gods’ narrative unfolds and relationships develop through branching dialogue options, as you choose whether to strong-arm, charm, or use your head to approach the game’s situations. Unlike pretty much any RPG, Stray Gods also unfolds through interactive lyrics and music, too.

Grace’s defining decisions are characterized by a trio of traits that Summerfall calls Charming (color-coded green in-game), Kickass (appropriately red), and Clever (cool blue). When trait-based decisions turn up at key moments in Stray Gods’ songs, your choice can alter not just the character beats, but the tone, the tempo, and even the musical style of the tune.

For musical fans

To account for all of the narrative and tuneful possibilities, Music Director and BAFTA-winning composer Austin Wintory, alongside fellow song co-writers Tripod and Montaigne, were faced with the truly Herculean challenge of creating branching music, words, and melodies—and making those branches flow together seamlessly.

Depending on your Charming/Kickass/Clever decisions, a song might take a harder, punk-er, percussive turn, or drift into a more soulful and string-heavy arrangement. All told, there are thousands of potential song variations you could experience in your playthroughs.

The music is brought to life by a modern-day pantheon of voice talent—including Laura Bailey (Grace), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Persephone), Troy Baker (Apollo), Khary Payton (Pan), Janina Gavankar (Freddie), Felicia Day (Athena), Ashley Johnson (Calliope), Anthony Rapp (Orpheus), and more stars from across games, television, and Broadway.

When crafting Stray Gods, Summerfall Studios wanted to ensure as many people could enjoy the experience as possible—and part of that included building in accessibility options related to the music and more.

These options include subtitles and audio descriptions of the events, UI sizing options, control remapping, the ability to control the timing of songs’ progress, and more. For a full explanation of the options to help you decide if Stray Gods is the game for you, visit www.summerfallstudios.com/accessibility.

Check out Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical — available today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

Humble Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

In a modern fantasy world, college dropout Grace is granted the power of a Muse – power she’ll need to find out the truth behind her predecessor’s death before time runs out. You’ll decide who Grace allies with, who she can trust, and who may betray her in this beautifully hand-illustrated roleplaying musical.

Written by David Gaider comes Stray Gods – an urban fantasy tale of finding your place, taking charge of your fate, and discovering answers. Your choices will change the endings, as well as the path you take to get there.

A compelling story of hope, self-discovery, and forging your path.

Find Your Voice
“Adventure, love, and songs await!

Charm, negotiate, or strong-arm your way through their world as Grace, playing through original, fully interactive musical numbers composed by Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory, Tripod (musicians Scott Edgar, Steven Gates, and Simon Hall) and Eurovision Australia’s own Montaigne (Jess Cerro). Fully orchestrated and performed by an all-star cast, you’ll feel as though you’re right there on the stage. With thousands of potential variations based on your choices, you’ll craft the soundtrack to your own one of a kind musical experience.

Find Answers
“Choice and consequence built from the DNA of RPGs – no two playthroughs are the same.

Delve into a hidden world of mythic Greek gods and monsters as you get to know a cast of hilarious, enigmatic, and compelling characters. Forget what you know about these mythological beings – in Stray Gods you’ll forge friendships and find foes with many familiar names, but not so familiar stories. Play as star and stagehand as you determine the story you want to tell through conversation and song.

Find Love?
“Find friendship, love, or yourself.

Build friendships with mortals and Gods alike. Stoke the fires of romance if you so choose – explore, pursue, and confess your love with four potential paramours. Decide who you want to be through every choice. David Gaider’s storytelling and characters come to life with performances by an all-star cast, with the likes of Laura Bailey, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and more cast members across video games, television, and Broadway to be revealed soon.

A Whole New World
A musical for video game lovers, and a video game for musical lovers.

With all the comedy and tragedy of your favorite stage shows, Stray Gods is a tongue-in-cheek and heartfelt reconception of Greek mythology combining what we love about contemporary musical theater with video games where character and story take center stage. Collaborating with some of the best in music, broadway, television, and games – Stray Gods is a debut not to be missed.”

Related:
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 7 to August 11
Final Fantasy XIV Online is Coming to Xbox Series X|S in Spring 2024
How Neverwinter Brings Classic Dungeons & Dragons Heroes And Villains To Life