Since we announced Alien Deathstorm in March at the Xbox Partner Preview, we have been hard at work in the studio, and we are delighted to finally be able to reveal more about the title this week at gamescom. Starting with our brand-new trailer:

As you will see the game is certainly action packed. To give you some context, Alien Deathstorm is a science fiction FPS that sees you take the role of an Engineer who has been sent to an off-world colony that has lost contact with Earth. You arrive on the planet knowing that things are going to be bad… but this is so much worse than you expected. What had started as a rescue mission is now a desperate fight for survival!

The mega-storm

One of the first thing that you will notice from the trailer is the effect the mega-storm is having on the mining colony. The storm is apocalyptic in scale and is literally tearing the planet apart. It is an ever-present and escalating danger. The scale of the carnage presents an immediate threat to life, and you will have to navigate through the wreckage if you are to survive.

Outside the world is being decimated by the mega-storm and is crawling with aliens but if you think you can find solace by heading indoors you will find that the threat is even more stark as the aliens present a more persistent threat and can hunt you from the shadows.

The Reactor

The trailer is captured from the Reactor mission that we will be showing at Gamescom. This occurs midway through the game. You have to fight your way inside the malfunctioning fission reactor to repair it and get everything back online.

This is not going to be easy! Your mission will send you to repair several faults which require you to visit the menacing underground substation and the reactor’s flare stack – both riddled with dangers, exposed terrain and deadly ambushes.

As we did with Atomfall we are taking a different approach to missions and objectives with Alien Deathstorm. Objectives look like the readout from the player’s digital assistant, Squire, and it’s up to you to diagnose the situation and piece together your own solution. The gameallows you as the player to dictate your pace – which means there’s a tense contrast when the alien threat starts hunting!

Aliens

As you will have seen, the aliens are far from friendly and are a menacing foe. They are highly intelligent, deadly creatures who hunt in packs and use the environment to their advantage. No two play throughs will be the same as the aliens dynamically adapt, stalk and attack depending on the game scenario and the way you are playing.

Combat is brutal and intense. You are not a highly trained super soldier; you are an Engineer who has been through basic combat training. This is a game about survival.

At Gamescom we are revealing four types of alien: Soldiers, Scuttlers, Blister Scuttlers and Scuttler Swarms, each of these present their own challenges. We have more alien types to reval in the coming months.

Weapons and tools

You will also see a variety of weapons being used in the trailer. We are showing off the pistol, SMG and shotgun with more to be revealed before the game’s launch. As you play and explore you can find blueprints for weapon upgrades, such as optics, stocks, barrels and magazines, which can then be 3D printed and added to your weapon.

We have used our years of experience in shooters and gunplay (honed on the Sniper Elite and Zombie Army franchises) to create a shooter that feels bombastic and fun to play.

You may have also noticed the engineer using his trusty hammer. This can be used to both repair items in the Reactor but also as a melee weapon when things get too close and personal. It’s particularly useful against flying Scuttlers!

There are also tools that can help you survive including a Geiger Scanner to detect nearby threats, grenades, flares and health injectors.

Release window

Finally, we announced a release window for the game. Alien Deathstorm will launch on XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC in Spring 2027 and will be available on Game Pass from day one. It is available to wishlist now so be sure to check it out.

We cannot wait to show you more in the run up to release.

Alien Deathstorm

Rebellion

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Explore a devastated off-world colony which has been ravaged by a cataclysmic mega-storm and overrun by bloodthirsty aliens. Using a combination of cunning and firepower you must defeat the countless lurking horrors in a desperate fight for survival.

The post Five Key Takeaways From the New Alien Deathstorm Trailer appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Summary

• The Colossal Policeman is making HIS way to Game Pass.
• HE will be watching over you in 2027.
• Surrealism won’t let you escape, even when you’re innocent.

It must be a mistake. You haven’t done anything noteworthy in your life, but you’ve just been arrested? You did nothing wrong! You have no chance in court, so get ready to run: surreal immersive sim Militsioner is coming to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC and Game Pass in 2027. Plus, play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere. Just be aware: the Colossal Policeman is always watching…

Militsioner is an immersive sim with a (literally) gigantic twist – as you try and escape a mysterious town, you’re always under the watchful eye of the Colossal Policeman.

While XBOX players are undoubtedly innocent, the Colossal Policeman doesn’t see it that way and he’s monitoring your every move. You’ll have to be creative and challenge your moral compass to escape – is the freedom worth it, if you end up proving the accusers right?

Find your unique approach to freedom; outsmart, outwit, or outrun your way to skip town in this Kafkaesque world, and witness complex outcomes come to life, all under the watchful eye of an omniscient presence. Uncover multiple ways to escape and… potentially seduce the Colossal Policeman? Yes, you read that correctly.

Other, regular-sized townsfolk all have unique needs, and it’s up to you whether to help or use them to your advantage. But don’t forget that the town always remembers your actions and the consequences can be… severe. It’s hard to evade punishment when the law is a colossus watching over the whole town.

You can resort to flirting instead of hiding from the people around you. Maybe you’ll butter up the Colossal Policeman enough to start dating him, who knows? Don’t forget to pick up some flowers amidst your search just in case you get the opportunity to flirt your way out of jail.

So, what kind of person are you truly? Maybe you’re a thief, maybe you love breaking and entering; what’s a little felony between friends after all? But maybe you’re a compassionate soul who helps their fellow neighbours.

Militsioner isn’t for the faint-hearted and is coming to test you in the most surreal way possible.

Be prepared to question the sanity of the world around you and find a way to survive. How you do it is how you’ll be remembered. No matter what, you must leave this town. To them, you’re a felon; if you stay – it will be your end.

The game is still in development but you can figure out your plan of escape next year, in 2027, when Militsioner arrives for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere.

The post Militsioner: The Surreal Immersive Sim Featuring a Colossal Policeman, Coming to XBOX Game Pass in 2027 appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Additionally, Control Ultimate Edition and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves are free for all XBOX members to try from August 27 until August 30 (XBOX Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).

Also, gear up for battle in the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta, starting Friday, August 28, 10 AM PT.

How to Start Playing

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

Keep the Fun Going

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

Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)

Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker
Celebrate the 8th Anniversary of Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker with special in-game events, and check out the new DLC featuring Naruto Uzumaki (Sage Mode), available starting this weekend with a variety of new ninjutsu and costumes. Create your own custom shinobi or select your favorite character and participate in 4v4 battles where you can unleash a multitude of ninja techniques on your opponents. Follow your ninja way and lead your team to victory!

NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆ 5512

★★★★★

$19.99 $4.99

Get it now

Free Trial

ARK: Survival Ascended
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX Play Anywhere
Respawn into a new dinosaur survival experience beyond your wildest dreams. You awaken on a mysterious island, your senses overwhelmed by the blinding sunlight and brilliant colors bouncing off every surface around you, the azure waters of a verdant Island lapping at your bare feet. A deep roar echoes from the misty jungle, jolting you into action, and you stand up – not afraid, but intrigued. Are you ready to form a tribe, tame and breed hundreds of species of dinosaurs and other primeval creatures, explore, craft, build, and fight your way to the top of the food-chain? Your new world awaits… step through the looking-glass and join it!

ARK: Survival Ascended

Studio Wildcard

☆☆☆☆☆ 7575

★★★★★

$44.99 $11.24

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Free Play Days For All

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Get ready to step into South Town! Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves features a unique art style that stimulates the senses, an innovative REV system that supercharges the excitement, plus a host of other battle systems even more robust than before. The game also breathes new life into the series by introducing two distinct control schemes (ensuring fun and excitement for newcomers and veterans alike) as well as other fresh features and elements.

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves

SNK CORPORATION

☆☆☆☆☆ 140

★★★★★

$19.99 $9.99

Get it now

Control Ultimate Edition
Winner of over 80 awards, Control Ultimate Edition is a visually stunning third-person action-adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The world is now your weapon in an epic fight to annihilate an ominous enemy through deep and unpredictable environments. Containment has failed, humanity is at stake. Will you regain control?

Control Ultimate Edition

505 Games

☆☆☆☆☆ 2707

★★★★★

$39.99 $31.99

Get it now

Xbox Game Pass

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (Open Beta)
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX Play Anywhere
Experience Modern Warfare 4’s new Multiplayer modes, a playable Campaign mission, expanded movement systems, Ground War, Call of Duty: Warzone Resurgence on the brand-new Zodiac map, and extensive Operator and Loadout customization. During the Open Beta, the maximum Player Level you can progress to is Level 30. Earn up to eight Rewards including the “Beta Forged” Weapon Blueprint for the Han 86 Assault Rifle. Rewards are playable in the Beta and when the full game releases on October 23.

The Open Beta begins Friday, August 28, 10am PT for all players and is scheduled to end Tuesday, September 1, 10am PT. Get ready to play and pre-load the Open Beta now!

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4 – Beta

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 393

★★★★★

Get it now

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

The post Free Play Days –  Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta, Control Ultimate Edition, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and More appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Summary

• Dumpster Gang is a co-op sandbox game for 1-4 players launching for XBOX PC in December 2026.
• Play as mischievous raccoons and cause a ruckus as you try to escape a relentless exterminator.
• Dumpster Gang will be available Day One as part of XBOX PC Game Pass.

Trash pandas. Garbage goblins. Raccoons.

These cute little critters just love to cause a ruckus, don’t they? Stealing food, knocking over trash cans, climbing, crawling, clambering.

If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably wondered, “what’s it like to actually BE a raccoon?” What? Too specific a fantasy?

Well, listen – this wasn’t even our fantasy to begin with. Jake and Sam, the ludicrously talented developers at Coyote House Games, came to us at Curve Games with an idea: what if there was a video game where you could play as a bunch of raccoons robbing houses together? And what if they made that game?

Okay, so that’s two ideas. But those two ideas were so good, we had to counter with a third idea: what if next time they scheduled a meeting with us instead of breaking into our office? They were both dressed as raccoons, and Sam was trying to stuff as many office supplies as he could into a burlap sack.

But what a fantastic concept! Here at Curve Games, we’re famous for publishing wacky, physics-driven games that are fun with friends – like Human Fall Flat and Wobbly Life – so we knew we had to work together. At least once they’d returned those office supplies. And that computer. And my toupee.

And thus, Dumpster Gang was born!

This is a chaotic co-op sandbox where you play as mischievous raccoons and try to cause as much mayhem as possible. Really we like to think of it as the ultimate raccoon simulator, utilizing the latest and greatest in video game technology to achieve what generations before us have failed to accomplish:

FULL RACCOON IMMERSION.

It’s one thing to simulate, let’s say, a crime-ridden simulacrum of a sun-soaked American state (ahem), but what about a game that intricately recreates the nocturnal escapades of the world’s furriest thieves? Allowing you and up to three friends to break into buildings, steal junk, raid snacks, scavenge dumpsters, commit tiny crimes, and outwit a relentless exterminator?

You might be thinking: surely it isn’t possible for a video game as advanced as that to even exist?! We were sceptical at first too.

But Jake and Sam are at the bleeding edge. Jake spent nearly a decade working on animation projects for companies like Marvel and Warner Music, and Sam has extensive experience with multiplayer games, previously shipping the much-beloved multiplayer hit Midnight Ghost Hunt as game director.

On a personal level, they’re also just very sweet.

“We met at college and now we’re united by a love of co-op gaming and raccoons,” Jake told us. “With our first game as Coyote House Games, we wanted to fulfil the dream of roaming around as a gang of raccoons with your friends and being little menaces. We fit in as many raccoon-themed mechanics as we could: eating trash, stealing, climbing on everything, making big messes. We have it all!”

Sam agreed and added: “And after a full day of causing chaos, you can head back to your hideout to customize it with all the junk treasure you’ve scavenged from your raids. You can even wear a selection of adorable hats, each with unique abilities to assist in your next round of nefarious raccoon antics.”

All of us are so excited to have announced Dumpster Gang today as part of the XBOX broadcast at Gamescom 2026! The game will be releasing for XBOX  PC and available Day One as part of XBOX PC Game Pass.

And you don’t have long to wait: it’s arriving December 2026!

So, round up your crew (or go solo if you prefer), take to the night, and see how much mischief you can make in Dumpster Gang.

The post Chaotic Co-Op Dumpster Gang Coming to XBOX PC in December 2026 appeared first on XBOX Wire.

We’re a small team, but between us we’ve spent years making much bigger games. Across the studio, we’ve worked on franchises like Halo, Battlefield, and Star Wars, along with games like Full Spectrum Warrior, Def Jam: Fight for NY, and The Saboteur. We started Octopus Panic to get small again: to experiment, have fun, and build systems that leave room for players to surprise us.

The dogs came early. We all love dogs, and their personalities and breed characteristics gave us a lot to work with. From there, it wasn’t hard to imagine a future corporation seeing those same qualities and deciding dogs would make the perfect workforce.

So, in Gravhounds, you’re a bio-engineered dog built for dangerous industrial work, stranded with your crew on the far side of the galaxy. Getting home means salvaging alien worlds, building questionable infrastructure, and surviving things considerably higher on the food chain than you are.

Unfortunately, being stranded in another galaxy does not get you out of work. Your shipboard AI supervisor, COSMO, still has jobs that need doing.

Another Day at the Office

Gravhounds is built around a simple loop: take a job, drop onto a hostile planet, build an operation, get what you came for, and try to leave with everyone still alive. That sounds organized; it usually isn’t.

Jobs might involve recovering alien technology, extracting valuable resources, or establishing infrastructure somewhere the local wildlife would strongly prefer you didn’t.  As the operation expands, so do your problems. The longer you stay and the harder you push, the more dangerous the planet becomes. Soon you’re repairing defenses, hauling resources, rescuing somebody who wandered off alone, and deciding whether you have time to grab one more thing before leaving. Good judgment tends to deteriorate as the shift progresses.

Put Gravity to Work

At the center of Gravhounds is the Grav Beam, the industrial tool every Gravhound uses to grab resources, haul equipment, place Build Kits, and manipulate objects around the world. It also turns out to be extremely useful for violence.

You can throw objects, move heavy resources between teammates, rip smaller creatures out of the fight, or turn whatever happens to be nearby into an improvised projectile. Maybe your teammate needs a health pickup. Throw it to them. Maybe an enemy is attacking your base. Pick it up and throw it somewhere else.

The Plan Lasts About 30 Seconds

We’ve always loved co-op games where players genuinely need one another. Gravhounds is about solving problems together, not four people simply shooting at the same target. Sometimes that means coordinating a defense perfectly. Other times, somebody’s enthusiasm for exploration turns into an emergency rescue operation.

For us, the best co-op moments are when things unexpectedly go off the rails, and yet somehow you still pull it off together. Gravhounds is deliberately systemic, giving players tools and leaving room to decide how to combine them. We’ve already watched players find solutions we didn’t anticipate. We expect that problem to get considerably worse once all of you start playing.

Build to Survive

Building isn’t a separate phase in Gravhounds. It’s part of the fight. Your pipeline is the backbone of every operation, carrying power across the planet and providing places to deploy structures and defenses. Push farther and you can reach more valuable resources and distant objectives, but you’re also creating more infrastructure to protect.

We wanted building to feel fast and physical. It complements the action rather than pulling you out of it. Grab the equipment, get it into place, power it up, and get back to work. Preferably before something eats you.

Every Shift Gets Weirder

As you fight, build, gather resources, and contribute to the job, you’ll earn Reward Pods containing randomized weapons and upgrades. You might lean into mobility, raw firepower, defense, or build around an unusual combination of upgrades. As those effects stack, your build becomes increasingly powerful. Meanwhile, the opposition is escalating too. By the end of a good shift, both sides tend to be considerably more dangerous than when they started.

Move Fast, Die Last

Every Gravhound wears an industrial propulsion rig that lets you boost in multiple directions, jump, hover, and quickly reposition around the battlefield. Get onto the pipeline and the rig supercharges, letting you grind along it at high speed with unlimited boost. This becomes particularly useful when your base is collapsing in three different places, or when somebody has made a series of poor decisions and now requires assistance. Again.

Coming to Game Preview and Game Pass

Gravhounds launches into Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC on November 2, 2026, and will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass. Game Preview is a natural fit for Gravhounds. The game is driven by systems, balance, co-op interaction, and player experimentation, and we want to keep developing it alongside the people who are playing it.

If you’re at gamescom this week, you can also play Gravhounds at the ID@Xbox booth in Hall 7. We hope you’ll come take a shift.

Gravhounds

Octopus Panic, Inc

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

1–4 PLAYER CO-OP Intense alone, chaotic with a crew. Combine each Gravhound's strengths and improvise to beat back the swarm. Go lone wolf to expand the operation or stick with the pack and stand your ground. BEND GRAVITY TO YOUR WILL Fetch! Fling objects across the battlefield to your teammates. Turn gravity against the swarm and send them flying, one by one. Disclaimer: Transporting volatile materials with the Grav Beam may result in unforeseen loss of Gravhounds. BUILD TO SURVIVE Deploy turrets, generators, and fabricators to expand the operation and defend it from the swarm. Extend pipelines across hostile terrain to power your base, move resources, and keep your escape route alive. YOU ARE THE PERFECT WORKER Choose from a crew of bio-engineered canine workers built for dangerous planetary operations. Loyal. Obedient. Expendable. NO TWO SHIFTS PLAY THE SAME Unlock powerful new abilities and upgrades mid-shift. Stack bonuses and reshape your loadout to suit the situation. The swarm grows deadlier by the second – but so do you. MOVE FAST, DIE LAST Boost in any direction and reposition under fire. Race to your teammates' aid or make a last dash for materials. Warning: Unauthorized recreational use of pipeline boost is strictly prohibited. EVERY CHOICE MATTERS Seek out treacherous planets for the best materials – the higher the risk, the greater the rewards. Unlock new Gravhounds, weapons, and upgrade paths. Stay longer, push harder, and the swarm escalates. Every shift becomes a bet on how much your pack can handle.

The post Gravhounds Revealed: Co-op Chaos with Bio-Engineered Dogs in Space appeared first on XBOX Wire.

TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKER 1: Games in this podcast range from E to M. [ XBOX Sound ]

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Hey, everybody, welcome to the Official XBOX Podcast. The only podcast coming to you from right here inside XBOX. I am so excited about today. People who know me, they know I love my RPGs, and the Persona franchise is one of my all-time favorites. As in, I’ve spent hundreds of hours over the past 20 years playing through Persona titles, so when I saw we were going to be talking about Persona 4 Revival, you know I immediately jumped in at the chance to host this episode. That’s because, joining me today, here in the studio, is General Producer of the Persona team, Kazuhisa Wada. Wada-san, thank you so much for joining us here today.

KAZUHISA WADA: Hello everyone watching the show, I’m Kazuhisa Wada, General Producer of the Persona team at ATLUS. Today, I’d like to share a variety of insights about Persona 4 Revival. Thank you for joining us, and I hope you enjoy the conversation.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: That is why we are here. The Persona series is legendary and is celebrating 30 years here in 2026. You’ve been a part of this team for over two decades, and gaming has changed a whole lot during that time. Yet, based on the rapturous reception whenever you all make a new announcement from your team, Persona remains as popular as ever. I’m really curious what it’s been like in the studio seeing Persona gain greater and greater prominence over these last two, three decades — more relevance, more relevance in different parts of the world. How has it changed how you all create games?

KAZUHISA WADA: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Persona series, a major milestone, and I’m truly grateful that it has continued to be loved by so many people for so many years. Personally, I’ve been involved with the series for more than 20 years, dating back to Persona 2 Eternal Punishment, and I have been in the position of General Producer of Persona 5 Royal. To see it grow into a franchise embraced by players all over the world fills me with both pride and gratitude. We’ve been fortunate to receive an incredible response to each new announcement, not only from fans in Japan, but from players around the globe. It’s something that reminds me every day that Persona has reached people across countries and cultures. At the same time, our philosophy for making these games has never changed. At the heart of our development is a commitment to carefully crafting stories that stay with players, memorable characters, and gameplay experiences that truly draw people in. Of course, today we also develop our titles with a simultaneous worldwide release in mind, so we have greater emphasis than ever on localization, quality assurance, and our overall development structure. That said, our goal has never been simply to make games for the global market. Instead, we’ve always believed in creating the games that we ourselves genuinely find exciting. The fact that this approach has resonated with players around the world is what makes us happiest.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: It very much has. I’d like to ask you about a quote from earlier this summer where you described your goal as giving players something like a poison that leaves a strong impression, something that shakes people’s values or gives them something to think about. Persona 4 was always the sunny and warm entry in the series. I’m curious, where’s the poison hiding under Inaba’s small-town charm, and how does Revival sharpen it?

KAZUHISA WADA: When I previously spoke about the “poison of Persona,” I wasn’t referring to shock value or provocative content. What I meant is something that lingers with you long after you finish the game, something that makes you wonder, what did that really mean, or what would I have done in that situation? If it encourages players to reflect on themselves, then that’s the kind of poison that lies at the heart of the Persona series. Among the games in the series, Persona 4 is often remembered as one of the brightest, thanks to the bonds between its characters and the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Inaba. Beneath that warmth are themes that ask fundamental questions: How do we confront the parts of ourselves we’d rather not see? Can we look beyond public perception and rumors to discover the truth in our true selves? I believe these themes resonate even more strongly today than they did when the original game was released. We live in an age where information is everywhere. It’s easy to form judgments based only on appearances or what we just see. Because of that, I feel these themes have become even more meaningful over time. With Persona 4 Revival, our goal was never to change those themes or make them more sensational. Instead, we wanted to preserve the heart of the original while enhancing the visuals, presentation, and overall sense of immersion so players can engage with its themes on a deeper level. If, as a result, the poison that has always been part of Persona 4 leaves an even more natural and lasting impression on players, then I would be very happy.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Well, great. We’ve got a lot of things to talk about in that realm. Looking at Persona 4 Revival, you actually just released a trailer breakdown, which was very informative. One thing I was hoping is that we could talk a little bit more about the visuals, since they are really very stunning and quite a dramatic leap. When I first played Persona 4, it was on the PS Vita, on Persona 4 Golden. Of course, tech has come a long way since that time, so let’s start with the characters. Anyone who’s played Persona 4, Persona 4 Golden, Arena Ultimax, and Dancing All Night, is going to know these characters very, very well. How do you make changes to these beloved characters for Persona 4 Revival, but still maintain their original spirit that people love?

KAZUHISA WADA: When refining the characters, our highest priority wasn’t to make them feel new. It was to express what makes each character uniquely themselves in a richer, more authentic way. The characters of Persona 4 have been beloved by fans for many years. Because of that, rather than dramatically changing their appearances, we focused on preserving the image players already have of them, while enabling us to portray their expressions, gestures, and mannerisms with greater nuance and naturalism. Take Yosuke Hanamura, for example. We deliberately retained the defining elements that make him instantly recognizable, such as his silhouette and color palette. At the same time, we’ve refined details such as the texture of his hair and his school uniform, as well as the way lighting interacts with them, so that the charm of the original illustrations translates naturally into 3D. In story scenes, we’ve also put great care into his performance and facial animation. Beyond his trademark energy and easygoing personality, we’re now able to convey more serious expressions and subtle emotions he reveals in quieter moments with much greater fidelity. Our goal wasn’t to create a new Yosuke. It was to portray the Yosuke everyone knows and loves with a level of richness and detail that’s only possible with today’s technology. Now, since we have the opportunity, I’d also like to introduce the newly revealed visuals for Teddie, Kanji Tatsumi, and Naote Shiragane. Teddie is, of course, beloved for his charm as a playful mascot, but he’s also a character with surprisingly delicate emotions. While preserving his familiar, lovable silhouette, we’ve expanded the range of his facial expressions and animations so that both his cuteness and his slightly mysterious presence come across more vividly. For Kanji Tatsumi, we wanted players to see not only his intimidating appearance, but also the kindness and awkward sincerity that define who he is. His powerful physique and imposing stance remain intact, while subtle refinements to his expressions and body language allow his humanity and inner conflicts to come through more naturally. As for Naote Shiragane, we were careful to preserve the intelligent, composed impression that makes the character so distinctive, while also revealing the vulnerability and sensitivity appropriate to someone Naote’s age. The sharp silhouette and calm demeanor remain unchanged, but through more nuanced eye movement and facial performance, we’re able to convey the emotional complexity beneath the surface in a much more natural way. Through countless refinements like these, we’ve been able to deepen each character’s presence without fundamentally changing who they are. I think players will find each of them more lifelike and more compelling than ever before.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, it is really cool seeing how these characters have evolved, but of course these changes and updates, they extend far beyond just the characters. What can you tell us about the overall visual direction and art style for the game? What was the goal when visually presenting a game in a world, again, so familiar to so many people, but also introducing it to a brand-new audience as well?

KAZUHISA WADA: Our overall visual goal for Persona 4 Revival was to make players feel as though they were truly spending an entire year living in the town of Inaba. That doesn’t mean our objective was simply to pursue realism for its own sake. Instead, we asked ourselves how we could faithfully recreate the warmth and subtle sense of nostalgia that define Persona 4, while, of course, expressing them naturally through today’s technology. That became one of the guiding principles for the entire development team. Inaba isn’t a large town, but its shopping district, school, riverbank, and beautiful evening scenery are all integral to its identity. Those everyday locations are part of what makes Persona 4 so memorable, so preserving those feelings players associate with them was one of our highest priorities. At the same time, we’ve completely reworked the lighting, environmental rendering, material textures, and atmospheric effects from the ground up. The town now changes naturally, depending on the time of day and the weather, helping players feel that the characters are truly living their daily lives within this world. We pay close attention to even the smallest details to create that sense of immersion. We’ve also preserved the vibrant colors and distinctive visual styles that are so characteristic of Persona 4. Rather than simply increasing the level of graphical detail, it’s more accurate to say that we’ve refined every aspect of the presentation to express the game’s unique identity more richly and authentically. For longtime fans, I hope it immediately feels like, yes, this is the Inaba I remember. For those experiencing Persona 4 for the first time, I hope they’ll naturally enjoy the unforgettable year they spend in this town.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I have no doubt about that, and part of that, I think, is that over the summer, you shared more about the cinematic elements of Persona 4 Revival as well, everything from the animated cut scenes to in-engine scenes, camera cuts. Everything’s been pretty significantly enhanced, yeah?

KAZUHISA WADA: The cinematic presentation is one of the areas we’ve invested the most effort into for Persona 4 Revival. In the original game, we pushed the hardware of its time to deliver the strongest cinematic experience possible. Now, with far greater expressive capabilities at our disposal, we’ve been able to revisit every event scene from the ground up. That said, our goal was never to simply make the cinematics more spectacular. What mattered most was allowing players to experience the characters’ emotions and the atmosphere of each scene more naturally. We’ve carefully refined countless details, from facial animation and eye movement to the distance between characters, their body language, and even the timing of pauses in conversation. These nuances can completely change how a scene is perceived, even when the dialogue itself remains the same. Even if you’ve already played Persona 4 or Persona 4 Golden, I think you’ll find yourself noticing things you hadn’t before, such as, “so this is the expression they were wearing in that moment”; “so this is what they were really feeling as they said those words.” The footage we revealed already includes scenes that represent this approach. For example, in the opening scene where the protagonist first arrives in Inaba, we’ve completely reimagined the staging and camera work. Every shot has been rebuilt to naturally convey the mixture of anticipation and quiet uncertainty that comes with stepping into an unfamiliar town for the first time. The story itself hasn’t changed, but I believe the emotions players take away from those moments will feel fresh, even for those who know the original by heart.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: In the original Persona 4, the camera angles were locked, but in Persona 4 Revival, as we’ve seen in these videos, we’re getting to really explore the towns and areas like we never have before, as we are here on the street in Inaba, because now the camera is controlled by the player. What types of things were added to the world that we just couldn’t see previously, and what do they bring to the experience?

KAZUHISA WADA: There were certainly scenes in the original that worked precisely because they were framed with fixed camera angles. At the same time, however, there were limits to how much of the world players could actually see. Now that players can move the camera freely, I think you’ll feel much more like you’re truly walking through the town of Inaba yourself. Of course, we didn’t simply change the camera. To support a free camera, we’ve rebuilt the environments from the ground up. Whether it’s the storefronts along the shopping district, the everyday details of the residential neighborhoods, the hallways and classrooms at Yasogami High School, or the depth of scenery along the riverbank, every location has been designed to feel natural, no matter where you choose to look. Giving players the freedom to look wherever their curiosity takes them also creates opportunities for discovery that happen naturally. Moments where you think, “They even went to the trouble of building this.” I believe that’s one of the biggest differences in the exploration experience this time around.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I’d love to hear a little bit more about that. As you’re exploring Inaba and the nearby Okina City a little more, what are some little details that players can expect to find and see as they traverse these areas, and I’m sure, are looking at everything and spinning that camera around?

KAZUHISA WADA: Our goal wasn’t simply to add more visual detail. It was to make the town feel like a place where people genuinely live. For example, the quality of the light changes naturally throughout the day, giving the town a very different atmosphere in the daytime than it has at night. The feeling of the environment also shifts with the weather, and the mood of the shops and other locations subtly evolves as the day goes on. With the freedom to look around, players can now appreciate details that were much harder to notice before; for example, the depth of the buildings, the way the side streets open up, and all the little touches that make the town feel alive. Okina City has received the same level of attention. Its bustling urban energy and larger scale now come across much more naturally and provide a clear contrast to the quieter atmosphere of Inaba. Rather than serving simply as places where the story unfolds, we wanted to create locations that are enjoyable to explore in their own right, worlds where simply walking around is part of the experience.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Thanks for talking about the visuals here. I want to talk about the game as a whole. Previously, you had said that the challenge of making Revival, you wanted to make it new and different, and not just more. Now that we’re in a period of time where you can really talk specifics, what’s a change you think will surprise even veteran players the most?

KAZUHISA WADA: Well, it’s difficult to choose just one, but I think the biggest appeal is the experience of playing a game you thought you already knew and discovering it all over again with fresh eyes. We haven’t changed what lies at the heart of Persona 4, its story, its characters, or the themes that define the experience. At the same time, the way players experience the game has evolved dramatically through its visuals, cinematic presentation, exploration, and overall gameplay feel. Because of that, even those who played the original years ago will find themselves thinking, “I never noticed this before,” or “I remember this scene differently.” I believe they’ll be able to immerse themselves in the story with a renewed sense of discovery. Even I, when I played it as a test player, experienced this as well, and that is also why we chose the title Revival. Our goal wasn’t simply to remake Persona 4. We wanted to bring the Persona 4 experience itself vividly back to life for a new generation of players, while allowing long-time fans to experience it anew. That has been the central vision behind this entire project.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Wada-san, it’s been awesome having you on the show so far. We have time for one last question, and this is a personal one for you. As you said, you have been playing through the game, of course you have. When Persona 4 Revival releases on February 18, 2027, what are you most excited for players to experience when they first pick up the controller and they dive back in there for the first time?

KAZUHISA WADA: What I’m looking forward to the most is seeing players spend another year in Inaba — or experience it for the first time. While Persona 4 is, on the surface, a mystery about a series of murders, I believe its true appeal lies in the year you spend with your friends, laughing and having a good time, facing hardships together, and sharing the everyday moments that gradually become unforgettable memories. To everyone who has supported this series over the years, I hope this feels like the Persona 4 I remember has come back. For those experiencing it for the first time, I hope you’ll discover firsthand why this game has continued to be loved for so many years. More than anything, once you’ve reached the end of your journey, and if you find yourself thinking, “I want to go back to that town,” then there will be nothing more rewarding for our dev team. On February 18, 2027, we can’t wait to welcome you back to Inaba and see each of you create a new set of memories there. Everyone on the development team is looking forward to sharing that experience with you.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I can tell you I’ve already carved out a solid hundred hours to be rejoining Inaba next February, and I cannot wait for that, especially with the look we had today. Wada-san, thank you so much for joining us on the show. I mentioned at the top how much I love the Persona series. It’s been an honor and a privilege to get to sit down with you, talk about the game, see all this new footage, and like I said, I just couldn’t be more excited to be playing early next year, so thank you very much.

KAZUHISA WADA: Thank you. I’m truly happy to hear you say that. Persona 4 is a very special game that has been cherished by so many people for so many years. It’s a tremendous honor for all of us to be able to bring it back in the form of Persona 4 Revival. There are still about six months to go until launch, and we appreciate your patience. Until then, we’ll continue polishing every aspect of the game to ensure it lives up to your expectations. We sincerely hope you’ll look forward to its release. Thank you very much for joining us today.

JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I will second that. Thanks to everyone for watching this episode of the Official XBOX Podcast. We’ll see you on the next one. [ XBOX Sound ]

The post Persona 4 Revival with Kazuhisa Wada: Rebuilding a Classic for Today | Official XBOX Podcast appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Their fantastic, story-forward use of the beloved Star Wars setting will likely bring in a lot of players that are new to tactics games, which is great! The game’s four difficulty settings should provide a great onramp for players of any skill and experience. At any time between missions, you can change the difficulty in the menu if you want more or less challenge as you go.

Based on my roughly 30 hours with the game so far and years of enjoying the devs’ previous work and other tactics games, I’ve assembled the following 7 general gameplay tips to help tactics genre Padawans that want to focus on their training and challenge themselves.

Fit Check

Before you go out, give your squad a once-over in the prep screen, including checking their weapon mods, utility items, and spending any extra focus points they may have. A well-timed utility item or the edge from a weapon mod can make the difference in a tough battle, so it’s always worth making sure everyone is properly equipped. Especially early on when you don’t have much gear, you’ll likely be shifting your best equipment around between different operators as you field different teams. Relatedly, if you’re inclined to hoard limited-use items, remember that utility items like grenades and health packs are refreshed at the start of every battle (even when you have multiple battles in sequence as part of a larger story mission), so try and use every item every time. If you find yourself repeatedly without opportunities to use something, mix it up and try bringing something else.

Also, unless you are playing the “no backsies” Beskar mode that does not allow loading previous saves, you might want to save before going into an important battle. The game autosaves on the first round, so you can always start a disastrous battle over in the worst case, but the next nearest autosave is at the start of the cycle, so you might have to redo some plot and admin if you realize in the field that you made a mistake in your loadout.

Consider All Your Options

Rather than taking each character’s actions all in one go like the enemy AI does, remember that you can interleave individual action points between characters, and should often be doing so to get the most out of each turn. On any given turn, you should be clicking around between your whole squad and considering all the options available to you before committing to any actions. Remember to factor in spots where you can move as well, noting the preview of new to-hit percentages above enemies’ heads when you hover over a spot. Consider things like the biggest threats currently on the board, enemies you can eliminate entirely, and how you can get the most value out of all your operators’ turns.

Action Economy Is King

Speaking of playing for value, one standout theme that makes Star Wars Zero Company play distinctly from its predecessors in the tactics space is the emphasis on various ways of generating additional action points above and beyond the 3 per turn that everyone starts with: At baseline, every turn one of your operators can call for a free assist; then various abilities (like Hawks’ Pico-5 ability and Astromechs’ Built-in Comlink and Coordinated Support) grant additional actions to teammates directly; Kabb’s eponymous Uppercut refunds all of the spent actions if he takes an enemy out with it; etc. The limit of 3 action points per turn only applies to how many they can hold at any given moment, and some of the most satisfying and effective turns involve combining abilities so one or more of your characters take many more than 3 points worth of actions.

Use Your Advantage

It can be tempting to sit on your Advantage points until you really need to use a big, expensive ability to get out of a jam, like having Tricks’ rocket blast apart that freshly deployed pod of battle droids on your flank before they spread out and become a problem. Just as often, though, you can avoid getting into tight situations in the first place by being aggressive and using Advantage frequently. It tops off at 10, so any damage that you do above and beyond that before spending Advantage is leaving money on the table.

Gravity Is Your Most Powerful Ally

Whether from a concussion grenade, a force push or Kabb’s uppercut, many different abilities can shove enemies around the map, so pay special mind to those. Because this is Star Wars, a lot of the maps feature bottomless voids and catwalks girded by flimsy guardrails. It doesn’t matter how much health an enemy has when they’re falling off the edge of a cloud city – even if they somehow survive, they’re no longer your problem. The iconic rolling droideka bots are one of the first enemies introduced with a shield and a big health pool, which can be a real pain to grind down the honest way. Save yourself a lot of hassle by taking advantage of any opportunity to use the map and eliminate problem enemies in one fell swoop.

Plan Your Exit

While some missions involve defeating every enemy on the map, many others require getting your whole team to an extraction zone, with new threats appearing until you do. Keep this in mind, because you don’t want to get caught out barely finishing an objective and then overwhelmed trying to make it back across the whole map as more droids drop in. The mission ends the moment your whole squad is in the zone, with no need to hold for a turn or anything. Often encounters will end with the whole team ignoring the remaining enemies and running full tilt to the exit. Cly the Mandalorian is great for hitting objectives like consoles or crates because her jetpack gives her enormous range to hop around the map, so it can save a lot of stress to have the rest of the team preemptively make their way to the extraction while Cly takes the objective and jets over to catch up after.

Experiment Freely

Remember that in the armory and personnel pages back at the Den, you can freely change the specializations, talents, weapons and focus point distributions of almost all of your characters (excluding the talents of authored characters and unique specializations like Astromech or Jedi Padawan). Don’t feel committed to your initial decisions or the way characters are built when they join you, and don’t let yourself be paralyzed by choice when presented with options, like the point in the story when you unlock a second specialization for everyone. If you find you’re not using someone’s abilities much in combat, try a different specialization. There is a really wide space of potential ways to play, so try out different builds and team compositions as you get to know the game better, because there is very little opportunity cost to most of your character choices, and it’s rewarding to find new ways to combine them.

Star Wars Zero Company is available on August 27, 2026 for XBOX Series X|S.

The post Star Wars Zero Company Tips for Tactics Padawans appeared first on XBOX Wire.

We’re excited to welcome Fallout 76 players to the first Public Test Server on XBOX! Starting today, XBOX Insiders who own Fallout 76 or have access to Fallout 76 through an active Game Pass subscription can join the Fallout 76 Public Test Server (PTS). Experience upcoming XBOX Series updates before they arrive in the live game.

What’s Coming to the Public Test Server

During this Public Test Server, you can expect to see the following:

• Targeted 60 FPS gameplay on XBOX Series X|S
• 4K resolution (on compatible displays) on XBOX Series X
• Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support (on compatible displays) on XBOX Series X|S

This update brings Fallout 76 to the XBOX Series platforms natively allowing us to utilize the hardware more efficiently today and in the future. Today serves as a big step towards making sure Fallout 76 feels more comfortable to play on all console hardware.

Things to Know Before Jumping into the Public Test Server

• We take a snapshot of your characters from the live game for you to use here. You’ll have access to your characters, weapons, armor, items, and C.A.M.P.S, etc.
• The Atomic Shop will NOT be active.
• Seasonal content is NOT active.
• The PTS Locker, found outside Vault 76, often provides easy access to mods, ammo, weapons, etc. based on features we’re looking for your feedback on.
• Progression made in the PTS does NOT transfer over to the live game.
• Your PTS character progression does not persist in between test cycles. We take a new snapshot of your player before the start of every PTS.
• Lastly, during a PTS you will be testing content that is not final, please understand that you will run into issues and bugs. It’s part of the process. Also, majority of the new content you test is not likely to have been translated yet. So all of our PTS related content is limited to English only.

How to Join

1. On your XBOX Series X|S Console, sign-in and launch the XBOX Insider Hub app (or install it from the Store if needed)
2. Navigate to Previews > Fallout 76 (Public Test Server)
3. Select Join
4. Wait for registration to complete, then you’ll be directed to the Store to install Fallout 76 (Public Test Server)

Having trouble?

• If Show in Store displays an error, wait 15 minutes and try again.
• If you do not see this preview in the XBOX Insider Hub, please make sure you own Fallout 76 or have access through an active Game Pass subscription.

We Want Your Feedback

Join the Bethesda Studios Discord server to provide your feedback! The Discord is the primary way we review feedback and bug reports on these updates. So, join us and share information about your experience! After joining the server, visit #server-roles for the steps to gain access to our PTS channels.

The post Inside the Vault: Join the Fallout 76 XBOX Series Public Test Server appeared first on XBOX Wire.