Category: Xbox

It’s finally here! We are kicking off our summer plans with over 40 exciting game demos on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Just like last year’s ID@Xbox Demo Fest event, you can download and play these in the comfort of your own home between July 11-17.

Demos are playable starting today, and we encourage you to continue to check them out all week. You can find them in the special ID@Xbox Demo Fest collection on the Xbox Store online and on console. Don’t forget that you can provide feedback to the devs too! Keep in mind that most of these demos are an early look at gameplay and may not represent the full game at their release, including the availability in each country as developers continue to update and refine their title ahead of launch.

We’re also excited to share that 7 newly announced games below are coming to Xbox!

Alchemist: The Potion Monger (Art Games Studio)

Alchemist: The Potion Monger is a first-person simulation game where players gather and process the necessary ingredients to brew magical potions – and can leave their lab, venture into the world, and change it with their brews. Alchemists will use unique mechanics such as the Alchemy Wheel to combine their creations – which can then be sold, or used on NPCs, or even on yourself to offer yourself new powers. Alchemist will also let you decorate your house, adopt pets, and more.

Alisa (Casper Croes/Top Hat Studios)

Alisa is a horror-themed action-adventure game and a genuine throwback to the golden age of ’90s 3D games.

Dynacat (Replayne)

Dynacat is a fast-paced 3D isometric action platformer. Join Dynacat on an adventure to save his home from the incoming army of robots lead by the Spherons. Dash to the goal, find secrets, defeat the Spherons and earn points by doing it all in style!

Knights of Braveland (Ellada Games)

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

Marble It Up! Ultra (Marble It Up)

From the minds behind Marble Blast comes Marble It Up! Ultra – the ultimate marble platformer. Roll, jump, and boost your way through a massive single-player campaign – or team up to out-blast your opponents across five exhilarating multiplayer modes! From smashing weekly challenges to unlocking hidden marbles… How will you roll?

Metal Mind (Whirllaxy Studio/E-Home Entertainment)

Metal Wind fuses transforming mecha and roguelite gameplay elements and combine game mechanics, such as weight, armor pieces, heat, and power for you to forge a unique weapon of war to fuel your killing spree!

The Night of the Rabbit (Daedalic Entertainment)

Lose yourself in a tale of magic and wonder, where anything is possible and where nothing is quite as it seems: join young Jerry and follow a peculiar white rabbit to the wondrous realm of Mousewood, a land where critters can speak and where mystery abounds.

Along with those titles, there are a variety of unique and creative games that will be available to try! Below is a list of games, and their developers, participating in the ID@Xbox Demo Fest:

• A Duel Hand Disaster: Trackher (Ask An Enemy Studios)
• Aaero2 (Mad Fellows)

• Alchemist: The Potion Monger (Art Games Studio)
• Alisa (Casper Croes)
• Astrea: The Six-Sided Oracles (Little Leo Games)

• Bang-On Balls: Chronicles (Exit Plan Games)
• BattleCakes (Volcano Bean)
• Black Skylands (Hungry Couch)
• Born of Bread (WildArts)

• Boxville (Triomatica Games)
• Cell Scientists: Beyond (R-Next)
• Cross Tails (Rideon)
• Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle (Invader Studios)
• Death Relives (Nyctophile Studios)

• Demonschool (Necrosoft Game)
• Deserted (Zebik Media Interactive)
• Dynacat (Replayne)
• Evil Wizard (Rubber Duck Games)
• Exhausted Man (Candleman Games)
• Fall of Porcupine (Critical Rabbit)
• Frank and Drake (Appnormals Team)

• Knights of Braveland (Ellada Games)
• Let’s Cook Togther 2 (Yellow Dot)
• Lies of P (Neowitz)
• Lunark (Canari Games)
• Marble It Up! Ultra (Marble It Up)
• Metaball (Bucketplay)

• Metal Mind (Whirllaxy Studio)
• Overpass: Rhythm Roadtrip (Studio Bean)
• Pixel Cafe (Baltoro Games)

• Pocket Bravery (Statera Studio)
• PolyFury (Wayfarer Games)
• Punch Club 2: Fast Forward (Lazy Bear Games)
• Raging Bytes (Hit-Point)
• Rain World (Videocult)

• Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio)
• Sker Ritual (Wales Interactive)
• Slave Zero X (Poppy Works)
• Space Boat (Recombobulator Games)
• Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde (Creature Cauldron)

• Spirit of the Island (1 Million Bits Horde)
• Stonks-9800: Stock Market Simulator (Ternox)
• The Isle Tide Hotel (Wales Interactive/Interflix Media)
• The Night of the Rabbit (Daedalic Entertainment)
• The Wandering Village (Stray Fawn Studio)
• Trinity Fusion (Angry Mob Games)

• Worldless (Noname)
• WrestleQuest (Mega Cat Studios)

Head over to your Xbox and start enjoying these incredible game demos on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S! And yes, we’d love to hear what you think. Connect with us on Twitter,  Instagram,  Discord, Twitch, and YouTube. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire to learn more about what Team Xbox has planned and of course, have an amazing fun summer of gaming!

Related:
Naraka: Bladepoint – Here’s What Game Pass Owners Get When the Game Goes Free-to-Play
Inside Xbox Series X|S Optimized: Ravenlok
Gylt is a Delicate Horror Game for All

People. Technology. Under threat. From dinosaurs. Exoprimal’s launch is nearly here. On behalf of Aibius World News and Aibius PR, we’d like to share details about the game’s launch this Friday and juicy new updates on what to expect in the weeks beyond!  Sink your teeth into details about new Alpha variant Exosuits that change how each suit plays, start planning your strategies for the intense Savage Gauntlet PvE mode, and learn about new options to switch between a PvP or PvE-focused experience in Dino Survival. Plus, monstrous crossover content is coming to the game in a future update!

Set in a near-future world, vortexes can open at any time in any place and dump hundreds or even thousands of dinosaurs out. Thanks to breakthroughs from Aibius Corporation, humanity has been able to fight back using the power of Exosuits, powered armor that can withstand these blasts from the past. In the game’s main mode, Dino Survival, you’ll be thrust into a never-ending war game run by the next-generation artificial intelligence, Leviathan, who will put squads to the test with ever-evolving missions in a race against an opposing team. At its core, Exoprimal is all about working together with your five-person squad to suit up, adapt, and survive against both dinosaurs and, on occasion, other Exofighters.

With that in mind, at launch, the game will include a feature that was added thanks to player feedback. The Final Mission Selection feature gives players three options to choose from when it comes to matchmaking in Dino Survival: PvP, PvE, and Random. The PvP setting will be what players who participated in or watched our previous Open Beta Tests are already familiar with. Leviathan hands down missions for squads of five players to complete. The end of the match puts squads in direct competition with each other to see which team will survive, and which team will be flagged for… mortal sunset.

Newly added is the PvE setting, which typically does not involve direct PvP elements. Instead, victory is decided based on which team can complete Leviathan’s objectives the fastest. In addition, Aibius encourages Exofighters who are interested in mixing it up to select Random, which will place them in either a PvP or PvE match while awarding an experience point bonus. You can change this setting at any time before starting matchmaking for a Dino Survival match, so select whatever suits your mood!

Exoprimal will also receive seasonal content updates that introduce new features, new Exosuit variants, and new crossovers! Things kick off with Season 1 at launch on July 14, followed by a new game mode called Savage Gauntlet on July 28. This purely PvE mode will put squads to the test with challenging late-game missions that rotate out weekly. This mode is for experienced players who are familiar with what the game has to offer and who have spent some time kitting out their Exosuits with various enhancements called “modules”. Since we’re on the topic, modules give you both active and passive abilities and stat boosts based on what you equip, allowing you to customize and change how a suit plays to suit your playstyle and needs. Some modules are universal, allowing you to use them across multiple Exosuits, too! Is there anything Aibius technology can’t do?

Each Savage Gauntlet mission can be played multiple times, so get your squad together, take your Exosuit to the next level with modules, and go for the best time possible! Outstanding Exofighters may even be rewarded for their efforts.

Next up is what we teased up top. On August 17, Exoprimal will see its first major title update! This update introduces 10 Alpha Variant Exosuits that change up how each suit plays, complete with alternate designs and weapons compared to their base models. The best part? They’ll all be available at once, adding a whole new dimension to gameplay.

After that we’ll have Season 2, which kicks off in mid-October and brings the next Title Update along with it. World Warriors and time travelers collide with the Street Fighter 6 collaboration we announced a few weeks back, and you’ll also see a new map, a new Final Mission, and additional rigs (weapons and abilities that you can change out at-will during a match) and modules that will authorize even further customization of your Exosuits.

In January 2024, Season 3 will include a monstrous content drop, too. Aibius is pleased to share that additional Beta variants for Exosuits be added while also introducing the Neo Triceratops… and a collaboration with the Monster Hunter series! We’ll have more information on that down the line, but for now, get ready to lock, load, and explode some dinosaur hordes when Exoprimal launches on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, and Windows on July 14. We’ll see you in the war games — it’ll be massively fun!

Exoprimal

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$59.99

Pre-order

Contains the following content:

– Shark’s Mouth (Gray) exosuit skin for Deadeye
– Stone Golem exosuit skin for Roadblock
– Bush Camo exosuit skin for Witchdoctor

Note: Skins are cosmetic items that change the appearance of an exosuit and have no other effect.
This special bonus is only available for those who pre-order the standard edition of Exoprimal or the Exoprimal Deluxe Edition.
This special bonus may be made available for purchase at a later date.
Visit the official website for more details.

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

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

Online Play
* A Capcom ID and internet connection is required to play this game.
* For information on the services related to Capcom ID and how to use it, please visit the official Capcom ID website cid.capcom.com. Please note that there may be cases wherein use of Capcom ID is age-restricted.
* Capcom may temporarily suspend online services in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Exoprimal Deluxe Edition

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Contains the following content:

– Shark’s Mouth (Gray) exosuit skin for Deadeye
– Stone Golem exosuit skin for Roadblock
– Bush Camo exosuit skin for Witchdoctor

Note: Skins are cosmetic items that change the appearance of an exosuit and have no other effect.
This special bonus is only available for those who pre-order the standard edition of Exoprimal or the Exoprimal Deluxe Edition.
This special bonus may be made available for purchase at a later date.
Visit the official website for more details.

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

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

Product Information
– Exoprimal
– Head Start Kit **
– Vigilant Early Unlock Ticket
– Murasame Early Unlock Ticket
– Nimbus Early Unlock Ticket
– Paladin exosuit skin (Vigilant)
– White Guardian exosuit skin (Murasame)
– Wonderland exosuit skin (Nimbus)

Limited Time Bonus
– Survival Pass Season 1: Premium Tier **

** Note: This DLC is only playable on the Microsoft account that purchases it. Even if you are the organizer of a family group, family member accounts will not receive it.

Note: Early Unlock Tickets can be purchased even if you have already unlocked the corresponding exosuit, or if you already satisfy its unlock conditions. Be careful not to purchase an Early Unlock Ticket for an exosuit you have unlocked.
Skins are cosmetic items that change the appearance of an exosuit and have no other effect.
Survival Pass rewards will change from season to season. Rewards cannot be obtained after a season has concluded.
Each season’s Premium Tier may be made available for purchase again at a later date.
The limited special bonus may be obtained by pre-ordering the Exoprimal Deluxe Edition or purchasing Exoprimal during season 1.
The Head Start Kit and the Survival Pass Season 1: Premium Tier may be purchased separately. Be careful not to purchase these products if you already own them.
Visit the official website for more details about the Head Start Kit and the Survival Pass Season 1: Premium Tier.

Online Play
* A Capcom ID and internet connection is required to play this game.
* For information on the services related to Capcom ID and how to use it, please visit the official Capcom ID website cid.capcom.com. Please note that there may be cases wherein use of Capcom ID is age-restricted.
* Capcom may temporarily suspend online services in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Related:
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for July 10 to 14
Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Exoprimal, Grand Theft Auto V, Techtonica, and More
This Week’s Deals with Gold and Spotlight Sale

Our journey on Xbox started back in August of last year, with our first milestone of Naraka: Bladepoint hitting one million players on Game Pass in its first month on the service. It’s been an incredible pleasure for our team to witness and we can’t thank the Xbox player community enough!

To keep the action flowing, we recently announced that the game is going will be free-to-play on Xbox starting from July 13. All Game Pass members will get free conversion from the current Standard Edition to the new Deluxe Edition, along with in-game rewards. Here is everything that Game Pass members will be able to claim for free when Naraka: Bladepoint goes free-to-play.

• Two legendary weapon skins: Dual Blades Lacerator and White Viper Spear. These two amazing skins will help players on their early cosmetic journey in Naraka.
• 300 Hero Coins: Players can use hero coins in-game to redeem any desired hero.
• 10 Immortal Treasures: The treasures contain numerous types of cosmetics. There’s a chance to get the rarest “Extreme” level skins!

For more detailed differences between Free players and Deluxe players, please check the FAQ on www.narakathegame.com.

More Rewards!

Veteran rewards will be available to players who previously purchased the game or obtained the game through Game Pass. They will receive in-game gold equivalent to what the edition they currently possess and more. Various anniversary in-game events and rewards will also be unveiled in more detail very soon.

Other Cool Stuff!

• New weapon: Players will have gain access to a Dual Halberds weapon, which combines a spear and a dagger into one. It can stab straight and also strike horizontally with the ability to lock other weapons.
• New mode: Select the new mode “Capture the Spirit Well” to enter a 12v12 gang wars battle that allows players to capture locations to earn points. There is also a Justice Chamber update to guild mode, offering a much more feature-rich update to the current guild system.
• New hero: Meet Tessa – she is a 1000-year-old fox demon, who can charm her enemies and capture their souls.
• 3D Lobby: Players can grapple around and explore while queuing.
• New season skin theme: Classic of Mountains and Seas and the god of four seasons.
• Collaboration with Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (based on a famous Chinese painting).

We are very thrilled that players have enjoyed their time with Naraka: Bladepoint, and while we are on the cusp of celebrating its second anniversary, we are excited to assure players that the team is hard at work to create new seasonal content and constantly provide updates to the game to make it the most unique and special melee battle royale title out there. Make sure to keep an eye out for information about these upcoming features!

NARAKA: BLADEPOINT – Deluxe Edition

NetEase

☆☆☆☆☆
1077

★★★★★

$34.99

$27.99

Get it now

Season of Xbox is here! Over the holiday season there will be plenty of festive fighting fun. NARAKA: BLADEPOINT will host a series of winter events starting with the Snowy Ruins Challenge, offering exclusive rewards for those who find the hidden maze location and vanquish the Snow Lord. Until January 6, you will also find Gingerbread scattered throughout the battlefield which can be exchanged for legendary prizes. Finally, to ring in the new year, there will be special login rewards up for grabs.

Deluxe Edition includes:
-Base Game
-Hero: Yoto Hime
-Limited-edition Dual Blades Skin: Lacerator
-Exclusive Spear Skin [White Viper]
-Immortal Treasure*10
*You will receive your Immortal Treasure*10 2 hours after you start the game.
*Exclusive items can not be purchased in-game.

NARAKA: BLADEPOINT is a 60-player PVP mythical action combat experience with martial arts inspired melee combat, gravity defying mobility, vast arsenals of melee & ranged weapons, legendary customizable heroes with epic abilities.

BATTLE REIMAGINED
A first of its kind melee focused, movement based, mythical multiplayer action combat experience.

AGILE SWORDPLAY
Poetically violent melee combat where Katanas and Greatswords, Bows and Muskets, hero skills and ultimates clash in brutal player battles.

TRAVEL BEYOND LIMITS
Move lightning fast using your grappling hook whether traversing the highest mountain or launching onto an unsuspecting opponent.

UNTOLD POWER
Customize and master a growing roster of legendary heroes, each imbues with their own skills, ultimates, and deadly playstyles.

KINGDOM IN RUINS
Explore the mysterious and breathtaking battlefield of war-torn Morus with a striking aesthetic inspired by Far Eastern legends and history.

ADAPT OR DIE
Elevate your playstyle in a constantly evolving multiplayer battlefield featuring 1v1 Duels, Arena Brawls, all the way up to 60-player battles with unique Sky.

This game contains optional in-game purchases for virtual items, including a random selection of virtual in-game cosmetics.
See drop rate here: www.narakathegame.com/droprate/

Related:
Inside Xbox Series X|S Optimized: Ravenlok
Crack Open Hi-Fi Rush’s Newest Update with Tips from the Game Director
It’s A Jungle Out There! Discover The Exciting New Update Coming to Stranded: Alien Dawn 

One of the biggest benefits of all that power in the hardware is giving developers the ability to make games that are Xbox Series X|S Optimized. This means that they’ve taken full advantage of the unique capabilities of Xbox Series X|S, both for new titles built natively using the Xbox Series X|S development environment as well as previously released titles that have been rebuilt specifically for the console.

In our Inside Xbox Series X|S Optimized series, these creators will share the behind-the-scenes accounts of how they’re optimizing their titles for Xbox Series X|S and what that means for the future of gaming. Today, we’ll be chatting with Martin Gauvreau, Lead Programmer and Director at Cococucumber about optimizing Ravenlok for Xbox Series X|S.

Q: What excites you most about developing and bringing Ravenlok to life on this generation of hardware?

A: One of the most exciting things for us was to bring to life the magical world of Ravenlok at 4K resolution and 60fps on the Xbox Series X and at 1440p resolution and 60fps on Xbox Series S. This allows our signature voxel art style to look sharp, and players are treated to visuals with much higher levels of detail and immersion than on previous gen hardware. At 60fps, Ravenlok runs very smoothly so the overall experience is not only visually stunning, but also responsive during real-time combat.

Q: In addition to benefiting from the power and performance of Xbox Series X|S for quicker load times etc. what Xbox Series X|S features were you most excited to explore leveraging in the development of Ravenlok?

A: Since Ravenlok is set in a stylized fairy tale world, our goal was to fully immerse the player in the stunning environments, charming characters, and heartfelt story. We were excited about being able to push our levels beyond our previous capabilities with the new power and performance while staying above the target frame rate and load times. As the structure of Ravenlok is designed to be a series of levels that connect to each other, we leveraged the SSD technology in the Xbox Series X|S to create seamless transitions between levels. We know that no one likes loading times, so we are glad to provide players a more continuous and immersive experience.

Q: How will these enhancements impact a player’s experience with Ravenlok?

A: Players love it! For Ravenlok, we are careful to hit certain benchmarks for the frame rate on the current gen, Xbox Series X|S, as well as previous gen consoles like Xbox One X, Xbox One S and Xbox One. On the Xbox Series X, players are plunged into the vibrant and detailed environments in full 4K resolution. On both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the gameplay feels smooth at 60fps and with virtually no load times between levels, they can fully experience the fantastical world and enjoy the game at its highest visual quality.

Q: What’s it like to have over half a million people playing Ravenlok? 

A: It’s a dream come true for us to have so many people playing Ravenlok on Game Pass. With over 500,000 players in six weeks, this is an incredible milestone and we’re grateful to all Ravenlok players and fans on Xbox. Thank you for playing Ravenlok, we hope that you enjoy your adventure!

Q: Why did your team choose to focus on higher resolution and frame rates as enhancement areas for Ravenlok?

A: Even though Ravenlok has a very nostalgic feel with its fairytale setting and voxel art style, we wanted to make sure that it is also balanced with a modern gameplay experience and fast, responsive combat. With 4K resolution, players can see all the details that we have crafted into the environment and the high frame rate makes it a joy to play. Epic boss fights are a huge part of the combat experience in Ravenlok, and being able to defeat a towering boss at smooth 60fps feels extremely satisfying.

Q: How do you expect fans of Ravenlok will respond to playing it on Xbox Series X|S with these enhancements? A: A lot of what we do on the tech and optimization side is often invisible — when it works, and works well, the player should not notice it at all. We hope that fans will be fully immersed in the world of Ravenlok, following their curiosity to explore all the corners of the world and going on an incredible adventure. This has always been our goal for Ravenlok and we hope that the enhancements like higher resolution and frame rates on the Xbox Series X|S serves this well.

Q: What is it like developing on Xbox Series X|S?           

A: The tech and features in the Xbox Series X|S open up a lot of possibilities during game development, but they also demand that we rethink some of our previous approaches to make full use of the console’s capabilities. We are always learning and trying new ideas, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see our vision for Ravenlok come to life in ways that weren’t possible before.

Since Ravenlok is the final title in our Voxel Trilogy [also including Echo Generation and Riverbond], we have improved our pipeline to work with the Xbox Series X|S. This has saved us considerable time during production and QA, allowing us to focus on making the game better instead of fighting with technical limitations.

Q: What does Smart Delivery mean for your game and how you’re bringing Ravenlok to fans?

A: Since Ravenlok supports all generations of consoles from Xbox One to Xbox Series X, we can really leverage Smart Delivery to deliver the best available version of the game to the player. If a player started Ravenlok on the Xbox One and later decides to switch to playing on the Xbox Series X, they can continue playing without having to buy any additional copies of the game, while keeping their save game and achievements. We love that fans can have this experience and not be limited in getting hands on with the best version of Ravenlok.

Q: What does Xbox Series X|S development enable in current or future projects that you could not have achieved with the previous generation of consoles?

A: As game developers, we are continually pushing the boundaries of what we are capable of in terms of performance and features, but also through our creativity. With the Xbox Series X|S, we can create larger, more detailed and dynamic game worlds, implement more advanced AI, and deliver smoother gameplay with higher frame rates to fulfill the vision that we have for our game. Looking into the future, we are excited for the trajectory and to continue to innovate and bring even more immersive, creative, and fun games to our fans!

Ravenlok

Cococucumber

☆☆☆☆☆
257

★★★★★

$24.99

$22.49

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Embark on an enchanting journey in Ravenlok, an action-packed fairytale adventure about a young heroine destined to fulfill a perilous prophecy.

Upon encountering a mystical mirror, Ravenlok is whisked away to a whimsical world plagued by the sinister darkness of a tyrannical queen. Destiny awaits all in an unforgettable and heartfelt adventure.

THRILLING ACTION ADVENTURE
Battles against fearsome beasts and formidable monsters using real-time combat. Wield your sword and shield, and use the magical skills bestowed to you, along with an arsenal of bombs, to vanquish foes in epic boss encounters!

ENCHANTED WORLD
Meet curious creatures and help them with their troubles to fight back against the encroaching darkness. Discover the whimsical Mushroom Forest, tackle puzzles in the Mask Mansion and unravel the mysteries of the Labyrinth in a wonderful world turned upside down!

GRAND FINALE
By the creators of critically-acclaimed adventure “Echo Generation”, this enchanting fairytale marks the grand finale of the Cococucumber Voxel Trilogy. Immerse in a delightful and captivating indie game filled with heart.

Related:
Gylt is a Delicate Horror Game for All
ID@Xbox Demo Fest Is Back from July 11
Crack Open Hi-Fi Rush’s Newest Update with Tips from the Game Director

When we think about horror games there are common titles that come to our minds: Silent Hill, Resident Evil, or the most recent Amnesia or Layers of Fear, but where are the horror games that are suitable for a younger audiences?

While on other media, like movies or books, the horror genre is not uncommon for kids (i.e. “Hotel Transylvania” or “Goosebumps”), the videogame industry did not release such titles. Even our first game at Tequila Works, Deadlight (2012), was a survival horror game that was not designed for a teenager audience. So, what’s different with Gylt?

The Origin of the Nightmares

Gylt is a very personal game that comes from the close experience of one relative of a studio member. Her little cousin was suffering from bullying at school. And what’s more terrifying than what’s more realistic and closer to our daily lives.

We developed this original idea into a delicate horror game in which our young protagonist, Sally, is looking for her missing cousin, Emily. In her journey she will start running away from bullies and will be taken into a weird and more dangerous version of the city. There she will meet the worst nightmares from Emily. And this is where our tagline makes sense: Fear the shapes, shape the fears! Our little protagonist will have to hide from them or fight them back, when possible, using a simple flashlight.

Bullying is a Serious Thing

Don’t be mistaken, this is a game and you will have fun, be scared and jump from your couch. But as we said, school bullying is what moves us all.

During the development of Gylt we worked closely with a group of professional psychologists. They helped us present bullying in a delicate way.

For the launch of the game we’re collaborating with Safe in Our World, an international organization engaged on that matter. If you’re feeling different from usual or you have noticed a change in your behavior, you can learn about some common feelings and mental health symptoms, how to cope with them, and where to go for help. Visit Safeinourworld.org for more information and resources.

Stephen King, Coraline and Alan Wake are behind Gylt‘s Inspiration

Does the name Bachman sound familiar to you? That proves you’re into horror literature. Richard Bachman was the pseudonym used by Stephen King during the ‘70s for some of his novels, and that’s the name we chose for the school in the game.

And who hasn’t already watched “Coraline”? If you’re familiar with the creation of Neil Gaiman you’ll find that we took some inspirations for the atmosphere of the movie in our game, as well as from Alan Wake.

As horror fan lovers we are not ashamed to say that we took inspiration from some of the best.

Is This Game for me?

When we say that the game is suitable for younger audiences we’re not saying that an adult or a hardcore horror gamer can’t enjoy it. What we are saying is that there is no gore, no bad language and no real weapons. The creatures’ designs, the atmosphere and the music will send shivers down anyone’s spine.

All players will face the challenge of fighting the monsters or hiding from them, as well as solving puzzles on the way to find Emily, while enjoying a meaningful story. And if you pay attention to the collectibles and to the writings on the walls you will go deeper into the story of Bethewood city and its habitants.

The Music Makes it All

If you take out music and sounds from any horror creation, it stops being scary. That’s why for Gylt we partnered with the recognized worldwide composer Cris Velasco, responsible for the music of Carrion, Vader Immortal or Clive Barker’s “Jericho”. But he’s also like a member of the Tequila Works family, since previous to Gylt he has worked on The Invisible Hours and Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son soundtracks.

“You Got my Interest, When’s Gylt out?”

Lucky you, Gylt is already out on Xbox Series and Xbox One. Don’t miss the chance to play it and discover the mysteries yourself.

GYLT

Tequila Works

☆☆☆☆☆
8

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Set in a creepy and melancholic world, GYLT is an eerie story mixing fantasy and reality in a surrealist place where your nightmares become reality. Hide from terrible creatures or confront them as you find your way through the challenges of this wicked world.

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Welcome to our final intel drop for Sniper Elite 5. Today marks the launch of Kraken Awakes, the final content pack for Season Pass 2 (more on that later), and we hope you’ve had as much fun making mincemeat of the Nazis as we have had making the game.

It’s been just over 13 months since the game originally launched and in that time you Soldiers have been busy. You obliterated nearly 6 million testicles, perfected over 250 million headshots, and invaded each other’s game more than 5 million times and counting.

Everyone at Rebellion was delighted with the reception the game received upon its release in May last year, and since then we have been busy at work, reading and listening to all your feedback. The input from our community really is invaluable and enables us to improve the game with every step.

The level of knowledge and expertise within our community, especially around the authentic recreation of our World War 2 setting, weaponry, military attire, and vehicles is always a great source of pride and information for the studio.

It is important to learn from every game you release, and one area of focus for us has been accessibility. We have introduced several new features, such as field of depth sliders that will go on to be a regular feature in our games moving forward. We know we still have a long way to go but we are heading in the right direction.

We would like to thank everyone that has taken the time to play Sniper Elite 5, whether you are a seasoned veteran of the franchise, or this is your first time looking down Karl’s virtual scope. If you still haven’t tried the game, it is still available now on Game Pass so be sure to check it out and let us know what you think. There is also plenty of additional content for you to explore, including several missions, in both Season Pass One and Season Pass Two.

Speaking of Season Pass Two, the final content drop, Kraken Awakes, has just hit the store.

The pack includes a brand-new mission launched where our hero, Karl Fairburne, is sent to a military dock which is housing an under-construction aircraft carrier – the new home of Operation Kraken.

Set at night, you will have to use the darkness and the shadows to your advantage as you look to infiltrate and sabotage the carrier so that it can never be launched. You will also need to put an end to the new leader of the scheme, Friedrich Vogel, the former deputy to Abelard Möller.

The pack also includes a new Mod.712 pistol and the Patriot weapon skin, as well as the American Airborne character skin to complete an all-American look for Karl!

On top of the Kraken Awakes pack we are also launching a new multiplayer map which is FREE to all players right now. The Abandoned Quarry offers a host of opportunities for both stealthy and all action playstyles.

Large scale, close combat firefights will break out when exploring the old mine, while the nearby coal processing center presents a host of vantage points and hiding places which provide ideal sniping sightlines across the map. Be sure to head to Multiplayer and check it out in both solo and team play.

Well, that wraps up the content for Season Pass Two.

You can keep up to date with all the latest news and developments from the Sniper Elite team on our social channels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Discord and YouTube.

Happy hunting!

Sniper Elite 5

Rebellion

☆☆☆☆☆
196

★★★★★

$59.99

$47.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

The latest instalment in the award-winning series, Sniper Elite 5 offers unparalleled sniping, tactical third-person combat and an enhanced kill cam. Fight your way across the most immersive maps yet, with many real-world locations captured in stunning detail, and an improved traversal system that lets you explore more of them than ever before.
France, 1944 – As part of a covert US Rangers operation to weaken the Atlantikwall fortifications along the coast of Brittany, elite marksman Karl Fairburne makes contact with the French Resistance. Soon they uncover a secret Nazi project that threatens to end the war before the Allies can even invade Europe: Operation Kraken.

EXPANSIVE CAMPAIGN
Many real-world locations have been captured using photogrammetry to recreate a living, immersive environment, and multiple infiltration and extraction points and kill list targets provide a whole new perspective on each mission. Take on the Nazi plot solo or work with a partner, with improved co-op mechanics allowing you to share ammo and items, give orders and heal each other.

ADVANCED GUNPLAY PHYSICS AND TRAVERSAL
Use ziplines, slide down slopes and shimmy along ledges to reach the perfect vantage point, or to sneak past a sharp-eyed lookout. Factor in rifle stock and barrel options along with gravity, wind and heart rate while you line up your sights on the target.

HIGH CALIBRE CUSTOMISATION
Use workbenches to customise and upgrade virtually every aspect of your weapon – change scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and more. Rifles, secondaries and pistols all have a huge variety of options. On top of that you can select the ammo to suit your target, from armour-piercing right down to non-lethal.

INVASION MODE – CAMPAIGN DROP IN PvP AND CO-OP
Invade another player’s Campaign as an Axis sniper and engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse, providing a new dimension to the challenge as you stalk your prey. Alternatively, as Karl you can call for assistance and have a second sniper drop in to help you out of a tricky situation.

TENSE ADVERSIAL MULTIPLAYER
Customise your character and loadout and earn XP, medals and ribbons as you take on intensely competitive 16 player battles that will really test your sharpshooting skills. If co-op’s more your style, you can team up with up to 3 other players against waves of enemies in Survival mode.

ENHANCED KILL CAM
More realistic and grisly than ever, the trademark X-ray kill cam returns, showing you the true destructive power of each shot. Bones deflect bullets unpredictably, ripping a new path through enemy bodies. SMGs and pistols can also trigger kill cams, including multiple shots in dramatic slow motion.

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Hey everyone!

I’m Niklas Istenes, the CEO of Bitwave Games – a modern retro gaming studio from Gothenburg in Sweden. I started the studio in 2013 with a dream goal: developing and publishing games inspired by my all-time favorite Nintendo Entertainment System and Famicom game Gimmick! from legendary developer Sunsoft. Little did I know I would eventually help launch Gimmick! for modern platforms with our friends at City Connection. It feels surreal and beyond exciting!

Gimmick! has a special place in my heart. Released in 1992 and at the end of the NES/Famicom life cycle, it was impressive to see a game that pushed the console to its limits. The graphics, physics, and soundtrack really left their mark on me as a kid. In Scandinavia (where I’m from), it’s known as Mr. Gimmick. It was the only market outside Japan where the original game was ever released. So, to many people, this might be a wholly lost gaming treasure.

Gimmick! Special Edition is a tough-as-nails platforming game with a heavy focus on physics. You’re playing as Yumetaro – a cute green youkai with special star-summoning powers. Through multiple playground-like levels, all with their own environmental twists and exciting creatures, you must creatively use your sparkling star to bounce, jump, take out baddies, and reach hidden areas filled with secrets.

Gimmick! Special Edition has many enhancements that make this challenging game even more accessible to modern players. You can quick-save, rewind, compete against your friends on the online leaderboards, unlock achievements, and stroll through the gorgeous gallery injected with pictures of scanned-in cartridges, the original Japanese and Scandinavian manuals, and more.

Since the original NES and Famicom cartridges are hard to find and expensive to purchase, we’re thrilled to be able to bring this true platforming classic to a broader audience. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more Gimmick! Special Edition content and jump onto our Discord to chat with other retro fans.

See you in the land of Gimmick!

Gimmick! Special Edition

Bitwave

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99

Get it now

An old-school challenge enhanced for the modern player
SUNSOFT’s NES™ classic Gimmick! returns in this long-wished-for Special Edition from City Connection. Experience a stunning physics-based platformer with updated features like online leaderboards, achievements, a time attack mode, save and quick load, a rewind function, a gorgeous gallery (with cartridges, art, and scanned manuals), and more.

Stellar platform physics with a bouncing star
Explore a physics-based playground that was way ahead of its time. As the cute youkai Yumetaro, use your star-summoning powers to tackle complex challenges with creativity and finesse. Your wonderful star will help you reach hidden spots, traverse cliffs, and pull off trick shots that outwit even the toughest baddies!

Discover a hidden NES™ treasure
Gimmick! was exclusively released on Famicom™/NES™ in Japan and Scandinavia in the early ‘90s. It pushed the console to its limits and the Japanese cartridge featured SunSoft 5B, a custom sound chip that let Masashi Kageyama compose a star-studded soundtrack. Gimmick! remains one of the most valuable (and rarest) NES™ cartridges ever made. The Scandinavian version was called “Mr. Gimmick”.

Uncover secrets in a race against time!
Gimmick! Special Edition features a time attack mode for speedrunners, and completionists can hunt for secrets all throughout the game. Unlock a wonderful surprise by finding everything. For a hard-core challenge, disable all quality-of-life features in “Serious Mode” to crank up the excitement!

Modern enhancements:
* Achievements
* Time Attack Mode
* Online Leaderboards
* Save and Quick Load
* Rewind Function
* Gallery mode
* Sound test

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