Three years, ten expansions – and the Ticket to Ride train isn’t slowing down!

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Before we start gazing upon the horizon, we have our next stop to consider: Ticket to Ride’s tenth expansion, Poland. This marks the fifth digital debut for the game, following the well-received Heart of Africa, Japan, San Francisco, and Passenger-including Germany expansions!

Available on Xbox from May 13, the Ticket to Ride: Poland Expansion brings a new gameplay mechanic for you to master. It also includes two more locomotives, two additional carriages, and two original characters to play as.

From cards to coins

In the physical version of Ticket to Ride: Poland, you earn additional points by connecting neighbouring countries and picking up Country Cards. For the digital version, we’ve streamlined this mechanic by using Country Coins instead!

The game will take care of everything, setting up the Country Coins at the start of the match. Each country node gets a small pile of coins with different values shown on the top. When you connect one country to another, you get a coin from each node you built between – assuming there are any left in the pile, of course!

Then, at the end of the game, your Country Coins are added to your score. The trick is whether to focus on building out your railway network and completing tickets, or whether you rush to gather up as many Country Coins as you can before they all get swiped up by the other players!

Dance across Poland’s railway tracks and pick up those valuable Country Coins while riding the Polonaise train, or set off in the iconic Copernicus. Add the comfy Kujawiak carriage, or trust your cargo to the Orbiting Greatness carriage. You can also play as talented makeup artist Regina Kamińska or energetic drummer and student Kacper Pawlak.

Designed by history

As with all our Ticket to Ride expansions, history heavily influenced the design of the Ticket to Ride: Poland Expansion.

Filipa Semedo, Concept and 2D Artist at Marmalade Game Studio, explained: “I spent a lot of time researching 1950s Poland. The Polish government, highly influenced by the Soviet Union at the time, advised people to act and dress modestly. But American influence directly contradicted that. Since many Polish people had family in the US who sent them clothes, designs such as the American ‘A’ silhouette dress grew in popularity in Poland.

“Alongside fashion, jazz music became really popular with Polish youth too. We added a lot of that new subculture to Kacper Pawlak’s design.”

Going around the world

It’s not just historic research that drives Ticket to Ride‘s additional content. It’s been a long road to turn the maps you love into digital masterpieces!

Mike Rosser, Creative Director at Marmalade Game Studio, explained how the team selected ten expansions from the physical game’s library of maps.

“We aimed to have a good mix of expansions in the Round the World Ticket so that there are maps in there that appeal to all players. Some are more competitive, such as the India Expansion. Some are much more relaxed, like the co-operative vibes of the Japan Expansion.

“We also wanted a balance of complex maps that can take a while to play, and simpler, faster maps. By doing this, players always have a great choice available, regardless of how much time they have to play.”

“It was also important that we offered a mix of classic fan favourites like the Switzerland and Nordic Expansions along with more niche maps like Poland. We’re proud to have released some digital debuts too, like a full rendition of the Germany Expansion complete with its iconic Passenger mechanic.”

When you pick up the Round the World Ticket for Ticket to Ride, you’ll receive all ten currently released expansions to play with right away. That’s a lot of content to keep you going, but we’ve had a lot of questions about whether there’ll be more expansions beyond the ten that make up the Round the World Ticket.

What’s on the horizon for Ticket to Ride?

Well, we’re happy to confirm that there will be further content for Ticket to Ride. Plus, as an exclusive reveal for Xbox Wire readers, we can confirm that the highly requested Ticket to Ride: Pennsylvania Expansion is in the works! It’s still early days on that front, but you’ll be able to play this amazing map on Xbox in the future.

Full steam ahead, everyone!

Ticket to Ride and its current expansions are available now on the Xbox Marketplace.

Ticket to Ride: Poland Expansion is available from the May 13.

Ticket to Ride®: Deluxe Edition

Marmalade Game Studio Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆ 23

★★★★★

$39.99 $19.99

Get it now

Prepare for an adventure on a global scale! The Ticket to Ride Deluxe Bundle has everything you need to kickstart your railway empire. With the base game, you’ll be able to explore North America with six characters, seven trains and six carriages to choose from. When you’re ready to chase new horizons, the Round the World Ticket included in this bundle will open up a total of ten expansions – all currently released expansions will be playable immediately, then the remaining expansions as they release. Plus, enjoy two Ticket Packs – Europa 1912 and USA 1910, adding more tickets and game modes! Europe Expansion: Play as Erika Ford and Bertie Hawkes, and power your enterprise with the Rocket and Dolomyte Dynamite locomotives! Bonus content includes the Europa 1912 Ticket Pack, which adds three new game modes and new tickets to the Europe Expansion map. Nordic Expansion: Build routes between colourful Nordic cities, claim the sprawling Murmansk route and earn the Globetrotter Bonus in the world’s favourite train-adventure game! India Expansion: Set off on an adventure in India! New characters, locomotives and carriages await in this vibrant map. Rethink your strategies and ponder beyond single routes as you chase the elusive Mandala Bonus, awarded for completing tickets in multiple different ways! Legendary Asia Expansion: Journey along the Silk Road and take on the mighty Himalayas in Legendary Asia! Make new friends in Wang Ling and Lê Chinh, add new locomotives and carriages to your fleet and aim for the Asian Explorer Bonus! San Francisco City Expansion: Cruise through San Francisco in the Sixties as this fan-favourite map goes digital for the first time! Jump aboard a tram or get a lift from fashion designer Summer Ashbury or silver-screen icon Felix Woods as you take in the city sights and seek out Souvenirs. Switzerland Expansion: Take in the stunning sights of nature’s very own masterpiece as you strategise your way across Ticket to Ride’s most competitive map yet – the Switzerland Expansion! Connect Switzerland’s neighbouring countries as you travel along with two brand-new characters. Japan Expansion: For the first time ever, play Ticket to Ride: Japan Expansion in digital form! Work together with other players to build the Bullet Train network with travel blogger Nakanishi Kimiko and Gyōji Moriyama Isamu. Heart of Africa Expansion: Build your railway network across incredible new landscapes with festival organiser Blessing Kipruto and griot Nnamdi Okpara. Germany Expansion: Pick up Passengers when you join atelier owner Franziska Braun and scholar Reinhard Hofmann on a trip across Germany! INCLUDES: – Ticket to Ride Base Game – Round the World Ticket – Europe Expansion – Nordic Expansion – India Expansion – Legendary Asia Expansion – San Francisco City Expansion – Switzerland Expansion – Japan Expansion – Heart of Africa Expansion – Germany Expansion – Europa 1912 Ticket Pack – USA 1910 Ticket Pack

Ticket to Ride®

Marmalade Game Studio Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆ 19

★★★★★

$24.99 $9.99

Get it now

Ticket to Ride has arrived at Platform Xbox! Discover a fresh adaptation of the iconic, multi-award-winning board game. Play against fellow fans around the world, or take on state-of-the-art AI opponents. Build a railway empire, claim routes and dominate your competitors on the leaderboards in this fan-favourite modern classic! FEATURES – A TRULY SOCIAL TAKE ON MULTIPLAYER – Play online with friends or enjoy a seamless matchmaking experience when you challenge players from around the world. Alternatively, take on your friend sitting right next to you in couch play – use the free Ticket to Ride Companion App to really boost your couch gaming session! – PLAY AROUND YOUR BUSY DAY – Set up a game in async mode and play a game across multiple days. – SINGLE-PLAYER MODE DRIVEN BY EXPERT AIs – Powered by an innovative adaptive AI system, single-player mode offers a challenge for new and experienced players alike. – AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE – Every moment has been brought to life with beautiful graphics that will immerse you in the adventure. – STRATEGIC GAMEPLAY – Every game presents fresh challenges, and it’s your mission to work out the most efficient solutions. Collect points by completing tickets, linking destinations and building the longest route. Join the Marmalade Game Studio Discord server to connect with players, organise matches, see the latest news and updates, and take part in events! Contains: – Ticket to Ride base game – the fan-favourite train-adventure game that started it all! – Europe Expansion – includes the Europe map, two additional characters, two additional locomotives and two additional carriages

Clear out your weekend plans, we got something for everyone this weekend with Free Play Days! Battlefield 6, Bassmaster Fishing and JDM: Japanese Drift Master are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday May 14 until Sunday, May 17.

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)

Battlefield 6

Electronic Arts

☆☆☆☆☆ 8980

★★★★★

$69.99 $38.49

Get it now

Battlefield 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Wage all-out war in Battlefield 6 for free as an Xbox Game Pass member. From May 14-17, experience infantry and vehicle combat, class-based squad play, game-changing destruction, and new seasonal content like our biggest map yet. Lock and load, Soldier.

Bassmaster® Fishing

Dovetail Games – Fishing

☆☆☆☆☆ 340

★★★★★

$19.99 $3.99

Get it now

Bassmaster Fishing
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
Grab those shades, attach that lure and get ready to reel in a prize catch – Bassmaster Fishing is back for Free Play Days! In Bassmaster Fishing, anglers can relive the thrill of big bass fishing in locations around the USA. Cast out and hone your skills during our Free Play Days – This is your chance to get out on the water with your favorite Pro Anglers and haul in a lunker!

JDM: Japanese Drift Master

Gaming Factory

☆☆☆☆☆ 84

★★★★★

$34.99 $20.99

Get it now

JDM: Japanese Drift Master
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Explore the birthplace of drift and dive into Japan’s iconic car culture! JDM: Japanese Drift Master is an homage to Japan, Japanese street racing culture and drift. It’s an open world, story-driven experience, blending Tōuge (mountainous) serpentines, with narrow rural roads and vast highways leading to a modern cityscape.

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.

Hey everyone, I’m Chris Mallinson – Co-founder and Game Director at Caged Element, and I’m here with Jon Doughty, our Lead Designer and Level Designer. Today we’re excited to announce that the loudest, most Orky racer around is roaring onto Xbox, launching May 21!

Speed Freeks is a high-orktane combat racing game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Expect brutal, high-speed races, deep vehicle customization, and a completely live creation mode where you and your friends can jump into a blank map to build and play your creations together in real time.

With our previous title Grip being a spiritual successor to Rollcage, we’ve always had a soft spot for this style of racer and Xbox has always been a natural home for action-packed multiplayer. With Speed Freeks, we’re hoping to bring that same energy to you and maybe even spark an Xbox revival for combat racers. It’s a genre that deserves more attention, and with everything we’ve added, especially Creation Mode and cross platform play – this feels like the perfect place for it.

At its core, Speed Freeks is a full-on vehicle shooter; something you don’t see too often. We pulled inspiration from all the best bits of vehicular combat: agile stunt cars flipping through the air while firing, heavy tanks holding strategic positions, and then we layered in some properly wild Orky ideas. You’ve got things like assassin trikes, massive Grot tanks with mechanical tricks, even airborne threats with the Deffkopta. It’s a chaotic mix, but it all comes together in a way that feels balanced and incredibly fun, whilst importantly – being 100% lore accurate to the wider 40k universe.

Agility and movement have always been a huge focus for us, letting players really express skill through mobility. Interestingly, a lot of what’s in Speed Freeks came from players experimenting during development. We saw what they were doing and leaned into it to give the same kind of ‘high skill ceiling’ that games such as Rocket League or Apex Legends provide.

Vehicles can shift momentum almost instantly when grounded or even on walls. Once you start combining abilities like Dash with handbrake turns and propulsion boosts, it becomes incredibly satisfying to master.

It’s not all about high tier movement tech though, there’s several ways to play Speed Freeks and just enjoy the chaos (not the heretical kind), from straight up Deff Rally racing where you can choose to speed through checkpoints and be first to the finish, or simply throw as much dakka as possible at the enemy to stop them – to Kill Konvoy, a mode that started as a twist on Capture the Flag, but we flipped the idea. Instead of stealing flags from a base, you grab explosives from the center and deliver them to the enemy’s base, which just so happens to be a massive, walking Stompa mech.

Because the base is constantly moving, it creates this dynamic battlefield where roles naturally emerge. You’ve got players focusing on high-speed bomb runs, others defending, some clearing paths, and even dedicated blockers guarding the Stompa. If you’ve played fast-paced CTF modes in games like Tribes, or even modern hero type FPS games with role-based abilities such as Valorant or Overwatch, you’ll recognize that same kind of energy – it just feels different when you’re screaming ork speak down a microphone.

Our most recent update on PC came directly from the community in the form of creation mode. Players kept pitching creative, over-the-top Orky ideas for environments – and as we started to toy with the idea of giving them our editing tools.

It evolved into something really special.

You can jump in and out of sessions while a level is being built, driving around mid-construction and sometimes getting hilariously taken out by objects being placed in real time. It’s chaotic, social, and genuinely creative in a way that brings us back to the old Forge modes in Halo.

We also added a workshop system where you can upload your maps for others to try, whether solo or online. It came together faster than we expected, and it’s become one of the most unique parts of the game.

Warhammer is an incredible IP. Rich lore, iconic visuals, and a very passionate fanbase. At the same time, it comes with responsibility. There are clear boundaries around how things should look and feel, especially when you’re doing something new like a combat racer. We worked very close with Games Workshop to ensure that the in game models are identical and lore accurate to the minis, and that we included as many customization options for your vehicles and pit boss as possible, from alternate weapons, additional kit items to bolt onto the vehicles, and of course, lots of paint options.

The feedback from both the community and Games Workshop has been really positive. We set out to capture that raw, chaotic Ork energy and I think we got there

Thanks for checking out Speed Freeks. If this sounds like your kind of chaos, be sure to Wishlist it on Xbox and rally your crew, because this one’s best enjoyed loud and with as many Gitz as possible! We’ll see you on May 21st!

Waaagh!

Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks

Wired Productions

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

High-octane combat racing in the Warhammer 40,000 universe! Race and customize buggies, tanks and helicopters, mastering advanced movement and explosive weaponry. Unlock gear, customize your rides and use the Creation Workshop to create, share, and play custom maps with the community! More speed. More dakka. Join da Speedwaaagh and tear through war-torn tracks, racing solo, against bots, or with other people online across multiple game modes. Featuring cross platform crossplay support with PC and other platforms, meaning you can Krump yer' mates wherever they play! Prove you’re the fastest git in Deff Rally, an 8v8 combat race where, speed, kunning and aggression combine before an all-out sprint to victory. Use Orky tactics in Kill Konvoy as teams defend their giant mechanical Stompa while sabotaging the enemy’s one, with every match erupting into chaos as you fight to the finish line. Each vehicle plays differently, rewarding players with diverse skill, kunnin', and brutal strats. When the dust settles, jump into building your own chaos – using a powerful level editor with over 400 assets. Create racetracks and battlefields either solo or with friends in real time, then share them on the Workshop where you can also download other wild creations by the community.

Starting today, select Xbox Insiders can begin testing the latest updates coming to Xbox consoles, bringing even more ways to personalize and shape your experience. This latest update brings the newly introduced boot up experience, tiered Gamerscore badges, and expanded game library filters.

These features will roll out to more Insiders over time, with broader availability coming to all players later. We’re excited to hear what you think, and we’ll keep bringing you more of the features you’ve been asking for throughout the year.

New Boot up Experience

We’ve updated the console boot up experience with a new animation and sound, featuring the new Xbox logo with the signature green players know so well. You’ll see and hear the update when you power on your console, bringing a refreshed look and feel from the moment you jump in.

Earn New Tiered Gamerscore Badges

Players will now earn new tiered badges that reflect your lifetime Gamerscore, giving you a fresh way to showcase your journey on Xbox. These badges appear on your profile and in the Guide, making it easy to see your achievement history at a glance.

As your total Gamerscore grows, your badge evolves with you, reflecting every milestone along the way.

Understanding Your Game Library at a Glance

Quickly see what you can play and why. New filters make it easy to separate games you own from those shared with you and identify installed titles you no longer have access to. Whether you’re switching devices or jumping between consoles, it’s now clearer what’s in your library and what’s actually playable.

How to Get Xbox Insider Support and Share Your Feedback

We want to thank all the Xbox Insiders for the feedback you share with us. If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please join our community on the Xbox Insider subreddit, where official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! 

If you aren’t part of the Xbox Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC. For more information on the Xbox Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at @XboxInsider and keep an eye on this blog for all the latest news. 

Thank you for being part of Xbox Insiders. We can’t wait to hear what you think. 

Other resources:

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

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

What happens when the world’s most iconic battle royale invites a crew of hardened heisters through the door? You get the PUBG x Payday mode, a limited-time collaboration that doesn’t just blend two games, but asks a bold question: does PUBG: Battlegrounds have the potential to be something more than battle royale?

Here’s an exclusive look at how PUBG Studios and Starbreeze Studios came together for this collaboration: the ambition, the creative tension, and the moment it all clicked.

More Than A Crossover

Payday is a limited-time heist mode for PUBG: Battlegrounds, developed in collaboration with Starbreeze, available from May 21 until June 25, 2026. Players team up to plan and execute high-risk heists across four urban environments, securing targets like vaults, data, and cash before making their escape. Players can choose from five classes, Assault, Medic, Tank, Marksman, and Ghost, each bringing distinct strengths to the job, and decide whether to move in quietly with stealth or escalate to direct combat when the situation demands it.

For the team at PUBG Studios, this wasn’t simply about adding Payday content to the game. It was about proving something bigger – that PUBG can go beyond battle royale.

“The most important starting point for this collaboration was the direction to evolve PUBG: Battlegrounds, not to keep it as just a battle royale game, but to transform it into a gameplay platform capable of housing diverse genres and play experiences,” said Gi Hwan Park, Mode Production Team at PUBG Studios. “We wanted to show that within PUBG: Battlegrounds, even a genre entirely different from battle royale can be fully realized.”

For the team at PUBG Studios, that question, ‘what if PUBG: Battlegrounds could hold an entirely different kind of game inside it?’, pointed naturally toward Payday. The franchise’s identity around teamwork, role assignment, and plan execution mapped directly onto what PUBG Studios wanted to build: a new kind of cooperative experience inside PUBG: Battlegrounds’ existing landscape.

And on the other side of the table, Starbreeze needed no convincing.

“There was genuine enthusiasm on both sides from the start,” said Tobias Remmers, Payday Franchise Director at Starbreeze.

“As big fans of PUBG: Battlegrounds, we were very excited when this opportunity came up. For us, collabs like this are one of the best ways to give Payday fans more of what they love, but within the games they’re already playing.”

The DNA Of A Heist

Bringing Payday into PUBG: Battlegrounds wasn’t just a matter of reskinning a squad match. It required transplanting the core feeling of a heist, the planning, the pressure, the desperate final push to the extraction point, into a world built around completely different rules.

For Starbreeze, there were non-negotiables.

“When you think of Payday, you think of the iconic masks and the heists,” said Remmers. “The core of a Payday heist is the feeling of executing a plan and getting away. To reach your goal, you must bypass multiple obstacles, and fighting a variety of enemies will require different strategies and quick wits to claim the loot. However, now that you have the loot in a bag on your back, it’s not over yet. You still need to escape. The desperate fight through the opposition is as important as the heist itself.”

That philosophy shaped every stage in PUBG: Battleground’s new Payday mode. Across four distinct locations, Money Exchange, Diamond District, Nightclub, and Road Rage, players work together to hack security systems, blow open vault doors, and seize cash before figuring out a way to escape. The goal isn’t to be the last one standing. It’s to get in, get what you need, and get out.

A Different Kind of Tension

Making the two game philosophies co-exist took more than good intentions. Battle royale is built on individual survival, even in a squad-based scenario, while a heist demands collaboration, where each member of the team works on different tasks that contribute to a collective goal.

“The structure itself is completely different,” said Gi Hwan Park. “If PUBG: Battlegrounds players approach it in the way they’re used to, the heist simply doesn’t work. The most important thing we focused on was making players naturally play in a goal-oriented way, building a structure where dividing roles and pushing through objectives as a team is far more effective than individual combat skill.”

That structural shift begins before the match even loads. Players choose from five distinct classes, Assault, Support, Tank, Marksman, and Ghost, each shaping how the team approaches the job. And the job itself can be handled in two very different ways.

Go quiet. Use stealth to slip past security and reach the objective without raising an alarm. Or go loud: breach, engage, and fight through everything standing between your crew and the exit. The choice isn’t just aesthetic; it determines how the entire heist unfolds.

“Coming from a traditional PUBG: Battlegrounds match, you’ll recognize the feeling of us against everyone,” said Remmers. “But unlike PUBG where weapons are found in the game, in Payday, the teamwork starts while planning the heist. What score are we aiming for? What role will you have on the team? What weapon will you bring?”

Built Together, Not Borrowed

What makes Payday Mode distinct from a typical branded event is how it was made. PUBG Studios didn’t attempt to recreate the feel of Payday on their own. They brought Starbreeze into the development process directly.

“The most important thing in this collaboration was that the Starbreeze team, who knows Payday best, participated in the development directly,” said Gi Hwan Park. “Rather than us imitating what feels Payday-like, we approached it as properly transplanting the original experience into PUBG.”

For PUBG Studios, Payday mode is a proof of concept, a demonstration that PUBG: Battlegrounds can be a platform for additional experiences that go far beyond where it started.

The Sound of the Job

The collaboration goes beyond gameplay. PUBG: Battlegrounds has partnered with artist 070 Shake to release an original track that captures the mood and atmosphere of Payday Mode. The song is coming soon to major music platforms, but you can catch a preview in the trailer below. And if you want to hear the full track first, you can listen to it exclusively in the PUBG: Battlegrounds lobby when the update arrives.

Drop In. Plan the Job. Get Out.

Payday Mode launches on Xbox Series X|S on May 21, and will be available until June 25.

For PUBG players, it’s a chance to experience a kind of tension the game has never offered before. For Payday fans, it’s the heist DNA they know, running through a world they might not expect.

“We hope PUBG: Battlegrounds players who have been with us for a long time will experience something completely different through this mode,” said Gi Hwan Park. “We want Payday fans to see for themselves how the familiar heist flow unfolds within the world of PUBG: Battlegrounds.“

The crew is assembled. The plan is set. Now it’s time to pull the job.

Payday Mode is a limited-time event, available from May 21 to June 25, 2026. Follow PUBG: Battlegrounds on X, Reddit, or YouTube for the latest updates.

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS

KRAFTON, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 29114

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

LAND, LOOT, SURVIVE! Play PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS for free. Land on strategic locations, loot weapons and supplies, and survive to become the last team standing across various, diverse Battlegrounds. Squad up and join the Battlegrounds for the original Battle Royale experience that only PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS can offer. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is a free-to-play game, supporting limited cross-platform play on featured platforms. This content download will also provide access to the BATTLEGROUNDS Test Server, which requires a separate download to play.  Optional in-game purchases available. Please visit battlegrounds.pubg.com/ for more information. 

It has been two a-meow-zing years since our favorite tiny black cat first tumbled from a high-rise windowsill into the bustling streets of the Big City. Since then, millions of players have helped Kitty find their way back home, as well as tripping innocent human pedestrians, knocking over plant pots and stealing shiny trinkets, of course! To celebrate this milestone, we’re thrilled to invite everyone back to the Big City for Little Kitty, Big City‘s free Birthday Update, live today on Xbox Game Pass!

New Content – Kitty’s Apartment

The journey always began and ended at Kitty’s windowsill nap spot, but players only got glimpses into the apartment itself. Today, we’ve opened the doors to the rest of Kitty’s home, expanding the interior to be a full, explorable playground! Whether you’re chatting with Turt, Kitty’s TV-loving turtle roomie, or discovering Kitty’s musical side, you’ll have plenty of new opportunities to run amok! 

Pet Party

It’s not every day you turn two years old, so we’ve also decked the apartment halls with balloons, cake, and presents, as well as providing fresh new Photo Mode stickers and frames. It’s the perfect place for a birthday photo shoot! Just don’t forget to open your presents – there’s an adorable hat somewhere under all that paper!

Exciting Crossovers

We’ve teamed up with some amazing friends for this update, too! 

From the world of The Amazing Digital Circus and Glitch Productions, you can now find a Jax character hat in your hat library, and unlock a Jax skin via the Kitty Customizer (unlock code: VEGAN), while Pomni pops up as an interactable character plush! We didn’t think Kitty could get more chaotic, but we’re delighted to be proven wrong like this!

Thanks to Aggro Crab Games and Landfall Games, the lovable Bing Bong from the hit multiplayer game Peak is now available as an interactable plush for Kitty to carry! Can you take Bing Bong all the way to the top in the Big City? It’s time to find out!

We also know that exploring the Big City is more fun with a buddy, so we’ve added the Little Gecko from adorable puzzle platformer Gecko Gods as a hat, courtesy of Inresin and Super Rare. It’s like meeting Gecku’s teeniest tiniest cousin!

Smoother Experience for Kitty and Companions

As well as adding these new areas and hats, we’ve spent time refining the Little Kitty experience for Kitty’s loyal fans! 

The ducklings now react to Kitty’s moods and emotes, allowing them to join Kitty at nap spots for some truly precious group snoozes. These mischief-makers also have their own animated icons on load screens now, ensuring they get the spotlight they deserve. 

We’ve tucked in several technical fixes too—like a permanent solution for getting back into the construction yard (hooray!)—to make sure Kitty’s world is as smooth as their fur.

Thank youuuuuuuu!

Whether you are a long-time fan or a brand-new player joining us through Xbox Game Pass, we want to thank you for making these last two years with Little Kitty, Big City so special. The Birthday Update is our gift to this amazing community. Pounce on the fun today and help us wish Kitty a very happy birthday!

Little Kitty, Big City

Double Dagger Studio

☆☆☆☆☆ 2776

★★★★★

$24.99 $14.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Will you make your way home or will you explore what the big city has to offer first? I mean, getting home is obviously your main priority. Obviously. Well, it's one of your priorities. Maybe more of a guideline… It's definitely on your To-Do list somewhere! But first? Exploration!

Together with Japanese-American lifestyle brand Uprisers Lab and Zipangu, the first-ever J-Pop music festival to take place in LA, we have created two Japanese denim racing jackets to mark the upcoming launch of Forza Horizon 6. And now, fans have the chance to score them.

The aim with the drop was to create something that felt broken-in from day one. Both designs are built from upcycled Japanese selvedge denim. A custom laser-etched print layers in cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji, and JDM cars.

The Zipangu x Forza Horizon 6 Edition features reflective silver taping along the seams, designed to catch light at night. Inside, it includes a full Forza Horizon 6 lining and a purpose-built controller pocket. The zipper pull doubles as a collectible keychain.

Then there’s my version, the Sung Kang x Forza Horizon 6 Edition. It’s designed to hit different. It includes hand-sewn 3D cherry blossom appliqués and sashiko patches etched with game and culture references. Inside: a mechanic pocket, a controller pocket, and a snack pocket. LED tape runs through the seams – wireless, rechargeable, and activated by a switch.

To mark the launch, fans can enter for a chance to win one of ten Zipangu x Forza Horizon 6 Edition denim jackets or one Sung Kang x Forza Horizon 6 Edition denim jacket by following Xbox on Instagram and commenting on the official sweepstakes post with #SungKangFH6Sweepstakes.

^{No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of Xbox-supported regions (excl. Russia), 18+. Ends at 5:00 p.m. PT on June 28, 2026. See Official Rules at https://rules.xboxpromotions.com/SungKangFH6  for details.)}

It’s been a long time since we opened the doors for players to first experience Phasmophobia. Since its launch into Early Access in 2020, we’ve always been focused on defining what the game is at its core – a mix of cooperative investigation, unpredictability, and player-driven horror.

But as the game has grown over the years, we’ve finally reached a point where we feel especially confident in the game’s identity and where it’s heading. This confidence gave us the space to explore something new without losing what makes Phasmophobia what it is, and opportunities to surprise our fans with something other than a ghost event! ‘Phasmophobia by Alan Wake’ is a limited-time event in Phasmophobia, live on Xbox Series X|S from May 12 until June 2.

A limited-time collaboration felt like the perfect step for us, as it’s something special and memorable, but still very much Phasmophobia. When it came to choosing the right partner, Alan Wake 2 felt like the perfect fit. At Kinetic Games, we’re huge fans of the series – especially what Remedy Entertainment achieved with the sequel.

The tone, atmosphere and psychological edge of Alan Wake 2 aligns closely with what we try to create with Phasmophobia; both games focus on tension and the unknown, they just express them in different ways. Alan Wake 2 leans into narrative and psychological horror, while Phasmophobia has a more emergent experience that is shaped by player interaction – but at their core, both experiences are built around that same feeling of unease.

When we look back at the decision to work with Alan Wake 2 rather than the original Alan Wake, it was clear that the sequel was the right place to draw inspiration from. It pushes further into horror, with a darker atmosphere that really resonates with Phasmophobia’s players. It’s a great moment to celebrate where both of the games currently are, so this collaboration felt really warranted.

The collaboration itself came together very naturally, as both teams have a lot of mutual respect for one another. Once conversations started, it became clear that we shared a similar approach to horror and player experience. From there, ideas started flowing pretty easily, and it became less about “should we do this?” and more about “how can we make this as cool as possible?”

Rather than trying to merge the two games completely, we focused on bringing together elements that complemented our existing systems in Phasmophobia. The goal became enhancement instead of replacement, as Phasmophobia is built around the unpredictability of each investigation and the way players react in the moment – so we wanted to keep that very much intact. When players jump into the event, it should still feel like Phasmophobia, just with a different edge to it.

A lot of that comes through in the atmosphere. Alan Wake 2 does an incredible job of creating an environment that feels both oppressive and alive, and we wanted to capture that energy in this collaboration. Without going into specifics, we looked closely at how lighting, sound, and environmental storytelling could incorporate that tone in a way that fits into Phasmophobia’s investigations.

There’s a shift in atmosphere, something that feels familiar but just a little more intense and stylised. It’s still about investigating, communicating, and surviving, but the tone brings a different flavour of horror into the experience. Even players who’ve spent hundreds of hours in Phasmophobia should find something here that surprises them.

Even though this collaboration let us explore exciting new ideas, bringing another world into Phasmophobia wasn’t without its challenges. Balancing authenticity with gameplay was one of the bigger challenges for us, as we wanted to respect Alan Wake 2 and make sure anything introduced felt true to it, while also working with our own systems and mechanics. It was definitely an enjoyable puzzle to solve, especially with the support from the team at Remedy.

‘Phasmophobia by Alan Wake’ has been a major milestone for us, and opens the door to new possibilities for the future. We’d love to explore more collaborations like this if they feel like the right fit, as this has shown us how well it can work when there’s genuine alignment between both games.

Ultimately it always comes back to player experience and seeing how they react. Phasmophobia has always been shaped by its community, and the fans are incredibly perceptive when it comes to the details. Watching them pick up on the subtle shifts in the tone and atmosphere, including fans of Alan Wake 2, is something we’re really looking forward to.

It’s a moment where two worlds come together – and we can’t wait for players to step inside and experience it for themselves.

Phasmophobia (Game Preview)

Kinetic Games

☆☆☆☆☆ 3657

★★★★★

$19.99

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This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game. INVESTIGATE Immersive Experience: Realistic graphics and sounds as well as a minimal user interface ensure a totally immersive experience that will keep you on your toes. Unique Ghosts: Identify over 20 different ghost types, each with unique traits, personalities, and abilities to make each investigation feel different from the last. Equipment: Use well-known ghost-hunting equipment such as EMF Readers, Spirit Boxes, Thermometers, and Night Vision Cameras to find clues and gather as much paranormal evidence as you can. Find Cursed Possessions that grant information or abilities in exchange for your sanity. PLAY YOUR WAY Locations: Choose from over 10 different haunted locations, each with unique twists, hiding spots, and layouts. Game Modes: With 5 default difficulties and daily and weekly challenges, there are plenty of ways to test your skills. Teamwork: Dive in head first, get your hands dirty searching for evidence while fighting for your life. If you're not feeling up to the task, play it safe and support your team from the truck by monitoring the investigation with CCTV and motion sensors. Custom Difficulty: Create your own games to tailor the difficulty to your or your group's needs, with proportional rewards and come up with crazy game modes of your own! MULTIPLAYER Co-operate: Play alongside your friends with up to 4 players in this co-op horror where teamwork is key to your success. Play together: Phasmophobia supports all players together, play with your friends with any combination of input types. Cross-play: Play alongside your friends on other platforms. Full details on the latest status of the game, how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at https://kineticgames.co.uk/.