Soccer fans: get ready for The World’s Game early with EA Sports FC 24. EA Play members can jump into a 10-hour trial of the game on September 22 – before release – and experience the next chapter in a more innovative future of football.
With early EA Sports FC 24 access, members will experience the ground-breaking realism delivered by HyperMotion V (on Xbox Series X|S), resulting in true-to-football movement and animations. The enhanced Frostbite Engine introduces lifelike detail, reinventing how 19,000+ fully licensed players move, play, and look in every match. In addition, EA Sports FC 24 features over 700 teams and 30 leagues, including the UEFA Men’s and Women’s Champions League, CONMEBOL Libertadores, Premier League, Barclays Women’s Super League, LaLiga EA Sports, Bundesliga, D1 Arkema, NWSL, and many more.
Starting September 22, EA Play members will also be able to score member-only member rewards while perfecting their free kicks. A special Welcome Pack – including Ultimate Team Draft Tokens, as well as the EA Play Football Revolution and Press Start to EA Play kits – will be available on the same day that early access begins.
In addition to EA Sports FC 24,here are even more member benefits available now with EA Play:
Battlefield 2042 Cloaked Menace Vehicle Skin – Now to October 1
Apex Legends Juiced Up Weapon Charm – Now to October 9
Need for Speed UnboundLamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 (2021) – Now to October 9
PGA Tour EA Golf Polo Shirts – Now to September 20
NHL 23 WOC September Bag – Now to September 30
NHL 23 X-Factor Upgrade Perk – Now to October 5
F1 235000 XP Boost – Now to September 30
FIFA 23 FUT Season 9 XP Boost – Now to September 30
FIFA 23 VOLTA Hunter Jacket and COINS – Now to September 30
FIFA 23 Pro Clubs Shadow Right Hand Tattoo – Now to September 30
EA Sports FC 24Welcome Pack – September 22 to October 23
Madden NFL 24 MUT EA Play September Pack – Now to September 30
UFC 4Champion Fighter Customization Bundle Perk – Now to October 5
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play at no additional cost with their Game Pass subscription. Members enjoy great player benefits, including in-game challenges and rewards, special member-only content, trials of select brand-new titles like Madden NFL 24, F1 23 and Super Mega Baseball 4, access to a collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, and 10% off purchases of Electronic Arts digital content.
How do you meaningfully add to a game that’s been in players’ hands for five years? In the case of State of Decay 2, you throw a curveball. This new update, coming to players for free on September 18, is a landmark moment for the game – not just offering a swathe of new content for the game’s most dedicated players and newcomers alike, but marking a new era in State of Decay 2’s development through the work of Wushu Studios.
Wushu, from Liverpool, England, will continue providing support to State of Decay 2 as much of original studio Undead Labs transitions to work on the next entry in the series – but where you might expect that support to be incremental, Wushu is making a very big splash. Curveball is a major update, touching almost every element of the game, and designed to consistently offer brand new challenges, even to those who have been playing State of Decay 2 since release.
Available after the fifth in-game day, curveballs can change the world around your settlement in some very interesting ways. Housed in a new menu, curveballs will periodically appear – each with their own narrative attached – offering new objectives, rewards, enemy types and much more. Curveballs can be positive (like finding increased loot) or negative (like buffing regular zombies in multiple ways); they can be timed or objective based; they can affect enemies, your survivors, or other NPCs. Effectively, any element of the game you may have gotten comfortable with can, and often will, change.
“We basically wanted to address the feedback that over time the game became a bit repetitive relatively quickly,” Undead Labs’ Meg Chaney and Eric Anderson tell me, “so we wanted to introduce something that would shake things up and keep the game changing as players spend more time with the game.”
“For experienced players, the later stages of State of Decay 2 can get a little predictable,” adds Wushu’s John Hollingworth. “That’s why we are introducing curveballs. This feature is designed to keep you on your toes by adding random events and world-changing modifiers to the game. It introduces new layers of challenge and unpredictability to keep the wasteland fresh, exciting and dangerous. These new scenarios help to develop more unique stories around your survivors, so whether you’re a seasoned survivor or just starting out, each session and playthrough will feel different to the last.”
To enforce that unpredictability, curveballs are fairly random – while a few are tied directly to actions you take in the game, many can appear completely unexpectedly – and you can even have multiple curveballs active at the same time. “We think it’s going to be a bit of a rollercoaster ride for seasoned players,” Chaney and Anderson explain. “Some of the curveballs may only require minor adjustments to tackle or will provide new opportunities, but some of them can be pretty vicious and require major adjustments to their tactics.”
Of course, the most obvious of those changes comes in how curveballs can affect your most frequent targets: zombies. “Zombies were the first and most obvious target for modifiers,” Hollingworth tells me. “We wanted to lean into the idea that there is an ebb and flow of mutational outbreaks within the population as a result of events occurring in the world, or the Plague attempting to push back and fight the enclaves.
“Zombie side effects can include lethal physiological changes or heightened senses. Some examples can be things like stronger zombie attacks, improved eyesight, hearing and even smell to zero in on survivors out of sight. Zombies may explode with decomposed bile gunk when killed or carry a stench that suffocates and drains the stamina of any survivor up close. These are just some of the challenging mutational modifiers. However, zombies may also carry side effects that make them weaker. They can become frail, slow down, and in turn be easier to behead and knock down by affecting their center of balance.”
To put this into context, all of this can happen to just a single enemy type – with so many modifiers on the table, it’s clear how wildly different the form of curveballs could be from one player’s game to another. But the point is that curveballs shouldn’t make it feel like you’re suddenly playing a different game, just a warped one (and you can even turn the feature off entirely if you’d prefer to play the base game as it was). “We have touched on a lot of different systems but only to an extent which complements the current gameplay,” explains Hollingworth. “We wanted to ensure it narratively fit and could be justified within the simulation as to not break the immersion.”
And the curveballs don’t end with what’s coming to the game on September 18. “We also are hoping to introduce more player control over the feature over time, so ultimately it should be up to the player to determine how much of an impact they want curveballs to make,” Chaney and Anderson tell me.
This is just the start of Wushu’s work on State of Decay 2, and you can expect the game to see more updates as time goes on – but the team wants to spend some time after its big new feature making sure that its players are feeling heard, too: “We’ll be putting a bit more time into tackling some items from the player wishlist and addressing existing player concerns,” says Hollingworth of the near future. “Some of them may require extensive overhauls to existing systems, but mostly I think we’ll be focusing on improving what’s already there and making sure it matches players’ expectations.”
It’s rare to see such a significant new idea added to a game after five years, and it seems Undead Labs and Wushu have more plans to come: “SoD2 has an incredibly loyal player base and a phenomenal community,” says Chaney, “so our primary goal is to continue to provide them with meaningful content and gameplay updates! This game is 5 years sexy and we’re going to keep the party rolling…”
Make sure to check out the Curveball update when it arrives in State of Decay 2on September 18.
• Build your community and invite up to three friends** to explore an open-world world filled with hostile zombies
• Establish a base, develop your characters and manage resources to survive in a post-apocalyptic world
• In the apocalypse, every decision matters and brings with it lasting consequences.
• How you survive just might surprise you.
• Available on Xbox One and Windows 10.
• Xbox One X Enhanced and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.
*Add-on packs available as released, see Xbox.com for more info
**State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition and add-on content downloads require up to 25GB. ISP fees apply. Xbox Live account required.
State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition may be downloaded to your Xbox One console by selecting “My Games and Apps”, then selecting “Ready to Install”. Included content will automatically be added to Ready to Install, without the need of a download code.
***Xbox Live Gold membership required for online multiplayer on Xbox One (sold separately). Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10. Enhanced features for Xbox One X subject to release of a content update. Games information at xbox.com/enhanced. Specific enhancements vary by game.
The dead have risen and civilization has fallen. Not even the military could stop the zombies, and now it’s up to you to gather survivors, scavenge for resources and build a community with up to three of your friends in a post-apocalyptic world – a world where every decision matters, and where you define what it means to survive in this ultimate zombie survival simulation.
State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition re-imagines the popular survival game as a brand-new experience to welcome first-time players… and those who’ve come back from the dead. This edition is packed with new and remastered content for the ultimate zombie survival experience.
Join over 10 million existing players and discover what Juggernaut Edition has to offer:
• The base game plus all three add-on packs released to date, including the all-new Homecoming update:
o Homecoming: a full-size, fully remastered, open world version of Trumbull Valley for the core game, reintegrating the Mount Tanner and Fairfield regions to the map, and adding new sites to scavenge, along with new sights to behold.
o Heartland: an massive story campaign set in a familiar town with new challenges
o Daybreak Pack: a test of teamwork with siege-style, “survive the horde” gameplay
o Independence Pack: a celebration of history that blows up zombies… with fireworks!
• Remastered graphics and an upgraded engine featuring realistic fog effects
• An expanded soundtrack with hours of new thematic musical arrangements
• Providence Ridge: a brand-new open-world map full of forests, zombies, and mystery
• Two-handed heavy weapons with new melee combat moves to bust zombie heads
• A new introductory experience and improved controls to help you master the apocalypse
… and countless other improvements to the classic open-ended sandbox gameplay.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
Experience one of the hardest Tactical RPG and lead your band of mercenaries through and unforgiving land where every choice is crucial. Carve your way through terrifying dungeons, dreadful forests and dark caves filled with horrific monsters to reap your rewards… or die trying.
Available on day one with Game Pass! Lies of P is a thrilling Soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era. You must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself. Early access kicks begins September 15 for those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition here on the Xbox Store. Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.
Discover a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe created by the Fire God Liu Kang. Mortal Kombat 1 ushers in a new era of the iconic franchise with a new fighting system, game modes, and fatalities! The Premium Edition includes the Kombat Pack (6 additional characters), early access to downloadable content characters, and 1250 Dragon Krystals (In-game Currency).
Banished from your homeland for believing that dwarfs can live above ground, you decide to build a new town that will attract other dwarves who share the same vision. Become a leader and keep your townspeople safe and happy by completing quests, crafting items, and fighting off enemies. The bigger your town, the bigger your adventure!
Available on day one with Game Pass! Fight with or against your friends in Party Animals! Choose your character from a diverse cast of adorable animals as you battle it out across multiple game modes to be the last one left standing in the ultimate competitive brawler. Paw up, grab a plunger and get ready to party like an animal. Playable on Cloud and Console.
The inhabitants of Rayland use the energy from the Domus to survive, and to transport this energy they use a Reflectus, a type of equipment that reflects the rays to other Domus. Your mission is to help the inhabitants of Rayland to transport the energy of the Domus through the various lands contained in the path. For this, you must correctly position the Reflectus and rotate them so the energy rays reach the necessary Domus.
Welcome to Rayland. The inhabitants of this island use the energy coming from special laser beams to survive, and to transport this energy they use something called repeating cubes. Your mission is to help the inhabitants of Rayland move the energy of the transmitter, known as a Domus, through different lands by reflecting lasers to their target.
The apocalypse wasn’t the end of the world. Just the one we knew. Enter the Days of Doom, a post-apocalyptic tactical RPG roguelite that challenges players to reach Sanctuary, a place of promise and respite in a world of colorful chaos. Starting with a small cast of survivors, you’ll chart a path to reach your ultimate destination, encountering threats, including zombies, raiders, and even zombie raiders!
The much-anticipated sequel to one of the most popular co-op shooters ever. Since its release, Payday-players have been reveling in the thrill of a perfectly planned and executed heist. Step out of retirement and back into the life of crime in the shoes of the Payday Gang. Several years after the crew’s reign of terror over Washington DC has ended, they assemble once again to deal with the threat that roused them out of early retirement.
Relive the epic adventure of the original “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series. Play as Aang and his friends and master the elements, explore the most unique locations from the series, solve challenging environmental puzzles and experience the most heart touching moments of Aang’s story. Play the story solo or with a friend through the game’s unique two-player co-op mode.
EA SPORTS FC™ 24 Ultimate Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
EA Sports FC 24 is a new era for The World’s Game: 19,000+ fully licensed players, 700+ teams, and 30+ leagues playing together in the most authentic football experience ever created. Feel closer to the game with three cutting-edge technologies powering unparalleled realism in every match and the enhanced Frostbite Engine delivers lifelike detail, bringing a new level of immersion to each match. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play members can enjoy a 10% discount on all things EA FC 24 and play a 10-hour free trial starting September 22.
Play as your favorite Rainbow High character, Ruby, Poppy, Sunny, Jade, Skyler and Violet. Use their unique talents and work together to present your best work to date. The team with the best idea will be awarded the chance to plan a major school project. It’s time to transform creative struggles into creative brilliance.
Immerse yourself in a beautifully crafted world where ancient Chinese culture meets the power of martial arts in Shuyan Saga. Experience a gripping tale of honor, courage, and self-discovery as you step into the shoes of Shuyan, a young princess determined to become a true Kung Fu warrior and stop the evil Guer horde from destroying the Five Kingdoms.
In this game, you control a snake that moves automatically and grows longer as it collects coins and body parts. The objective of the game is to collect as many points as possible by picking up power-ups, smashing through boxes, and avoiding obstacles.
Vincent is a skilled thief who decides to steal a precious necklace from a mansion of a lonely old lady named Beatrice. His plan would have gone perfectly well, but when she catches him red-handed, she turns out to be an ancient and powerful witch. Whateverland is a hand-painted point-n-click adventure game with a branching dialogue system, non-linear gameplay, various endings, and unique in-game turn-based strategy sports simulator.
UFOs! Aliens! Aircraft! Resistance! Squad 51 vs. the Flying Saucers is a spaceship shooter with 2D gameplay in 3D environments. Enjoy a unique combination of a fast-paced shooting and a ‘50s sci-fi film aesthetic — with live-action cutscenes! Join the rebel cause as Lieutenant Kaya, facing flying saucers, alien fighters, monsters, and more. The future of the Earth is in your hands!
Initially released in 1992, Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace is bringing its nostalgic flavor of platform action to consoles. Join the bionic heroes Arnold and Sonya on their mission to defend the world from an alien invasion. Jump, fly, and blast your way through levels full of robotic alien baddies, take down epic bosses, and save your allies from the clutches of evil. Rediscover Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace today!
Not long ago, Idris Elba was just a Cyberpunk 2077 player. Today, he’s a fully-fledged actor in the game, and a huge part of the new Phantom Liberty expansion. Oh, and he’s supervised and created some of the new music coming to the game, for good measure. It’s been quite the journey for the celebrated actor, but it started with a simple chat:
“It was really just an exploratory conversation,” he told Xbox On. “You know, ‘Do like gaming? Are you into games? Would you be interested in being a part of something?’ And then, before we knew it, we were having a conversation about Cyberpunk. And I was aware of Cyberpunk as a game, I played it, but then to be a part of the expansion was quite exciting to me.”
That was no doubt helped by the fact that he’d already seen Keanu Reeves playing the role of Johnny Silverhand and, soon, Elba joined the project to portray Solomon Reed, a key figure in Phantom Liberty, pitched somewhere between sidekick and mentor for player-character V. Reed – and Elba’s part in playing him – has been known about for some time, but we haven’t learned much about Reed himself. That’s clearly been a purposeful decision, as Elba teases, “his storyline really has some twists and turns and it’s deep. I was attracted to it, because it was a dramatic character.”
What we do know about Reed is that he’s a tortured ex-special agent, “someone who is really dedicated to his craft, his profession, to his country. But when you meet him, I wouldn’t say it’s a sad story, but it’s a story that’s got its layers, and you meet someone that’s sort of caged in. But when you get into the expansion with Solomon, you get to understand who he is a little bit. He becomes V’s guide, or protector in some cases, and you’re not sure if you can trust him or not.”
The process of creating Reed has been an interesting one for Elba. While he’s appeared in games before, it’s never been a role quite as large as this – and doing that in the fabric of a game as huge as Cyberpunk already is was its own challenge. Thankfully, he felt the writing on the page was strong enough to get him into character easily:
“It’s so complex. I came in and just inherited the world you know – and the storytelling is deep. And so I just brought my own nuance in terms of, I guess, how he sounds, the emotive spectrum for him – but it’s pretty well written.”
Elba’s work was almost entirely through voice-acting, which meant that his recording sessions were captured on video to use as references for the animators. Putting your likeness into someone else’s hands is a leap of faith for a screen actor, but Elba’s felt in safe hands. “It’s funny,” he explains, “because you could say a line, and you could say it with, you know, the intention of pain. And the animator could make you look like you’re happy while you’re saying it – but if it works, it works. And that’s the beauty of collaboration I think.”
That collaboration, and the sheer depth of the story, has taken three full years to perfect – another key difference from his usual work being that Reed needs to be able to go in multiple directions within a single conversation. “A game like this – you’re basically [acting in] it three times, because you’ve got three different answers,” Elba explains of the lengthy process. “You try to record all the different threads at the same time […] It is a process – hats off to [CD PROJEKT RED].”
He laughs, saying, “I’m not sure I’m going to do another game anytime soon. It’s graft – it’s proper graft.”
But he’s delighted with the results, paying tribute to CD PROJEKT RED’s staff throughout the interview. They’re likely delighted with him too, not least because he didn’t just act in the expansion, but brought experience from his side-career as a DJ to help craft Phantom Liberty’s new musical identity, picking tracks for a new radio station, and even creating his own:
“It kind of crossed the realm of music supervision. You know, trying to pick a ‘sonic’ that is relatable to this incredible landscape – and that was a joy. As a DJ, that’s what you do when walk into a club – you’ve got a thousand people, they’re all different, pick one song that makes them all dance. So it was a bit like a process just to pick stuff out – that was just enjoyable.
“I [also] managed to make three songs. That was also a lot of fun – one’s a really techie house thing, one’s really hip-hop, and one’s just kind of experimental. Because Cyberpunk could be anything – it’s cyber, it’s punk, and punk and cyber are sort of mishmashes in any case. We went wherever we wanted with it.”
We don’t have long to wait to see how Elba’s turn as Solomon Reed changes the game – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty arrives on Xbox Series X|S on September 26.
Phantom Liberty, a new spy-thriller adventure to Cyberpunk 2077, arrives on 26.09.2023 (CEST) for Xbox Series X|S — pre-order now to get in-game access to the Quadra Sport R-7 “Vigilante” when the expansion launches!
ABOUT THE GAME
Phantom Liberty is a new spy-thriller adventure for Cyberpunk 2077. When the orbital shuttle of the President of the New United States of America is shot down over the deadliest district of Night City, there’s only one person who can save her — you. Become V, a cyberpunk for hire, and dive deep into a tangled web of espionage and political intrigue, unraveling a story that connects the highest echelons of power with the brutal world of black-market mercenaries.
Infiltrate Dogtown, a city-within-a-city run by a trigger-happy militia and ruled by a leader with an iron fist. With the help of NUSA sleeper agent Solomon Reed (Idris Elba) and the support of Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves), unravel a web of shattered loyalties and use your every skill to survive in a fractured world of desperate hustlers, shadowy netrunners, and ruthless mercenaries. Built with the power of next-gen hardware in mind, Phantom Liberty offers brand-new gameplay mechanics, nail-biting courier jobs, gigs, and missions — and a thrilling main quest where freedom and loyalty always come at a price.
Get a detailed breakdown on the playable characters in the upcoming cross play open beta event for The First Descendant starting September 19 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Every Descendant has a unique ability, like being able to bend fire to their will or unleash a bone-chilling cold on their enemies.
For those unaware, The First Descendant features unique characters called the Descendants, heroes who have awakened the Arche, an infinite force that flows through their bodies. As one of these characters, you will defend humanity from alien invaders, the Vulgus, across stunning environments powered by Unreal Engine 5.
Every Descendant has a unique ability, like being able to bend fire to their will or unleash a bone-chilling cold on their enemies. Others use wits to develop weapons that can take on the evil Vulgus and Colossi, while some can use Superconductivity Thrusters and their own Arche to overwhelm these evil foes.
While engaged in combat against the Vulgus, you will be able to utilize these unique character skill sets, equip powerful weapons, use a handy grappling hook, or get creative and come up with your own Descendant build.
Today, ahead of The First Descendant‘s cross play open beta event on September 19, I’m sharing some new details on how the Descendants lived their lives before their varied abilities were unleashed, unlocking their purpose as protectors of the world of Ingris. You can sign up here for the upcoming open beta, which will be playable on Xbox for the first time!
Kyle, the Experienced Technician
Kyle was the leader of one of the divisions within the Albion Headquarters, overseeing an operational unit. He was a seasoned veteran who had spent a long time setting up and managing outposts throughout various regions of the Ingris continent, ensuring that Descendants could operate effectively.
As an experienced technician, he could quickly grasp how to control and manipulate his power. The Magisters often had to tread around him carefully, as he was meticulous and deeply involved in developing his suit to the extent that they would avoid him.
Repulsion Dash: a technique that allows Kyle to quickly charge forward and knock back enemies in front of him. This technique uses the pushing force of “Repulsion” and is part of the reason Kyle’s suit is so massive — it’s a safety measure implemented to ensure his protection during collisions.
Magnetic Bulwark: enables him to protect himself and his Teammates. This skill generates a magnetic shield, allowing him to shield both allies and himself from incoming gunfire.
Magnetism Spurt: a skill to expertly maneuver Magnetic Force to defend himself and his allies. It inflicts damage on nearby enemies when all accumulated energy is spent. Of course, it also replenishes the Energy Shields of nearby allies.
We wanted the character of Kyle to be incredibly cool, both visually and technically. We didn’t want his story to end with him just overcoming hidden sorrows – we wanted him to soar above them. So, we truly made him fly. He uses the Superconductivity Thrusters to swiftly fly and land wherever he desires, sweeping away his enemies.
Valby, the Water Dancer
Valby, a Descendant with a bright and pure smile, possesses an Arche that can turn her entire body turn into water. Therefore, she can drastically reduce her use of Mental Points when she’s in the presence of it.
Bubble Bullet: combines Valby’s cute personality and the characteristics of the skill. When thrown forward, these bubble projectiles burst into multiple bubbles, clearing away any obstacles in Valby’s path.
Plop Plop: was another Skill that was bounced around a lot. We wanted to incorporate the basic yet beautiful material of water into this skill, so we looked for beautiful water-related movements and details. With this skill, Valby can move towards enemies or to safety. She could do so more flexibly, beautifully, and in a cute manner than anyone else.
Clean Up: enables her to adjust her suit to turn her entire body into water or move swiftly through her enemies. The wet path she leaves behind also serves as a trap she’s set: enemies who come in contact with the water become “Laundry” to be cleaned up.
To make her look impressive and grand, we handed her a launcher so she could wash her laundry, when Valby launches those massive water droplets, the struggling “Laundry Vulgus” inside will be made helpless.
Blair, Chef of the Battlefield
Blair is humorous, brash, and optimistic. He is also one of the few Descendants whose Arche manifestation is intertwined with the Colossi — unknown beings that roam the Void destroying all civilization. Blair is one of the Descendants who underwent a change in skill name change following last year’s beta test. We wanted his skills to invoke more of a “battlefield chef” image, and as Korean developers, we wanted to play with language that can be expressed in Korean.
Pitmaster: we intentionally used different terminology in English and Korean, selecting well-suited terms for each language region. This skill was called “Flame Manipulation” last year.
Blaze Up: generates a fiery ground beneath Blair. We envisioned him conjuring it as if he were dealing with a rush of orders in a busy kitchen. Of course, being a skilled chef with precise flame control, there’s no need to worry. When Blair ignites, the ground he gestures at instantly becomes a blazing grill. And since orders can come in from other “kitchens,” the skill “Extinguish” ensures seamless Vulgus preparation at just the right temperature.
Burn Taste: is one example where Korean language play was applied. The flames that emanate from Blair’s hands give the enemy a taste of what it’s like to be burned.
Deadly Cuisine: the fourth active skill, involves hurling a massive fireball forward, reminiscent of a flaming meatball. We thought that if Blair were to present a spectacular dinner show to his enemies, then for the grand finale, he should serve one “Deadly Cuisine,” which is why we chose this name.
There are many more Descendants that we haven’t introduced to you yet, so don’t forget to join us during our cross play open beta starting on September 19, where you’ll get to meet a total of 13 Descendants. You can sign up for the upcoming cross play open beta here at fd.nexon.com to receive registration rewards!
Learn more about the evil vampire lord, Deadalus, revealed in this cinematic trailer.
Exclusive Interview with Mark Meer about his inspirations, and lessons learned from TTRPGs.
MythForce is available to play now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
The voice of MythForce’s newest villain, Deadalus, has been revealed as Mark Meer, best known for his voice performance as Commander Shepard from the Mass Effect trilogy. Meer has also lent his voice to a number of iconic Baldur’s Gate characters, including Cyric and Baeloth “the Entertainer” Barrityl, so we’d wager that he knows a thing or two about voicing villains.
In this exclusive interview for Xbox Wire, I had the chance to speak to Meer about his inspirations, insight and reflections he is bringing to the role of Deadalus, and we are also able to shed some light on the captivating world of the visionary voice actor.
Aspyr Marketing Specialist Matthew Ray: Which great villainous actors were you most inspired by for your performance as Deadalus?
Mark Meer: Definitely some Tim Curry in there — though whether it’s leaning more toward Darkness from “Legend” or Frank N. Furter from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” I leave for you to judge. Alan Rickman’s turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham is a likely influence, and who can possibly play a vampiric uber-villain without turning to Christopher Lee’s Dracula for inspiration?
Ray: What are some of the joys of playing villains?
Meer: I’ve always been a fan of the bad guys: Doctor Doom, Darth Vader, Skeletor. Their designs have always been more appealing to Halloween-loving me. And when you’ve got a villain who clearly enjoys his villainy like say, Loki (or Deadalus), you generally get to have a bit more fun in the role than the hero. You get to chew the scenery a little more, really relish it. “Wallow in your own crapulence,” as another classic villain would have it.
Ray: Which video games have consumed the most hours of your life?
Meer: I played Red Dead Redemption 2 almost nonstop for the first few months of the pandemic. But I’d have to say that I’ve logged the most total gaming hours in the Fallout universe, particularly Fallout 4. I’ve probably spent days or even weeks of real time building weird settlements in the Commonwealth.”
Ray: As a game master, what lessons do you bring back to acting from running roleplaying games?
Meer: There is much similarity between tabletop RPGs and improvised theater—both are a form of collaborative storytelling. In fact, I always credit Dungeons & Dragons with being my first acting and improv experience. A lot of the same guidelines apply—acceptance of offers, reincorporation of ideas, and making the other guy look good. Whether onstage or around the table, if everyone is supporting and actively making their fellow players look good, everyone benefits—as does the show/game as a whole. Things kind of came full circle with my very first voice acting gig on the original Baldur’s Gate II game, and years later my return to the Forgotten Realms with Beamdog in the Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Editions.”
Ray: As an avid comics fan, what are some of your favorite Saturday-morning cartoons? What makes the great ones stand out from the rest?
Meer: Probably my attachment to whatever license they were based on. In the ’80s, cartoons were all about selling toys. One of the best DC Comics toy lines of all time is still the Super Powers Collection, based on the revamped Super Friends show, “Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.” The old “Dungeons & Dragons” Saturday-morning cartoon also stands out for me. Speaking of toys, they finally made action figures of the main characters of that show (Venger, Dungeon Master, and the kids), and I immediately snapped them up. Nostalgia is a powerful thing. I was also a regular viewer of “The Real Ghostbusters,” “Spider-Man,” “Masters of the Universe,” and even though it was a much older show, reruns of “Rocket Robin Hood” will always have a place in my Canadian heart.”
Ray: What’s a role you’re dying to play?
Meer: I recently crossed an item off my nerd bucket list when I got to play a classic DC Comics villain, Starro the Conqueror, in Gotham Knights. Since I’ve always been a fan of both DC and Marvel, I figure I eventually need to play a Marvel Universe villain too. I mentioned Doctor Doom earlier—he’s always been my favorite supervillain, so he ‘s at the top of the list. In a way, I did get to play him already, or at least a very thinly veiled homage to him, with my character Doctor Von Chaos in Tiny Plastic Men.
Ray: Which MythForce hero is your favorite? As Deadalus, how would you most like to defeat them?
Meer: I’ve been friends with Nikki Rae Hallow (Hulowski) for years, so I think I’d best pick Victoria. Then again, I tend to favor spellcasters in tabletop RPGs, so maybe Maggie? I think I’d like Deadalus to have some sort of Mortal Kombat-style “Finish Him!” fatality move, with plenty of spine-ripping action and gore. Can you guys fit that in? Though now that I think of it, that might be a little too 1990s for this 80s-influenced game.
Gather your friends and hop into the ever-changing world of Eldryth! MythForce is now available for purchase on the Xbox Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Inspired by beloved Saturday morning cartoons, MythForce unites swords & sorcery with gripping 1st-person combat in a new roguelike adventure.
Brave the dungeon alone or join forces with friends to take on an ever-changing Castle of Evil!
Saturday Morning Cartoons are Back!
Become a cartoon hero in a Saturday morning cartoon fantasy world. Scratch that nostalgic itch with wholesome fun that’s easy to pick up and play (but tough to master).
In true roguelike fashion, each time you’re defeated, you’ll have to start over at the beginning — but every playthrough makes you a little stronger.
Level up as you explore the dungeon, uncovering magical artifacts and upgrades to make you say “I HAVE THE POWER!”
Gripping First-Person Swords & Sorcery
Wield legendary weapons and powerful magic to smite hordes of enemies in an immersive fantasy dungeon-crawl through a colorful cartoon castle.
Explore an Ever-changing Castle of Evil
Fresh adventures await with each new attempt to storm the keep! Explore a replayable dungeon with treasure, traps, and terrors lurking around every corner.
Team up to Fight Evil
Brave the dungeon alone or join forces in co-op mode for up to 4 players. Choose your team wisely — each hero brings unique skills to the fight!
Meet the Heroes of MythForce: Victoria the valiant Knight joins forces with Rico the charming Rogue, Maggie the wise Mage, and Hawkins the deadly Hunter. Together, they form the legendary team known as… MythForce!
These courageous champions are all that stand between Eldryth and the tyranny of the vampire lord, Deadalus. Will our heroes prevail against the many malevolent minions, tricks, and traps in his ever-changing dungeon?
Lies of P takes the story of Pinocchio and flips it on its head, creating a world of horror fiction that we seldom see.
Influenced by the Soulslike genre, Lies of P takes place in a challenging, dark world where sinister mechanical puppets inherit the city.
Play Lies of P starting September 15 in early access by picking up the Digital Deluxe Edition today on the Xbox Store. Game Pass members can start playing the Standard Edition at launch on September 19 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows.
Lies of P is a fantastic interpretation of “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” dropping our beloved puppet within the nightmarish city of Krat, a fallen utopia built on the backs of mechanical puppets who have gone mad and slain its citizens. Their creator, Geppetto, has gone missing and “P” is brought to life to track him down to try and save the city.
In the classic fairy tale, Pinocchio embarks on many adventures of self-discovery and encounters a wide range of characters – many of them bad actors who take advantage of his ignorance — which leads him on a transformative journey where he learns what it means to be human, the power of forgiveness, and of course, repercussions for lying.
It doesn’t take much to see that the string that connects Lies of P to the classic tale of Pinocchio is a delicate one, but that’s precisely the allure the game brings to the table here. This isn’t a story you’ve heard before and it plays with the familiar in ways we really haven’t seen with the Pinocchio fable.
The lurid world of Lies of P is a compelling one, filled with evil puppets, dim alleyways, treacherous rooftops, and bodies scattered about; victims of a corrupting Petrification Disease or at the hands of puppets turning on their former masters. All of this is captured in a cityscape inspired by the Belle Époque era of France — a time of great scientific and artistic achievement – in both its majestic architecture and how technology works (e.g., lots of clocks and steam). The game’s world plays with ideas familiar to you, both from the real world and its fabled source material, as you continue to explore its haunting environments.
The string that connects Lies of P to the classic tale of Pinocchio is a delicate one, but that’s precisely the allure the game brings to the table here.
As you step into the world of Lies of P, you’ll no doubt start making these connections yourself, with some of the more iconic characters tied to its source material. There’s P (Pinocchio) and your narrative companion named Gemini standing in for the cricket (Gemini, Jiminy – get it?). The puppet inventor Geppetto and the blue-haired Sophia (the fairy) are both instrumental in helping level up your character – and perhaps these characters will play a role in having P become more human later in the game.
There are other callbacks as well that we’ve encountered, like the Parade Watchman, one of the first bosses in the game, who seems to be inspired by the puppet master, Mangiafuoco. And you can “turn into a donkey” by equipping The Mad Donkey mask, obtained by defeating a wild citizen who functions as the game’s third boss. And from the screenshots, it appears The Black Rabbits, undertakers for Death from the original story, will make an appearance at some point in the game as well. There will be more introduced throughout to be sure, but these were some of the more recognizable characters I’ve encountered in the early parts of the game.
The other inspiration that Lies of P draws upon is the Soulslike genre. Many of the genre’s staples are at play here, like a high degree of difficulty, repeated death yielding knowledge, limited save points, and combat mechanics that reward parries and attacks of opportunity – all of which feed into the challenging gameplay found in Lies of P.
The challenge, like many Soulslikes, will be in your patience with any enemy confrontation throughout the game, forcing you to study, anticipate, and then exploit the patterns you’re able to discern. It can be a very difficult game at times and perseverance will be tested. But the trickle of seeing what is hiding just beyond the dreary fog that blankets the world of Lies of P is a compelling one that will push you forward.
The trickle of seeing what is hiding just beyond the dreary fog that blankets the world of Lies of P is a compelling one that will push you forward.
And at the center of both the adaptation of Pinocchio and Soulslikes will be the “lying” element. The game’s lore leads you to believe that puppets are incapable of lying, but something is special about P — he can. There will be times when you will be confronted with choices where you can give solace to others by lying — or you can tell the truth. How this plays out through the rest of the adventure remains to be seen, but it does add another, very Souls-y layer of mystery that Lies of P has promised here.
Lies of P launches on September 15 in early access for those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition on the Xbox Store. Game Pass members can start playing the Standard Edition on September 19 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows. Check out our earlier coverage from the Lies of P demo to get some great pointers on how to play.
Pre-order Lies of P Digital Deluxe Edition and receive
• 72 Hours Early Access
• Mischievous Puppet’s Clothes
• Mischievous Puppet’s Parade Hat
• The Great Venigni’s Signature Coat
• The Great Venigni’s Glasses
• Mask worn by those preparing for the festival
* The Mischievous Puppet’s Clothes and Mischievous Puppet’s Parade Hat are preorder bonuses.
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.
You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.
You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat – a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
・ A DARKLY ELEGANT AND CRUEL WORLD
Unearth the secrets of the city of Krat – a place soaked in the style of the Belle Epoque era which once thrived due to its puppet industry and now sees its streets covered in blood.
・BATTLE WITH TWISTED INSTRUMENTS
Develop a unique combat style to counter vicious enemies and terrain by weaving together dynamic weapon combinations, utilizing the Legion Arms, and activating new abilities.
・WHAT’S IN A LIE?
There will be times when you will be confronted with choices where you can give comfort to others in sorrow or despair by lying…or you can choose to tell the truth.
Carve your own path.
・A CLASSIC REIMAGINED
Experience the beloved fairy tale of Pinocchio reinterpreted as a dark, grim narrative that allows players to discover the secrets and symbols hidden within the world of Lies of P.
Pre-order now to receive the following bonus content
• Mischievous Puppet’s Clothes
• Mischievous Puppet’s Parade Hat
* The Mischievous Puppet’s Clothes and Mischievous Puppet’s Parade Hat are preorder bonuses.
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.
You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.
You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat – a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
・ A DARKLY ELEGANT AND CRUEL WORLD
Unearth the secrets of the city of Krat – a place soaked in the style of the Belle Epoque era which once thrived due to its puppet industry and now sees its streets covered in blood.
・BATTLE WITH TWISTED INSTRUMENTS
Develop a unique combat style to counter vicious enemies and terrain by weaving together dynamic weapon combinations, utilizing the Legion Arms, and activating new abilities.
・WHAT’S IN A LIE?
There will be times when you will be confronted with choices where you can give comfort to others in sorrow or despair by lying…or you can choose to tell the truth.
Carve your own path.
・A CLASSIC REIMAGINED
Experience the beloved fairy tale of Pinocchio reinterpreted as a dark, grim narrative that allows players to discover the secrets and symbols hidden within the world of Lies of P.
We’re almost there – tomorrow we’re excited to bring to life all our updates for Xbox Game Pass Core! As we shared last month, this is our latest evolution of what was previously known as Xbox Live Gold. Same great online experience, new name, and anadded library of games!
When we announced Xbox Game Pass Core, we shared that this membership would come with more than 25 high quality games from the Xbox Game Pass library – we’re thrilled to share that there will be 36 games available to play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One starting tomorrow! We’ll get to the full list – starting with some truly iconic multiplayers, games with incredible storytelling, and influential indies.
Check out the most recent single player Fallout game, Fallout 4, and use your continued access to multiplayer in Fallout 76. Traverse the backyard in Grounded or explore Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls Online. Play the absolute mind trip that is Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (get some headphones for this one!). These are only a few of the Xbox Game Studios games for you to dig into tomorrow.
We’re also thrilled to share games that will be available from our creator partners. Check out the roguelike Vampire Survivors, or on the other end of the gaming spectrum, cozy game Stardew Valley. We also have some unhinged co-op fun with Gang Beasts and Golf With Your Friends.
Let’s look at the full list of games coming tomorrow! (Note: Game Library may vary over time and by country)
Among Us
Astroneer
Celeste
Dead Cells
Descenders
Dishonored 2
DOOM Eternal Standard Edition
Fable Anniversary
Fallout 4
Fallout 76
Firewatch
Forza Horizon 4 Standard Edition
Gang Beasts
Gears 5 Game of the Year Edition
Golf with your Friends
Grounded
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo Wars 2
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Human Fall Flat
INSIDE
LIMBO
Ori & the Will of the Wisps
Overcooked! 2
Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
Powerwash Simulator
Psychonauts 2
Slay the Spire
Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
Stardew Valley
State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
Superliminal
The Elder Scrolls Online
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Unpacking
Vampire Survivors
We plan to update the Game Pass Core library 2-3 times a year. If you’re interested in the full library that updatesmore frequently, check out other Game Pass memberships .
Game Pass Core will continue to provide the benefits you had with Xbox Live Gold, including the ability to play together with online console multiplayer, deals and discounts (up to 50% off select games!), and access to Free Play Days for select fully featured games. All of that is the same. As a reminder, the price isn’t changing from Gold to Core, and there is no action required for you to change your payment or make adjustments to your membership. Xbox Live Gold cards in retail stores will remain purchasable and redeem for Game Pass Core, while supplies last. For more details, check out the Game Pass Core homepage here.
As always, you can keep up with the latest updates for Game Pass (now including Core!) on Twitter and Instagram, or right here on Xbox Wire. We’re excited to see what you all play first!
Forza Horizon 5 introduces EventLab 2.0, a new free update for the in-depth map editor with new features and tools so creators can more easily and quickly build their incredible events.
The EventLab Island is a new 2km x 2km flat terrain where you can unleash your creativity thanks to an increased prop budget.
New Prefabs allow creators to combine multiple props into one new mega prop which can be shared for the entire community to include in their custom maps.
Players can now browse an unlimited number of EventLab creations in search menus with custom flyers that creators can use to showcase their events.
We have enabled day/night toggle and weather settings during event creation so you can see how your creation will look while you are making it.
Since the launch of Forza Horizon 5, all of us here at Playground Games have been blown away by the stunning creativity and talent of the EventLab community. Your unique maps and game modes provide exciting new experiences for every player in Forza Horizon 5, and today we’re excited to double down on this with EventLab 2.0.
Available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC on Windows and Steam, and Cloud Gaming (Beta), this free upgrade to Forza Horizon 5’s custom map editor is certain to get your creativity racing and inspire you to build the events you’ve always imagined.
EventLab 2.0 introduces new quality-of-life improvements and asset creation tools to help players build their dream maps, races and game modes in Forza Horizon 5. Here’s a quick look at the new features:
Multi-Selection Mode
This new multi-selection mode will let you grab a number of individual props and then rotate them, move them around, or even duplicate them. You will be able to save and reuse any group of props you have assembled at any time making your creative process faster and more efficient.
Multi-selection will also let you clone, move, and delete props in mass selection, reducing the time you will spend creating courses for events.
Prefabs
Prefabs are an assortment of props combined to make a new mega prop. You can save any prop you have created as a Prefab and share it with the entire community.
This also means you can browse and use the creations of other players to implement into your own maps. In addition to this, you can bookmark your favorite and most used props so you can find them even quicker.
Custom Flyers
Previously when creating a new event on EventLab, the promotional flyer would auto-generate based on the car restrictions you set. This meant that other players would not see how your event looked until they decided to download and play it.
This all changes with EventLab 2.0. You can now replace the predetermined flyer with a photo taken of your event. This allows creators to better represent their EventLab Blueprint. For you and your friends, it’ll now be easier and faster to discover fun new events to play.
This is made even better by the ability to browse more than 15 events in the event browser, as players can now scroll through multiple pages of community-created blueprints.
EventLab Island
New features deserve an amazing new place to be experimented at. EventLab Island is a brand-new location specifically for creating EventLab content. It comprises of a 2km x 2km flat concrete platform surrounded by ocean.
Since EventLab Island is its own separate location, you will be able to add more props to each event you create within it thanks to an increased prop budget.
EventLab Island can be accessed through its own icon on the in-game map. Click on it, and you will be transported to the island. Look for the activation point and start creating!
New Props
The EventLab 2.0 update wouldn’t be complete without new props, and we have introduced new prop packs for you to implement into your custom maps. These include a petrol station with signs, a coffee cup, pumps, and roofs, a variety of primitive shapes like a cone, cube, cylinder, pyramid, sphere, torus, and wedge, and different surface types like snow, ice, grass, tarmac, and dirt. You can also style up your checkpoint markers with different styles including various colors of street race flares.
Some of our existing props have received attachment nodes so they are now easier to move around and, more importantly, snap together. There are three different node sizes: small, medium, and large. The original nodes included in the Hot Wheels content were “large” and designed for Hot Wheels track pieces, while these new smaller-sized nodes will work much better with smaller props.
What’s more, EventLab 2.0 lets you set the exact time-of-day and weather conditions while your map is being created. This means you will see your creation in the exact conditions that you intend for players to experience it. For example, if you want to design a night-time race, you will see how it looks as you build it.
Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars. The Premium Edition includes the all-new expansion FORZA HORIZON 5 RALLY ADVENTURE, Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels, VIP, Car Pass and the Welcome Pack.
Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.
Introducing the newest addition to our classic Xbox controller lineup, the Xbox Wireless Controller – Astral Purple. The rich purple color has such a distinct regal look to spice up your gaming setup and bolster your collection. The dark purple theme is carried over to both the thumbsticks and buttons, with a black matte finish on the hybrid D-Pad, bumpers, and triggers. This is all tied together with a clean white back case that results in the front of the controller looking even more striking.
Each Xbox Wireless Controller in Astral Purple comes with all the features you’ve come to love in our current generation of controllers. The D-Pad’s hybrid design offers an accurate yet familiar glide, perfect for navigating complex gaming worlds with precision. The textured grips on the bumpers, triggers, and back case allow for a better grip and the 3.5mm jack enables you to chat with friends using a compatible headset. By using Bluetooth and Xbox Wireless, the Astral Purple controller can connect to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, PC, mobile phones, and tablets1. Play longer with up to 40 hours of battery life and save your favorite moments like hitting a new personal speed running record with the dedicated Share button2.
Be ready for all sorts of different gaming journeys by using the Xbox Accessories app to remap your controller buttons to meet any layout need. Create controller profiles to make swapping between distinct game controls seamless.
