The next Destiny game, codenamed Payback, was reportedly canceled a while ago, and it looks like Sony will be supporting Destiny 2 for the near future.

According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Destiny developer Bungie was reportedly working on Payback, which was a spin-off. However, the project was reportedly canceled a while ago and only "very early work" was done on it. Schreier also clarified that a "Destiny 3" was not canceled because it was never in development anyway.

Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb said on Game Mess Mornings that reportedly Bungie referred to Payback as "the next Destiny" and not Destiny 3, but it was indefinitely shelved. "Either way, let's be clear, a 'Destiny 3' or 'next Destiny' is just not the thing that they are going to be coming out of this looking toward let alone working on in any real way," he explained.

Additionally, Bungie is reportedly committed to supporting Destiny 2, but future content updates will be significantly smaller compared to the large expansions that the game has had in the past like the most recent The Final Shape. Reportedly, Bungie refers to them internally as "content packs" now.

Bungie laid off more than 200 people yesterday, with some remaining employees transitioning to internal positions within now-parent company Sony as well as creating a new studio to work on a new action game. According to Grubb, Bungie reportedly still expects its extraction shooter, Marathon, to still hit its 2025 release window.

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Diablo 4 Season 5 will finally retool some of the game's bosses on August 6, making it so its massive world bosses aren't giant pushovers while also majorly reducing the damage done by boss enemies in the endgame Pit dungeon.

Blizzard detailed all the changes coming as part of Season 5 in a recent livestream, and revealed that world bosses will have a new mechanic that was tested on the game's public test realm but wasn't actually listed among the changes--Resilience. This new system will "normalize" damage against bosses out in Diablo 4's open world, which should make it so players will actually have to engage with the boss and their attacks instead of instantly deleting the world boss the moment it spawns, as was the case in Season 4.

As for the floor bosses in The Pit, the multi-level endgame dungeon introduced as part of the game's Season 4 Loot Reborn overhaul, they will have their damage reduced by a massive 66% across the board. In addition, the Shadow Pit bosses that spawn in for one-off attacks at higher Pit difficulties will now be much less likely to one-shot players who get hit. Instead, these phantom enemies will give players a stacking debuff that increases the damage players take, therefore rewarding careful players who are able to avoid being hit.

There's big changes to Diablo 4's summonable endgame bosses as well. For starters, each boss can now be resummoned multiple times without needing to leave its dungeon and reset it--a nice quality-of-life feature that should make farming the bosses more efficient. The Beast in Ice summoning location will be moved much closer to the entrance of its dungeon and won't require Sigils to summon. Another boss, Varshan, is having its summoning process simplified, with players simply needing Malignant Hearts to summon him instead of numerous different items. Players will be able to convert existing parts into Malignant Hearts at the Alchemist.

Updates to bosses are just some of the major changes coming when Diablo 4 Season 5 launches. Almost every Unique item in the game is getting significant buffs and changes, and each class will see buffs in an attempt to bring them up to the power level of the Barbarian, which is having its overall power reduced.

Season 5 will be shorter than previous Diablo 4 seasons. The game's first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, and Season 6 will begin on October 8. We recently went hands-on with the expansion's new class, the Spirit Guardian-summoning Spiritborn, and came away impressed at its unique gameplay and aesthetic.

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Mountaintop Studios just revealed Spectre Divide, which is a 3v3 tactical shooter. It plays a lot like Counter-Strike, but with a twist: Players can control two players simultaneously.

Like many other tactical shooters, one team will defend while another will attack and try to plant a bomb. As explained by Mountaintop Studios game director Lee Horn, the game's defining feature is called "duality." This will allow them to control a second body that's referred to as a Spectre. Players will be able to switch between the two at any given moment.

To help with the game's competitive scene, the studio partnered with Shroud, a YouTuber with a big presence in the competitive community, to be the lead gameplay advisor. Co-founder and CEO Nate Mitchell said that the studio consists of 70 and will be self-publishing.

Similarly to other tactical shooters like Valorant, players can use special abilities. These include the power to teleport across the map, throw up shields, look through walls, and more.

Spectre Divide doesn't have a release date yet, but it will be playable on PC when it launches. You can wishlist it now on Steam and request access to participate in its stress test.

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June's big Civilization 7 announcement was pretty light - by which I mean completely devoid of - detail. But that's about to change, with developer Firaxis having now revealed it'll be showcasing first gameplay of its latest 4X strategy title later this month.

First, viewers will get a taste of Civ 7 during this year's Gamescom Opening Night Live, which - in case your diary isn't up-to-date - is airing from 7pm BST/11am PT on 20th August.

But! Firaxis will then be airing a far more substantial chunk of gameplay once Opening Night Live comes to an end. Specifically, Civ fans can expect to see "more than" 20 minutes of gameplay - and hear Civ 7's development team share "exclusive insights" on its "innovative new features" - from 9.30pm BST/1.30pm PT on 20th August.

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After debuting in cinematic teaser form during Summer Game Fest, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII's gameplay reveal is set. Fans will get their first look at the game in action during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live show this month.

Mark August 20 on your calendar as the date for Gamescom’s annual evening kick-off show (hosted by Geoff Keighley). The event will feature the world premiere of Civilization VII’s gameplay trailer. Following the show, Firaxis will stream a special gameplay showcase on Twitch featuring over 20 minutes of developer insights and deep-dive discussions of the game’s new features. 

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII launches in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

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Microsoft and Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed is reportedly going to be delayed to 2025. While a release date was never officially announced, a leak from Microsoft itself said it would be a November 2024 release.

According to The Verge, Microsoft is delaying Avowed due to Xbox Game Pass's "busy schedule" in the fall. While Avowed is reportedly in good shape, Xbox wants to create some breathing room for other games, such as the console exclusive Stalker 2, which is also due out in November, as well as October's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Windows Central has also corroborated the report, saying it received similar information.

Another one of Xbox's exclusives, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, doesn't have an official release date, but it's reportedly sometime in December. It's unknown whether Indiana Jones will make it in the 2024 window or be pushed back to 2025 as well.

Xbox has had a few exclusives this past year, such as Dungeons of Hinterberg and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. However, pushing Avowed to 2025 would be a blow to its 2024 lineup, especially as Xbox is increasing the price of Game Pass later this year.

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For me, and I believe also for all gamers who find video games an opportunity to experience great adventures, discoveries and challenges, Mars has always been an ongoing source of fascination and mystery. Throughout history, many works of science fiction have placed the planet as the setting for epic adventures in books, films and, of course, video games.

And it’s precisely all of these references, spanning 40 years, since the core of our development team is comprised of 80s kids (I’m almost 50 myself!), that have set the tone, theme and genre for the game Mars 2120, out today.

In Mars 2120 you’ll face an adventure that tries to bring back the nostalgia of the action and science fiction films of the 80s and 90s, as well as a loving homage to the genre known as metroidvania, a mix of RPG elements, platforming and non-linear exploration. And nothing could be more appropriate than encouraging exploration in a game whose main theme is space exploration and the scientific curiosity that drives us as innate explorers towards incredible discoveries about our universe.

Every time you play a game, there is a rich story from the very first sketches to its final form. Mars 2120 was no different. With a very small team and dividing our time between our other projects and games, it took us almost five years to finish the game that we’d love you to experience, explore and feel like, again or for the first time, depending on your age, watching the movies that fascinated us when we were young, or playing the games of the genre that left you in front of the screen for hours trying to find that special item or power up to overcome a challenge that seemed insurmountable at first.

All that time may seem like a lot to you, but for us it also represented a giant step forward. For the first time, we faced a project four times bigger than any other before, as you do in a game that puts you in front of great challenges, while learning and experiencing a new development technology with which we were not completely unfamiliar.

Step into the shoes of Sergeant Anna “Thirteen” Charlotte and traverse scenarios reminiscent of the planet seen in “Total Recall”, feel the fear of facing gigantic enemies like Ellen Ripley did with the queen of the xenomorphs in “Alien”, throw punches like Arnold Schwarzenegger did in his classic action films (Yes! Mars 2120 has hand-to-hand combat!) and feel the abandonment and uncertainty of being lost in space like the character of Willis Davidge (Dennis Quaid) felt in the 1985 movie “Enemy Mine”.

I think you get the message here. We have taken everything that amused us when we were young and brought it back especially for you, in the form of a game. Because we want you to have fun with everything that sparked our desire to make entertainment our job – games! So I’m not exaggerating when I say Mars 2120 is a dream we have been building since we were kids.

The games industry is for everyone, you just have to jump in and make the game you want to play. And that’s exactly what we did and what you can do too! Now it’s time to put on your spacesuit, get your fists ready and go on a great adventure knowing that Mars 2120 is not just a game, it’s also a dream, a piece of our lives that we really want to share with you.

Are you ready to defeat terrifying enemies and discover all the secrets of the first human colony on Mars?

I dare you! And then come back and tell us how it went. Good luck and have a good adventure!

MARS 2120

QUByte Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆ 2

★★★★★

$19.99 $17.99

Get it now

MARS 2120 is an action-adventure game that draws inspiration from iconic Metroidvania titles, with gameplay elements from fighting games. With the use of special abilities tied to elements like ice, fire, and electricity help Sgt. Anna “Thirteen” Charlotte navigate the colony and battle her way through the secrets of Mars.

The post Mars 2120: How a Veteran Indie Team Turned their 90s Dream into Martian Reality appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Gamescom is only a few weeks away, and Xbox has announced that it'll show off more than 50 games, including those from various companies like Bethesda, Blizzard, and third-party studios.

As detailed by an Xbox blog post, during Gamescom, players will be able to get their hands on upcoming games such as Age of Mythology: Retold, Ara: History Untold, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, Fallout 76: Milepost Zero, The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road, and Towerborne. On top of playing those games, those who attend the event can also sit in various presentations for Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Starfield: Shattered Space.

Those who check out the Blizzard Entertainment section can play as the Spiritborn class in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred. In addition, attendees will be able to get their hands on various third-party games, such as Star Wars Outlaws, Space Marines 2, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and more. There'll also be a wide selection of indie games, including Squirrel With a Gun and Creatures of Ava.

Gamescom is an annual event held in Cologne, Germany, where various studios showcase their latest projects. It will run from August 21-25.

Even though Xbox is getting ready to showcase more than 50 games at Gamescom, Microsoft recently closed the Xbox 360 store, ending its 18-year run.

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Lego just launched a whole new lineup of Super Mario sets, including refreshed starter sets that get you interactive Mario, Luigi, and Peach figurines for just $50. Unlike the first batch of starter sets (which cost $60), these are a bit more budget-friendly and will presumably replace the old ones. Plus, the new starter sets are objectively better. Mario's starter set now comes with a buildable Yoshi figure and the Bowser Jr. figure is now bundled with the little villain's Clown Car. The slate of new expansions is arguably even more exciting, letting you choose from several cool new playsets for the interactive toys. From The Bowser Express and King Boo's Haunted Mansion to the colorful Soda Jungle from New Super Mario Bros. U and Roy with a Chain Chomp-led sled storming Peach's Castle, here's a look at all the new Lego Super Mario sets up for grabs.

Keep in mind that these just released today and we wouldn't be surprised if Amazon sold out of some of these sets. If you don’t want to wait for restocks, be sure to scoop them up while you can. Lego Mario expansions make for a cool display pieces--especially the larger ones like King Boo's Haunted Mansion and The Bowser Express--but if you want to use them as playsets, you'll need at least one of the interactive figures that are only available in the Adventures with Mario starter courses.

Below the new Mario sets, you'll find even more brand-new Lego sets, including fresh additions to Animal Crossing, Sonic the Hedgehog, Star Wars, Minecraft, and more popular franchises.

More Brand-New Lego Sets

Lego launched more than just new Mario sets on August 1, as you'll also find new Animal Crossing, Sonic, Minecraft, Guardians of the Galaxy, Batman, and Star Wars kits up for grabs. From Animal Crossing's K.K. Slider putting on a live concert to Tails from Sonic sailing the high sea, here's a look at some other cool Lego sets now on sale. You can also preorder two highly anticipated Lego Mario and Sonic sets at Target. The pixelated Super Mario World set is $130 and releases. October 1, and the Shadow the Hedgehog bust is $70 and releases September 1.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the links below are Amazon listings, but keep in mind Amazon tends to sell out of new and discounted Lego sets faster than other major retailers. Many of these sets are available for free same- to two-day delivery for Prime members.

New Lego Guardians of the Galaxy, Batman, Lion King Sets

• Guardians of the Galaxy: The Milano (2,090 pieces) -- $180
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Dancing Groot (459 pieces) -- $45
• Lion King: Young Simba (1,445 pieces) -- $130
• Lion King: Simba Cub (222 pieces) -- $20
• DC Batman: Batmobile vs. Harley Quinn & Mr. Freeze (435 pieces) -- $60

New Lego Animal Crossing Sets

• K.K.'s Concert at the Plaza (550 pieces) -- $80
• Fly with Dodo Airlines Airport (292 pieces) -- $38

New Lego Sonic the Hedgehog Sets

• Super Sonic vs. Egg Drillster (590 pieces) -- $80
• Knuckles and the Master Emerald Shrine (325 pieces) -- $35
• Tails' Adventure Boat (393 pieces) -- $55
• Shadow the Hedgehog Head Statue -- $70 | Target Preorder, Releases October 1

New Lego Mario Sets

• Adventures With Interactive Lego Luigi (210 pieces) -- $50
• Adventures With Interactive Lego Mario (218 pieces) -- $50
• Adventures With Interactive Lego Peach (208 pieces) -- $50
• The Bowser Express Train (1,392 pieces) -- $120
• King Boo's Haunted Mansion (932 pieces) -- $75
• Battle With Roy at Peach's Castle (738 pieces) -- $65
• Goombas' Playground (173 pieces) -- $15
• Soda Jungle Maker Set (598 pieces) -- $55
• Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi Figure (1,215 pieces) -- $130 | Target Preorder, Releases October 1

New Lego Minecraft Sets

• Crafting Table (1,195 pieces) -- $90
• Ender Dragon and End Ship (657 pieces) -- $80
• The Badlands Mineshaft (538 pieces) -- $60
• The Windmill Farm (462 pieces) -- $55
• The Wolf Stronghold Fortress (312 pieces) -- $35
• The Cherry Blossom Garden (304 pieces) -- $28
• The Pirate Ship Voyage (166 pieces) -- $15

Read more on the new Minecraft Lego sets.

New Lego Star Wars Sets

• Imperial Star Destroyer (1,555 pieces) -- $160
• The Dark Falcon (1,579 pieces) -- $180
• TIE Fighter and X-Wing Mash-Up (1,063 pieces) -- $110
• C-3PO (1,138 pieces) -- $140
• Jedi Bob's Starfighter (305 pieces) -- $40
• Ahsoka Tano's Dual On Peridea (382 pieces, Lego Store) -- $55
• Desert Skiff and Sarlacc Pit (558 pieces) -- $80
• Droid Builder (1,186 pieces, Lego Store) -- $100

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In two weeks, you’ll be able to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse on your Xbox for the very first time. The final season of Telltale’s episodic Sam & Max trilogy was never ported to Xbox when it first came out in 2010, leaving fans of this comedy adventure series hanging for all these years.

For the uninitiated, Sam & Max are the Freelance Police, a pair of dog and rabbity-thing detectives whose esoteric wit and unconventional crime-fighting techniques have amused and baffled the unwashed masses for the past 37 years. Their credits include indie comics, a Saturday morning cartoon, and, of course, video games.

LucasArts was the first studio to make Sam & Max games, and I was working there as a producer when Sam & Max: Freelance Police was cancelled in 2004. If you were an adventure game fan at the time, you probably remember the uproar—the game was almost finished, previews were glowing, and 32,000 pissed off fans signed an online petition to try to reverse the decision.

The petition didn’t work, but it inspired me and several other Freelance Police team members to start a new studio, Telltale Games. After LucasArts’ rights to make a game about the dog and rabbity-thing crime fighters expired, we teamed up with the series creator, Steve Purcell, to make our own episodic Sam & Max games.

One reason for Freelance Police’s cancellation was that it was a PC game, and all the best-sellers at the time were for consoles. Telltale also started out as a PC developer (it was still the biggest platform for adventure games, our favorite genre), but as the studio grew, we also branched out to consoles. In 2009 we ported the first two Sam & Max seasons, Sam & Max Save the World and Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space, to Xbox 360.

Telltale went on to make one more Sam & Max season, subtitled The Devil’s Playhouse, which came out episodically from April to August 2010—but this one never made it to Xbox. At that point in the studio’s history (before we really hit it big with The Walking Dead), we had our hands full as we refined our vision for interactive storytelling and took on new licenses. We couldn’t support more than one or two platforms at a time back then, and though we always intended to port The Devil’s Playhouse to Xbox, it just never happened… until now!

In a sad twist of fate, Telltale ran into financial trouble in 2018 and the studio shut down. I was no longer working there, but I saw an opportunity to go back to this series that had been so central to my career. (Even before I worked on Sam & Max: Freelance Police, one of my very first games as a QA lead was LucasArts’ 1994 adventure game Sam & Max Hit the Road.) I called up some of the same friends who were there at the beginning of Telltale and we bought the rights to the episodic Sam & Max trilogy.

Since then, we’ve been remastering these games—a real labor of love to get them looking as good and playing as well as we always wanted but didn’t have the resources or expertise to achieve at the time. If you’ve played our Sam & Max Save the World or Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space remasters, you know what a vast improvement they are over the originals, with added widescreen and gamepad support, higher quality visuals and audio, 4K graphics and HDR support on Xbox One X and newer, and lots more additions and refinements.

The remastered version of Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse will close out the trilogy on August 14, and you can preorder it today with a 10% discount. Compared to the first two seasons (which were some of Telltale’s earliest games), The Devil’s Playhouse was made by a larger team that had hit its stride. It’s definitely the weirdest and most ambitious of the three games, and we’re always hearing from fans that it’s their favorite.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but the basic storyline is that Max (the rabbity-thing) stumbles upon a magic toy that gives him random glimpses of the future. His newfound psychic powers attract the attention of an alien warlord named General Skun-ka’pe, who wants the Toys of Power for his own not-so-altruistic purposes… and things quickly spiral out of control.

Across five episodes (released all at once, Netflix-style), you’ll get to mess around with Max’s psychic powers, play as Sam & Max’s great-grandfathers, plunder an Egyptian tomb, confront Lovecraftian monsters, and fend off an army of Sam clones wearing sparkly gold underwear.

If you need to get caught up before playing this final entry in the Sam & Max trilogy, the first two remasters are 40% off on Xbox through August 12 (our deepest discount to date).

And on August 14, we invite you to take your seats, turn off your cell phones, and prepare yourselves for an epic comedy saga. The lights have dimmed, the curtains are opened… the show’s about to begin in Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse!

Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

Skunkape Games LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99 $17.99

Pre-order

Xbox One X Enhanced

The final game in Telltale’s Sam & Max trilogy, beautifully remastered! Explore odd locales, meet eccentric characters, and solve brain-tickling puzzles in this bizarre paranormal adventure with a surprise around every corner. Jump into Max’s brain and use the Toys of Power to see the future, teleport, and read minds.

The post Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Makes its Xbox Debut August 14 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Avowed, the upcoming fantasy action-RPG from developer Obsidian Entertainment, has reportedly been delayed, moving out of its previously announced 2024 release window into 2025.

That's according to The Verge's Tom Warren, writing in the publication's Notepad newsletter (paywalled). "I'm hearing that Obsidian is about to announce an Avowed delay to early 2025," he revealed, adding the decision had been made in order to avoid a "very busy period for Xbox Game Pass".

Obsidian and Microsoft have yet to formally announce a release date for Avowed beyond its vague "2024" launch window, but a 12th November date was shared - and then rapidly deleted - in a developer blog post published in June.

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After a successful landing on PC back in October, AirportSim, the advanced airport ground handling simulator, arrives on Xbox Today. For the past few months, Polish studio MS Games have been hard at work bringing their highly-detailed airport experience to console. With the release of AirportSim on Xbox now on the horizon, Iceberg Interactive’s Ben Kobs sat down with producer Krzysztof Stabryła to talk about their journey so far!

Can you tell us a little bit about the history of AirportSim? How long have you been working on it and how did the development go?

We’ve been working on AirportSim since late 2021. We’re all aviation fans at MS Games, but Mateusz, our CEO, has been a devoted aviation enthusiast since childhood. Not only does he have a pilot’s license, but he has also been creating software for flight simulators since 2008. The idea of developing a ground handling simulator has been floating around in his head for a long time and we felt like that area was generally unexplored in the sim space, so we were eager to get to work on a sim focussing on ground operations.

The development had its ups and downs, but it was a lot of fun. We had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and collaborate with them to create our game. From actual ground handling companies to vehicle manufacturers, we were lucky to get access to meticulous technical documentation and first-hand insights into the intricacies of airport life, which made the development process a lot easier.

How exciting is it for you to be able to bring your game to a console like Xbox?

We are very excited to introduce AirportSim and the world of ground handling to Xbox. This will help us reach aviation enthusiasts who may not have access to the game otherwise. Bringing our game to a console like Xbox is a thrilling milestone for us, as it allows us to share our passion for aviation with a wider community!

What role does an active community play in the development of the game? How does fan feedback affect you?

During production, we received enormous amounts of support and feedback from our community. We launched a couple of demos for people to try out, and their feedback was invaluable in fine-tuning some features and fixing key issues before launch. The aviation community has always been a huge help in creating projects like this one, and their insights were crucial to our development process.

How important was it for you to give players a realistic experience in AirportSim? Can you elaborate on how realistic the game is compared to real-life ground handling?

It was important for us to deliver a realistic ground handling experience in AirportSim. We are proud to say that our mechanics are nearly identical to real life! We visited many airports and ground handling firms, and, during production, partnered with Welcome Airport Services, LS Airport Services, Warsaw Chopin Airport, and countless others. These partnerships provided us with enormous support.

Of course, some procedures can vary from country to country, airline to airline, and even city to city. This means there may be some discrepancies as certain tasks might be performed differently than what some players are used to. That’s why we decided to standardize these procedures. We wanted to keep things realistic, but also needed to ensure the game was cohesive and enjoyable for players.

What challenges have you faced in the design and execution?

Before we partnered with industry experts, one of the biggest challenges we faced was the lack of documentation and clear and detailed photos. Creating and recreating these models took a lot of time and effort and it was tough to start working on accurate models and representations. We dug through thousands of pages of documentation. It was a tedious and time-consuming task, but essential for the level of realism we were aiming for.

Sound recording was another big hurdle. Airports are incredibly loud places! It’s difficult to get clear audio recordings. But our sound designer, Łukasz, did an amazing job navigating this and made sure everything sounds just right in the game.

So, what’s next?

For now it’s focussing on Xbox! The game is out today and we’re stoked to see how it goes. We’re proud of how it turned out, so make sure to check out AirportSim on Xbox and enjoy the fulfilling experience of the duties of a ground crew member at various airports!

AirportSim

Iceberg Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$39.99 $33.99

Pre-order

Praised for its accuracy by real-life ground handling Crew, AirportSim is an Advanced Airport Ground Handling Simulator with true-to-life visuals and operations, licensed planes vehicles and airports, and live weather conditions using the METAR-system. Enjoy the varied tasks of an airport ground handler alone or with friends, making this an unforgettable experience. There is always so much to do! Enjoy many of the accurate in-game tasks developed using documented knowledge and interviews with real-world airport ground handling staff: – Follow me – Taxiing Aircraft Guidance – Marshalling – Securing an aircraft – Connecting GPU – Fuelling – Handling Luggage – Jetway manoeuvring – Catering… – and more Real life Airports Four true-to-life airports which we personally captured and carefully recreated, focusing on elements such as ground layouts, plane parking, lines, and gate numbers all matching real life. You can follow real aviation charts to move around! Gameplay Modes There are multiple gameplay modes within AirportSim, – Scenario: Based on stacked flight plans, predefined weather conditions and tasks you'll need to complete in sequence. – Challenge: Feel like you can handle any situation at the airport? Test your skills by placing as high as possible on the scoreboard! – Co-op: Together you can do more, and have more fun – invite your friends to join you on an adventure at one of the busy airports. – Free Play: No rules here, explore airports at your own speed and do as you please. You can watch the planes come and go or get involved, you decide!

The post AirportSim Has Landed on Xbox: The Journey So Far appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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The dungeon experience in an MMO is sometimes the best part of the game, but grinding to get to the endgame dungeons can be a chore. A new Swedish studio is looking to ease that burden with Fellowship, a new multiplayer online dungeon adventure game--or "MODA"--coming to PC.

Fellowship takes the dungeon-running experience of popular MMOs and streamlines it by letting you group with up to three other players, select a dungeon, and then head right into it. Each player can choose between a healer, tank, or damage-dealer when choosing a character, and each class will have a selection of characters with different kits that allow your group to balance the team to your liking.

Gallery

It will offer "quick play" dungeons with 10-15 minute runs per sessions, as well as "ranked" dungeons set to the group's preferences--with difficulty and other modifiers available before jumping in. Dungeons will scale in difficulty as they are completed as well, which means even running the same dungeon multiple times will yield different challenges and rewards.

The game is being developed by Chief Rebel, a new studio based in Stockholm, Sweden, and it has been in development since 2018. The team includes developers who have worked on top franchises including Diablo, Helldivers, World Of Warcraft, and more.

Fellowship does not have an official release window as of this reveal, but Chief Rebel will be holding a closed alpha test session August 15-20 on PC. Those interested in being a part of the testing group can sign up at the game's official website.

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After months of teasing a new and spicy expansion to its portfolio, Jackbox Games is finally giving us the goods. Today, the company revealed new details on the games that will make up the Jackbox Naughty Pack, which launches in September for all platforms and PC for $21.69 (nice).

The Naughty Pack--Jackbox Games's first-ever M-rated offering--will add three new games to the Jackbox experience, with each one offering a spicier experience than fans are used to playing. A brief trailer shows off some of the saucy situations players will find in the Naughty Pack, from drawing interesting situations to asking some thought-provoking questions about inanimate objects.

Dirty Drawful is a dirty-minded take on the popular Drawful game, where one player draws a picture of a prompt and the other players must guess what they've drawn. The trailer's example features a drawing of a stick figure on a toilet with other stick figures laughing at them, with one of the potential prompts reading "diarrhea bullies." As if bullies needed more things to focus on.

Fakin' It All Night Long brings the social deduction game Fakin' It into a new raunchy realm, as one Faker tries to blend in with the rest of the group without being found out. Tasks shown in the teaser include assigning an emoji to represent your greatest fear--for which someone chooses lacrosse--and a show of hands to see if "you've ever wanted to lick someone's head to groom them like a cat."

Finally, Let Me Finish is a brand-new game where a question is asked, and the group decides what the best answer will be. Example questions include "where is a mailbox's butt," "how does this avocado get aroused," and this protein-themed paradox:

The Jackbox Naughty Pack launches in September for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices.

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Ubisoft is teaming up with the National Football League and the National Football League Players Association on NFL Primetime Fantasy, a new mobile free-to-play fantasy-football title. Thanks to the NFL partnership, gameplay will tie in to live games as they happen.

The live tie-in element will allow players to make calls during live NFL games "by anticipating big moments or swapping out players from their bench at the right time," Ubisoft's press release says. Players who make the best game-time calls will get major boosts to their fantasy scores, and they can compete online against friends or on a global leaderboard.

The NFL's VP of video gaming Ed Kiang says the upcoming mobile title is part of the NFL's "dedication to offering non-traditional video gaming experiences for our fans," with NFL Primetime Fantasy marking "the first NFL-licensed mobile game tied to our live games."

The gameplay is card-based, with players encouraged to build up their collections of NFL player cards, which can then be upgraded through gameplay. The game will feature regular weekly events taking place all throughout the season, right up until the Super Bowl. Players will also be able to form a team with friends in order to compete in a playoff tournament.

NFL Primetime Fantasy will kick off during the 2024 NFL regular season, with a beta testing period up first, before the worldwide launch in November 2024. Players can register for the beta here, and all players who participate in the beta will unlock a free early-access bundle at launch.

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After teasing us all earlier in the year with a playful trailer featuring a vibrating cardboard box, the Jackbox team has today lifted the lid on its upcoming, risqué themed Naughty Pack.

The Naughty Pack, you may recall, will comprise three "provocative" games, which the Jackbox team promises will "deliver on laughter, wit, and a touch of irreverence".

We now know what these three games are, and one of them wants us to answer the ever important question: "Which of these meats most wants to be called daddy?" Well, I say!

Read more

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Fortnite players are now able to unlock the Tesla Cybertruck, though have found it has arrived with some issues - not unlike its real-world equivalent.

Players report that using the digital version of Elon Musk's motor breaks various in-game items, effectively penalising them for attempting to drive the Cybertruck themselves.

Videos uploaded by Fortnite fans on reddit show players unable to use the meta-dominating Nitro Fists, as well as the current Pirates of the Caribbean collaboration item Ship in a Bottle, after driving a Cybertruck.

Read more

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NBA 2K25 is just a few weeks away, and the team at Visual Concepts is kicking off a multi-week preview of the game today. This first of several unveilings looks at the most important part of the game: on-court play. For 2K25, the studio has committed more resources to expanding ProPlay, the game's unique animation system that translates real-life NBA footage into animations in-game.

This starts with what the team calls "the biggest change to our gameplay engine in many years," the all-new dribble engine. In all past versions of NBA 2K, dribbling the ball was pre-scripted and manually programmed using a library of mocapped animations. But starting with 2K25, that's no longer the case.

Now dribbling is led by ProPlay and its ability to turn game tape into gameplay. The 2K team says "stops are higher, launches are more explosive," and the feature brings more lifelike gameplay to the series across every inch of the court. Similar to Madden NFL 25's Boom Tech, the new NBA 2K25 dribble engine seems like an idea that is hard to express but easy to understand once it's in your hands.

New features on offense

Flanking that headlining tech upgrade, NBA 2K25 also comes with a host of new mechanics on offense and defense. Let's start with the former. New to the game this year are tools such as shot canceling, signature go-to shots, shot-timing profiles, Pro Stick rhythm shooting, and more.

The signature go-to shots are, like so much else, powered by ProPlay. This new feature allows players to exercise new dribble-into-shot combos translated from NBA footage. This is done rather simply by holding up on the Pro Stick. Shot canceling allows players to transition from one shooting animation to another at the last moment, adding a new weapon to the offense's repertoire.

Shot-timing profiles come as a response to last year's intent to make shooting a more focused, sometimes difficult, process. These new profiles let players customize their shot-timing windows, thereby tweaking the risk-reward system.

For players choosing "low risk-reward," shot-timing will be more forgiving, emphasizing ratings, openness, and shot selection. A mistimed shot may still go in, but this option will make it harder to have consistently excellently timed shots because the green window will be smaller. Still, it solves the issue many had last year of non-green attempts missing the bucket. The inverse, "high risk-reward," comes with more difficult shots, resulting in green-or-miss outcomes--essentially what 2K24 offered, much to some players' dismay.

New options for shot-taking visual cues also allow players to customize their ideal jump-shot release point, expanding on last year's Shot Creator suite. Essentially, players can decide when they release the ball in their custom animation, letting them grow more comfortable and in tune with the animation's timing window for hitting the perfect green beans.

A new touch to the Pro Stick, rhythm shooting, brings even more nuance to a shot's timing window from start to finish, as it demands players point the Pro Stick down to start the shot, then up when the animation reaches its Set Point. Visual Concepts revealed that, at first, many on the team found the new mechanic too difficult, but that those who stuck with it grew to appreciate it and now have a hard time reverting to the previous Pro Stick shooting style.

New features on defense

With all the new toys for offense, the defense is being buffed to reliably counter the attack. This starts with a new movement system that gives defenders the same fluid movement as offensive players by using the right stick. This allows for faster, tighter defensive cutoffs, leaving players less likely to get burned by a Pro Stick all-star with the ball in their hands.

Contested shots will now use a dynamic weighting system rather than the fixed one in previous games. This means more nuance in how contested a shot will be based on the defense's coverage at the start of a shot versus its release. To that end, ratings for perimeter and interior defense, as well as height, will be more important and directly affect outcomes.

AI teammates have been improved to better account for both real-world spacing differences mimicked in-game, as well as user freelancing. In short, your AI teammates should more often be where they're supposed to be based on the offense's formation, with over 20 new spacing adjustment locations inside the perimeter.

Playbook sharing and new tutorials

In 2K25, players can now create and share custom playbooks with the community, which will likely lead to new metas emerging in various competitive modes. If you need more help than that, however, the new Learn 2K mode offers a complete walkthrough of everything there is to learn about playing 2K, from the simplest mechanics to mastering all the new features mentioned above.

Roadmap ahead

Lastly, this is just day one of NBA 2K25's preview season. In the weeks to come, Visual Concepts will be sharing a lot more with GameSpot and the community at large regarding what players can expect when they tip off in September. Here's what's next:

• Week of August 5: MyPlayer and MyCareer
• Week of August 12: MyNBA and The W
• Week of August 19: MyTeam
• Week of August 26: The City
• Week of September 2: Season 1 preview and 2KBeats soundtrack reveal
• September 4: Early access period begins
• September 6: Global launch of NBA 2K25

If you've already seen enough to merit your purchase, we have all the details on how to preorder NBA 2K25 and what you'll get as bonuses from various retailers.

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Unleash your inner superstar, join a bullet-riddled quest, or become the ultimate hunter with Free Play Days! WWE 2K24, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, and Way of the Hunter are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday August 1 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, August 4 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire. 

How To Start Playing

Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Keep The Fun Going

Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.

Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)

WWE 2K24 Cross-Gen Digital Edition

2K

☆☆☆☆☆ 691

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$69.99 $46.19

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WWE 2K24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Experience a gripping retelling of WrestleMania’s greatest moments in 2K Showcase of the Immortals in WWE 2K24, where you can relive a collection of some of the most unforgettable, career-defining matches.

SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET

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☆☆☆☆☆ 286

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$39.99 $3.99

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Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet
Your choices are heavier and faster than a bullet. Full dive into an original story where you are the protagonist in the world of Gun Gale Online. Create your own avatar and explore devastated lands with your partner AI while experiencing exciting third person shooting in this action RPG. Encounter enemies and run into new and familiar faces from the Sword Art Online series. Choose your fate.

Way of the Hunter

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☆☆☆☆☆ 245

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Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Become the new owner of a hunting lodge nestled among gorgeous habitats and rich animal populations. Explore vast open world environments and hunt with a premium selection of firearms. Enjoy the perfect hunt on your own or with friends in co-op.

Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.

The post Free Play Days – WWE 2K24, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, and Way of the Hunter appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Humble has a new promotion running, and if you're in the mood to travel across the Marvel, DC, Jurassic World, and Lord of the Ring universes in Lego style, you won't want to miss out on this one. For just $15, you can get a whopping 19 Lego video games to play on your PC. This bundle on its own works out to $419 in value, and proceeds will go toward the BuildOn charity, a group that aims to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by mobilizing US students to transform their communities. Internationally, the group also builds schools in developing countries.

If you only want a few Lego games, there are two other tiers of this bundle to look at. The lowest tier--priced at $5--gets you six games, and you can pay $10 to get 11 games. All tiers come with a discount voucher for Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, allowing you to get a high-ground advantage and slash the price of that game by 85% if you decide to purchase it.

Humble Lego Worlds Collide Bundle

• Lego Marvel Super Heroes
• Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
• Lego DC Supervillains
• Lego Batman: The Video Game
• Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
• Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
• Lego Jurassic World
• Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Lego Worlds
• Lego The Incredibles
• The Lego Movie: The Video Game
• The Lego Movie 2: The Video Game
• Lego Marvel Avengers
• Lego The Hobbit
• Lego The Lord of the Rings
• Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• The Lego Ninjago Movie: The Video Game
• 85% discount voucher for Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

This is a pretty good selection of games, even if they mostly stick to the same template under developer Traveller's Tales. Lego games are comfort junk food, colorful adventures that riff on the source material they adapt and are easy on the brain with their puzzle sections.

Each has a great amount of content, they're fun for the family, and they have a cheeky sense of humor. One of the hidden gems here is Lego Worlds, which is essentially a Lego version of Minecraft narrated by Peter Serafinowicz. Imagine a toybox to build Lego in without having to worry about stepping on a stray block, and you have a good idea of what to expect.

If you prefer IRL Lego, Humble is also offering a huge selection of 20 ebooks called the Build It With Lego Bundle, with the available books covering a wide variety of topics like advanced building techniques and art projects.

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Developing games for Apple platforms has been described as "like an abusive relationship", due to a lack of support or strategy.

In a new report, MobileGamer.biz has spoken to a number of anonymous developers making games for the Apple Arcade mobile platform and the Vision Pro VR headset.

Sources describe a whole litany of issues, suggesting Apple simply "does not understand gamers" or the industry.

Read more

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August has arrived, and this month, Prime Gaming members can grab an impressive number of PC games. As part of the Prime subscription service, these games will be made available in several weekly waves, and subscribers can look forward to some Steampunk robot adventures, archeological adventures with Lara Croft, and more. Once you claim the free games from Prime Gaming, they are yours to keep forever--even if your subscription expires. If you aren't a member, you can sign up for Amazon Prime for as little as one month to take advantage of the subscription and score some great freebies.

Available now, you can add SteamWorld Heist, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and a few Tomb Raider games to your collection. SteamWorld Heist has a sequel out this month, so if you're looking to experience the original capers of a steam-driven pirate crew as they engage in tactical shootouts, then this game has you covered. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided isn't as good as 2010's Deus Ex: Human Revolution, but it's still a solid stealth-action game where you uncover a global conspiracy and make strange alliances. Since this is a GOG version of the game, you're getting it DRM-free version and with an extra in-game mission to enjoy.

The week closes out with Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness--old-school Lara Croft games that were released in the early- and mid-2000s. These were the final mainline games developed by Core Design, as publisher Eidos Interactive handed the franchise over to Crystal Dynamics following the poor critical reception of The Angel of Darkness.

Starting August 8, there are some more great games to grab. Loop Hero is a complicated but engaging deckbuilding game and Trek to Yomi is a fascinating samurai tale. The following week, you can check out the story-rich fantasy adventure Baldur's Gate 2 and if you're in the mood for some catchy tunes, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is a beautifully illustrated role-playing game featuring some killer tracks. Released last year, it's a hidden gem that tells a wonderful story focused on the healing power of art and music.

The rest of the month includes a few more noteworthy games like Arcade Paradise, Industria, South of the Circle, and The Collage Atlas, mixed in with several casual titles.

Prime Gaming free games for August 2024

Now available

• Steamworld Heist
• Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
• Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
• Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation + Chronicles

August 8

• Gravity Circuit
• South of the Circle
• Loop Hero
• Trek to Yomi
• Kraken Academy

August 15

• Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition
• Beholder 3
• Hard West 2
• En Garde
• Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

August 22

• Grime: Definitive Edition
• KeyWe
• Figment 2: Creed Valley
• Spells & Secrets
• Young Souls

August 29

• Arcade Paradise
• Industria
• The Collage Atlas

Prime subscribers will also be able to the following games in August via the Prime Gaming Luna channel:

• Batman Arkham Knight
• Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
• Wobbledogs
• Horizon Chase Turbo
• Ultrakill
• Monster Truck Championship
• Kunai
• Young Souls
• Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
• XDefiant
• Fortnite Battle Royale
• Fortnite Festival
• Fallout: New Vegas GOTY Edition
• Fallout 3: GOTY Edition
• Lego Fortnite
• Rocket Racing
• Trackmania

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• Category: gamescom

August 1, 2024

Xbox @ gamescom 2024

• Maxi Graeff, Gaming Marketing Lead DACH

Summary

• Xbox returns to gamescom with over 50 titles to check out.
• The Xbox booth will also include a theater, photo ops, a Gear Store, and more.
• For those who can’t attend, check out the Xbox @ gamescom: Live From the Showfloor Broadcast on August 21-23.

Following this year’s jam-packed Xbox Games Showcase, we’re excited to return to gamescom and connect with fans in Cologne, Germany from August 21-25 to show off even more of what Xbox players have in store. 

The community is what makes gaming – and gamescom – so special and there will be something for everyone this year, whether you’re on the show floor in Cologne or watching at home via our livestreams. This year the Xbox booth will be overflowing with exciting upcoming titles, one-off experiences and fantastic photo opportunities for games coming to Xbox, PC, and Game Pass this Holiday and beyond. We’ll also deliver three days of broadcasts live from the show floor, join up with our amazing community for another FanFest, and plenty more. Keep reading for more details on everything we’re up to at gamescom 2024.  

Xbox Booth 

This year the Xbox booth will feature over 50 gaming titles from Xbox Game Studios, Blizzard, Bethesda, and our amazing third-party partners – spread across more than 240 gaming stations – alongside amazing photo ops and experiences, and specially constructed theaters for exclusive looks at upcoming titles.  

Attendees will be able to go hands-on with upcoming Xbox releases, including: 

• Age of Mythology: Retold  

• Ara: History Untold 

• Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred 

• Fallout 76: Milepost Zero 

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road 

• Towerborne 

We will also host exclusive theater presentations of Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Starfield: Shattered Space.  

Joining the Xbox booth for the first time, Blizzard Entertainment will make their return to gamescom with multiple offerings for Diablo and World of Warcraft. Ahead of the launch of the Vessel of Hatred expansion in October, Diablo will bring an exclusive public hands-on gameplay demo of the Spiritborn class to the gamescom show floor, with a Diablo Immortal Helliquary boss tournament taking place as well. World of Warcraft celebrates the launch of The War Within on August 26 with the power of a special immersive experience, giving gamescom attendants the chance to feel the thrill of Skyriding in Azeroth.  

The Xbox booth will also have playable titles from our third-party partners, including Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws, Studio Wildcard’s ARK 2, Saber Interactive’s Space Marine 2, Rebellion’s Atomfall, and the return of GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl with an all-new demo. And in our Indie Selects area – dedicated to diverse, exciting upcoming titles from independent developers – we’ll host games including Maximum Entertainment’s Squirrel with a Gun, Noodlecake’s Winter Burrow, 11 bit Studios’ Creatures of Ava, and more. 

The above is just a small selection of the titles playable on the Xbox booth. For the full list of playable titles visit here. Whatever you’re into, we’ll have something for you. 

You’ll be able to find us in Hall 7 of the Koelnmesse, North entrance. See below for the consumer show opening times:   

• Thursday, August 22 – 10am – 8pm CEST   

• Friday, August 23 – 10am – 8pm CEST   

• Saturday, August 24 – 9am – 8 pm CEST   

• Sunday, August 25 – 9am – 8pm CEST  

Beyond the Xbox booth, Overwatch 2 will also have a joint stand with Porsche, highlighting their new collaboration by featuring a life-sized D.Va statue modeled after the new all-electric Macan, along with an invitation for fans to enter a real-life rendition of an iconic Overwatch 2 map. 

Game Pass @ Gamescom  

This year at gamescom, Game Pass is turning up the fun with an exciting setup reminding players that they can discover their next favorite game across devices. Guests will have an opportunity to explore different sections dedicated to PC, Console, and Cloud as they learn about all the different ways to play their favorite games. In addition to exclusive gamescom 2024 prizes available through claw and gacha machines, guests have the opportunity to play the Big Green Button for a shot at winning exciting prizes like:  

• Game Pass tokens (PC and/or Ultimate) 

• NVIDIA GeForce Now cards 

• WD_BLACK PC and Console Storage 

• Cloud Gaming devices (e.g., Amazon Fire TV Sticks, and Meta Quest headsets) that can directly stream Xbox games 

• OMEN monitors 

• HyperX headsets, microphones, mice and keyboards 

Gaming for Everyone 

Xbox remains committed to the belief that gaming should be safe, inclusive, and accessible for all. We are ensuring that all areas of the booth are wheelchair accessible, Xbox Adaptive Controllers will be available upon request, and there will be select demo stations with adjustable-height desks and monitors. We also have multiple American Sign Language (ASL) and German Sign Language (DGS) interpreters and Audio Description tours in English and German for guests who are blind or visually disabled.

Additionally, we’ll have sensory aids and a quiet room for everyone who needs them, as well as “Here to Help” staff to assist players of all abilities navigate our booth and game experiences. Please check out the Accessibility “Here to Help” desk at our booth for support. 

Other Booth Elementsblob:https://news.xbox.com/800a5624-8a31-4c3a-a432-dab39dd0e571

Gear Shop 

Check out the official Gear Shop at the booth to get the latest with gear from Xbox Game Studios, Blizzard, Activision, and Bethesda! 

Can´t make it? Don’t worry, find your new favorite gear online in the following stores: 

• https://shop.callofduty.com/

• https://gear.blizzard.com/

• https://gear.xbox.com/  

Community Area 

This year the Xbox booth will also include the Community Hub! This more chilled out space within the Xbox Booth will be a perfect place for attendees to stop and hang out during the show, and will also feature special programming and activities from titles and teams across Xbox taking place throughout gamescom. Activities will include cosplay meetups, trivia games, meet-and-greets with game developers and voice actors, and more! Be sure to stop by and see what’s on! 

Live from the Showfloor with our Broadcast Teamsblob:https://news.xbox.com/561e8ceb-c446-4247-b103-b58df709bd28 

If you can’t make the trip to Cologne this year, we’ll bring the show to you with a series of daily streams from the Xbox booth. Join Team Xbox and friends on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for a deeper dive into some of the highly anticipated games at gamescom 2024, with first-look gameplay, developer chats, new trailers and more. The Bethesda team will also have daily content streaming live from the booth over on their Twitch channel: twitch.tv/bethesda_de.  

Whether you join us for every stream, or just dip in for the latest on your most anticipated titles, we’re looking forward to connecting with fans across the globe and showing off some of the amazing games coming to Xbox.

Wednesday August 21  

• Xbox @ gamescom 2024
  • Start: 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST 
  • Featuring S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Atomfall, Age of Mythology, plus others  

• Bethesda MainStream 
  • Start: 5am PDT / 8am EST / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST  

Thursday August 22  

• Xbox @ gamescom 2024 
  • Start:  6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST 
  • Featuring Star Wars Outlaws, World of Warcraft: The War Within, Towerborne plus others
• Bethesda MainStream 
  • Start: 5am PDT / 8am EST / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST

Friday August 23  

• Xbox @ gamescom 2024
  • Start: 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST
  • Featuring Avowed, Ara: History Untold, plus others

• Bethesda MainStream 
  • Start: 5am PDT / 8am EST / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST 

Keep an eye on Xbox Social channels for the full content schedule in the days leading up to gamescom.  

The live English-language broadcast from Xbox’s gamescom booth will be available in German, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Czech, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Mexican Spanish and Turkish, along with ASL and English Audio Descriptions. You can catch the Xbox @ gamescom Livestream on regional Xbox channels on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and elsewhere.   

Livestream Channels:  

• Twitch.com/xbox 
• Facebook.com/xbox 
• Youtube.com/xbox 

Xbox FanFest blob:https://news.xbox.com/07645e39-3b18-40e2-ae6a-a46a3ed25575 

On Wednesday, August 21, Xbox FanFest is returning to host a special community event to kick off gamescom week! We’ll be bringing players together to connect around their shared love of gaming. If you’re planning to attend gamescom or will be in the Cologne area, you can enter for a chance to win tickets to attend.

Login at xbox.com/fanfest and use code FANFEST to unlock the sweepstakes. No Purchase Necessary. Open only to registered Xbox FanFest members. 18+. Ends 08:59 CEST on 5 August 2024. Click here for Official Rules. 

Xbox Coverage  

Our social media teams will be on the ground bringing you live coverage, updates, news, new videos, and lots of fun stuff too. And make sure to keep an eye on Xbox Wire for coverage of the Opening Night Live show, and articles about many of the games on show. 

For all the latest updates on Xbox at gamescom this year, stay tuned to the Xbox channels on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube social channels, or the @XboxDACH X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube social channels for German-language coverage. We’re using #Xboxgamescom as our event hashtag.  

The post Xbox @ gamescom 2024 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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August has officially begun, which means a variety of new events are on the horizon for Pokemon Go. The mobile game is closing out its Shared Skies season with a handful of activities over the next few weeks, including a Team Go Rocket takeover and a Shadow Raid weekend.

Those aren't the only events players can look forward to this month. Pokemon Go will also host not one, but two Community Days in August, and some fan-favorite legendary and Mega Pokemon will return to raids for a limited time.

To help get you up to speed on everything going on this month, here's a roundup of all the biggest events happening in Pokemon Go in August 2024.

Raid Schedule

Pokemon Go is bringing back another handful of legendary and Mega Pokemon for the final month of its Shared Skies season.

Moltres, Incarnate Forme Thundurus, and Xerneas will all appear in five-star raids over the next few weeks, while Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Salamence will return to Mega raids. On top of that, Shadow Suicune will make a special appearance in Shadow Raids every weekend this month.

You can see Pokemon Go's full August raid schedule below:

Five-star Raids

August 3-12

• Moltres

August 12-21

• Thundurus (Incarnate Forme)

August 21-September 3

• Xerneas

Mega Raids

August 3-12

• Mega Aerodactyl

August 12-21

• Mega Kangaskhan

August 21-September 3

• Mega Salamence

Shadow Raids

Every weekend in August

• Shadow Suicune

Spotlight Hours

Pokemon Go's weekly Spotlight Hour event continues in August with a new batch of featured Pokemon and bonuses.

Every Tuesday evening from 6-7 PM local time, one particular Pokemon will spawn in the wild much more frequently than usual, making this a good chance to stock up on that species' candy. In addition, you'll earn an extra bonus by participating during Spotlight Hour, such as double candy or XP for catching or evolving Pokemon.

You can see August's full Spotlight Hour schedule below:

August 6

• Featured Pokemon: Drilbur
• Bonus: 2x catch XP

August 13

• Featured Pokemon: Lileep
• Bonus: 2x catch candy

August 20

• Featured Pokemon: Mankey
• Bonus: 2x transfer candy

August 27

• Featured Pokemon: Magnemite
• Bonus: 2x evolution XP

Adventure Week

Pokemon Go is kicking off August with its annual Adventure Week event.

From August 2-12, certain rock- and ground-type Pokemon such as Diglett, Drilbur, Roggenrola, and Bunnelby will appear in the wild more frequently than usual, while fossil Pokemon like Cranidos, Shieldon, Tirtouga, and Tyrunt will hatch from 7km eggs.

In addition, the game will offer a new slate of event-themed research tasks, as well as new Collection Challenges. There will also be a variety of in-game bonuses throughout the event, including increased shiny odds and extra XP for spinning PokeStops and hatching eggs.

Adventure Week: Taken Over

Team Go Rocket returns for the second leg of Pokemon Go's Adventure Week event.

From August 8-12, Team Go Rocket grunts will appear at PokeStops with new Shadow Pokemon in tow, including Shadow versions of Timburr, Tirtouga, and Archen. Various Shadow Pokemon will also appear in one- and three-star raids throughout the event, and there will be new event-themed Field Research tasks to complete.

Most notably, you'll also have a chance to catch a couple of legendary Shadow Pokemon. Shadow Cresselia will make its Pokemon Go debut as part of a new Special Research story, while Shadow Lugia will return for a special Shadow Raid Weekend mini-event from August 10-11.

August Community Day Classic

This month's first Community Day takes place Sunday, August 18, and gives players another chance to catch a previously featured Pokemon. Additional details will be announced closer to the event.

Popplio Community Day

August's second Community Day takes place Saturday, August 31, and features the water-type starter Pokemon Popplio. The sea lion Pokemon will appear in the wild much more frequently than usual from 2-5 PM local time, and you'll have a greater chance of encountering a shiny Popplio.

In additional to increased Popplio spawns, a variety of in-game bonuses will be available throughout the event. Incense and Lure Modules will last for three hours rather than their usual duration, and you'll earn extra candy and XP for catching Pokemon during the event.

On top of that, special four-star raids featuring Popplio's evolved form, Brionne, will take place at gyms from 5-10 PM local time. Any Brionne that you evolve into Primarina before 10 PM will also learn the special water-type Charged Attack Sparkling Aria.

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