Marvel’s Wolverine‘s has lost its creative director to one of Xbox’s most highly anticipated exclusives. Insomniac Games is one of the most respected studios in the gaming industry having made games like Ratchet & Clank, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Resistance. The studio really made a name for itself with Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018 when it made one of the most well-regarded superhero games of all-time and a generation defining exclusive for PlayStation. The studio has gone on to expand its ambitions with even more Marvel games in its future, including Marvel’s Wolverine. The game was announced in 2021 alongside Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but outside of some big leaks, there hasn’t been any major official updates from Insomniac Games.

Wolverine is expected to still be a couple years out from release and a notable portion of the game’s story leaked online in addition to gameplay when Insomniac Games was hacked last year. Sadly, there’s more unfortunate news for Marvel’s Wolverine. Game File has reported that game’s creative director, Brian Horton, left Insomniac Games over the summer to pursue a different project: Xbox’s Perfect Dark. Sony confirmed the news to Game File and noted that Horton was replaced by Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart creative director Marcus Smith. Marvel’s Wolverine‘s game director Cameron Christian (different from creative director) has also stepped back from the project, but will remain at Insomniac Games. Game File noted that this was a result of changes regarding the creative direction of Marvel’s Wolverine.

Horton previously helmed Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales for Insomniac Games and had made teases about the new game on social media over the years. An Xbox rep told Game File that Horton will be “bringing his wealth of experience to the upcoming reboot of the classic secret agent series.” The shooter had its first gameplay reveal over the summer and left fans really impressed, but it’s unclear how far into development it is. Nevertheless, it’s a big win for Xbox as it will likely only strengthen an already great looking game and give the console a successful big exclusive that fans have been eagerly awaiting.

Marvel’s Wolverine on the other hand feels like a rare struggle for Insomniac Games. The developer is known for churning out high quality games at a rapid pace without overworking its staff. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had some production issues as well, partially as a result of COVID disrupting the game’s development. Insomniac Games had to scale back a large portion of its plans for the game in order to hit its deadline which resulted in a more streamlined story and major gameplay elements such as destructible environments being cut from the final release.

It’s possible the hack last year led to Insomniac Games pivoting on the direction of Marvel’s Wolverine, but it’s not totally known. Either way, hopefully this doesn’t lead to a major delay to Marvel’s Wolverine. The game ramped up production last year around the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, allowing developers to move over from the wall-crawler’s latest adventure to Wolverine’s first gaming outing in nearly 20 years. With that said, the game is deep into development and it’s unclear how much can really be changed at this point without undoing a ton of work.

PlayStation itself has also changed its strategy on how it reveals its games. It seems that the company only likes to really showcase its games when they’re closer to release, so it may be another year or two before we get another glimpse at Marvel’s Wolverine. However, there are rumors it could pop up sooner. Hopefully the game manages to find its way through a rougher part of development and turn out well on the other side.

The post Marvel’s Wolverine Loses Creative Director To Upcoming Xbox Exclusive appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Palworld got a seasonal update just ahead of Halloween this week to add some new skins for four different Pals to wear for the holiday and beyond. Palworld developer Pocketpair dropped the update late Tuesday night and confirmed that Cattiva, Katress, Pengullet, and Croajiro would all be getting Halloween skins in the update. The patch notes for the October 29th Palworld update also included some welcome bugfixes for several different platform problems including memory leaks and one issue specific to the PS5.

All of the new content was geared solely towards these new Pal skins, so the rest of the Palworld update is pretty much exclusively geared towards fixes and the like. This is of course the first Halloween update that Palworld has gotten given that it was only in January 2024 that the game released.

The full patch notes for this year’s Halloween update in Palworld can be found below:

RELATED: Pokemon and Palworld Have New Competition Releasing in October

Skins

• Added 4 Halloween skins! All players will recieve these skins for free upon starting up the game! (※Cannot be equipped unless you have at least 1 of the corresponding Pals)
  • Halloween Cattiva
  • Spectacled Katress
  • Pirate Pengullet
  • Halloween Croajiro

Multiplayer

• Significantly relaxed the text chat character limit. You can now write much longer messages!

Major Bug Fixes

• Fixed memory leak on servers
• Fixed several critical game crashes
• Fixed an issue where large Pals would push the player under the world or through walls

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where custom markers were not displayed in the compass UI at the top of the screen
• Fixed many minor bugs
• Fixed minor translation errors

PS5 Specific Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where trees would respawn even if a structure was built over it

Though the game itself just came out this year, skins in Palworld are relatively new as well and only started being given out just recently. While Palworld already has elemental variations of different Pals like Ignis, Lux, Cryst, and more, the skins are purely cosmetic and are exclusive to the Pals that they’re designed for. The trailer above from Palworld‘s developer showed off what these four skins look like now that they’re available. Beyond these, skins are occasionally given out as Twitch Drops as well, so Palworld players may be able to claim more that way in the future in addition to the free ones given out this week.

This new Palworld content also comes in the midst of the much bigger legal battle that Pocketpair, Nintendo, and The Pokemon Company are embroiled in now. In recent months, the Pokemon creators announced a formal suit against Pocketpair over patent infringement as opposed to copyright issues (even if several Pals sure do look a lot like Pokemon). It was suggest that there’s one Pokeball-related patent in particular that may be focused on during this lawsuit, though it of course hasn’t been made public what Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are using to support their lawsuit.

Palworld‘s latest update is out now for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC players to download.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 appears to be gearing up to bring back a classic map from Call of Duty: World at War. The Call of Duty series is one of gaming’s most storied franchises with over 20 entries, hundreds of millions of copies sold, and tons of gaming memories. The series has evolved a lot since its inception going from a World War II shooter to a modern day shooter to one set in the far flung future with wall-running and jetpacks. Now, Black Ops 6 has taken players back to the 1990s and added in an innovative new movement system called “omnimovement” which allows players to dive, slide, and sprint in any direction they choose.

Despite the fact Call of Duty isn’t super reminiscent of its earlier days, fans still hold a lot of nostalgia for those early entries and Activision tries to capitalize on that however it can. For Black Ops 6, pretty much everything is brand new from the maps to the mechanics, but there are some throwbacks hidden away in the game. Call of Duty player M3RKMUS1C did some exploring in the game’s spectator mode to check out some out of bounds areas in Black Ops 6. What the player ended up finding is the general design of Courtyard, an iconic map from Call of Duty: World at War which was eventually remade as Dig in Black Ops 2. A very low-resolution version of the map can be found outside of Skyline, one of the new maps in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

As of right now, we have no idea what this means. Is Courtyard coming back as a multiplayer map? It’s possible, Call of Duty loves to revive old maps as post-launch content as it means less time spending designing a whole new map and more so just iterating upon one that already exists. Fans have also speculated that Courtyard could be a part of the next Warzone map. Warzone is known for using iconic Call of Duty maps as POIs. Whether or not Courtyard will show up in the battle royale remains to be seen, but it doesn’t seem unlikely. It’s possible that Skyline is also part of Warzone, hence why Courtyard is visible from the map. Treyarch may have carved Skyline out for its multiplayer, which has happened on multiple occasions in other Call of Duty games.

Either way, we should find out in the somewhat near future. A new Warzone map may launch in season one which will likely kick off in December, as per Call of Duty tradition. Courtyard could be part of a later Warzone map, too. Activision is always thinking several steps ahead so there’s really no telling. To make things even more uncertain, there have been canceled Warzone maps as well. So, everything we’re speculating about here could amount to nothing in about a year. Either way, it certainly seems like Raven and Treyarch are planning something, it’s just a question of what it is right now.

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Building the perfect weapon is a major part of the online Call of Duty experience. Every years brings a new wave of options to test until our wrists fall off, all in search of mythical meta loadouts to make crushing public match lobbies a little bit more bearable. That goes for both Multiplayer and the yearly incarnation of Warzone.

The firing range is supposed to be the hub for all of this creation. Players can build, tweak, and test all in one place by trying out each new build against a couple of lanes filled with target dummies. It’s a bit of a barebones experience, even to the series’s own standard (remember Call of Duty: World War 2‘s headquarters?), but Treyarch has added two simple features to make things a lot easier on all of the mad Gunsmith scientists of the world.

As subtle as it may seem, the implementation of both a recoil test wall and an adjustable target dummy will be huge for Warzone players. Long-range gunfights happen much more often on a Battle Royale map like Urzikstan. Everyone who plays for more than a few minutes will experience a building-to-building shootout, high-ground to low-ground skirmish, or any other number of battles requiring pinpoint accuracy. Having peace of mind that your primary weapon isn’t a pea shooter downwind helps with that.

RELATED: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Brings Back Fan-Favorite 2009 MW2 Feature

Now, not only can players make sure their weapons are effective even against enemies with three full armor plates, but they can test a wider variety of ranges, and see a definitive recoil trail. This may not sound like much, but it’s far better than shooting at the weapon rack then inspecting the bullet holes like in previous years. That additional level of control makes a world of difference.

To use these features, just load into the Firing Range, select your weapon(s), and press down on the directional pad. One press will drop down the recoil board, and another quick press will release the adjustable target. The recoil target sits about seven meters out from the player and is completely blank. Each bullet fired leaves a distinct mark, leaving no doubt about how tight a gun’s spread is compare to its competitors. Pressing either down on the D-Pad or selecting new loadout will completely reset the board, wiping it clean for further testing.

The moving target however is a little bit different. Once dropped, you can choose exactly how far out the dummy sits by shooting it until it breaks. There are three possible ranges: the first is identical to the recoil wall at about 7 meters; the next is roughly 15m, putting it somewhere between the solitary dummies stationed at 10m and 25m; and finally, the longest option sits around 75m, well towards the end of the range.

These little quality-of-life updates only make up a small portion of what’s new in Black Ops 6. Between the introduction of Omnimovement, a classic high-quality Treyarch campaign, and a smash-hit Zombies mode, there’s plenty of reason to dive and get familiar with what’s to come before Warzone receives its own integration with the launch of Season 1 later this year.

The post Overlooked Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Feature Is Perfect for Warzone Players appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Creating a new video game franchise is difficult. Development is a time consuming process, and the cost of making a AAA game has been steadily rising. It’s a huge risk creating something big and new, as there isn’t anything established to build on. That was the crux of the argument made by Bruce Nesmith in a recent interview with VideoGamer. Nesmith served as a designer on Starfield, before leaving Bethesda in 2021. The designer notes that on games like Skyrim, the team was able to improve on elements that had already proven successful, and that leaves him optimistic for Starfield 2, should the game ever happen.

“When we built Skyrim, we had the tremendous advantage of Oblivion, which had the tremendous advantage of Morrowind. All that stuff was there for us,” Nesmith told VideoGamer. “All we had to do was continue to improve and add new stuff in. We didn’t have to start from the ground up. If we’d had to start from the ground up, that would have been another two or three years of development time.”

For that reason, Nesmith argues that Starfield 2 will prove to be “one hell of a game,” as the developers will be able to focus on polishing the areas that need work, and improving on elements that are already well-regarded. The argument makes a lot of sense, as there have been plenty of video game sequels that are more fondly remembered than the original; Nesmith specifically mentions franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Dragon Age, which needed a sequel or two before they were able to reach the highs both of those series are now known for. Unfortunately, sequels are rarely a guaranteed thing, and there has been no announcements about a Starfield sequel at this time. Bethesda is still adding new content to the current game, and it seems The Elder Scrolls 6 is the publisher’s big priority after that. Whether that means the company will even have time to work on another Starfield is anyone’s guess!

RELATED: Xbox Series X and S Users Surprised With Starfield Freebie

While a Starfield sequel is not a guarantee, we do know that the game will be supported with DLC for the foreseeable future. The game’s first major expansion, Shattered Space, was released last month. Director Todd Howard has also indicated that players can expect to see yearly expansions, which could help to improve the current game’s standing.

That’s not to say that Starfield was a critical flop. The current game was mostly well-received, with ComicBook’s official review awarding it a score of 4 out of 5. In his review, Tanner Dedmon specifically stated that the game had “room to grow,” citing many areas where Starfield fell short of Bethesda’s best. It remains to be seen whether Starfield will be able to live up to its potential, but hopefully we can get a sequel that builds on the best parts, with the benefit of hindsight. As Nesmith notes, it should take significantly less time to develop, at the very least.

Do you think a Starfield sequel will ever end up happening? What elements would you like to see improved on for a potential sequel? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Starfield 2 Will be “One Hell of a Game,” Says Former Bethesda Developer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the new Xbox Series X consoles makes a hardware change that some Xbox fans, at least over on Reddit, are not thrilled about. Back on October 15, Microsoft released three new Xbox consoles: the Xbox Series S – 1TB in Robot White, Xbox Series X – 1TB Digital Edition, and the Xbox Series X – 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition. Compared to standard Xbox Series X consoles though, the robot white Xbox Series X isn’t just a new color and missing the disc drive, it is these things as well, but it makes a third hardware change.

As an all-digital console it is naturally going to look different than the standard Xbox Series X due to the lack of the disc drive. Meanwhile, the new robot white color also makes it immediate apparent the two consoles aren’t quite the same. There is a less obvious change though, and it is unclear why this other change was made.

Xbox fans didn’t know about this change until they bought the console and got their hands on it. When they brought the new piece of gaming tech home and opened it up, they realized it does not have a green grill like the standard Xbox Series X. Rather, its grill is just black. Some fans like this choice, others not so much.

The post is obviously not a fan of the choice to remove the green grill. Whether this was to cut costs or simple an aesthetic choice, we don’t know. Some fans do like it though. However, the comments on the post above reveal some, if not a majority of fans, are a fan of the decision, whatever inspired it.

“Honestly green on white would have looked weird. Black accents looks cleaner,” reads the top comment. “Looks better without the green in my opinion,” adds a second, popular comment.

Of course, the comments that say the white and green would have not gone together may be right, however, those who have been around long enough will remember this used to be the color scheme of the Xbox brand back in the Xbox 360 generation. While the green on the Xbox 360 consoles was fairly subtle, the marketing and branding around it — decked out in white and green — was not. This was almost two decades ago though. Naturally, tastes and design trends have radically changed.

All of that said, and as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think or, alternatively, hit me up on X @Tyler_Fischer_ and let me know over there. Are you a fan of the lack of green grill on the new white Xbox Series X?

The post New Xbox Console Makes a Hardware Change Some Fans Don’t Like appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Over on the Microsoft Store, the Xbox Halloween Sale has discounted a wide variety of horror games. In the process, some Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S games, in particular, have been made dirt cheap. To this end, those on Xbox looking for something to play this Halloween, but aren’t looking to spend much, will want to peruse the deals below.

All of the deals below — available on the Microsoft Store — are only available for four more days, which means they will actually expire tomorrow. There’s not only horror included though, but games that fit with the spirit of Halloween, such as DOOM.

The cheapest of the cheap deals is for a fan-favorite horror game Slender: The Arrival. While the Slender Man game from the Xbox One generation didn’t land with critics, it did with fans as evident by its high user reviews on both the PlayStation Store and Steam. To this end, on Steam it has an 88 percent approval rating across 7,496 user reviews. Meanwhile, there are no user reviews on the Microsoft Store, but there are on the PlayStation Store, where it has 4.38 stars out of 5 across over 12,000 user reviews.

Other Xbox Games $5 or Less in Halloween Sale

• Slender: The Arrival – $0.99
• Flipping Death – $1.99
• The Long Reach – $2.24
• Metro 2033 Redux – $2.99
• Metro: Last Light Redux – $2.99
• Dying Light – $2.99
• Castlevania: SOTN – $3.29
• Call of Cthulhu – $3.99
• DOOM – $3.99
• DOOM 3 – $3.99
• Monstrum – $3.99
• Castlevania Anniversary Collection – $3.99
• Amnesia: Collection – $4.49
• Amnesia: Rebirth – $4.49
• The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season – $4.49
• SOMA – $4.49
• Metro Exodus – $4.49
• The Evil Within – $4.99
• Dead Rising 2 – $4.99
• Dead Rising 2 Off the Record – $4.99
• The Chant – $4.99
• F.E.A.R. 2 – $4.99

“Slender: The Arrival is the official video game adaptation of Slender Man; the paranormal phenomenon that has been terrifying the curious-minded all around the globe,” reads an official blurb about the game. Back in 2012, Slender: The Eight Pages was released as a short, experimental first-person game that helped breathe new life into the horror genre through its use of unadulterated tension building and fear. Slender: The Arrival is the official re-imagining and expansion of the original game, featuring a brand-new storyline, new characters, improved visuals, great replay value and most importantly, survival horror at its finest.”

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox news, all of the latest Xbox rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox deals as it relates to both Xbox One and the Xbox Series consoles — click here.

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While Microsoft has long supported PlayStation and Nintendo with games like Minecraft, this year saw the company make a bigger push to release Xbox games on competing platforms. In his annual shareholder letter, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella brought up that push, while also speaking broadly about the company’s vision for the Xbox brand. Nadella’s vision is to allow greater access to these Xbox brands, and that’s clearly seen as important following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Nadella does not offer any specific information about which games could make the jump from Xbox to PlayStation or Nintendo, but clearly there’s a plan beyond the current offerings.

“We are bringing great games to more people on more devices. With our acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, which closed October 2023, we’ve added hundreds of millions of players to our ecosystem. We now have 20 franchises that have generated over $1 billion in lifetime revenue—from Candy Crush, Diablo, and Halo, to Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, and Gears of War. And with Xbox cloud gaming, we continue to innovate to offer players more ways to experience the games they love—where, when, and how they want. Finally, we brought four of our fan-favorite titles to Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation for the first time, as we continue to extend our content to new platforms,” writes Nadella.

The four games that Nadella refers to are Pentiment, Grounded, Sea of Thieves, and Hi-Fi Rush. All four of those games were released on PlayStation, while the first two were released on Switch. Nintendo has a more powerful console rumored to release in 2025, and it’s possible we could see Sea of Thieves brought over to the so-called “Switch 2.” The Rare developed game has seen a lot of success on PS5, and would seem like a logical choice to bring over. There were a plethora of rumors about Hi-Fi Rush coming to a Nintendo console, but Microsoft no longer owns the property. As such, that decision might rest in the hands of the game’s current owner, Krafton.

RELATED: Krafton Purchases Tango Gameworks and Hi-Fi Rush IP

In addition to those games, we know that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be coming to PlayStation 5 in 2025. It’s possible that game could also land on Switch 2, but we might have to wait for Nintendo’s official announcement before Microsoft reveals its plans. Beyond that is anyone’s guess, but Microsoft has no shortage of great games it could introduce to new audiences. Franchises like Halo, Gears of War, and Forza have remained exclusive to Xbox, and there’s been debate about whether Microsoft is willing to bring them to other platforms. On one hand, fans are worried about what this could do to long term interest in Xbox consoles, but it could result in a lot more players discovering these franchises.

What Xbox games would you like to see ported to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch? Do you think this strategy is a good one on Nadella’s part? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Microsoft Confirms Plans to Release More Xbox Games on PlayStation and Nintendo appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox Game Pass recently added one of the best horror games on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Ahead of Halloween, Xbox Game Pass subscribers have warned fellow subscribers, via Reddit, not to sleep on this game, which may be flying under the radar of some because it is not the biggest or most AAA game on the subscription service.

With Halloween right around the corner, Xbox Game Pass subscribers have a few horror games to choose from if they are looking to spend no extra money this spooky holiday season. One of the best options, according to subscribers themselves, is Inscryption, the 2021 deck-building roguelike with horror elements from developer Daniel Mullins Games — the studio also known for Pony Island and The Hex — and publisher Devolver Digital.

To this end, one of the top posts on the Xbox Game Pass Reddit page this week is a post urging subscribers to play the game, calling it both “great” and “unique.”

Of course, a post like this in isolation is not that noteworthy, but the popularity of the post, plus many of the comments, echo the sentiment.

“I’ve never been into deck builder type games but the delivery of this one just was just so good. the horror, the mystery, the gameplay. Loved it,” reads the top comment on the post. “Top ten, maybe top five of all time for me,” reads another comment.

These user reviews are backed by the game’s critical reviews. To this end, it boasts a very strong 87 on Metacritic. Meanwhile, on Steam it has the highest rating a game can earn on Steam, which is “Overwhelmingly Positive.” This is thanks to 96 percent of 111,331 user reviews rating the game positively.

“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 from 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…”

Those on Xbox Game Pass that decide to check out based on these recommendations, should expect a game that is about 12 to 15 hours long, on average. Completionists will need closer to 30 hours with the game though.

How long the game is going to be available via Xbox Game Pass though, we don’t know. It is a not permanent addition, but when exactly it will be pulled from the subscription service, Microsoft has not divulged.

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.

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Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users have a limited time to play not one, not two, but three games for free. And in this case, a limited time is an ultra limited time because it means Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users only have free access to the games until October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

The first of these three games is Under Waves. With this one, the whole game is not playable for free, but only two hours of the game, which takes about eight hours to complete. To this end, if Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users can see up to 25 percent of the game if they move quickly.

Under the Waves released back on August 29, 2023 via developer Parallel Studio and publisher Quantic Dream. While the latter is known for its PlayStation hits, Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, the former debuted with the project. Since then, it has released EEQO and Dark Days, both of which have proven largely middling and irrelevant.

The other two free games need far less introduction because both are well known entities. In addition to Under the Waves, MLB The Show 24 is free to check out until October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Unlike Under the Waves though, there is a no timer. It can be, hypothetically, played every second between now and the deadline.

The third free game to check out is Fallout 76, which also doesn’t have a timer. More than this, it is actually free to check out a bit longer or, more specifically, until October 29.

For those who somehow who don’t know either of these other games, Fallout 76 debuted back in 2018 via Bethesda Game Studios as both a prequel and spin off to the series. At release, it was received very poorly, but over time Bethesda has improved and supported the game to earn back the goodwill of Fallout fans. Meanwhile, MLB The Show 24 is the latest installment in the annualized MLB The Show series from Sony San Diego. It released earlier in the year to the usual positive reception each installment receives.

Below, you can read more about each free Xbox Series X game and check out a trailer for each game as well:

Under the Waves

About: “Under The Waves is a narrative-driven adventure game about the engulfing power of grief. Set in the depths of the North Sea in a techno-futuristic 1970s, professional diver Stan is struggling to overcome a life-changing loss and embrace a new future. The isolation of the deep sea is a fitting manifestation of his state of mind, and as Stan retreads further into his self-imposed solitude, he starts to experience strange events far beneath the waves. He will eventually have to make a difficult choice…”

Fallout 76

About: “Expand southward to Skyline Valley – a brand-new region of Appalachia. Investigate the cause of the electric storm circling overhead and unveil the mystery around Vault 63 and its dwellers, including a shocking new Ghoul type – The Lost.”

MLB The Show 24

About: “Swing for the fences, experience game-deciding moments, become a legend and live out your baseball dreams in MLB The Show 24. Everyone has a moment to own. Everyone has a story to tell. Unlock your moment. Own The Show.”

The post Xbox Series X Users Have 24 Hours to Play 3 Games for Free appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Several Xbox exclusives are as cheap as $1.99 thanks to a major new sale over on GameStop. Of course, at the price of a few dollars the Xbox games included do not include the latest Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S exclusives, which won’t be this cheap until the next console generation at the earliest. What games are this cheap are a handful of Xbox One exclusives from the previous generation of console gaming.

With complete backward compatibility though, each of the Xbox One exclusives featured are fully playable on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. And some of them, such as Halo 5, have received sequels on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. In the case of Halo 5, that sequel is Halo Infinite. Others are one-off games, but in the case of Sunset Overdrive, one of the best exclusives from Xbox over the last two generations.

How long any of these deals are going to be available, we don’t know. The Xbox games below have been the prices below for the whole week so far, but they have not always been these prices.

Of course, some of the deals are for pre-owned copies of each game, which is how GameStop is able to provide each for so cheaply. That said, GameStop pre-owned games have a guarantee to work just like brand new ones or your money back.

• Bleeding Edge – $1.99
• Halo 5 Guardians – $2.99
• Recore – $2.99
• Quantum Break – $4.99
• Sunset Overdrive – $4.99
• Gears of War 4 – $4.99
• Ryse: Son of Rome – $4.99

For comparison, here are the prices for the same games on the Microsoft Store: Bleeding Edge ($29.99), Halo 5 ($19.99), Recore ($19.99), Quantum Break ($39.99), Sunset Overdrive ($19.99), Gears of War 4 ($19.99), Ryse: Son of Rome ($29.99).

That said, it should be noted each one of these gams is included with Xbox Game Pass. And because they are Xbox-published games, they should be permanent additions. To this end, depending on how quickly you can complete the games above, a one-month Xbox Game Pass subscription may still be the cheaper route.

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

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Bloober Team is fresh off the heels of the Silent Hill 2 remake, but their next game is already barreling down the pipeline. Cronos: The New Dawn is a survival-horror game that tasks players with going back in time and braving an apocalyptic landscape in order to bring victims of the past into a brighter future.

The game’s Steam page gives a brief overview of the specifics. Our main character is equipped with a tool called the Harvester, and they’re in charge of tackling the spooky stuff head on.

“You are a Traveler acting as an agent for the enigmatic Collective, tasked with scouring the wastelands of the future in search of specific time rifts that will transport you back to 1980s-era Poland,” the description reads. “Your mission is to locate key people from the past who perished in the ensuing apocalypse. Using your all-powerful Harvester, you can extract their Essences and have them accompany you into the future.”

Little more is known about the game, but one rumor has picked up a lot of traction, and if it’s to be believed, players may be in for a properly punishing experience.

“The game is quite challenging, especially during combat and exploring,” alleged insider ignusthewise posted. “The core loop is Future Exploration: Find time anomalies to come back to the past[.] Past Exploration: Dive into the past to look for ‘souls'[.] 17 main locations[.]”

This all aligns with Bloober Team’s own description of the game’s mechanics. “Set in a grim world where Eastern European brutalism meets retro-futurist technology, Cronos: The New Dawn lets you experience a gripping story that straddles the line between past and future.”

The listing goes on to say the game is set “in a desolate world filled with ever-present danger” and that being resourceful is the name of the game.

“Your survival hinges on your ability to strategize and plan ahead. The enemies you’ll encounter are nightmarish creatures, born from the remnants of humanity – defeating them will require you to make full use of your arsenal. During battle, quick decisions can mean the difference between life and death.”

Describing the combat as “challenging” isn’t much of a shock. Cronos‘ official reveal trailer gave us a peek at some truly horrific creatures, and if they’re as nasty to fight as they are to look at, they’ll fight right in alongside other menaces from the same genre, like Dead Space’s savage Necromorphs.

All in all, there are still questions to be answered about the game, but this may be our best look at new details for a while given a release date has yet to be set. Silent Hill 2 has also achieved tremendous success, so there’s no telling if supporting that game will interfere with the development progress.

However, we do know Cronos: The New Dawn will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S when it touches down in the future. So, if getting scared out of your pants sounds like a good time, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for updates on this one.

The post Cronos: The New Dawn Rumor Reveals Details on New Game From Silent Hill 2 Developer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Black Ops series has captivated audiences for years, delivering thrilling stories over more than a decade of game releases. Whether or not each individual entry hits the mark, Treyarch aims for the moon with each and every release, always trying to produce a more compelling story time and time again.

Early fan reviews suggest the iconic developer has outdone itself this time. Heaps of praise have been thrown around so far. In fact, one particular late-game mission has been credited for elevating the Black Ops 6 campaign into an new stratosphere entirely.

The mission is called Emergence, and it’s unlike anything else in Call of Duty. Without pulling back any of its secrets, we’ll just say the story switches tone, takes a big swing, and delivers an absolute sucker punch in the player’s direction.

This is the kind of thing you want to play for yourself, so there’s no spoilers ahead, just a brief look at the kind of praise this mission is drawing in the wee hours after release.

RELATED: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Will Launch With These Modes

“Just finished what I consider to be the best Call of Duty campaign mission of all time,” ModernWarzone tweeted. “You’ll know which mission I’m talking about when you get there and you’ll definitely want to experience it for yourself. Bravo [,] Raven Software. “Emergence” is your best work yet.”

“No spoilers but man is it phenomenal. I recommend the campaign solely for that mission alone. Campaign was fantastic. The entire dev team deserves their flowers for that mission alone,” one Reddit user said.

Another fan gassed up the campaign as a whole, but also cited Emergence as the highlight point of the experience. “This is a Top 3 COD campaign. Case is a Top 3 protagonist. Emergence is the best COD Mission of all time! In Treyarch we trust.”

Hype has started to spread elsewhere on the internet too, with more than one Reddit user warning fans that they’re “not ready” for what lies ahead of them in this level, and many similar threads popping up by the minute.

This kind of success is a timely arrival for Call of Duty fans. Modern Warfare 3 (2023)’s Campaign faced massive criticism on release, both for being far too short for a standard Call of Duty experience, but also for switching to a Warzone-inspired open combat system for much of its runtime.

In that way, Black Ops 6 is a step back into Call of Duty tradition. Missions are once again a carefully guided experience, allowing players to creatively solve their problems, but without the open-world elements which plagued MW3‘s reception. This is what allows Emergence to shine. Treyarch retains control of the pacing all the way through. Each twist and turn is carefully calculated, and you can feel it every second you’re in the game.

If you’ve been considering skipping out on the Campaign this year, maybe this is your sign to give it a chance. If nothing else, you’ll get to experience perhaps the most memorable Call of Duty mission since Modern Warfare (2007)’s ‘All Ghillied Up’.

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Xbox One has a new console exclusive following an unexpected and surprise release on the console. The game is playable on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, but only via backward compatibility. A native Xbox Series X|S version of the game has not been released. Only an Xbox One version, and this is the only console version of the game in existence. The mystery game came to PC, and never came to any other platform until today when it stealth released on Xbox One, giving the console what will no doubt end up being its final exclusive game.

The game in question hails from 2016, a year headlined by games like Overwatch, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Inside, Pokemon Go, Persona 5, Dark Souls III, Battlefield 1, DOOM, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine, The Witness, Superhot, The Last Guardian, Firewatch, Final Fantasy 15, Hitman, Dishonored 2, and Titanfall 2.

It was a decent year for game releases. And of course there were many other games than just these, including some notable ones. One of the big Steam releases of 2016, for example, was Starbound, the debut game from developer Chucklefish. Eight years later, and millions of copies sold later, Starbound is now on Xbox One after being previously available in a playtest form via the Xbox Insider app back in August.

The popular action-adventure game — which boasts an 81 on Metacritic, and even better user reviews on Steam — is presumably coming to other consoles, but right now it is an Xbox One console exclusive, available for $14.99.

“You’ve fled your home, only to find yourself lost in space with a damaged ship. Your only option is to beam down to the planet below and gather the resources you need to repair your ship and set off to explore the vast, infinite universe,” reads an official blurb about the game for those unfamiliar with it.

Those interested in checking out Starbound, should prepare to put in at least 25 hours to mainline the game. If you add side content to this, the game is more like 60 hours long. Meanwhile, completionists will need an extra 100 hours on top of this. In other words, it is a pretty meaty game, especially for its $14.99 price point.

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

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A new Halo deal lets you get one game from the Xbox series for just $3. The new deal comes the way of GameStop, which routinely makes various video games dirt cheap. It is able to do this because in addition to brand-new games it also sells pre-owned games, which is how the latest deal is available. To this end, if you prefer your Halo games brand new, then this deal isn’t going to tickle your fancy. However, with GameStop its pre-owned games come with a guarantee to work just like any new copy of the game or your money back.

Unfortunately, the deal is not for the latest Halo game in the series, Halo Infinite, but for the game before it, which is to say, Halo 5: Guardians. Right now, GameStop has the Xbox One game — playable on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S via backward compatibility — on sale for just $2.99 or $2.84 if you are a GameStop Pro member.

Released in 2015, as the second release from 343 Industries — now known as Halo Studios — Halo 5: Guardians released to an 84 on Metacritic. Like the rest of the 343 Industries-era of Halo, it failed to live up to the standards set by the original trilogy of Halo games, plus Halo ODST and Halo Reach. That said, it is still a mainline Halo game, and a decent one at that.

“Halo 5: Guardians delivers epic multiplayer experiences that span multiple modes, full-featured level building tools, and a new chapter in the Master Chief saga,” reads an official blurb about the game for those somehow unfamiliar with it. “And now with Xbox One X, players can experience enhanced visuals, up to 4K resolution, increased visual details, and improved graphic fidelity that makes the game look better than ever before, all while maintaining a consistent 60FPS for the smoothest gameplay possible.

For more Halo coverage — including all of the latest Halo news, all of the latest Halo rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Halo deals like this one — click here. In the most recent and related news, it sounds like a remake of the first Halo game, Halo: Combat Evolved, is coming soon.

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An Xbox insider has given an update on a major Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S exclusive that has been missing for four years, leading lots of Xbox fans to wonder if Microsoft has cancelled the game. The game in question was revealed all the way back in 2019, a year before the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launched. To this end, it was initially announced as an Xbox One and PC game, however, a year later it dropped the Xbox One version of the game in favor of an Xbox Series X|S version.

And this is the last meaningful update we got on the game. There have been rumors since then that have suggested the prolonged silence has been because the Xbox game has had serious development issues, and potentially restarted development at one point. There has even been the occasional rumor suggesting it has been canned. According to the latest rumor though, this isn’t true.

For those that have not connected the dots yet, the mystery game in question is Everwild from Rare, the studio best known in the modern era for Sea of Thieves, but historically best known for GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Battletoads, Viva Pinata, and Donkey Kong Country.

More specifically, the update on Everwild is that development for it is actually going well, contrary to what the prolonged silence would lead you to believe. This rumor comes the way of well-known Xbox insider, Jez Corden.

“I heard that development of Everwild is going well,” said Corden. “They have nailed the gameplay loop now. And we should be seeing that in the future.”

Unfortunately, this is the extent of the update. It is isn’t much, but it is more than nothing and music to the ears of Xbox fans who were and are worried it has been canned. That said, remember to take this new bit of information with a grain of salt. This is not official news, but a rumor. To this end, Corden has both proven reliable in the past, but also been off the mark in the past as well.

At the moment of publishing, Xbox nor Rare nor any individual involved with the project has commented on this new rumor and the speculation it has created. We don’t suspect this to change for a handful of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story with whatever is said. In the meantime, 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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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is finally almost upon us, but if you’re particularly eager to get going, you don’t have to wait until the clock strikes midnight to get in on the action. It’s par for the course that late October/early November is prime Call of Duty season. Gamers around the world stack up on unhealthy snacks, update their game, and plop themselves in front of their system of choice to grind out the multiplayer, enjoy the campaign, and slay the undead in Zombies. It’s a yearly routine for millions of people around the world and this year, things will likely be even bigger as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is available on Xbox Game Pass on day one. That means tons of new people are going to be booting the game up to give it a shot purely because of its accessibility.

With all of that said, whether you’re a Call of Duty veteran or a newcomer, there is a way to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 almost a full day early in the United States. Players can switch their platform’s region to New Zealand to get in on the action as early as 4AM PT/7AM ET on October 24th, as of right now this is only on Xbox and possibly PC. It’s theorized players may be able to change the region on their Activision account on PS5 as there isn’t a way to change regions on the console itself. To do that, go to Activision’s official website and edit your profile settings. Again, this is just speculation from players online and there’s no guarantee that PS5 players will be able to get in early. However, you can learn how to do this method on Xbox and PC below.

We should note up top that this method is not officially encouraged by Xbox, Activision, or any of the platform holders and you will be doing this at your own risk. We have yet to see any notable punishments issued for doing this with previous game releases, but the disclaimer is worth noting.

Xbox

• Go to Xbox’s Settings
• Scroll down to “System” and click “Language & Location”
• Change location to New Zealand
• Click “Restart Now” on the right hand side of the screen
• Launch the game and attempt to play Black Ops 6
• If you are still unable to get into Black Ops 6, go to Activision’s website
• Click on the blue “Profile” button
• Click on “Basic Info” tab on the left side of the screen
• Edit your address to include a New Zealand address and change your location to New Zealand
• Save settings and re-attempt to play Black Ops 6
• Don’t forget to change your settings back to your actual location once the game officially launches on October 25th otherwise your Xbox store will use New Zealand currency amongst other things

PC (Microsoft Store ONLY, No Steam/Battle.net)

• Open the PC start menu and open your Settings app
• Click “Time & Language”
• Selection “Language & Region”
• Select New Zealand under the Region dropdown menu
• Restart your PC
• Launch the game and attempt to play Black Ops 6
• If you are still unable to get into Black Ops 6, go to Activision’s website
• Click on the blue “Profile” button
• Click on “Basic Info” tab on the left side of the screen
• Edit your address to include a New Zealand address and change your location to New Zealand
• Save settings and re-attempt to play Black Ops 6
• Don’t forget to change your settings back to your actual location to avoid any odd issues with your PC

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available at midnight eastern time on October 25th in the United States if you don’t use this exploit/it doesn’t work for you. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is available to pre-load now as well.

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We’re near the dawn of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Treyarch has swung through with a boatload of updates to improve the game. Many of these changes were directly inspired by player feedback from the open beta hosted back in August, and with just a few days left until release, we now know what to expect before jumping in.

The high points of the day-one patch are aim assist adjustments and map design changes. Three of the beta maps – Scud, Skyline, and Rewind – received cover improvements, making them more survivable and player-friendly. Additionally, aim assist at close-range has been re-enabled (albeit with a gradual curve), with the developers promising to carefully monitor close-range fight data.

Keep in mind, only a portion of the game was playable during the beta, so more adjustments to the maps we haven’t touched down on yet could certainly be coming over the next few weeks.

You can read the full notes attached below.

Weapon Balance 

While many weapon balance changes have been implemented across the board since Beta, we consider launch to be our day 1 baseline across the entire arsenal. Weapon balance is always ongoing, so we’ll be evaluating data and feedback, and sharing updates on this regularly. 

• In the Multiplayer Beta we tested a change that disabled aim assist at close ranges. While this was a change in the right direction, we felt that this was a bit jarring when crossing that close range threshold, so we’ve adjusted our approach to linearly interpolate aim assist strength. This means that aim assist will be much weaker at point blank ranges and smoothly increase in strength out to a short range. We will of course continue to monitor and assess data and player feedback. 
• Improved Pistol and Dedicated Melee swap speeds 
• Slight increase to Weapon Butt melee attack speeds 
• Adjustments to sway, bob and overall weapon motions to improve point of aim when entering ADS
  • Additional improvements coming in Season 01 
• Improved Depth of Field across all Weapons 

Movement 

• Added a toggle option for Corner Slicing  
• Added an option to set the hold time to perform a Dive to Prone or Slide depending on your Slide/Dive Behavior setting 
• Added an Intelligent Movement option to set Mantle Assist Angle from tight, medium, or wide 

Multiplayer Map Adjustments 

Keen eyes have already noticed a handful of changes we have introduced to our Beta maps thanks to everyone’s amazing feedback. Delivering fair and consistent gameplay will always remain our goal, and as such we’ve introduced some additional cover and changes to make firefights a bit fairer, as well as various lighting changes. The below selects aren’t every change we have made, but they’ll help provide an idea of what to expect from Beta to Launch. 

Skyline 

• Expanded the cover points around the hot tub at the center of the map. 
• Added new planters as cover near far spawn point. 
• Added multiple cover options throughout the map. 

Scud 

• Adjusted bullet penetration values on the satellite dish panels to allow additional bullet penetration.
  • The concrete wall at the main overwatch is now broken out, which will allow more bullet penetration to make it slightly less powerful. 
  • Panels are doubled up at the side overwatch to still amount a small amount of bullet penetration where there was previously none. 
• Made additional cover improvements throughout the map. 

Rewind 

• Made cover improvements across multiple sightlines.

Audio 

• We’re excited to introduce our best-in-class audio experience coming to Black Ops 6 with the introduction of HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) via Universal Profile in Enhanced Headphone Mode, which is available to all players for free. 
• We’ve also added a setting to disable licensed music across all modes, particularly useful for content creators streaming the game. 

This is the second round of patch notes for BO6, with a full set of adjustments happening during the beta. Weapon balancing took center stage back then, perfecting maps is a much more intensive process and likely needed some extra time in the oven before being ready for fans to enjoy.

Some of these changes, such as making the concrete wall on Scud easier to shoot through, will make a huge difference in the overall playability of the map. This is reflected two-fold with the new smatterings of cover. Anyone using an a Submachine Gun on Rewind was practically giving away their life. It’s still an Assault Rifle dominated map, but perhaps the experience won’t be quite so crushing after this round of touchups.

All in all, these improvements set a better standard ahead of that magical October 25 release date. That’s when things get real.

The post Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Patch Notes Show What’s Changed Since the Beta appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The long-awaited Match History feature is now live in Rocket League, and it brought a full Player Profile page to the game along with it. Players can now check their personal stats, highest rank, current Ranked matchmaking rating, and more with this new arrival.

Tracking personal statistics was previously only possible via third-party data-scraping apps. Now, all it takes is signing into a brand new Epic Games tool and letting them do all the hard work.

The Player Profile page assembles all kinds of data. First, there’s career stats. Every shot, goal, save, assist, win, and MVP award in a player’s career are all tracked here and will update accordingly with in-game performance. All of this information can be found on the left-hand side of the page under the Career tab. It’s worth mentioning only Online stats are tracked, meaning shots taken in offline game-modes will not be counted towards official stats.

Next, there’s Seasonal tracking. This section only counts a players performance over the current season and the previous one, but it holds a ton of additional information – such as time played, shooting percentage, demos, Ranked season rewards and Rocket Pass progression.

This is also where players will find their Match History, which stores a record of every user’s most recent 20 games. There’s a 30-day time limit on the storage, which leaves plenty of time to hunt down results and review any useful match data before it gets purged from the system forever.

Under Match History, players can also control replay storage, saving in-game footage to their profile after getting out of a match. That means no more worrying about queuing a highlight to save while in the middle of a game or forgetting to download the replay before fast-quitting at the end.

As previously mentioned, Ranked fans have even more to celebrate. For those out of the loop, ranking up in Rocket League is tied to a players Matchmaking Rating (or MMR) – a hidden number which informs the game where someone belongs in terms of Ranked progress.

Every rank and tier (ex: Silver 1, Silver 2, etc.) is associated with a range of numbers within the MMR system. Generally, Bronze players have low MMR, and Supersonic Legends have high MMR.

Tracking an individual’s MMR is crucial to knowing exactly how close they are to ranking up. Anyone hoping to make the climb from Bronze to SSL would be well-suited to know how many games they need to reach the promotional threshold.

This also makes calculating the average MMR differential after a win or loss much easier, helping players at every rank see the direct effect of each individual match. In theory, this will make Ranked a smoother experience, and eliminate any head-scratching over why a win-streak didn’t boost a team into the next rank.

Though regular content updates have gone over well with the core audience, Epic Games has previously been lambasted for making big changes to Rocket League. However, this one was truly years the making, and should benefit the player base as a whole.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s campaign will be missing one notable feature from past Black Ops games. While multiplayer is the meat and potatoes of Call of Duty, the Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise is known for having some of the best campaigns in the entire series. They feature all kinds of twists and turns, gigantic set pieces, and are layered in historical conspiracies. It’s a rich series that is filled with all kinds of dramatic storytelling. Furthermore, the series is known for being pretty ambitious as it’s the only sub-franchise in Call of Duty that has branching storylines and therefore, its canon can be a bit confusing. Main characters can live or die based on your choices, entire events can be avoided, and even countries can be nuked off the face of the planet depending on what path your campaign takes.

With all of that said, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will not be like this. This time around, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will feature a linear story, meaning players will not have any agency on how the story plays out. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 and Black Ops Cold War both had campaigns that had various choices and multiple endings, even though there are canonical options. Black Ops 6 has a more concrete story with defined beats and therefore, only one ending. When speaking to IGN, Raven Software confirmed that there will only be one ending in Black Ops 6. “Black Ops 6 is a linear story, so there is not a branching ending for this one,” said Associate Creative Director, Jon Zuk.

While it’s far from the only Black Ops game that’s like this, it is pretty surprising given how dramatic the choices and endings for Black Ops Cold War were. In Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, you could choose to do the right thing and go after the bad guys or you could sabotage your team and kill them all before detonating nuclear bombs across Europe. In turn, the United States rushes to cover up their involvement in the matter as it was American nukes that were stolen.

Still, it sounds like Black Ops 6 will still have a level of dynamic interaction so it’s not just stringing you along mission to mission. Similar to Black Ops Cold War, there is a hub where players can review evidence they have collected throughout the story, talk to other characters, and plan their next mission. It has also been confirmed that some missions give you different ways to play, encouraging replayability and still emphasizing a degree of choice. Ultimately, the outcome will be the same, but the core experience will be different and keep the player engaged on multiple playthroughs.

Raven has noted that players may be nudged into playing a certain way, such as stealthing their way through a mission, but it won’t result in an auto-fail if they choose to go guns blazing. Ultimately, the game will let players play the way they want for the most part. This is arguably a better way of giving players agency beyond branching story paths, as it focuses more on gameplay this time.

Thankfully, the studio has also leveraged the fact that it had a four year development to make the campaign a bit meatier. On top of varied gameplay, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 promises to have a longer campaign than Black Ops Cold War, so those checking out the campaign through Xbox Game Pass hopefully won’t finish it in just a few hours.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will release on October 25th for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Players can pre-load the game right now and can click here to learn what time the game will be available.

The post Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Campaign Makes Major Change From Previous Black Ops Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Despite the troubles with Marvel Studios’ Blade, Xbox’s upcoming Blade video game seems to be progressing well. The gaming industry has recently been capitalizing on the superhero boom of the last decade with new games based on Marvel and DC’s biggest icons. Batman, Spider-Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Wolverine have all or are getting big budget AAA video games that rival some of the best single player video games on the market. PlayStation has had the exclusive rights to Spider-Man since 2018, meaning there hasn’t been a new Spider-Man game on Xbox since 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2. However, Xbox has attained its own Marvel hero for an exclusive title.

It was announced last year that Dishonored and Deathloop developer Arkane Studios is developing Blade, a brand new third-person action game following the beloved vampire hunter in Paris. Not much else is known about the game and it’s still in the fairly early stages of development, but it sounds as if it’s progressing pretty well. Xbox boss Phil Spencer posted to Threads about a recent visit to the studio and noted that he enjoyed seeing the studio’s progress on Blade. Of course, if the game was in some dire state (which isn’t always out of the question for Xbox’s games), Spencer would’ve likely neglected to mention it.

While Phil Spencer made this post as part of a celebration for the 25th anniversary of Arkane, it’s likely the post was prompted by some other news. Arkane’s anniversary was on October 1st, so Spencer’s post is belated. The post seems to be at least partially prompted by the fact Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated Blade movie has been indefinitely delayed. The movie was announced in summer 2019 with Mahershala Ali set to play the titular role. Unfortunately, the movie has been delayed multiple times now and has undergone a handful of creative overhauls with different writers and directors. Many have begun to fear the project will get scrapped and those fears have only become heightened following the news that Blade was removed from Disney’s release schedule.

It’s possible Blade will still see the light of day, but the project has had a hellish development and left many wondering why Marvel is struggling to make a movie with a character that was done brilliantly in the 90s and 2000s. Blade himself is seeing a bit of a resurgence following a cameo in Deadpool and Wolverine, so a new film and game would be a great one-two punch for the character. However, it seems fans may just have to settle for a new video game.

Arkane Studios’ Blade will not be the first video game based on the character, but it will certainly be the flashiest as it won’t serve as a tie-in for a film. The developer is known for its violent and satisfying first-person combat, but it will be opting for a more traditional third-person approach for Blade. Only time will tell how the game turns out, but it’s going to be a game that Xbox will want to nail as it’s a major IP and will allow the platform the opportunity to rival Marvel’s Spider-Man.

The post Xbox Boss Praises Blade Game’s Progress as MCU Movie Struggles appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Call of Duty: Warzone has stayed near the top of the battle royale scene ever since it arrived in 2020. The juggernaut spinoff of an already gargantuan franchise has consistently pulled players in over the course of the last four years, annually adding a fresh spin on things with each Call of Duty release.

Every year, players are treated with a reimagining of the game. Whether playing on a new map like Modern Warfare 3’s Urzikstan or using a new movement system like Black Ops 6’s Omnimovement, annual innovations add a bit of spice to keep fans invested. It’s not always about innovation, though. Retaining the classic Call of Duty feel is also important to Raven Software, and nothing is more inherently-CoD than a mode-specific camo grind.

Activision’s annual Launch Comms blog revealed Warzone’s camo offerings will finally be catching up to its Multiplayer and Zombies sister modes. For the first time ever, there will be a unique camo track in the battle royale mode. MP Mastery camos were previously unlockable via Warzone, but this marks the first time in Call of Duty history players will have to complete an entire track of Warzone-related challenges

Where the other two modes have Dark Matter and Nebula as their respective final camos, Warzone’s top-of-the-line reward is called Abyss. This all-new blue look is similar in color to the whirring interior of a Pack-A-Punch machine, but is broken up in a fractured, stringy array of other colors.

Just like its siblings, players will have to complete every other challenge along the way to earn the big reward, but there will be a handful of other Mastery tiers to unlock along the way, giving camo grinders something to play for at each stage of their journey.

Here’s the full list of Warzone-specific camos:

• Gold Tiger
• King’s Ransom
• Catalyst
• Abyss

In another series first, all of the final Mastery camos this year are animated. Abyss, Dark Matter, and Nebula will all react to being fired, adding even more reason for players to brave the hundreds of hours of weapon challenges to collect them across all three modes.

There are four tiers of Weapon Camos to progress through in the Black Ops 6 era. Military Camos are your basic, run-of-the-mill offerings that should be familiar to any veteran player. These will be completed by racking up a target number of eliminations in Warzone. Hitting that number will unlock access to Gold Tiger camo for that individual weapon.

The second level is Special Camos. Just as the name suggests, these are unique to each weapon but will be related to that guns ideal playstyle. Completing all Tier 1 challenges for one Weapon Type will unlock King’s Ransom camo for the entire arsenal of weapons in that class.

Next is Tier 3, which requires players to unlock King’s Ransom for all 33 launch weapons. This will trigger one more challenge gun-specific challenge, making it another individual unlock challenge.

Finally, Mastery Camos. These are the tip-top and will require the completion of all other challenges, and an additional round of Mastery level challenges. Braving through these for all 33 launch weapons again will unlock the precious Abyss reward.

There’s no doubt it will take a ton of work, but the developers have also lifted the restrictive requirements of past games. Now, players can get straight to work on their camo progress without having to worry about weapon level or anything else.

The post Call of Duty: Warzone Finally Adds Mastery Camos After 4 Years appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is just around the corner, and new information abounds. In the latest developer update, Treyarch pulled back the curtain on some of the incoming changes to the franchise. While fans have known the classic Prestige system is returning for the first time since Black Ops 4, we now have a much better look at the finer details and how the pieces all fit together.

The returning Prestige rewards system will highlight iconic figures and moments from the series, plumbing the depths of Black Ops’ lore to inspire Weapon Blueprints, Operator skins, Emblems, and more. Every Prestige tier brings a new set of unlocks with exclusive rewards, so anyone hoping to unlock them all will have to dig their heels in and prepare for a long, long grind.

Emblems have been the primary signifier of Prestige progress for years. They’re a semi-subtle way for players to show off their progress, adding a touch of flair to the unique calling card setup. It goes deeper than that this time around. All 10 Prestige levels will bring back a little piece of earlier Black Ops-timeline entries, and that’s only the start of things.

These throwbacks kickoff at Prestige 1 with the instant-unlock undead World War 2 soldier emblem. While not technically a Black Ops game, World at War is the origin point for that universe, and was also the first Call of Duty game to feature a version of the Zombies game mode. Other rewards from this era include the “Nacht Raider” Operator skin and the “Teddy is a Liar” C9 SMG Blueprint, which is a nod to a bit of infamous graffiti about Edward Richtofen.

Later Prestiges also include Operator skins inspired by Alex Mason and Victor Reznov from Black Ops 1, Raul Menendez from Black Ops 2, Battery from Black Ops 3, and a host of other characters. All of this concludes at Prestige Master, where those who complete the steep ten Prestige climb will earn the “Sitting Bull Reborn” Operator skin and “Classified Arsenal” AMES 85 Animated Blueprint, which are uniquely Black Ops 6-themed.

Additionally, players who make it all the way to Prestige Master will unlock an additional method of customization. Reaching level 100 unlocks Prestige 1 icons from across Call of Duty history. Choosing one of these will replace the Prestige Master emblem and change up how other players see your name bar. For example, a player at Prestige 1 could choose Black Ops 1’s Red X as their primary icon. This continues all the way down to Prestige 10 at Level 1000, giving each player more control over how to represent themselves.

This remix of old Prestige systems is all-new for Black Ops 6, which also features updates such as Omnimovement, the free-flowing movement mechanic that allows players to slide, dive, and sprint in all directions for the first time in Call of Duty history.

All of these items, and other traditional Black Ops features like Dark Ops Challenges, will be available to unlock at launch on October 25.

The post Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Prestige System Features Throwbacks to Old Call of Duty Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

State of Decay 3 from Xbox-owned developer Undead Labs finally gave fans their best look yet at the game earlier this year with the developer confirming that it was gradually turning its attention fully towards that game. Unfortunately for State of Decay 2 players, however, that new attention towards State of Decay 3 meant that work on the current State of Decay game would naturally have to end soon. After confirming that it’d eventually be leaving State of Decay 2 behind, the game got its final update today with some last-minute outfits and changes to hold players over until State of Decay 3 eventually releases.

While that does mean that there’s no more State of Decay 2 content coming down the line, the end of an era for games like this at least means that players are able to reap the benefits of the last blowout update so to speak. For example, there were some items in State of Decay 2 that were seasonal or exclusive which were unobtainable by players who didn’t get them the first time around. Since there would be no more updates to bring those back in the future, Undead Labs has reopened the vault now with exclusives and more available again.

State of Decay 3 doesn’t yet have a release date, so it could come out in 2025, but it could be later as well. Until we learn more about that game from Undead Labs, here’s everything that’s included in State of Decay 2‘s final update:

New Outfits

Hats

• Fire Fighter Helmets (4) – Black, Blue, Yellow, and White
• Fedora (4) – Tan, Black, Gray, and Brown
• Pilot Cap (3) – Navy, Brown, and White
• Outback Hunter (4) – Dark Brown, Light Brown, Black, and Brown
• Gambler Hat (5) – Black, Prairie, Woodland, Stormcloud, and White
• Trucker Hat – Fitz
• Campaign Hat (2) – Park Service Black, and Park Service Beige
• Combat Helmet (6) – Reactor Security Team, Raven Black, Operation Jungle Tangle, Operation Explosive Dusk, Coyote Brown, and Desert Sand
• Aviator Helmet (3) – Nightjar Squadron, Crop Duster, and Midnight Bomber Black
• Buccaneer Bandanna (3) – Gunner Black, Powder Monkey, and Cursed Waters Green

Outfits

• Gas Station Jacket (3) – Spiroil, Little Piggy Towing, and Goodweather Air
• Firefighter Turnout Coat (1) – Tan
• Basic Tee (5) – Alba Hotdogs, Dirty Bird Espresso, Swine and Bovine, County Fair, and Wooly Bugger
• Pirate Jacket (2) – Driftwood, and Seaweed
• Kraken Hoodie (2) – Yellow, and Purple

Re-Released Exclusives

Hats

• Cattleman Hat – Undead Green
• Combat Helmet – Shaggy Jack
• Hockey Mask – Gruesome Killer
• Jack O’ Lantern Mask – Fiery Grin
• Scarecrow Mask – Grim Stitch
• Swine and Bovine Mask
• Winter Beanie (5) – Candy Stripe PomPom, Decay PomPom, Light PomPom, Nightmare PomPom, and Snowflake PomPom

Outfits

• Juggernaut Jacket (3) – Jugg Heart, Jugg Skull, and Shaggy Jack
• Ninja Hoodie (2) – Age of Empires II, and Anniversary Logo
• Outlaw Vest – Sea of Thieves
• Swine & Bovine Apron
• Ugly Sweater (5) – Blue Snowflake, Candy Cane, Decay the Halls, Holiday Nightmare, and Reindeer Lights

Vehicles

• Rhames V – Tiger Claw
• Brogan Rapscallion – Pizza Cat
• Brogan Rapscallion – Anime Team
• Miragra – Flaming Demon Skull
• Miragra – Barbed Heart
• Vagabond – Gambler
• Pilato – Kraken
• Wizard Van

Weapons

• Titan Bat – Melee Weapon: Blunt
• Zed Piercer – Melee Weapon: Blunt
• Zed-Swatter – Melee Weapon: Blunt
• Skullsplitter – Melee Weapon: Bladed
• Grass Cutter – Melee Weapon: Bladed

Quality of Life Improvements

• Water will Slow Vehicles – Water resistance will now reduce vehicle speed while travelling through lakes and waterways. Be sure to choose the right vehicle type for the job as each handles differently. A 4×4, for example, will outperform a Sports Coupe in the water.
• Community Inventories – While over in the base, you can now access individual Survivors’ inventories from the Community screen, allowing you to quickly view or equip their items, transfer items between you, or store their gear (including rucksacks) into base storage. No more hunting around the base to find the Survivor you need!
• Zombie spawning has been removed after certain noise events – Failed search crashes and door slams will no longer spawn new zombies. These noise events will now simply attract already existing zombies to the location.
• We’ve reduced the distance at which characters automatically attempt to climb down from ledges. Additionally, characters will no longer attempt to climb down unintentionally whilst the player is aiming, which could often lead to some frustrating moments.
• Rucksacks can now be deposited at claimed Landmark Outposts.

Game Adjustments

• The likelihood of the Blood Donor Enclave Arc appearing has been adjusted to match that of the other Arcs.
• The Blood Donor Morale Bonus has been adjusted to +6 Community Morale, down from the previous value of +15, which was deemed too strong.
• The following weapons can be obtained as rewards for defeating the Black Heart and killing a Jugg during the Gargantua Mutation Curveball: RTX Piranha, RTX Rampart, RTX Cyclone, RTX Cyclone Tactical, and MCX Osprey RT.
• In response to community feedback that it was appearing too frequently, the delay and cooldown for the Bangernomics Curveball have been somewhat increased.
• There is now a chance for new characters to receive the Blood Donor trait.
• Prone Zombies set up to ambush now have an increased sight range from 1m to 6m, allowing them to react more quickly to approaching characters.
• The health of the Gargantua Mutation Juggernauts has been increased for each level of Impact in the Curveball Settings.
• The Haven Device has been rebalanced to improve it’s overall effectiveness. It will now have a noticeable presence over the course of multiple waves during a base siege.

Bug Fixes

Gameplay Fixes

• Improved the reliability of the automatic ladder interaction which would sometimes fail, causing the character to walk right over the ladder and fall from a height.
• You can now build a staging area after claiming the Leeds Concrete Silos landmark. Additionally, the previous issue of the ‘Elimination of Daily Materials Cost’ stacking has been resolved.
• Using heavy weapons now correctly grants Endurance XP as intended.

Zombie and Combat Fixes

• Fixed a bug in which Zombies sometimes became unresponsive after getting stuck in their idle state.
• Fixed an issue in which the finisher prompt appeared when a finishing move could not be executed due to lack of stamina.
• Fixed an issue in which Zombies would sometimes attack and magnetically teleport towards survivors on upper levels.
• Fixed an issue where a downed hostile human would remain incapacitated indefinitely.
• Resolved an issue where melee attacks missed when they should have hit.
• Fixed an issue where Ferals could instantly destroy certain vehicles by attaching to and attacking specific points.
• Resolved an issue in which Blood Plague Bloaters were not appearing in Heartland Hordes.

Curveball Fixes

• Fixed an issue where the Radio Silence Curveball could not appear correctly in Drucker County, Cascade Falls, and Meagher Valley.
• Resolved an issue where Ignited Zombies during the Fuelling the Plague Curveball were not receiving any damage from weapons.
• Resolved an issue where Armored Zombies persisted after the Lost Platoon Curveball had expired.
• Removed the unintended instances where the same Curveball could appear twice simultaneously.
• Resolved a bug that caused Curveball objectives to be unpinned or removed from the Goals menu when their Optional Objective was completed.
• Resolved an issue where some Curveball effects did not update after changing Impact in the Curveball settings.
• Fixed an issue where the Vicious Rumours Curveball displayed incorrect values when adjusting the impact in the Curveball settings. Previously, the ‘Less Influence Received from Selling’ minor effect had major values, and vice versa, causing the curveball to reduce the influence gained from trading more than intended.
• Resolved various issues where the Vicious Rumours Curveball did not increase the radio prices for the Independence Pack and the Locate Plague Heart radio command.
• Adjusted Vicious Rumours to display the correct sell prices when the Curveball is active.
• Adjusted the Curveball Stamina action effects in ‘Up and At Em’ and ‘Under the Weather’ to account for all stamina-cost actions.
• Reimplemented the damage warning that triggers when entering the Toxic Miasma of a Black Heart.
• Fixed an issue in which Curveballs appearing could cause a crash on multiplayer.

Mission Fixes

• Resolved a crash issue that occurred when approaching the mission location for one of the ‘Mysterious Broadcast’.
• Resolved the issue where Zombies from infestations were not spawning in taller buildings (such as the Factory Husk in Heartland), which prevented clearing the infestation and potentially blocking certain missions.
• Resolved an exploit in Heartland where the CLEO Supply drop mission could be bypassed by leaving the site and returning to zero Zombies, which auto-completed the mission. Now, the mission will be abandoned and must be redone.
• Resolved an issue in ‘Living in a Materials World’ where the optional objective might be impossible to complete under certain conditions.
• Resolved an issue in ‘Builder Legacy: Useful Utilities’ where Energy Drinks now count towards completing the objective of building an item that requires power or water

UI and Settings Fixes

• Reduced max curveball cards visible in the journal and introduced enhancements to the functionality, user interface, and reliability of the Curveball Journal Page, including correct presentation of different languages in the prompt bar.
• Resolved the issue of community names being truncated on the community selection screen.
• Resolved an issue where the FOV value reset after updating the Accessibility settings.
• Fixed issue with luxury crates missing exclamation marks on certain items.
• Resolved a bug where the vehicle UI indicated it was destroyed even after being repaired with a toolkit.
• Resolved an issue with inconsistent appearance and function for the ‘Drop’ prompt on your character inventory when interacting with a vehicle trunk.
• Resolved an issue where the Locker Icon disappeared at short distances, making it difficult to find.
• Resolved an issue where the Curveballs have Awoken notification appeared every time a session was reloaded.

The post State of Decay 2 Says Goodbye with One Final Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

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.

The post Newest Xbox Series X Has a Secret Upgrade on Launch Series X Consoles appeared first on ComicBook.com.

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.

The post Xbox Series X Users Surprised With New Free Upgrade appeared first on ComicBook.com.

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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

The post How Can the Same Studio Killing Halo Save It? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

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.

The post Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles Releasing in January appeared first on ComicBook.com.

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.

The post New BioWare Update Points to Next-Gen Mass Effect Release Date appeared first on ComicBook.com.

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!

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