https://totalgamingnetwork.com/ en Sun, 09 Aug 2026 06:10:20 GMT vBulletin 60 https://totalgamingnetwork.com/attachments/main_page/TGNSquare.png https://totalgamingnetwork.com/ https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546010-gameplay-first-look-mafia-the-old-countrys-man-of-honor-expansion Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:25:48 GMT Hi everyone, I’m Josh Zammit, design director at Hangar 13 working on the Man of Honor expansion* for Mafia: The Old Country...

Hi everyone, I’m Josh Zammit, design director at Hangar 13 working on the Man of Honor expansion* for Mafia: The Old Country. We’re super excited to share the first look gameplay above, and I’d like to reveal a bit more about the Free Ride content included in the DLC.




Man of Honor features two new story chapters set in the earlier days of Enzo Favara’s service to the Torrisi crime family, letting you team up with respected mafioso Ennio Salieri to settle old scores. In addition to the two new story chapters, owning the Man of Honor expansion grants you access to a new set of exclusive jobs and extreme challenges we’re adding to Free Ride mode, along with new collectibles and locations added to the Valle Dorata map.









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If you haven’t played Mafia: The Old Country yet, Free Ride mode lets you explore the Sicilian countryside at your own pace, or take on a collection of repeatable Challenges separate from the critical path that include combat encounters, stealth missions, and different kinds of races. In the new Man of Honor Free Ride content, you’ll take on new assignments from Salieri himself, who has set up shop in a Porto Almaro warehouse where he spends his days devising new schemes and smuggling stolen goods.




Longtime Mafia fans know Salieri well, given his central role as the Don of his own crime family in the city of Lost Heaven, where the original Mafia and Mafia: Definitive Edition take place. Making Salieri the focal point of Man of Honor lets us showcase who he was before his emigration to America and subsequent rise to power, deepening his backstory in a really engaging way. Though still feared and respected in Sicily, this younger Salieri is much scrappier and has to hustle to get his cut of the Family’s various rackets.








With Salieri as your new point of contact for Man of Honor’s Free Ride content, you’ll drop by his hideout to pick up two types of contracts: Challenges and Jobs. Salieri’s Challenges follow a similar format to the ones you can currently take on in Free Ride mode, but with amped-up difficulty that will test the mettle of even the most seasoned soldato. Salieri’s Jobs introduce brand-new mission types, tasking you with tracking down your objective and dealing with anyone who tries to get in your way. Seeking hidden caches of valuable loot, towing high-value vehicles back to Salieri, delivering stolen trucks full of precious-but-fragile goods—whichever job you take, success will line your pockets with extra Dinari.




You can spend those ill-gotten gains to add new outfits, Charms, weapons, vehicles, and horses to your collection, all exclusive to this expansion. As you can see in the gameplay footage, the unique weapons and Charms you can earn in Man of Honor gave us space to play around with perks that push just beyond the bounds of period-accurate realism.




For example, take the Rimbalzu throwing knife, which bounces to a second target so you can quickly and silently take down multiple enemies from the shadows. It would take near-impossible skill to throw a ricochet between targets every time, but the effect is incredibly fun and empowering, especially for players who prefer the stealthy approach. We wanted to design fresh and exciting weapons for a range of playstyles, and the added stopping power of these additions to Enzo’s arsenal can help give you an edge during Salieri’s most difficult assignments.








Along with all the new items and missions on offer, there are plenty of optional activities you can seek out as you explore the Valle Dorata. Keep your eyes peeled for collectible Wanted Posters which, in keeping with a fun series tradition, use members of our development team (myself included) in period-accurate attire for their mugshots. You can also soar through the air in your turn-of-the-century automobiles via added Stunt Jumps, or destroy delivery trucks loaded with sulfur to hit back at the people who betrayed Salieri.




The Man of Honor expansion for Mafia: The Old Country arrives next week on August 14. We can’t wait to see how you tackle the new content in Free Ride mode, and what the fans think of a younger Ennio Salieri in the added narrative content. Until then, mafiosi.




*Base game required. Some content requires unlocking via gameplay.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546010-gameplay-first-look-mafia-the-old-countrys-man-of-honor-expansion https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546009-crimson-moon-battles-demonic-corruption-on-september-1 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:25:48 GMT Earlier this year, we introduced Crimson Moon (https://store.playstation.com/concept/10013260), our gothic high renaissance action RPG. You play as a...

Earlier this year, we introduced Crimson Moon, our gothic high renaissance action RPG. You play as a Nephilim, a powerful half-human, half-angel warrior sworn to reclaim the fallen city of Gildenarch from the demonic corruption consuming it. 




Today, we’re excited to announce that Crimson Moon is only weeks away, launching on PlayStation 5 on September 1.









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Over the past few months, we’ve shared more of Crimson Moon’s brutal melee combat, replayable hunts and challenging boss encounters. Today, we’d like to focus on one of our favorite ways to experience the game: two-player online co-op.




Every hunt is better together



While Crimson Moon is fully playable solo, every hunt can also be tackled in two-player online co-op.




Co-op isn’t simply about having another player dealing damage. Every hunt dynamically scales between solo play and two-player co-op, ensuring encounters remain challenging however you choose to play.




You’ll also share a communal life pool throughout each hunt. If your partner falls in battle, you’ll have the opportunity to revive them and keep the hunt alive – but each death brings your team one step closer to failure.




Those are the moments we love most. A perfectly timed rescue as a boss enters its final phase, a desperate last-second victory… or watching an overconfident partner meet their demise when everything was going so well.




Whether you’re coordinating Weapon Arts, experimenting with different builds, or standing shoulder-to-shoulder against towering bosses, co-op adds a whole new layer of teamwork to every hunt.








Built for PlayStation 5



We’re committed to making Crimson Moon feel right at home on PlayStation 5.




Players on PlayStation 5 Pro can take advantage of native support for upgraded PSSR, helping deliver a sharper image as you explore the blood-soaked streets of Gildenarch and battle the horrors lurking within.




One adventure, two editions



From the beginning, our goal has been to create an action RPG packed with replayability, satisfying progression, and memorable co-op, while offering exceptional value to players.




Crimson Moon launches for $19.99, while Crimson Moon: Deluxe Edition will be available for $29.99.




The Deluxe Edition includes the Ceremonial Armor Set, the Axe of the Gods – a guitar-shaped axe worthy of any legendary Nephilim – and access to our upcoming Post-Launch Content Expansion.




If you decide you’d like to upgrade later, the Crimson Moon: Deluxe Edition Upgrade will also be available for $10, giving Standard Edition players access to all Deluxe content whenever they’re ready. 




As a thank you to the PlayStation community, every PlayStation player – whether they choose the Standard or Deluxe Edition – will receive the exclusive Sonai Magistrate Armor Set at launch.








We’ll see you in Gildenarch



From your first steps inside Sanctus Clypeus to your final stand against the legendary Dead Gods, every hunt is an opportunity to discover powerful new gear, experiment with different builds, and push deeper into Gildenarch’s increasingly dangerous Wards. Gather your allies, for the hunt begins on September 1.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546009-crimson-moon-battles-demonic-corruption-on-september-1 https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546008-keep-your-cemetery-running-and-the-zombies-out-in-zombie-graveyard-simulator Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:25:48 GMT Summary Out now on Xbox Series X|S. Manage and expand your cemetery by day, defend against waves of zombies by night. Gameplay tips and... Summary

• Out now on Xbox Series X|S.
• Manage and expand your cemetery by day, defend against waves of zombies by night.
• Gameplay tips and details on tool, weapon and facility upgrades.

If you’re just starting your journey in Zombie Graveyard Simulator, here’s our first piece of advice: don’t let the peaceful daytime fool you. A well-organized cemetery is your best defense when night falls and trust us, you’ll appreciate every upgrade once the zombies start pouring in.




We’re excited that you can jump into Zombie Graveyard Simulator today on Xbox Series X|S, and even more excited that you’re getting much more than the original launch experience. Since the game’s debut on PC, we’ve continued expanding it with major content updates inspired by community feedback, and all of those improvements are included from day one on Xbox.








One of my favorite additions is the Stone Quarry & Workshop. Thanks to this update, you can mine different types of stone, craft your own gravestones, and develop an entirely new production chain that makes your cemetery feel even more like a living business. The more self-sufficient your operation becomes, the easier it is to keep growing.




The world also became much bigger thanks to Expeditions. Rather than spending every day inside the cemetery gates, you’ll answer distress calls, venture into new locations, complete unique objectives, and return with valuable rewards that help expand your business back home. It completely changes the rhythm of the game and offers a welcome break from your daily routine.








We’ve also continued adding systems that make your cemetery feel more alive. The Chapel Expansion introduces new buildings, employees, and activities that improve both efficiency and atmosphere, while dynamic weather effects make every day look a little different. Updates like High Stakes & Hot Ashes introduced new cremation mechanics, custom urns, delivery systems, and additional progression paths, giving you even more ways to grow your cemetery exactly the way you want.








If you’re looking for a few beginner tips, we’d recommend focusing on your daytime economy before investing heavily in combat. A profitable cemetery means more money for stronger weapons and better defenses. Don’t overlook upgrades that improve your daily workflow, either – saving just a few minutes every in-game day adds up over time. And when you do head into battle each night, remember that good barricade placement can often be just as valuable as having a bigger gun.




Perhaps one of the game’s biggest additions, Expeditions, came directly from players asking to explore beyond the cemetery walls. That conversation with the community has shaped nearly every major update we’ve released, from the Stone Quarry & Workshop to new progression systems and quality-of-life improvements.








Whether you’re here for the relaxing management gameplay, the satisfaction of building a thriving cemetery, or the thrill of surviving another night against the undead, there’s never been a better time to jump in. Zombie Graveyard Simulator is available now on Xbox Series X|S, and we can’t wait to see how you build and defend your very own cemetery.




















Zombie Graveyard Simulator


PlayWay S.A.



☆☆☆☆☆
12



★★★★★






$14.99

$13.49




Get it now









In a world where the dead turn into zombies, your job is to manage your very own Graveyard! Perform burials and cremations, fulfill visitor requests, manage facilities, and keep your staff and defenses in top shape. But when night falls, everything changes. The dead may rest, but the zombies don’t. They are coming for your precious work!

Visitor Satisfaction is Key
After processing the bodies, visitors will return to check on their loved ones. Your duty is to keep graves intact while providing fresh flowers and maintaining a welcoming environment. Every visit rewards you with valuable bonuses to help your business thrive.

Visitors can also stop by the Chapel to rest, attend sermons, and browse the Souvenir Shop for small keepsakes like candles and incenses. A clean, decorated, and well managed graveyard encourages greater generosity while donating!

Build your Defenses
Each night, waves of zombies will come with their numbers growing and special zombie types emerging, hungry for freshly buried bodies and for you. Some nights may be even more dangerous with special events like the Blood Moon. From basic defenses like barbed wires and fences to advanced machines like flamethrower turrets, keep your defenses upgraded, repaired, and fully stocked with ammo to withstand the night. Your loyal pet companion can also assist you during nighttime defenses.

Trust your Arsenal
With a wide arsenal of 13+ weapons, including pistols, rifles, shotguns, and your trusty shovel, you are the ultimate force against the Zombies. As you level up, unlock and purchase new weapons to become even stronger. Just make sure to stock up on enough ammo!

Even a Graveyard Can Be Cozy Sometimes!
Use your Farming Area to grow different flowers for profit and vegetables to simply eat and restore your energy and health. With Upgrades, you can even unlock a Grinder to turn zombie parts into Fertilizer. Decorate your Graveyard with benches, lights, paths, custom urns, and other ornaments to make it truly your own.

Expand and Upgrade Your Facilities
Your graveyard isn’t just a resting place, it's a business, and every upgrade matters. Expand your burial areas, manage custom urns at the urn station, upgrade your crematorium, and operate new facilities like the Stone Quarry & Workshop to craft your own gravestones. Improve your water supply, manage resource production, and unlock advanced stations like the Zombie Research Lab to process captured zombies into valuable products.

Hire a team of employees to help with day-to-day tasks: the Florist keeps flowers running, the Gravekeeper maintains burials and cremations, the Gardener keeps your farm in check, the Technician ensures all machines run smoothly, and Chapel staff like the Priest, Pianist, and Custodian help run sermons and services.

Every improvement helps you stay one step ahead of both business demands and the undead threat. Venture beyond the graveyard by unlocking Expedition Mode through the Expedition Station, where radio signals lead you to dangerous missions outside your walls.











The post Keep Your Cemetery Running (and the Zombies Out) in Zombie Graveyard Simulator appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546008-keep-your-cemetery-running-and-the-zombies-out-in-zombie-graveyard-simulator https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546007-beast-of-reincarnation-early-game-tips-to-help-you-manage-the-miasma Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:25:48 GMT Beast of Reincarnation doesn’t hesitate to throw you into its wide, weird world. Game Freak’s unexpected action-RPG takes cues from greats from... Beast of Reincarnation doesn’t hesitate to throw you into its wide, weird world. Game Freak’s unexpected action-RPG takes cues from greats from across the genres – you can feel the influence of everything from Dark Souls to Bayonetta – and adds its own fresh ideas to the mix. All of which means there’s a lot to get your head around as the game begins.




After an action-packed intro sequence, you’re plonked back 5 months into heroine Emma’s past and sent straight into a huge open area – while there are of course tutorials to guide you on the basics, there are mechanics and nuances you’ll need to find for yourself… or from us. Here are some of the little things we’ve learned to ease you through the game’s early stages.




Explorer’s Guide



From the very beginning of the game, Emma is accompanied by Koo, a gigantic white dog with an array of abilities. One of his least showy features is also one of his most useful – as you travel around the wide open areas, Koo will sense nearby points of interest (camps where you can rest, hidden treasures, food to top up your hunger gauge, and more) and mark them on your map. It’s useful both as a way to head off the beaten path, or to bank for later.








Don’t Let Them Hear You Coming



As you travel around these areas, you’ll find a lot of enemies, including corrupted, robotic Golems and Blight-infested wildlife (and, in a fun twist, these two enemy types will get in their own scraps, even if you’re not there). In classic Soulslike style, taking even a single hit can be brutal but there are ways to thin the ranks without getting in a direct confrontation. In those early, underpowered levels, stealth is your friend – we found that walking at full speed tends to attract attention, but you can also hold B to enter a crouched stealth position. Even tilting the stick more gently makes Emma walk slowly, allowing her to get in closer for a clean kill.




Hair Style



One of the most unusual mechanics in the game is Emma’s vine-like hair, which can be used to help you get around in some less-expected ways. It gives her a lot of vertical and horizontal range, and even the opening areas are already dense with secrets to find tucked away high and low. You can either hold A to use it as a “glide” or sorts, or hold RT to extend it as a temporary platform, letting you travel along its length and reach less accessible locations. Pay attention to the environment and get creative with your hair. If it looks like you might be able to get on top of something tall, you likely can… and there’s probably a reward.








Hair Cuts



In addition to exploration, Emma’s hair has combat utility as well. Aside from parries and dodges, Emma’s hair offers her another way to avoid those blow. In a fight, using it to ascend above your foes is a quick get-out, with many basic enemies unable to reach you. You can even fire off a few shots from your ranged weapon as you do so, taking advantage of the built-in slow-motion you get while in the air.




But what if you avoided a fight altogether? We found a lot of success by using a hair platform to create bridges over unsuspecting enemies, letting Emma take them out instantly with death from above attacks. Even tougher enemies that won’t go down instantly can lose a huge percentage of their health like this, saving you from extra danger.




The Arts of War



When you do get into a full-on fight, make sure you’re using Emma’s full toolset. Your basic attack combos are tied to the right bumper, but can be augmented with Blade Arts, a set of skills Emma unlocks. Blade Arts are activated by X, and can either act as their own separate moves, or like combo-finishers with some fairly wild effects (giant flowers exploding underfoot, anyone?). Make sure to check your menus to study these and assign the most useful extra attacks to make you lethally efficient.








Parry Practice



Where many games include parrying as an optional, high-risk/high-reward combat mechanic, parrying is far more essential to the combat loop in Beast of Reincarnation. Koo has his own set of skills, Bloom Arts, which offer a whole new way to fight – bringing up the menu to use one of them slows the game down to a crawl, offering a more tactical approach. The twist? You have to parry to build up the Florescence Points (FP) needed to use these skills.




In general, you want to press LB when you first see the attacking limb start to swing towards you. The opening area is full of forgiving robots and stags that will respawn whenever you rest at camp, so take some time and practice just observing and parrying. As an added bonus, parrying also makes your fights a lot quicker – once you can start to hit them consistently and build up enemy stagger bar for instant executions.




Working Like a Dog



If you’d rather Koo just did his own thing, that’s an option too. Holding LT and pressing RS while targeting an enemy from outside of combat will send Koo ahead to attack first, with full use of his unlocked Bloom Arts. Rather than actively managing Koo at all times, this can be a great way to reduce cognitive load and let your good boy do his thing on his own. Alternatively, you could focus on a separate enemy while Koo engages someone else, freeing you from the fear of an unexpected strike from offscreen.

---

Beast of Reincarnation arrives on August 4 for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, cloud, and is XBOX Play Anywhere. Play it day one with Game Pass Ultimate.













Beast of Reincarnation Digital Deluxe Edition


Fictions



☆☆☆☆☆
206



★★★★★





$69.99




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Beast of Reincarnation Digital Deluxe Edition

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes Black and Brown Shiba Skins for Koo, “Oni’s Hat” for Emma, Emma’s sword “Big Dipper”, 100,000 Amber (in-game currency), plus a number of vegetable seedlings!























Beast of Reincarnation Pre-Order Bundle


Fictions



☆☆☆☆☆
215



★★★★★






Get it now






Beast of Reincarnation Pre-Order Bonus

Pre-order Beast of Reincarnation and receive a Brown Shiba Skin for Koo plus 30,000 Amber (in-game currency)!











The post Beast of Reincarnation: Early-Game Tips to Help You Manage the Miasma appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546007-beast-of-reincarnation-early-game-tips-to-help-you-manage-the-miasma https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546006-coming-to-xbox-game-pass-gears-of-war-e-day-open-beta-cricket-26-date-everything-and-more Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:25:48 GMT Grab your COG tags, we’re jumping into the Early Access Open Beta for Gears of War: E-Day! You can also grab your Dateviators to Date Everything!,... Grab your COG tags, we’re jumping into the Early Access Open Beta for Gears of War: E-Day! You can also grab your Dateviators to Date Everything!, and your bat to rule the field in Cricket 26. Lots of accessories in this next round of games coming soon to XBOX Game Pass!




Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta – Early Access Starting August 6








Get ready to crush grubs in the Gears of War: E-Day Early Access Open Beta beginning August 6 as a benefit of your Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription. Experience the all-new Horde Siege PvE, an evolved take on Gears’ iconic co-op wave survival mode built for larger maps, more players, and bigger battles. Learn more about Gears of War: E-Day here.




Available Today



Heretic + Hexen (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – August 4
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass




Step into the definitive re-release of two dark spell-casting shooters that shaped the genre. This enhanced restoration makes Heretic + Hexen available to new audiences and long-time fans with expanded accessibility across more platforms and languages than ever before.




Beast of Reincarnation (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 4
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass




Available on day one with XBOX Game Pass! Game Freak’s brand-new title: Beast of Reincarnation is an action RPG with a fusion of real-time and turn-based combat. Experience the innovative “one-person, one-dog action RPG” in the beautiful yet harsh world of Beast of Reincarnation. What awaits at the end of Emma and Koo’s journey?




Coming Soon



Monsters are Coming! (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 6
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass




Now available on XBOX Series X|S and Cloud Gaming! In this tower-survivor rogue-lite, you protect an ever-moving city from unrelenting hordes. Gather resources, fortify defenses, and boost potential through enhanced player progression. Will you reach the Ark?




PowerWash Simulator 2 (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – August 6
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass




PowerWash Simulator is back, bubbling with fresh locations, soap-erior equipment and splashy features. Effortlessly transform soiled surroundings into clean, serene scenes, solo or with pals. Satisfaction is a spray away!




Bounty Star (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – August 11
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass




Bounty Star is an over-the-shoulder 3D action game that marries mech combat and customization with farming and base building. The player takes on the role of a broken but powerful ex-soldier named Clem, a war veteran, talented fighter and expert mech pilot.




Date Everything! (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 11
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass








Date Everything! is a sandbox dating simulator set in the comfort of your own home, featuring 100 fully voice acted datable characters! Let the romance flow between your bed, smoke alarm and… overwhelming sense of existential dread? Are you ready to Date Everything?




Grounded 2 (Game Preview) (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 11
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass




Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. In this open-world, single-player or co-op survival adventure, craft weapons and armor, build your base, and traverse the playground on your buggy. Now, take the plunge into Grounded 2‘s largest update yet: Into The Abyss.




Ball x Pit (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 12
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass




Ball x Pit is a brick-breaking, ball-fusing, base-building survival roguelite. Batter hordes of enemies with ricocheting balls and gather the riches of the pit to expand your homestead, generate resources and recruit unique heroes.




Cricket 26 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 13
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass








The ultimate showdown begins in Cricket 26. Make your way to the top in our all-new management career. Play the biggest Cricket Rivalry in an expanded Ashes mode. Build your perfect roster in Pro Team and unleash your creativity on the pitch with enhanced gameplay mechanics.




Mio: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 13
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass




A hand-crafted metroidvania set within a vast, decaying world reclaimed by nature and robots. Play as Mio, a nimble android exploring labyrinthine environments, battling rogue machines, and uncovering lost memories in a richly atmospheric adventure filled with secrets and danger.




Sandustry (Game Preview) (PC) – August 13
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass




Available on day one with XBOX Game Pass! Explore and mine fully destructible worlds. Automate increasingly complex production chains. Delve deep to uncover an ancient civilization’s powerful secrets and learn to love the sand in this factory game where every pixel is a valuable resource.




Egging On (Cloud XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 18
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass




This game is hard-boiled. Face the challenge of being a real, fragile egg. Escape the henhouse and jump, roll and climb your way through a farm shop, factory, and other perilous environments. With some determination, you might just reach your freedom.




In Case You Missed It



Tears of Metal (Game Preview) (PC) – July 22
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass




Fight solo or up to four-player co-op to reclaim your island alongside your Scottish battalion. On each campaign, gain new powerful upgrades, rally your forces, and stop the invader as they carve into the Mother Stone to harvest its power.




Classic Original XBOX Games, Now Available on PC and Handheld – July 22
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, PC Game Pass




Play more of the games you love wherever you play with XBOX Backward Compatibility on PC. Select original XBOX classics — including BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy — are now available on PC and supported handheld devices with enhanced features and are included with all Game Pass plans. Learn more about XBOX Backward Compatibility on PC here.




Game Updates



EA Sports Madden NFL 27: EA Play Early Access Trial (Console and PC) – Coming August 6




Run the league one decision at a time for up to 10 hours with EA Play. Members get an EA Play Welcome Pack and save 10% on Madden Points and more. Plus, score a monthly Ultimate Team Pack. Play the trial on Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass with EA Play, available on console, PC, and cloud.




In-Game Benefits



Call of Duty: Warzone – Game Pass Pack 7 (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – Available now
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, PC Game Pass




Game Pass subscribers get a free in-game bundle for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty: Warzone. This pack includes 2x Operator Skins, 4x Weapon Blueprints, Finishing Move, Weapon Charm, Emote, Equipment Skin, Calling Card, Emblem, 2x Weapon Stickers, 2WXP Token (1 hour).




Leaving August 15



The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Don’t want the fun to end? Save on these games now before they leave Game Pass!

• Menace (Game Preview) (PC)
• Atlas Fallen (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Aliens: Firesteam Elite (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Firewatch (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Now that we’ve given you all a pile of games to get started on, let us know what you’re going to play first. We’re listening over on social media for XBOX and XBOX Game Pass! Then we’ll meet back here soon for what you can expect next. Cheers!




_{Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.}

The post Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta, Cricket 26, Date Everything!, and More appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546006-coming-to-xbox-game-pass-gears-of-war-e-day-open-beta-cricket-26-date-everything-and-more https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546005-players-choice-vote-for-july-2026s-best-new-game Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:00:10 GMT Last month was filled with adventures big and small, sports action, and spiritual battles! Some big new releases included Assassin’s Creed Black Flag...

Last month was filled with adventures big and small, sports action, and spiritual battles! Some big new releases included Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, Denshattack, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game, and more. Which game was your favorite?

---

How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog.




What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.




How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.





View Poll




More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546005-players-choice-vote-for-july-2026s-best-new-game https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546004-celebrating-25-years-of-play-new-community-designs-xbox-updates-fanfest-tour-dates-and-more Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:02:26 GMT 25 years ago, XBOX set out to bring players together through the games and worlds they love, and today, that mission is still what drives everything... 25 years ago, XBOX set out to bring players together through the games and worlds they love, and today, that mission is still what drives everything we do.




Today, we’re sharing a few more ways we’re celebrating 25 years of play including, the latest XBOX updates, community-created designs for gamerpics, backgrounds, and themes, curated Game Pass collections, the full FanFest Tour schedule and sweepstakes details, and more.




Community-Created XBOX Designs













From left: Wallpaper by Klobrille and Gamer Profile by Ben Kenobi. 




Over the years, many of you have shared your XBOX-inspired designs with us. We continue to be humbled by the response and impressed by your creativity and talent. To help mark 25 years of XBOX, we’re partnering with a pair of creators from the XBOX community, Klobrille and Ben Kenobi, to publish a collection of gamerpics, backgrounds, and a dynamic theme for XBOX consoles: by the community, for the community, and available today.




These designs reflect what XBOX has always been about, the connection between players, creators, and the games that bring us together. To learn more about what inspired the designs, follow Klobrille and Ben Kenobi.  




Here’s how to make these designs your own:

• Console — Gamerpic & Theme: Settings › Profile › Customize profile, then choose your favorite. 

• Console — Dynamic background: Settings › General › Personalization › My background › Dynamic background. 

• XBOX app on PC — Gamerpic: Open View Profile and select the pencil icon over your current Gamerpic. 

• XBOX app on PC — Theme: Open View Profile › Customize profile and choose your Theme. 

If one of these designs sparks something for you, we’d love to see it. Share your own creations and tag @XBOX using #XBOX25.




XBOX 25^th Anniversary Badge








Beginning today, players who sign in to their XBOX account on console, PC, or the XBOX mobile app will receive the XBOX 25th Anniversary profile badge, ahead of XBOX’s 25th anniversary on November 15.




The badge will be available through the end of 2026, and can be displayed on your profile.




XBOX Game Pass Collections







To mark 25 years of unforgettable games, we’re bringing a specially curated celebration of XBOX history to XBOX Game Pass. These curated Game Pass collections will bring together memorable games from legendary franchises that defined each generation of XBOX, playable on console and/or PC.




Relive, or experience for the first time, the classics from the original XBOX, and keep the fun going as you journey through other favorites across XBOX 360, XBOX One, and XBOX Series X|S. Enjoy beloved titles like Fable Anniversary, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Fallout 4, Psychonauts 2, and much more in this special tribute to the games that shape XBOX’s 25 year legacy.




XBOX FanFest Tour Dates







The XBOX FanFest Tour is a global, multi-city run of fan-first events built around connection, local community, and the games we love. We kicked things off in Los Angeles at the XBOX Games Showcase, told you we were headed to gamescom next, and today we’re sharing the rest of the stops.




Here’s where the tour is headed:

• Cologne, Germany — August 26, at gamescom
• Tokyo, Japan — September 17, during Tokyo Game Show
• London, U.K. — September 26
• Mexico City, Mexico — October 17
• Sydney, Australia — October 17
• Toronto, Canada — November 6
• Seattle, U.S. — More info coming soon!

Ready to join the XBOX FanFest Tour?



Tickets for every stop will be awarded through city-specific sweepstakes, giving fans around the world a chance to be part of the experience.




Visit the XBOX.com FanFest page to enter, explore upcoming stops, and stay up to date on all things FanFest. Wherever you join us, FanFest is about one thing: bringing players together to celebrate the joy of play.




Explore the 25th Anniversary Hub







We will continue to have more ways for fans to celebrate, connect, and play together. Visit the XBOX.com 25th Anniversary hub to stay up-to-date on the latest anniversary updates, exclusive experiences, products, news, and more as we celebrate 25 years of play.

The post Celebrating 25 Years of Play: New Community Designs, XBOX Updates, FanFest Tour Dates, and More appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546004-celebrating-25-years-of-play-new-community-designs-xbox-updates-fanfest-tour-dates-and-more https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546003-beast-of-reincarnation-hands-on-parry-rich-combat-and-the-cutest-mutant-pup Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:00:16 GMT Even from its first full reveal in 2025, Beast of Reincarnation (https://store.playstation.com/concept/10014719) was making all the right noises....

Even from its first full reveal in 2025, Beast of Reincarnation was making all the right noises. Roaring through the crowd of impressive action role-playing games, Game Freak’s trek into a post-apocalyptic Japan blends the mythological with the mechanized into something fresh – helped by a “one woman and her dog saving the world”’ narrative.




But that’s not everything Beast of Reincarnation brings to the PlayStation 5 wilds. After spending a lot of time with the full game ahead of its August 4 release, I experienced a touching story, in-depth game mechanics, intense Souls-like combat, and quite possibly the most adorably blighted giant dog companion anyone could wish for.








A world of mutated mystery



4026 Japan is not a place we would recognize. Plants, birds, beasts, and even humans have been overwhelmingly corrupted by a strange cataclysm called the Blight. Entire Blight forests have spread their poison far and wide, pushing the remnants of humanity into scattered settlements. And chief of all the mutates are the Nushi, powerful and often colossal beings who spread fear and destruction wherever they roam. The cause of all this is said to be the fabled Beast of Reincarnation, which resurrects every 100 years. And so one person is tasked to end this cycle of doom…








Humanity’s last hope



Blighted from birth, Emma is an outcast with no memory of her origins. She’s initially stoic and near emotionless, punished by her colony for her affliction. But her condition also makes her valuable, able to absorb the powers of each defeated Nushi to herself, with the aim of using that power to kill the Beast. Of course, as the game progresses you discover it’s not that simple, but for us as players it makes Emma the perfect character to explore beautiful but sinister forests, the crumbling ruins of civilization, water logged underground bases, and mysterious habitats.




Parry or die



Emma is an incredibly versatile protagonist, feeling light and agile on the DualSense controller. She’s equipped with swift sword swipes via R1 that can be chained into a combo, projectile weapons including bolts and arrows that can offer a tinge of resistance when pulled on an adaptive trigger, a nimble dodge with a tap of the Circle button, and a block and parry using L1. And this is where Souls fans will rejoice – because that parry is the key to survival.








Fighting against early beasts and basic corrupted golems – humans who escaped the Blight by trapping their souls inside a machine – was fun and easy enough but hacking away on R1 won’t get you very far against the smarter, tougher, or larger foes. My first encounter with Chapter One’s tricky boss, a colossal deer-like Nishi, was just a hint of what was to come, its vicious and repeated antler attacks requiring parries to open up a counterattack. Later in the game, mini-bosses and enemies with more complex unblockable assaults required pin-point parries and counters to win. Timing is everything.








Wielding the power of corrupted nature



Thankfully, that’s not everything to Beast of Reincarnation’s layered combat system. Antagonists can be staggered by reducing their relevant meter with multiple attacks and leaving them open to a finisher using R1. I was also able to perform instant kills on grunts by sneaking up on them or taking satisfying headshots with a projectile. While the Square button unleashes Emma’s devastatingly effective Nushi Skills and Blade Arts combos.








But mastering Emma’s Blight abilities is the real game changer. Tapping R2 when a jump point is highlighted in the environment fires out root-like tendrils of her hair to yank Emma to higher areas. Similarly, holding down R2 creates a temporary hair platform that Emma can walk across, and the Cross button raises Emma high into the air with her locks. Using her verticality as a distancing technique was not only valuable in combat, but it meant I could utilize a ‘death from above’ assassination with R1. This levelled the field against multiple enemies who have a cone of vision I could exploit and led to a rewarding victory in a particular fight against a tough pike-wielding golem and his small army.








And then there’s Emma’s best boy by her side…




Genuinely, Koo is the bestest of boys



The large wolf-like Koo is the perfect battle companion, able to be directed to attack enemies, or utilising his powerful Bloom Arts, a turn-based menu style special attack which you select using Triangle. If I was able to time my following button press correctly during the short corresponding mini-game, Koo’s Bloom Arts skills were invaluable, especially as the Fluorescence Points used to unleash them are earned via successful parries. When combined with Emma’s time slowing Entanglement Overdrive after pressing L3 and R3 together, the duo quickly became a formidable force in my hands.








Koo also guides you to objectives with a visual pheromone indicator, barks when he finds something of interest, and even brings back items to Emma. While Koo has his own life bar, he’s hardy and capable, and you can expand his skill slots by increasing Emma’s rapport with him via petting him (creating a pleasing tremble of the DualSense controller haptics), giving him treats, and keeping him clean via a shower available in the Cleanse Walker, Emma’s mobile base.








Food, systems, and skill trees



There’s a lot of hidden depth in Beast of Reincarnation, too. Multiple weapons can be found and enhanced, skill trees for both Emma and Koo meant I was unlocking more abilities as I progressed, different enemy types fought each other on sight making combat even more entertaining, and the presence of the mysterious Violet – who only Emma can see and hear – offered intriguing questions to the narrative.








And that’s not even mentioning the importance of food. Emma and Koo will only naturally heal from their wounds if their hunger gauge isn’t empty. But food also offers bonuses to stats like HP, Attack, and Defense, so they’re not just another resource check. And better yet, Emma’s surrogate little sister Kagura can cook meals from ingredients you find on the field, her culinary skills increasing the more you engage with her, and her meals becoming more expansive and beneficial based on the recipes you bring back. I was even able to raise a chicken for eggs and grow crops on the Cleanse Walker to give Kagura more food options, with different seedlings having various harvest times.








A beastly battle







Emma and Koo’s adventure is a lengthy one, full of intrigue and tender narrative beats to accompany its rousing and challenging combat. So if you’re game for the hunt, you better sharpen your sword skills ahead of Beast of Reincarnation’s PS5 release on August 4.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546003-beast-of-reincarnation-hands-on-parry-rich-combat-and-the-cutest-mutant-pup https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546002-hard-work-pays-off-as-shard-squad-comes-to-xbox Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:00:22 GMT Summary Now available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox on PC. Control adorable monsters in a a bullet heaven roguelite. The Brazilian... Summary

• Now available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox on PC.
• Control adorable monsters in a a bullet heaven roguelite.
• The Brazilian developer’s own words about his first game and realizing a dream.

Produced by Brazilian studio The Root Studios and published by Nuntius Games, Shard Squad is a bullet heaven roguelite featuring charming pixel art visuals, and it finally arrives on XBOX consoles today with Xbox Play Anywhere support after months of anticipation.




Starring an adorable cast of little monsters known as Shards, the game blends action and strategy against increasingly intense enemy hordes without sacrificing on-screen clarity. Players recruit new creatures throughout each run and build powerful synergies, making every playthrough feel like a new discovery.








A Cast that Will Warm your Heart



What truly makes the game special is the care and personality poured into each of its adorable monsters. According to Shard Squad director Rennan Costa, the team wanted to create a world that felt alive and ensure that its more than 20 playable Shards would be seen as more than just gameplay mechanics. Some were even inspired by the developers’ own pets in an effort to share that same emotional bond with players.




“In many games, character choice ends up being based only on which one is the strongest or which ability best matches your playstyle. That’s important, of course, but we wanted there to be a connection beyond the mechanics,” Rennan says.




“That’s why we created a universe where the Shards have relationships with one another. They can be friends, family members, rivals, or simply share important moments in the story. That context gives each character a stronger identity and makes them feel like they truly belong in a living world. In the end, that creates a deeper connection with the player: they don’t choose a character only because they’re powerful, but because they like them, their personality, their design, and the story they carry.”




An adventure Full of Possibilities — Now Even Moreso on XBOX



Shard Squad is packed with content designed to provide many hours of gameplay and memorable moments. With the game’s arrival on XBOX, every monster comes equipped with the Prime Evolution system, allowing them to evolve during a run and unlock an exclusive appearance along with even more powerful techniques to overcome challenges.








You can also choose from more than 90 relics with unique effects that help shape your own playstyle. Experimentation is the key.




As you survive the hordes and evolve your Shards, special events may occur that grant even more rewards. Explore the possibilities and play your way!




If you’re thinking about giving Shard Squad a try and want a tip to get started on the right foot, the studio already knows exactly what you should focus on.




“The main tip is to pay close attention to the synergy system. Each Shard has three synergies based on its element, appearance, or even its relationships with other Shards. Combining Shards that share the same synergy grants unique bonuses that make your squad even stronger!”




A Major Achievement for the Brazilian Developer



Shard Squad’s launch on Xbox is a major milestone for The Root Studios. In Rennan’s words: “The fulfillment of a dream!”




According to Rennan, when he was younger, the idea of having a game published on XBOX felt incredibly distant, and seeing that dream finally become reality is surreal—especially considering that this is the studio’s first released game.








Reaching a new audience also comes with the hope that the emotions the team set out to create will resonate with new players. “I want people to get to know and fall in love with our Shards,” says Rennan. “The process of unlocking them and discovering their designs and stories has captivated many players, and I want XBOX players to experience that same feeling.”. Embark on your story today!




















Shard Squad


Nuntius Games



☆☆☆☆☆
6



★★★★★






$6.99

$6.29




Get it now









Survive an insane army of enemies with a squad of elemental creatures! Recruit new members for your team by defeating the bosses that cross your path, and combine their traits to unlock powerful effects! Unity not only brings strength, it also creates new abilities!

MEET THE SHARDS

Over 20 Shards can join your squad! Experiment and discover which ones will become your favorites!

FORM AN ELEMENTAL SQUAD

Choose Shards of Fire, Electric, Water, Nature, and Crystal! Your squad, your rules! Build the team of your dreams to survive the crisis devastating the world of Mellunia!

COMBINE TRAITS

Each Shard has three distinct traits capable of unlocking powerful abilities and effects! Having more than one creature with the desired trait in your team will increase your squad’s power level!

OVERCOME CHALLENGES

Unique events and powerful bosses will appear to test your squad’s skills! Overcome these challenges to earn special rewards for your survival!











The post Hard Work Pays off as Shard Squad Comes to XBOX appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546002-hard-work-pays-off-as-shard-squad-comes-to-xbox https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546001-how-a-bucket-full-of-pink-cow-dung-became-an-item-in-the-immortal-john-triptych Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:00:22 GMT Summary How an improvised design element snowballed into a strange puzzle. The unexpected chain of reactions that weaved three titles together.... Summary

• How an improvised design element snowballed into a strange puzzle.
• The unexpected chain of reactions that weaved three titles together.
• A look into my design process for The Immortal John Triptych.

OK, It’s summer 2022. I’m making a house interior for my Renaissance-paintings-come-to-life style adventure game, Death of the Reprobate (one of three critically-acclaimed titles in The Immortal John Triptych) and I’ve ended up with more doors than I anticipated.




Fig 1 – Death of the Reprobate, Carpenter’s House (with screaming babies)



These games are made entirely from chopped up Renaissance paintings, so I can’t just remove a door – not without finding a matching piece of blank wall at least. But large areas of blank wall tend not to be the preferred subject matter of many artists.




I don’t want too many ‘corridor’ scenes because they make for annoying backtracking. And I don’t want too many loops because they tend to make navigation confusing. Also, I’m trying to keep this game small (that didn’t work out), so I’m now in urgent need of a dead end.




I have some on-brand garden/courtyard paintings in a folder called ‘village bits’, but I can’t find a way to stitch them together nicely, and they are full of bloody doors anyway, so I eventually give up and move onto something else. Maybe I go and painstakingly cut around every leaf in the silhouette of an attractive tree, or write a joke about frog’s butts, I don’t remember.




Six months later I’m aimlessly browsing museum catalogues again when I stumble across this beauty!




Fig 2 – Andreas Schelfhout, Binnenplaatsje (1820-1830)



But, Joe! 1820-1830?! That’s not a Renaissance painting! Well, yes, I admit I have been using the term ‘Renaissance art’ increasingly loosely, and at this late stage of development I have been forced to cast my net rather wider than initially intended. But look at it! Clear boundaries either side, a nice open floor area, a potentially petable dog! It even has a stable style door similar to the one exiting the previous scene… The gods have truly smiled upon me.




It will need some work though. The woman kind of has her back to us, and she is performing an action I can’t easily animate in a loop, and the boy looks like a dickhead, so let’s get rid of them. And let’s open up that door and pop a background musician in there while we’re at it (every scene in the game has diegetic music).




Fig 3 – Death of the Reprobate courtyard scene in progress



Getting there, but the scene looks a bit empty now. And I didn’t do a great job of patching that gap where the people were, so I need to find something to fill the void. I need something big enough to cover the bad patch job, but ideally something nice and easy to animate. I scroll through my “Use Me” folder and find a man in his wife’s dress, angrily wielding a large stick. It’s funny, but a nightmare to animate. I find a creepily over-sexy Adam and Eve by Hans Baldung. Again, very funny, but it’s too tall to cover the bad patch work. Finally, I move on to my “stuff” folder and stumble across this wonderfully rectangular, mercifully static bull.




Fig 4 – Jacques Raymond Brascassat, Study of a Bull (1850)



Now we have a scene. It’s time to see if we can add some interaction, The Immortal John Triptych is meant to be a game after all. The obvious first step is to see if we can get that pump working. I’ll turn the handle around so we can access it more easily, and try my best to chop some bits of river together into a passable running water animation.








That’ll do! But… Wait a minute… look at the angle the bull is standing at… its butt is… what if I just flipped and tinted that water animation…








Oh dear. I have made myself chuckle. Now I have no option but to write a puzzle involving a bucket full of pink cow excrement. The rest writes itself. Of course I’m going to let you feed the bull. Of course different food will produce different colours of poop. Of course I’m going to let you collect the poop in a bucket and refer to it as a bucket of milkshake and make you feed it to one of those screaming children in the previous room. There is literally nothing I could have done to prevent any this happening. I didn’t want a bucket full of pink BS in my video game. You certainly didn’t. But the artwork has spoken and I’m merely it’s humble conduit.




The Immortal John Triptych, for better or for worse, with my most sincere apologies, will be available on XBOX August 27. Wishlist it now.













The Immortal John Triptych


Akupara Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






The Immortal John Triptych is the ULTIMATE anthology of the Joe Richardson games. Four Last Things, The Procession to Calvary, and Death of the Reprobate are brought together under one glorious sun with never-before-seen deleted scenes, updated language parity across all three titles, an expanded soundtrack by Eduardo Antonello with new original recordings, manual saves for Four Last Things, backflips in The Procession to Calvary, and a button to trigger a superfluous trumpeted fanfare whenever you need to celebrate. Embrace the absurd, the profound, and the sweet soothing aesthetic of the Renaissance in The Immortal John Triptych.

Immortal John is dying. A holy war has ended in chaos. Sin itself demands reckoning. Three interconnected tales unfold across a world built from Renaissance paintings and Classical music, where the ridiculous and the profound collide.

Help locals with their daily tasks, only to find the Devil lurking in the shadows. Chase a tyrant across kingdoms while assisting inept magicians and negotiating with God Almighty. Navigate sin, death, judgement, heaven and hell, all topped with a cherry of gleeful flippancy.

From quiet countryside kindness spiraling into madness, to holy vengeance wrapped in absurdity, to cosmic philosophy delivered with a wink and a nudge, The Immortal John Triptych proves that the most intelligent thing you can do is embrace the utterly ridiculous.











The post How a Bucket Full of Pink Cow Dung Became an Item in The Immortal John Triptych appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546001-how-a-bucket-full-of-pink-cow-dung-became-an-item-in-the-immortal-john-triptych https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546000-how-to-smash-slash-and-shoot-your-way-to-victory-in-kusan-city-of-wolves Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:49:26 GMT Hi, I’m Jake Yeom, CEO and Game Designer at CIRCLEfromDOT, a Korean development team working on our first game – the high-octane hardcore top-down...






Hi, I’m Jake Yeom, CEO and Game Designer at CIRCLEfromDOT, a Korean development team working on our first game – the high-octane hardcore top-down shooter, Kusan: City of Wolves.




You play as Jin in Kusan: City of Wolves, an ex-solider turned gun-for-hire living in the heart of a city where the line between predator and prey has already been crossed. This isn’t just another job though, a mysterious girl fitted with a city-grade atomic weapon is linked to a violent conspiracy that threatens to shift the balance of power. As chaos erupts, Jin must cross every line to save the girl, confront his past and the betrayal of a commander he once trusted without question.




One wrong move means death, so you’ll need precision, style, and the right skills to succeed. While I am excited to see how everyone tackles the game, I wanted to share some tips to help get you started as you venture into the neon–soaked streets of Kusan.








Death is Part of the Process



The enemies you’ll face in Kusan: City of Wolves don’t hold back, so don’t be afraid to die! The game is designed around learning through failure, with each death teaching you something new. Stay aggressive, keep experimenting, and don’t be discouraged if you fail. If one approach isn’t working, learn from your last run and try something different!










Experiment with Your Loadout



You’ll encounter many different enemy types, from grunts to bosses, throughout your time in Kusan: City of Wolves and there isn’t always a single ‘correct’ way to deal with them. Thankfully, Jin is equipped with a range of different weapons, including the Quantum Knife, the War Hand, Pistol, Revolver, Shotgun and Crossbow. With plenty of weapons, abilities and upgrades for you to choose from, you can experiment to find those you prefer, and then build a loadout that fits your playstyle. Switching up your arsenal may help you overcome challenges that have previously blocked you from progressing, or help you score the impressive SS rank.




Finding an efficient strategy that matches your playstyle, and refining it through repeated attempts, is one of the most rewarding parts of the game.









Tackling the Techtrix



Early in the game, you will learn about the Techtrix – the system where you are able to upgrade your weapons and abilities, and equip them for loadout. The first skill you pick can make a big difference to your gameplay, so I have a few recommendations depending on your preferred playstyle.

• Quick Step. This upgrade is ideal for you if you like to play action gamesaggressively, staying mobile and constantly keeping the pressure on your enemies. You’ll be able to navigate combat scenarios faster than before!
• Auto Recovery. If you prefer a safer approach to combat scenarios, this is the upgrade for you. After throwing your Quantum Knife it will now return to you seconds later, instead of you having to manually pick it back up, helping you keep distance from oncoming enemies.
• Counterstrike. If you enjoy parrying, the counterstrike upgrade is perfect for you! Your precise timing is rewarded by turning defense into offense – counter at just the right moment and enemy projectiles will be sent back to their source.

Try not to look for a single ‘best’ skill to use while playing!, Choose skills that best compliment the way you want to fight to help suit your style.








Quantum Knife Combos: and Your Own Rhythm



You may not realise it at first, but the Quantum Knife isn’t just a standalone weapon. It can be used at the same time as your other attacks, letting you create combinations that suit your own playstyle.

When watching new players, I usually notice two common approaches. Some naturally combine the War Hand with the Quantum Knife, creating an aggressive close-range fighting style. Others prefer to pair the Quantum Knife with firearms, controlling enemies from a safer distance while keeping constant pressure on them.

Either approach is ‘correct’! I suggest you try both, discover what feels most natural to you, and build your own combat rhythm.

Once you’re comfortable, challenge yourself to combine all three attack options—the Quantum Knife, your firearm, and the War Hand—into a single flow. Mastering these combinations, together with stylish play bonuses, is one of the keys to earning the coveted SS Rank.








I hope these tips will help you feel more confident on your first playthrough. While your first run might not see you achieve the highest score, you can replay levels at any time to keep aiming for the highly sought after SS rank.

After eight years of development, this is the first game our team has brought into this world, and we are really excited to see how each and every one of you experience it. We have poured our passion, dedication, and countless hours into every part of this project.




Kusan: City of Wolves launches today on Xbox Series X|S and we hope you enjoy your time in the streets of Kusan and experience the action, characters, and story we worked so hard to create.




















Kusan: City of Wolves


PQube Limited



☆☆☆☆☆
5



★★★★★





$14.99




Get it now









Welcome to Kusan: City of Wolves, a brutal top-down shooter set in a neon-drenched urban jungle consumed by violence and corruption.

Kusan delivers hardcore action where one mistake means death. Master gunplay, perfect your movement, survive the streets and combat arenas ruled by furious kingpins that demand speed, precision and flawless execution. Every moment of action is intensified by Korean hip-hop heavyweight Loptimist’s adrenaline-fuelled soundtrack drenched with head-bopping loops and deep 808s pushing you forward without mercy.

You play as Jin, a skilled ex-soldier turned gun-for-hire, living in the heart of a city where the line between predator and prey has already been crossed. This isn’t just another job though, a mysterious girl with immense but uncontrollable power is linked to a violent conspiracy that threatens to shift the balance of power. As chaos erupts, Jin must save the girl, confront his past and the betrayal of a commander he once trusted without question.

Everyone in Kusan wants something and nobody plays fair.

For Jin, there is only one way forward: flawless planning, ruthless execution and saving the girl from criminals while relying only on his wit and unrelenting will to survive the battlefield.

With the whole city at stake, Jin knows it is time to not only clean-house but restore balance.

Dive into Kusan: City of Wolves and descend into a city on the edge. It's more than just a fight, you are the last line between order and oblivion.











The post How to Smash, Slash, and Shoot Your Way to Victory in Kusan: City of Wolves appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3546000-how-to-smash-slash-and-shoot-your-way-to-victory-in-kusan-city-of-wolves https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545999-how-real-houseplant-horticulture-inspired-leafy-corner Fri, 31 Jul 2026 20:00:10 GMT Summary Out now on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, and XBOX on PC. A story of how Leafy Corner... Summary

• Out now on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, and XBOX on PC.
• A story of how Leafy Corner was inspired by real-life houseplants.
• Details of some of the features and how they relate to real-life horticulture.

There’s something magical about watching a plant grow. The slow unfurling of a new leaf over days and weeks. My partner and I are a husband-and-wife development team behind Leafy Corner, and our apartment is overflowing with alocasias, monsteras, and many other houseplants. They’re not just decorations; they’re our daily inspiration.











I’m thrilled to announce that Leafy Corner is out now on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, and XBOX on PC, and today, I want to share how real-life houseplants shaped every part of this cozy shop management game.




From our Apartment to Your Screen



I’ve spent hours watching how plants in my private collection grow, and there is nothing better than the sheer joy of spotting the first tiny sprout.




This attention to real houseplant behavior became the foundation of Leafy Corner. Plants in the game grow over time, unfolding leaf by leaf as time passes. I wanted that same rewarding feeling you get when you see your real-life houseplant thrive.




Moreover, growth speed is affected by whether a plant is overwatered or underwatered, or if it’s in a pot that is too small for its current size. It’s a simple but satisfying system that mirrors the real-world care plants need.








Every Plant is Different



If you’ve ever owned houseplants, you know that each one has its own personality. A succulent thrives on neglect, while a fern wants constant attention. In real life, overwatering is one of the most common ways new plant parents accidentally harm their green friends. Succulents, in particular, store water in their leaves and are highly prone to root rot if they’re watered too frequently.




We brought this variety into Leafy Corner, and in the result each plant type in the game has its own watering needs. Succulents and cacti need less water and are more sensitive to overwatering. Other plants, like ferns and calatheas, prefer more consistent moisture.








Helping Customers



Ask any plant shop owner, and they’ll tell you that choosing a plant isn’t only about looks. That’s why customers in Leafy Corner come with specific, realistic requests.




A customer might walk in and ask for a pet-safe plant because their cat is constantly nibbling on leaves. Someone else might want a plant that’s low-maintenance for their office desk. You’ll need to know your stock to match each customer with the right plant. Thankfully, you can always check the attributes of each plant in the Compendium to learn more about them.








Discovering Variegations



If you’re a plant enthusiast, you know the rush of finding a rare variegated plant. Those splashes of white, cream, or pink on leaves are natural mutations, and collectors go crazy for them. I wanted to capture that excitement in Leafy Corner. As you fill your shop with plants, you can randomly discover plant variegations, and then propagate them in order to have more. It’s a small detail, but it’s one I know plant lovers will appreciate.








Build Your Cozy Shop



Beyond the plants themselves, Leafy Corner is about creating a space that feels like your own. You can decorate your shop with unlockable furniture, shelves, and plant pots, mixing colors and styles to reflect your personal taste. It’s your cozy corner, and we want you to make it shine.




We poured our love for plants into every aspect of Leafy Corner. From the leaf-by-leaf growth animations to the thrill of discovering a rare variegation. We can’t wait for you to create your own plant shops on XBOX starting today.




















Leafy Corner


Fireline Games



☆☆☆☆☆
6



★★★★★





$9.99




Get it now









Run the plant shop of your dreams in Leafy Corner, a cozy shop management game where you grow, sell, and care for real-life houseplants!

Step into the role of a plant shop owner. Grow plants, serve your customers, and create a warm, inviting space filled with greenery and charm.

Watch your plants grow over time, unfolding leaf by leaf as you care for them.

Not everyone knows what they’re looking for. Sometimes customers bring unusual or tricky requests. Finding just the right plant to fit their needs adds a fun challenge.

Decorate your shop with a variety of unlockable items, from shelves to plant pots. Pick colors that fit your mood and create a space that reflects your unique style.

KEY FEATURES
– Grow, care for, and sell 100+ unique plants.
– Discover plant variegations.
– Build and decorate your shop with a variety of pots, furniture, and decoration options.
– Fulfill orders and help customers.
– Complete tasks to progress your shop.
– Increase your shop’s reputation to unlock new content.
– Customize your character.

What Leafy Corner does NOT offer:
– Hardcore management (deep economy, hiring staff)
– Advanced plant care
– Storyline











The post How Real Houseplant Horticulture Inspired Leafy Corner appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545999-how-real-houseplant-horticulture-inspired-leafy-corner https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545998-a-new-look-for-reforj-explore-the-worlds-stunning-rixel-transformation Fri, 31 Jul 2026 18:00:18 GMT For the past six months, the Reforj art and engineering teams have been working on one of the most ambitious changes in the game’s development so... For the past six months, the Reforj art and engineering teams have been working on one of the most ambitious changes in the game’s development so far. Today, we’re excited to pull back the curtain on Title Update 8, introducing an entirely new visual direction for Reforj powered by Rixels.




If you’ve played Reforj before, now is the perfect time to jump back in. And if you’ve been waiting for a reason to join the playtest, this update is the biggest transformation the game has seen yet.











Meet the Rixel



At first glance, a Rixel might look familiar. Much like pixels are the building blocks of traditional digital art, Rixels are the building blocks of Reforj’s new visual identity—but they’re capable of much more. Traditional pixel art relies entirely on square shapes. Rixels can currently take on up to 23 unique shapes, with each shape supporting its own material properties such as metallic levels, roughness, and more. The result is a world that feels sharper, cleaner, and far more expressive while retaining the charm and readability that players love.




The idea emerged from a challenge many voxel-style games face: creating crisp, geometric artwork without sacrificing visual clarity. The previous faceted art style often struggled with diagonal lines and fine details, which could appear fuzzy or inconsistent. To solve that problem, the team experimented with multiple approaches. By combining vector-inspired techniques with custom geometric block shapes, the programmers developed a solution that immediately stood out—not just as a technical improvement, but as the foundation of an entirely new artistic direction.




And so, the Rixel was born.











A New Look for Reforj



While Rixels began as a technical solution, they quickly became the foundation for a completely new artistic vision for Reforj. From environmental textures to mobs and characters, every corner of the game has been touched by this new technology. Whether you’re exploring familiar locations or seeing Reforj for the first time, the difference is immediately noticeable.




Smaller Files, Bigger Possibilities



The benefits of Rixels extend far beyond aesthetics. Under the previous system, a single texture could require a 512×512 image, consuming approximately 4MB of storage. Thanks to Rixels, that same texture can now be represented in roughly 72KB. That’s a 98.2% reduction in storage requirements.




Why does that matter?




By dramatically reducing texture storage costs, Rixels unlock new possibilities for the future of Reforj. The team now has greater flexibility to create more content, experiment with new materials, and explore ideas that simply weren’t practical before. For players, that means a stronger foundation for future updates and continued innovation as development progresses.




Get the Latest Build



Join the preview in the XBOX Insider Hub to play today and discover the world of Reforj.

• Sign-in on your XBOX Series X|S console and launch the XBOX Insider Hub app (or install the XBOX Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)
• Navigate to Previews > Reforj
• Select Join
• Wait for registration to complete. You’ll then be redirected to the Store, where you can install Reforj Pre-Alpha.

NOTE: Please reboot your console after completing the enrollment process to ensure you receive the latest preview build.




NOTE: This playtest is only available on XBOX Series X|S consoles.




Join the Reforj Community



Want to connect with other players, share your creations, discuss the latest updates, and get the latest news from the development team? Join the Reforj community on the Reforj Discord and be part of the conversation as the game continues to evolve.




We Want Your Feedback



This update represents months of experimentation, iteration, and collaboration across the art and engineering teams. Now it’s time for players to experience it firsthand. Whether you’re a returning player eager to see what’s changed or a newcomer curious about the future of Reforj, we invite you to jump in and explore the game with fresh eyes.




If you encounter bugs, performance issues, visual glitches, or have thoughts about your experience, please submit feedback directly from your XBOX console:

• Hold down the XBOX button on your controller.
• Select Report a problem.
• Select the Games category and Reforj Pre-Alpha subcategory.
• Fill out the report with as much detail as possible to help our team investigate.

Every report helps us identify issues, prioritize improvements, and make Reforj a better experience for everyone.




Other Resources:

• Get the XBOX Insider Hub app
• XBOX Insider FAQ
• How to provide feedback as an XBOX Insider

For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XBOXInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the XBOX Insider SubReddit.

The post A New Look for Reforj: Explore the World’s Stunning Rixel Transformation appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545998-a-new-look-for-reforj-explore-the-worlds-stunning-rixel-transformation https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545997-introducing-call-of-duty-mobile-season-7-terminated Fri, 31 Jul 2026 17:00:11 GMT The post Introducing Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7 — Terminated... Introducing Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7 — Terminated appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545997-introducing-call-of-duty-mobile-season-7-terminated https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545996-the-elder-scrolls-online-celebrate-bethesdas-40th-with-a-free-reward-and-sale Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:30:15 GMT The post The Elder Scrolls Online: Celebrate Bethesda’s 40th with a Free Reward and Sale... The Elder Scrolls Online: Celebrate Bethesda’s 40th with a Free Reward and Sale appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545996-the-elder-scrolls-online-celebrate-bethesdas-40th-with-a-free-reward-and-sale https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545995-next-week-on-xbox-new-games-for-august-3-to-7 Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:00:16 GMT Welcome to Next Week on XBOX! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass! Get... Welcome to Next Week on XBOX! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX on PC, 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!

---

Beast of Reincarnation – August 3
Game Pass / Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Set in a post-apocalyptic Japan, humanity’s only hope lies with Emma, an outcast shunned from society for her affliction, and Koo, the blighted dog. Together, they embark on this expansive adventure in this one-person, one-dog action RPG. Experience a journey where you feel moments of loneliness, and also the reliability and comfort of your companion. Savor a world of impermanence, where forests suddenly burst forth amidst the wasteland. As Emma and Koo travel through this beautiful yet harsh world, their bond and abilities blossom.




Pre-order Beast of Reincarnation and receive a Brown Shiba Skin for Koo plus 30,000 Amber (in-game currency)!




















Beast of Reincarnation


Fictions



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now









Set in a post-apocalyptic Japan, humanity's only hope lies with Emma, an outcast shunned from society for her affliction, and Koo, the blighted dog. Together, they embark on this expansive adventure in this one-person, one-dog action RPG.

Experience a journey where you feel moments of loneliness, and also the reliability and comfort of your companion. Savor a world of impermanence, where forests suddenly burst forth amidst the wasteland. As Emma and Koo travel through this beautiful yet harsh world, their bond and abilities blossom.

Customize your playstyle with unique skill trees, gear, and spirit stones to survive this beautiful yet brutal world. Define your own playstyle through your preferred loadout, including ranged, stealthy, and aggressive combat.

In this world ravaged by blight…what will you find at the end of your journey?

Emma and Koo’s Synergy
Emma and Koo create a revolutionary action RPG experience. Fight as a unit with the protagonist, Emma’s sword abilities while giving Koo commands to unleash various techniques, just like in a turn-based RPG.

Japan: Year 4026
Travel through a beautiful yet harsh post-apocalyptic world. Experience the ever-changing scenery, in the blighted forest, and the Bosses that rule this world. Emma and Koo, who met in the far east, are tasked with battling Bosses from all over the world and capturing their powers in order to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation.

A Story Filled With Secrets
Dive into a brutal narrative where every character hides a dangerous truth. Uncover the intertwined fates of Emma and Koo in this profound story.

---

Kynseed – August 4
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




A beautiful life sim sandbox RPG from veterans of the Fable series. Embark on a lifetime of adventure in a beautiful world of creativity and intrigue. Raise a family, customise your farm, run a business, craft items, and battle monsters! Your actions and decisions matter in our adventurous story filled with purpose and promise. Lend a helping hand to villagers in need and discover the unique blend of creativity and choice that sets Kynseed apart. Come and join us – your legacy awaits!













Kynseed


PixelCount Studios Ltd



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






A beautiful life sim sandbox RPG from veterans of the Fable series.

Embark on a lifetime of adventure in a beautiful world of creativity and intrigue. Raise a family, customise your farm, run a business, craft items, and battle monsters!

Your actions and decisions matter in our adventurous story filled with purpose and promise. Lend a helping hand to villagers in need and discover the unique blend of creativity and choice that sets Kynseed apart. Come and join us – your legacy awaits!

• Story-driven RPG set in beautiful regions, where you’ll battle dark faery tale creatures.
• Customise your farm and farmhouse using Kynseed's customisation mode with hundreds of items and limitless design possibilities.
• Take on the role of shopkeeper and run your own blacksmith, potion shop, tavern, or bustling goods store.
• Develop relationships with villagers who will remember your deeds, actions, and pranks!
• Combat the evil Hob army as they construct powerful totems and cause the destruction of crops and buildings.
• Rebuild broken houses and buildings for your neighbours and new NPCs.
• Gather materials to create items, forge weapons or mix cures for bizarre maladies.
• Buy strange artifacts from the mysterious Mr. Fairweather — items that ease your chores, boost your combat skills, or simply let you bend the rules of the world. But beware his life tax: each one costs years from your life.
• A world where everyone ages – raise a family then step into your children's shoes and continue your legacy.

In Kynseed, live your life the way you choose in a lovingly handcrafted 2D open world.

---

Detective Holmes: Hidden Objects – August 3
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Get ready to dive into the thrilling new adventures of the legendary Sherlock Holmes! If you’re a fan of detective stories, mystery, unexpected plot twists, and clever puzzles, this game is made for you. Join Holmes and his trusted friend, Doctor Watson, as they take on a brand new investigation filled with secrets, suspense, and surprises lurking in every scene.




















Detective Holmes: Hidden Objects


Crisp App Studio



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$11.99

$9.59




Pre-order









Hello, fans of hidden object detective games!

Get ready to dive into the thrilling new adventures of the legendary Sherlock Holmes!

If you're a fan of detective stories, mystery, unexpected plot twists, and clever puzzles, this game is made for you. Join Holmes and his trusted friend, Doctor Watson, as they take on a brand new investigation filled with secrets, suspense, and surprises lurking in every scene.

Inspired by the world of Arthur Conan Doyle, this hidden object game challenges you to test your powers of observation. Search for carefully hidden clues in beautifully detailed environments from dark streets to warm, old-fashioned rooms. Every object you find could bring you one step closer to cracking the case. Remember, even the smallest detail might be the key to unraveling the mystery.

The game features realistic, richly detailed scenes brought to life with your favorite classic characters. You can enjoy a variety of gameplay modes, including hidden object searches, spot-the-difference challenges, matching pairs, and more. Many of the hidden objects are genuine antiques, making it a treat for vintage lovers. It’s a relaxing way to train your brain while immersing yourself in a timeless detective adventure. With intuitive, easy-to-use controls, the game is perfect for both casual players and puzzle enthusiasts alike.

Step into the shoes of a true detective and help Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson solve their latest case. Adventure awaits!

---

Space Tail: Definitive Edition – August 3
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Every journey shifts the perspective – it grows with the traveler. Our game tells a story about self-exploration, transformation and understanding of the world around us. The game’s story is inspired by real events from the early days of space exploration, when animals were the first to venture beyond Earth. Many of them never returned. This game is a tribute to those early pioneers, told through the story of Bea – a dog who, in our story, beats the odds and finds her own path among the stars.













Space Tail: Definitive Edition


Bohemia Interactive a.s.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






Every journey shifts the perspective – it grows with the traveler. Our game tells a story about self-exploration, transformation and understanding of the world around us.

The game's story is inspired by real events from the early days of space exploration, when animals were the first to venture beyond Earth. Many of them never returned. This game is a tribute to those early pioneers, told through the story of Bea – a dog who, in our story, beats the odds and finds her own path among the stars.

Bea is a cheerful and brave companion-but at heart, she’s still just a dog. She barks, wags her tail, and discovers the world through her senses. Her instincts are key to gameplay: sniffing, listening, and observing form the core of a detective mode that helps her explore and make sense of her surroundings.

---

Fading Clouds – August 4
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Embark on a peaceful journey through the skies in Fading Clouds, a charming puzzle adventure where every step transforms the path ahead. Carefully plan your moves, cross clouds that vanish beneath your feet, and discover the perfect route to reach the star waiting at the end of every challenge.













Fading Clouds (Xbox Series)


Afil Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






Embark on a peaceful journey through the skies in Fading Clouds, a charming puzzle adventure where every step transforms the path ahead. Carefully plan your moves, cross clouds that vanish beneath your feet, and discover the perfect route to reach the star waiting at the end of every challenge.

Explore 30 carefully crafted levels where new cloud types and clever mechanics make every puzzle feel fresh and rewarding. Restore clouds at the right moment, adapt your strategy, and discover creative solutions as the difficulty gently grows with each stage.

With beautiful pixel art, a relaxing atmosphere, and thoughtful puzzles that encourage careful planning without pressure, Fading Clouds is perfect for players who love to think, experiment, and celebrate every clever solution.

Plan your route, rebuild the clouds, and prove that every great journey begins with a single step.

---

Five Hearts Under One Roof – August 5
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere




Five Hearts Under One Roof is a first-person interactive FMV romance game where every choice shapes your relationships and story outcome. You play as Yuman, a man who has spent most of his life alone. Everything changes when five very different women suddenly begin living under the same roof. Through conversations, choices, and unexpected moments, you will build relationships, uncover hidden stories, and decide who will ultimately win your heart.




















Five Hearts Under One Roof


StoryTaco.inc



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now









Five Hearts Under One Roof is a first-person interactive FMV romance game where every choice shapes your relationships and story outcome.

You play as Yuman, a man who has spent most of his life alone. Everything changes when five very different women suddenly begin living under the same roof. Through conversations, choices, and unexpected moments, you will build relationships, uncover hidden stories, and decide who will ultimately win your heart.

Will your longtime childhood friend become something more?
Will your first love return to your life?
Or will an unexpected romance change everything?

Every decision leads to different story branches, romantic moments, and multiple endings.

[Meet the Heroines]
* Mal-sook Go

Your childhood friend of 20 years.
Warm, caring, and always by your side — but hiding feelings she can no longer ignore.

* Min-jung Park

Your first love and a former idol singer.
A familiar face returns with emotions that never truly disappeared.

* Gran Dong

Your demanding boss with a playful and provocative personality.
Confident, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore.

* Eun-bi Go

A bold and energetic younger girl who suddenly appears in your life.
Straightforward, fearless, and determined to win your heart.

* Seung-yi Jo

A shy recluse who slowly opens up to you.
Quiet, mysterious, and deeply emotional beneath the surface.

[Key Features]
Interactive First-Person FMV Experience

Experience the entire story through the protagonist’s perspective in a fully immersive live-action romance adventure.

Branching Storylines and Multiple Endings

Your choices shape relationships, unlock hidden scenes, and lead to different endings and epilogues.

Five Unique Romance Routes

Each heroine features her own personality, emotional storyline, and memorable romantic journey.

High-Quality Live-Action Performances

Enjoy realistic acting performances and cinematic visuals that bring every relationship and emotional moment to life.

Replayable Narrative Experience

Discover new scenes, alternative routes, bonus videos, and hidden outcomes through multiple playthroughs.

---

Mate’Morphosis – August 5
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Strategize and conquer in a brainteasing twist on a tabletop gaming classic! Mate’Morphosis is a chess-inspired puzzle game built around the concept of becoming the pieces that you capture. Outsmart each board, adapt to evolving mechanics and hunt down the rival king across every stage! Instead of commanding multiple pieces, you’ll need to navigate the board with a single player piece that transforms into the type of piece you’ve just defeated.




















Mate'Morphosis


Eastasiasoft Limited



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now









Solve puzzles by becoming the pieces you defeat in a strategic and brainteasing twist on classic chess!

Strategize and conquer in a brainteasing twist on a tabletop gaming classic! Mate’Morphosis is a chess-inspired puzzle game built around the concept of becoming the pieces that you capture. Outsmart each board, adapt to evolving mechanics and hunt down the rival king across every stage! Instead of commanding multiple pieces, you’ll need to navigate the board with a single player piece that transforms into the type of piece you’ve just defeated.

Step up from pawn to knight, bishop or rook in order to take out the queen and finally gain the freedom of movement necessary to checkmate the king. Your route evolves with every move. Learn as you go, even if you’re not a master at classic chess! Enjoy retro 2D pixel art presentation and tight hand-crafted challenges with quick restarts, fast strategic pacing and a gradual climb in difficulty across dozens of unique stages!

---

Aery – Surreal World – August 6
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Aery – Surreal World is a relaxing, story-driven flight exploration game that carries you through a series of impossible, dreamlike worlds where reality has quietly lost its mind. You play as a tiny spirit drifting endlessly forward through landscapes that shouldn’t exist. Glide alongside an enormous dirty whale as it tumbles weightlessly through a sky laced with glittering rainbows — close enough to see the barnacles and grime clinging to its hide as streaks of violet and gold light wash over it. Descend into a sunken apartment block resting silently on the ocean floor, where coral has crept up the wallpaper, fish drift through the living room, and the television still flickers faintly in the deep blue dark. Soar through a vast kingdom where every tree, every cloud, and every cobblestone has been consumed by solid, gleaming gold — beautiful, eerie, and utterly silent.













Aery – Surreal World


EpiXR Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★





$9.99




Pre-order






Aery – Surreal World is a relaxing, story-driven flight exploration game that carries you through a series of impossible, dreamlike worlds where reality has quietly lost its mind.

You play as a tiny spirit drifting endlessly forward through landscapes that shouldn't exist. Glide alongside an enormous dirty whale as it tumbles weightlessly through a sky laced with glittering rainbows — close enough to see the barnacles and grime clinging to its hide as streaks of violet and gold light wash over it. Descend into a sunken apartment block resting silently on the ocean floor, where coral has crept up the wallpaper, fish drift through the living room, and the television still flickers faintly in the deep blue dark. Soar through a vast kingdom where every tree, every cloud, and every cobblestone has been consumed by solid, gleaming gold — beautiful, eerie, and utterly silent.

Each world is its own self-contained dream: a unique color palette, atmosphere, and mood that tells a different piece of a larger, quietly unfolding story. Hidden across every level are glowing memory fragments — scattered clues to what this broken universe once was. Collect enough of them and the next impossible world opens up.

Aery – Surreal World is designed above all else to feel good. The flying is smooth and freeing, the worlds are strange and beautiful, and the story unfolds gently without ever demanding anything of you. Whether you play to explore, to collect, or simply to get lost somewhere wonderfully weird, there is always something waiting just around the next impossible corner.

---

Herd Dispatch – August 6
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Get ready for a cozy and adorable adventure in Herd Dispatch, a charming puzzle game where every little sheep is counting on you to find its way home. Watch carefully, think quickly, and switch the paths at just the right moment to guide each sheep safely to the pen that matches its color.













Herd Dispatch (Xbox Series)


Afil Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






Get ready for a cozy and adorable adventure in Herd Dispatch, a charming puzzle game where every little sheep is counting on you to find its way home. Watch carefully, think quickly, and switch the paths at just the right moment to guide each sheep safely to the pen that matches its color.

Explore 30 carefully handcrafted levels across 3 delightful rural biomes, where every new stage puts your logic, planning, and attention to the test. As the challenges grow, you'll need to anticipate each sheep's movement and create the perfect connections before they wander down the wrong path.

With charming pixel art, a warm atmosphere, and mechanics that are easy to learn yet surprisingly clever, Herd Dispatch delivers a relaxing and rewarding experience for anyone who loves creative puzzles and casual challenges.

Switch the paths, guide the flock, and prove that no little sheep will ever get lost under your watch!

---

Montabi – August 6
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




A Creature-Collector Roguelike Deckbuilding Game. Assemble your team of Montabi to outsmart the bad guys and save the city! If you’re going to be the big hero and save the city, you’ve gotta get some Montabi! Each Montabi has a unique set of skills, giving you endless combinations for team synergies. Collect equipment and charms and utilize them to chart the path to victory!




















Montabi


Akupara Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★





$19.99




Pre-order









A Creature-Collector Roguelike Deckbuilding Game.

Assemble your team of Montabi to outsmart the bad guys and save the city!

If you're going to be the big hero and save the city, you've gotta get some Montabi! Each Montabi has a unique set of skills, giving you endless combinations for team synergies. Collect equipment and charms and utilize them to chart the path to victory!

Train your Montabi to grow stronger, unlocking new moves to enhance your team's strategy. As they level up, your Montabi evolve into more powerful forms, gaining new card abilities and expanding your tactical options. If you work together, there's nothing you and your Montabi can't achieve!

Deploy your best strategies to beat up the bad guys in a unique 3×3 grid-based system. With every Montabi's unique abilities, you'll have endless options to outthink the competition and win the day. Just make sure you rest up at a cafe every now and then to recover those hit points!

Select from diverse trainers, each with a unique playstyle. Do you wanna put your team in the perfect position, get right up in their faces and duke it out, or buff up your Montabi with a hearty meal? When the city's at stake, everyone pitches in! Just make sure to stay safe! Like the king in chess, if your trainer is defeated, the game ends.

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Sokogem – August 6
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Sokogem is a minimalist puzzle game that challenges your logic through precise, thoughtful movement. Slide your character across each level, pushing gems until they hit the treasure chests. Fill every chest with the exact number of gems to unlock the exit and progress to the next challenge.













Sokogem


Misc.261



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






Sokogem is a minimalist puzzle game that challenges your logic through precise, thoughtful movement. Slide your character across each level, pushing gems until they hit the treasure chests. Fill every chest with the exact number of gems to unlock the exit and progress to the next challenge.

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Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint – August 6
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery




Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint is a hardcore, side-scrolling beat-’em-up inspired by classic Korean crime dramas. As Mr. Peppermint, a hard-boiled detective driven to the extreme, find out who gives orders at the top of the crime ladder, and enact brutal, bloody vengeance. Countless criminals infest a seedy underbelly, with a sinister cult poisoning the guts of this corpse of a city. Destroy anyone in Peppermint’s way with anything he can get his hands on. Wade through mountains of corpses, wipe blood off the edges of Peppermint’s suit, and beware that this detective might be his own worst enemy.













Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint


indie.io



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint is a hardcore, side-scrolling beat-'em-up inspired by classic Korean crime dramas. As Mr. Peppermint, a hard-boiled detective driven to the extreme, find out who gives orders at the top of the crime ladder, and enact brutal, bloody vengeance. Countless criminals infest a seedy underbelly, with a sinister cult poisoning the guts of this corpse of a city. Destroy anyone in Peppermint’s way with anything he can get his hands on. Wade through mountains of corpses, wipe blood off the edges of Peppermint's suit, and beware that this detective might be his own worst enemy. Long ago, a serial killer kidnapped two siblings, a brother and a sister. The boy miraculously managed to escape, but the girl was not so lucky… Twenty years later, the boy, now a man, has become a detective just like his father, believing that law and order are the foundation of society. Yet, his grief and pain have driven him to the brink of madness, peering into the abyss of rage. Now, with red-hot clarity, he must punish the murderer responsible for his sister's death, no matter how many people stand in his path.Peppermint's obsession with revenge transforms him into a killing machine. Use incredibly precise controls to choreograph combos and carry out brutal fatalities. Improvise weapons in the environment and pummel enemies into a fine red mist like hooks, meat processors, or ovens…anything can bring a goon's criminal career to a brutally spectacular end.A rampage of revenge can take its toll on Mr. Peppermint. The crueler his actions, the more twisted the story unfolds and his psyche crumbles. Paradoxes and inconsistencies appear. Unanswered questions manifest. As this once dedicated detective spirals out of control, question who is really the serial killer…

---

Yellowcreek Stories – The Cabin Watcher – August 6
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere




A stormy night. A remote mountain cabin. Someone is watching you. A masked killer stalks the area and reacts to sound, light, and movement. No combat. No second chances. Survival is about staying unseen, keeping calm, and making the right call under pressure. The killer actively searches based on your behavior, turning every encounter into a tense mind game.




















Yellowcreek Stories – The Cabin Watcher


JanduSoft



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$10.49

$8.39




Pre-order









A stormy night. A remote mountain cabin.
Someone is watching you.

A masked killer stalks the area and reacts to sound, light, and movement.
No combat. No second chances. Survival is about staying unseen, keeping calm, and making the right call under pressure.

Survive by mastering

– Noise: every action matters — loud mistakes draw attention
– Light: your flashlight can save you… or expose you
– Movement: sprinting is risky; careful steps keep you alive
– Hiding: when you’re spotted, you’re already behind

The killer actively searches based on your behavior, turning every encounter into a tense mind game.

Features

– First-person stealth slasher inspired by classic 80s horror
– Stealth built around sound, light, and movement
– Reactive enemy behavior and search patterns
– Minimal HUD with real-time noise/visibility feedback
– Interactive cinematic moments

---

INK ENIGMA 2: Hidden Object Challenges – August 7
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




The classic joy of hidden object puzzles, perfected. INK ENIGMA 2: Hidden Object Challenges brings back the satisfying gameplay of the original, now completely upgraded with silky-smooth controls and beautifully detailed black-and-white illustrations.




















INK ENIGMA 2: Hidden Object Challenges


AVGAM



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$5.99

$5.39




Pre-order









The classic joy of hidden object puzzles, perfected. INK ENIGMA 2: Hidden Object Challenges brings back the satisfying gameplay of the original, now completely upgraded with silky-smooth controls and beautifully detailed black-and-white illustrations.

Take a deep breath, observe the intricate sketches, and start your hunt. Move around the canvas and zoom in on the finest details with our newly improved, incredibly fluid camera controls. When you spot a cleverly hidden item, experience the simple, tactile satisfaction of drawing a circle around it to mark your discovery. With 40 brand-new levels, this is the perfect cozy puzzle game to unwind with after a long day.
Expect 1 to 2 hours of stress-free, pure observational gameplay.

---

John Fox – August 7
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




John Fox is an elite warrior and super soldier who saved the leaders of various States. He was a professional mercenary who retired with honor. One day after getting out of the subway, John’s pet, Milo is killed by a toad. John Fox rushes in pursuit of the harmful toad and encounters an army of clone frogs, which flooded the entire city. If the big toad manages to defeat John Fox, the world will be doomed to misery and chaos.




















John Fox


Ratalaika Games S.L.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now









John Fox is an elite warrior and super soldier who saved the leaders of various States. He was a professional mercenary who retired with honor.

One day after getting out of the subway, John's pet, Milo is killed by a toad. John Fox rushes in pursuit of the harmful toad and encounters an army of clone frogs, which flooded the entire city.

If the big toad manages to defeat John Fox, the world will be doomed to misery and chaos.

Features:
* Survival mode
* Variety of terrains and scenarios
* 2D pixel beat 'em up
* Boss battles
* Thrilling music














Limbot – August 7
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Welcome to Limbot, the ultimate physics-based city stomping experience where up to 4 players must attempt to pilot a person dressed as a giant cardboard robot! Embrace the chaos in a paper-craft metropolis designed to be crushed, smashed, and destroyed! Stomp, kick, and punch your way to completing wacky objectives set in a fully destructible cardboard world, where every building, obstacle, and enemy can be bashed to pieces or flattened into pulp! Smash down skyscrapers, face-off against paper foes, and take down the biggest (and silliest) crafted bosses this world has ever seen…




















Limbot


Ionized Studios Limited



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now









Welcome to Limbot, the ultimate physics-based city stomping experience where up to 4 players must attempt to pilot a person dressed as a giant cardboard robot! Embrace the chaos in a paper-craft metropolis designed to be crushed, smashed, and destroyed!

Stomp, kick, and punch your way to completing wacky objectives set in a fully destructible cardboard world, where every building, obstacle, and enemy can be bashed to pieces or flattened into pulp! Smash down skyscrapers, face-off against paper foes, and take down the biggest (and silliest) crafted bosses this world has ever seen…

Go full DIY and unlock upgrades to customise your robot such as strapping a soda can to your leg for a handy speed boost, wooden spoons to give your Karate chops some added range, or slap on some stickers to add some extra style. Mix and match upgrades to make your perfect robot!

Intuitive controls make moving limbs simple and accessible to players of all ages and abilities. All you need to do is figure out how to work together… good luck with that! Oh, one more thing, if the robot trips, it's definitely your teammate’s fault!

---

The Relic: First Guardian – August 7
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Transformed into an apocalyptic landscape by the destruction of the great relic, the once-prosperous Arsilthus lies in ruins. But through the silence we began to hear breaths that have not yet faded, faint whispers carried on the wind: promises, waiting, fear, and love. These forgotten voices are Relics; fragments imbued with the emotions and wishes of those who lived before. It rests with you to find and use these powerful Relics, to honour their memories and lead the world back to prosperity. You are the last hope for Arsilthus.













The Relic: First Guardian


Perp Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






Created by a small and passionate core team of a dozen people, Project Cloud Games has created a fresh new take on combat, with a heavy emphasis on balancing action and vulnerability, their unique, dark, and gritty spin on classic Korean stories has been in the making for six years.

"It has a unique art style and combat that looks spectacular" – Dualshockers

"The Witcher Meets Dark Souls in Gorgeous 2026 Action-RPG" – Gaming Bible

“Stylish combat, tragic bosses, and a world inspired by Asian folklore combine to make The Relic: First Guardian one of the most exciting upcoming action RPGs” – PC GAMER

Transformed into an apocalyptic wasteland by the destruction of the great relic, the once-prosperous realm of Arsilthus lies in ruins. Set in a dark and haunting atmosphere enriched by the rich tapestry of Korean folklore and ancient mythology, this shattered land echoes with faint whispers lingering on the wind – promises, fear, and love. These forgotten voices endure as Relics: powerful fragments imbued with the emotions and final wishes of those who came before.
As the last hope for Arsilthus, it falls upon you to gather these ancient fragments, honour their memories, and lead the world back from the brink of extinction.

Fast Paced Brutal Combat
The Relic approaches combat differently – delivering freedom in attack, intensity in survival. Unleash an unstoppable onslaught with attacks that cost zero resources, allowing you to strike continuously with relentless creativity and consistency. Your stamina gauge is reserved strictly for high-stakes defence like dodging and blocking, while high-power magic operates on cooldowns and a dedicated meter. Attack without limits, defend with absolute precision.

Explore a Shattered, Semi-Open World
Traverse a vast, interconnected realm filled with forgotten ruins, hidden dungeons, and atmospheric landscapes. The world of Arsilthus rewards curious Guardians who venture off the beaten path with ancient artifacts, secret encounters, and pieces of lost lore buried deep within its ruined regions.

Confront Up to 80 Tragic Bosses
Step into battle against up to 80 mythic encounters – each a dark, standalone folktale brought to life, bound to a tragic lore that can only be laid to rest through ultimate victory. Adapt or perish: no two legends fight alike, and a strategy that slays one nightmare offers no guarantee of surviving the next.

Weapons Woven with Narrative
Command five distinct weapon masteries: Sword & Shield, Battle Staff, Daggers, Two-Handed Weapons, or the Longsword. Without a single duplicate weapon to be found – every single item is a bespoke, one-of-a-kind creation with its own tragic history. Discovering a new blade means uncovering a piece of the world's past, transforming your arsenal into a personal collection of living legends.

Master Ancient Weapon Skill Trees
Forge a deeper bond with your chosen armoury through specialised skill trees powered by relic energy. Channel forgotten power into game-changing passives alongside awe-striking, visually spectacular ultimate abilities.

Unbound Build Freedom
Forget traditional levelling – your power is forged entirely through the gear and Relics you discover. Collecting and equipping relics is as much about augmenting your character as it is about uncovering the world's past. With over 70 unique passive effects scattered that alter combat tempo and skill, the relic system encourages you to experiment endlessly. Freely swap game-changing passives, manipulate attack tempos, and tailor your build on the fly – giving you complete freedom to adapt instantly without ever being locked into a single playstyle.

---

Tailbreak – August 7
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere




A new dinosaur-blasting adventure is in town! Serving as a follow-up to Railbreak and as a retelling of the hit DINOBREAK, Tailbreak evolves the arcade on-rails shooter experience from mere resurrection to pleasingly primal for up to two players! Weapons and mechanics have been intensified; starting with just a handgun, you’ll need to make tough choices about your sub-weapons and juggle pick-ups with the new item system. Do you dedicate an item slot to a grenade or a healing item? Do you stick with your trusty machine gun, or do you switch it up with a heavy rifle?




















Tailbreak


Dead Drop Studios LLC



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$24.99

$22.49




Pre-order









A new dinosaur-blasting adventure is in town!

Serving as a follow-up to Railbreak and as a retelling of the hit DINOBREAK, Tailbreak evolves the arcade on-rails shooter experience from mere resurrection to pleasingly primal for up to two players!

Weapons and mechanics have been intensified; starting with just a handgun, you’ll need to make tough choices about your sub-weapons and juggle pick-ups with the new item system.  Do you dedicate an item slot to a grenade or a healing item?  Do you stick with your trusty machine gun, or do you switch it up with a heavy rifle?  

With new and realistic lighting utilizing Unreal Engine 5.7, Cypress Ridge looks more sinister and desolate than ever before.  A new, fully-voiced, six-act Story mode tells the plight of heroines Alex and Rin as they struggle to survive the events of DINOBREAK without becoming dino food.  The Arrange mode brings custom handguns and upgradable sub-weapons to the fray for something a little zanier, while the Mutation Matrix randomizes the game’s encounters and items for an unpredictable experience every play-through!

More bonus modes and features await as you take on nature’s ancient beasts on the safari of a lifetime in Tailbreak!

Features:

NEW Item System:  Pick up healing items, ammo, and more, but be careful: you can only hold two at a time!  Will you prioritize the extra firepower of a grenade, or will you hold onto a precious, life-restoring sprout for a rainy day?

Fierce Firepower:  Blast away with both returning and new weapons.  Carefully manage your sub-weapon ammo, or you may find yourself up dino creek without a paddle!  In Arrange mode, choose between handguns with different effects, and level up your sub-weapons to make them more powerful.

Deliciously Cheesy:  Enjoy a new story where lead characters Alex and Rin check out the coolest new game in Cypress Ridge Arcade – Tailbreak! It’s all about their search for safety in a city ravaged by raptors.  All six acts feature full voice acting with hysterical banter and the crazy camp you’d expect in your favorite B-movie!

Gameplay Galore:  Bonus modes like Score Attack, Arrange Mode, and Mutation Matrix add additional depth and extra replayability to the game.  Plus, all content can be experienced solo or in local co-op play with a friend!

Scarily Beautiful:  The world of Cypress Ridge comes to life whether you’re blasting through a restaurant or sulking through dark caverns thanks to the power of cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5.7, which brings stunning ray traced lighting to the varied, highly-detailed environments you’ll flee through during your exploits.












The post Next Week on XBOX: New Games for August 3 to 7 appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545995-next-week-on-xbox-new-games-for-august-3-to-7 https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545960-celebrating-age-in-2026-where-were-at-and-where-were-going Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:00:08 GMT The post Celebrating Age in 2026 – Where We’re At, and Where We’re Going... Celebrating Age in 2026 – Where We’re At, and Where We’re Going appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545960-celebrating-age-in-2026-where-were-at-and-where-were-going https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545959-a-microsoft-flight-simulator-cinderella-story-building-the-a220-airliner Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:00:08 GMT Earlier this week, Synaptic Simulations, a small team of young developers only a few years out of high school, launched their first product on the... Earlier this week, Synaptic Simulations, a small team of young developers only a few years out of high school, launched their first product on the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace: the A220 Airliner. This is one of the newest and most modern jet airliners operating in the world today, and its release in Microsoft Flight Simulator has been hotly anticipated by aviation enthusiasts.




Synaptic Simulations is a wonderful story of a group of young enthusiasts with a ton of talent and passion following their dreams. It’s a Cinderella story of a team emerging from the freeware scene and making an astonishingly complex airliner as their very first professional release. Warmest congratulations to Synaptic Simulations and iniBuilds on their launch, and we wish them great success with the A220.




We recently caught up with the Synaptic team to learn more about the people behind this exciting new add-on product and the process of turning it from an idea to reality.

---

What are your names, and what are each of your roles on the A220 project?




Harsh Duba: Synaptic’s team consists of eight developers working across systems and avionics programming, 3D art, and creative production. The project is led by me, as Synaptic’s CEO and art manager; Shaye, lead systems programmer; and Mike, lead avionics programmer. Together, we oversee the broader team and ensure every aspect of the A220 comes together as one cohesive aircraft.




How long have you known each other? How did you meet?




Michael Romashov: Most of us have known each other since around 2020 or 2021, when we independently joined what was then a community-led freeware A220 initiative. The project initially attracted contributors from across the flight-simulation community through Discord and Reddit. Over time, a smaller core group naturally formed as we identified the people with the commitment and complementary expertise needed to take the aircraft further. That core group ultimately became the Synaptic team working on the A220 today.




Before you became add-on developers, what were your career plans?




Shaye Garg: Before the A220, none of our career plans were completely set in stone. Most of the team were only 16 or 17 and fresh out of high school when the project began. Like many people in the flight simulation community, we grew up with Microsoft Flight Simulator, which sparked our interest in aviation, technology and creating things of our own. That passion ultimately inspired us to start building add-ons. Since then, we’ve pursued degrees in engineering and computer science and gone on to work across the software industry. In many ways, developing the A220 helped shape those paths, with the technical, creative and collaborative skills we gained through the project carrying directly into our education and professional careers.








Creating a modern airliner as a first development project seems like an incredibly daunting task. What inspired you to bring the A220 to Microsoft Flight Simulator rather than starting with a less complex aircraft?




Harsh Duba: We saw a clear gap in the flight simulation world. Many of today’s most popular airliners were already well represented, but the A220 was still a very new and modern aircraft at the time and had no serious high-fidelity simulation in development.




We also wanted to create something that felt genuinely unique and gave flight simmers a different experience from the familiar aircraft already available. Starting with such a sophisticated airliner was undeniably ambitious, but our passion for the A220 made us willing to learn as we went. What began as an attempt to fill that gap gradually became a long-term commitment to recreating the aircraft with the depth and accuracy it deserves.




When and how did you partner with one of the largest creators in flight simulation—iniBuilds? What are iniBuilds contributing to the project?




Harsh Duba: The partnership came about through a colleague, who had been working with iniBuilds in a freelance capacity. Having seen first-hand how iniBuilds operate, he felt it was the right home for the A220.




We had long admired iniBuilds’ work and reputation for delivering high-quality aircraft, so it quickly became clear they were the ideal partner to help bring the A220 from a passionate community project to a formalized product.




iniBuilds has provided the structure, production environment and resources needed to take the project to the next level. Beyond publishing support, the team has been responsible for the majority of the texturing artwork, full passenger cabin, liveries, animations and numerous refinements throughout the flight deck. They produced the custom sound package and developed a bespoke Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), helping deliver a more polished and accessible experience for simmers.








Are there any unique features of the A220 that you’re particularly excited about?




Michael Romashov: There are many unique aspects of the A220 that we’re excited to share. From its distinctive exterior and cockpit design, accurately recreated by our 3D team, to the quirks throughout its systems and avionics, the aircraft is full of details that set it apart.




One highlight is the 3D terrain map, supported by a custom compression algorithm and designed to faithfully represent the system found in the real A220. The Synaptic A220 also features a sophisticated graphical flight-planning system that allows pilots to modify their route directly through the navigation display – including creating holds, defining crossing constraints, rerouting, and much more.




We’ve also modelled a good amount of interactive circuit breakers, both physically within the cockpit and digitally through the aircraft’s displays. These are integrated directly into the A220’s deep electrical-system simulation, meaning that interacting with them produces the appropriate effects across the aircraft.




Even the soundscape is distinctive, particularly the A220 engine’s recognizable “whale howl,” which we’re excited to reproduce in the simulator. Combined with the accurately modelled autoflight behavior and other core systems, there will be plenty for users to discover both inside and outside the cockpit.








What were some of the most interesting challenges you had to overcome during development of the A220?




Shaye Garg: Because the A220 was our first aircraft-development project, one of our greatest challenges was the steep learning curve involved in reproducing such a complex modern airliner. As our knowledge, experience, and standards grew, we often reached a point where improving the existing work was no longer enough – we needed to start again and rebuild it properly.




This has affected nearly every part of the aircraft. We rebuilt the 3D model from the ground up to achieve the accuracy and level of detail we wanted while taking full advantage of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s capabilities. The aircraft’s systems and avionics have similarly undergone several substantial rewrites as our understanding of both the real A220 and software architecture evolved.




Although those rebuilds significantly expanded the project’s scope, each one produced a more accurate, robust, and maintainable result. Learning when to refine existing work and when to rebuild it entirely has been one of the project’s most difficult and most valuable lessons.








What excites you most about the A220?




Harsh Duba: What excites us most is how different the A220 feels to fly and operate compared with more conventional Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Its distinctive systems, avionics, and operating flows give pilots something genuinely new to learn, making it an interesting and rewarding aircraft to fly.




Beyond the aircraft itself, we’re excited to see how the community receives it. After years of development, the prospect of finally placing such a unique and modern airliner into the hands of thousands of flight simmers is incredibly rewarding. We’re also looking forward to supporting and expanding the A220 well into the future, guided by feedback from the community and the continued evolution of the simulator.




The Synaptic Simulations / iniBuilds A220 Airliner is available now from the Microsoft Flight Simulator in-sim Marketplace for USD 64.99.




Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available for XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, PlayStation 5, and on supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly known as Twitter) or visit our website at: www.flightsimulator.com.




















Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Aviator Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
2066



★★★★★






$199.99

$159.99




Get it now









Aviator Edition
Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Aviator Edition includes everything from the Premium Deluxe Edition plus the entire fleet of 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft developed for Microsoft Flight Simulator between 2021 and 2024.

Fly with Purpose
·       Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet.
·       Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses.
·       Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.

Advanced Simulation
·       Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism.
·       New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion.
·       Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.

Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin
·       Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet.
·       Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers – all influenced by seasonal changes. The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences.
·       The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.






























Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Premium Deluxe Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
2081



★★★★★






$129.99

$103.99




Get it now









Premium Deluxe Edition
Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Premium Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 25 additional aircraft and 10 additional handcrafted international airports.

Fly with Purpose
·       Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet.
·       Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses.
·       Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.

Advanced Simulation
·       Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism.
·       New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion.
·       Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.

Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin
·       Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet.
·       Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers – all influenced by seasonal changes. The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences.
·       The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.






























Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Deluxe Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
2028



★★★★★






$99.99

$79.99




Get it now









Deluxe Edition
Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 10 additional aircraft and 5 additional handcrafted international airports.

Fly with Purpose
·       Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet.
·       Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses.
·       Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.

Advanced Simulation
·       Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism.
·       New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion.
·       Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.

Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin
·       Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet.
·       Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers – all influenced by seasonal changes. The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences.
·       The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.































Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Standard Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
3314



★★★★★






$69.99

$55.99




Get it now




PC Game Pass


Xbox Game Pass







Standard Edition
Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Standard Edition includes over 65 aircraft and 150 handcrafted airports.

Fly with Purpose
·       Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet.
·       Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses.
·       Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.

Advanced Simulation
·       Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism.
·       New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion.
·       Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.

Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin
·       Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet.
·       Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers – all influenced by seasonal changes. The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences.
·       The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.




















The post A Microsoft Flight Simulator Cinderella Story: Building the A220 Airliner appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545959-a-microsoft-flight-simulator-cinderella-story-building-the-a220-airliner https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545958-silent-hill-townfall-developers-discuss-the-scottish-setting-retro-technology-first-person-combat Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:30:31 GMT Launching September 24 on PlayStation 5, Silent Hill: Townfall (https://www.playstation.com/games/silent-hill-townfall/) marks the latest entry in...

Launching September 24 on PlayStation 5, Silent Hill: Townfall marks the latest entry in the iconic psychological horror franchise. In this article, we bring you insights from Motoi Okamoto, producer for the Silent Hill series at Konami and Jon McKellan, writer and director at Scotland-based developer Screen Burn Interactive.  




Could you share why you chose Screen Burn as the development team for this title?




Motoi Okamoto: We were introduced to Screen Burn by Annapurna Interactive, who co-published the title with us. Annapurna has an incredible track record of success with narrative and art-driven indie games, so we fully trusted their taste. I had personally played Screen Burn’s previous titles Stories Untold and Observation, and both were fantastic, so I felt confident leaving the project in their hands.












When asking Jon to handle the narrative, were there any specific requirements or guidelines regarding what makes a game “Silent Hill?”




Okamoto: While Konami does have an internal “bible” or storyline guidelines, I believe the most crucial part of the process is for the developers and writers themselves to analyze the Silent Hill series and build their own bible. Handing over a thick manual from our end wouldn’t necessarily resonate with a team. That’s why we ask every development team we collaborate with to go through that personal discovery process.




What were your thoughts on setting the game in Scotland?




Jon McKellan: Scotland is where we grew up; it’s the environment most familiar and natural for us to depict. To create a meticulous, persuasive setting, we felt it was essential to build a world we knew inside and out. That’s why we chose Scotland. On top of that, Scotland is naturally a very foggy region, making it a perfect fit for Silent Hill. There were times when we’d take photos outside and think, “We’re literally standing in Silent Hill right now…”












Okamoto: Silent Hill frequently collaborates with development studios worldwide. Through these partnerships, we can blend diverse regional cultures and perspectives to deliver fresh, innovative horror experiences.












This title marks the first full-length Silent Hill game to adopt a first-person perspective. While Silent Hill: The Short Message (released in 2024) also used first-person viewpoint, it was a smaller standalone experience. Despite being developed by different teams, did that title influence Silent Hill: Townfall?




Okamoto: Beyond having different developers, the production timelines were completely different, so there was no direct exchange of technical know-how. The fact that both Silent Hill: Townfall and Silent Hill: The Short Message ended up in first-person was purely coincidental.




McKellan: Since there was no overlap, our team at Screen Burn was able to play Silent Hill: The Short Message with a completely fresh perspective. For Silent Hill: Townfall, a first-person viewpoint was an indispensable foundation for integrating the mechanics around the CRTV device. Honestly, the CRTV couldn’t work from any other perspective. While the first-person view brings many changes compared to traditional titles in the series, we took great care to maintain that distinct, atmospheric Silent Hill feel and presentation.












What was the motivation behind evolving the series’ iconic radio into the CRTV?




McKellan: The concept of changing the radio to the CRTV was there from the very start of development. In the earliest stages, it was a standard radio, but we set a challenge for ourselves: how could we make the radio an active tool rather than a passive one? By turning it into a visual device where you can watch video signals in addition to hearing audio, the possibilities exploded—from how we handle narrative presentation to how it integrates into gameplay, like stealth. Plus, as you might be able to tell from Screen Burn’s past games, figuring out how to manipulate slightly outdated analog technology is right up our alley.




Are there scenes that simply couldn’t exist without the CRTV?




McKellan: So much of the presentation and gameplay was designed around the premise of the CRTV. Rather than asking “Which scenes couldn’t exist without it?”, we approached development by asking, “How can we best leverage this device to its fullest potential in every moment?”












Could you tell us more about your meticulous, almost obsessive, dedication to recreating retro gadgets and environments? How do you feel that enhances the Silent Hill experience?




McKellan: Older analog tech and gadgets mean a lot to us, and we have a real fondness for them. Nostalgic elements like these are things that not just us, but players everywhere have touched and experienced, evoking a sense of familiarity. We deliberately designed moments that play against those nostalgic feelings. In a modern context, analog technology feels a bit unstable, unreliable, or hard to trust completely. We wanted to create a situation where players have to rely on this device to survive, even while feeling uneasy about relying on it too much.




As for our environmental design, we take pride in saying it borders on obsession. Believing that a place actually exists is what makes players truly care about it, and making players care is the most important thing of all.




Red and black are used very prominently in this game. What was the intention behind this color palette?




McKellan: Part of it is simply that they are a striking pair of colors, but as you progress through the game, players will discover that these two colors hold a deeply symbolic and vital significance for our protagonist, Simon.












The creatures in Silent Hill: Townfall feel tougher than in previous entries. Is the game balanced to favor stealth over combat?




McKellan: We’ve provided players with multiple options to handle encounters. Rather than forcing a single playstyle, we want players to experiment and discover which approach feels most effective or suitable for each situation as they fight to survive.




How did you approach the concept of multiple endings?




McKellan: The endings in Silent Hill: Townfall aren’t determined by a simple binary choice at the end. Instead, the culmination of the player’s actions throughout their playthrough dictates which ending they reach. We designed this freedom so that the ending feels genuinely earned based on the player’s unique journey.




Okamoto: All three main endings can be reached right from your first playthrough, whereas the secret ending becomes accessible after clearing the game once. It follows a structure similar to the original Silent Hill and Silent Hill 2, meaning players won’t be forced to replay the game two or three times just to see all primary endings.












Could you share how PS5 features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers enhance the game’s presentation?




McKellan: Through the DualSense wireless controller’s adaptive triggers, players won’t just feel the weight of firearms—haptics allow you to literally feel the footsteps of certain approaching creatures right in your hands. Motion control (gyro) also enables intuitive aiming. Early in development, I was actually a bit skeptical about how well motion controls would fit, but once we implemented them in-game, it felt so natural that I couldn’t go back to traditional controls.




Using motion controls, you can also manipulate the map as if holding it directly in your hands. Additionally, certain puzzles require you to physically tilt the CRTV—mimicking the everyday motion of holding up a phone to search for a signal, which is another fun way we’ve integrated the motion controls.




As a producer, how do you feel about the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback?




Okamoto: The Silent Hill series has historically been praised for its visuals and sound, but with the PS5, being able to bring the sense of touch into the horror experience feels like a massive step forward.












3D Audio is another crucial element for modern horror. How have you used sound design to heighten the terror in Silent Hill: Townfall?




McKellan: Because Silent Hill: Townfall is played in first-person, your visual field of view is naturally restricted, making audio far more important. We intentionally created situations in which players must rely heavily on subtle noises and audio cues to perceive threats lurking beyond what their eyes can see.

---

Silent Hill: Townfall launches on PS5 September 24. 



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545958-silent-hill-townfall-developers-discuss-the-scottish-setting-retro-technology-first-person-combat https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545957-xbox-app-available-on-hisense-and-vidaa-os-powered-tvs Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:30:31 GMT We’re continuing to bring XBOX to more devices players already own, giving them more ways to jump into their favorite games, especially those who may... We’re continuing to bring XBOX to more devices players already own, giving them more ways to jump into their favorite games, especially those who may not be able to afford or justify buying dedicated gaming hardware.




Over the past month, we’ve started rolling out the XBOX app to millions of VIDAA OS-powered Smart TVs from 2024-2026, including supported Hisense models. With a compatible TV and controller, this gives you another way to enjoy your favorite games with XBOX.




XBOX Game Pass subscribers can stream hundreds of games directly to your TV (game library varies over time, by region, device, and Game Pass plan). Whether you’re exploring Forza Horizon 6, Halo: Campaign Evolved, or discovering a new favorite, your progress moves with you, so it’s easy to pick up and play across devices. XBOX Game Pass subscribers can also stream supported games they already own, even outside the Game Pass catalog.




We’re rolling out the XBOX app to compatible VIDAA OS TVs over time, with availability expanding gradually as updates reach additional devices and regions.




How to Get Started



To start playing, you’ll need:

• A VIDAA OS-powered Smart TV or supported Hisense TV running on VIDAA OS 9.6 or higher. For more information on compatible models, contact VIDAA support.
• An XBOX Game Pass subscription – Ultimate, Premium, or Essential.
• A supported Bluetooth enabled wireless controller, like the XBOX Wireless Controller.
• A reliable high-speed internet connection.

How to Get the XBOX App on Your TV



To get started, make sure your TV is updated to VIDAA OS 9.6 and the XBOX app will appear on your Home Page. Here’s how:

• Check your TV for a VIDAA OS 9.6 update (please note that the update may not be available on all supported TVs at launch). For more information, contact VIDAA support.
• Once updated, access the XBOX app from the Home Page or “Games” section of the menu bar of your TV.
• Sign into or create your XBOX account.
• Connect a compatible Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller. Controllers like the XBOX Wireless Controller, XBOX Adaptive Controller, XBOX Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, PlayStation DualSense, or PlayStation DualShock 4 controller are all compatible.
• Choose a game and start playing!

To learn more about how you can play across TVs and browsers on supported devices like smartphones, Windows PCs, and tablets, check out xbox.com/cloudgaming.

The post XBOX App Available on Hisense and VIDAA OS-powered TVs appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545957-xbox-app-available-on-hisense-and-vidaa-os-powered-tvs https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545956-free-play-days-wwe-2k26-polterguys-possession-party-and-wildgate Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:00:19 GMT Step into the ring, haunt the party, and blast into the unknown with this week’s Free Play Days! Polterguys Possession Party is available this... Step into the ring, haunt the party, and blast into the unknown with this week’s Free Play Days! Polterguys Possession Party is available this weekend for XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday, July 30 until Sunday, August 2.




Additionally, WWE 2K26 and Wildgate are free for all XBOX members to try with Free Play Days (XBOX Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).

---

How to Start Playing



Scroll down and 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 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the XBOX Store and navigate down to 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 achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.

---

Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)

---

Polterguys: Possession Party
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Experience supernatural multiplayer madness where 8 players use sneaky sabotage to get opponents caught by a raging monster! Play as mischievous ghosts who possesses every-day objects to gain special powers! Battle in spooky maps full of traps and utilize whacky powerups to sacrifice your friends! Polterguys is a spooky brawlfest where mischievous ghosts are being stalked by a deadly monster who wants to destroy them all!















Polterguys: Possession Party


Amplified Games Ltd



☆☆☆☆☆
25



★★★★★





$4.99




Get it now




Free Trial

---

Free Play Days For All

---

WWE 2K26
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S
Run the world’s greatest show your way with WWE 2K26 this weekend during XBOX Free Play Days! Step into CM Punk’s 2K Showcase, dominate with 400+ Superstars and Legends, and unleash chaos with all-new match types. Featuring the most stacked line-up in franchise history with 400+ playable WWE Superstars and Legends including The Rock, Triple H, John Cena, Rhea Ripley, and fan-favorites like Rey Fénix, Rusev, and Blake Monroe.












WWE 2K26 Standard Edition


2K



☆☆☆☆☆
1478



★★★★★






$69.99

$34.99




Get it now

---

Wildgate
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere
Wildgate is a PvPvE multiplayer shooter with 3 different modes. In Artifact Brawl, be the first to snatch the Artifact and blast through the Wildgate or destroy the ships of every rival crew to be crowned the winner. Fleet Battle pits two massive teams of up to 12 players each against one another in relentless, action-packed combat. For a more relaxed looting expedition, salvage treasure and escape with the spoils before getting blown up in Treasure Hunt.



















Wildgate


Dreamhaven, Inc.



☆☆☆☆☆
346



★★★★★






$29.99

$23.99




Get it now




PC Game Pass


Xbox Game Pass


Free Trial

---

Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members! 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.

The post Free Play Days – WWE 2K26, Polterguys: Possession Party and Wildgate appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545956-free-play-days-wwe-2k26-polterguys-possession-party-and-wildgate https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545955-extract-from-the-gyldenmist-dark-fantasy-extraction-arpg-mistfall-hunter-arrives-on-xbox Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:00:19 GMT Summary Mistfall Hunter (https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/mistfall-hunter/9p8x6tvw9zw8), the highly anticipated dark fantasy extraction... Summary

• Mistfall Hunter, the highly anticipated dark fantasy extraction ARPG, officially launched yesterday, July 29, at 6:00 PM PT across XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC, arriving as a Day One release with XBOX Game Pass.
• Dive into a fluid action-extraction loop where every successful extraction actively mends the shattered Web of Fate and pushes the world’s story forward across an ever-shifting, season-based battlefield.
• Jump in with a 10% launch discount on both the Standard and Deluxe Editions, available across all platforms until August 12.

The fresh hunt awaits. Mistfall Hunter, the highly anticipated dark fantasy action extraction ARPG, officially launched yesterday on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and XBOX Game Pass. Prepare to step into a ruthless loop of high-stakes looting, deadly combat, and desperate extractions to mend the shattered Web of Fate.








Survive in a Fallen World Corrupted by the Gyldenmist



In Mistfall Hunter, players immerse themselves in Weavereach, a shattered world corrupted by the Gyldenmist after the gods perished. Revived by a mysterious girl named Dew, you take on the role of a Gyldhunter, choosing from six distinctive classes to harvest precious Gyldenblood. The game blends fluid, third-person action extraction mechanics with a bleak dark fantasy aesthetic, elevating the traditional high-stakes looting cycle by weaving tension directly into the narrative, whether you brave the dangers solo or form a three-player squad.




This tension is driven by a masterful cycle of pressure and release. The Gyldenmist transforms the environmental dangers into a constant, atmospheric threat where you must navigate ruins filled with treasure, battle Corroded monsters, and outsmart rival Gyldhunters who might hunt you for your spoils. However, the moment you ring the bell and step into the extraction portal, that crushing pressure instantly melts into relief as you return safely to Windrest camp with your hard-earned rewards secured.




Yet, Weavereach is far more than just a mechanical battlefield. It is a breathing world of ruined civilizations. Spanning from the fortress of Brandrgarde to the bleached Hallowgrove, this shattered world has given birth to a variety of species including humans, Velgr, and Lizardfolk, each driven by conflicting religious beliefs. The characters you encounter in the mist are not simply lifeless NPCs or mindless monsters waiting to be farmed. They are tragic remnants of a fallen age, each carrying their own sorrowful past and desperate motivations into the fight.








Stitch the Web of Fate to Forge an Evolving World



The Web of Fate, which once connected the past, present, and future destinies of all living beings, shattered after the fall of the gods. Stripped of this cosmic order, Weavereach remains trapped in an endless apocalypse. Your only hope to break this doomed cycle comes from Dew, a mysterious fragment of the fallen Fate Goddess who guides you at the start of your journey.




Under her guidance, your role as a Gyldhunter transcends mere survival. The precious Gyldenblood you extract from the ruins is not just used to build your personal wealth or upgrade your gear: it is the vital lifeblood required to stitch the world back together. As you and the entire community of players successfully extract these resources and offer them to Dew, your collective efforts actively mend the shattered world, pushing the overarching narrative forward.




This continuous mending process ensures that players are never just repeating a stagnant extraction cycle. Mistfall Hunter is driven by an ever-shifting, season-based battlefield where community progress can have an impact on the world’s evolution. Each season introduces fresh narrative updates with brand-new main quests and unique limited-time events tied to the Web’s restoration. As players hit new progression milestones, the world mutates to unleash new classes and uncharted zones, guaranteeing that every successful hunt carries true narrative weight before the cycle resets and a new season begins.








Get Prepared with Exclusive Launch Discounts



Ready to brave the Gyldenmist? Players can choose between two versions of Mistfall Hunter. The Standard Edition is available for $24.99. The Deluxe Edition, priced at $39.99, offers exclusive customization for your Gyldhunter, including the Forsaken Skeleton outfit, the Shipwreck Coast background, and 2,500 in-game Fate Coins.




To celebrate the official launch, both editions are now available at a special 10% discount across all platforms. This offer is valid until August 12 at 10:00 AM PT. Gyldhunters can now visit the XBOX Store to download Mistfall Hunter and prepare for the hunt. Stay updated with the latest news and updates by joining the community on Discord or following Mistfall Hunter on X (Twitter), YouTube, and the official website.






























Mistfall Hunter


Skystone Games



☆☆☆☆☆
169



★★★★★






$24.99

$22.49




Get it now




PC Game Pass


Xbox Game Pass







Everything is Woven in the Mist.
The gods have fallen, and the Gyldenmist is consuming the world. Revived by a mysterious girl named Dew, you are thrust into a bleak world to harvest Gyldenblood and mend the shattered Web of Fate.
Scavenge, fight, and extract in a brutal cycle of survival to bring a flicker of hope to this forbidden land.
A gripping dark fantasy extraction journey
Mistfall Hunter is a third-person PvPvE extraction ARPG blending bleak dark fantasy aesthetics with intense, visceral action. Step into a forbidden realm consumed by the mist. Caught in a ruthless loop of high-stakes looting, deadly combat, and desperate extractions, you must fight for your life in the shadows to experience the ultimate dark fantasy survival test.
Loot in the Mist. Make It Out Alive.
This intricate dark fantasy world hides precious Gyldenblood and forgotten relics. It also serves as a brutal battleground for melee skirmishes against both horrific, corroded creatures and cunning rival Gyldhunters.
Every battle is a deadly gamble where death strips you of all your spoils. To return to the safety of your camp, you must carve a bloody path to a Returner Woodling. Will you secure your hard-earned loot, or risk everything for greater glory? The Web of Fate does not judge. It remembers.
Stunning Combat With Steel And Magic
Engage in fluid, third-person action where every strike matters. As a Gyldhunter, string together devastating combos to seize the upper hand in high-stakes PvPvE encounters.
A precision free-aim system adds profound depth to the battlefield—target your enemies' weak points and immerse yourself in the brutal clash of heavy steel and arcane arts.
Deploy a diverse arsenal of tactical items to outsmart your prey, letting split-second reflexes and cunning strategy dictate who survives.
Unbound Mastery of Skills
Six distinct classes define your path through the mist, each mastering two unique weapon stances. Adapt to the chaos of the mist by seamlessly swapping fighting styles mid-battle to dominate any encounter.
Dive into deep customization with expansive talent trees, tailoring your loadout using dozens of rare gem affixes and a vast array of active skills.
Break free from rigid class restraints—whether you favor relentless assault, elusive maneuvering, heavy crowd control, or unyielding defense, you define the rules of your hunt.
Go Solo or Hunt as a Squad
Stalk the mist as a lone wolf, or band together in a three-player squad. In this hazardous realm, fighting back-to-back with your companions is the surest way to crush towering monstrosities, outmaneuver rival hunting parties, and guarantee a safe extraction.
An Ever-Shifting Battlefield
The rules of survival shift in every season. The battlefield beneath the Gyldenmist constantly mutates, unleashing new classes, forbidden arcana, uncharted zones, and ancient relics to keep the hunt fresh and fiercely competitive.
With zero pay-to-win mechanics and no paid stat boosts, victory is earned in blood—decided solely by your mastery of the hunt.











The post Extract From the Gyldenmist: Dark Fantasy Extraction ARPG Mistfall Hunter Arrives on XBOX appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545955-extract-from-the-gyldenmist-dark-fantasy-extraction-arpg-mistfall-hunter-arrives-on-xbox https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545954-gears-of-war-e-day-get-an-in-depth-look-at-multiplayer-with-new-trailer-and-deep-dive Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:46:11 GMT Right now, you’ll be seeing the very first hands-on previews of Multiplayer in Gears of War: E-Day... Right now, you’ll be seeing the very first hands-on previews of Multiplayer in Gears of War: E-Day going live across the internet – and if you’re itching to learn more, we have the video for you. We’re happy to reveal the (Metallica-soundtracked!) first trailer for Multiplayer, as well as a full deep-dive packed with new information. 




The trailer kicks us off with a wild look at both Horde Siege, the new 12-player, 3-squad PVE experience and the return of Versus, before The Coalition’s developers dive much deeper.




Along the way, we get more information on Horde Siege, an evolution of the beloved original Horde mode. Set across the biggest multiplayer maps ever seen in the series, Horde Siege sets three squads of four out on their own individual missions across the same stage, resulting in wildly unpredictable battles. There’s a lot to learn here – from how classes work, to how optional objectives reward you and your squad – so make sure to watch for all the details.




And that’s only half of it – we also learn about the return of Versus. The classic PVP experience has also evolved with the addition of E-Day’s new movement mechanics, allowing for the squad-based chaos you’re familiar with, and brand-new ways to make clutch plays to win the round for your side. We also found out about the four modes included in Versus, and even got a tease to what’s coming to the game after launch.




After you’ve watched the trailer and deep dive, the best way to experience Multiplayer is to play it yourself. Drop into the Early Access Open Beta starting August 6 with pre-order on XBOX Series X|S or Steam, or with a Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription.  




Gears of War: E-Day will be available on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, cloud, and is XBOX Play Anywhere. Play it day one with Game Pass Ultimate. Also available on Steam.

The post Gears of War: E-Day – Get an In-Depth Look at Multiplayer with New Trailer and Deep Dive appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545954-gears-of-war-e-day-get-an-in-depth-look-at-multiplayer-with-new-trailer-and-deep-dive https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545953-gears-of-war-e-day-multiplayer-all-the-details Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:46:11 GMT The post Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer – All the Details (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/30/gears-of-war-e-day-multiplayer-deep-dive/)... Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer – All the Details appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545953-gears-of-war-e-day-multiplayer-all-the-details https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545952-silent-hill-townfall-hands-on-report Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:31:01 GMT The line between supernatural horrors and the psychological struggles of characters is often blurred between Silent Hill games, but it might never...

The line between supernatural horrors and the psychological struggles of characters is often blurred between Silent Hill games, but it might never have been as hazy as it is in Silent Hill: Townfall. I recently played about four hours of the first-person survival-horror game, in which protagonist Simon finds himself in a foggy Scottish town full of horrors, but seemingly can’t quite make out what’s real and what’s only in his mind.




My preview began at the start of Townfall, with Simon apparently responding to a letter asking him to return to the mysterious town of St. Amelia. One moment it appears Simon is drifting towards the dock aboard a boat. The next, he bursts out of the water and pulls himself ashore as if he’s just awoken there. The details of Simon’s arrival to St. Amelia seems intentionally ambiguous.








He sets off into St. Amelia, trying to find out what’s going on, but it seems to be abandoned. As you make your way down the city streets, he hears shouting and sees flashes, implying there’s a protest or a riot — only to discover the town square is empty of people.




Is Simon hallucinating, or are dark forces leading him on in St. Amelia? It’s impossible to say, especially after Simon answers a ringing pay phone and hears a cryptic voice pushing him to find a woman named Zoe. He’s suddenly transported into an underground structure hued in red light, which indicates it as part of Silent Hill’s twisted version of the real world, known as the Otherworld.








Exploring the structure leads Simon, impossibly, to an apartment, where you discover the hand-held TV that is Townfall’s most important item. Tuning signals on the TV provides hints about how to solve puzzles, and you’ll need it to access an elevator that somehow returns you to the streets of St. Amelia.




A foggy past



As writer and director Jon McKellen explained, the puzzles you’ll face in Townfall are also direct hints about the story. The signals you find on the CRTV are directly related to St. Amelia’s and Zoe’s pasts, providing clues about who she was and where she might have gone.




Visiting Zoe’s empty apartment reveals that she’s a nurse, leading to the clinic where she worked. A set of three scales sits in her office, each awaiting an object that was important to her — but which she felt symbolized her failures, which led her to disappear from her job.








In Zoe’s apartment, you find her ID badge, and in the nearby pharmacy, you can find a prescription Zoe ordered, but discover that she mistakenly called in the wrong dosage. When you make your way to the apartment of Zoe’s coworker, you collect her medical bag with a broken stethoscope inside, the symbol of her inability to truly hear her patients.




Zoe’s story is inextricably linked with that of the town, which seemed to have suffered some sort of medical outbreak, and with Simon, even though he doesn’t know who she is.

















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This town is full of monsters



Townfall is the first Silent Hill game in which you’ll fight creatures in first-person, and compared to other recent titles like Silent Hill 2 or Silent Hill f, the change in perspective makes for some harrowing moments. A third-person camera makes it a little more viable to potentially dodge attacks and move around enemies, but in first-person, your options narrow to facing the threat head-on, or making a run for it. That adds an intensity to every battle, especially since it can be easy for Simon to get overwhelmed.




While following in Zoe’s footsteps, Simon learns that St. Amelia isn’t completely empty. Marauding the streets are faceless, writhing creatures, wrapped in industrial straps and sporting axe blades for faces.




Luckily, you can sometimes find pieces of wood to use as clubs to defend yourself, although these aren’t plentiful. If a monster sees you and attacks, you can block its vicious charges and swings with your melee weapon by holding L2. The trick is then to strike back with R2 when you see an opening. But combat is fast and frenetic, and enemies don’t go down easily. What’s more, your makeshift club can only survive the onslaught for a couple of battles.








Combat in Townfall is only something to resort to if you have no other choice. A much better option is to avoid enemies altogether. Turning the CRTV to certain signals allows you to see monsters through walls and fog, and you can duck behind walls, cars, and fences gives you a chance to stay out of sight. Hold L1, and you can peek over or around objects to see what’s awaiting you.








If something does spot you and give chase, the town has small spaces like closets, sheds, and half-opened doors where you can duck in and hopefully hide yourself until the danger passes.

















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A later section of the preview, in which the Otherworld invades the streets, sends you through the yards and alleys of a neighborhood. Here, I faced a new type of creature, which fires vicious tentacles from its chest to attack at range, or can grab and overpower you almost instantly, especially if your health is low.

















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Luckily, I also had a new weapon: a revolver. It might be more of a liability than a real defense, though. The gun is powerful but incredibly loud, and while it was good for quickly killing enemies, it always made the situation worse by drawing more. It also reloads slowly when you hit Square as Simon presses each cartridge into the cylinder individually.








Stealth is, again, the best option here, and you can pick up small objects like bottles and bricks to throw as distractions, or use machines you come across, such as radios or TVs, to draw an enemy away so you can slip around them.








A PS5 Pro-enhanced experience



Townfall channels an uncanny realism in St. Amelia, thanks to making heavy use of the PS5’s features. Its visuals are enhanced by the PS5 Pro, and it leans on aspects of the DualSense controller to create a singular experience.




The game uses a 2.35:1 aspect ratio to create a cinematic experience, and sports both a 30FPS Quality setting and 60FPS Performance setting. The developers at Screen Burn visited and photographed real coastal towns in Scotland in order to recreate their look and feel, and Townfall uses PS5 Pro’s upgraded PSSR to create a town that looks incredibly realistic at high resolution. Ray tracing to create hauntingly beautiful environments, whether they’re full of fog in the regular world, or bathed in oppressive red light in the Otherworld.








Haptics feedback with the DualSense controller adds a lot of intensity to combat, from the smash of a wood plank against an enemy, to the blast of blocking a counter-attack. Townfall also makes use of the DualSense’s gyroscope for certain controls, making them feel more tactile. With motion controls enabled, when you use the CRTV to hunt for signals in radios or other devices, you’ll need to physically move and twist the controller to tune in.




You can also use motion controls with firearms, moving the whole controller to carefully adjust your aim and land headshots at key moments.




Though my time with Silent Hill: Townfall left me with plenty of questions and a lot of mysteries, its twisting psychological machinations captured exactly what I like about the series. Its emphasis on tough combat and stealth mechanics also give it plenty of ways to make you jump out of your seat. You can try to keep your cool when Silent Hill: Townfall launches on September 24 on PlayStation 5.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545952-silent-hill-townfall-hands-on-report https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545951-the-elder-scrolls-online-tour-tamriel-with-the-prince-of-madness-in-a-new-questline Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:31:01 GMT The post The Elder Scrolls Online: Tour Tamriel with the Prince of Madness in a New Questline... The Elder Scrolls Online: Tour Tamriel with the Prince of Madness in a New Questline appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545951-the-elder-scrolls-online-tour-tamriel-with-the-prince-of-madness-in-a-new-questline https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545950-superhero-workplace-comedy-dispatch-launches-on-xbox-today Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:31:01 GMT The post Superhero Workplace Comedy, Dispatch Launches on XBOX Today (https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/dispatch/9NDJSV855T3P#new_tab) appeared... Superhero Workplace Comedy, Dispatch Launches on XBOX Today appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545950-superhero-workplace-comedy-dispatch-launches-on-xbox-today https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545939-halo-campaign-evolved-is-out-now Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:00:20 GMT The post Halo: Campaign Evolved Is Out Now (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/28/halo-campaign-evolved-is-out-now/) appeared first on XBOX Wire... Halo: Campaign Evolved Is Out Now appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545939-halo-campaign-evolved-is-out-now https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545938-xbox-gamescom-2026 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:00:20 GMT Join XBOX at gamescom 2026 as we celebrate 25 years of play. We’re returning to Cologne, Germany to connect with players from around the world and... Join XBOX at gamescom 2026 as we celebrate 25 years of play. We’re returning to Cologne, Germany to connect with players from around the world and spotlight many of the incredible games coming soon to XBOX.




The XBOX booth will be packed with new worlds to explore, developers to meet, and experiences that showcase what’s next for XBOX. Our booth will feature 25 upcoming games and 140 gaming stations, giving fans the opportunity to go hands-on before they launch. Be among the first to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Minecraft Dungeons II, Gears of War: E-Day, METRO 2039, STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, Alien: Isolation 2, and more.




As XBOX commemorates 25 years of play, gamescom 2026 is our way to celebrate the players and communities who made those many years possible. Attendees can revisit iconic moments, games, and innovations from every generation of XBOX through interactive experiences that honor the memories, friendships, and stories created along the way.




That celebration continues with the return of XBOX FanFest, bringing together members of our global community for exclusive experiences and unforgettable moments.




Can’t join in person? We’ll be streaming live on YouTube and Twitch, connecting fans around the world with developer interviews, special guests, gameplay reveals, new trailers, and more.




It’s all about the games
















The biggest games of the year will be on XBOX, and many of them will be in our booth ready for you to dive into early.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 takes center stage. Step into the franchise’s signature Core 6v6 Multiplayer on XBOX Series X, where every match showcases the fluid movement and best-in-class ballistics that define Modern Warfare 4. Whether you’re returning after the Early Access Beta or getting your first taste of the action, this is your chance to experience the next chapter of Modern Warfare Multiplayer firsthand.
• Gears of War: E-Day brings the first public playable hands-on experience with campaign to gamescom, giving players an early look at the brutal origins of the Locust War and the beginning of the brotherhood between Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago ahead of its October 6, 2026, release.
• Play Minecraft Dungeons II for the first time. Drop your pickaxe and grab a sword (and a friend) because the foes are tougher than ever – but the loot is worth the battle. Can you fight the crisis?
• For the first time ever, Fable will have a live demo theater presentation by Playground Games, showcasing live gameplay to the public, taking fans on a Hero’s journey that highlights its smooth and responsive combat.
• Play STRANGER THAN HEAVEN for the first time. Face down fate in the 50-year, action-adventure saga’s demo showcasing the innovative combat system that has you independently control the left and right sides of protagonist Makoto Daito across 3 of the 5 immersive Japanese cities & eras found in the full game.
• Get hands-on with METRO 2039 for the first time at gamescom ahead of its release in February 2027. Explore, scavenge, and survive the post-apocalyptic ruins of Moscow in the next landmark FPS from acclaimed storytellers 4A Games.
• Halo: Campaign Evolvedlets attendees go hands-on with the faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s legendary campaign, featuring updated visuals, refined gameplay, expanded combat options, and the iconic ringworld adventure that started it all.
• Between new Forza Horizon 6features and partnership collaborations, there is always something new happening in Japan. Players can test their driving skills in the new Drift Attack feature and get a sneak peek at partnership collaborations dropping over the next few months.
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 brings riveting content and announcements from the world of digital aviation, including the first public playable hands-on experience with the National Championship Air Races, giving players a chance to experience the fastest motorsport on earth.

There’s so much more to play including Alien Deathstorm, Alien: Isolation 2, Bad Magpie, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Crowsworn, Genigods: Nezha, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, STAR WARS Zero Company, Terrible Lizards, Turok: Origins, and Valor Mortis.




Tune in from home







XBOX will bring the show to you with live broadcasts from the heart of the XBOX booth starting at 4pm CEST on Wednesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 27 featuring interviews, special guests, gameplay reveals, new trailers, and more.




Tune in on YouTube and Twitch. The show will be available in American Sign Language (ASL) and English Language Audio Descriptions (AD). Select content from the show will be available in additional languages.




XBOX Booth Details



You’ll be able to find us in Hall 7, booth A-0.61.

• Thursday, August 27 – 10am to 8pm CEST
• Friday, August 28 – 10am to 8pm CEST
• Saturday, August 29 – 9am to 8 pm CEST
• Sunday, August 30 – 9am to 8pm CEST 

Our booth will be wheelchair accessible, with XBOX Adaptive Controllers available upon request and select demo stations equipped with adjustable-height desks and monitors. “Here to Help” staff will be on hand to help players with adaptive set ups and our Quiet room and sensory items will be available for players looking for a reduced sensory experience. Additionally, we will provide ASL, BSL and DGS interpreters and English- and German-language Audio Descriptions at our booth from 12-5pm Thursday through Sunday.




XBOX FanFest Sweepstakes







XBOX FanFest’s next stop is Cologne, Germany on Wednesday, August 26 from 8pm – 11pm CEST at the XBOX booth. Check our official social channels and the official FanFest website for news about how to enter the sweepstakes for your chance to win tickets.

The post XBOX @ gamescom 2026 appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545938-xbox-gamescom-2026 https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545937-flamecraft-is-coming-to-ps5-this-year-demo-available-today Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:30:40 GMT Hi, PlayStation community! I’m Matt from Monster Couch, and I’m super excited to share that Flamecraft is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year. In...

Hi, PlayStation community! I’m Matt from Monster Couch, and I’m super excited to share that Flamecraft is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year. In the meantime, if you’re curious to see what awaits you in Flamecraft’s whimsical town, the demo is available today on PlayStation Store!




The demo lets you visit a selection of the town’s unique shops, meet some of the cheerful Artisan and Fancy Dragons you’ll encounter in the full game, play against bot opponents across three difficulty levels or gather up to five players for local multiplayer. To help you get started, we prepared a tutorial that will walk you through the basics of being a Flamekeeper.









Play Video


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But what is Flamecraft really about? Let’s start from the beginning…




You keep the letter folded in your pocket, though the ink is smudged and the edges are gently singed. It serves as a reminder of who you were before coming to town and meeting such wonderful new friends.




“Welcome, Flamekeeper! We are delighted that you have agreed to make your way to our quaint little town on such short notice. The artisan dragons have been very excited to begin this grand project, but it has been quite difficult sorting out what that even is without a translator. They are eager to start immediately, and we are not sure what they intend to do with all this wood, stone, and sheep.”




Now it is your time to burn bright.








Flamecraft is a cozy, turn-based strategy game where tiny Artisan Dragons and local shopkeepers work together in a whimsical shopping district full of magic. In Flamecraft, you become a Flamekeeper—one who’s skilled in the art of conversing with dragons. Your main task is to help the dragons find their perfect homes by placing them thoughtfully in shops, where they can work their magic and delight the townsfolk with their craft.







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As a Flamekeeper, you’ll play dragon cards, manage resources, and build powerful combos with enchantments and Fancy Dragons, each with their own unique abilities. But remember that every dragon you place and every shop that appears in town becomes part of a shared engine that every Flamekeeper can use—that means your opponents, too. As the town grows, so do the possibilities, so strategize and plan your moves carefully to build your Reputation.








Each turn, you’ll choose whether to visit a shop to gather resources or enchant it using magical artifacts. Enchanting a shop allows you to fire up all dragons working there, combining their powers into satisfying combos that reward careful planning. Along the way, you’ll also befriend extraordinary Fancy Dragons, whose unique abilities and special scoring opportunities can boost your strategy as you compete for the coveted title of Master of Flamecraft.




There are many paths to victory, whether you focus on chaining enchantments or making the most of Fancy Dragons. With a huge variety of Artisan Dragons, plenty of unique shops, and a different setup every game, every match is a chance to try something new.








Flamecraft has three ways to play: solo, locally with friends or bot opponents, or online with Flamekeepers from around the world.




Solo Mode lets you play at your own pace while completing achievements to unlock pieces of an original story, following the dragons and townsfolk as they work toward an ambitious shared dream: building a lighthouse whose beacon will guide Artisan Dragons from distant lands to a place they can finally call home.




If you’d rather play with others, you can set up a custom local game with friends, family, and bot opponents for up to five players sharing a single console, or try the Online multiplayer and choose between Short Matchmaking, Long Matchmaking, or Custom Online Games.




And if you feel there’s a lot to learn—fret not! The fully narrated interactive tutorial is voiced by Becca Scott, the beloved tabletop personality behind Good Time Society, who guides you through the game’s mechanics step by step while introducing you to the wonderful world of Flamecraft. A small reward even awaits those who complete it!








From the very beginning, our goal was to build a warm, cheerful, and wholesome game that’s welcoming to everyone. We wanted this enchanting world to feel alive, so we handcrafted a vibrant 3D town and filled it with beautifully animated shops and characters, lively dragons, a whimsical soundtrack, and countless little details that make it feel cozy and relaxing.








I’m incredibly proud of our team and everything they did to make Flamecraft feel so special. If you enjoy cozy strategy games or maybe you need more whimsy in your life, check out what awaits you in the shopping district! Tiny dragons await!




See you in town!



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545937-flamecraft-is-coming-to-ps5-this-year-demo-available-today https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545936-playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-august-dying-light-2-stay-human-reloaded-edition-big-walk-signalis Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:30:40 GMT Be fleet of foot to survive a post-apocalyptic cityscape alone or with pals, buddy up to walk and talk your way through a pleasant puzzle-filled...

Be fleet of foot to survive a post-apocalyptic cityscape alone or with pals, buddy up to walk and talk your way through a pleasant puzzle-filled world, or take a solo trip into a dystopian future for a brooding slice of psychological survival horror with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for August. Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition, Big Walk and Signalis will all be available to PlayStation Plus members* from Tuesday August 4 until Monday August 31. 




Let’s take a closer look at each of the games.






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Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition | PS5, PS4



In Dying Light 2, survival meets action adventure as you attempt to endure a hostile, post-apocalyptic world. Rival factions across The City aren’t the only enemy – a virus has turned a vast majority of the human population into monsters. Take on the role of Aiden Caldwell, a wanderer with the power to change the fate of The City, but your exceptional abilities come at a price. Haunted by memories you cannot decipher, you set out to learn the truth – and find yourself in a combat zone. Hone your skills to defeat your enemies and make allies. Unravel the dark secrets behind those that wield power, choose sides and decide your destiny. Play in up to four-player co-op: host your own games or join others and see how their choices have played out differently than yours.






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Big Walk | PS5



Big Walk is a cooperative multiplayer adventure about teamwork and talking. Set out with your friends through a wide-open world full of challenges, puzzles, and discoveries. You’ll need to work together to find your way around, stay in contact using an assortment of tools and toys, and figure out new ways to communicate when you suddenly find yourself speechless. Adventuring aside, there’s plenty of time to just hang out. Sit and watch the sunset, or steal your friend’s binoculars and kick them into the ocean. Spending time with friends is the best part of a big walk.






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Signalis | PS4



Awaken from slumber and explore a surreal retrotech world as Elster, a technician Replika searching for her lost partner and her lost dreams. Discover terrifying secrets, challenging puzzles, and nightmarish creatures in a tense and melancholic experience of cosmic dread and classic psychological survival horror.






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MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls PlayStation Plus Pack



Starting August 6**, all PlayStation Plus members can acquire a MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls PlayStation Plus Pack from PlayStation Store. This pack contains two sets of items:

• Five Avatars inspired by characters from MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, featuring Captain America, Storm, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, and Ghost Rider. 

• A set of in-game Result Screen Character Poses featuring 20 characters, including Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, Peni Parker and more. 

The pack will be available in the PlayStation Plus section of PlayStation Store on your PS5 or PS4 console or PlayStation Plus web page, starting August 6*. PlayStation Plus members need to redeem and download the pack to access its contents. The Avatars will appear in the Avatar section of your profile page on your PS5 or PS4 console. The Result Screen Character Poses are accessible and selectable in the PS5 version of MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls once the game and pack are downloaded onto your PS5 console.




*PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day for more information.




**MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls PlayStation Plus Pack is available until August 6, 2027.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545936-playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-august-dying-light-2-stay-human-reloaded-edition-big-walk-signalis https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545935-ball-x-pit-final-update-the-naturalist-arrives-august-6 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:30:40 GMT Hello PlayStation Blog community! I’m back for the last time (…maybe) to share what to expect in the latest and final, free Ball x Pit...

Hello PlayStation Blog community! I’m back for the last time (…maybe) to share what to expect in the latest and final, free Ball x Pit update. Titled The Naturalist Update, players can expect more of what they love when it releases next week on August 6 and I’m here to share a brand new trailer, gameplay clips, and give you some content details of what to expect in the next update.









Play Video


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>



























To give a little backstory, it turns out we couldn’t stop making content for this game. We had a little breathing room before release and a pile of ideas we didn’t want to waste, so we honestly just… kept going. Which would explain all of that extra chaos making its way to you as free content. We’ve been so excited to see what new ball combinations the community has been cooking up after each and every update, tuning into your videos and content on social channels has been amazing. So for that, we thank you!








2 new characters



Players of Ball x Pit: The Naturalist Update will come across two new unlockable characters, each with opposite personalities.

• The Ballbearer doubles down on firepower (literally), giving you double the amount of ball slots to build an arsenal at the cost of giving up passive items entirely.
• The Hoary Hoarder takes the opposite approach, lugging around an oversized backpack stuffed with gear. They only have room for two ball slots, but make up for it with twice as many passive slots, letting powerful item Evolutions do the heavy lifting.

11 New Balls

• Lightning Bug lights up the battlefield by spawning a firefly with every bounce. Each one seeks out the strongest enemy before zapping nearby targets with a burst of lightning.
• Mosquito Kingdom slowly builds a buzzing swarm, spawning one or two mosquitoes whenever it hits an enemy. The mosquitoes hunt down the weakest target on the field, dealing between 100-150 damage with each attack, and if one lands the killing blow, well, you simply recover a small amount of health back.
• Drill tears through enemies from behind, piercing straight through them and dealing extra damage along the way.
• Flesh starts off weak, dealing only half damage, but it rapidly increases in speed with every bounce until it becomes a blur tearing across the screen.
• Armageddon calls down a destructive meteor shower the moment it hits an enemy. The first impact marks the target, then flaming meteors rain across the area, dealing heavy damage to every enemy caught within a three-tile radius.

5 New Passives

• Platinum Dumbbell rewards clean shots, giving your balls a damage boost that lasts until they finally collide with the back wall.
• Inglorious Hammer keeps the pressure on after a bounce, causing balls that hit a wall or the back of the arena to immediately strike a random enemy for reduced damage.
• Remote Detonator turns every kill into another explosive opportunity. Whenever an enemy goes down, it spawns a level 1 Bomb Ball whenever an enemy dies, keeping the chain reaction going and filling the battlefield with even more booms.

..aaand of course there’s more that we don’t want to spoil!








The team and I appreciate your time for reading and all the support surrounding the game since launch, and we hope you’re excited as we are to finally jump into the final free content update! Ball x Pit: The Naturalist Update will be available for all PS5 players next week on August 6.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545935-ball-x-pit-final-update-the-naturalist-arrives-august-6 https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545934-fit-for-a-spartan-win-a-1-18-replica-of-a-special-halo-inspired-ride Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:40:53 GMT To celebrate the global launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved on July 28, Halo and Automobili Lamborghini have joined forces to create the Lamborghini...



To celebrate the global launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved on July 28, Halo and Automobili Lamborghini have joined forces to create the Lamborghini Urus SE Master Chief 117 Edition, a Lamborghini Urus SE wrapped in a bespoke, Master Chief-inspired livery customized exclusively for the occasion.




Created as a tribute to the Spartan who has inspired generations of players, the Lamborghini Urus SE Master Chief 117 Edition reflects the Master Chief’s unmistakable identity in every detail. From the gold-tinted windows and visor-inspired headlights to the signature armor-green exterior and the iconic “117” number featured on both sides of the Super SUV, the bespoke design pays homage to humanity’s greatest green-armored hero.






















Fans can also experience the Master Chief 117 Edition Livery on a Lamborghini Urus in Forza Horizon 6 beginning July 30, 2026. The livery can be downloaded through the in-game Message Center. Once redeemed, all players will receive the special edition livery, which will automatically be added to their in-game garage.








Of course, we know our Halo community will want to bring a piece of this moment home. That’s why, alongside the full-size vehicle, we’re creating a limited number of exclusive 1:18-scale collectible replicas. Fans around the world will have the opportunity to enter an online sweepstakes for the chance to own one of these special-edition replicas—a collectible worthy of any Spartan’s display. To enter, follow Xbox on X and repost the official X sweepstakes post with the hashtag #MasterChief117Sweepstakes.




(No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of Xbox supported regions (excl. Russia), 18+. Ends at 5:00 p.m. PT on September 13, 2026. See Official Rules for full details.)








Whether you’ve stood alongside the Master Chief since the beginning or you’re preparing to deploy for the first time with Halo: Campaign Evolved, this collaboration is a celebration of the journey we’ve shared together. Halo has always been about stepping into the unknown, facing impossible odds, and finishing the mission. The Lamborghini Urus SE Master Chief 117 Edition captures that same spirit—where legendary performance meets legendary heroism.




Halo: Campaign Evolved launches globally on July 28, 2026, with early access beginning July 23 for Premium Edition owners. It will be available for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, cloud, and included with Game Pass. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere. Also available on Steam and PlayStation 5. The game supports cross-play and cross-progression across XBOX Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5.













Halo: Campaign Evolved – Standard Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
1144



★★★★★





$49.99




Pre-order






Pre-purchase Halo: Campaign Evolved and get the Foundry Armory Pack, featuring legendary looks for the Master Chief’s iconic Mark V Mjolnir armor.

PRE-PURCHASE INCLUDES:
• Classic 2001 Mark V Armor skin
• Classic 2001 Assault Rifle skin
• Gilded Onyx Armor style
• Gilded Onyx Assault Rifle style

EXPERIENCE WHERE THE LEGEND BEGINS
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign. Experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, refined controls, plus a brand-new three-mission adventure featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. A broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies, and gameplay-modifying “Skulls” – optional modifiers that change combat in fun and challenging ways – add fresh tactics and endless replayability.

Play it your way: solo or up to 4-player online co-op with full crossplay and cross-progression support. Whether you’re discovering Halo for the first time or returning to the ring after 25 years, Halo: Campaign Evolved delivers an adventure that feels both timeless and brand new.

DISCOVER THE RINGWORLD:
After crash landing on a mysterious ringworld known as Halo, the Master Chief is tasked with helping the remaining humans survive against overwhelming Covenant forces. Alongside his AI companion Cortana, he uncovers Halo’s dark secrets and fights to avert the annihilation of all life in the galaxy.

THE COMPLETE CAMPAIGN, REBUILT:
Battle through the original missions, remade with high-def visuals, updated cinematics, and refined level design.

CINEMATICS AND AUDIO OVERHAULED:
All-new visuals and animations, plus a remastered soundtrack and fully rebuilt sound design for deeper immersion.

COMBAT AND WEAPONS EXPANDED:
Classic Halo combat feels sharper than ever, now with 9 additional iconic weapons from across the series to add to your arsenal.

THREE NEW MISSIONS:
Play as the Master Chief alongside Sgt. Johnson in Operation: Meteorite, a standalone combat operation featuring new environments, gameplay, and enemies.

PLAY SOLO OR WITH FRIENDS:
Experience the complete campaign your way, solo or in 4-player online co-op, complete with crossplay and shared progression across console and PC.

DRIVE, HIJACK, WREAK HAVOC:
Halo’s iconic vehicles return with more ways to create unforgettable chaos. For the first time in Halo: CE, hijack enemy vehicles and pilot a fully drivable Wraith tank.

ENDLESS REPLAYABILITY:
Remix every mission with optional “Skull” modifiers that add variety and challenge with randomized weapons, enemies, and environments.













The post Fit For a Spartan: Win a 1:18 Replica of a Special Halo-Inspired Ride appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545934-fit-for-a-spartan-win-a-1-18-replica-of-a-special-halo-inspired-ride https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545933-fit-for-a-spartan-win-a-1-18-replica-of-a-special-halo-inspired-ride Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:31:01 GMT To celebrate the global launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved on July 28, Halo and Automobili Lamborghini have joined forces to create the Lamborghini...



To celebrate the global launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved on July 28, Halo and Automobili Lamborghini have joined forces to create the Lamborghini Urus SE Master Chief 117 Edition, a Lamborghini Urus SE wrapped in a bespoke, Master Chief-inspired livery customized exclusively for the occasion.




Created as a tribute to the Spartan who has inspired generations of players, the Lamborghini Urus SE Master Chief 117 Edition reflects the Master Chief’s unmistakable identity in every detail. From the gold-tinted windows and visor-inspired headlights to the signature armor-green exterior and the iconic “117” number featured on both sides of the Super SUV, the bespoke design pays homage to humanity’s greatest green-armored hero.






















Fans can also experience the Master Chief 117 Edition Livery on a Lamborghini Urus in Forza Horizon 6 beginning July 30, 2026. The livery can be downloaded through the in-game Message Center. Once redeemed, all players will receive the special edition livery, which will automatically be added to their in-game garage.








Of course, we know our Halo community will want to bring a piece of this moment home. That’s why, alongside the full-size vehicle, we’re creating a limited number of exclusive 1:18-scale collectible replicas. Fans around the world will have the opportunity to enter an online sweepstakes for the chance to own one of these special-edition replicas—a collectible worthy of any Spartan’s display. To enter, follow Xbox on X and repost the official X sweepstakes post with the hashtag #MasterChief117Sweepstakes.




(No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of Xbox supported regions (excl. Russia), 18+. Ends at 5:00 p.m. PT on September 13, 2026. See Official Rules for full details.)








Whether you’ve stood alongside the Master Chief since the beginning or you’re preparing to deploy for the first time with Halo: Campaign Evolved, this collaboration is a celebration of the journey we’ve shared together. Halo has always been about stepping into the unknown, facing impossible odds, and finishing the mission. The Lamborghini Urus SE Master Chief 117 Edition captures that same spirit—where legendary performance meets legendary heroism.




Halo: Campaign Evolved launches globally on July 28, 2026, with early access beginning July 23 for Premium Edition owners. It will be available for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, cloud, and included with Game Pass. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere. Also available on Steam and PlayStation 5. The game supports cross-play and cross-progression across XBOX Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5.













Halo: Campaign Evolved – Standard Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
1144



★★★★★





$49.99




Pre-order






Pre-purchase Halo: Campaign Evolved and get the Foundry Armory Pack, featuring legendary looks for the Master Chief’s iconic Mark V Mjolnir armor.

PRE-PURCHASE INCLUDES:
• Classic 2001 Mark V Armor skin
• Classic 2001 Assault Rifle skin
• Gilded Onyx Armor style
• Gilded Onyx Assault Rifle style

EXPERIENCE WHERE THE LEGEND BEGINS
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign. Experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, refined controls, plus a brand-new three-mission adventure featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. A broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies, and gameplay-modifying “Skulls” – optional modifiers that change combat in fun and challenging ways – add fresh tactics and endless replayability.

Play it your way: solo or up to 4-player online co-op with full crossplay and cross-progression support. Whether you’re discovering Halo for the first time or returning to the ring after 25 years, Halo: Campaign Evolved delivers an adventure that feels both timeless and brand new.

DISCOVER THE RINGWORLD:
After crash landing on a mysterious ringworld known as Halo, the Master Chief is tasked with helping the remaining humans survive against overwhelming Covenant forces. Alongside his AI companion Cortana, he uncovers Halo’s dark secrets and fights to avert the annihilation of all life in the galaxy.

THE COMPLETE CAMPAIGN, REBUILT:
Battle through the original missions, remade with high-def visuals, updated cinematics, and refined level design.

CINEMATICS AND AUDIO OVERHAULED:
All-new visuals and animations, plus a remastered soundtrack and fully rebuilt sound design for deeper immersion.

COMBAT AND WEAPONS EXPANDED:
Classic Halo combat feels sharper than ever, now with 9 additional iconic weapons from across the series to add to your arsenal.

THREE NEW MISSIONS:
Play as the Master Chief alongside Sgt. Johnson in Operation: Meteorite, a standalone combat operation featuring new environments, gameplay, and enemies.

PLAY SOLO OR WITH FRIENDS:
Experience the complete campaign your way, solo or in 4-player online co-op, complete with crossplay and shared progression across console and PC.

DRIVE, HIJACK, WREAK HAVOC:
Halo’s iconic vehicles return with more ways to create unforgettable chaos. For the first time in Halo: CE, hijack enemy vehicles and pilot a fully drivable Wraith tank.

ENDLESS REPLAYABILITY:
Remix every mission with optional “Skull” modifiers that add variety and challenge with randomized weapons, enemies, and environments.













The post Fit For a Spartan: Win a 1:18 Replica of a Special Halo-Inspired Ride appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545933-fit-for-a-spartan-win-a-1-18-replica-of-a-special-halo-inspired-ride https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545932-play-more-ubisoft-games-on-pc-new-content-now-available-for-xbox-on-pc-plus-free-pc-redemption Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:31:01 GMT Ubisoft and XBOX are expanding their partnership with two big updates coming today: the addition of premium editions and selected add-on content for... Ubisoft and XBOX are expanding their partnership with two big updates coming today: the addition of premium editions and selected add-on content for a wide range of Ubisoft titles for XBOX on PC, and a free benefit for select games, where XBOX console players can snag the PC version at no additional cost.




More Ubisoft Content on the XBOX PC App



A broad selection of digital games with premium editions and/or add-on content have been added for XBOX on PC. Highlights include some of the biggest names in the Ubisoft catalogue – Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Skull and Bones, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – alongside fan favorites spanning the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, The Crew and Watch Dogs franchises, and more.




XBOX Console-to-PC Offer



Players who own the digital XBOX console version of select games can now access the PC version through Ubisoft Connect at no additional cost. Check them out below:

• Assassin’s Creed Mirage
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
• Far Cry 6
• Immortals Fenyx Rising
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Riders Republic
• Skull and Bones
• The Crew 2
• The Crew Motorfest
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
• Watch Dogs Legion

Please update Ubisoft Connect to its newest version to ensure the titles are available in your library.




From today, customers that purchase a digital version of the listed titles will immediately get the XBOX console and XBOX on PC digital versions. For existing owners of an XBOX digital version of the listed titles, you will receive the PC version during a progressive rollout period until August 4. 




Still got questions? We’ve got you covered with the FAQ below.




Q: Does this work the other way around – if I own the PC version, do I get the console version free?




A: No, you can only claim a free PC version, not the other way around.




Q: Does my Season Pass or add-on content also transfer?




A: For most games, the edition and DLC content you own on Xbox will transfer to the PC version at no extra cost. The only exceptions are consumable items (such as in-game currency or one-time-use content), which may not carry over.




To see exactly what content you own on PC, open Ubisoft Connect PC, where your library will display the edition name tied to your account, and each game’s Properties page provides a full breakdown of your owned DLC and add-on content.




Q: Are in-game currencies or consumables included in the add-on content available on the XBOX PC App?




A: No, currencies and consumables are excluded from this offering. However, with select games that support cross progression, users will find all their content from the XBOX version on the PC version.

The post Play More Ubisoft Games on PC: New Content Now Available for XBOX on PC, Plus Free PC Redemption appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545932-play-more-ubisoft-games-on-pc-new-content-now-available-for-xbox-on-pc-plus-free-pc-redemption https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545931-how-halo-studios-evolved-a-classic-halo-campaign-evolved-official-xbox-podcast Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:31:01 GMT On this episode of the Official XBOX Podcast, we’re sitting down with the Halo team to talk all things Halo: Campaign Evolved. We’re discussing the... On this episode of the Official XBOX Podcast, we’re sitting down with the Halo team to talk all things Halo: Campaign Evolved. We’re discussing the 25-year legacy of the iconic franchise, how the team upgraded and remade a classic for the modern era, what players can expect when they dive in, and we’re getting an exclusive first look at a special 25th Anniversary armor set.

The post How Halo Studios Evolved a Classic – Halo: Campaign Evolved | Official XBOX Podcast appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545931-how-halo-studios-evolved-a-classic-halo-campaign-evolved-official-xbox-podcast https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545930-six-useful-tips-to-survive-and-thrive-above-the-toxic-clouds-in-forever-skies Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:31:01 GMT What if Earth were no longer a place humanity could call home because of its own brazen actions? In Forever Skies... What if Earth were no longer a place humanity could call home because of its own brazen actions?




In Forever Skies, that’s the world you’ll step into. It’s a first-person sci-fi survival crafting game set hundreds of years after an ecological catastrophe transformed our planet beyond recognition. Toxic clouds blanket Earth’s surface, so to move around, you’ll need to build, customize, and pilot a high-tech airship that will become your everything – your mobile base, workshop, and ultimate survival lifeline.








Built Together with Our Community



We’re incredibly excited to finally bring Forever Skies to the XBOX community after years of development. Since the early days of our PC Early Access, the game has been shaped by player feedback. Throughout development, we’ve worked closely with our community, listening to suggestions, refining core systems, and expanding the game with features inspired directly by our players.




Even after our 1.0 launch in April 2025, we knew we wanted to keep supporting the game. So, while preparing Forever Skies for XBOX, we continued listening to players and developing new content. That’s why our biggest update yet, The Final Echoes, launches exactly alongside the XBOX release. From day one, XBOX Series X|S players will experience the most complete and expanded version of the game.




And The Final Echoes introduces some major new features, including a new power management system for your airship and a reworked damage system that changes how you maintain and protect your flying base. We’ve also added more than 30 new side quests that uncover more of the world’s story, along with new enemies and combat encounters, new sprawling landmark locations, and greater environmental variety across our three biomes to make exploration even more rewarding. On top of that, we’ve introduced deep custom difficulty settings, allowing players to tailor the experience to their preferred playstyle. All of these additions—and more—are the result of another year of collaboration with our community, helping us create the best version of Forever Skies yet.




Now, since a lot of you will be taking flight with us for the first time, we wanted to take some time to six useful tips and tricks we’ve seen are worth highlighting as not everyone is aware of this when playing our game for the first time.




1. Find and Follow Side Quests



Side quests reward you with all kinds of useful things, from lore that reveals how life on Earth unfolded during humanity’s downfall to unique decorations for your airship and valuable resources. Most importantly, though, some side quests also reward you with powerful devices and technology that you might not find anywhere else. So, if you want to kit out your airship with the best tools and tech to help you thrive, keep an eye out for these side missions and do them. Don’t ignore them or just leave them till the end.




2. Deactivate Explored Location Beacons







Once you’re up in the skies exploring, you’ll notice that many locations are marked by flashing beacons at their highest point. After you’ve landed and scavenged a location, make it a habit to remove the battery powering the beacon on the location. This deactivates it, making it much easier to tell at a glance which locations you’ve already explored and stripped of resources.




3. Make Duplicate Devices Early



Can you get by with just one water filter, engine, or fabricator? Sure, but only just. If you really want to thrive, don’t be afraid to build duplicate devices early. Having multiple resource-producing machines running at once makes life much easier and helps your production ramp up much faster. This is especially true when playing in co-op, where there are more mouths to feed and more hands to keep busy. Your airship is meant to grow over time, so don’t be afraid to fill those empty rooms.




4. Capture Lighting to Take Advantage of the Surplus Status



One of the biggest overhauls added by our Final Echoes Update is our new electricity system. With it, you’ll now need to build up airships ability to generate power to meet your electricity consumption, and thus let you keep your devices on and functioning. If your power consumption exceeds your power generation by too much, your devices will start to take damage. But then there is also the flip side of this, known as Surplus Status. This isn’t just about building more and more generators. All that will do is keep you in Stable Status. Surplus Status requires you to upgrade your generators to be able to capture and harness lightning strikes encountered during violent storms. By overloading your grids with raw lighting energy, you’ll unlock significant efficiency perks for your airship. Crafting stations work faster, resource-producing systems become more productive, and even your airship gains additional flight speed with a built-in boost mode.




5. Be Smart in Combat



You’re a scientist sent to explore and study Earth, not an elite soldier. You’ll face plenty of threats from the planet’s evolved flora and fauna, but success comes from preparation rather than brute force. Look for openings, make good use of electrical mines, experiment with different ammo types, and don’t forget about stat boosters. Combat is all about finesse, so resist the urge to “Leeroy Jenkins” your way through every encounter.




6. Embrace Custom Difficulty (It Won’t Turn off Achievements)



Survival game haters will tell us they really don’t enjoy managing hunger and thirst, while survival game masochists will tell you there’s never enough starvation and dehydration for their liking. To try and finally satisfy everyone’s various demands for balance changes, we’ve implemented a new custom difficulty setting.




Now you can tweak how quickly your hunger, thirst, oxygen, and energy deplete, or even turn any of them off entirely if you want. You can remove the need for resources in order to build and craft. Choose what you lose when you die, whether it’s during normal gameplay or after blindly falling off your airship. You can also adjust combat by deciding how much health enemies have, how much damage they deal, and how frequently they spawn. Extra hint: if you’ve got a phobia of bugs, we’ve also got you covered. You can turn those giant mantis baddies into floating torso dudes in the accessibility settings. You can change any of these settings at any point in the game. And yes, as the title says, using custom difficulty will not disable your achievements. So set the game up exactly how you want to play and adjust as you go, enjoy!




Your Journey Begins Today







Forever Skies is available now on XBOX Series X|S and you can play solo or in coop with up to four people online. The game also supports XBOX Play Anywhere so your progress carries across XBOX Series X/S, Windows PC, and XBOX-supported gaming handhelds.




Thanks for reading, and we hope to see many of you in the skies alongside our amazing and dedicated community.




















Forever Skies


Far From Home



☆☆☆☆☆
12



★★★★★





$34.99




Get it now









Forever Skies is a first-person post-apocalyptic survival game. Play it solo or in coop and return to Earth, ravaged by an ecological disaster. Build, fly, upgrade and customize your high-tech airship. Craft tools, and scavenge resources to survive. Face dangers on the surface and hunt for viruses to cure a mysterious illness.

Build and Control Your Airship
Build, maintain and extensively customize a high-tech airship. This will be your home, workshop, laboratory and more while flying above the surface of a ruined Earth. Manage your airship and gather resources to improve and make it uniquely yours.

Scavenge Ruined Skies
Gather food, materials and resources from the ruins of civilization to survive. Use science to upgrade your tools, airship and technology to thrive in this hostile environment as you try fulfil your mission of finding viral pathogens to cure a mysterious illness ailing the last remaining humans stranded in orbit.

Descend Below the Dust
Descend below the toxic dust blanketing Earth to discover a strange new world, as the planet's surface has changed in our absence. Face evolved fauna and flora and hunt for viral pathogens, rare resources and valuable research to further your mission

Single Player and Online Co-op
Explore and fulfil your mission on ruined Earth in single player or play with friends using online co-op for up to 4 players.











The post Six Useful Tips to Survive and Thrive Above the Toxic Clouds in Forever Skies appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545930-six-useful-tips-to-survive-and-thrive-above-the-toxic-clouds-in-forever-skies https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545929-six-useful-tips-to-survive-and-thrive-above-the-toxic-clouds-in-forever-skies Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:20:35 GMT What if Earth were no longer a place humanity could call home because of its own brazen actions? In Forever Skies... What if Earth were no longer a place humanity could call home because of its own brazen actions?




In Forever Skies, that’s the world you’ll step into. It’s a first-person sci-fi survival crafting game set hundreds of years after an ecological catastrophe transformed our planet beyond recognition. Toxic clouds blanket Earth’s surface, so to move around, you’ll need to build, customize, and pilot a high-tech airship that will become your everything – your mobile base, workshop, and ultimate survival lifeline.








Built Together with Our Community



We’re incredibly excited to finally bring Forever Skies to the XBOX community after years of development. Since the early days of our PC Early Access, the game has been shaped by player feedback. Throughout development, we’ve worked closely with our community, listening to suggestions, refining core systems, and expanding the game with features inspired directly by our players.




Even after our 1.0 launch in April 2025, we knew we wanted to keep supporting the game. So, while preparing Forever Skies for XBOX, we continued listening to players and developing new content. That’s why our biggest update yet, The Final Echoes, launches exactly alongside the XBOX release. From day one, XBOX Series X|S players will experience the most complete and expanded version of the game.




And The Final Echoes introduces some major new features, including a new power management system for your airship and a reworked damage system that changes how you maintain and protect your flying base. We’ve also added more than 30 new side quests that uncover more of the world’s story, along with new enemies and combat encounters, new sprawling landmark locations, and greater environmental variety across our three biomes to make exploration even more rewarding. On top of that, we’ve introduced deep custom difficulty settings, allowing players to tailor the experience to their preferred playstyle. All of these additions—and more—are the result of another year of collaboration with our community, helping us create the best version of Forever Skies yet.




Now, since a lot of you will be taking flight with us for the first time, we wanted to take some time to six useful tips and tricks we’ve seen are worth highlighting as not everyone is aware of this when playing our game for the first time.




1. Find and Follow Side Quests



Side quests reward you with all kinds of useful things, from lore that reveals how life on Earth unfolded during humanity’s downfall to unique decorations for your airship and valuable resources. Most importantly, though, some side quests also reward you with powerful devices and technology that you might not find anywhere else. So, if you want to kit out your airship with the best tools and tech to help you thrive, keep an eye out for these side missions and do them. Don’t ignore them or just leave them till the end.




2. Deactivate Explored Location Beacons







Once you’re up in the skies exploring, you’ll notice that many locations are marked by flashing beacons at their highest point. After you’ve landed and scavenged a location, make it a habit to remove the battery powering the beacon on the location. This deactivates it, making it much easier to tell at a glance which locations you’ve already explored and stripped of resources.




3. Make Duplicate Devices Early



Can you get by with just one water filter, engine, or fabricator? Sure, but only just. If you really want to thrive, don’t be afraid to build duplicate devices early. Having multiple resource-producing machines running at once makes life much easier and helps your production ramp up much faster. This is especially true when playing in co-op, where there are more mouths to feed and more hands to keep busy. Your airship is meant to grow over time, so don’t be afraid to fill those empty rooms.




4. Capture Lighting to Take Advantage of the Surplus Status



One of the biggest overhauls added by our Final Echoes Update is our new electricity system. With it, you’ll now need to build up airships ability to generate power to meet your electricity consumption, and thus let you keep your devices on and functioning. If your power consumption exceeds your power generation by too much, your devices will start to take damage. But then there is also the flip side of this, known as Surplus Status. This isn’t just about building more and more generators. All that will do is keep you in Stable Status. Surplus Status requires you to upgrade your generators to be able to capture and harness lightning strikes encountered during violent storms. By overloading your grids with raw lighting energy, you’ll unlock significant efficiency perks for your airship. Crafting stations work faster, resource-producing systems become more productive, and even your airship gains additional flight speed with a built-in boost mode.




5. Be Smart in Combat



You’re a scientist sent to explore and study Earth, not an elite soldier. You’ll face plenty of threats from the planet’s evolved flora and fauna, but success comes from preparation rather than brute force. Look for openings, make good use of electrical mines, experiment with different ammo types, and don’t forget about stat boosters. Combat is all about finesse, so resist the urge to “Leeroy Jenkins” your way through every encounter.




6. Embrace Custom Difficulty (It Won’t Turn off Achievements)



Survival game haters will tell us they really don’t enjoy managing hunger and thirst, while survival game masochists will tell you there’s never enough starvation and dehydration for their liking. To try and finally satisfy everyone’s various demands for balance changes, we’ve implemented a new custom difficulty setting.




Now you can tweak how quickly your hunger, thirst, oxygen, and energy deplete, or even turn any of them off entirely if you want. You can remove the need for resources in order to build and craft. Choose what you lose when you die, whether it’s during normal gameplay or after blindly falling off your airship. You can also adjust combat by deciding how much health enemies have, how much damage they deal, and how frequently they spawn. Extra hint: if you’ve got a phobia of bugs, we’ve also got you covered. You can turn those giant mantis baddies into floating torso dudes in the accessibility settings. You can change any of these settings at any point in the game. And yes, as the title says, using custom difficulty will not disable your achievements. So set the game up exactly how you want to play and adjust as you go, enjoy!




Your Journey Begins Today







Forever Skies is available now on XBOX Series X|S and you can play solo or in coop with up to four people online. The game also supports XBOX Play Anywhere so your progress carries across XBOX Series X/S, Windows PC, and XBOX-supported gaming handhelds.




Thanks for reading, and we hope to see many of you in the skies alongside our amazing and dedicated community.




















Forever Skies


Far From Home



☆☆☆☆☆
12



★★★★★





$34.99




Get it now









Forever Skies is a first-person post-apocalyptic survival game. Play it solo or in coop and return to Earth, ravaged by an ecological disaster. Build, fly, upgrade and customize your high-tech airship. Craft tools, and scavenge resources to survive. Face dangers on the surface and hunt for viruses to cure a mysterious illness.

Build and Control Your Airship
Build, maintain and extensively customize a high-tech airship. This will be your home, workshop, laboratory and more while flying above the surface of a ruined Earth. Manage your airship and gather resources to improve and make it uniquely yours.

Scavenge Ruined Skies
Gather food, materials and resources from the ruins of civilization to survive. Use science to upgrade your tools, airship and technology to thrive in this hostile environment as you try fulfil your mission of finding viral pathogens to cure a mysterious illness ailing the last remaining humans stranded in orbit.

Descend Below the Dust
Descend below the toxic dust blanketing Earth to discover a strange new world, as the planet's surface has changed in our absence. Face evolved fauna and flora and hunt for viral pathogens, rare resources and valuable research to further your mission

Single Player and Online Co-op
Explore and fulfil your mission on ruined Earth in single player or play with friends using online co-op for up to 4 players.











The post Six Useful Tips to Survive and Thrive Above the Toxic Clouds in Forever Skies appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545929-six-useful-tips-to-survive-and-thrive-above-the-toxic-clouds-in-forever-skies https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545928-find-out-how-an-adorable-duck-drove-us-to-get-creative-with-dodo-duckie Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:00:27 GMT Category: ID@XBOX (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/idatxbox/) July 24, 2026 (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/) Find out How an Adorable Duck...

• Category: ID@XBOX

July 24, 2026 Find out How an Adorable Duck Drove us to Get Creative with Dodo Duckie

• VK Samhith, Founder & Creative Director, BornMonkie

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Summary

• Available on both console and PC with XPA.
• Flip between 2D and 3D perspectives, discover hidden paths, solve puzzles and more.
• The story behind the design, inspiration and challenges leading to launch.

We’ve all experienced a time when we’re surrounded by people yet feel completely out of place. That’s the exact feeling Dodo Duckie starts from: a duckling raised among chickens, convinced something is wrong with him because he just can’t fit in.




A few years ago, we were an unproven team pitching a massive, overly ambitious game to publishers. Getting backing for a project of that scale is incredibly difficult in India’s indie scene, and the passes we got back eventually forced a practical question: What can we actually build and see through to the end completely on our own?




The answer turned out to be a duck.




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I’m Samhith, the creative director at BornMonkie, a small indie studio in India that I run alongside my sister and producer, Samveda. This is the story behind our debut puzzle platformer, Dodo Duckie – now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.




Even though Dodo’s search for belonging comes from a deeply personal place for us, we wanted his adventure to feel like a warm hug. It’s a bright, cozy world where his clumsy attempts to fit in are played for laughs, turning a heavy theme into a light-hearted journey about playful discovery.




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Quacking the Code



Back in the day, many of the studios we look up to started their journeys with iconic mascot platformers. Looking back, we realized we had accidentally followed in their exact footsteps with Dodo Duckie.




We built our first prototype back in 2019, but as a busy service studio, the game became a long-term labor of love. For years, we chipped away at it on and off between client jobs and a million other prototypes. Early on, we made a radical design decision: remove the jump mechanic entirely from a 3D space.




We initially assumed this unique switching mechanic would be our main hook. But as players tested the game, they showed us something else: they were falling for Dodo Duckie before they even understood the puzzles. That feedback changed how we looked at our own game. We realized Dodo’s personality was the front door, and our puzzle design was the reason to stay once you walked through. Juggling service work meant it took until 2025 to fully realize this vision, but we’ve finally built a home we can’t wait for players to enter.




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Getting Dodo Just Right



Getting the game to actually look right was a massive hurdle, we spent two to three months iterating on prototypes we just weren’t happy with. The turning point came when our Art director, Vincent Boichut, joined the team and diagnosed the real problem. Because we were balancing tight resources, we only had the budget to build a single set of assets that had to work perfectly across two perspectives. Everything had to be read clearly, whether players saw it head-on in 3D or flattened into 2D.




That restraint became our superpower. It’s the real reason the world leans toward clean shapes, rounded edges, and vibrant colors. What looks like a purely stylistic choice was actually born out of a need for perfect readability, though we’re thrilled it happens to be extremely cute, too.




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Finding Our Wings



Underneath the puzzles is a story we care about deeply. Dodo grows up among chickens, trying desperately to fit in before learning that his differences are exactly what make him special. It’s a struggle our team knows intimately. Growing up in India’s highly competitive culture, pursuing a creative career in game development meant fighting against strict expectations and risking isolation just to do what we love. Dodo’s journey is ours.




Because of that, we chose to tell his story without heavy dialogue, leaning instead on animation, physical comedy, and character expression. We wanted the emotional beats to feel like a Pixar short, landing purely through what you see, making Dodo’s story universal no matter what language you speak.




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Our journey has finally come to life. Dodo Duckie is now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC!




If there’s one thing we hope players take away from our little bird’s story, it’s this: a leap doesn’t have to look graceful to count.




Sometimes it just has to happen.




















Dodo Duckie


BornMonkie



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★





$11.99




Get it now









You’re a DUCK! with one special cap that gives you the power to switch between 2D and 3D. Use it to explore, switch perspectives, solve puzzles and save your chicken friends.






























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The post Find out How an Adorable Duck Drove us to Get Creative with Dodo Duckie appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545928-find-out-how-an-adorable-duck-drove-us-to-get-creative-with-dodo-duckie https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545913-share-of-the-week-assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:31:08 GMT Last week, we asked you to share swashbuckling moments from Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: ...

Last week, we asked you to share swashbuckling moments from Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:









kerplaaaahshares Edward swinging off the Jackdaw by rope









artenpixels_shares the Jackdaw getting drawn into a waterspout tornado









_GenieCrazy_shares Edward overlooking some ships with his cutlass drawn









gh_holy_mashEdward steering the Jackdaw away from a sunken ship









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Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?









THEME: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – Jackdaw
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 5, 2026 




For the next two weeks, hoist the sails and share shots aboard the Jackdaw in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Use #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545913-share-of-the-week-assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545910-next-week-on-xbox-new-games-for-july-27-to-31 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:00:10 GMT Category: Next Week on XBOX (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/next-week-on-xbox/) July 24, 2026 (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/) Next Week on...

• Category: Next Week on XBOX

July 24, 2026 Next Week on XBOX: New Games for July 27 to 31

• Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor

Welcome to Next Week on XBOX! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX on PC, 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!

---

Halo: Campaign Evolved – Premium Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
1229



★★★★★





$69.99




Get it now























Halo: Campaign Evolved – Standard Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
1147



★★★★★





$49.99




Pre-order


















Halo: Campaign Evolved – July 28
Game Pass / XBOX Play Anywhere




Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign. Experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, and refined controls, plus three brand-new prequel missions featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. A broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies, and gameplay-modifying “Skulls” – optional modifiers that change combat in fun and challenging ways – add fresh tactics and endless replayability.




Pre-purchase Halo: Campaign Evolved and get the Foundry Armory Pack, featuring legendary looks for the Master Chief’s iconic Mark V Mjolnir armor.

---

Dispatch


AdHoc Studio



☆☆☆☆☆
16



★★★★★






Get it now





















Dispatch – July 29
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere




From the writers & directors of Tales from the Borderlands and The Wolf Among Us, Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy set in modern day Los Angeles. You play as Robert Robertson, AKA Mecha Man, whose mech-suit is destroyed in a battle against his nemesis, forcing him to take a job at a superhero dispatch center: not as a hero, but a dispatcher. In charge of rehabilitating a group of ex-supervillains, you must manage your roster while navigating office relationships and rebuilding your suit for a shot at revenge.

---

Mistfall Hunter


Skystone Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Mistfall Hunter – July 29
Game Pass / Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere




The gods have fallen, and the Gyldenmist is consuming the world. Revived by a mysterious girl named Dew, you are thrust into a bleak world to harvest Gyldenblood and mend the shattered Web of Fate. Scavenge, fight, and extract in a brutal cycle of survival to bring a flicker of hope to this forbidden land.

---

Corsair Cove


Hooded Horse



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Corsair Cove – July 31
Game Pass




The Golden Age of Piracy is coming to an end – as the high seas are commandeered by the Crown’s pirate hunters, an era of adventure and plunder comes to a close… unless you can save it. Corsair Cove is a city builder that challenges you to think tall as you build without constraints on cliff-faces and hilltops and manage complex production chains that span across great lengths and heights. Manufacture everything from spyglasses to cannons, equip your crew, and build mighty ships to take to the seas and wage war against the Crown. Raid and pillage nearby islands to acquire what you can’t make for yourself, exploring uncharted lands to uncover great treasures and threats alike. Above all, keep your crew in high spirits as your numbers grow – it’ll take thousands of pirates to keep the Jolly Roger flying!

---

Gothic Classic


THQ Nordic



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Gothic Classic – July 28
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




The classic that revolutionized roleplaying games Return to Myrtana as the Nameless Hero in Gothic Classic, the award-winning RPG that shaped and inspired countless roleplaying games. War has been waged across the kingdom of Myrtana. Orcish hordes invaded human territory and the king of the land needed a lot of ore to forge enough weapons, should his army stand against this threat. Whoever breaks the law in these darkest of times is sentenced to serve in the giant penal colony of Khorinis, mining the so much needed ore.

---

The King is Watching


tinyBuild



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















The King Is Watching – July 29
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Peasants toil, miners dig, and knights train… but only when I look at them! Wherever my eyes fall, progress follows. But the moment I glance elsewhere? Laziness! Chaos! I must choose wisely between the fields, the mines, or the barracks, expanding my gaze so no one slacks off! Water, wheat, stone, coal, silver, every resource fuels my empire! Farms feed my people, mines fund my ambitions, and workshops forge mighty defenses. Every decision shapes my reign, and only a well-managed kingdom will survive the storm.

---

Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?!


Frosty Pop



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World – July 29
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Your truck is magic and you now owe a soul debt to the buff isekai elf girl living in your head. Run over pedestrians as Truck-kun, make deliveries, and defeat the Skeleton King across two worlds in this chaotic run-based anime driving game! Carissa Ward was all set to start her new job as the VP of marketing–until YOU hit her with your truck and transported her consciousness to a world of fantasy and magic! Rather than accept her fate, gathering a party and going on a journey of growth and self-discovery, Carissa uses all her knowledge of anime tropes and Japanese RPGs to find a different path: Unrepentant vehicular manslaughter.

---

PAW Patrol: Dino World


Outright Games Ltd.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★





$39.99




Pre-order


















PAW Patrol: Dino World – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Leap into a colossal, open-world with Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, and Zuma. First stop, PAW Patrol Mobile HQ with Ryder to find out what rescue missions you’ll em-bark on as your favorite Pup. Run through the Dino Plains looking for eggs. Stop by the Paleo Center, where Heidi and Eugenia will teach you how to care for your new dino friends. Decorate their enclosures to make them feel like home. Sniff out collectibles across the sandy shores and discover rocky caves with secret pools. Switch to vehicle mode to drive through a jungle, filled with tall trees, long vines and tropical fruits.

---

Broken Reality 2000


Digital Tribe



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Broken Reality 2000 – July 27




Broken Reality 2000 is a single player adventure game set in an ethereal metaverse called NATEM, that is full of quests, puzzles and light platforming. Explore diferent sites, make new friends and collect Likes to raise your popularity and earn access to new areas. Discover a wide set of tools, like a virus-slaying Katana, a net-surfing Hoverboard, a Camera to take beautiful pictures, and more, that will help you explore this colorful world!

---

Forever Skies


Far From Home



☆☆☆☆☆
4



★★★★★






Get it now





















Forever Skies – July 27
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere




Forever Skies is a first-person post-apocalyptic survival game. Play it solo or in coop and return to Earth, ravaged by an ecological disaster. Build, fly, upgrade and customize your high-tech airship. Craft tools, and scavenge resources to survive. Face dangers on the surface and hunt for viruses to cure a mysterious illness.

---

Get Them Out! (Xbox Series)


Afil Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Get Them Out! – July 28
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Get ready for an irresistibly cute puzzle where every move makes a difference. In Get Them Out!, a team of adorable hamsters is ready to drive every mole off the board, but only your strategy can place them in the perfect spots. Place hamster-shaped pieces of different forms, complete rows and columns, and watch hamsters and moles disappear in a satisfying chain reaction. As you progress, new challenges and special mole types make every stage even more engaging, requiring careful planning and creative thinking to completely clear the board.

---

Gnardo back Home: PC Edition


GatoBaro Studios



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Gnardo back Home: PC Edition – July 28




Gnardo back Home is a precision platformer where every jump matters. Meet Gnardo, a grumpy old man who just wants to get back to his house. He didn’t ask for any of this: the spikes, the collapsing floors, the moving platforms, the doors that only open with a key somewhere on the other side of the stage. None of it. And yet, here we are.

---

The Green Light


Take IT Studio! sp. z o. o.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















The Green Light – July 28
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




The Green Light is a first-person horror game that follows Fred, a man trapped in a dead-end job and haunted by disturbing hallucinations. One late night, a mysterious voice on the radio tells him that a distant green light promises the peace and freedom he has been searching for. With nothing left to lose, Fred sets out on a journey into the darkness, where he must confront the depths of his own mind. Discover a story of self-discovery and decide whether freedom is worth the ultimate sacrifice.

---

4 The Elements


Mito Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















4 The Elements – July 29




4 The Elements is a 2D Action Platformer inspired by the best games of this genre from the 90s. Switch in real time between the four elements of nature to overcome challenges, acquire new abilities and defeat powerful bosses in beautifully crafted thematic stages. You control each of the four elements of nature, Fire, Earth, Air, and Water, that for some mysterious reason find themselves trapped inside a magic crystal and forced to share the same body. By switching between the characters on the fly, you will be able to use their different attacks, movement and abilities to face enemies, solve puzzles and unveil the truth behind their mutual predicament as they fight to escape from their imprisonment.

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Case Solved: The London Files


Minimol Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Case Solved: The London Files – July 29




Case Solved: The London Files blends cozy noir storytelling with the elegant logic-driven deduction popularized by Einstein’s Riddle. Behind London’s fog and gaslight, every case becomes a closed puzzle: a handful of suspects, a tangle of conflicting testimonies, and a single answer that yields to logic alone. Each one is a carefully crafted challenge, solved through reasoning and observation, inviting players to uncover buried truths.

---

Dungeon Antiqua


AMATA K.K.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Dungeon Antiqua – July 29
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere




Dungeon Antiqua is a dungeon crawl-type RPG with beautiful dots and nostalgic sounding chiptunes that are reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s. Dungeon Antiqua is a portal to new adventures for players who love retro games. Enjoy new challenges while reminiscing about the good old days of gaming!

---

Kusan: City of Wolves


PQube Limited



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$14.99

$11.99




Pre-order





















Kusan: City of Wolves – July 29
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere




Welcome to Kusan: City of Wolves, a brutal top-down shooter set in a neon-drenched urban jungle consumed by violence and corruption. Kusan delivers hardcore action where one mistake means death. Master gunplay, perfect your movement, survive the streets and combat arenas ruled by furious kingpins that demand speed, precision and flawless execution. Every moment of action is intensified by Korean hip-hop heavyweight Loptimist’s adrenaline-fuelled soundtrack drenched with head-bopping loops and deep 808s pushing you forward without mercy.

---

Railway Routes


Rising Moon Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Railway Routes – July 29
XBOX Play Anywhere




Railway Routes is a relaxing grid-based railway puzzle where you draw tracks, guide trains, and create the perfect route. Each level challenges your logic, planning, and creativity as you build efficient railway networks. With cozy visuals and satisfying track-building mechanics, Railway Routes delivers a calm puzzle experience that is easy to learn but full of clever challenges.

---

Retrace The Light


E-Home Entertainment Development Company Ltd.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$17.99

$14.39




Pre-order


















Retrace The Light – July 29
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Set in the year 3323, the revolutionary Meta Mirror Project emerged from the collaboration between humanity and the super AI “Primus.” This ambitious venture seeks to stabilize society and ensure security by repairing the consciousness of individuals struggling with intense emotional turmoil. Your journey unfolds as Enforcer Decem, tasked with repairing bizarre Mirrormazes stemming from human minds. Navigate through these mazes, solve puzzles, and confront powerful Mirrormares.

---

Sizeable


Alchemy Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Sizeable – July 29
XBOX Play Anywhere




Sizeable is a short, relaxing, and casual puzzle/exploration game centered around the unique mechanic of shrinking and growing. Originally developed as a student project, the game evolved into Business Goose Studio’s first commercial title. It’s a passion project, made with care and creativity, and we hope you enjoy playing it as much as we enjoyed making it.

---

Wake Up, Lia!


Eastasiasoft Limited



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Wake Up, Lia! – July 29
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Wake Up, Lia! is a narrative-driven 2D precision platformer set within nightmares shaped by bullying. As Lia, you will have to overcome deadly traps across 20 handcrafted stages to recover lost memories and fragments of your identity. Embark on a heartfelt journey of trauma, resilience and rebirth, blending emotional storytelling with challenging gameplay and an atmospheric soundtrack! Play solo or team up with a friend in local co-op!

---

Angel Engine


Black Lantern Collective



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Angel Engine – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Cage an angel. Ransack Heaven. In a far-flung dystopian future, the Angel Engine Initiative carries on as the last hope for humanity. Seal yourself in your operating room, perform surgery on comatose test subjects, and pray you make it out alive. Angel Engine is a horror surgery simulator that explores a missing chapter of the Angel Engine series. Nuclear fire burned the skies long ago, leaving behind a world of ash — but the Second Tower of Babel still stands. Join a crew of scientists in their effort to save the human species from damnation. But remember: there are no heroes here.

---

HARDWIRED: Ghost In The Reset


Villano Wild Studio



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$14.99

$12.74




Pre-order





















HARDWIRED: Ghost In The Reset – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Step into a brutal dystopian world in this intense single-player action-adventure shooter, developed entirely by a solo independent creator. You are Kay, a cynical combatant who survived the collapse by purging all sentimentality; for her, emotions are nothing more than a critical system failure.

---

Leafy Corner


Fireline Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Leafy Corner – July 30
XBOX Play Anywhere




Run the plant shop of your dreams in Leafy Corner, a cozy shop management game where you grow, sell, and care for real-life houseplants! Step into the role of a plant shop owner. Grow plants, serve your customers, and create a warm, inviting space filled with greenery and charm.

---

Mechaconda


QUByte Interactive



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Mechaconda – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Get ready for the arcade evolution! In Mechaconda, you take control of a mechanical serpent on a suicide mission to defeat Dr. EVIL’s army. Blending classic growth mechanics with bullet hell chaos, every match is a challenge of survival and strategy. Build your loadout in real-time, choose from dozens of upgrades, and transform your tail into a deadly line of defense.

---

Nightmare Shift


Ultimate Games S.A.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★





$11.99




Pre-order


















Nightmare Shift – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Take on night shifts at a remote motel, handle unsettling guests, and navigate eerie events. Experience Emma’s unnerving apartment life, feel the unease of being watched, and question what’s real as the line between reality and nightmare blurs. They say the walls have ears… but what if the walls have eyes—watching, waiting, seeing everything you do.

---

Redtail Relic Rush


Afil Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Redtail Relic Rush – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Adventure never slows down in Redtail Relic Rush! Join Redtail, a fearless red panda explorer armed with a grappling hook, on an action-packed journey through ancient ruins filled with danger, mystery, and legendary treasures. Run nonstop through thrilling platforming challenges packed with traps, enemies, and daring leaps. Swing through the air, build momentum at just the right moment, and master the perfect rhythm to overcome every obstacle as you race toward the legendary Golden Idol.

---

Shard Squad


Nuntius Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Shard Squad – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




Survive an insane army of enemies with a squad of elemental creatures! Recruit new members for your team by defeating the bosses that cross your path, and combine their traits to unlock powerful effects! Unity not only brings strength, it also creates new abilities!

---

Truxton Extreme


Clear River Games AB



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now




Free Trial



















Truxton Extreme – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Truxton Extreme delivers white-hot shooter thrills for masters and novices alike. Take down hordes of alien invaders with your Power Shot, Truxton Beam, Thunder Laser, Homing Shot, Star‑mine Shot, and more! Don’t forget to breathe as you face off against gigantic bosses in the ultimate battle for humanity’s survival!

---

Turnip Mountain


JanduSoft



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$10.49

$8.39




Pre-order





















Turnip Mountain – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Turnip Mountain is a physics-based climbing adventure built around a unique control system: each hand is controlled independently. Enjoy a natural and satisfying climbing experience. Master your momentum as you grip walls, swing from ropes, launch yourself across gaps and discover your own route to the summit. Every move depends on your skill, making every successful climb its own reward.

---

Verho – Curse of Faces


CobraTekku Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Verho – Curse of Faces – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




The Curse of Faces – where revealing one’s face means instant death – has befallen the world. Humanity was brought close to the brink. After 264 years of “the Era of Solitude”, a symbol of safety appeared – Masks. While the origins of the curse are still shrouded in mystery, many travelers still venture to the source of this curse in an attempt to reveal its secrets. Will you strive to lift the curse from the world, or will you harness its power for your own ends? The choice is yours.

---

Zombie Graveyard Simulator


PlayWay S.A.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






$14.99

$13.49




Pre-order





















Zombie Graveyard Simulator – July 30
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




In a world where the dead turn into zombies, your job is to manage your very own Graveyard! Perform burials and cremations, fulfill visitor requests, manage facilities, and keep your staff and defenses in top shape. But when night falls, everything changes. The dead may rest, but the zombies don’t. They are coming for your precious work!

---

Bee With Gun


Ratalaika Games S.L.



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















Bee With Gun – July 31
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




In Bee with Gun, you´re not just fighting to survive, your goal is to destroy enemy bases while protecting your hive. Take control of an armed bee and fight through 40 carefully designed levels across four unique environments. Destroy enemy strongholds while defending your hive against constant waves using buildable towers.

---

hyperdrive inn


Dolores Entertainment



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now





















hyperdrive inn – July 31
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere




The ever-growing accommodation behemoth known as Hyperdrive Inn is your father’s creation, and he is also responsible for triggering a set of cataclysmic events that threaten to destroy everything in existence. He also happens to be the only person in the universe who can fix everything. Too bad he has gone missing. What’s even worse: he went hiding somewhere in the infinite hotel of his. And to top it all off, you’re the one who must hunt him down and save the day.

---

Waterpark Simulator


Cayplay Studios LLC



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now


















Waterpark Simulator – July 31
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S




Build and run your own waterpark. Design slides, send guests flying with ragdoll physics, manage staff, and fully customize your park. Turn total madness into a five-star empire in this first-person management simulator!

---

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Next Week on XBOX: New Games for July 6 to 10









The post Next Week on XBOX: New Games for July 27 to 31 appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545910-next-week-on-xbox-new-games-for-july-27-to-31 https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545909-castlevania-belmonts-curse-how-konami-and-evil-empire-reimagined-castlevanias-return Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:00:07 GMT

• Category: Games

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – How KONAMI and Evil Empire Reimagined Castlevania’s Return

• John Harry De LaraXbox Wire France Editor

Published

July 24, 2026











It seems bizarre to say it, but there hasn’t been a brand-new Castlevania game for more than a decade and – for the series’ long-awaited return – KONAMI made a choice that may surprise some fans. It’s entrusting one of its most iconic franchises to French studio Evil Empire, best known for its work on Dead Cells, including the acclaimed Return to Castlevania DLC.




Set within the unique surroundings of the Chapelle Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc in Paris’ 14th arrondissement, members of the press were invited for a first hands-on look at Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. The venue proved particularly fitting, as the game itself opens in a dark, gothic interpretation of the French capital. Following our preview session, we sat down with Tsutomu Taniguchi (Producer at KONAMI) and Emmanuel Nouaille (Creative Director at Evil Empire) to discuss how this new chapter in the Castlevania saga came to life.




A Collaboration That Started as a Tribute










Before Belmont’s Curse, Evil Empire had already collaborated with KONAMI on Return to Castlevania, the celebrated Dead Cells DLC. At the time, nothing suggested that this partnership would eventually lead to the development of a brand-new entry in the Castlevania series.




According to Tsutomu Taniguchi, KONAMI’s decision to continue working with the French studio came down to two key factors: “The first is Evil Empire’s passion for Castlevania. The second is their expertise in action games. Castlevania has always been an action series, so it was essential that the controls, gameplay, and overall feel lived up to players’ expectations.”




Beyond their passion for the franchise, KONAMI was looking for a team capable of understanding what defines Castlevania while also mastering the demands of modern action game design.




Emmanuel Nouaille, however, receives those compliments with humility. Smiling, he admits it almost feels presumptuous to answer after Taniguchi’s praise before summarizing what, in his view, ultimately made the difference: “Our best résumé was simply our work.”




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Originally, Evil Empire had only proposed creating a DLC as a tribute to Castlevania. It was through ongoing conversations with KONAMI that the collaboration gradually evolved into something far more ambitious.




Beyond the studio’s technical expertise, the partnership also allowed both teams to build a strong relationship of trust. With Return to Castlevania developing under particularly positive circumstances, working together again on a larger project became the natural next step.




Nouaille illustrates that trust with a memorable anecdote: “When we finished the DLC, Tsutomu Taniguchi visited the studio to play it. As he explored the castle, he discovered several details and Easter eggs he hadn’t noticed before. Then he simply turned around and gave us a thumbs up.” A simple gesture—but one that left a lasting impression on the team.




For Nouaille, that was probably the moment he realized this collaboration could become much more than a one-off.




Defining What Castlevania Is



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For Taniguchi and Nouaille alike, everything began with the same question: What truly makes a Castlevania game? It sounds like an obvious question. Yet bringing back one of KONAMI’s most iconic franchises proved far more complex than it first appeared.




As Nouaille explains: “Castlevania means something different to everyone. We all grew up with different games, different characters, and different memories. Before we could build a new game, we first had to agree on the core pillars that define Castlevania.”




Taniguchi shares that perspective, explaining that every fan has a different relationship with the series. KONAMI’s role was therefore to establish a common creative framework—one that would preserve Castlevania’s identity while giving Evil Empire the freedom to express its own vision.




Before introducing a new protagonist, a new story, or new gameplay systems, both teams focused on establishing those foundations. The game had to remain a 2D action-exploration experience, fit within the official Castlevania canon, and keep the Vampire Killer whip at the heart of its gameplay. Once those principles had been agreed upon, KONAMI deliberately gave the French studio considerable creative freedom.




That freedom, however, was never a blank check. As Nouaille explains, modernizing Castlevania never meant turning its back on the franchise’s legacy. Every new idea had to grow from one of the series’ defining pillars before being adapted to the expectations of today’s players.




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The whip is perhaps the clearest example. As one of Castlevania’s most iconic symbols, it was a non-negotiable element. Rather than reinventing it, Evil Empire chose to expand its role in both combat and traversal. The goal was to make players feel like agile, powerful vampire hunters capable of using the whip as naturally to move through the world as they do to defeat their enemies.




The same philosophy shaped the game’s overall pacing. The team wanted a faster, more energetic adventure while making exploration more demanding through traps, environmental hazards, and increasingly creative uses of the whip. Modernizing Castlevania was never about simplifying its gameplay—it was about expanding the player’s possibilities while preserving the sense of progression that has always defined the series.




That same approach extends to the narrative. While continuing the story after Dracula’s Curse and Curse of Darkness, Belmont’s Curse also introduces a brand-new heroine, Rose, who naturally finds her place within the established Castlevania universe. She’s an extension of the lore, not a random offshoot from it.




Working within this framework, Evil Empire was able to bring its own sensibilities to the project by setting the adventure in Paris and enriching its world with numerous historical references. More than a licensed production, Belmont’s Curse became the result of an ongoing dialogue between KONAMI and the French studio. As Nouaille puts it, “This wasn’t a work-for-hire project. It was a genuine creative collaboration.”




A Philosophy Felt from the First Minutes



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All of those creative decisions quickly become apparent once the controller is in your hands. Rather than simply updating the formula, Belmont’s Curse aims to evolve the series’ gameplay while preserving the foundations that have defined Castlevania for decades. Character animations, visual effects, sound design, and the impact of every attack all contribute to making combat feel more dynamic, readable, and satisfying without ever losing the unmistakable identity of the franchise.




The whip’s versatility naturally encourages players to revisit previously explored areas in search of hidden paths while making movement feel considerably more fluid. Taniguchi confirms that expanding the whip’s role was one of the team’s primary goals: “The whip remains true to Castlevania’s identity, but we wanted to give it a new dimension.”




The decision to set the adventure in Paris also reinforces the game’s distinctive identity. During our hands-on session, landmarks such as Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Catacombs appeared alongside references to several French locations, helping create a setting that feels authentic rather than merely decorative.




Meanwhile, the balance between exploration and combat quickly feels intuitive, supported by a striking art direction, atmospheric soundtrack, and carefully crafted sound design that immediately evoke the unmistakable spirit of Castlevania.




A New Chapter, Not Just a Tribute



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While much remains to be discovered, Nouaille is quick to point out that the version presented to us represents only a small glimpse of the full adventure: “What you’ve seen today is only the beginning of the adventure. Once you reach the castle, everything changes. We hope players will be surprised by the game’s new structure, but also by its characters, its story, and all the secrets waiting to be uncovered.”




Throughout our conversation, one idea came up repeatedly: Belmont’s Curse was never conceived as a simple tribute to Castlevania. KONAMI first defined the series’ essential foundations before allowing Evil Empire to build upon them with its own creative sensibilities. Somewhere between those two visions, a genuine partnership emerged—one that appears to have shaped every major decision throughout development.




For Emmanuel Nouaille, one particular memory perfectly captures that philosophy. It wasn’t a spectacular boss fight or a major story sequence, but something much simpler.




As development progressed, the animations, visual effects, iconic creatures, music, and sound design gradually gave the project its own identity. Yet the real turning point came when he instinctively opened the map to mark areas he knew he would revisit later after unlocking new abilities: “That’s when I realized we were no longer just testing mechanics. We were actually playing a Castlevania game.”




That same humility also defines Evil Empire’s ambitions for the franchise. The team’s goal was never to surpass landmarks such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but simply to contribute a new chapter to a series that has continued to evolve for nearly four decades.




Judging by this first hands-on experience and our conversation with the developers, Belmont’s Curse appears determined to do exactly that: honour Castlevania’s legacy while confidently forging its own identity.

---

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse arrives on October 15 for XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC.




















Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Midnight Edition


KONAMI



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★





$39.99




Pre-order









[Pre-order Bonus]
This bonus item is available to players who pre-order Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.
・Alucard Style Costume

[Overview]
This product contains the full game, Digital Sound & Art Gallery, as well as 3 bonus in-game items.
・Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
・Digital Sound & Art Gallery
・Bonuses (In-game items) x3
└ Trevor Style Costume
└ Sypha Style Costume
└ Family's Grace（Relic）

Medieval Paris, Where the Tolling Bells Herald the End
1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures suddenly emerge from the shadows.
Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they hunt down the beasts bleeding from the looming castle.

Rose is soon swept up in the dark conspiracy that lurks beneath. Will she succeed in saving Paris from devastation?

Satisfying Whip Action
Castlevania's iconic whip action is more satisfying than ever!
Crack your whip to move around freely like a trapeze artist!
Master the whip mechanics and be creative to pounce on your prey like a wolf in fast-paced combat!

Diverse Bosses and the Arcana System
Face-off against legendary bosses including Death, Medusa and Carmilla in addition to enigmatic new bosses such as Joan of Arc.
Once defeated, bosses are sealed into Rose's tarot cards, turning them into Arcana – use their skills to cast spells and obtain unique special actions

Customize Your Battle Style with Weapons and Relics
Customize Rose’s battle style by using a variety of equipment, including weapons spanning seven distinct categories and Relics that trigger powerful effects through both offense and defense.
Combine equipment you discover through exploration to create your own playstyle!

Iconic Castlevania Atmosphere, Reimagined in New Stages
From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the game presents a fresh take on the world of Castlevania.
Explore maps filled with both new features and familiar elements inspired by classic Castlevania titles.

※The image displayed are under development
※Contents/Specs are subject to change without notice






























Castlevania: Belmont's Curse


KONAMI



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★





$29.99




Pre-order









[Pre-order Bonus]
Alucard Style Costume
This bonus item is available to players who pre-order Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.

Medieval Paris, Where the Tolling Bells Herald the End
1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures suddenly emerge from the shadows.
Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they hunt down the beasts bleeding from the looming castle.

Rose is soon swept up in the dark conspiracy that lurks beneath. Will she succeed in saving Paris from devastation?

Satisfying Whip Action
Castlevania's iconic whip action is more satisfying than ever!
Crack your whip to move around freely like a trapeze artist!
Master the whip mechanics and be creative to pounce on your prey like a wolf in fast-paced combat!

Diverse Bosses and the Arcana System
Face-off against legendary bosses including Death, Medusa and Carmilla in addition to enigmatic new bosses such as Joan of Arc.
Once defeated, bosses are sealed into Rose's tarot cards, turning them into Arcana – use their skills to cast spells and obtain unique special actions

Customize Your Battle Style with Weapons and Relics
Customize Rose’s battle style by using a variety of equipment, including weapons spanning seven distinct categories and Relics that trigger powerful effects through both offense and defense.
Combine equipment you discover through exploration to create your own playstyle!

Iconic Castlevania Atmosphere, Reimagined in New Stages
From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the game presents a fresh take on the world of Castlevania.
Explore maps filled with both new features and familiar elements inspired by classic Castlevania titles.



























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The post Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – How KONAMI and Evil Empire Reimagined Castlevania’s Return appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545909-castlevania-belmonts-curse-how-konami-and-evil-empire-reimagined-castlevanias-return https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545897-marvels-wolverine-story-trailer-new-art-composer-details-and-more Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:00:13 GMT Today, we revealed tons of new story details about Marvel’s Wolverine (https://www.playstation.com/games/marvels-wolverine/) at San Diego Comic-Con,...

Today, we revealed tons of new story details about Marvel’s Wolverine at San Diego Comic-Con, including our exciting new Story Trailer! But we know that not everyone can make it to SDCC in person, so let’s catch you up on everything that went down during our panel.




Insomniac Games’ Creative Director Marcus Smith, Game Director Mike Daly, Sr. Project Director Jess-Reiner-Reed, and Narrative Director Walt Williams were joined by the game’s cast, Liam McIntyre (Logan/Wolverine) and Krizia Bajos (Jean Grey), and Eric Monacelli, Executive Producer on Marvel Games on stage. We dove deep into our game’s story and characters, and teased what’s to come for fans in September.




Get the full scoop!









Play Video


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The Story Trailer



To kick things off, we surprised fans with a brand-new Story Trailer during our panel. Our trailer sets the stage with an enraged Logan confronting Jean Grey in an abrupt moment of vulnerability. We also spotlight The Hand as one of our new enemy factions, alongside Deathstrike, one of our big bads.




New art featuring Logan vs. The Hand



Our team dropped brand new art from the game as well, which shows Logan going head-to-head with The Hand in their trademark red garb. Logan and The Hand share a history that players will uncover as they tear through the game’s story.






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Marvel’s Wolverine x MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls



We’re also thrilled to announce our collaboration with Arc System Works to bring Wolverine’s suit from MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls to Marvel’s Wolverine, offering a unique, stylized look for Wolverine in our game which can be unlocked through game progression on Day 1.






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Together with Arc System Works, we’re also excited to reveal that our Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Reborn suit will be available in the upcoming MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls.






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Best of all, it’ll be available free for all MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls players starting September 1.




Composer details revealed



During the panel, it was revealed that award-winning composer David Fleming crafted the music behind Marvel’s Wolverine. Fleming delivers enormous impact to our story, with musical cues and swells that dynamically shift alongside Logan’s intense journey around the globe.






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You can listen to a track from the game

• Amazon
• Spotify
• Apple
• YouTube

Full game soundtrack will be released on August 28, 2026.




Digital Prequel Comic available



Fans can also get up to speed on the narrative events leading up to Marvel’s Wolverine main story by reading the prequel comic, written by Insomniac Games’ Narrative Director Walt Williams with beautiful art by Luke Ross and a stunning cover by Iban Coello. The prequel comic sets up Logan’s arduous relationship with members of Team X in a mission to protect mutant kind.




It’s available starting today! The prequel comic is available as an exclusive SDCC giveaway, and you can read it online via Marvel Unlimited.






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Marvel’s Wolverine available to pre-order now



Marvel’s Wolverine releases on September 15, 2026 for PlayStation 5 consoles. You can wishlist and pre-order the Standard and Digital Deluxe Edition via the PlayStation Store.




You can also pre-order the Standard Edition via PlayStation Direct.







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More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545897-marvels-wolverine-story-trailer-new-art-composer-details-and-more https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545896-phoenix-cyclops-revealed-as-marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-first-year-1-dlc-character Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:00:13 GMT Hello everyone, I am Takeshi Yamanaka, producer of MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls (https://www.playstation.com/games/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls/)....

Hello everyone, I am Takeshi Yamanaka, producer of MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls. Earlier today at San Diego Comic-Con, we hosted the panel MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — Behind the Battle. where we shared several new announcements and updates about the game. Today I would like to recap those reveals here on PlayStation Blog.




Phoenix Cyclops confirmed as the first year 1 additional character








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We’re excited to announce that Phoenix Cyclops (voiced by Ray Chase), will be the first additional character joining MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls as part of Year 1 content.




Cyclops is one of Marvel’s most iconic X-Men leaders. In MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, however, this version of Cyclops draws inspiration from his Phoenix Five incarnation from Avengers vs. X-Men, sporting a bold new look infused with the fiery cosmic power of the Phoenix Force. In addition to powerful Optic Blasts and exceptional hand-to-hand combat abilities that define the character, this Cyclops also possesses the Phoenix Force, so expect Scott Summers to bring the heat! .We’ll have more to share about how these abilities are incorporated into his gameplay, so please stay tuned for future updates on his fighting style.




A high-octane anime opening








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Have you had a chance to watch our newly revealed opening movie? For this opening, we set out to combine the spirit of classic fighting game openings with the charm and energy of beloved anime openings from the early 2000s. We hope you’ll enjoy the world created through its animation and rock-inspired theme song.




The opening movie, as well as the cinematic sequences featured throughout Episode Mode, were produced by the Japanese animation studio Sanzigen. Like our team, Sanzigen continues to push the boundaries of high-quality 2.5D expression, and they did a remarkable job bringing the world of MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls to life.




The opening theme song features two iconic Japanese rock vocalists: Keiko Terada of SHOW-YA and mayu of NEMOPHILA. Their powerful and captivating dual vocals bring an even greater sense of energy and excitement to the game.




The lyrics were written by Kanata Okajima, while composition and arrangement were handled by MEG (MEGMETAL). The opening animation was directed by Daisuke Suzuki of Sanzigen. As a passionate Marvel fan himself, Suzuki’s enthusiasm can be felt throughout the entire production. We hope you’ll enjoy the opening movie, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on social media.




Insomniac Games Collaboration Costumes





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Through our collaboration with Insomniac Games, we’re pleased to bring costumes inspired by the worlds of Wolverine to MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls. Wolverine Battle Reborn Suit will be available starting September 1st, and all players will be able to download it at no additional cost.




During development, we had the opportunity to visit Insomniac Games’ studio and share an in-development version of the game with their team. Their valuable feedback and advice were a tremendous source of encouragement throughout development, and we’d like to once again thank everyone at Insomniac Games for their support.




As previously announced, the Ultimate Edition also includes a costume inspired by the Advanced Suit 2.0 featured in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.




Historically, alternate costumes have been relatively limited in Arc System Works titles. With MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, however, we’ve placed a much greater emphasis on costume development as one of the ways players can enjoy their favorite characters in new ways. We have plans to continue adding a variety of costumes in the future, so please look forward to what’s ahead.




Join our Open Beta on July 24





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Launch is now just around the corner, and we’re excited to welcome players to the MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open Beta, taking place from July 24 through July 26.




The Open Beta will be available to everyone on PlayStation 5 consoles and PC.* In addition, while we originally planned for the Open Beta roster to include 15 characters, we’ve decided to make Green Goblin playable as well. We hope you’ll take this opportunity to experience our team-based battles firsthand with a diverse roster of heroes and villains.




This will be your final opportunity to play the game for free before launch, so if you’re considering picking up MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, we encourage you not to miss this chance.




As we count down to launch, we’ll also be sharing special countdown illustrations created by members of the development team and an exciting lineup of Marvel guest artists. We hope you’ll enjoy those as well. For us, launch day is not the finish line—it’s the starting point. Following release, we’re planning a variety of updates, including new characters, new stages, and more.




Your enthusiasm and support continue to inspire us every day. Thank you for supporting MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and we look forward to seeing you in the fight.




*Account for PlayStation and internet connection required to participate in Open Beta.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545896-phoenix-cyclops-revealed-as-marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-first-year-1-dlc-character https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545895-alpha-nomos-turns-instruments-into-weapons-coming-to-xbox-series-x-s Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:00:13 GMT Category: ID@XBOX (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/idatxbox/) July 23, 2026 (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/) Alpha Nomos Turns Instruments...

• Category: ID@XBOX

July 23, 2026 Alpha Nomos Turns Instruments into Weapons, Coming to Xbox Series X|S

• Theofanis Gavriilidis, CMO, RibCage Games

Summary

• Rhythm-action roguelite with combat synced to the beat.
• Play as Cello and wield live-recorded instruments as weapons.
• Musical upgrades reshape both your combat and your soundtrack.

I want to introduce you to Cello, and to the strangest weapon she carries: the beat itself.




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Alpha Nomos is a rhythm-action roguelite, and it’s coming to Xbox Series X|S. If you’ve never heard of it, here’s the one thing to hold onto. Everything Cello does, every strike and every dodge, lands in time with the music. Play on the beat and she hits harder, moves cleaner, and the whole world seems to move with her. Fall out of rhythm and you feel it just as fast.




Cello wakes into a ruined world. The cities are abandoned, the arenas are corrupted, and the puppets that fill them have turned hostile. What’s left to fight with is music, and Cello wields it literally. Her weapons are instruments, and not sampled ones. We recorded them live, so the sounds you hear as you fight are real players and real takes folded into the combat itself.




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That live audio isn’t set dressing. As you push deeper, you pull musical upgrades that change how Cello fights and rewrite the soundtrack at the same time. A new layer of sound is also a new way to play. By the end of a strong run, the track playing underneath you is one you built through your own choices, and it sounds different from anyone else’s.




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The structure underneath all this is a roguelite. Runs are built to be replayed, arenas shift and advance as you go, and you get a little stronger and a little sharper each time you come back. We took our cues from games that ask you to earn your mastery rather than hand it to you. The kind where getting good is the point, and the reward is that moment when your inputs, the enemies and the music all click into the same groove.




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We’re a small studio, and this is our first commercial release. Alpha Nomos started from a simple frustration: we love rhythm games, and we always felt the rhythm could go deeper. We felt it could be the foundation of the whole thing instead of a layer on top. If you’ve ever felt that flow of moving in perfect sync with a song, that feeling is what we built the entire game around.




Alpha Nomos is coming to Xbox Series X|S. Meet Cello, pick up the instruments and find the beat.













Alpha Nomos


RibCage Games



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now






It's time to wield the beat in Alpha Nomos, a rhythm-action roguelite where every instrument is a weapon and every fight moves to the music. Play as Cello and slice through an army of rogue puppets in a vibrant, melody-twisted world where combat pulses to the soundtrack and timing is everything.

Who knew saving the world could sound this good? Join Cello and her friends as they explore their ruined world, fight murderous puppets, and uncover the mysteries of the powerful force known as music. What caused the destruction of this world? What is music? What is Alpha Nomos? All these answers await Cello as she fights to bring balance back to a corrupted world.

Time your moves to the beat to unleash show-stopping combos and perfectly choreographed chaos. Master the rhythm, gather living sound, and breathe life back into a world that moves to the music you make. Prepare for a run where every strike, every upgrade, and every note pulls you deeper into the song.


























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The post Alpha Nomos Turns Instruments into Weapons, Coming to Xbox Series X|S appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545895-alpha-nomos-turns-instruments-into-weapons-coming-to-xbox-series-x-s https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545881-13-ways-halo-campaign-evolved-modernizes-the-iconic-fps Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:30:09 GMT Halo: Combat Evolved (https://www.playstation.com/games/halo-campaign-evolved/) is a landmark game that helped define the experience of early console...

Halo: Combat Evolved is a landmark game that helped define the experience of early console first-person shooters. But with Halo: Campaign Evolved, Halo Studios has introduced a number of changes to bring the game into the modern era. Halo’s debut on PlayStation uses new mechanics, tweaked controls, haptic feedback, and adjusted weapons to make this a fresh spin on a shooter icon.









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Here are 13 ways from throughout the 10 missions of the Halo campaign, as well as its three new bonus missions, that Halo: Campaign Evolved enhances and modernizes the classic.








Modern, familiar controls



Played today, the original Halo’s controls feel a little different, thanks to its release before shooters tended to have standard features and button layouts, and because controllers had fewer buttons overall. Halo: Campaign Evolved uses the kind of layout players expect, with adjustments like placing grenades on L1, weapon swapping on triangle, and reload on square, among a bunch of other subtle but welcome tweaks. Of course, you’re welcome to customize control layouts as you please.








Sprinting for speedy getaways



Campaign Evolved introduces a sprint ability you can activate anytime by pressing L3, making it possible to pick up speed at key moments when you need to get to cover or escape groups of enemies as they throw down against one another. It’s not drastically faster than Master Chief’s movement speed in the original, but it helps players control their pace.








New driving options



Another key change tweaks the controls to the iconic but sometimes imprecise Warthog vehicle. By default, Halo: Campaign Evolved gives the Warthog standard, recognizable vehicle controls, allowing you to steer it with the left analog stick, control the camera with the right stick, hit the gas with R2, and brake and reverse with L2. You can still use the classic look-based steering and analog stick-based gas controls if you want, but for those of us who constantly flipped Warthogs full of Marines, these controls will be an improvement — and most other vehicles, like Covenant Ghosts or the Scorpion Tank, have controls that are mostly true to the original.








A health system keeps you in the action



Recharging health has become a mainstay of many shooters, and while Halo always gave you a recharging set of shields, it originally required you to hunt for health packs to keep Master Chief in top shape. Campaign Evolved gets rid of health packs and instead makes both your shields and health recharge, but your health recharges at a much slower rate. The system keeps fights intense as you still have to keep an eye on your shields to stay alive, without forcing you to stop and hunt down health pickups in the middle of the action.








Enemy encounters get a remix



There are a lot of big battles in Halo, and if you’re a fan of the original, you’ll recognize where enemy waves will stream in or when dropships will deliver Covenant reinforcements. But Campaign Evolved adds slight tweaks to many encounters. For instance, when searching for escape pods when you first land on the Ring World, you’ll see Covenant deployments that now include Jackals wielding Beam Snipers, which are enemies that first popped up in Halo 2. You’ll also run into Flood-infected Hunters in later levels. These little changes to enemy force deployment will keep you on your toes, while still allowing battles to feel familiar.








Powered-up power ups



Like the classic game, Halo: Campaign Evolved includes the Covenant Overshield and Active Camouflage. Now, however, these aren’t activated the second you pick them up, but instead are stored; you can activate them by pressing R1. It’s a slight but impactful change that lets you save the power-ups for when they’re most useful.








New chances for vehicular mayhem



It’s not just new enemies that might appear in places you don’t expect. Campaign Evolved sometimes introduces different objects or vehicles in new locations. For instance, when boarding the Truth and Reconciliation through its gravity lift, you’ll find a Wraith tank waiting in the hangar with a turret you can use to wreck Covenant defenders. Those little tweaks make Halo: Campaign Evolved feel a little more realistic within the world of Halo even as they change up some fights.








Bumming a ride



In later Halo games, it became possible to jump aboard and hijack vehicles from their drivers. Campaign Evolved introduces this ability to the original campaign, so you can snag an enemy Ghost or Banshee if you’re quick and turn it against them. Just be careful — Elites can and will try to hijack your vehicles, too.








Aiming down sights



Campaign Evolved enhances all the game’s weapons with some new features and updates. You can now aim down sights with all the guns for a little extra precision. Weapons still handle the way they always have — the Assault Rifle still sprays bullets even when you’re tuning your aim — but the slight adjustment helps Halo’s shooting mechanics work and play similarly to other games in the genre.








Weapons get a glow-up



Speaking of weapons, Campaign Evolved also features reworked sound design for its guns, and coupled with the haptics of the DualSense controller, gives them quite a bit more heft. Especially with guns that felt a little lighter, like the Covenant Plasma Rifle, the adjustment helps make your shots feel like they’re truly doing damage, both from the punchier, more intense sound effects, and the rumble in your hand that conveys the kick of each gun. The shotgun in particular really feels like you’re wielding some raw Flood-dismembering power.








An enhanced arsenal



Halo: Campaign Evolved adds a number of weapons to your repertoire from other games in the series, such as the SMG, Needle Rifle, Fuel Rod Cannon, and Beam Rifle. The new guns give you a lot more options in many fights, while adding a different wrinkle to some battles. Flood charging toward you carrying SMGs can be particularly deadly, for example. You can now even pick up Elites’ Energy Swords and turn the Covenant’s most powerful weapons against them.








New missions and new surprises



While not every gun from later Halo games makes it into the main campaign, you’ll still get a chance to use some of them. Campaign Evolved includes three bonus missions set about a year before the events of the original Halo, starring Master Chief and Sgt. Major Johnson. In those missions, you’ll find the pulse-firing Battle Rifle, the Brute Plasma Rifle, and the Spike Rifle, which are handy inclusions since you’ll also face Brutes, the tough, gorilla-like enemies that first hit the scene in Halo 2.








Even more replayability



Halo: Campaign Evolved goes beyond remixing the original Halo to offer more new ways to play the game, and more reasons to explore it. Halo originally sported two-player couch co-op; Campaign Evolved offers that experience, plus four-player online co-op, so you can form a whole fireteam of friends to take on the Covenant and Flood.




You can also hunt down new secrets, including terminals that expand on the story and collectible Skulls, which unlock gameplay modifiers from fan favorites to all-new enticing takes. These might do anything from amping up the difficulty by removing your heads-up display, to making Grunts explode in a shower of confetti. And if you really want a challenge, try bumping up Campaign Evolved to the tough Heroic or downright ridiculous Legendary difficulty.




With these tweaks, Halo Studios does an excellent job of maintaining the feel of the original hit FPS, while introducing adjustments that make it even better than you remember. Halo: Campaign Evolved is available July 28 on PlayStation 5.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545881-13-ways-halo-campaign-evolved-modernizes-the-iconic-fps https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545880-free-play-days-for-honor-bleach-rebirth-of-souls-metal-gear-solid-master-collection-version-and-more Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:30:18 GMT Category: Games (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/games/) July 23, 2026 (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/) Free Play Days – For Honor, Bleach...

• Category: Games

July 23, 2026 Free Play Days – For Honor, Bleach Rebirth of Souls, Metal Gear Solid – Master Collection Version, and More

• Kyle OceanMarketing Manager, XBOX

Choose your path, draw your blade, load your pistols, ready your faction, and stay in the shadows with Free Play Days! Tides of Tomorrow and Metal Gear Solid – Master Collection Version are available this weekend for XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday, July 23 until Sunday, July 26. Enjoy Metal Gear Solid – Master Collection for one bonus day until Monday, July 27.




Bleach Rebirth of Souls and Killing Floor 3 are free for all XBOX members during this Free Play Days (XBOX Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).




For Honor is free for all XBOX members with extend time from Thursday, July 23 until Tuesday, August 4 (XBOX Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).

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How To Start Playing

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Scroll down and 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 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership.




To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the XBOX Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S.

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Keep The Fun Going

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Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.

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Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)

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Tides of Tomorrow


THQ Nordic GmbH



☆☆☆☆☆
30



★★★★★






$29.99

$22.49




Get it now


















Tides of Tomorrow
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S
The makers of Road 96 redefined multiplayer narrative adventure with Tides of Tomorrow.  As a Tidewalker, you will explore a post-apocalpytic, floating world that will look, feel, and react differently depending on the player Story-Link you choose. As a deadly disease called Plastemia threatens to kill all living things, you must steel yourself to face the numerous challenges of a world on the brink of collapse. You will never be alone in your single-player mission, constantly feeling the presence of other Tidewalkers through the echoes of those that came before you.

---

METAL GEAR SOLID – Master Collection Version


KONAMI



☆☆☆☆☆
257



★★★★★






$19.99

$9.99




Get it now


















Metal Gear Solid – Master Collection Version
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S
Don’t miss this chance to experience the world of the METAL GEAR series! In 2005, the nuclear weapons disposal facility on Alaska’s Shadow Moses Island is captured by special forces unit FOXHOUND. They demand the remains of the legendary soldier known as Big Boss, threatening to launch a nuclear weapon if their demand is not met within 24 hours. In response, the government calls former FOXHOUND member Solid Snake back into action, tasking him with infiltrating the facility alone. As Snake heads to the site, he ponders the revelation that the leader of the terrorists, Liquid Snake, is his spitting image. With themes of genes and fate, a plot filled with conspiracy and betrayal unfolds.

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Free Play Days For all

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FOR HONOR


Ubisoft



☆☆☆☆☆



★★★★★






Get it now




PC Game Pass



















For Honor
Carve a path of destruction through the battlefield fighting for guts, glory, and survival in For Honor. Enter the chaos of a raging war as a Hero from some of the greatest warrior legacies ever known. For Honor is a fast-paced and immersive experience, mixing skill with visceral, never-before-seen melee combat.

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BLEACH Rebirth of Souls


Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.



☆☆☆☆☆
615



★★★★★






$59.99

$23.99




Get it now


















Bleach Rebirth of Souls
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S
Awaken the blade within you and reverse your fate in BLEACH Rebirth of Souls! Step into the action as Ichigo and experience thrilling sword battles inspired by the legendary anime, mastering unique abilities, and powerful awakenings that can turn the tide of battle. Don’t miss your chance to discover what it takes to become a Soul Reaper this weekend and grab the game while it’s on sale for a limited time to continue your journey beyond Free Play Days.

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Killing Floor 3


Tripwire Interactive



☆☆☆☆☆
687



★★★★★






$39.99

$19.99




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Killing Floor 3
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S
Venture to the Nordic North Sea to explore a mire-infested oil rig and the horrors it has unleashed in Killing Floor 3 Season 4 – Operation: Shadow Hunter. Explore a new map and play the highly anticipated Gunslinger perk, which includes an armory of dual-wielded pistols and high-tech gadgets for destroying Zeds. The update also introduces the elusive Dr. Moorcroft as a new boss and adds a ‘Suicidal’ difficulty level, giving players a challenge between ‘Hard’ and ‘Hell-on-Earth” currently in-game.

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Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members! 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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The post Free Play Days – For Honor, Bleach Rebirth of Souls, Metal Gear Solid – Master Collection Version, and More appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545880-free-play-days-for-honor-bleach-rebirth-of-souls-metal-gear-solid-master-collection-version-and-more https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545879-beginning-ad-supported-game-streaming-test-learn Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:30:18 GMT Category: XBOX Insider (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/insider/) July 23, 2026 (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/) Beginning Ad-supported Game...

• Category: XBOX Insider

July 23, 2026 Beginning Ad-supported Game Streaming Test & Learn

• Team XBOX

Today, we’re starting to test an ad-supported way to stream select games from your library for a limited time, available to XBOX Insiders.




During this test period, XBOX Insiders with an XBOX account will be able to stream games they own for free with ads. Players will have one hour session limits across supported devices and regions.




Here’s what you can expect:

• Ads will play before sessions begin. 

• The core game experience is unchanged. 

• This is optional. Players can choose other ways to play at any time.  

For many players, the device they already own now allows them to stream games with XBOX. Cloud can also help XBOX One owners play newer games built for XBOX Series X|S without needing to purchase new hardware right away. That can be especially meaningful in places where consoles are harder to find or less affordable, giving more players another way to access great games on devices they already have.




Advertising has existed in gaming for decades, from in-game placements to free-to-play models. But it hasn’t always been built with the player in mind. When done well, advertising can help lower the cost of access. It creates another way for players to get into games without an upfront streaming purchase and expands audiences through new ways to play.




For brands, this only works if showing up here adds to the experience, not takes away from it.




Given that, we want to be clear about how we will approach ad-supported services across XBOX:

• We start with the player. Ads should create value. 

• We do not interrupt the flow of gameplay. 

• We hold ads to the same quality bar as our content. 

• We’re clear about what’s advertising. 

• We make sure ads fit what players expect on each platform. 

We’ll learn from this test and continue to improve it based on how players use it and what they tell us. Our goal is simple. Give more people more affordable ways to play.




How to Get XBOX Insider Support and Share Your Feedback



Thanks to XBOX Insiders for all of the feedback. You can also visit aka.ms/XBOXplayervoice to share what you think.




If you’re an XBOX Insider looking for support, please join our community on the XBOX Insider subreddit. Official XBOX staff, moderators, and fellow XBOX Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can!




If you aren’t part of the XBOX Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of XBOX and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the XBOX Insider Hub for XBOX Series X|S & XBOX One or Windows PC. For more information on the XBOX Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at @XBOXInsider and keep an eye on this blog for all the latest news.




Other resources:

• Get the XBOX Insider Hub app
• XBOX Insider FAQ
• How to provide feedback as an XBOX Insider

For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the XBOX Insider SubReddit.
















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The post Beginning Ad-supported Game Streaming Test & Learn appeared first on XBOX Wire.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds XboxBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545879-beginning-ad-supported-game-streaming-test-learn https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545878-dragon-ball-sparking-zeros-super-limit-breaking-neo-dlc-out-july-30 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:00:42 GMT Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero (https://www.playstation.com/games/dragon-ball-sparking-zero/) made its mark in 2024 as the latest installment of the...

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero made its mark in 2024 as the latest installment of the Budokai Tenkaichi series after 17 years. The game launched with more than 180 characters on day one and currently has over 200 playable characters!




However, what is Dragon Ball without surpassing your limits? The Sparking Zero team decided to take it further with the upcoming Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero – Super Limit-Breaking Neo DLC. This new DLC is jam-packed with new characters, stages, a solo mode, and more.









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The game has several solo-mode options, including Episode Battle, which features branching story paths, the creative Custom Battle mode, and the later-added Survival Mode. Super Limit-Breaking Neo offers a new solo mode for fans to enjoy called “Limit Breaker Journey”.




This new solo mode allows players to experience a new way to immerse themselves in the world of Dragon Ball and the characters they know and love. Players can choose their favorite character and develop them into the fighter that best suits their playstyle.









Now, how does one develop their character? Limit Breaker Journey features an interactive map where players can select their destination to trigger different events or battles. The goal is to gain EXP from different encounters and obtain something special called Battle Arts.




Utilizing your SP, which can be used to obtain new abilities and stats, you can equip Battle Arts to unlock special effects such as limited-time boosts to your ki-based attacks or attack power increasing in Sparking mode. You can receive Battle Arts from special encounters with specific characters. However, there is a limit to how many Battle Arts you can equip, so use your SP wisely.








As you level up your SP, you will receive points that can be allocated amongst 6 different stats. Players can freely allocate their points to customize their character to fit their preferred style of play. As you continue to train your character, you may run into battles with special conditions, events that involve collecting the Dragon Ball, and even encounter some pretty tough enemies after you fulfill certain in-game conditions. You can repeat the run with the same character to continue training the character, and once you’re done with the challenge, you can bring your character to showcase your strength against your friends in player matches and in offline battles.




Choosing your favorite character to train is an exciting element in Limit Breaker Journey, and believe it or not, the Super Limit-Breaking Neo DLC offers around 30 new playable characters. Many characters have been revealed, but fans can enjoy a sneak peek of the Ultimate Blasts of Mercenary Tao and Grandpa Gohan below.





















The new characters added to the game will also feature unique interactions that you cannot see anywhere else when entering battle. Players will be able to enjoy exclusive interactions between the new characters added and the others from across the series, a beloved feature in the Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero.




Another beloved feature from Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is the immersive stage destruction, and the DLC adds four new stages: Kami’s Palace, Kame House, Bitter Tundra, Stratosphere (Earth and Planet Vegeta). The intensity of battle is enhanced with the destructible features and you can even experience the Kami’s Palace being destroyed down to even the ground itself.








Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero continues to bring the power with Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero – Super Limit-Breaking Neo. The DLC launches on July 30, 2026, and fans will be able to enjoy free updates that include new features such as Sparking Boost and Chain Blast. Whether you train your favorite character to suit your playstyle or want to take your intense battles into the stratosphere, there’s something for every Sparking Zero fan to enjoy.




Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero – Super Limit-Breaking Neo launches on July 30, 2026.



More...]]> Automated News Feeds PlayStationBot https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545878-dragon-ball-sparking-zeros-super-limit-breaking-neo-dlc-out-july-30 https://totalgamingnetwork.com/feeds/3545877-halo-campaign-evolved-the-brand-new-features-in-this-remake-of-a-classic Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:00:42 GMT Category: Games (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/games/) July 23, 2026 (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/) Halo: Campaign Evolved – The Brand...

• Category: Games

July 23, 2026 Halo: Campaign Evolved – The Brand New Features in This Remake of A Classic

• Danielle Partis, XBOX Wire Editor

From the winding, glowing corridors of complex Covenant structures to the wide, verdant plains of the Halo ring itself, the campaign levels of Halo: Combat Evolved are where many of us started our XBOX journey almost 25 years ago. While it never gets old jumping in as the Chief and blasting through these familiar spaces for yet another run, Halo: Campaign Evolved offers so much more than that.






Set against a stunning backdrop fuelled by Unreal Engine 5, with brand-new story missions, new Skulls that introduce brilliant and bizarre gameplay modifiers, and the option to bring up to four players into the fully co-operative Campaign, this isn’t just Halo at its very best, it’s also bringing us fresh ideas. After spending some time playing the game ourselves, here are some things to look out for as Halo: Campaign Evolved heads into Early Access today for Premium Edition players.




Operation: METEORITE – A Whole New Adventure



One of the most substantial additions to Halo: Campaign Evolved, Operation: METEORITE brings three brand-new bonus missions to the story, with an arc that takes place roughly a year ahead of the main campaign itself.




While we don’t want to spoil too much, we can say that following the Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson through this additional story beat adds delightful context to the events leading up to the first mission of Halo: Campaign Evolved, and it makes running into the Sergeant at the start of the story we know feel all the more impactful as you work to save his Marines. It’s truly a treat to explore an entirely new adventure with Chief and one of his most formidable allies – and of course, there are Skulls and Terminals to be found hidden in here too.




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Four Player Campaign That Scales with Your Squad



For the first time ever, the story of Halo: Campaign Evolved can be experienced with up to four-players online, with cross-platform play supported. While these spaces were originally designed to accommodate up to two Chiefs playing together in co-op, this remake has been thoughtfully rebuilt with double the players in mind. Weapon spawns stack with the number of players, ensuring a balanced and plentiful arsenal for everyone in the game. Levels have received adjustments to ensure players can move seamlessly through spaces, and the new selection of usable vehicles means every Chief can traverse wide open spaces with ease. In the level ‘Assault on the Control Room,’ for example, players can operate Ghosts, Wraiths, and of course, the Scorpion tank. No one has to walk, unless you destroy your ride, intentionally or unintentionally.




New Skulls, Old Skulls



As soon as I’d hopped out of the Cryo chamber at the start of mission one, ‘The Pillar of Autumn,’ there’s but one thing to do – I pulled a 180 and sprinted (with the brand-new sprint button, no less) to the back of the room, only to find that the Skull that I’ve know how to find since 2001 just… wasn’t there. For Halo: Campaign Evolved, Halo Studios has completely repositioned the original locations of the Skulls – relics that can be collected and used to add modifiers to your game that alter the mechanics, environment, enemy spawns, and much more.




Not only that, the team has also introduced brand-new Skulls to find alongside all your old favorites, offering fresh modifiers to discover. It’s a small change, but one that encourages you to explore this well-trodden ground and all its hidden spaces in a whole new way. Getting to relive the original fun of finding the Skulls all over again is a real treat for long-time fans. Oh, and one of the new Skulls introduces an optional third-person mode to Halo: Campaign Evolved, so be sure to keep an eye out for it.




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Campaign Remix Switches Up Your Play



Collecting any three Skulls in Halo: Campaign Evolved grants access to Campaign Remix – a new mode that lets you replay completed missions with a significant twist.




Remix automatically unlocks three additional Skulls that are enabled by default every time you boot up a mission in this mode – Adaptation, Reload, and Armistice. Adaptation randomizes the enemy types that appear across a level, Reload similarly randomizes weapon placement, and Armistice ensures that every type of enemy will fight together as allies against you, their true villain. The three modifiers acting in unison adds a delightful randomness to each playthrough, and the addition of nine weapons from other titles in the Halo franchise creates an extra layer of fun, while not feeling out of place. And, of course, you can add any number of other Skulls you might have found, to push that chaos even further. Campaign Remix also introduces two new visual effects that can be added to a mission; Nightvision and Spore Visibility. The former adds a permanent green nightvision effect to Chief’s view, with enemies and points of interest outlined in a neon green light. It’s a cool addition for a more strategic approach, and feels good in those Covenant structures shrouded in darkness.




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The latter introduces an even more intense modifier, a thick, translucent layer cloud of fog and Flood spores across the environment, reducing visibility and distorting objects in your immediate vision. My first thought was to add this effect over ‘The Library’ – the level that sees Chief face off against waves of horrible Flood enemies, transforming a mission from a familiar haunt into an unrecognizable horror as tiny Flood creatures spewed indiscriminately from the dusky clouds. Playing like this completely captures the essence and the terror that the original space built, but it feels sharper, smarter and more realistic than ever before.




Even in open spaces – like ‘Halo’, the game’s second level – sprawling fields and open sky are blanketed with a murky smog that adds a whole new energy to a playthrough and everything you do within it – manoeuvring vehicles (or dodging them), trying to take down Banshees through the fog, or even working out what’s coming towards you based on lights piercing the curtain makes every decision feel a little heavier, in the best possible way.




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Halo: Campaign Evolved launches globally on July 28, 2026, with early access beginning today for Premium Edition owners (you still have time to pre-order and start playing today). It will be available for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, cloud, and included with Game Pass. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere. Also available on Steam and PlayStation 5.  The game supports cross-play and cross-progression across XBOX Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5.













Halo: Campaign Evolved – Premium Edition


Xbox Game Studios



☆☆☆☆☆
928



★★★★★





$69.99




Get it now






Pre-order the Premium Edition and get up to 5 days early access and the Foundry Armory Pack, featuring legendary looks for the Master Chief’s iconic Mark V Mjolnir armor.

PRE-ORDER INCLUDES:
• Up to 5 days early access, beginning July 23, 2026
• Classic 2001 Mark V Armor skin
• Classic 2001 Assault Rifle skin
• Gilded Onyx Armor style
• Gilded Onyx Assault Rifle style

PREMIUM EDITION INCLUDES:
• Halo: Campaign Evolved game
• Alpha Halo Armory Pack, featuring 5 Master Chief Armor skins & 6 weapon skins
• Art of Halo: Campaign Evolved Digital Artbook
• Halo: Hungry Buzzards Digital Short Story
• Digital Game Manual

EXPERIENCE WHERE THE LEGEND BEGINS
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign. Experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, refined controls, plus a brand-new three-mission adventure featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. A broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies, and gameplay-modifying “Skulls” – optional modifiers that change combat in fun and challenging ways – add fresh tactics and endless replayability.

Play it your way: solo, in 2-player split-screen co-op (console only), or up to 4-player online co-op with full crossplay and cross-progression support.* Whether you’re discovering Halo for the first time or returning to the ring after 25 years, Halo: Campaign Evolved delivers an adventure that feels both timeless and brand new.

DISCOVER THE RINGWORLD:
After crash landing on a mysterious ringworld known as Halo, the Master Chief is tasked with helping the remaining humans survive against overwhelming Covenant forces. Alongside his AI companion Cortana, he uncovers Halo’s dark secrets and fights to avert the annihilation of all life in the galaxy.

THE COMPLETE CAMPAIGN, REBUILT:
Battle through the original missions, remade with high-def visuals, updated cinematics, and refined level design.

CINEMATICS AND AUDIO OVERHAULED:
All-new visuals and animations, plus a remastered soundtrack and fully rebuilt sound design for deeper immersion.

COMBAT AND WEAPONS EXPANDED:
Classic Halo combat feels sharper than ever, now with 9 additional iconic weapons from across the series to add to your arsenal.

THREE NEW MISSIONS:
Play as the Master Chief alongside Sgt. Johnson in Operation: Meteorite, a standalone combat operation featuring new environments, gameplay, and enemies.

PLAY SOLO OR WITH FRIENDS:
2-player split-screen (console only) or 4-player online co-op, with crossplay and cross-progression across console and PC.

DRIVE, HIJACK, WREAK HAVOC:
Halo’s iconic vehicles return with more ways to create unforgettable chaos. For the first time in Halo: CE, hijack enemy vehicles and pilot a fully drivable Wraith tank.

ENDLESS REPLAYABILITY:
Remix every mission with optional “Skull” modifiers that add variety and challenge with randomized weapons, enemies, and environments.

























The post Halo: Campaign Evolved – The Brand New Features in This Remake of A Classic appeared first on XBOX Wire.



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