What do a giant enemy crab covered in interdimensional crystals and a plucky Kangaroo have in common? Simple – They are both bending the rules!
Kao The Kangaroo is back in a new five-level adventure as they take on the perils of the Eternal World! A grumpy old crab has been empowered by the power of the Eternal World, granting him dominion over the lands. After years of being rudely awoken by the locals, the crab is out for revenge! Only Kao has what it takes to stand up to the click-clacking menace! Will Kao be able defeat the Crab King?! Will the Enteral World ever be truly banished!?! Find out in Kao The Kangaroo: Bend the Roo’les!
Bend The Roo’les takes the Kao The Kangaroo formula and adds a fresh twist across five unique levels. Each level is a challenging take that will push even the most grizzled of Kao and 3D platformer veterans to the edge of their abilities! From retro-inspired side-scrolling action, to lava rising levels that would make a blue hedgehog cower, Bend The Roo’les is more of the Kao you know and love in a whole new style.
This DLC carries on the history of Kao the Kangaroo’s retro influences, including tributes to various levels we have played and loved through the decades. Kao The Kangaroo has seen changes across all aspects of the video game industry and culture. As we gear up to release the next (baby) step in the series, it feels fitting to take inspiration from the decades that originally influenced our series to begin with.
As a studio, it is always a pleasure to see our plucky Kangaroo star in new experiences. We cannot wait for you to try what we have been cooking up! So, get ready to hop into the latest Kao adventure and put an end to the Eternal World!
Kao the Kangaroo is a beautiful 3D platformer jam-packed with fun, exploration, adventure, and mystery! Join Kao, the feisty furball, as he embarks on an unforgettable quest to uncover the secrets surrounding the disappearance of his father. He’ll traverse rich environments, filled with hazards, puzzles, and foes. Each turn uncovers another clue as well as revealing a secret world bubbling under the surface.
Neverwinter was one of the first console MMORPGs to really get its hooks into me. With the rich lore of Dungeons & Dragons lifting it up and some innovative ways in which it handled combat at the time, not to mention all the journeys that could be waiting for me along the Sword Coast, the entire experience was ripe for adventure (and my time).
While it has been a while since I last ventured into that online realm, I jumped at the opportunity to talk with Executive Producer Brett Norton and Creative Director Randy Mosiondz about the game’s past, present, and future as it hits its eighth year on Xbox (and 10th overall) this year. It was fascinating to get their insight about the legacy of Neverwinter in an age when so many online games tended to fade over time, but Neverwinter seems to be as strong as it ever was. Interestingly, it wasn’t originally scoped to be a massive multiplayer online RPG at all.
As some adventurers might be aware, before launching as a free-to-play MMORPG, Neverwinter was originally announced as a co-op focused Dungeons & Dragons game that would bring R.A. Salvatore’s “Neverwinter Saga” series of novels to life. Since iteration is a significant part of the game development process, there were many concepts the team was trying out during that early phase of its life, as they refined and focused on the title.
“Early on there was an attempt at building a narrative-focused game where there was heavy storyline scripting, and every player in an adventuring party could ‘vote’ towards how a story would play out.”
“Early on there was an attempt at building a narrative-focused game where there was heavy storyline scripting, and every player in an adventuring party could ‘vote’ towards how a story would play out,” explains Creative Director Randy Mosiondz. “While it was an interesting system, once we incorporated an action-focused combat style, we found the two game elements didn’t mesh well together.”
Mosiondz explains that one of the biggest things the team learned in that iterative process was that when locking a group of players into a narrative, anyone who had experienced that same tale beforehand would grow impatient with having to sit through dialog options, while others simply wanted to get back to the action. This left any player who wanted to listen to the narrative opting out of group play.
“We realized we were trying to serve two types of players and were doing a disservice to both. In the end, we decided to move towards action-combat, as there weren’t a lot of MMORPGs doing that at the time, and players seeking games with heavier narrative focus would enjoy single-player story games better anyway,” says Mosiondz. “The advanced narrative system is still buried somewhere in the code, and if you’ve explored some of the more complex character dialogs you may have seen some of it; it’s pretty robust.”
Based on Neverwinter‘s success over the past decade, it seems clear they made the right choice in focusing on the action gameplay aspect to get development started. Once that core concept was established, development began in earnest with lots of content and ideas starting to take shape leading to the game’s eventual release on PC in 2013.
“That’s one of the graces of an ongoing live game: anything you don’t get into the initial release becomes content for a later release.”
“There was a lot of game we packed into the initial release, which was due in large part to the tremendous efforts of our launch team, as well as a disciplined approach to zone implementation,” says Mosiondz. “Once we developed a strong prototype zone and dungeon that we felt was fun and engaging, we built upon those styles for every successive piece of content implemented.”
Mosiondz mentions that there were still a lot of things the team wished to have incorporated into Neverwinter’s launch, but a big part of shipping a game of this scale is knowing when to focus on refining the content you’re launching with to give the best possible experience to players from the get-go.
“That’s one of the graces of an ongoing live game: anything you don’t get into the initial release becomes content for a later release. And we’ve had 10 years of releases [on PC] since launch to add or revise systems and content. I also think a big part of the relatively strong stability of Neverwinter at launch was due to the experience garnered from all our previous releases, like City of Heroes, Champions Online, and Star Trek Online have allowed us to refine our tech and our practices to allow for a solid launch.”
A few years after the initial launch on PC, Neverwinter set its sights on console. Cryptic had been wanting to bring its titles to Xbox, but at the time there were not a lot of MMORPGs for the platform.
“Even though we knew we wouldn’t launch the game on both PC and console, we were still planning for console support in the future. And when that day came, we were ready!”
“Back in the day, Champions Online was actually built to be delivered on Xbox; as some Champions fans can attest, the game can still be played pretty well on PC with a controller,” says Mosiondz. “When it came time to develop Neverwinter, we knew we wanted to start planning for console in the early design of the game. Even though we knew we wouldn’t launch the game on both PC and console, we were still planning for console support in the future. And when that day came, we were ready!”
Neverwinter’s launch on console was a massive success, as they had suspected, with console gamers enjoying the action-based combat system and social aspects of what MMORPGs can bring. That success is what also led to the eventual port of Star Trek Online, which has also proven to be a tremendously successful MMORPG on console. Even with those successful launches behind them, there was still plenty for the team to learn from.
“We had been preparing for launching Cryptic’s games on console for a long time, so there are some elements we learned early on,” says Mosiondz. “The most obvious one is that you must put constraints on game design to make sure console gamers have a solid experience rather than trying to retrofit PC gameplay back to console. Another thing was the technical infrastructure that needed to be built. While live console marketplaces are fairly common now, there were a lot of complexities back in the day about how things are done with subscriptions, microtransactions, etc., that still needed to be mashed out. It wasn’t until a lot of those things started coming together that made MMORPGs on consoles feasible.”
Since release, there have been no shortage of amazing characters and stories from Dungeons & Dragons lore that have been given a chance to come to life in the world of Neverwinter. Naturally, I had to know from the creators what it has been like playing around in the world of D&D and what some those favorite characters and memories from that experience have been thus far.
“I’ve been a D&D fan for an awfully long time, so building adventures based on it was a dream come true for me.”
“Some of the ‘big bads’ we’ve used as module villains are often our most memorable,” says Executive Producer Brett Norton. “Tiamat, the evil dragon queen, was a unique and massive undertaking for a boss. She’s absolutely massive, has great music that accompanies her fight, and she’s still probably the largest single largest enemy you face in all of Neverwinter. A special callout goes to Acerak as well, the main villain of Neverwinter‘s Chult arc, because he’s both evil and hilarious. His ‘I’m an immortal lich and I don’t care‘ attitude makes the Tomb of the Nine Gods dungeon particularly memorable experience, as you tear his lair apart and finally get on his nerves.”
“As to the good guys, the Acquisitions Incorporated characters are about as wild as it gets,” continues Norton. “Fighting alongside James Darkmagic in the Manycoins Bank Heist is always crazy, with him both helping the party and, occasionally, accidentally polymorphing everyone into chickens in the middle of a fight. The entire Acquisitions Incorporated adventure is unique in Neverwinter, and one of the most memorable series of missions we’ve done.”
“I’ve been a D&D fan for an awfully long time, so building adventures based on it was a dream come true for me,” says Mosidonz. “I’m a storyteller at heart, and love building experiences for players to enjoy. It wasn’t so much a job as a craft for me, and hearing players talk about their favorite characters or adventures that I worked with my team to build really warmed my heart.”
A lot has changed since the initial launch of the game — the version players can experience now is very different than what arrived on day one. Neverwinter has had to keep up with not only new console iterations, but revisions to their source material as well (when it was released, “4th Edition” was the main version and now the game is powered by the “5th Edition” ruleset). As part of this constant evolution, I asked Norton what is it about Neverwinter does he think has allowed it to endure for a decade?
“You can’t expect players to keep playing the same game forever, so you need to grow and evolve with them.”
“Part of enduring is realizing that your game has to grow and change with your audience, and while we won’t claim to have done it perfectly, the team has strived to try new features, new stories, and generally push the boundaries of what could be done with our tools, tech, and D&D in general,” explains Norton. “You can’t expect players to keep playing the same game forever, so you need to grow and evolve with them. The other part comes from the team’s ability to continually release new modules with a pretty regular cadence. We just released our 25th module for Neverwinter, and that means we’ve put out multiple big updates for Neverwinter each year. The game that players see today also isn’t the same version that players saw upon release; major features like guild strongholds and dungeon queues did not exist when the game was first released.”
With the recent release of the latest module, Menzoberranzan, the future continues to be very bright for the future of Neverwinter with seemingly no shortage of adventures that may be in store, some of which Norton hinted at.
“Neverwinter will continue to visit new places in the ever-expanding Forgotten Realms,” explains Executive Producer Brett Norton. “There’s a lot of key locations that we still haven’t visited, like Thay itself, or even Waterdeep. Wizards of the Coast also continues to release new sourcebooks as well, and we generally keep an eye out for some of the newer locations that would fit well into Neverwinter. No spoilers, but we’ve got a unique setting planned for the end of 2023 that we hope comes as a welcome surprise.”
Neverwinter is the premier Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG experience, featuring fast-paced combat and epic dungeons. Explore the vast city of Neverwinter and its surrounding regions, battle its many enemies, and be a part of Forgotten Realms history.
Experience Dungeons & Dragons Like Never Before – Neverwinter is an action MMORPG that bridges intense combat with classic D&D gameplay. Journey through the city of Neverwinter and the legendary subcontinent of Faerûn, and face off against the greatest adversaries from D&D legend.
Build Your Own Legend – Bring your adventures to life through iconic D&D classes and races, advanced paragon paths, companions, and a remarkable range of customization options. Whether you’re hunting dragons and beholders within crumbling dungeons or battling other players in the icy reaches of Icespire Peak, you’ll discover why Neverwinter is the definitive Dungeons & Dragons experience.
Optimized for Xbox One – Neverwinter inspires classic Dungeons & Dragons adventures with a fully optimized player experience for Xbox One. The fast-paced action gameplay of Neverwinter has been mapped to the Xbox One controller, giving adventures the ability to move around the battlefield and cast powerful spells with ease. Xbox One players can also use their Xbox One friends list to find and party up with others as they explore iconic locations of the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
This game supports English, French, German, Italian, and Russian.
Additional System requirements: Minimum broadband internet connection of 512 Kbps is required to access all features.
The Xbox app for Windows PC lets you discover and download new games with Game Pass, play console games on your Windows PC with cloud gaming, and chat with friends across PC, mobile, and Xbox console. Below you’ll find the latest updates and patch notes for the Xbox App on PC for April 2023 – this update is now available for download from the Store. Always be sure to keep your app up to date for the latest improvements and bug fixes. You can learn more about the Xbox App for PC here.
April Release (2304.1001.15.0)
Quick Games to Play and Longest Games collections added to your Home screen:
When browsing your Home Game Pass screen, you can scroll down to view various collection channels, including these new collections that list average gameplay times to fit your gaming preferences.
Accessibility filters for All PC Games:
Filtering the All PC Games list just got better by adding a wide variety of Accessibility filters to help find the right game for your needs.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where no games appeared in the All PC Games section.
Fixed a bug where some text was cut off when directed to install the Riot or Ubisoft game launcher.
Fixed a bug where some cloud games were not showing in the Cloud Gaming section.
Fixed a bug where installation errors did not provide additional details and troubleshooting suggestions.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is coming this summer to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
The game touts the core classic beat ‘em up gameplay that has become iconized in the gaming community’s collective memory.
Featuring fresh roguelite aspects new to the Double Dragon franchise; check out the announcement trailer above.
The iconic Double Dragon brothers return for some tag team, beat ‘em up action with a roguelite spin! The year is 199x in an alternate New York City. The city has been ravaged by nuclear destruction, leaving chaos and crime to take hold of the city. Unable to sit still and allow this havoc to be wreaked further, Billy and Jimmy Lee (with the help of some new and familiar faces, and you – of course) take it upon themselves to free their city from its four major criminal gangs.
Dynamic Level Select
Once you’ve decided to take on the four major gangs, it’s up to you to decide in which order you’d like to take them on. Each gang takedown is a mission and the order itself in which you choose the missions will shape how you experience the levels. The first level will be the simplest in terms of the number of mission sectors, enemies, and overall difficulty. When a gang is defeated, all remaining gangs levels up, increasing the size of their hideout and recruiting stronger and tougher minions. This allows you to experience different sectors of the missions through multiple playthroughs.
Purchasable Upgrades
Throughout the course of the game, you will have the ability to earn in-game cash. There are a couple of different ways to earn cash, including performing special KOs, completing bonus objectives, maintaining combo and special KO chains, and more.
This cash can be spent on randomized purchasable upgrades for your individual tag team fighters. For example, you can strengthen your duo by upgrading to increase the damage of melee attacks for one fighter and then upgrade the speed in which SP is auto regenerated for the other. Conversely, you can save up your cash to purchase revives or convert your remaining cash into tokens at the end of a playthrough.
Token Shop
Tokens are in-game currency that allows you to buy additional unlockable items. They’re earned through exchanging your remaining cash at the end of a playthrough. Once you’ve raked in enough tokens to spend, head on over to the Token Shop where you can spend your hard-earned chips.
Purchase items such as unlockable playable characters (keep an eye out for some familiar faces), tips to help improve your gameplay from the developer themselves, art from the game (including the city map and character concept sketches), and music.
Game Modifier
Having trouble building up your token stash? It might be time to modify your gameplay experience then. When you start a new game, you’ll be given the option to tweak the game’s difficulty (including the ability to play in permadeath for an extra challenge or infinite continue). The harder you make a playthrough’s difficulty, the lower your cash to token exchange rate is, allowing you the possibility to earn more tokens at the end.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is coming this summer to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. For more information on Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, visit DoubleDragonGaiden.com or follow @modusgames on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Discord.
Greetings, Guardians. Today we welcome back Guardian Games! From May 2 to May 23, the annual celebration of our favorite classes and a time for friendly competition between our fellow Guardians will be available for all players. We’ve got new rewards, a returning game mode, class-based matchmaking, and another shot at getting the statue in the Tower. There’s no sleeping on the dream, so let’s get into it!
Heavy Medal
As always, medals are the name of the game. Complete your favorite activities to earn medallions that can be banked in the Tower. The class with the most medallions at the end of the day wins that day, but it all comes down to who had the most winning days.
Want to put in extra work for your class? We got you. Head on over to the OG of GGs, Eva Levante, to pick up a Contender Card and earn some shiny gold and platinum medals for the squad. The winning class will have bragging rights, as well as a commemorative statue on display in the Tower for the entire year. Go for the gusto. Go for the win.
Bullseye
It’s time now for precision, Guardian. Guardian Games 2023 marks the return of the Supremacy Crucible mode. Steady your sights and strike your target to collect their crest in this high paced returning Crucible mode.
What Are Ya Playin’?
In addition to all your favorite activities rewarding medallions, we’ve got some more ways to band together and earn medallions with your fellow Guardians.
First up, we’ve got the classic Guardian Games playlist featuring Battlegrounds and strikes that should be familiar to veteran players and a new way to play for newer Guardians. The playlist has three different ways to play: Recreational, Training, and Competitive.
Recreational is where you’ll get your bearings and get ready for the trials and tribulations of the other playlists. TheGuardian Games: Recreational playlist will be available all week and scoring will be enabled. Once you’ve had enough time to stretch in the Recreational playlist, you’ll want to head over to the Training playlist.
In the Training playlist, you’ll find one strike available each week. Scoring will be enabled, so throw on that build that makes everything explode—looking at you Void Titans—and pump those numbers up.
Not to be outdone, we have the Guardian Games: Competitive playlist. Now this isn’t a playlist to mess around with – this is for those that want a challenge and some extra gear. This playlist is only up during the weekend, scoring is available and here’s the kicker: certain scores mean more rewards. Make your mark in this playlist and take home the hardware back to the Tower to show other classes what they’re missing.
Party Favors
It wouldn’t be a party without gifts, right? We’ve got you covered with new rewards up for grabs:
Taraxippos – Can you be-weave it? A Strand Scout Rifle locked and loaded just for Guardian Games!
The Title – You know it, you love it, you might even have one, but if you don’t, you’ll want to pick up this exclusive Guardian Games Legendary Submachine Gun before the event ends.
New Cosmetics – Show up to the party in new cosmetics and ensure your fireteam will never ask, “Is that what you’re wearing?” again.
New Armor Ornaments – If you’re going to win, you have to win in style. We’ve got some new threads in the Eververse ready for your perusal.
And more!
High Role-r, Keep Going
You know your role and play it well. To turn up the heat on the competition a little bit, we’re introducing class-based matchmaking for the event. Whether you’re dicing deep into the Guardian Games playlist or want or showing rival classes how you roll in Supremacy, you can match up with other Guardians in your class.
You Stay Classy, Guardian
Guardian Games is a global celebration of what it means to be a Guardian. From Paris to Texas, Guardians from around the world are going to compete against one another for the ultimate prize: that beautiful statue in the Tower. Oh, and year-long bragging rights, of course.
While banking medallions and grabbing crests will be at the top of mind, remember to have fun. I’ll be out there trying to make my fellow Titans proud. I hope to see you there doing the same for your favorite class.
Season of Defiance
Fight through the Ascendant Plane and rise as one against the Shadow Legion in a new matchmade activity. Discover new rewards include new Exotic weapons and gear.
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.
AN IMMERSIVE STORY
You are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.
GUARDIAN CLASSES
Choose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
• Disciplined and proud, Titans are capable of both aggressive assaults and stalwart defenses. Set your hammer ablaze, crack the sky with lightning, and go toe-to-toe with any opponent. Your team will stand tall behind the strength of your shield.
• Warlocks weaponize the mysteries of the universe to sustain themselves and destroy their foes. Rain devastation on the battlefield and clear hordes of enemies in the blink of an eye. Those who stand with you will know the true power of the Light.
• Agile and daring, Hunters are quick on their feet and quicker on the draw. Fan the hammer of your golden gun, flow through enemies like the wind, or strike from the darkness. Find the enemy, take aim, and end the fight before it starts.
COOPERATIVE AND COMPETITIVE MULTIPLAYER
Play with or against your friends and other Guardians in various PvE and PvP game modes.
• Exciting co-op adventures teeming await with rare and powerful rewards. Dive into the story with missions, quests, and patrols. Put together a small fireteam and secure the chest at the end of a quick Strike. Or test your team’s skill with countless hours of raid progression – the ultimate challenge for any fireteam. You decide where your legend begins.
• Face off against other players in fast-paced free-for-all skirmishes, team arenas, and PvE/PvP hybrid competitions. Mark special competitions like Iron Banner on your calendar and collect limited-time rewards before they’re gone.
EXOTIC WEAPONS AND ARMOR
Thousands of weapons, millions of options. Discover new gear combinations and define your own personal style. The hunt for the perfect arsenal begins.
105 GB hard drive storage space required as of November 10, 2020. Subject to change. Requires broadband internet. After November 10, 2020 see www.destinythegame.com/size-requirements for current requirements prior to purchase.
Destiny 2 may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them.
Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time. Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Destiny Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla.
We know that gaming is best with friends, so today, we’re introducing the Xbox Game Pass Friend Referral offer, which lets Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members give up to five friends a free 14-day PC Game Pass trial. Invited friends must be new to Game Pass to redeem the free trial.
You can find Friend Referral invitations on the Game Pass Home screen, just click the “Give PC Game Pass” button to share.
The free trial comes with all the benefits of PC Game Pass, including new titles from Xbox Game Studios on day one, an EA Play membership, and you can check out the biggest PC and mobile games on PC from Riot Games. Link your Riot Games account and Xbox profile to unlock the greatest Agents, champions, little legends, XP boosts, and more in Valorant, League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra.
This also means that starting today, you can share PC Game Pass with more friends and jump right into Redfall on day one.
For new members checking out the service, the best place to get started is with the Xbox app on PC. With the Xbox app you can browse games, play PC titles, and connect and chat with friends on devices.
I grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, a bustling, metropolis dotted with Buddhist temples, street food stalls, and corporate skyscrapers; a city where diverse views are appreciated. Growing up, I had the privilege of attending the International School Bangkok, so speaking English was natural for me. I love to play video games with many of my Thai friends, although I remember the disappointment of many who were unable to play the same games with me because of a language barrier. I’ve lived in Pakistan, Japan, Australia, Thailand and currently in Seattle, where Xbox is headquartered. I’m grateful to have had exposure to various cultures, beliefs, and stories. My goal is to take what I’ve learned from each of these experiences to expand gaming and develop local talent with Xbox in Southeast Asia.
I am a Senior Xbox Product Marketing Manager. This career path is my ikigai, a Japanese concept of aligning your lifestyle with what you are good at, what the world needs, what you love to do, and what you can be paid to do. There are days where my work just doesn’t feel like work. My role involves reading gaming news as part of marketing research and understanding trends in the gaming industry, but I’m already listening to podcasts and engaging with news on those topics in my free time because it brings me joy.
I dream of expanding representation in gaming. Stories told from Western perspectives often involve the protagonist leaving home as part of the hero’s journey. Sometimes, it can be discouraged or considered negative if the protagonist, as a young adult, still lives at home. But imagine expanding stories from an Asian perspective: stories where the protagonist can develop as a fully actualized human being while remaining connected with their families, where the home is the save point and after each adventure the hero returns to their family. One such story is Children of Morta, an action co-op rogue-lite RPG where you play as various members of a family who are protecting Mount Morta and defending it from corruption. You venture forth as one family member, return home to save, and then play as another family member. Victory hinges upon the entire family unit.
I’m grateful things are starting to change. Titles like Sea of Thieves have added Thai as a language option and Minecraft Legends is launching with full audio support for 16 languages including Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. I’m also grateful that character creation options have expanded in recent years. As a child, I had my real self — a person of Thai and Indian descent — and then I had my “video game” self, always modeled after the prevalent white action heroes at the time. Now, I’m able to choose characters whose facial features and skin tones are closer to my own.
As I continue my journey here at Xbox, I hope to have more opportunities to provide greater representation for the culture, media, music, and gaming of Southeast Asia.
Here are a few ways that Team Xbox will be supporting and celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander communities this year:
Give
Gaming and Impact with Microsoft Rewards
Microsoft Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting Asian and Pacific Islander communities with Xbox. The organizations below will be featured on console throughout May:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC– Advancing Justice – AAJC works through policy advocacy, community education, and litigation to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.
AAPI Equity Alliance – AAPI Equity Alliance (AAPI Equity) is dedicated to improving the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through civic engagement, capacity building, and policy advocacy.
Stop AAPI Hate – Stop AAPI Hate advances equity, justice, and power by dismantling systemic racism and building a multiracial movement to end anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate.
Xbox gamers can earn Microsoft Rewards points in various ways, such as playing or purchasing games after downloading the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox. Earn points and redeem them for real rewards. Join us today and donate through Xbox.
Discover
Artist Isip Xin Shares Her Xbox Logo Redesign Inspiration
In celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Month, Xbox commissioned artist Isip Xin to design the artwork for this year’s campaign. Below, Isip shares the inspiration behind the design:
“The Asian and Pacific Islander experience is one full of mutual inspiration. Together, we create spaces that show just how massive, diverse, and deeply interconnected our community is. For this moment, I used water forms to show the flow of inspiration between us. Organic nerve and root-like imagery give the image a unified, but not statically structured body. The piece’s balanced energy is full of motion. Varied experiences weave, burst, and bloom together. As an artist and a gamer, I am centered around creating, cultivating, and existing in spaces (virtually, physically, and mentally) that make us feel like we belong. Games are an amazing way to discover narratives you relate to. You can find the environment to thrive, and you can be whatever you want. Living in these places and connecting to who lives there with you makes our shared identity unique, and beautiful. It was fun to explore the coexistence and self-discovery that comes with being an API gamer and share it in this piece.” – Isip Xin, Artist
Microsoft Flight Simulator is thrilled to add to the beauty of the simulator with fascinating new landscapes. Known as both a continent and a geographic region, and straddling the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Hemispheres, Oceania is comprised of remote coral islands, long stretches of white sand beaches, towering volcanoes, vast interior sweeps of uninhabited rainforest, and populated cities boasting modern architectural wonders. Antarctica is a dream destination for aviators with adventure, intrigue, and boundless vistas of pristine coastal and inland glaciated terrain.
Microsoft Flight Simulator’s World Update XIII includes 13 countries (Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, The Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu) plus Antarctica and Hawai’i. There are 2 smaller states (The Cook Islands and Niue) and 28 non-sovereign territories (including Guam, Easter Island, The Galápagos Islands) also covered in this update, many with improved resolution that will allow pilots to experience stunning new vistas throughout these regions. The release is based on the latest aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and digital elevation modelling data.
Discover Games Curated by Asian and Pacific Islander Communities at Microsoft
Gaming would not be what it is today without the contributions, perspectives, and influence from Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Here at Xbox, we want to honor this richly diverse set of communities by providing engaging gaming experiences that represent a myriad of histories and heritage.
During May and beyond, we are highlighting a variety of game collections that reflect people with a diverse set of backgrounds and lived experiences from East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander cultures. These collections showcase Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander creators, lead characters, and games inspired by Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. Available on the Microsoft Stores on Xbox and Windows, check out the collections of East, South, and Southeast Asian Community Gamesand Pacific Islander and Indigenous Community Games. These collections will exist year-round as part of our ongoing work to create more inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content that resonates with communities.
Featured titles within the collections available with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and on the Game Pass mobile app include:
Ghostwire: Tokyo (Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – From Japanese developer Tango Gameworks, Ghostwire: Tokyo shows players a unique vision of Tokyo inspired by the duality of the real-life city, contrasting deep-rooted historical sites and traditional architecture with modernized buildings and residential areas. Legends come to life as the protagonist, Akito, takes on vengeful spirits and deadly supernatural forces from Japanese mythology and lore in a quest to save his sister and his city. Not only is this game heavily influenced by Japanese society and beliefs, but Japanese audio is the default setting for an immersive experience.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, Rated M) – Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a dark fantasy version of the Later Han Dynasty where demons plague China’s Three Kingdoms. In this action RPG from Team Ninja, players fight off deadly mythical creatures using a combat system based on Chinese martial arts swordplay and battle styles inspired by the five elements of Chinese Medicine. Aesthetically the game is heavily influenced by Chinese history and legends as well, and the music is made with traditional Chinese instruments.
Coral Island (Game Preview) (Available with PC Game Pass) – Coral Island (Game Preview) is a family-friendly farming simulator inspired by Southeast Asia, including native flora and fauna as well as cultural elements such as ruins and Balinese Hindu temples. The Indonesian development team at Stairway Games wanted to include topics of importance to them, so there are themes of conservation in the way players must maintain the island’s ecosystem, adding a unique take on the genre. Players also have the chance to interact with over 50 characters from all walks of life and a variety of inclusive romance options.
The Legend of Tianding (Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – Based on the legendary Taiwanese folk hero, Liāu Thiam-Ting, play as the vigilante Liao Tianding in this narrative adventure set in real-life historical events. Rob the rich, feed the poor, and fight for justice in the streets of early 20th century Taipei. All done in the style of Traditional Chinese Manga and voiced in Taiwanese Hokkien, this game captures the cultural look and feel of the time in a beautiful way.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly (Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – This charming sequel to Coffee Talk is developed by the independent game studio, Toge Productions, in Indonesia. Players enter a calming atmosphere of a coffee shop, becoming a barista who helps a variety of patrons with their problems while delivering customized beverages that will warm their hearts. Pushing even more boundaries of conversation, this game applies a fantasy spin to modern day life while reflecting on topics of diversity and how things like discrimination and stereotypes impact relationships.
New Asian and Pacific Islander Gamerpics, Profile Theme, Wallpaper, and Avatar Items
In partnership with Asian and Pacific Islander communities at Xbox, we’re introducing a new gamerpic, profile theme, and avatar items! The gamerpic and profile theme will be available on console, the Xbox PC app, and the Xbox mobile app. Get your avatar items here.Content is subject to availability by country.
Tune In
Xbox Plays Celebrates Asian and Pacific Islander Communities
The Xbox Plays team will once again be spotlighting creators from the AAPI community, inviting streamers to take over the channel at Twitch.tv/Xbox – Tune in every Monday to support your favorite streamers or make some new friends as they play!
May 1
SnaxBreak playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (11am PT)
juwia playing Valorant (3pm PT)
May 8
ichibadass playing Redfall (11am PT)
Davion505 playing Smite (3pm PT)
May 15
Meeeowstv playing Dead by Daylight (11am PT)
ParallaxStella playing Redfall (3pm PT)
May 22
StarGirl Racing playing Forza Horizon 5 (11am PT)
DarkEyebrows playing Minecraft (3pm PT)
Microsoft Inclusion is Innovation
Only when we commit to expanding our awareness, understanding, and recognition of each other, can we build a brighter future together. Hear stories from Microsoft employees on how #InclusionIsInnovation by visiting Inclusion is Innovation.
Summer is just around the corner, and Xbox is turning up the heat by teaming up with one of the most iconic nail brands, OPI, to bring a fresh polish to the Xbox controller.
Turn up the heat with the Sunkissed Vibes Special Edition controller and make every day a beach day. Get things started by painting your thumbnails with OPI’s Sanding in Stilettos as a picture-perfect complement to the shimmery, pearlescent melon top case. Or level up your look and match the bold, glossy D-pad with a splash of OPI’s Flex on the Beach. More daring gamers can drop all inhibitions and embrace the controller’s pastel back case, bumpers, and thumbsticks by channeling OPI’s Surf Naked blue. And as a finishing touch, revel in the summertime brightness of the Xbox button and triggers inspired by the all work, all play attitude of OPI’s Summer Monday-Fridays.
This Special Edition controller seamlessly integrates with your current Xbox setup and supports play on console, PC, iOS, and Android. It’s a stylish companion for wherever your summer vibes take you, boasting up to 40 hours of battery life and a 3.5mm stereo headset jack. And once you’ve perfectly coordinated your color palette, you can further personalize the controller through customized button mapping with the Xbox Accessories app.
As the #1 nail salon brand worldwide, OPI (a division of WELLA Company) offers unlimited shades and the highest quality products, artistry, and techniques. From the award-winning colors to innovative effects, treatments, and devices, OPI gives you the inspiration so you can put the “I” in OPI. For more information, visit opi.com and follow OPI on Instagram and TikTok @opi.
