Those in charge at Double Fine Productions have acknowledged a desire to return to the world of Brutal Legend. Released in 2009, Brutal Legend is one of the most famous games that Double Fine has ever created. Set within a heavy-metal-inspired world, the title was a mix of action and real-time strategy genres and saw famed actor Jack Black portray the game’s central protagonist, Eddie Riggs. And while fifteen years have now passed without a sequel ever coming about, those at Double Fine are said to be wondering about such an endeavor.

In a recent post on Double Fine’s website, the topic of Brutal Legend 2 was touched on quite directly. Community manager Harper Jay acknowledged that fans continue to request Brutal Legend 2 in droves, as it’s the project that is asked about most often. Despite this, it was said plainly that a sequel isn’t happening at the moment, even if it has been talked about internally at Double Fine.

“It’s one of Double Fine’s best selling games and the one that people ask me about most. When is Brutal Legend 2!?” Jay wrote. “And while that’s not in the card for now, it’s certainly a universe many folks here at the studio wonder about returning to.”

Talking a bit more about what Brutal Legend 2 would even be, creative director Tim Schafer said that he would like to expand more on the RTS elements of the original game. While many fans would like a Brutal Legend sequel to be more akin to God of War, Schafer said what excites him the most is the thought of iterating on the most divisive aspect of the first installment.

“People ask about Brutal Legend 2 all the time and I’m torn about that,” Schafer said. “I know some of them want it with an evolution of the RTS stuff and some of them just want God of War with Eddie Riggs. I understand the logic of making the second option, but I’m much more excited about the first.”

For now, it’s still not known what Double Fine will look to do next. The studio’s most recent game, Psychonauts 2, was released in 2021 to critical acclaim. Since then, Double Fine has been laying relatively low but is surely well into development on its next project. While Brutal Legend 2 clearly won’t be happening any time soon, hopefully, Double Fine can one day satiate requests from fans and return with a sequel or spin-off.

The post Brutal Legend Developer Has Ideas for Brutal Legend 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Over the weekend, Xbox’s Aaron Greenberg found himself at the center of a new controversy surrounding Banjo-Kazooie. The VP of marketing at Xbox Games said at a recent event that “nobody cares about Banjo-Kazooie.” That comment began to circulate online, with many fans of the franchise sharing their frustrations with Xbox, and its lack of attention to the once successful series. Greenberg has since clarified his comments on X/Twitter, in a reply made to YouTuber JayWood2010. After JayWood2010 speculated that Greenberg’s sarcasm was lost in translation, the Xbox executive replied that was the case, and that he has a lot of love for the bird and bear pair.

“Correct, I absolutely know how much Banjo-Kazooie means to our fans and gamers everywhere. It holds a special place in my heart, growing up playing these classic games,” Greenberg wrote on X/Twitter.

Obviously, this clarification from Greenberg does not make it more likely that a new Banjo-Kazooie game will actually be released anytime in the near future. However, it does show that Xbox is not being dismissive of the series, and that’s something at least. If fans continue to remind Xbox that they want to see the series make a comeback, it’s possible a new entry could materialize. For that reason alone, it’s worth continuing to share demands for a new game, and mentioning it every time Xbox asks about franchises fans would like to see resurrected. That’s what Greenberg was responding to in the first place, and what led to all of this discussion over the last few days.

It should be noted that there are a lot of potential hurdles that might prevent a new Banjo-Kazooie from being developed, including the fact that we don’t know who would make the game. The current makeup of Rare is a lot different from the one that developed the Banjo-Kazooie games, and they seem to be pretty busy working on Sea of Thieves, a game that has been very successful for Xbox. There’s also the fact that Xbox just obtained the rights to all of Activision Blizzard’s old IPs, many of which have also been neglected for years.

Will Banjo-Kazooie ever make a comeback? It’s hard to say. Rare’s old franchises have certainly not been forgotten, as a new Perfect Dark is in development, and seems to be heading in a positive direction. We also just got a new BattleToads in 2020, which seemed pretty unlikely prior to the involvement of developer Dlala Studios. It’s possible Microsoft will eventually find a studio with a passion for Banjo-Kazooie that has the proper skills to do the series justice. For the time being though, fans shouldn’t get their hopes up too high. At the very least, the original games remain playable on Xbox platforms, and Banjo-Tooie will soon make its way to Nintendo Switch. The series might be dormant, but at least it hasn’t been forgotten!

Do you think we’ll ever see a new Banjo-Kazooie? Are you happy for this clarification from Greenberg? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Banjo-Kazooie Comments Clarified Following Xbox Controversy appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The newest Xbox Series X consoles have a secret upgrade on the launch Xbox Series X consoles and any other Series X console that came between the Series X launch and now. More specifically, Xbox fans who join the Xbox Series X family late, with a purchase of one of the following two consoles — the Xbox Series X – 1TB Digital Edition in Robot White and the Xbox Series X – 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition — will enjoy a benefit earlier adopters don’t have.

What is so different about these two new Xbox Series X consoles compared to previous consoles? Well, on the surface level nothing more than the storage size and paint job. However, the components they are built with are also actually different.

Where previous Xbox Series X consoles came with a 7nm chip, the new Xbox Series X consoles above, and presumably going forward, will have a 6nm chip. Now, I know what you’re thinking: so what? Well, this actually will have a tangible impact on the performance of the machines, at least in theory.

The new Xbox Series X consoles with the 6nm chip should not only consume less power as a result, but produce less heat, and thus also require less cooling. This also means less overheating, something the Xbox Series X can struggle with at times and will struggle with more and more as the generation goes on, as the console gets older, and games get more technically demanding.

Now, this is fairly common in console development. Over the course of the generation, console hardware is revised to be cheaper and more efficient. So, this isn’t a huge surprise this has happened. However, it has come as a surprise to many Xbox fans because Microsoft has not advertised the change at all.

Whether the reduction in power consumption, overheating, and cooling will be noticeable on the consumer end, we don’t know. This hasn’t been put to the test yet. However, whether noticeable or not, all three of these things will exist with the new Xbox Series X consoles. And this will presumably be the case with all future Xbox consoles as well. Unless this was simply the result of a shortage of 7nm chips, which is very unlikely, for a variety of reasons, this will be the standard going forward.

For more Xbox Series X coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users have been surprised with a free upgrade for a popular Xbox One game. The Xbox game in question can actually trace its roots back to 2012. In 2012, the likes of Mass Effect 3, Far Cry 3, Borderlands 2, The Walking Dead, Dishonored, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Journey, Guild Wars 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Halo 4, Hitman: Absolution, Dragon’s Dogma, Need For Speed: Most Wanted, Max Payne 3, Assassin’s Creed 3, Diablo 3, Spec Ops: The Line, Fez, and Hotline Miami all released. It was a pretty eventful and jam packed year in terms of game releases.

One game that also released in 2012 you may have noticed missing from this most notable games of 2012 list is Darksiders 2. A sequel to 2010’s Darksiders, Darksiders 2 was famously one of the most expensive games ever developed at the time. Its $50 million budget is nothing compared to the hundreds of millions AAA games spend only a decade later, but back then $50 million was a lot.

At the time of its release, Darksiders 2 received Metacritic scores ranging from 77 to 83, a decent return for the sequel, but perhaps not in line with the ambitions of the budget. Nonetheless, it did well enough to get a sequel in 2018. Before this though, it was re-released in 2015 on PS4 and Xbox One, previously releasing on PS3 and Xbox 360, as Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition.

Fast-forward nine years, and now the Xbox One version of this game has been upgraded for free. This means, any that own the Xbox One version just got the Xbox Series X|S version for nothing.

This may seem random — and a surprise to many — but it not as random as some may think. This week, on October 15, the game came to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. Those that don’t already own it must fork over $29.99 for this new version of the Xbox 360 classic. Those who own the Xbox One version though get the upgrade for free.

As for what these upgrades include, not a ton, but there is now 4K resolution, ray tracing, and enhanced lighting and shadows, and faster loading times. How much faster though, has not been specified.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X|S news, all of the latest Xbox Series X|S rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X|S deals — click here.

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Today, not one, but two new games were stealth released on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, and one is a 2024 Game of the Year contender. The stealth releases happened during the Xbox Partner Preview, which unfortunately was a bit light in terms of standout games, but there were two shadow drops to give Xbox fans something to be excited about right now, in addition to games to look forward to in the future.

One of the these two new shadow drops is Animal Well, which released earlier this year to a 91 on Metacritic, but only via PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. At release, the Xbox Series X|S version was notably missing, but today this was remedied. The sixth highest-rated game of 2024 is now available on Xbox Series consoles at the same price it is on other platforms: $24.99.

The other new stealth release on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S was a game just announced today. In addition to being announced today, the game, Blindfire, was also released via Early Access at a humble price point of $8.99. Unlike Animal Well, where Xbox fans had to wait, this time they are getting their hands early on the game before other console users, as this early access release is only on PC and Xbox Series X|S.

Below, you can read more about both games and check out trailers for both games as well, the former courtesy of the Microsoft Store and the latter courtesy of the official Xbox YouTube channel.

Animal Well

“Hatch from your flower and spelunk through the beautiful and sometimes haunting world of Animal Well, a pixelated wonder rendered in intricate audio and visual detail. Encounter lively creatures small and large, helpful and ominous as you discover unconventional upgrades and unravel the well’s secrets. This is a truly unique experience that can make you laugh in fear, surprise, or delight.”

Blindfire

“Blindfire is an online multiplayer first-person shooter that takes place in the dark. Set in a shadowy underworld, the ultra-wealthy bet on illicit bloodsports beneath a neon skyline. For contestants lured by the promise of untold riches and unimaginable glory, it’s kill or be killed.”

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Xbox Game Pass news, rumors, leaks, and deals — click here.

The post Xbox Series X GOTY Contender Just Stealth Released appeared first on ComicBook.com.

During today’s Xbox Partner Showcase, developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment unveiled a first look at Subnautica 2. Details on the highly-anticipated sequel have been slim since it was first announced, but now we have a better idea how things are starting to shape up. Today’s trailer is on the brief side, offering little in terms of details, but the game looks stunning so far, with some impressive visuals. The trailer lasts just over a minute in total, but we are given a quick glimpse at some of the aquatic species players will stumble across.

The first trailer for Subnautica 2 can be found below.

The first two Subnautica games had players exploring Planet 4546B, but Subnautica 2 will have players “traverse beyond” that location. At this time, we don’t have much else in terms of information, but there was some good news for Xbox fans. The game will be offered through early access on Xbox Game Pass in 2025. In a post on the official Xbox Wire blog, Unknown Worlds community manager Donya Abramo talked about the advantage of offering the game preview through the subscription service.

“Launching via the Xbox Game Preview program provides an incredible opportunity for anyone trying the game to send feedback our way. It helped shape and guide the direction of Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, and we’re thrilled to be developing Subnautica 2 in the same tradition,” writes Abramo.

In one major change from the first game, Subnautica 2 will offer a chance to explore together through four-player co-op. This option will be available at the launch of the game preview, so Xbox fans will immediately get a chance to try it out. The ability to explore with so many other players has been long requested by the fan community, and was a major priority for the developers. However, it’s worth noting that the single-player option will remain available to players, should they wish to continue playing solo.

Players can also expect “new and improved tools, vehicles, and base building,” as well as new creatures. Little information has been offered about these new elements, but the developers are teasing that they’ll have a lot more to unveil in the coming months.

For those new to the series, the original Subnautica released in 2018 to strong critical praise. The game received several awards that year, including PC Game of the Year from the Golden Joystick Awards. A spin-off game called Subnautica: Below Zero was released in 2021, offering significant changes to the first game’s formula. The biggest of these was the addition of significant areas based on land. Those locations weren’t as well-regarded as the underwater areas, and it will be interesting to see if Subnautica 2 sticks closer to the formula from the first game.

How do you feel about the first trailer for Subnautica 2? Did you play the first game or its spin-off? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Subnautica 2 Reveals Stunning First Look Trailer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Following PlayStation’s big State of Play event from last month, Xbox is holding its own event in October with a new Xbox Partner Preview taking place right now. As the name suggests, this showcase is more focused on third-party games coming to Xbox as well as DLCs and expansions for existing games. It’s supposed to last around 30 minutes or so with many new games shown off during the event.

To keep track of all of those, we’ll include every new announcement below along with a trailer and a brief overview of what the announcement entailed. Xbox typically follows up its events like these with more detailed breakdowns of all the announcements shared via the Xbox Wire, so expect to see those as well after the event concludes.

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House

Following up on the success of Alan Wake 2 and its Night Springs expansion, another DLC is on the way. Xbox showed off another trailer this week for The Lake House, the second expansion for Alan Wake 2 that’ll be released on October 22nd.

Cronos: The New Dawn

Bloober Team partnered with Xbox to reveal another new game during the event called Cronos: The New Dawn. Bloober Team is the studio that’s made games like The Medium n the past but has more recently found immense success via the Silent Hill 2 remake. Their newest game doesn’t have a release date, but this is our very first look at it.

Blindfire

Xbox doesn’t really do shadow drops too often, but it made an exception today with Blindfire, a new shooter that’s out right now as part of a surprise release. It’s a game that plays with light in its shooting mechanics, and you can find out more about it here while you download it.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The new game from Ryu Ga Gotoku is another Like a Dragon spin-off called Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza. In typical Yakuza fashion, it puts its protagonist in outlandish and ridiculous situations, this time turning Goro Majima into a pirate. The new trailer today shared more info about naval combat in the game.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire

If you liked Cuphead‘s style, Mouse: P.I For Hire should be on your radar as well. It’s an FPS inspired by cartoons from the 1930s, and you’ll be able to play it soon on both the Xbox and PC platforms.

Subnautica 2

This one’s a big one: Subnautica 2 has finally surfaced. Developer Unknown Worlds shared an update on the next Subnautica game earlier on the year which follows up both the original Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, and today, we finally got a teaser for Subnautica 2.

Animal Well

Animal Well was one of several breakout indie hits that released this year. It’s developed by Billy Basso under Dunkey’s Bigmode publishing label, and while it’s experienced success on other platforms, it’s not yet made it to Xbox. That’s changed now, however, with Animal Well joining Blindfire as a surprise release out today.

Edens Zero

From the mind of Hiro Mashima comes Edens Zero, a game that’s adapted from the anime of the same name. No release date has been announced yet, but it’ll be out in 2025 for both the PC and Xbox platforms.

Eternal Strands

Eternal Strands from developer Yellow Brick Games is one of many game’s that’ll be coming straight to Xbox Game Pass upon release (assuming you’ve got one of the new subscriptions that makes sure you can play day-one games). It’s due out early next year, and you can see more of it from the trailer above that was shared today.

Mistfall Hunter

While many of the games shown off during Xbox’s Partner Preview were existing titles being showcased again, Mistfall Hunter is brand new. It’s a PvPvE game, so think something along the lines of Hunt: Showdown or Dark and Darker to get an idea of what the gameplay will be like.

Wheel World

Much different from some of the other darker games shown off during the Xbox showcase, Wheel World is on the surface about riding your customized bike around. It’s got a “save the world” element to it too, however, and the trailer indicates that there’s more than meets the eye to its story.

Phasmophobia

Phasmophobia is a ghost-hunting game that took the PC and VR platforms by storm, and now, it’s finally coming to Xbox consoles. Developer Kinetic Games has been teasing this release for a while now, and it’s now been revealed that the game will come to the Xbox Series X|S on October 29th.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Soulslike games are not hard to come by these days, and now, Xbox and PC owners have another to look forward to. Xbox showed off Wuchang: Fallen Feathers this week in a new trailer for the game that’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass on its release day which will fall some time in 2025.

FBC: Firebreak

From the world of Control (and on a broader scale, Alan Wake, too) comes FBC: Firebreak, a new game from Remedy Entertainment. It’s one of several projects remedy has teased in the past and happens to be the developer’s very first multiplayer game, too. You can get your first look at FBC: Firebreak via the trailer above.

The post Xbox Partner Preview: Every Trailer and Game Announced appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been close to a year since Marvel’s Blade was announced at The Game Awards 2023, and details about the Xbox exclusive have been pretty much nonexistent in the months since. The only thing we know for certain about the game right now is that it’s being developed by Arkane Lyon, the studio responsible for Deathloop. However, a juicy new detail might have been revealed about the game thanks to sources for Double-Barrel Gaming. According to the YouTube channel, the developers are considering a morality system similar to the one seen in PlayStation’s Infamous series.

In the Infamous games, protagonists Cole MacGrath and Delsin Rowe were superheroes controlled by the player. The games allowed players to make decisions that had an impact on their standing with the public, and choosing the Good or Evil option would determine how bystanders would react towards them. More importantly, it also had an impact on the abilities learned by Cole and Delsin. In theory, if Arkham Lyon is trying to replicate that concept, it would mean that Blade might unlock darker ways of killing his enemies if players choose the darker path, or ways of sparing them, if the situation calls for it.

It’s important to note that this is all just a rumor at this time, and we don’t know if this feature will actually end up implemented in the game. However, it could be an interesting way to separate Marvel’s Blade from other superhero games on the market. While Blade has fought alongside some of the biggest heroes of the Marvel Universe, the character’s methods have always been darker when compared to Spider-Man or Iron Man; in that regard, it would make a lot of sense. However, implementing a morality system in a game where vampires are the central antagonist might be tough to pull off. After all, how do you spare a creature that has to feed off humans in order to survive?

Unfortunately, we have no idea when more information will be revealed about Marvel’s Blade. The lack of news about the game over the last year suggests we might not see it until late 2025 at the earliest, if not later. Hopefully Xbox and Arkane Lyon will have something exciting to show us sometime in the near future!

Do you think a morality system would make sense in Marvel’s Blade? Did you enjoy that feature in the Infamous games? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Marvel’s Blade Rumor Claims the Game Will Borrow a Feature from Infamous appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Microsoft is bringing back a fan-favorite feature to Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X consoles next month after previously removing the feature. The feature in question is not a game-changer for any on these various last-gen and current-gen Xbox consoles, however, it is a quality-of-life feature some Xbox fans have been missing, and a quality-of-life feature available to PlayStation fans on the PS5.

At one point, Xbox users — across Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X — were able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox app on Android. Then this feature was then removed. Why it was removed, remains unclear, but it likely had something to do with policies involving Google’s mobile store. Whatever the case, it is coming back.

Xbox executive Sarah Bond recently confirmed the feature is set to return in November, though when exactly in November, Bond did not disclose.

“The court’s ruling to open up Google´s mobile store in the US will allow more choice and flexibility,” said Bond in a post on social media platform X. “Our mission is to allow more players to play on more devices so we are thrilled to share that starting in November, players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android.”

Not only will this allow Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users to buy games directly from the Xbox app on Android, but it will also allow them to redeem codes directly in the app as well.

Of course, as more details on this matter are revealed, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. So far, there has been no word of this from official Xbox communication channels, only Bond. That said, she would obviously know as one of the top bosses at Xbox.

It is possible this information will be relayed in a more official and traditional matter during the next Xbox event, which is scheduled to commence today, October 17. Right now though, this is just speculation.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest news, rumors, leaks, speculation, and deals as it pertains to Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Game Pass — click here.

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Xbox has announced it will be holding a new video game showcase this week dedicated to third-party publishers. Just a couple of weeks back, Xbox held an event in tandem with Tokyo Game Show 2024 that shed light on future games coming to Xbox platforms that were developed within Japan. Now, another such event is going transpire in mere days that will show off new Xbox games releasing in the final months of 2024 and early 2025.

Detailed on the Xbox website, it was revealed that a new Xbox Partner Preview will be held on Thursday, October 17th. The event is set to last around 25 minutes in total and will begin at 1:00pm ET/10:00am PT. Per usual, the broadcast will take place across YouTube and Twitch, with the YouTube version being streamed in 4K.

As for what this Xbox Partner Preview will center around, it has been said that Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will both be highlighted with new trailers. Remedy Entertainment will also share a new look at The Lake House, which is the upcoming second piece of DLC for Alan Wake II. Lastly, “multiple world premieres and other great titles coming to Xbox consoles” were said to be making an appearance, which indicates that there are some surprises in store.

Even though 2024 is beginning to wrap up, there are still a number of big Xbox games on the horizon. The biggest of which is definitely Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is slated to arrive on October 25th. Given that Call of Duty is now a first-party franchise from Xbox, it seems unlikely to be shown off during this Partner Preview event. Then again, Xbox could certainly choose to promote Black Ops 6 once more during the broadcast, especially since its launch is so close.

Which games are you hoping to receive updates on at this week’s Xbox Partner Preview showcase? And do you believe that there will be any major surprises that Xbox will unveil during the broadcast? Let me know for yourself over on social media at @MooreMan12.

The post Xbox Announces New Showcase Taking Place This Week appeared first on ComicBook.com.

According to a new report, not only is a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved in the works, but apparently it is releasing sooner than you think. It has been 23 years since Bungie released the first Halo game, which served as a launch game for the original Xbox. During the Xbox 360 era, the game was then remastered as Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, which is playable on modern Xbox consoles not just via backward compatibility, but The Master Chief Collection.

In an era where modern Halo continues to lose relevance, it would make sense Xbox would be interested in going backwards to a time when Halo was a dominant series in the gaming industry.

To this end, back in June, an initial report broke that a remaster of Halo: Combat Evolved was in the works. Word at the time was that the project was in the early days of development, and that Xbox was considering making it not just for modern Xbox consoles, but PlayStation hardware as well.

Fast-forward a few months, and we have a new report that offers news information that seems to contradict this original report a little bit. The new tidbit comes from a well-known Xbox insider, Nick Baker.

Where the previous report called the project a remaster of the first Halo game, this new report calls it a remake. Meanwhile, where the first reported warned that it was in early development, Baker says “it is not as far away as you’d think.”

Unfortunately, Baker does not elaborate on either of these points, which don’t inherently contradict the first report about the project, but do seem to at face value. Whatever the case, like the initial report about the project, take this new one with a grain of salt. While Baker has proven reliable and reputable in the past, he is also sometimes wrong, which is true of just about everyone who deals in rumors. Sometimes it is because the intel is faulty, but other times it is because plans change over time. In other words, something could be accurate at one point, but made inaccurate in the future.

At the moment of publishing, Xbox nor Halo Studios has commented on this new rumor. We don’t suspect this to change, for a variety of reasons, but if it does we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

The post Halo Remake Is Reportedly Real and Releasing Sooner Than You Think appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions don’t go on sale often so when they do it is notable. Naturally, the discounts are never the greatest, but saved money is saved money. And when you are paying upwards of $17 a month for an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, the costs quickly rack up. To this end, subscribers should always save money on Xbox Game Pass when they can.

The new Xbox Game Pass deal specifically comes the way of online retailer Woot, which has discounted both one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions and three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions.

The offer is available via Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X, but only for a limited time. More specifically, until October 18 or until supplies run out, whichever comes first. And when you consider items are not limited to one per customer, but rather 24 per customer, it could sell out quick.

Those interested in the deal have two options. The first is to save 19 percent on a one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which means pay $13.79 rather than $16.99. Meanwhile, the same discount is available for a three-month subscription, which normally runs at $44.99, but is only $36.49 with this discount.

Those that really want to save money can purchase 24 three-month subscriptions. Saving $8 a pop, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can save roughly $192 doing this. That said, this comes with a three-year supply of Xbox Game Pass, aka a long and steady commitment to the subscription service.

Like its PlayStation counterpart, PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass rarely goes on sale. However, the holiday season is around the corner so it is possible it could go on sale then, with a better discount, but there is not guarantee of this.

It is also worth taking into consideration there have a been a couple of Xbox Game Pass price increases the last few years. To this end, paying a discount of the current rate could save you even more if there is a price increase on the horizon.

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

The post New Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Deal Saves You Nearly $200 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Walmart has accidentally released a new Xbox console early. Retailers breaking street dates isn’t anything new, but usually when it happens it is video games being released too soon, especially games of the highly anticipated variety. Rarely does a retailer accidentally release a piece of hardware early, or at least hardware that is consequential. The new white Xbox Series X is out in the wild though thanks to Walmart, a few days before its release.

Back in June, Microsoft announced three new Xbox Series X consoles. One of these was an all-digital Xbox Series X with a white paint job or, more specifically, a “Robot White” paint job as Microsoft describes it.

The all-digital machine features a 1TB SSD and retails at $449.99, making it a bit cheaper than the standard Xbox Series X. The console has been available for pre-order since August, but doesn’t release until October 14. Those who haven’t ordered the console yet, but are interested in owning it, may be able to get their hands on it early though.

Over on Reddit, one Xbox fan relayed word that they found the console for sale, early, while walking around their local Walmart. Where in the country this Walmart is, we don’t know, but it possible this is also the case at other locations as well. The Xbox fan also claims the console is running cooler than their original Xbox Series X, though this is likely just because it is newer and not collected the same level of dust on the fan as a result.

Now that Xbox users are seeing actual images of the console, and not just product shots, they are divided over the design. Of course, some like the sleek and pristine white look. Others think the lack of the disc drive makes it look a little odd.

“It does look fresh as hell, but I just can’t justify not having a disc drive,” reads one comment on the post above. “It looks weird to me without the disc slot. Like not having a belly button or something,” reads another comment.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here. Meanwhile, and as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. How does the all-digital white Xbox Series X look to you?

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One of the best Xbox exclusives — available on Xbox One, and playable on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S via backward compatibility — is currently only $4.99. This special price is thanks to a new deal on the Microsoft Store that discounts the Xbox game by 75 percent, which in turn makes the game available for the cheapest price it has ever been. This Xbox deal is only available on the Microsoft Store until October 15 though. That said, it is not the only dirt cheap deal available to Xbox gamers right now.

The mystery game in question is 2015’s Ori and the Blind Forest from Moon Studios, or more, specifically, the definitive edition of the game. While it eventually came to Nintendo Switch in 2019, before this Ori was an Xbox console exclusive for four years. And during the Xbox One era, it was one of the best Xbox exclusives, as evident by its 88 on Metacritic and many awards. Its equally critically-acclaimed sequel, 2020’s Ori and the Will of the Wisps, is also currently on sale on the Microsoft Store for $9.87 thanks to its own 67 percent discount

Popular Xbox Games Currently Under $5

• Limbo – $0.99
• Rogue Legacy – $1.49
• Kingdom: New Lands – $1.49
• Inside – $1.99
• Omno – $2.84
• Saints Row IV: Re-Elected – $2.99
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary – $2.99
• Tomb Raider Underworld – $2.99
• XCOM 2 – $2.99
• FAR: Lone Sails – $2.99
• Jade Empire – $3.29
• Sniper Elite V2 Remastered – $3.49
• Loop Hero – $3.74
• Crawl – $3.74
• Huntdown – $3.99
• Yes, Your Grace – $3.99
• Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition – $3.99
• Tacoma – $4.24
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI – $4.49
• Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – $4.49
• Super Meat Boy – $4.94
• F.E.A.R. 3 – $4.99
• Little Nightmares – $4.99
• Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition – $4.99
• Sunset Overdrive – $4.99
• Middle-earth: Shadow of War – $4.99
• Cloudpunk – $4.99
• Hotline Miami Collection – $4.99
• Kingdom Two Crowns – $4.99
• Turok 2: Seeds of Evil – $4.99

Most of the games above are obviously Xbox One games, which is to be expected with a price point of $5 or less. However, there are some Xbox Series X|S games as well, and even some Xbox 360 and OG Xbox games. And all of these deals — except one, which comes via GameStop — are courtesy of the Microsoft Store.

Naturally, some of these Xbox games have been this cheap before, but others have never been this cheap. And of course, who knows when any of these Xbox games will be this cheap again.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest news, all of the latest rumors and leaks, and all of the latest deals like this, as it pertains to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass — click here.

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Microsoft’s most recent update to Xbox Game Pass has added a popular horror game a couple weeks ahead of Halloween. The new horror game is specifically available via the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Console, and PC tiers. This is the only requirement as far as Xbox Game Pass subscribers are concerned though, as it is available on all Xbox Game Pass platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PC.

As for the new Xbox Game Pass game in question, it debuted back in 2021, which was notably a very light year in terms of game releases, which is fairly standard of the year after a new console generation starts. In some years, the game may have not stood out, but in a year like 2021 it stood out as one of the year’s best games. That game is Inscryption.

Developed by Daniel Mullins and published by Devolver Digital, the rogue-like deck-building game with horror elements specifically debuted on October 19, 2021. At the time, it was a PC-only release. And upon release, it garnered an 87 on Metacritic, a strong return in 2021 that put it among the top rated new releases that year.

It was not the first notable release from Daniel Mullins though, who previously made a name for himself with 2016’s Pony Island and 2018’s The Hex. Currently, he is working on Pony Island 2, but until that releases, Inscryption is his latest game. And now it is on Xbox Game Pass.

How long the unique horror game is going to be on Xbox Game Pass, we don’t know. Per usual, Microsoft does not divulge this information. As long as it available via Xbox Game Pass though, subscribers can purchase the game outright for 20 percent off.

“From the creator of Pony Island and The Hex comes the latest mind melting, self-destructing love letter to video games,” reads an official blurb about the game for those unfamiliar with it.”Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie. Darker still are the secrets inscribed upon the cards…”

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

It’s important to note, this new addition is not available via the Xbox Game Pass Core tier. Those with this level of subscription will need to upgrade to one of the following tiers to get free access to this Xbox game: Xbox Game Pass Console, Xbox Game Pass PC, or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

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A classic first-person shooter from the Xbox 360 is seeing a massive surge in popularity after a new sale. By all accounts, the Xbox 360 may have been one of the best platforms ever for shooters. Games like Halo 3, Far Cry 3, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, BioShock, and Borderlands all came to the throwback Xbox console and have continued to be relevant since. Now, one shooter from the era that has been on ice for over a decade is quietly making a comeback thanks to a new sale.

Spotted by Pure Xbox, F.E.A.R. 3 has recently seen a rise in sales after a new discount for the game went live on the Microsoft Store. This promotion sees F.E.A.R. 3 discounted by 75% off and is now retailing for $4.99 rather than its typical $19.99. As a whole, this looks to be the first sale of any sort that F.E.A.R. 3 has ever seen on the Xbox storefront and fans have clearly shown up to take advantage of the deal because the game is ranking amongst the platform’s “Top Sellers” for the moment. The sale itself won’t last for much longer and will expire on October 14th.

The main reason that many are likely picking up F.E.A.R. 3 is because this sale is coming at the perfect time. Since it has major horror elements, F.E.A.R. 3 is arguably best to play in October with Halloween rapidly approaching. As such, many are surely snagging the game and diving in to get in the mood for “spooky season.”

It’s also a huge plus that F.E.A.R. 3 is part of the Xbox 360 backward compatible catalog. This means that those with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles can play it on these platforms rather than having to hook up an Xbox 360. This certainly drives even more sales for F.E.A.R. 3 given how easy and accessible it is to play.

If you’re interested in F.E.A.R. 3 for yourself with this promotion still ongoing for the Xbox 360 game, you can check out a throwback trailer and official synopsis below to see if it might be up your alley.

F.E.A.R. 3

“Alma is expecting and a new level of terror grows as you and your cannibal brother battle through a hellish nightmare. Fight together or die alone on a deadly mission to confront Alma and discover if blood runs deeper than F.E.A.R. Players can take on the role of Point Man, a genetically enhanced soldier with superhuman reflexes and the ability to manipulate time, or the undead spirit of his brother Paxton Fettel, a paranormal entity who possesses incredible psychic powers.

• Blood Runs Deep, F.E.A.R. Runs Deeper: F.E.A.R. 3 delivers all the hallmarks that define the F.E.A.R. brand: terrifying paranormal experience, frenetic combat and a dramatic storyline.
• Never Face Fear Alone: F.E.A.R. 3 evolves the brand, introducing Divergent Co-op: deep, social gameplay that gives players distinctly different abilities that affect their own play as well as the experience of gamers they are playing with… or against.
• Frenetic Combat: Active 360 degree cover, evolutionary slow-mo modes, scoring systems and best in class mech- combat aid players in facing an army of soldiers and paranormal enemies.
• Experience the Almaverse: The game world is tainted by the Almaverse, the alternate dimension where Alma’s psychic essence subsists. New sinister and fantastical enemy creatures birthed in Alma’s warped mind spill into reality and intensify the panic.
• Generative System: Proprietary technology creates random events to increase the feeling of isolation and unpredictability when playing alone or with a friend, and offers new experiences each time gamers play through.
• Masters of Horror: Legendary film director John Carpenter and writer Steve Niles provide their expertise and guidance to take F.E.A.R. 3 ’s intensity to the next level. Niles co-wrote the twisted storyline that reveals the motivations and family dynamics of the main characters, and Carpenter helped craft the cinematics for maximum storytelling and fright factor.”

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343 Industries – now known as Halo Studios – announced “a new dawn” for Halo this week. What exactly does this mean? Good question. It is certainly not a new dawn from 343 Industries. It apparently means the “next chapter” for the series complete with a switch to Unreal Engine 5. If this gives you deja-vu, it is because 343 Industries and Xbox made similar promises with Halo Infinite, complete with an — you guessed it — engine switch. Previously, it was the Slipspace Engine, which 343 Industries spent untold millions creating for Halo Infinite, that was the future of the franchise. But like the legacy of 343 Industries, it is now being flushed down the drain.

Yet, Halo fans are supposed to believe a couple engines later, on the fourth attempt, 343 Industries is going to usher Halo into a new era? Doubtful. Some changes among leadership and an engine change is unlikely to salvage Halo, which is dying a slow, painful death.

To various degrees, 343 Industries has been killing Halo since taking over the reigns of the series from Bungie. From Halo 4, through Halo 5, to Halo Infinite, the series is less relevant than ever. Under Bungie, it was not just the undisputed crown gem of Xbox, but one of the biggest series in gaming. This is just not true anymore.

Is Unreal Engine 5 going to save Master Chief? Of course not. It will make onboarding new employees and contractors easier, and being able to lean on Epic Games when it has engine questions and issues will improve development. But the problems clearly do not begin or end with the Slipspace Engine.

Halo 4 and Halo 5 did not run on Slipspace; they ran on an updated and modified version of the same engine, Blam, as every Halo game before it. Yet, they are nowhere near the quality or relevance of the games that came before them.

If there is any copium for Halo fans to inhale, it is the leadership changes. It is true that 343 Industries has some new faces in various leadership roles. Yet the same apparatus that opened the door to this current leadership opened the door for the previous leadership. Xbox has been shepherding the series the whole time. What is different now that all of a sudden Halo fans should trust Xbox has put the right people in the right positions when it has failed to do this for over a decade? It’s not like Xbox Game Studios, and the leadership above it, has proven to be excellent shepards of their studios. If anything, Matt Booty and co. have more often shown otherwise.

More than this, these new leads are not going to come in with magic dust that fixes everything it is sprinkled on. Despite the rebrand, this is still 343 Industries. Games of the size of a new Halo game do not succeed or fail on the competency of a few people, even if they are at the top.

For example, The Last of Us is bigger than Neil Druckmann, its creator and creative director. While the series may not be what it is without Druckmann, and while his future absence could have a negative impact on the series if he were to ever decide to leave, it doesn’t change the fact there are hundreds of people beneath him making the game. If you remove this team from underneath Druckmann, and replace it with a team with an inferior output, what is on the other side of is not The Last of Us Part 3. It would be something different, something not as good.

Likewise, there may be some new drivers behind the wheel at 343 Industries, but the engine, the steering, the suspension, the wheels, the seats, and everything else is still the same, then Halo will continue its pedal-to-the-metal path towards the edge of a cliff.

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Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles is getting new life with a re-release on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X on January 23, 2025. The new release is an enhanced version of the original 2000 Star Wars game of the same name.

For those that don’t know: Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles was released on the PS1, then the Sega Dreamcast and Game Boy Advance, back in 2000 via LucasArts. Upon release, it didn’t review that well, nor did it hang with some of the Star Wars commercial hits of this tine. Yet, Aspyr clearly thinks there is enough interest to re-release it because that is exactly what it is doing, making it the latest Star Wars re-release from the developer.

“Take back the Theed Palace in this fast and furious lightsaber action game,” reads an official blurb about the game. “You will have the power of the Force and your trusty lightsaber to help you ward off legions of battle droids, destroyer droids, assassins, and other creatures from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.”

The game’s official description continues: “Play as Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, Adi Gallia, or Qui-Gon Jinn facing off against droids and other familiar foes from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Or, play as one of the previously locked characters such as Darth Maul, Captain Panaka, Queen Amidala, Ki-Adi Mundi, and the Battle Droid, now available from the start!”

The re-release will include two-player couch co-op and a new game plus mode. Meanwhile, players will have the option to use new, modern controls or use the classic controls.

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A new update out of BioWare sheds light on the release date of the new Mass Effect game. It has been almost four years since BioWare announced the next Mass Effect game, tentatively dubbed Mass Effect 5 by the Internet. Some even refer to it as Mass Effect 4, discounting Mass Effect: Andromeda. Officially, BioWare has only ever referred to it as the next Mass Effect game though.

While it has been four years since the announcement of the RPG, there is still no word of a release date. And this isn’t going to change anytime soon. For the past four years, the primary focus of BioWare has been Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This focus is shifting though.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard comes out later this month on October 31, and ahead of this, the game has gone gold. In other words, it is complete. Until the game releases, it will still command the attention of BioWare. Whether it will be supported with post-launch DLC, remains to be seen, but the shift to Mass Effect development is already happening.

To this end, former BioWare lead Mark Darrah noted that in the past at BioWare, when a game went gold, part of the team would be reassigned to other projects. This is also just the industry standard.

How much of BioWare has shifted focus to Mass Effect, we don’t know, but only more and more of it will shift in the coming months, possibly years if BioWare decides to robustly support Dragon Age: The Veilguard with DLC. Whatever the case, development is about to pick up on Mass Effect.

Officially, BioWare has not said the game has left pre-production, but if it hasn’t already, it will soon do this. To this end, we can begin to extrapolate when it will release. The last time BioWare released a Mass Effect game, Mass Effect Andromeda, it took five years of development, though the bulk of the game was done in the final 18 months of this window.

There is no guarantee this will repeat with the new Mass Effect, as game development times have become more drawn out since Mass Effect Andromeda. To this end, it took BioWare more than five years to make Dragon Age: The Veilguard. That said, taking into consideration — the five years, which is about current industry standard for AAA development — the next Mass Effect game may release in 2029 or 2030. This is just an estimate though. However, if accurate, it would likely peg the sci-fi RPG as an early next-gen game, as the new consoles will be out by then based on previous leaks.

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Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X fans have been surprised with multiple free Batman downloads. While the games in question are available on other platforms — including PC, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch — this new offer is only available on the Xbox Store. Why this is, we don’t know. Meanwhile, how long this offer is going to be available on the Xbox Store, we also don’t know. To this end, the absence of details may suggest it is a permanent offer.

Batman video games are in a relatively quiet place compared to the past. The peak of Batman: Arkham is behind us, and more recently fans of the DC Comics character have had to settle for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Gotham Knights, two underwhelming releases to various degrees.

Not only are the days of Batman: Arkham behind Xbox fans, but the Telltale Batman games have come to an end as well. Whether this will change in the future, remains to be seen. Until then, some of this Telltale content is free on the Xbox store.

More specifically, the following content from 2016’s Batman: The Telltale Series is free: Episode 3: New World Order, Episode 4: Guardian Of Gotham, and Episode 5: City of Light. This is the last three of five episodes. There’s more though. In addition to this, the following content from its 2017 sequel is also free: Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, and Episode 5. This is four of the game’s five episodes.

This is obviously not the entirety of either game, but the base game is not required to claim these free downloads. Whether you own the base for either, you can claim these episodes for free.

Below, you can read more about each Telltale Batman game and check out an official trailer for each as well:

Batman – The Telltale Series

“Enter the fractured psyche of Bruce Wayne and discover the powerful and far-reaching consequences of your choices as the Dark Knight. In this gritty and violent new story from the award-winning creators of The Walking Dead – A Telltale Games Series, you’ll make discoveries that will shatter Bruce Wayne’s world, and the already fragile stability of a corrupt Gotham City. Your actions and your choices will determine the fate of the Batman.”

Batman: The Enemy Within

“In this latest chapter from the award-winning studio behind Batman – The Telltale Series, both Bruce Wayne and Batman will be forced into precarious new roles. The Riddler has returned to terrorize Gotham City, but his gruesome puzzles merely foreshadow an even greater crisis. With the arrival of a ruthless federal agent and the return of a still nascent Joker, Batman must navigate uneasy alliances while Bruce Wayne undertakes a perilous series of deceptions. Which of Batman’s new allies will you choose to trust? And how deep into the darkness will you let Bruce descend?”

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A popular Xbox RPG available on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X is only $2.99 for a limited time, thanks to a 90 percent discount on the Xbox Store. The only catch is that this deal is only available for a limited time or, more specifically, for 24 hours at the moment of writing this. In other words, the Xbox deal is set to expire on October 8. When this happens, the savings of $27 will expire and the Xbox game in question will return to its normal price point of $30. 

The RPG in question hails from 2018, a year Xbox fans were treated to the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, Monster Hunter World, Far Cry 5, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Forza Horizon 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, A Way Out, Divinity: Original Sin II, Celeste, and a variety of other games. RPG wise, Xbox fans were also treated to Kingdom Come: Deliverance, the debut RPG from Czech-based studio Warhorse Studios.

To date, the medieval RPG has sold over six million copies, and is set to get a sequel on February 11, 2025. In other words, this is a great time for Xbox fans not among these six million to check out the game as its sequel looks set to be one of the best and biggest releases of 2025. 

Many consider Kingdom Come: Deliverance among the best RPGs of the previous console generation thanks to its story, its incredible immersion, its beautiful setting, and its dedication to realism. However, its combat is certainly a little bit on the obtuse side and ends up being a stumbling block for some players. 

“You’re Henry, the son of a blacksmith. Thrust into a raging civil war, you watch helplessly as invaders storm your village and slaughter your friends and family,” reads an official blurb about the game, for those unfamiliar. “Narrowly escaping the brutal attack, you grab your sword to fight back. Avenge the death of your parents and help repel the invading forces!”

Those that decide to check out Kingdom Come: Deliverance on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, or Xbox Series X now that it is so cheap should expect to bare minimum put in 40 hours to beat the lengthy RPG. Meanwhile, the main story plus side content will set players back double this. And completionist playthroughs are going to be more like 130 hours. 

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest news, rumors, leaks, and deals across Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Game Pass — click here.

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343 Industries broke the brains of many longtime Halo fans when it recently announced that Halo Infinite would be adding a third-person game mode. Since its inception in 2001, the mainline Halo franchise has only ever taken place from the first-person perspective. While there have been spin-offs that have used other gameplay stylings, this has never been the case with all entries from Halo: Combat Evolved through Halo Infinite. Now, that will finally be changing and Halo fans have no clue what to think. 

Not long after 343 Industries first showed off footage from Halo Infinite’s third-person mode, users on the franchise’s official subreddit began sharing their own thoughts on the development. Many questioned the legitimacy of this announcement upon seeing it initially, with one user saying they had to make sure it wasn’t April Fools’ Day. Others noted that the original Halo was meant to be in third-person at first, which means that the franchise has now come full circle to some degree. 

Outside of simply being a baffling addition to Halo Infinite, some fans expressed hesitancy about what this even brings to the game in terms of improvements. While it might be a fun thing to try out, the consensus amongst Halo Infinite players seems to be that this is an unneeded inclusion that won’t really move the needle. 

“I don’t even know what to think about this,” said u/Dilpickle6194 of the news. “This is, like, the absolute last thing I would have expected them to add. Cautiously optimistic I guess? I just don’t get what this adds.”

“No disrespect to the devs but why?” added u/dragon-mom. “I feel like there are so many more major gameplay, Ui, etc. things that would require less way manpower that the game has sorely needed since launch.”

Perhaps the most common positive takeaway from Halo fans to this announcement is that players will now be able to see their cosmetics while playing Halo Infinite. Despite featuring so many customization items, it’s often impossible to see your own gear outside of the menus within Halo Infinite. Whether this ends up swaying more fans to play in third-person regularly compared to the standard first-person viewpoint remains to be seen, but it’s clear that there is some major experimentation happening with Infinite right now. 

For now, 343 Industries hasn’t announced specifics on when this third-person mode will be rolling out for Halo Infinite. A broad launch window of November 2024 has been shared, but an exact date has yet to be given. Whenever more details do end up arriving on this third-person feature for Halo Infinite, we’ll be sure to update you here on ComicBook. 

The post Halo Fans Have No Idea How to Feel About Halo Infinite’s Third-Person Mode: “But Why?” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

343 Industries broke the brains of many longtime Halo fans when it recently announced that Halo Infinite would be adding a third-person game mode. Since its inception in 2001, the mainline Halo franchise has only ever taken place from the first-person perspective. While there have been spin-offs that have used other gameplay stylings, this has never been the case with all entries from Halo: Combat Evolved through Halo Infinite. Now, that will finally be changing and Halo fans have no clue what to think. 

Not long after 343 Industries first showed off footage from Halo Infinite’s third-person mode, users on the franchise’s official subreddit began sharing their own thoughts on the development. Many questioned the legitimacy of this announcement upon seeing it initially, with one user saying they had to make sure it wasn’t April Fools’ Day. Others noted that the original Halo was meant to be in third-person at first, which means that the franchise has now come full circle to some degree. 

Outside of simply being a baffling addition to Halo Infinite, some fans expressed hesitancy about what this even brings to the game in terms of improvements. While it might be a fun thing to try out, the consensus amongst Halo Infinite players seems to be that this is an unneeded inclusion that won’t really move the needle. 

“I don’t even know what to think about this,” said u/Dilpickle6194 of the news. “This is, like, the absolute last thing I would have expected them to add. Cautiously optimistic I guess? I just don’t get what this adds.”

“No disrespect to the devs but why?” added u/dragon-mom. “I feel like there are so many more major gameplay, Ui, etc. things that would require less way manpower that the game has sorely needed since launch.”

Perhaps the most common positive takeaway from Halo fans to this announcement is that players will now be able to see their cosmetics while playing Halo Infinite. Despite featuring so many customization items, it’s often impossible to see your own gear outside of the menus within Halo Infinite. Whether this ends up swaying more fans to play in third-person regularly compared to the standard first-person viewpoint remains to be seen, but it’s clear that there is some major experimentation happening with Infinite right now. 

For now, 343 Industries hasn’t announced specifics on when this third-person mode will be rolling out for Halo Infinite. A broad launch window of November 2024 has been shared, but an exact date has yet to be given. Whenever more details do end up arriving on this third-person feature for Halo Infinite, we’ll be sure to update you here on ComicBook. 

The post Halo Fans Have No Idea How to Feel About Halo Infinite’s Third-Person Mode: “But Why?” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Microsoft has announced its “Spooky Games Collection,” featuring dozens of horror and spooky Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. The curated game collection features a couple of free games, and even more for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. To this end, those on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, or Xbox Series X looking for something to play this Halloween, and during the build up to the spooky holiday, may want to check out one of these games. 

In addition to Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X games, there are also some Xbox 360 games featured. Unfortunately, there are no associated discounts with the collection, which is typically how these type of promotional pieces work. Perhaps that will change later in the month. 

The collection of games — featuring IP such as Mortal Kombat, Dead Space, Alan Wake, Alone in the Dark, Control, Poppy Playtime, LEGO, Harry Potter, Blair Witch, The Witcher, Outlast, Layers of Fear, A Plague Tale, Batman, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Wolfenstein, Zombie Army, The Walking Dead, Vampire Survivors, Remnant, Quake, Hello Neighbor, Pyschonauts, Costume Quest, Diablo, Life is Strange, Dragon Age, Hollow Knight, and Lies of P  — can be viewed here.

Many of the games featured are known qualities, but there are a few gems in the collection that many Xbox games may not know about, including The Mortuary Assistant, one of the best horror games to come to Xbox consoles this year. 

“Having completed your degree in mortuary sciences, you have taken on an apprenticeship at River Fields Mortuary,” reads an official blurb about the game. “Over the past several months you have logged many hours aiding the Mortician in daily tasks along with learning the ins and outs of the embalming process as well as how to properly handle and care for the deceased. Late one night, you are called into work to handle some embalmings. Death doesn’t keep day time hours. But there is something different about these bodies because there is something different about you. The phone rings with the Mortician on the other end. The rumors are true, and you can not leave.”

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest news, rumors, leaks, and deals as it pertains to Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Game Pass — click here.

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Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive has been working on the game’s Mori kill system for a while now, the one where Killer players are able to execute Survivors with a stylish flair under certain circumstances. In the most recent series of changes, Behaviour made it so that Killer players could kill off the final Survivor in a match after putting them in the dying state to give a round a much more cinematic conclusion, but in doing so, the offerings that’d let Killers Mori kill Survivors mid-match were reworked to basically be giant Bloodpoint bonuses instead.

While some Dead by Daylight players were in favor of this new Mori kill setup, many more weren’t happy with it at all. It would promote unhealthy behaviors from players seeking those massive Bloodpoint incentives, some said, while others wanted to continue seeking the thrill of pulling off a Mori kill in the middle of a match instead of it always being at the end of the game when the other Survivor players had tuned out.

After assessing that feedback, Behaviour decided to revert the changes for two offerings: the Ivory Memento Mori and Ebony Memento Mori Offerings. Instead of just granting big Bloodpoint bonuses when brought into a match, these two Mori-focused offerings will instead allow people to kill Survivors who have been hooked twice.

“We’ve received a lot of feedback about the changes made to the Ivory & Ebony Memento Mori Offerings during the PTB,” the latest Dead by Daylight patch notes explained. “This came down to the loss of mid-match kills & group photo opportunities, as well as concerns that the Bloodpoint reward would encourage unfun behaviour. With that in mind, we have reverted the changes to the Mori Offerings.”

Those two Mori offerings are the ones that allow for kills in the middle of a match regardless of how many Survivors are left, but another offering, the Cypress Memento Mori, is being retired completely. Its purpose was to grant Killers the ability to kill the last Survivor in a match once they were put in the dying state, and since the Mori system is being reworked so that you can do that for free, there’s no reason for this offering to exist anymore. As such, it’s being taken out of the game, and for those who have any Cypress Memento Moris they’re holding onto, you’ll get 1 million Bloodpoints just for logging into the game during a window in October.

“As a result, the Cypress Memento Mori Offering is now obsolete and will be retired,” the devs continued. “We will offer 1 Million Bloodpoints for any unused Offerings, which you can claim simply by logging in between October 8th and October 17th.”

The post Dead by Daylight Update Reverts Some Mori Kill Changes After Feedback appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Over the summer, Capcom announced Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection and Capcom Fighting Collection 2 for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, with no announcement for Xbox platforms. The move confused and frustrated some fans, but a few weeks later, Capcom announced that both of those games will be coming to Xbox platforms “after technical discussions with our partners at Microsoft.” While the news came as a relief to fans, it has also raised the question why some developers seem to be avoiding Xbox. It seems Microsoft is eager to answer that question. In a new blog post, the company announced an initiative to get more feedback from developers, including those that don’t currently support Xbox. 

“If you are making video games, we’re interested in hearing from you. If you aren’t on Xbox, we’d love to know why. And honestly, if you are using our competitor’s products, you probably have a great perspective we could learn from,” says Dr. Deborah Hendersen, principal user researcher for Xbox.

It’s no secret that the current console generation has been a difficult one for Xbox. The company has been in a distant third-place position behind its competitors, and console sales have been stagnant. There have also been reports that developers are losing confidence in the Xbox brand overall. Following the announcement of several first-party Xbox games heading to Nintendo and PlayStation, some studios have apparently questioned whether there’s even a future for Xbox consoles. There’s also the fact that developers have been forced to support the Xbox Series S console, which has been a source of frustration for studios for four years now. 

It remains to be seen whether this initiative from Xbox will help the company right the ship, and restore confidence among development partners. While there has been a lot of negative news lately, Xbox has been able to secure more support from Square Enix, getting games like Final Fantasy XIV and the Pixel Remasters released on the platform, with rumors of more games to come. Microsoft is going to have an uphill battle with developers that don’t want to support Xbox right now, but hopefully the company can turn things around. 

Do you think Xbox can win back some lapsed developers? Why do you think studios aren’t supporting Xbox? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Microsoft Wants to Learn Why Developers Aren’t Making Xbox Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the very best Xbox 360 games is currently its lowest price ever after a substantial discount. The Xbox 360-era game in question hails from 2009, a year where gamers were treated to games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Assassin’s Creed 2, Borderlands, Dragon Age: Origins, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Minecraft, Infamous, Just Dance, Killzone 2, Empire Total War, Left 4 Dead 2, Persona 4, New Super Mario Bros,  Resident Evil 5, Halo 3: ODST, and much more. It was a loaded year. So loaded that a release like Bayonetta was arguably not even among the top 5 best games released during the year, despite boasting a 90 on Metacritic and being remembered as one of the generation’s greats.

Those who have never experienced the 2009 classic now have a chance to remedy this for next to nothing, at least on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. And this is because the Xbox One version of the game has been discounted on the Microsoft Store by 75 percent, its largest discount on there ever. This deal is live until October 8, and means rather than pay $24.99 for the Xbox 360 game Xbox users only need to fork over $6.24. 

Developed by PlatinumGames and published by Sega, Bayonetta was released via PS3 and Xbox 360 to both critical acclaim and commercial success, though the latter was a little understated considering the review scores the game was getting. It was enough though to get a sequel, Bayonetta 2, in 2014. And then a third game, Bayonetta 3, was released in 2022, but unlike the previous games, the third game was, and is, a Nintendo Switch exclusive, leaving Xbox fans unable to complete the trilogy without picking up a Switch. 

“Experience the genesis of the Bayonetta series with the cult classic, original action-adventure game,” reads an official blurb about the game for those unfamiliar with it. “The tantalizing Umbra Witch rises from the depths after half a millennium in slumber with no recollection of her mysterious past. Immediately thrust into battle, she must vanquish her countless enemies to piece together the truth. Take advantage of Bayonetta’s arsenal of skills including shapeshifting into various animal forms, summoning demons with her hair, and exercising her mastery of the bullet arts. Hack, slash, and open fire upon hordes of celestial foes in this wickedly charming action-packed adventure.”

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox 360 news, all of the latest Xbox 360 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox 360 deals like this one — click here.

The post One of the Best Xbox 360 Games Is Its Lowest Price Ever After Huge Discount appeared first on ComicBook.com.

All Xbox Series X and S console owners have been surprised with a free item tied to Bethesda’s Starfield. As of this week, Bethesda finally let loose Starfield: Shattered Space, which is the RPG’s first major expansion. And while players are still diving into everything new that Shattered Space has to offer, Xbox is celebrating the DLC’s arrival by giving out a freebie to everyone who owns aa current Xbox console, regardless of if they’ve played Starfield. 

Available now, a new dynamic background related to Starfield: Shattered Space has been added to Xbox consoles. This latest background for Xbox Series X and S is specifically based on the key art for Shattered Space. Since it’s a dynamic background, this dashboard cosmetic features subtle movements that make the image come to life. 

To access this new background for yourself, all you have to do is navigate to the Settings section of your Xbox Series X or S console. From here, enter the Personalization tab, which will then allow you to visit the “My Background” section. You’ll then see a new area for dynamic backgrounds, which is where this Starfield: Shattered Space theme should reside alongside all other free backgrounds that Xbox has previously released. 

Even for those who might not be that hot on Starfield, it’s hard to deny that this new Xbox wallpaper is pretty sleek. It’s made all the better by the fact that PlayStation 5 users still can’t use themes on their console of choice. While this has somewhat changed within the past month as Sony implemented a new “Welcome Hub” on PS5 that has dynamic backgrounds, these still aren’t the same as the themes that were once seen on PS4. As such, Xbox still has the leg up on PlayStation when it comes to dashboard themes, especially since so many of them are given out for free. 

How do you feel about this new Starfield: Shattered Space theme that has come to Xbox Series X and S? And do you plan to use this background for yourself? Be sure to let me know over on social media at @MooreMan12. 

The post Xbox Series X and S Users Surprised With Starfield Freebie appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The next update for Disney Dreamlight Valley is just around the corner. After some teases earlier in the week, Gameloft pulled back the curtain today on the new update, Jungle Getaway. The update, which will be released on October 9th, will see the addition of Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King. As previously revealed, the two characters will not be getting their own Realm, but instead players will revisit the existing one that introduced Simba and Nala. However, this time around, the Lion King Realm will be seen during the daytime. 

The full Developer Update video for Jungle Getaway can be found below. 

Once Timon and Pumbaa have been moved into the Valley, players will be able to go on different quests with each character. Timon’s quest will center around calming his nerves and helping him adjust to life in the valley. Meanwhile, Pumbaa’s quest will see the character learning about pottery! According to today’s developer update, “this time, the clay requirements are minimal.” By completing quests with the two characters, players will be able to unlock some new avatar items. 

The new update will see the arrival of a Star Path called The Night Show. The theme is inspired by music festivals and rock concerts. Players can expect outfits and hairstyles inspired by Disney villains, princesses, and rock music. Star Path rewards will also include furniture items like neon lights and pyrotechnic displays. In an interesting turn, Gameloft announced today that it has partnered with Loungefly, and players will be able to obtain replicas of real backpack designs. The Star Path will include two Loungefly rewards: a Dragon Maleficent backpack and Sorcerer Mickey. There will also be a glow-in-the-dark Ghost Mickey Loungefly, but how to obtain it has not been revealed just yet. 

Last but not least, this new update will see a handful of quality of life improvements, including changes to Scrooge’s Store, and new options for item placement. Gameloft previously noted that this update will be a smaller one compared to others, but it certainly looks like players will have a lot to enjoy when it goes live next week! 

How do you feel about this new season for Disney Dreamlight Valley? Are you happy about the arrival of Timon and Pumbaa? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Disney Dreamlight Valley Reveals Full Details and Release Date for Jungle Getaway Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new month has arrived, and the start of October means new options are on the way for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. For many people, October means the start of spooky season, but for baseball fans, it’s all about the road to the World Series. The playoffs begin today, and tomorrow, Game Pass subscribers will be able to play MLB The Show 24. It’s been years since The Show first started showing up on Xbox, but it’s still somewhat surreal to see the PlayStation series available on Game Pass! Subscribers can also look forward to the following games this month: 

• October 2nd- MLB The Show 24 (Console)
• October 2nd- Open Roads (Console)
• October 2nd- Sifu (Console, PC, Cloud)
• October 7th- Mad Streets (Console, PC, Cloud)
• October 10th- Inscryption (Console, PC, Cloud)

MLB The Show 24 is not the only notable release this month. Sifu received critical praise upon its release in 2022, earning a score of 4 out of 5 from ComicBook reviewer Nick Valdez. Later this year, Sifu will be one of several video games that will receive a dedicated episode in the Prime Video series Secret Level. With the game now available on Xbox Game Pass, now would seem like the perfect opportunity for those that have never played it. 

Last month saw the Game Pass removal of Capcom’s Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. For subscribers looking for a new visual novel to fill the void, Open Roads could be a compelling new option. The game features vocal performances by Keri Russell (The Americans) and Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us Season 2), and currently holds a “Mostly Positive” rating on Steam. 

All in all, things are off to a nice start this month! September started out pretty lackluster for Game Pass subscribers (especially on console), but Xbox ended things on a high note with some surprise additions at Tokyo Game Show. It remains to be seen how the end of the month will play out, but there’s at least one huge game that we know of so far, and that’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The game will be coming to the service on October 25th. 

Are you excited to check out any of this month’s games? Do you think October is off to a good start on Game Pass? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xbox Game Pass Adds a PlayStation Game and More to Start October appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Right at the end of September, Xbox Game Pass has bled nine games across PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. And some of these nine Xbox Game Pass games are notable. In fact, one is no doubt one of the best games available via the subscription service. Meanwhile, a popular survival game and a popular AAA game are also now gone. 

For those out of the loop, the following nine games have left Xbox Game Pass: Gotham Knights, Let’s Build a Zoo, Loop Hero, My Time At Portia, PAW Patrol Grand Prix, Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season, The Walking Dead: Season Two, and Valheim. Some of this is obviously filler, but there are some notable games.

Gotham Knights is obviously a notable departure. That said, while a AAA game that has sold well, it wasn’t received that well. Valheim was ultra popular at one point, but not as much in 2024. Meanwhile, Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy certainly has some nostalgia. The best game here though is no doubt The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season, which as Wikipedia notes, is often considered a pioneer in the space and one of the best of all time. The second season doesn’t have the same reputation, but the first season can be enjoyed as a singular experience, and it is worth checking out. 

Now that these games are gone, the 20 percent discount made available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers is also gone. As for when or if any of these games will ever return to Xbox Game Pass, who knows. There is no rule against this happening, but it is not common. When it does, it is usually only the very popular or acclaimed games. 

About the Game:

“The Walking Dead is a five-part game series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series. Play as Lee Everett, a convicted criminal, who has been given a second chance at life in a world devastated by the undead. With corpses returning to life and survivors stopping at nothing to maintain their own safety, protecting an orphaned girl named Clementine may offer him redemption in a world gone to hell.

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

The post Xbox Game Pass Ends September Losing One of Its Best Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new season of Disney Dreamlight Valley is coming soon, and it will see the arrival of Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King. Today, Gameloft announced a name for the new season, which will be titled Jungle Getaway. This season will see players revisit The Lion King Realm, and the narrative will center around a new creature called Night Mites. Night Mites will have some kind of connection to both Night Thorns and the Forgotten. Details are slim right now, but we won’t have to wait long to learn more; additional details will be unveiled on Wednesday, October 2nd when a new Developer Update Video is released! 

Back in August, Gameloft said that the October update will be on the smaller side, focused more on bug fixes and quality of life improvements, as opposed to new content. It remains to be seen just how small this update might actually be, but hopefully fans will still have a lot to look forward to. Going off past developer updates, it’s a safe bet that Jungle Getaway should be released next week. The new season will be accompanied by a new Star Path, and while Gameloft has not revealed what the Star Path theme will be, the company has offered some hints at items players will be able to earn. 

Interestingly enough, Timon and Pumbaa were first teased by Gameloft all the way back in January of this year. The company put out a survey asking players about potential pairs of characters that could be added to the game. Timon and Pumbaa were listed alongside Bo Peep and Rex, and Cogsworth and Lumiere. We have no way of knowing just how much Gameloft weighed fan opinion, but it’s interesting to think this season’s theme could have focused on entirely different characters, had the voting gone a different way! 

Following the October update, there will be one last major update for 2024. That does not have a set release window, but will likely arrive in late November or early December, and will see the arrival of Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. No additional details are known at this time. 

How do you feel about this new season theme for Disney Dreamlight Valley? Are you happy about the arrival of Timon and Pumbaa? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Disney Dreamlight Valley Reveals New Season Theme, and When We Can Expect More Details appeared first on ComicBook.com.

February 2025 is shaping up to be an absolutely massive month for RPG fans on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, assuming none of the major RPGs releasing that month are delayed. There is not one, not two, not three, not four, but five major RPGs releasing on the pair of Xbox consoles. And more could soon be added, as February 2025 is still a handful of months away. Of course, this works both ways though. In other words, some of these RPGs could still yet be delayed, but right now February 2025 is going to be a tremendously busy month for RPG fans. 

Of these five RPGs on Xbox Series X|S, four of them are multi-platform releases. What makes February 2025 especially notable for Xbox Series X|S fans though is the fact that it has its own exclusive RPG releasing that month, and it is a big release for Xbox. That game is Avowed, which is being joined by Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Monster Hunter Wilds in a huge RPG month.

Below, Xbox fans can read more about these upcoming Xbox Series X|S games. In addition to a production description for each Xbox game, a trailer for game can also be found. 

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

About: “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a thrilling action RPG, set amid the chaos of a civil war in 15th Century Bohemia. You are Henry of Skalitz-an ordinary man doing extraordinary things-caught in a gripping tale of revenge, betrayal and discovery as he embarks on an epic journey, “from a humble blacksmith’s forge to the court of Kings,” as he searches for purpose in this beautiful but brutal medieval world. From bustling city streets to lush forests, discover this open-world Medieval Europe through an unforgettable adventure filled with action, thrill and wonder.

• February 11, 2025

Avowed

About: “Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands-an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?”

• February 18, 2025

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

About: “Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.”

• February 14, 2025

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

About: “A new legend begins as you step into the steel toe boots of Goro Majima, a man who has lost his memory and reinvents himself as a pirate on the open sea. Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate adventure with an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain and his crew as they engage in exhilarating combat on land and sea in the hunt for lost memories and a legendary treasure.”

• February 28, 2025

Monster Hunter Wilds

About: “Monster Hunter Wilds is the highly anticipated next evolution in the award-winning Monster Hunter franchise. The story transports players to the Forbidden Lands, a mysterious wilderness that can transform in unexpected ways. This living world is teeming with rugged wildlife adapted to an ever-changing climate, including massive monsters that players will take on in action-packed encounters. As hunters, players protect the balance of the ecosystem, utilizing resources from hunts to craft powerful gear and continue investigating the mysteries at the heart of these new lands”

• February 28, 2025

The post February 2025 Is Going to Be a Massive Month for RPG Fans on Xbox Series X appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s no secret that Square Enix is looking to bring its games to more platforms. After years of putting the majority of its focus on PlayStation, the publisher is looking to embrace a multiplatform model that would see more games released on Xbox. A few days ago, Square Enix brought the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters to the platform, and it seems there’s a lot more on the way. According to reliable leaker eXtas1s, Final Fantasy XVI will be coming to the platform in 2025. For Xbox users eager to play the latest mainline game in the series, that should be welcome news! 

Final Fantasy XVI started out as a PS5 exclusive in 2023, before making the jump to PC this year. Rumors about an Xbox release have been circulating for some time now, alongside other games, such as Final Fantasy VII Remake. However, eXtas1s claims there has been “no active work” on an Xbox version of the remake. That would seem to line up with past comments from reporter Jez Corden, who suggested on a recent episode of The Xbox Two podcast that it will happen at some point in the future. However, he also noted that there’s consideration about the best way to approach an Xbox port, given that Final Fantasy VII Remake is part of a (currently unfinished) trilogy. 

Given the popularity and overall importance of Final Fantasy VII, as well as Square Enix’s plans to bring more games to Xbox, it seems like a safe bet we’ll see the remake trilogy on the platform at some point. However, the publisher might first be gauging how well its titles perform on Xbox. Final Fantasy XVI is probably a smaller commitment as opposed to bringing over three games, especially since the third entry in the series will have some kind of PlayStation exclusivity attached. Better to wait until the trilogy is complete, or nearing completion, so that an Xbox release schedule can be determined. 

Final Fantasy XVI released to positive reviews last year, but sales fell short of Square Enix’s expectations. Hopefully a release on Xbox will help the company recoup more development costs, while also giving more players an opportunity to see what the game has to offer. For the time being though, we’ll have to keep waiting on an official announcement. 

Are you excited for Final Fantasy XVI to come to Xbox? Do you think we’ll see Final Fantasy VII Remake at some point as well? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Reddit]

The post Final Fantasy 16 Rumor Claims Xbox Release Happening in 2025 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Dapper Delights Star Path in Disney Dreamlight Valley will be ending in just two days, meaning fans have a limited time to obtain items based on The Princess and the Frog, as well as the movie’s 1920s time period. That means a new Star Path is around the corner, and the game’s developers are once again teasing what’s ahead. As is usually the case, these teases come in the form of emoji pairs shared on the game’s official X/Twitter account. This time around, the emoji pairs include fireworks and a speaker, a fist and a microphone, and a backpack and a dragon. 

As far as teases go, these ones are pretty cryptic! The central theme is tough to surmise, but some fans have put out guesses that include Coco, Turning Red, and Raya and the Last Dragon. It’s easy to see how each of those could connect with at least one or two of the hints, but until Gameloft pulls back the curtain, it’s all just speculation. As the Star Path’s release draws closer, we can probably expect to see some more hints. 

The one thing Disney Dreamlight Valley fans can agree on is that none of these teases seems indicative of a Halloween theme. Since this Star Path will be (presumably) released alongside the planned October update, fans were hoping to see some Star Path items related to the spooky season. Most of the people responding to Gameloft’s Tweet are preemptively sharing frustration about a lack of Halloween theme. Fans might be jumping the gun a bit; while none of these hints seems to have any connection to Halloween, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Star Path won’t have some Halloween items, or even a Halloween theme that pulls from various movies. 

At this time, the next Star Path and update for Disney Dreamlight Valley do not have a release date. We do know that they’ll arrive in October, and this one will see the arrival of Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King. The narrative for that update will see players return to the Realm based on that film, and Gameloft has noted that the update  will be “smaller in scope and shorter, with a focus on fixes and quality of life improvements.”

What do you think the new Star Path theme will be? Are you hoping for something Halloween related? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Disney Dreamlight Valley Teases New Star Path, and Fans are Already Disappointed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

At The Game Awards last year, Hideo Kojima revealed OD, a new horror game that will be published by Xbox Game Studios. The first trailer featured a creepy tone, revealing actors that will appear in the game, and a mysterious line about a hungry purple dinosaur. Nearly a year after the initial announcement, details remain very slim, but Kojima briefly touched on the project in a new interview with Variety. The interview largely focuses on Death Stranding 2, but Kojima notes that he wanted to do something new on top of the PS5 sequel. That led to this project, which Kojima views as something of a risk. 

“At the same time, I wanted to do something new that wasn’t Death Stranding, so I teamed up with Microsoft to create OD. This is a game, but it’s a game like no other. I can’t go into too much detail, and it’s also hard to explain, but it’s a bit risky and a new challenge for me within the realm of games,” Kojima told Variety. 

Kojima is no stranger to games that are risky, often bringing in new ideas that might seem unusual to players (and even his fellow creators). However, that also happens to be one of Kojima’s greatest strengths. No one really knows what to expect from OD at this point, but it sounds like Kojima is going to do something outside of the box. There have been some rumors about what that might entail, but nothing has actually been confirmed just yet. The trailer for OD said that it will be “for all players and screamers,” which might be some kind of hint. 

One thing we do know about OD is that Kojima has partnered on the game with director Jordan Peele. Peele has become something of a master of horror over the last few years, thanks to his work on films like Get Out, Us, and Nope. Kojima’s appreciation for the latter film led to the two men working together on OD. 

“I was a fan of Jordan, and I went to go see Nope. At the time, I was doing a podcast on Spotify. I did an episode on Nope and found out that Jordan Peele was a fan of mine. So, we set up a Zoom call! He’s younger than me, so we’re not the same generation, but after just five minutes of chatting, he felt like a childhood friend,” Kojima told Variety. “This happens quite often actually when the person’s thought process or brain structure is similar to mine. But anyways, we decided to meet in Los Angeles. After several meetings in L.A., we were talking about the projects each of us were working on. I explained the concept of OD to him, and he was really interested in it, so I asked him to join me.”

It remains to be seen how OD will turn out, but hopefully all of these risks will result in a game that lives up to Kojima’s best! 

Are you excited to see how OD turns out? Has the game gotten your interest yet? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Hideo Kojima Says Xbox Exclusive OD Is “A Bit Risky” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers on PC are “sick and tired” of getting the “inferior” versions of games compared to Steam. On PC, Xbox Game Pass represents considerable value, but for many PC gamers, it comes at the cost of not playing the games on Steam. Not only do many PC gamers prefer to play their games via Steam, but often PC games are updated quicker on Steam than the Microsoft Store. This means Xbox Game Pass subscribers on PC are often playing older versions of PC games compared to those on Steam. And this is starting to really frustrate subscribers. 

One of this month’s big Xbox Game Pass games, at least on PC, is Frostpunk 2. This is one of the marquee releases not just on Xbox Game Pass PC this month, but one of marquee releases on PC in general. This includes Steam. And those on Steam are enjoying updates for the game at a faster rather than those not on Steam. 

“Im sick and tired of Game Pass versions of games being inferior to steam on PC,” reads one of the top posts on the Xbox Game Pass Reddit page right now. “Just installed Frostpunk 2 today on my PC, and would you know it the Game Pass version of that game is an outdated build that doesn’t support DLSS 3.0 frame gen unlike the versions on other platforms.”

The post continues: “This wasn’t my first encounter with bad Game Pass versions. The same thing has happened with Ark Survival Ascended where frame gen is basically a must because of its abysmal performance. I even remember playing Quantum Break on Game Pass full of visual artifacts to the extent of it being barely playable.”

It is unclear why Microsoft is so slow to approve new updates in comparison to Steam, but it is. As a result, Xbox Game Pass PC subscribers are almost always playing an inferior version of any said game compared to Steam users. 

“This is 100% why I unsubscriubed from Xbox PC Game Pass,” reads one of the comments. “The Ascent was broken on Game Pass with no DLSS/ray tracing working it. It took so long to get it synced to the working Steam version.”

Another comment adds: “I have also experienced this problem with other games. I’ve recently played Still Wakes the Deep and the Game Pass version didn’t even support DLSS while it was supported on Steam. I think they patched it and it may support it now but I’m done with the game.”

Whether Microsoft will ever fix this, remains to be seen. In the meantime, it seems to be negatively impacting business for Xbox Game Pass on PC. Until it is fixed, PC gamers may want to rethink subscribing to Game Pass.

The post Xbox Game Pass Users “Sick and Tired” of Getting “Inferior” Version of Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S quality-of-life feature is a feature that PS5 owners wish Sony would add to the current PlayStation console. The new Xbox feature isn’t game-changing or going to help Microsoft close the gap on Sony this generation, but it is a feature Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S owners will appreciate. In fact, some have been enjoying the feature for a while thanks to the Xbox Insiders program. Now, after some time in the Xbox Insiders program, the feature is rolling out to the wider public. 

Despite being newly-added, many Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S owners actually don’t know about this new feature, which lets them pre-load game updates prior to their launch, an upgrade on what was previously offered. Previously — just like on PS5 — Xbox Series X|S owners could set auto download up to automatically download updates the moment they release. This new feature allows Xbox users to download the update before it evens release, which in turn allows Xbox users to get into games even quicker. 

To this end, when an update is available to pre-load, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users should head to “My Games & Apps.” From here, click on “Manage,” and then Updates to pre-load. As far as we know, this is the only way to enable this feature, as it is not turned on by default. 

This new feature couples the ability to pre-download games before they release, so that when they release, Xbox users can jump straight into the game. This has been available for a while though, and is also available on PS5. The ability to pre-download Xbox Series X|S game updates is new though, and not on PS5. 

Why it took so long to add this feature, we don’t know, but Microsoft did beat its largest competitor to the punch. Whether this will ever be added to the PS5, remains to be seen. 

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X|S news, all of the latest Xbox Series X|S rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X|S deals — click here.

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A 91-rated Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S game is the cheapest it has ever been after a huge discount on the Microsoft Store. The game in question hails from 2018, a year where Xbox gamers were treated to the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, Monster Hunter: World, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Far Cry 5, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Forza Horizon 4, Celeste, Hollow Knight, Divinity Original Sin 2, NieR Automata, Injustice 2, and more. This of course doesn’t include some of the 2018 exclusives on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, such as God of War and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, respectively. Suffice to say, it was a pretty stacked year, so much so that you didn’t even realize that Dead Cells wasn’t mentioned, another great game from 2018. 

Those who have never checked out Dead Cells, the roguelike meets metroidvania that put French Motion Twin on the map, is currently $9.99 on the Xbox Store thanks to a 60 percent discount that is live until October 1. In other words, thanks to a deal that is set to expire in about 36 hours. This is notably the cheapest the game has ever been on the Xbox Store.

The Xbox One version of the game, which is the version on sale, boasts a 91 on Metacritic, which makes it one of the highest-rated games of 2018. Naturally, this version is playable on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. 

“Dead Cells is a roguelite, metroidvania inspired, action-platformer. You’ll explore a sprawling, ever-changing castle… assuming you’re able to fight your way past its keepers in 2D souls-lite combat. No checkpoints. Kill, die, learn, repeat,” reads an official description of the game on the Microsoft Store. 

The game’s official description continues, with some story details: “Dead Cells puts you in control of a failed alchemic experiment trying to figure out what’s happening on a sprawling, ever-changing and seemingly cursed Island. Immortal but crippled, your last resort is to take over bodies in order to move, explore… and fight.”

Given the nature of being a roguelike, Dead Cells hour count varies tremendously depending on how much of the content you want to see. To this end, those who pick up Dead Cells on Xbox thanks to this deal should expect bare minimum to put roughly 15 hours into the game to beat it. To experience the side content, expect to double this. Meanwhile, completionists should expect to sit down with the game for nearly 100 hours. 

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users have just been surprised with not one, not two, not three, but four new day one games. Not only did Xbox Game Pass subscribers have no idea these games were being added, but they had no idea they would even release on Xbox consoles today. Of the four games, all four are available for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users, but only one of the new Xbox games is available on Xbox One. In other words, Xbox Game Pass subscribers on Xbox One only have new game rather than four. 

The four new Xbox Game Pass stealth drops, while a surprise, it did not exactly come out of nowhere. The Xbox Tokyo Game Show presentation happened overnight, and all four of these stealth drops came from the show. And the new, surprise additions came at a perfect time as Xbox Game Pass subscribers were threatening to cancel their subscriptions after a terrible month for the subscription service. 

Below, you can read more about all four new Xbox Game Pass games and check out trailers for each game as well. How long any of these games will be available via the subscription service, Microsoft does not say. 

Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster

About: “A series of re-releases of Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, and Final Fantasy VI.”

Legend of Mana

About: “Legend of Mana is an action RPG where you can adventure through the world of Fa’Diel! Discover a world inhabited by all kinds: humans; beastmen; pirate penguins; wise dragons and the Jumi, a race on the path to annihilation. Each with their own set of values, they come into both conflict and collaboration over the course of this tale. The story unfolds over a backdrop of graphics that evoke the style of a charming picture book, with a magical soundtrack to accompany you.

Trials of Mana

About: “When the world was shrouded in darkness, the Mana Goddess drew forth the Sword of Mana to smite the eight Benevodons, monsters of destruction. She sealed the horrors inside the eight Mana Stones, bringing the realm back from the brink. Weakened from rebuilding the world, the Goddess changed herself into a tree and fell into a deep sleep for many years. However, the forces of evil soon sought to free the Benevodons to gain control of the world. They started a terrible war to further their plot and destabilize the kingdoms. Peace was at an end. Mana itself began to disappear from the world and the Mana Tree started to wither…”

All You Need Is Help

About: “Brought to you by Q-Games, the creators behind such classics as PixelJunk Monsters and PixelJunk Shooter, this innovative cooperative multiplayer game introduces a fresh new way to play with your friends. Dive into a quirky multiplayer cooperative puzzle game where adorable, fluffy cube-shaped creatures collaborate to reach their goals. These creatures, each oddly shaped, jostle against each other to help solve puzzles together. When in trouble, shout ‘HELP!’ and friends will surely come to your aid. With everyone’s strength, turn friendships into friend-shapes!”

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Xbox is making some big changes to its mobile apps this week, and that means the Xbox Game Pass app is going to be shuttered. Microsoft revealed today that all of the app’s features are being added to the current Xbox app instead. The streamlined approach means users will now have one less app on their phone, and will still be able to do everything that they did from the current app. As of this writing, the Game Pass app remains available for download, but will be removed in November. Microsoft says that the app’s features will soon start to appear in the regular Xbox app for Xbox beta members, before releasing to everyone else. 

“Key features – like the ability to explore Game Pass and manage your membership – will now be found in one place with the Xbox app on mobile. You’ll be able to browse the full Game Pass catalog to find your favorite games and stay in the loop with alerts for new games coming to the service. If you’re a Game Pass Ultimate member, you’ll also be able to view and claim your Perks.” 

Honestly, the Xbox Game Pass app was always pretty redundant, so this is kind of overdue. There’s no reason that these features shouldn’t have just been in the standard Xbox app in the first place. The problem has always been the fact that you can’t actually play Game Pass games on the app; if you want to do so, you have to use a workaround to put a supported browser on your phone screen. If you do use Cloud Streaming on your phone’s home screen, you basically have three different Xbox apps. Narrowing it down to two was long overdue, and this should be good news for anyone that was running low on phone space. 

Not only does this move get rid of what was already a redundant app, but it adds a little more functionality to the current Xbox app. Having (almost) everything in one place should be a lot more convenient, provided the developers make everything smooth and easy to navigate. Hopefully that will be the case, but we won’t know for sure until the changes start to go into effect. 

Are you happy to see the Game Pass app shuttered? Do you think this change is overdue? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Over the last year, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has gotten a number of short term discounts, sometimes on just one platform or another. Those that have been looking to jump into the asymmetrical horror game finally have a perfect opportunity to do so, as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has been given a permanent price drop on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam. Gun Media has slashed the price 50%, making the base game $19.99. That price is live right now on Xbox and Steam, but it should be noted that PlayStation is currently having a sale, and the game can be purchased for just $10.99. 

The timing of this discount honestly could not be better! Xbox fans have been disappointed since The Texas Chain Saw Massacre left Game Pass last month, and it’s a safe bet that a lot of subscribers will be more willing to buy the game now that it’s significantly cheaper. That said, this price drop does make the 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition a less enticing deal than it was before, even with the included extras. 

When The Texas Chain Saw Massacre released in August 2023, one of most common complaints with the game was that there simply was not enough content. That seems to have changed quite a bit over the last year, with new killers, new victims, new maps, and the addition of museum mode. That hasn’t been enough for some players, but one of the most significant content drops is just around the corner with the addition of a new mode called Rush Week. Rush Week is significantly different from the main game, offering a stripped down 1v6 competition with just one killer appearing. The mode isn’t live just yet, but fans seem pretty excited about it, and are already comparing it to Friday the 13th: The Game. 

Hopefully the price cut and Rush Week will lead to an influx of new players. Games like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre can only continue if there’s a significant community. It remains to be seen if that will be the case, but if you’ve been on the fence about the game, now is a pretty good time to jump in! 

Do you plan on taking advantage of this price drop? Have you played The Texas Chain Saw Massacre yet? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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A game that has been exclusive to PlayStation 4 since 2020, and was even published by PlayStation itself, is finally making the transition to Xbox. Throughout 2024, a lot has been made out about Xbox’s decision to bring games like Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, Pentiment, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to PlayStation. Now, the favor will finally be returned to those on Xbox, although PlayStation won’t be the one doing the publishing this time around. 

Set to release next week on October 1st, Predator: Hunting Grounds will be launching on Xbox Series X/S. Developed by Illfonic, Hunting Grounds was released in 2020 across PS4 and PC. It went on to receive prolonged support for a few years after, but Illfonic eventually turned its attention to other projects. Now, the studio is returning to Predator: Hunting Grounds in a big way and will be porting it to Xbox Series X/S in addition to pushing out an upgrade patch for PS5 and PC. 

When it comes to the reason behind Predator: Hunting Grounds releasing on Xbox, it has to do with a change in the game’s publishing rights. Illfonic acquired the publishing rights for Hunting Grounds earlier in 2024 from PlayStation and soon after decided to self-publish the title on new platforms. As a result, what was once an exclusive for the PS4 in the late era of the console is now a game that is seeing a widespread console launch. For now, those on Nintendo Switch remain left out, but perhaps this could change down the road. 

If you’re unfamiliar with Predator: Hunting Grounds and would like to learn more, you can check out its official synopsis and a throwback trailer for the game below. 

Predator: Hunting Grounds

“Hunt or be hunted in this asymmetrical multiplayer shooter that pits man against Predator. As part of a Fireteam, complete missions before the Predator finds you. Or be the Predator and hunt your prey.

Features

• Be the Predator – hunt down the opposing Fireteam, using deadly alien weaponry to stalk your prey.
  
• Get to the chopper – complete challenging missions as part of a four-person Fireteam to escape.
  
• Wield human and alien weaponry – fight with a state-of-the-art arsenal as the Fireteam, and deadly tech like the shoulder-mounted Plasma Caster, Combistick and more as the Predator.”

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It’s been more than two years since the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, but the game keeps getting new content. Developer TributeGames surprised fans today with the announcement of the Radical Reptiles DLC, which will add two new playable characters to the roster: Mona Lisa and Mondo Gecko. At this time, we don’t know how much the DLC will cost, but it will be available today, so we won’t have to wait long to find out! All players will also receive a free update which includes new music remixes from guest artists that include Jake Kaufman, Tomoya Tomita, Sean Bialo, Button Masher, Keiji Yamagishi, and Anamanaguchi. 

A trailer featuring the new playable characters (and one of the music remixes) can be found below. 

The Radical Reptiles DLC will be available on all of the current platforms for Shredder’s Revenge, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. From the trailer, it looks like Mona Lisa and Mondo Gecko will have unique moves that set them apart from the rest of the roster. In the original animated series, Mona Lisa was a college physics major, and that seems to play into her move set; at the 0:21 mark, we can see her tossing beakers full of some kind of chemical at the Foot Clan! Mondo Gecko also draws from the character’s early appearances, and can be seen riding a skateboard. 

In an interview with Prankster101 Productions back in March, TributeGames narrative designer Yannick Belzil seemed to shoot down the possibility of more DLC or a sequel to Shredder’s Revenge. Belzil told the outlet “that’s not something that’s on the cards right now,” and said that more content would depend on sales of the base game and DLC. Either Belzil was intentionally keeping quiet, or this DLC came together quickly over the last few months. Whatever the case might be, it’s awesome to see new content in a game that was already pretty great. TMNT fans have had a lot of different video game options over the last few years, but Shredder’s Revenge remains one of the best. 

Are you excited about this DLC and free update? Would you like to see a sequel or more new content? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Earlier this month, news leaked about a new controller in Xbox’s “Cipher” line of transparent designs. While we didn’t have any images of the controller, the Ghost Cipher name implied a white controller that allowed users to see the interior, just like the Sky Cipher controller released back in August. Xbox has now officially pulled back the curtain on the design, which will be available on October 8th. The controller has a stunning white exterior with a silver interior, bronze colors on the D-pad and triggers, and Ash Gray grips on the back. The controller will retail for $69.99. UPDATE: Listings for the controller are available here on Amazon and here at Walmart now. 

In addition to the new controller, Cipher Series Top Cases have also been revealed for Elite Series 2 controllers created through Xbox Design Lab. Xbox users can design controllers using body options that include Ghost Cipher (white), Candy Cipher (pink), Astral Cipher (purple), Pulse Cipher (red), Surf Cipher (a lighter blue than Sky Cipher), and Velocity Cipher (green). It’s great that Xbox has expanded the number of transparent options, but Xbox fans should be aware that these are significantly costlier than a standard controller. The Cipher Series Top Cases add an extra $9.99 on top of the controller’s base price of $149.99, and that’s before any other extras are tacked on! 

An image of the Cipher Series Top Cases can be found below. Preorders for the Ghost Cipher controller can be found at the Microsoft Store right here, while the Elite Series 2 controllers can be ordered right here. 

Hopefully the addition of these Cipher Series Top Cases to Xbox Design Lab means that we’ll see standard controllers offered in these colors. While it’s nice being able to design your own controller, the asking price makes it a lot less affordable than buying a mass produced existing design. Transparent tech was all over the place about 25 years ago, but has been less common in recent years. It seems the trend has been making something of a comeback, and reception to the Cipher series has been very positive. Hopefully that means we’ll see a lot more of these Cipher designs in the future! 

Are you planning to buy the Ghost Cipher Special Edition controller? Do you like these transparent Xbox designs? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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A surprising new report has indicated that Microsoft spends roughly $1 billion per year on bringing third-party titles to Xbox Game Pass. Despite being one of Xbox’s biggest avenues to bring in money for Microsoft, Game Pass is also a service that the company has needed to continuously pour funds into. Previously, details regarding the total amount that Microsoft actually spends on Game Pass have been shrouded in mystery, but that’s no longer the case. 

According to Bloomberg, Microsoft currently “spends $1 billion a year getting third-party games on the subscription service.” This total is said to be based on not only the “flat fees of millions of dollars” that Microsoft pays various studios and publishers, but also a “portion of subscription revenue” that is then paid out. Further details on Microsoft’s process of determining how much each publisher should earn for being part of Game Pass wasn’t revealed, but more high-profile, AAA titles are surely the ones that cost the most to join the service.  

While this might seem like an asinine amount of money (which it is), Xbox Game Pass typically makes back this much relatively quickly. Based on previous information that has been made public, there are a little more than 30 million Game Pass subscribers at the moment. Assuming that each subscriber then pays an average of $15 or so, it would suggest that Microsoft makes back its investment in Game Pass over a period of two or three months. 

Still, with video game development costs quickly rising, there’s a good chance that Microsoft will have to begin offering even more to various publishers to add their titles to Xbox Game Pass. As a result, this $1 billion amount will almost certainly pale in comparison a few years from now to the total that Microsoft invests in the service today. For all of these reasons and more, this is likely why Microsoft chose to raise the price of Game Pass this month while also introducing new tiers of the subscription platform. 

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It continues to sound as though Microsoft is going to get into the handheld space with a new Xbox device. Over the past year, rumors have continued to grow suggesting that an Xbox handheld is in the works at Microsoft. This is something that Xbox boss Phil Spencer seems to have even alluded to on a couple of different occasions. Now, new reporting has come about to further corroborate these past rumors and might give us an idea of when the Xbox hardware could launch. 

Coming from Windows Central, the publication reports that Xbox is internally developing “its own take on the Steam Deck.” Further details on the handheld are still limited, but this Steam Deck comparison is one that lines up with what those at Microsoft itself have previously said. Specifically, Spencer stated earlier in 2024 that it would be important for any potential handheld tied to Xbox to be able to play games natively. While cloud streaming is something that Xbox has invested heavily in over the years, it seems this technology won’t be at the center of this much-theorized handheld. 

Beyond this, the report goes on to state that 2026 could be the year in which the Xbox handheld would launch. The reason for this is twofold as 2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Xbox brand. Microsoft itself even recently teased that it’s “building plans for the 25th anniversary of Halo and Xbox” for 2026. Whether or not part of this celebration would result in the release of a new handheld isn’t known for certain, but it would make sense. 

The other reason that 2026 is being eyed in this manner is because Microsoft is choosing to skip out on releasing a mid-generation upgrade of the Xbox Series X. While the previous generation saw Microsoft release the Xbox One X as a way of competing with the PS4 Pro, that won’t be the case this time around as Sony is gearing up to let loose the PS5 Pro. As a result, Microsoft seems to have altered its timelines for new hardware releases, which further puts a spotlight on 2026. 

Perhaps the biggest question tied to a potential Xbox handheld, though, would be whether or not it can change Microsoft’s hardware sales. Based on what we know, the Xbox Series X and S have failed to meet the expectations of Microsoft, which is one reason why Xbox seems to now be releasing more of its games on competing platforms. Whether or not a dedicated Xbox handheld could do drastically change Microsoft’s fortune as a hardware company isn’t known, but it’ll be worth monitoring in the months and years ahead. 

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Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games has revealed Psylocke as a new playable character. The reveal took place on the Marvel Rivals discord over the weekend, following a trivia event. In an interesting twist, this version of the character is not the longtime X-Men team member Betsy Braddock, or even the current version Kwannon. Instead, this version is Sai, an alternate universe take on Psylocke that was first introduced in Demon Days: X-Men. That version was created by Peach Momoko, and the writer/artist’s influence can be seen in the brief glimpse provided so far. 

An image of Psylocke’s in-game design can be found below. 

So far, reception to this Psylocke design has been quite positive, with a lot of fans sharing their enthusiasm on social media. As of this writing, NetEase has not offered much else in the way of details regarding Psylocke, or how she’ll play in the game. Hopefully that means we’ll get a gameplay trailer sometime in the near future, outlining more details. The one thing we do know is that Sai will be voiced in the game by Alpha Takahashi. Following a tease from the Marvel Rivals X/Twitter account, Takahashi wrote “guess who’s joining the Marvel Universe.” The voice actor has previously had credits in games like Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield, and Killer Instinct. 

Psylocke has a long history in video games, appearing as a playable character in titles like Marvel vs. Capcom and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3. While those versions were specifically based on the Betsy Braddock version of the character, it makes sense for Sai to show up in Marvel Rivals. After all, the multiverse plays a role in the game’s narrative, and we’ve already seen some alternate versions of characters confirmed, including Peni Parker. Given the convoluted nature of Psylocke’s backstory, it actually makes a lot more sense to go with this specific take on the character. It will be interesting to see if this leads to more interest in Demon Days, and if it results in this version of Psylocke appearing in more media! 

Are you planning to check out Marvel Rivals when it releases later this year? How do you feel about this version of Psylocke showing up in the game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Miller Ross on X/Twitter]

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According to a new report, UK team Rocksteady Studios is working on a new a Batman game that could end up being an exclusive for PS5 or PS6, depending on when it releases. We know via job listings that Rocksteady Studios began work on a new game this summer after flopping hard earlier in the year with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Many assumed the Batman: Arkham studio would get back to its bread and butter — aka Batman — with its next game. This has not been confirmed, but this is what a new rumor has suggested. 

The rumor comes the way of Nick Baker of Xbox Era over on social media platform X. In the past, Baker has proven reliable with numerous leaks and accurate rumors, however, he has also been off the mark on occasion. Whether this will be an example of the former or the latter, remains to be seen. In the meantime, there aren’t many details. 

All that Baker notes is that he has heard Rocksteady Studios is back to making Batman and that he thinks “Sony are trying to moneyhat it.” For those unfamiliar with the term, moneyhatting refers to the act of using financial incentives or bribes to gain the upper hand typically on the competition. 

Baker makes no note of exclusivity, but it is unclear what else Sony would be throwing money around for other than some type of timed exclusivity, or even permanent exclusivity, involving the PS5 or PS6 or both depending on when this game ends up releasing. It could be for something more boring like marketing rights or some deal involving PS Plus, but it wouldn’t be the first time Sony threw large amounts of money at a developer for timed/permanent exclusivity on a game. 

All of that said, remember to take everything here with a grain of salt like any rumor. Further, even if this rumor is accurate, it is subject to change that could render it inaccurate over time. Assuming this rumor is accurate though, don’t expect to see this game for at least several years. Last time Rocksteady Studios made a game — Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League — nine years passed before said game was released. Unless something goes wrong again, its next project should not take this long, but it will at least be three to five years even if everything goes smoothly. 

At the moment of publishing, none of the implicated parties — Rocksteady Studios, WB Games, nor PlayStation — have commented on this rumor in any capacity. We don’t expect this to change for a variety of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

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It looks like Ubisoft is already hard at work on the future of Far Cry games or more specifically, the “next-generation” of Far Cry games. Following the release of Far Cry New Dawn and Far Cry 6 — the latest installments in the series, which both critically and commercially underwhelmed — the Far Cry series is in a rough place. It’s been over two games since the commercial highs of Far Cry 5, one of the best-selling Ubisoft games of all time. And even longer since the series was critically-acclaimed, which it hasn’t been since Far Cry 3. Ubisoft needs to both refresh the series whilst re-capturing what once made it great. That is no easy task, but it looks poised to try. 

At the moment of writing this, Ubisoft is currently aiming to hire a 3D Programming Team Lead to work on not just Far Cry, but the “next-generation” of Far Cry games. 

“As a 3D Programmer Team Lead, you will be responsible for leading a team of skilled 3D programmers in the development of the next generation of the Far Cry branded games,” reads the job listing in question. “You will split your time between team management and project management.”

Now, it is unclear if this is just another way to refer to future Far Cy games or if it means literally next-generation Far Cry games. The job listing refers to the series as “FarCry,” which doesn’t reinforce confidence that it knows what it talking about. And this sometimes happens with job listings, especially if the hiring is outsourced. Whatever the case, it confirms more Far Cry games are coming, or at least one. 

There’s been no official word of a new Far Cry, but there have been plenty of rumors from various sources. The latest — at least from reputable sources — came back at the start of the year and claimed that two Far Cry games were in the works, one of which will be a proper mainline installment (aka Far Cry 7) and another that will be a multiplayer game. It has been suggested one of these games could release as early as next year. If this is the case, we should be hearing about it soon.

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