Category: Xbox
Wild Card Football Recreates Legendary Players as a Pre-Order Bonus
Wild Card Football is the latest entry in Saber’s Playground Sports franchise. The game is set to launch on October 10 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and today we’re excited to tell you more about the game and kick off our pre-orders by debuting four legacy players taking the field!
Jerry Rice, Dan Marino, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders, all with unique uniforms, will be available in-game to anyone that pre-orders Wild Card Football. We’re thrilled to have these iconic legends join the hundreds of active pro players on our Wild Card Football roster.
Bringing Legends to Life in Wild Card Football
We knew from the beginning we wanted Wild Card Football to celebrate some of the greatest legacy players to ever take the field, and who better to showcase in-game than four icons that revolutionized the sport: Quarterback Dan Marino, Wide Receiver Jerry Rice and Running Backs Walter Payton (RB) and Barry Sanders (RB). Looking back on the most extraordinary seasons in league history, these four champions consistently dominate the charts, and their unwavering dedication both on and off the field has left an unforgettable mark.
As longtime football fans, it was important for us to faithfully recreate these legends in a way that truly showcases their signature talents. Players can throw darts with “Dan the Man” Marino, reel in touchdowns with Jerry “World” Rice, high-step into the end zone as Walter “Sweetness” Payton, and juke past defenders with the electrifying Barry Sanders.
Each legacy player also comes equipped with unique outfits, available on launch day to everyone who pre-orders the game. Recreating their uniforms with a playful twist from different eras has been a fun way of paying homage to the past. There’s a lot of really stylish uniforms in Wild Card Football, but adding some that touch these different time periods with our Playgrounds flare creates an aesthetic that’s both familiar but also distinctly one-of-a-kind to our game. Of course, if these aren’t your style, there are still plenty of outlandish outfits to choose from, alongside some more traditional football uniforms as well.
Bringing Back Arcade-Style Football
Football fans are long familiar with great arcade football games, and we thought it was time to bring them back, Playgrounds Sports-style. Those who know our other Playgrounds titles might instantly recognize the look and style of Wild Card Football.
It was important for us to add the kind of fun, fast-paced, over-the-top action to the great game of football that we feel has been missing for a long time. Want to use a power-up and call down some UFOs to abduct your opponent while they’re trying to run free to the end zone? We got that! Want to turn into a human rocket and propel yourself at the running back to help make the tackle? Yep, that’s in there. Want to turn into a giant or freeze the defense with an ice breath? We got that as well! How do you do all of this? Via our all-new wild cards, of course!
About Those Power-Ups!
In Wild Card Football, we introduce a pre-snap, power-up card selection that allows you to modify gameplay in a way never before seen on the gridiron. Increase speed, reduce opponent stamina, even throw up a rock wall to stuff a run. The options are nearly limitless! But remember to be strategic, since every card costs energy. Do you play your biggest card early, or build up energy and unleash a defense-shattering tornado when you might need it most? Choose wisely!
There’s plenty of fun and creative ways to get the best of your opponent and play these cards to your advantage, and the ones I’ve mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. We’ll be sharing plenty more about power-ups and game modes while showcasing additional gameplay now through launch. We can’t wait to see you on the field on October 10!
Wild Card Football – Standard Edition
Saber Interactive
$39.99
Football for Everyone!
Pre-Order Now to get the following digital content and play as famed legacy players such as:
• Barry Sanders
• Walter Payton
• Jerry Rice
• Dan Marino
Includes their unique throwback outfits
Wild Card Football is a fun pick-up-and-play arcade-style football game featuring 7v7 team-focused gameplay with the unique Wild Card system that lets you change the course of the action in an instant with special power-ups and rule-breaking abilities.
With optimized rule sets, customizable teams and outfits, authentic pro players, and bombastic moves, players can show off their skills across single-player and competitive multiplayer modes, while using ‘Wild Cards’ that redefine the football genre and unleash over-the-top action.
KEY FEATURES
Create Your Dream Team – Choose from hundreds of professional players, reimagined Playgrounds-style, and assemble the ultimate 7-on-7 gridiron squad. Advance through different challenges and events to unlock new players and other exciting rewards.
Play Your Wild Cards – Unleash over 150 Wild Cards to turn the tide of the game in your favor in an instant. Bust out special moves like summoning walls or invisibility, boost your team’s stats at a crucial moment, or play a Rule-Breaker and flip the rules of the game completely.
Become a Champion – Prove your skills in single-player Season mode, climb to the top of the leaderboards in competitive online multiplayer with full crossplay, or challenge your friends at home for bragging rights in local multiplayer.
Deep Customization – Personalize your squad’s logo, uniforms and colors, select your home stadium, then build unique playbooks and Wild Card decks to perfect your strategies on the field.
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GigaBash, the Ultimate Monster Brawler, Comes to Xbox with Godzilla
Summary
- The ultimate multiplayer monster brawler for up to four players featuring Kaijus, Heroes, and fully destructible arenas.
- Local & online battle, local co-op survival, party mode, single player story mode, and more.
- Play as Godzilla and more characters from the Godzilla franchise via the four Kaiju DLC, also available now.
Imagine you and your friends sitting together on the couch, fighting each other in a free-for-all battle. But here’s the twist – you’ll be playing as colossal monsters, giant heroes, and even the iconic Godzilla himself, all within a fully-destructible cityscape ready to be wiped off the face of the planet at your mercy. That’s GigaBash, in a nutshell, an action-packed monster brawler for up to four players to enjoy.
Oversized Characters
As kids, we grew up with films from “Godzilla” and “Ultraman”, as well as games like War of Monsters and Power Stone. It’s not a far stretch to say that they influenced the development and design of the GigaBash character roster. We tried to capture the various Kaiju and giant hero archetypes out there. This process really pushed us to create a unique playstyle and skillset for each of our characters, who we refer to as the Titans. By pulling off combo attacks, you can accumulate Giga Energy to transform into an S-Class Titan, which is a far superior and larger version of yourself. You can also unleash your Ultimate attack if you manage to seize the floating G-Ball that will randomly appear in the sky. On top of that, you can even play as the legendary Godzilla and three more iconic characters from the Godzilla universe. I’ll tell you more about that when we talk about the -Kaiju DLC later.
Dynamic Destruction
As Titans, we’re all about being environmentally unfriendly. So, crack your knuckles, and let’s rumble in 17 fully-destructible maps. By that, we mean every building and object you see can be picked up, destroyed, and tossed around or at your enemies. In every map, you’ll be introduced to a unique map mechanic and various pickups to spice up every game. Got defeated early in the game? Don’t drop your controller just yet! Defeated players can still exact revenge on their foes using the map’s unique post-death mechanic. To put it simply, defeated players get to fire an orbital laser at their friends.
Take Your Fight Online
Are your roommates getting too predictable in battle? Then jump into Online Mode, where you can face off against stronger players from around the world. There’s also Competitive Play, where you can really put your skills to the test and perhaps ascend the heavenly steps of the global leaderboard.
Mayhem & Chill
Looking for something easy to pick up, entertaining to watch, and loads of fun to play with your family during Thanksgiving? It’s time to drag your cousins into Mayhem Mode! This quirky party game mode offers a wacky assortment of hand-crafted minigames designed to bring together both first-timers and seasoned players. It’s the perfect way to create memorable moments and enjoy a riotous time together. So, gather around, and let the mayhem begin!
Story, Arcade & Co-op Mode
Prepare to indulge in the various single player content we have prepared for you. First off, there’s Story Mode, where you’ll delve into the origins and wild adventures of the Titans through four short and sweet campaigns. Feel the adrenaline rush as you challenge CPU enemies in intense back-to-back duels in Arcade Mode. And for non-stop excitement, invite a friend or take on the challenge solo in Onslaught Mode, where you’ll battle hordes of CPU enemies and unlock unique skins to flex on your friends.
Godzilla Joins the Rampage
And for the grand finale, let’s talk about the Kaiju DLC. That’s right, the legendary Godzilla, along with Gigan, Mechagodzilla, and Destoroyah, will join your GigaBash character selection screen with the purchase of the Kaiju DLC, which is also available now. Each has its own skillset packed with iconic attacks inspired by their film appearances. Additionally, they introduce brand new mechanics that will keep even the most seasoned players on their toes, offering exciting opportunities to learn new tricks and dominate the battlefield. This is one crossover you don’t wanna miss!
Whether you’re a fan of giant Kaijus, a competitive fighting game player, or just looking for a new party brawler to liven up your living room, we’ve got them all right here. We’re also working hard on cross-platform matchmaking for Online mode, which will be released soon. So, grab your controller, ignite your fury, unhinge all self-control, and let’s GigaBash!
GigaBash
Passion Republic Games
$24.49
GigaBash combines the chaos and creativity of titles like Power Stone, Super Smash Bros Ultimate and War of Monsters with the jaw-dropping scale of the classic kaiju movies. Play as either a rampaging Titan or a Titan-hunting mecha; summon lightning from the heavens, use a radio tower as a baton, or roll a whole district (and your enemies) into a single massive snowball. Wreak enough havoc and you’ll evolve into your final form, the terrifyingly titanic S-Class.
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Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 7 to August 11
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!
Broforce Forever (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 8
Xbox Game Pass
Broforce is an action-packed side-scrolling run ‘n’ gun ode to freedom, putting you in control of an under-funded, over-powered, paramilitary organization dealing exclusively in excessive force. Included is the long-awaited Broforce Forever content, which offers an improved and expanded campaign with new unlocks, along with six new ultra patriotic bros, and four new democracy-spreading challenge levels!
Gord
Team17
Gord – August 8
Xbox Series X|S / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Gord is a dark-fantasy, adventure-strategy game set in a hostile, forsaken land inspired by Slavic mythology. Besieged by vile creatures, you must build to survive. But to prevail, you must conquer the darkness beyond the gates. On the orders of the King, you are charged with striking out to make your mark on an untamed world – building and growing settlements in the face of resistance from raiders, monsters, and more.
WrestleQuest
Skybound Games
WrestleQuest – August 8
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Powerbomb and piledrive your way through a massive pixel art universe where professional wrestling and RPG fantasy collide. Wild realms, exotic monsters, action figure fighters, and spandexed allies await as this fantasy goes beyond the ring. Choose your moves, style, taunts, and even your entrance as you learn what it takes to be the cream of the crop in the pro wrestling world of your dreams.
Fluffy Milo (Xbox Version)
Eastasiasoft Limited
Fluffy Milo – August 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Embark on a pushing puzzle adventure through the seasons in Fluffy Milo! Featuring 60 stages of casual brainteasing fun presented in top-down 3D style, Fluffy Milo puts you in control of an adorable feline as you help him fill his bowls with delicious milk. Things start simple on a small arrangement of tiles with a single milk jug and one bowl, then get progressively larger and harder as you progress.
Legend Bowl
Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Legend Bowl – August 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Legend Bowl brings you back to the glory days of pixel style football games of the past! Enjoy a hybrid of arcade-style football and simulation aspects on and off the field. Fully customize players and teams to create an endless amount of variety in your league. Take to the gridiron, where sim-based controls with challenging gameplay mechanics bring the fight to your doorstep!
Mondealy
Valkyrie Initiative LLP
Mondealy – August 9
Optimized for Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere
One beautiful night in the fantasy world of Mondealy, you find yourself in an underground kingdom called Dargratt. You quickly get to know its inhabitants and even the princess herself, with whom, later on, there are many adventures to be had. What misfortunes may await the characters in such a magical and picturesque kingdom?
Running Fable
Seashell Studio
$7.99
Running Fable – August 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Running Fable is a cross-platform multiplayer racing-strategy game for up to 10 players, in which each player must place items and traps strategically before racing on fantastical levels. It presents a new take on the racing genre, adding a fresh item placement mechanic that enhances the experience and keeps the rounds fast-paced, instead of just going from point A to B.
Skábma – Snowfall
PID Games
Skábma – Snowfall – August 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Skábma – Snowfall is a never-before-seen representation of indigenous Sámi stories and culture. Explore Nordic beauty in a world where the old northern campfire tales come alive! Use your wits to solve environmental puzzles and platforming challenges in this narrative 3rd person adventure.
Atlas Fallen
Focus Entertainment
Atlas Fallen – August 10
Xbox Series X|S / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Rise from the dust and liberate mankind from the oppression of a corrupted god. Glide through the sands of a timeless land filled with ancient dangers, mysteries, and fragments of the past. Hunt legendary monsters using powerful, shape-shifting weapons and devastating sand-powered abilities in spectacular, super-powered combat.
Overwatch 2: Invasion and New Heroes Starter Pack – August 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
The Invasion has arrived, and players on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One can dive into the biggest season for Overwatch 2 to date, bringing new Story Missions, a new Support hero, new cosmetic rewards, and all-new ways to play. Get ready to play action-packed matches in the new core PvP game mode Flashpoint, complete with two brand-new, massive maps. Unlock the new Support hero and the rest of the Overwatch 2 heroes when you claim the Game Pass Ultimate Perks – New Heroes Starter Pack. This unique bundle for Xbox includes instant access to six Overwatch 2 heroes, a Legendary skin for each of them, and additional in-game cosmetics.
The Rabbit Crazy Adventure
My Night Sun Games
Rabbit Crazy Adventure – August 10
The Rabbit Crazy Adventure is an exciting precision platformer with 50 levels full of challenges and enemies. Take control of a brave rabbit as he embarks on an epic adventure through vibrant and dangerous worlds. With precise controls and addictive gameplay, get ready to jump, run, and fight your way to victory in this immersive and action-packed game.
Stray
Annapurna Interactive
$29.99
$23.99
Stray – August 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Stray is a third-person cat adventure game set amidst the detailed, neon-lit alleys of a decaying cybercity and the murky environments of its seedy underbelly. Roam surroundings high and low, defend against unforeseen threats, and solve the mysteries of this unwelcoming place inhabited by curious droids and dangerous creatures.
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
Humble Games
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical – August 10
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.
The Dragoness: Command of the Flame
PQube
$19.99
$17.99
The Dragoness: Command of the Flame – August 10
Xbox Series X|S / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
A Heroes of Might and Magic (HOMM)-inspired adventure game with a roguelite twist. Embark on an epic quest across the Drairthir Peninsula – a land ravaged by warring factions of Dragons. You take on the role of The Commander, a promising Elven warrior recruited by The Dragoness to lead her armies and bring peace to the land.
Acceptance
Ratalaika Games S.L.
Acceptance – August 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
After the tragedy of his wife’s suicide, an office worker must process the horrific events surrounding the incident. Experience haunting characterizations of five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance in this atmospheric 2D psychological thriller.
Aery – Heaven & Hell
UltimateGames
Aery – Heaven & Hell – August 11
Aery – Heaven & Hell is a story-driven 3D flight exploration game in which you control a flying god-like creature on its abstract journey though the passions and fears of the human race. On its adventure to learn more about humans, you will pass through many personal heavens and hells of certain individuals.
Bright Lights of Svetlov
Sometimes You
$9.99
$7.99
Bright Lights of Svetlov – August 11
Mid 1980s. A small industrial town somewhere in Soviet Union. Panel houses, ordinary repetitive jobs, boring household activities. Take a look at the life of the most ordinary family and become a witness to the difficulties that it will face. Bright Lights of Svetlov features a carefully depicted atmosphere of USSR and a linear, story-focused experience.
Cube Airport
Colossus Game Studio
Cube Airport – August 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Cube Airport is a puzzle game where your objective is to construct a runway to enable the airplane to take off safely. To do this, you need to correctly fit the runway cubes into the indicated positions on the platform before proceeding to the next level.
Fruit Adventure
JM Neto Game Dev
The Healthy Forest has been invaded by sweets and chocolates with the aim of harming everyone’s health! Help Super Strawberry pass through obstacles and eliminate sweet enemies to become the bravest Fruit in the Healthy Forest. Find the key and unlock the blocks at the end of each level. Watch out for the thorns and be quick so that time doesn’t run out!
World Soccer Pinball
Super PowerUP Games
$2.99
World Soccer Pinball – August 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere
Enjoy World Soccer Pinball, choose your country and start the match to become the number 1 in the world. Score goals and try not to make fouls on the playfield, get the highest possible score, become the MVP, and win the match. Discover all the secrets, complete all the missions, and become best among your friends, posting your high score on the online leaderboard.
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Free Play Days – WWE 2K23, Descenders, and Dragon Ball FighterZ
Step in the ring, hit the dirt trails, or recreate your favorite battles from Dragon Ball Z with this weekend’s Free Play Days! WWE 2K23 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S), Descenders, and Dragon Ball FighterZ are available this weekend for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, August 3 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, August 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Starting September 14, Xbox Live Gold members will automatically become Game Pass Core members. Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How to Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep the Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discounts and percentages may vary by title and region.
WWE 2K23 Cross-Gen Digital Edition
2K
$69.99
$38.49
Make your grand entrance in WWE 2K23 – the ultimate wrestling simulation – and control the spotlight with punishing slams, acrobatic maneuvers, and dramatic flair on your journey to WWESuperstardom. Experience WWE 2K23’s expanded features, including visually gripping graphics, the all-new Wargames mode, and a bevy of customization tools to let your creativity fly from the top rope.
Hit the ring with a deep roster of Superstars and Legends in the ultimate WWE experience and receive the WWE 2K23 32,500 Virtual Currency Pack for free when you purchase WWE 2K23 (offer valid in select regions including US, CA, UK, DE, FR, AU).
Descenders
No More Robots
$24.99
$7.49
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Free Trial
Descenders is an intense biking game filled with fast-paced downhill action and extreme stunt capabilities. Experience different worlds that are procedurally generated – which means no two tracks are ever the same! Challenge yourself with new obstacles, jumps, and tricks every time you play. With a fully licensed soundtrack from Liquicity, Descenders has the perfect ambience for fast downhill biking, or performing dangerous stunts. Rank up within your team and earn exclusive gear to show off to opposing players. Play Descenders for free with Free Play Days now and grab it for 70% off!
DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ – FighterZ Edition
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
$94.99
$14.24
Xbox One X Enhanced
Featuring a roster of your favorite Dragon Ball characters with a 3vs3 tag/support system, relive some of the most epic battles from the anime or unleash your fighting spirit with a large assortment of characters. Create a team with classic fan-favorite characters such as Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo, or mix and match with villains such as Cell and Frieza. Dragon Ball FighterZ boasts a level of complexity that delivers a unique fighting experience, elevating it amongst other fighting games. For a limited time only, get the FighterZ Edition at 85% off during the Fighting Sale!
Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
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New Games with Gold for August 2023
Week 2: Summer Spotlight: Enjoy Summer Vibes with the Newest Games on Xbox
Xbox at gamescom 2023
We’re excited to meet Xbox players at gamescom in Cologne, Germany this August, with fan experiences that are bigger and better than ever!
It’s the fans that make gamescom the biggest gaming event in the world, and we’re thrilled to greet you this year with the largest booth we’ve ever had at gamescom. Attendees will be able to experience a huge amount of exciting new games coming to Xbox, PC and Game Pass with fantastic photo opportunities and the return of Xbox FanFest.
If you can’t make it to Cologne this year, don’t worry. We’ll bring the Xbox booth directly to you, with deep dives, gameplay and developer interviews live streamed across three days of the show. We can’t wait!
Keep reading for more details on everything we’re up to at gamescom 2023.
Xbox Booth
Did we mention that the Xbox booth is bigger than ever this year? Because it is! We’ll have over 30 titles in the booth awaiting eager players, spread across over 150 gaming stations, amazing photo ops and experiences, and a specially constructed 300-seater theatre.
Attendees will be able to check out exclusive theatre presentations from Bethesda Game Studios’ highly anticipated Starfield, as well as upcoming Xbox Game Studios releases Forza Motorsport from the developers at Turn 10 Studios, and Ara: History Untold from the team at Oxide Games. Towerborne, the newest adventure from the developers at Stoic and unveiled at the Xbox Showcase, will be hands-on for the first time and we’ll have the latest content coming to The Elder Scrolls Online and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Over 25 titles from our third-party partners and ID@Xbox friends will be playable on the booth. This includes the world debuts of GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2, Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios’ Payday 3, DontNod’s recently announced Jusant, FromSoftware’s ARMORED CORE VI: Fires of Rubicon, Recreate Games’ Party Animals, CD PROJEKT RED’s Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Spotlight by Quantic Dream’s Under the Waves, Sega Atlus‘ Persona 5 Tactica and many more.
Attendees can also come and help us celebrate 10 years of ID@Xbox and experience a diverse range of ID@Xbox titles for hands-on, including Paradox’s Lamplighter’s League, Thunderful’s SteamWorld Build, Amplifier’s Lightyear Frontier, and lots more. Whatever you’re into, the Xbox booth will have something for you. For the full list of titles playable on the Xbox booth visit here.
And make sure you don’t miss out on the PC Game Pass Challenge! This adventure offers participants a fun opportunity to win thousands of exciting prizes including PC Game Pass memberships, OMEN gaming laptops, HyperX headsets, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW Ultimate memberships. Get ready to discover your next favorite PC games with PC Game Pass and reach new possibilities to game however, wherever you want.
Xbox remains committed to the belief that gaming should be safe, inclusive, and accessible for all. We’re ensuring that all areas of the booth are wheelchair accessible and Xbox Adaptive Controllers will be available on request, as well as select demo stations with adjustable height desks. We will also have multiple American Sign Language (ASL) and German Sign Language (DGS) interpreters and “Here to Help” staff to assist players of all abilities. Additionally, we’ll have sensory aids and a quiet room for anyone who needs them.
You will be able to find us at Hall 8 of the Koelnmesse, North entrance. See below for the consumer show opening times:
- Thursday, August 24 – 10:00am – 8:00pm CEST
- Friday, August 25 – 10:00am – 8:00pm CEST
- Saturday, August 26 – 9:00am – 8:00 pm CEST
- Sunday, August 27 – 9:00am – 8:00pm CEST
Xbox @ gamescom 2023: Live From The Showfloor
No matter where you are in the world, we will bring gamescom 2023 to you, with three days of approx. 3 hour live streams direct from the Xbox booth.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, join Team Xbox and friends for a series of streams taking a deeper dive into some of the highly-anticipated games at gamescom 2023, with gameplay, developer chats and community segments to give you a flavour of the show.
Whether you join us for every stream, or just dip in for the latest on your most anticipated titles, we’re looking forward to connecting with fans across the globe and showing off some of the amazing games coming to Xbox.
Keep an eye on Xbox Social channels for the full content schedule in the days leading up to gamescom.
The live English-language broadcast from Xbox’s gamescom booth will be available in German, Castilian Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish and Latin America Spanish along with ASL and English Audio Descriptions. You can catch the Xbox Booth @gamescom Live Stream on regional Xbox channels on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and elsewhere.
Xbox FanFest @ gamescom 2023
Celebrate Xbox at gamescom 2023 with Xbox FanFest’s in-person and virtual experiences. Fans are invited to join the After-Hours Booth event for early access to the Xbox gamescom booth, connect with Team Xbox and fellow Xbox players, play FanFest Trivia, and more! If you’re planning on being in the Cologne area, opt in for a chance to win tickets at xbox.com/fanfest. No Purchase Necessary. Open to registered Xbox FanFest fans, 18+. Ends 8/8/23. See Official Rules for details.
Can’t make it to gamescom? No problem! Join our virtual event on August 23rd, 11:30am PT / 20:30 CEST at twitch.tv/xbox. Play Xbox FanFest Trivia with fans from all over the world for the chance to win awesome prizes. Learn more at xbox.com/fanfest (See Official Rules).
Calling all game developers to devcom
This year, Xbox is a proud sponsor of devcom, the official game developer event of gamescom and Europe´s biggest game developer community-driven conference.
If you’re a developer, stop by the Community Clubhouse - a free networking and learning hub for all those who live and breathe community and player experience. This amazing event is being hosted by Xbox, Two Hat, Keywords Studios | Helpshift, Affogata, and Odin. We’ll focus on how to successfully plan and build online game communities and explore exemplary end-to-end player experiences in games.
Community Clubhouse event details:
Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Duration: 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. CET
Venue: Microsoft Office Event Space
Location: Holzmarkt 2, 50676 Köln, Germany
At devcom, you’ll also have plenty of opportunities to learn from experts at studios including Niantic, SEGA, Next Games, Rovio Entertainment Group, Supercell, and others on topics including Player Support & Engagement, Moderation, Community Management, Player Insights, Trust & Safety and more. Highlights include:
- “Accelerate Your Game with the ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program” (Tuesday, August 22) – The ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program aims to empower underrepresented creators with the resources and information needed to bring their creativity, innovation, and originality to Xbox. Join Program Manager Annette Gonzalez to learn more about the program’s offerings, how to apply, and more!
- “Pitch It!” Mixer (Tuesday, August 22 at 5PM) – Developers will have an opportunity to pitch their games to representatives from ID@Xbox and the Developer Acceleration Program. Please note that the “Pitch It!” Mixer is exclusively for developers, publishers, and investors with a business pass or above. For developers unable to attend the “Pitch it!” Mixer, please visit ID@Xbox to learn more.
For more details and updates on our talks and events as we get closer to devcom, remember to visit the Microsoft Game Dev blog and follow the Microsoft Game Dev social channel.
Xbox Social Media Coverage
For all the latest updates on Xbox at gamescom this year, stay tuned to the @Xbox X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube social channels, and the @XboxDACH Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube social channels. We’re using #Xboxgamescom as our event hashtag.
Wherever and however you choose to join in the fun of gamescom 2023 we look forward to welcoming you to the show!
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Play Through the History of Kemco Games with the Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle
Summary
- Xbox Wire Japan sat down with Kemco’s Managing Director Masaomi Kurokawa and International Manager Matteo Conti to learn more about the company’s history.
- Kemco has published a wide range of games, like Spy vs. Spy, Shadowgate, Drakkhen, Indra no Hikari, and Sanada Juyushi.
- The Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle will be available August 3, 2023, on the Xbox Store.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary next year, Kemco has released multiple games throughout its history on Xbox – it has continued to produce around 10 games each year since 2018. Recently they reached a significant milestone with the release of their 50th game on Xbox earlier this year. To commemorate this milestone, the Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle will be released on August 3, 2023, on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, which will collectively feature the history of Kemco’s games, especially RPGs.
For those who don’t know, Kemco began in 1984 with the founding of its predecessor, Kotobuki System Co., Ltd. Early on, the company developed and published game software, focusing on porting PC games in the ’80s and ’90s like Spy vs Spy, Shadowgate, Drakkhen, as well as original RPGs Indra no Hikari and Sanada Juyushi. Later, after roughly a decade of focusing on mobile gaming, Kemco returned to console gaming in the late 2010s. It was here they struck a partnership with ID@Xbox which led to them to start publishing their games on Xbox.
To commemorate the milestone of publishing their 50th Xbox title, Xbox Wire Japan sat down with Kemco’s Managing Director Masaomi Kurokawa and International Manager Matteo Conti to learn more about their development structure, as well as how the Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle came to be.
Cooperating with multiple developers to create a system capable of releasing RPGs every month, Kemco releases around 10 new games a year. How many development lines do you have?
Matteo: In the past, we have released many games for feature phones and smartphones. From then, we have continued to work with several development companies. Since we have been working with them on RPGs for a long time, it made it possible to shift and adopt tools that have evolved over the years to develop and port games more efficiently. In general, development time is short; from six months to a year, and we have multiple development lines to release one game almost every month.
Masaomi: This is something I always think about, but when other companies release a new title, their next move would often be to continue supporting the game for a year or more after its release with DLCs, major updates, and so on. Here at Kemco, such DLCs and updates come in the form of “new games”. Our approach is to keep publishing new titles, as if they were additions to a single game experience that players recognize as Kemco. This is the backbone to our reasoning of releasing a new game every month as much as possible.
Tell us about the process during the consideration and creation of the Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle, which includes 50 of Kemco’s games?
Matteo: Actually, we had not been too concerned about how many titles were released on Xbox until now. It all started when I had a chance to meet with a local member of the ID@Xbox team whom I had not seen in person for several years due to the pandemic. He said to me “Oh, by the way, Kemco is going to hit the 50-title milestone”, and that was when I was made aware and thought, “What? That many?”. As a company, we were mildly surprised.
Masaomi: This revelation led to Microsoft formally proposing the idea, and KEMCO deciding to take the opportunity. The 50-title bundle will be available for a limited period of 50 days.
What are the games that best capture the feel of the 50 titles in the bundle? Do you have a recommendation on where to start?
Matteo: While it’s very difficult to choose just one, we have chosen one title from each of the developers who have cooperated with us, which would be great entry points to learn their style.
First up is Overrogue from Exe Create Inc., which is a deck-building roguelite RPG that continues to receive a positive response from launch. Exe Create also produces many other titles such as the Asdivine series, but we think that Overrogue would be a great place to start.
Matteo: Next is Hit-Point Co.,Ltd. — which just recently released Raging Bytes, a title planned, drafted, and supervised by Jiro Ishii. While Raging Bytes is not included in the bundle, we recommend Gale of Windoria, a classical fantasy RPG that comes to life with the beautiful pixel art that Hit-Point is very well known for. Those who love pixel art from the 16-bit console era will surely enjoy it.
Matteo: World Wide Software’s Legend of Ixtona is a quarter-view simulation RPG. The graphics of the characters in this game are very beautifully drawn and are definitely worthy of your attention.
Matteo: In Rideon’s Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom, you play an active role as an adventurer while managing a blacksmith’s shop. It’s a unique RPG, fusing together many systems, including a combat and exploration system. It’s one of the highly acclaimed titles.
Matteo: Asobox Co., Ltd.’s The Smile Alchemist is, as it looks, very relaxing and comforting, and is more of a simulation game than an RPG. It is a game filled with the fun of nurturing, collecting, and alchemy, which are the themes of the game.
Matteo: ArcticNet’s RPGolf Legends is a unique title that successfully combines golfing and the essences of RPGs. This title also received a very strong response.
Matteo: These games above are the distinctive titles that showcase each developer’s unique characteristics. If you are not sure which one to play from the Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle, we recommend checking out these titles first.
What kind of responses have you received from users regarding Kemco’s titles up to now?
Masaomi: As expected, since we have been making RPGs for about 20 years, fans seem to consider Kemco’s RPGs as a safe and solid choice. We don’t have titles that take dozens of hours to complete, but I get the impression that they are often chosen by people who want to play an RPG in their spare time. The response overseas has been similar, and people seem to have an understanding that we are a company that continues to release old-school, nostalgic JRPG-style game titles.
In addition to the six companies listed above, it appears that Kemco is also working with new indie developers to market other titles.
Masaomi: The Witch of the Ihanashi fits that description. We look at online reviews and talk to various creators we find at indie game events held around the country, and then proceed to work with those that we think sound interesting and are inclined to work with. Many indie developers only release PC versions of their games, so if they are interested in porting their games to console, we are ready to cooperate with them.
Any final words to the Kemco fans, as well as Xbox players who may be interested in picking up the Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle?
Masaomi: As the name suggests, the Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle includes 50 games, each with a play time of about 15 hours, which means a lot of time is required to play them all. Xbox gamers may originally have bought the Xbox Series X|S to play AAA titles, but we hope you will also enjoy playing Kemco’s games in between those titles.
Matteo: We will be releasing more and more new RPGs in the future, so I think it will be fun to compare those with the titles included in the bundle. I am sure that in the not-too-distant future, we will have released more than 100 games, and we will do our best to not run out of ideas by then, as well as beyond that landmark.
The Kemco: 50 RPGs Celebratory Bundle will be available August 3, 2023, on the Xbox Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
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