Growing up, there was a gas station down the street from my house that was always well-supplied with candy and snacks. It was a perfect pitstop between my elementary school and my house on the way home. My friends and I would park our bikes out front, run inside for sweets, and then head home to play video games. I’m pretty sure I can trace the layout of that store on the back of my hand.

That leads me to my recent hands-on demo with Forever Ago at Summer Game Fest: Play Days, an upcoming road trip narrative adventure game that has us playing as the elder Alfred on a journey of remembrance. As we meet him, an undisclosed tragedy has befallen him, leaving him alone with just himself, a dog, and his vintage camper van. Our demo begins with us pulling into a gas station convenience store nestled deep in the woods.

As Alfred steps through the door, it’s clear that it has been some time since he last shopped here. He asks the young attendant managing the place where the owner is; “He’s passed on,” he says, leaving Alfred in a state of shock. Recognizing he needed to more carefully choose his words, “Oh, he’s retired now,” allows Alfred a sigh of relief. In his apparently fragile state, it doesn’t seem like he could have handled that news.

Needing to gather supplies for the trip ahead, we pick up a handbasket and start shopping – and are once again greeted by the young attendant who is only too eager to help, sensing we’re on the wrong side of 70. Alfred doesn’t want the help – he has shopped here plenty of times and knows where things are – preferring to be left to do his shopping in peace.

The store is well detailed, full of snacks, boxes, camping supplies, and more – everything you’d expect at a gas stop on the way to a campground. Alfred seems to have a remark about every object in the store, which is both a nice attention to and a hint at how extensive dialog will be in this game. Once we had our supplies and map, it was time to check out. Things are going fine until Alfred spots a photograph behind the register.

The photo is of Alfred, the store owner, and his departed wife. And he wants it. The push and pull conversation between the well-meaning attendant and the increasingly hostile Alfred are revealing – up until this point we were frustrated with the attendant and his helicopter parenting of us in the store; now the narrative is flipped, and we see a new side of Alfred and his hostile behavior. The attendant doesn’t seem to grasp the trauma of Alfred’s situation, wanting to own any piece of his past. As his temper grows, Alfred forcibly takes the photo and storms out of the convenience store, back outside, and back into the van to stare at the frame.

This leads us to a flashback sequence as we see a younger Alfred alongside his wife, Audrey, presumably the first time they’re visiting this location. What continues is a bit of a dreamscape sequence, as we follow her down a darkened path; it seems Alfred’s trauma of loss will manifest these moments through the game, which seems to be a darker narrative tale than I think I was expecting to experience going into my hands-on time. Shortly after this, the demo concludes.

My time with Forever Ago was brief but heartfelt. Even with a pitstop at an old convenience store, I can now better understand how the interaction with the world is going to introduce these narrative flashback moments at this stops along the way, coupled with the emotional journey Alfred is going on both physically and mentally. There’s something special here, and we can’t wait to play more of Forever Ago when it launches October 8, 2026, for XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere.

Forever Ago

Annapurna Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Following a tragic stroke of fate, Alfred embarks on a journey north in search of redemption. In this single-player road trip adventure, you'll travel to beautiful places, capture memories with your camera, meet interesting characters, and even make some new friends. Discover Stories Experience a nuanced and heartfelt story about broken dreams, loss, and regret—but also courage, hope, and true friendship. Learn about the stories, beliefs and struggles of characters you meet along the way, brought to life by renowned voice actors. Embark on an Unforgettable Road Trip Explore beautiful environments, ranging from serene forest trails to dusty barrens sweltering in the desert sun. Examine and interact with objects to learn about your surroundings and the people living there. And don’t forget to pet the dog. Capture Memories Take pictures with Alfred’s good ol' instant camera to document your journey and solve small environmental puzzles. Relive True Love Play through a lifetime of love as Alfred with your sweetheart Audrey, experiencing a true love that transcends time. Featuring an original soundtrack by Clark Aboud (Slay the Spire, Kind Words).

Ever since I was a small child, I’ve thought that stop-motion animation is simply one of the coolest forms of human artistic expression. From “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to “Prometheus and Bob” to “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” I’ve always been dazzled by the amount of creativity and work that can go into every single frame. The prospect of a stop-motion animated game has always been incredibly tantalizing (I even played a lot of ClayFighter), even though everything I know about both game development and animation tells me what a daunting task that would be.

At Outright Games, we worked alongside our partners at Nickelodeon to bring Dino Island to life in PAW Patrol: Dino World. We wanted to make each region feel distinct, with its own atmosphere, gameplay style, and challenges for players to overcome.

The Volcano quickly became one of the most exciting areas for the team to develop because it represents a major turning point in the adventure, where the stakes become bigger, the missions become more dramatic, and players really begin to see how their actions can help save Dino Island.

In this first look trailer for the XBOX community, I’d love to take you inside the Volcano region and share more about how we approached this fiery part of the island!

By the time players reach the Volcano, things on Dino Island are no longer peaceful. What begins as a mysterious explosion quickly escalates into one of the pups’ biggest rescue missions yet. After a cave passage collapses leading into the Volcano area, the PAW Patrol heads in to investigate, uncovering a confused group of Mahakala dinosaurs and signs that Mayor Humdinger has been causing trouble once again.

We wanted this region to feel more dramatic and unpredictable than earlier areas of the game, while still staying accessible for younger players. The environment itself plays a huge role in that. Lava flows, collapsing pathways, and damaged construction zones all become part of the gameplay, encouraging players to carefully explore the area, solve problems, and help restore order as the situation worsens.

One of my favourite parts of the Volcano storyline is seeing how the pups work together to help the Mahakala herd. Early on, players discover that Humdinger has destroyed their nests while building a dinosaur attraction nearby, leaving the herd distressed and divided. The PAW Patrol steps in to rebuild the nests based on the dinosaurs’ different preferences, which creates a fun mix of exploration, environmental interaction, and problem-solving.

As the adventure unfolds, players also uncover a dinosaur park under construction deep within the Volcano region. Rex plays a major role throughout this part of the story, helping the pups investigate the site alongside his best friend Timmy the T-Rex. Together, they assist during quests, help uncover Humdinger’s plans, and guide players through some of the area’s biggest moments.

Things eventually build toward one of the game’s most exciting sequences, where players must rescue Timmy after he becomes trapped by Mayor Humdinger. Once reunited, players take direct control of Rex riding Timmy in a special escape sequence through the Volcano region as everything begins to erupt around them.

For us, this moment was all about creating a big cinematic payoff that still felt approachable and exciting for younger audiences. We wanted players to feel the scale and energy of the Volcano while keeping the controls intuitive and fun.

We also used the Volcano area to introduce more environmental storytelling into the game. Throughout the region, players can see the effects of Humdinger’s actions on Dino Island, from damaged habitats to frightened dinosaurs and unstable areas affected by construction. As players progress through missions, the environment gradually changes to reflect the positive impact the PAW Patrol is having on the island and its inhabitants.

While the Volcano is one of the final areas players will encounter in PAW Patrol: Dino World, we always wanted it to feel like more than just a dramatic finale. It’s a region that brings together exploration, teamwork, rescue missions, and larger-scale gameplay moments in a way that builds naturally on everything players have learned throughout the adventure.

From the start, our goal with PAW Patrol: Dino World has been to create an adventure that feels welcoming for younger players while still delivering exciting moments for families to experience together. Whether exploring Dino Island solo or in local co-op, we’ve designed the game so players can take on rescue missions, solve challenges, and discover the island at their own pace.

We’re really excited for the XBOX community to head into the Volcano and experience these moments for themselves when PAW Patrol: Dino World launches July 31, 2026.

PAW Patrol: Dino World

Outright Games Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$39.99

Pre-order

ROARR! Sounds like trouble. Did that come from Dino Island? It looks like Rex needs the PAW Patrol to save the day! Mayor Humdinger’s causing chaos. Dinosaurs are scared and running wild. Help them get back to their families safely. Leap into a colossal, open-world with Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, and Zuma. First stop, PAW Patrol Mobile HQ with Ryder to find out what rescue missions you’ll em-bark on as your favorite Pup. Run through the Dino Plains looking for eggs. Stop by the Paleo Center, where Heidi and Eugenia will teach you how to care for your new dino friends. Decorate their enclosures to make them feel like home. Sniff out collectibles across the sandy shores and discover rocky caves with secret pools. Switch to vehicle mode to drive through a jungle, filled with tall trees, long vines and tropical fruits. Create roar-some new looks for your pup, your vehicle, and dinosaurs and complete every mission stomping in style. Dive into fun minigames and discover dino-sized surprises solo or team up with a friend in two-player mode. If you get stuck navigating through the wilds, remember you can follow the paw prints and look out for the help icon. Can you stop the chaos and make it to the volcano before it erupts? With the help of dino experts, Rex and Timmy, you can. No dino’s too big, no pup’s too small in this prehistoric adventure!

The apocalypse is calling! The wait is nearly over, Metas. Before the official launch, we are thrilled to announce the final Console Open Beta for our weird and wonderful supernatural survival game, Once Human.

Prepare to experience the apocalypse like never before. With the leap to the big screen, you can expect deeper immersion, stunning visuals on your XBOX Series X|S, and pure, unfiltered survival. More players, more chaos, and more fun await! Here is everything you need to know before you step into the supernatural monster world.

Experience the Apocalypse on the Big Screen

Survive in a supernatural apocalypse where reality has fallen apart. As a Meta-Human, you will explore a vast, Stardust-infected open world where monsters are both a threat and the key to your survival. Every expedition carries risk, but yields vital resources. Gather materials and build your ultimate territory, but be prepared to defend your home against relentless sieges.

In this world, your enemies are your greatest asset. You can capture Deviants—bizarre entities that can automate your base, gather resources, and fight by your side. Push your evolution further by hunting powerful anomalies for Mutagens. Fuse with them, mutate your body, and harness their grotesque abilities to crush anything that stands in your way. In Once Human, survival is more than just staying alive. It is about turning the unknown—and the monsters themselves—into your own power.

During this Open Beta, you’ll have access to multiple scenarios and seasons to fit your playstyle. Whether you want to learn the ropes or dive straight into hardcore challenges, the choice is yours. Available scenarios include:

• Novice Scenario
• Manibus
• Endless Dream
• The Way of Winter
• RaidZone

(Note: Players in all scenarios except RaidZone can also experience Visional Wheel S3: Aberrant Progeny!)

Reach Level 20 & Earn Exclusive Rewards

As a massive thank-you to everyone participating in this final test, we are giving away exclusive rewards that you can bring with you into the official launch!

Reach Level 20 with any character during the beta to earn a Cosmetic Selection Crate and a Weapon Skin Selection Crate. (Note: If you only play in the RaidZone, you will need to accumulate more than 3 hours of playtime to be eligible).

Cosmetic Options (Choose 1 of 3):

• Abyssal Dragon Set
• Noise Manifesto Set
• Wasteland Sheriff Set

Weapon Skin Options (Choose 1 of 3):

• Dragon Dance – KAM
• Reconstructed Matrix – AWS.33
• Gem Symphony – MG4

Will my progress carry over? This Open Beta is a wipe test, meaning most of your character progress will be reset before the official launch. However, you won’t leave empty-handed! The following will permanently carry over to the full release:

All earned Starchrom

All cosmetics and outfits obtained

Up to 6 collected Deviants

How to Join the Beta on XBOX Series X|S

This test is open globally, but spots are strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the user cap is reached, the download channel may close, so be sure to secure your spot early!

To join on XBOX:

1. Turn on your XBOX Series X|S and open the XBOX Insider Hub app (download it from the Store if you don’t have it).
2. Navigate to the “Previews” section.
3. Search for “Once Human” and click “Join”.
4. You will be directed to the store page to install the game.

(If you participated in the previous Closed Beta and still have the game installed, you will receive an automatic update. If you deleted it, you can simply re-download it from your game library without needing to re-register).

Test Schedule & Important Info

Mark your calendars so you don’t miss a second of the action:

• Pre-download Opens: June 17 at 5:00 PM PT
• Servers Go Live: June 17 at 7:00 PM PT
• Beta Concludes: July 8, 11:59 PM PT

A note on Cross-play: While cross-play with PC and Mobile players is not supported during this test, the console servers are unified! XBOX and PlayStation players will be able to team up and survive the apocalypse together.

We Want Your Feedback!

This final beta is crucial for us to polish the console experience before launch, and your feedback is incredibly valuable. If you run into bugs or have suggestions, please use the in-game Feedback & Customer Support menu. You can also join the dedicated tester-feedback-submit channel on the official Once Human Discord.

Gather your friends, grab your weapons, and get ready to survive the weirdness. We’ll see you in the monster world on June 17!

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ final content update is out now, wrapping up the story of Naoe and Yasuke in the Sengoku era. Black Tides is the final narrative installation, offering over approximately two hours of new content and featuring a little bit of deep lore, some Templar action, and [spoiler alert] also a tie-in to the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. The update also introduces a new gameplay feature designed to challenge or even break player’s strongest builds. Domains brings hours and hours of additional gameplay, offering complex challenges in a replayable loop designed for hardcore RPG players. Set outside the constraints of feudal Japan, this new feature pushes players to craft new builds to win increasingly difficult challenges for exclusive rewards.

All of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ post launch content, including Black Tides and Domains, has been shaped to some degree by the community response to the game. We spoke to Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois to learn more about the team’s approach to developing post-launch content, the effect community feedback has had on content, and connections between Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.

How was your approach to post-launch content in Assassin’s Creed Shadows different than recent franchise installations?

Simon Lemay-Comtois: There was a big shift between Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s post-launch strategy and that of Shadows. Valhalla was known for big, chunky, polished, gigantic updates back-to-back, and the community responded pretty well to that.

With Shadows, the post-launch approach has been more iterative and more responsive to player feedback than for other recent entries. We still had a major standalone expansion with Claws of Awaji, but beyond that, we released smaller, more targeted updates that let us react quickly to what players were telling us and what we were seeing in how they played, with a focus on steadily improving core systems.

This means that the feature efforts that were put into Shadows were more groundwork for everything else that is to come. We took a pause and asked what the community wanted, looked at what they liked and didn’t like about Shadows. From there, we looked at what we could give them more of, what we could change, and what we could repair. And I think that’s a healthy thing to do every now and again. Ultimately, I think it’s what Shadows needed, and it helped us understand and respond to community requests as we developed post-launch content.

What have been some of the biggest impacts of community feedback in Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ post-launch content?

SLC: There have been several big impacts. I would say the most obvious one has been the parkour updates that we’ve done; we basically had an almost complete overhaul of the parkour during post-launch. When we launched Shadows, I had been in charge of the parkour and felt really smug and smart and that people were going to love it. And then they didn’t. I was lucky to get another crack at it and have a lot of discussions with the parkour enthusiasts, content creators, fan base, and community who were extremely vocal but constructive. Through several workshops, discussions, and long sessions of watching hours upon hours of their content breakdowns, we were able to right the ship to some degree. 

As one example, we worked with Ropotopolous, who is a parkour god in the community. In Shadows, Naoe’s parkour down mechanic is designed to get her from the rooftop to the ground silently so she can kill somebody and then go back up, which makes sense in gameplay that was all about stealth. But parkour enthusiasts don’t use parkour for stealth exclusively; they parkour for fun. They’d rather have her drop down in steps, such as from the roof to a lantern pole to something on the ground, so they have more agency over where she goes and how she goes there.  It’s an important data point to consider for the future, and we’ve got to do parkour down in a way that caters to the parkour enthusiast community without breaking parkour down for the stealth community.  

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced benefitted from our common game engine, Anvil, and community feedback, as the team in Singapore adopted relevant parkour improvements for Edward. Resynced players will have a more fluid parkour experience, with quicker interruptions between moves.

What content in this final update is a direct result of community feedback?

SLC: All of it. If you want to split it in two, we have a last big narrative update that concludes the story of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and we have a hardcore RPG replayability feature called Domains.

Domains is all about testing the gear that you’ve accumulated, changing your perks, changing abilities, moving from Yasuke to Naoe to try and tackle increasingly difficult challenges that give you more rewards, more gear. These rewards cannot be bought anywhere, found in the world, or appear in the Animus Exchange. If you want those things, you have to go through the gauntlet. Domains is for a very dedicated RPG section of the fan base, who have been demanding something that really challenges them and requires them to craft more interesting builds, and give them the opportunity to analyze stats, and really go in-depth on the RPG aspects of the game.

The story conclusion, Black Tides, is a direct response to the community requests for more Templars in the game and more connection to the wider Assassin’s Creed lore. So this last update is all about Templars, baby. There’s this rank of Templars called the Black Cross, the most elite Templar agents out there. They’ve been in the books and comic books, but for the first time in any Assassin’s Creed game, we’re bringing not one, but two Black Cross Templars to Japan to hunt down Naoe and Yasuke (though they probably have other motives, as Templars tend to do). They’re an interesting pair and work well together, and act as a foil to Naoe and Yasuke. They’re mirror opposites of our two protagonists, and this quest hooks into the deeper tapestry of lore from many other entries in the franchise in a way that Assassin’s Creed Shadows didn’t do in the main game.  

In this story update, we wanted to show all the lore as respectfully as possible, in a way that makes sense and doesn’t retcon anything or break continuity, but also paves the way for the future.

You mentioned earlier some parkour learnings will be part of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Is there any connection between this new story content and that game?

SLC: There is.

I would also say we’re referencing three other major titles directly, and referencing a fourth a little less directly. And I’ll say Black Flag is one of the three we reference overtly. When you see it, you’ll get it. It’s hard to miss.

Any final thoughts for the Assassin’s Creed Shadows community?

SLC: To the Shadows community, I would say thank you. We see the hours that the players put in, we see the crazy builds, we see the stealth videos and parkour challenges, we see all the love and care and appreciation for our community that has come out of the game. There’s a lot of work that’s been put into the world of Japan, the characters, the weapons, the way they move, the way they talk, the way they act. And the people who played Shadows are very responsive to and appreciative of that care.

For everyone else who hasn’t picked up Shadows yet, what are you waiting for! Advanced Parkour, New Game+, detailed stats page, Claws of Awaji expansion, headgear in cutscenes – you won’t find a more community-oriented set of features anywhere – at least not until Black Flag Resynced comes around on July 9^th!

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ final free update is out now on XBOX Series X|S, and don’t miss Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced when it launches on XBOX Series X|S on July 9.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

Ubisoft

☆☆☆☆☆ 3833

★★★★★

$69.99

Get it now

MASTER THE DEEPEST STEALTH MECHANISMS OF THE SERIES & FIGHT IN VISCERAL COMBAT “Shadows is some of the most fun I’ve had with a stealth game in a decade” —PC Gamer Play as Naoe, a quick-witted shinobi, and use light, sound, and shadows to evade detection. Infiltrate enemy strongholds with many parkour options including the new grappling hook, distract guards with shuriken or smoke bombs, and assassinate your targets with your Hidden Blade. As the samurai Yasuke, use silent bow takedowns or unleash devastating melee combos with your katana or Naginata. DEEP-DIVE INTO THE CAPTIVATING WORLD OF ASSASSIN'S CREED SHADOWS “Assassin’s Creed Shadows creates one of the best versions of the open-world style.” —IGN Step into feudal Japan like never before! From majestic castle towns to serene shrines and sweeping countryside, Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a breathtaking open world where dynamic seasons, shifting weather, and environmental destruction affect your tactical approach. And, to get full immersion, experience the game through Japanese voiceover. DISCOVER THE MOST TECHNICALLY ADVANCED ASSASSIN’S CREED GAME YET “It leads to one of the most dynamic, fun, and best-looking open-world games I’ve played this generation.” —Kotaku Experience a true next-gen leap with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, powered by the updated Anvil engine. From the shimmer of lantern light on rain-slick rooftops to the rustle of cherry blossoms in the wind, every detail is crafted to immerse you deeper into feudal Japan. A GLOBAL HIT Whether you are a veteran Assassin’s Creed player or new to the franchise, feudal Japan awaits you! Join a community of millions of players and discover a title GameSpot describes as "an absolute blast to play," Eurogamer.es as "the best Assassin's Creed of the modern era" and GamingTrend as “the new benchmark for the series.” Internet connection, Ubisoft account and Microsoft Account required to access online features.

In the latest Expansion for Jurassic World Evolution 3, players will enter a new era as they take control of three top-secret locations in the largest DLC to date. The Jurassic World Rebirth Expansion introduces a brand-new campaign set before the events of the Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment blockbuster film. Creating unique narrative in one of the world’s most well-known franchises is no easy feat – join Alex Bolton, Senior Communications Manager at Frontier Developments for an exclusive interview with Senior Game Writer Ian Bousher. 

How does the Jurassic World Rebirth Expansion fit into the Overall Franchise Timeline?

Ian Bousher: This expansion pack takes place before the prologue scene in Jurassic World Rebirth, where fans were first introduced to the Distortus rex. Île Saint-Hubert, the setting for the Expansion, is at its peak output of pioneering research to meet the increasing demand from the theme park for new exciting species.

Of course, there’s good reason that the exact research being done here is kept secret… Part of the fun of working in the Jurassic World franchise is being inspired by the extensive lore available to us, and writing a campaign in the time period of that lore was a real honour.  

From a narrative perspective, what stands out to you in the Island’s locations?

Bousher: The three Research Sites in this expansion have all been crafted with such love and attention to detail, I could spend a while answering this one. From a narrative perspective, I’m really proud of how we’ve captured the feeling of the island setting in Jurassic World Rebirth. The Ancient Valley site, for example, is inspired by the iconic Titanosaurus scene from the film, and seeing those dinosaurs in this beautiful natural area is truly amazing. How the art team have expanded on the ruins from the film is also a delight to see.

The Riverside Laboratory is also a fantastic level, this one inspired by the river scene from the film. As soon as you arrive you see this intimidating example of a T. rex swimming and you’re tasked with testing how well it can hunt. The player does that by releasing Parasaurolophus into the enclosure. Of course, there’s that infamous Parasaurolophus next to the T. rex in the film, so it’s almost like the player is giving the T. rex a taste for this specific herbivore. That’s just one of so many little nods to the wider Jurassic World lore that keen-eyed fans will see throughout this story.

Of course, the Main Facility is the site with the biggest spectacle. This is where a lot of the prologue action in the film takes place and our opening cutscene is a great homage to how the film is shot as well. And, right off the bat, you’re challenged with re-containing a rampaging Mutadon; part Velociraptor, part pterosaur, and completely unique. My absolute favourite narrative moment comes late in the expansion’s story though, but I’ll let players discover that one for themselves…  

What does the process of creating a unique narrative in the Jurassic universe look like?

IB: The starting point was watching the film lot of times…

Part of the joy of telling a story within an existing timeline is that you can provide context and provide a possible answer to questions that you and other Jurassic World fans have. You can even just sow the seeds for things that you see in the film, and that’s just so satisfying. Like the immense Titanosaurus herd in the film – we can suggest that the player is responsible for that, tasking them with assignments to breed these gigantic animals and set off the chain of events that leads to the huge herd you see in the film. 

So, we always look at the source material and think, you know, how can we build on this and complement it? And then in terms of creating the original game story, we’re trying to draw on the same sort of themes from that film. Jurassic World Rebirth really harkens back to the themes of the original movies, with science going too far. We’ve really tried to explore this conflict between scientific progress and discovery versus the ethics of pioneering genetic research. To that end, Île Saint-Hubert is all about doing things we wouldn’t normally ask the player to do in the base game’s campaign, like creating brand new (highly experimental) dinosaur traits.

Can you tell us a little about the expansion’s main characters?

IB: Yeah, of course. So, unlike previous games, you’re not some fancy director high up in an organisation; instead, you are just a normal worker on Île Saint-Hubert. And to reinforce that feeling, the two other main characters are also workers at your sort of level, which has allowed us to create a fantastic sort of jokey sibling relationship between them and the player.

One of the new characters is Callie, who is more of a dinosaur behaviourist and is interested in genetics and ecology. She has a very dry sense of humour. She’s very wry. She’s a little bit more pessimistic too, which makes her really fun to write. Then on the other side, there’s Dale. He’s more laid back, kind of like Cabot Finch, from the base game campaign, just without the obsession for money… So, he’s just chill. He loves building stuff; he’s an engineer who wants to see gears turn and make stuff happen. He’s especially involved with the new Geothermal Power feature that this expansion introduces.

Lily Halford also returns to the Jurassic World Evolution franchise in this expansion, this time acting as the island’s Director of Operations. Because this story is set so many years before the base game’s campaign, we get to see how events on the island helped create the Lily that we see in the base campaign. Let me tell you, Lily is NOT happy about certain aspects of the work that this island is doing…

Jurassic World Evolution 3: Rebirth Expansion will launch on XBOX Series X|S on June 16. The Jurassic World Evolution 3 base game is available to play via Game Pass.

Jurassic World Evolution 3

Frontier Developments

☆☆☆☆☆ 659

★★★★★

$59.99 $47.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

The next entry in the award-winning series, Jurassic World Evolution 3 puts you in control of building and running your very own Jurassic World.   Help life find a way by synthesising, breeding, and nurturing prehistoric species. Manage each species and allow them to thrive, while helping your dinosaurs raise families and pass their genes onto future generations.  Create incredible havens for your dinosaurs to help them flourish, build exciting new attractions to amaze guests, and maintain control when disaster inevitably strikes.  Nurture Generations of Dinosaurs  With over 85 awe-inspiring pre-historic species, 75 of which allow you to manage, breed and nurture families of dinosaurs across entire generations. Rear them from playful juveniles into awe-inspiring adults, each with distinct female, male, and juvenile variants.  Park guests will marvel as these majestic creatures socialise and react to the vibrant world around them.  Manage unique social needs and observe brand new behaviours, with semi-aquatic dinosaurs venturing into deep water and pterosaurs walking on land.  Creativity Evolved  Create jaw-dropping parks with new creative tools never before seen in the Jurassic World Evolution series! From groundbreaking terrain editing to modular scenery customisation – build and tweak every aspect of your park from the ground up or, generate a custom map which is unique every time with the Island Generator. The choice is in your hands! Build your sites with naturalistic enclosures using steep slopes and scenery, introduce stunning new attractions such as the Balloon Tour, a close-up attraction that let guests see and touch prehistoric animals with the Dinosaur Encounter or the iconic Cretaceous Cruise where guests can view dinosaurs from a new watery perspective!    Create, upload and share cross-platform community creations using the Frontier Workshop. Browse the very best creations from the community, place them in your own game or craft your own custom parks, buildings and enclosures before sharing for other players to use.  Epic Globetrotting Campaign  Join familiar faces from the Jurassic franchise, including Dr. Ian Malcolm (voiced by Jeff Goldblum) and embark on a non-linear campaign across a sprawling world map filled with iconic locations such as the Montana Badlands, and new locations such as Japan—each offering thrilling new challenges. Every decision will test your park management skills as you balance competing human interests with the delicate integration of dinosaurs into a modern world.  You’ll need to juggle your reputation with three influential industry sectors and the unique demands of an array of site-owning clients. But be warned: not everyone wants to see the dinosaurs thrive.  Control the Chaos  Set your site up to run as efficiently as possible with powerful and accessible park management tools provide control over your park’s operations.  But chaos is the only certainty, so prepare for disaster using new security cameras that will help automate the response to escaped dinosaurs and deploy your Maintenance team to keep threats contained by delivering critical repairs across the site. 

I hope you all enjoyed the XBOX Games Showcase; we had dozens of games and updates, many of them with the “Play It Day One with XBOX Game Pass” badge! While you’re waiting for those games to come your way, let’s get to what you can play next.

Available Today

Junkster (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – June 16
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available day one on XBOX Game Pass! Junkster is a 3D action platformer with an awesome building mechanic. Plucky, little construction bot, UM-13 (or Um for short) has crashed on a dangerous junkyard planet. Armed only with his trusty robo-wrench, Um must repair his ship and recover his lost cargo of precious human artifacts.

Coming Soon

Call of Duty: Vanguard (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Rise on every front: Dogfight over the Pacific, airdrop over France, defend Stalingrad with a sniper’s precision and blast through advancing forces in North Africa. Experience Call of Duty: Vanguard, developed by Sledgehammer Games, including Campaign, Multiplayer, and an exciting Zombies experience developed by Treyarch.  

EA Sports FC 26 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 18
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

EA Sports FC 26 is coming to EA Play! Experience the World’s Game like never before with EA Sports FC 26, coming soon to The Play List. Shape your legacy with a Supercharge Pack available from Jun 18 – Jul 17 and get recurring rewards like Football Ultimate Team Draft Tokens and seasonal Clubs rewards. Members also save 10% on EA digital purchases.

Abyssus (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – June 25
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Stranded in the underwater ruins of a lost civilization, you’ll have to bring grit, fast reflexes, and some ludicrous firepower to survive its lethal denizens. Abyssus is a fast-paced one-to-four player FPS and roguelite brinepunk adventure, sporting ultra-customizable weapons and skills with hundreds of power-ups.

RV There Yet? (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – June 30
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

You and your buddies are on your way home from a relaxing vacation, but not everyone who enters Mabutts Valley makes it out alive. Be sure to keep a steady flow of burgers, antidotes, and EpiPens to make it through the back country to Route 65.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 2
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

Get hyped for the legendary franchise to return with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Everything you loved is back, but revamped with more skaters, new parks, gnarlier tricks, eardrum shattering music, plus a whole lot more.

Winds of Arcana: Ruination (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – July 6
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Discover the secrets of a sundered world as you help Aryn save his comrades in this story-rich, fully voiced, 2.5D action Metroidvania. Wield powerful magic, fight terrible dangers and explore ancient mysteries as Aryn uncovers the forces that forge his destiny.

In Case You Missed It

The Elder Scrolls Online (PC) – June 2
Now available with PC Game Pass; joining Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and Game Pass Essential

Now available on XBOX on PC! With free seasonal content launching every three months, experience the world of Tamriel in more ways than ever before. The Thieves Guild returns during Season One in The Elder Scrolls Online.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 7
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Team NINJA’s dark fantasy RPG returns to Game Pass! In Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, players fight for survival in a chaotic Three Kingdoms infested by demons. Featuring lightning-fast combat and deep customization, experience a supernatural Han Dynasty like never before.   

Beatdown City Survivors (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – June 10
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Eradicate hordes of monsters in this survivors-style roguelite set in a rotting, destructible city that hates you. Start fires, blow stuff up, electrify water, you name it. Upgrade & craft an arsenal of oddball weapons including pigeons riding boots. Unlock & upgrade offbeat characters & survive! 

33 Immortals (Full Game Release) (Cloud, Console and PC) – June 11
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

The long-awaited 1.0 release of 33 Immortals is finally here. Experience our complete co-op action-roguelike game with all three regions, the final boss encounter, new challenges, and expanded customization. It’s time to join the rebellion and face the Wrath of God.

Game Updates

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 04 – Available Now
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Drop into brand-new Multiplayer Maps spanning a range of locations, from a dystopian office building to reimagined Maps from Black Ops history. As you play, unlock all-new Weapons and gear you’ll need to survive the next fight. Plus, Zombies players get introduced to an all-new roguelite Mode

Sea of Thieves: Season 20 (Console and PC) – Available June 18

Custom Seas puts you in command of the Sea of Thieves experience, allowing you to set the rules! Create game modes, summon enemies and items as you see fit, and capture the resultant mayhem in style using a powerful Free Camera. Now you hold the keys to the seas.

EA Sports College Football 27: EA Play Early Access Trial (Console) – Coming July 2
Game Pass Ultimate

It’s time to take the gridiron in EA Sports College Football 27. Get gameday ready with an EA Play 10-hour early access trial. If you decide to buy, your progress carries over to the full game. Members can also save 10% on EA digital purchases, including the full version of the game and College Football Points.

In-Game Benefits

Goals (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – Available Now
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, PC Game Pass

Goals is a competitive soccer game where skill decides everything, and every moment is built for players. Start building your team’s legacy today with Game Pass Player Pack rewards. Receive a monthly reward of 6 Uncommon Players, including 1x Attacker, 2x Midfielders, 2x Defenders, and 1x Goalkeeper.

Where Winds Meet (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available Now
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, PC Game Pass

Where Winds Meet is an epic open world action-adventure RPG rooted in the rich legacy of Wuxia. Explore the world freely and, do whatever you like! Here, freedom is yours, but every action has its weight. Follow the wind, write your tale! Game Pass members can claim their core reward bundle including 90K coins, 6 Attunement Stones, and more now!

World of Tanks: Modern Armor (Cloud and Console) – July 7
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential

Stay ahead of the competition with this exclusive bundle, specially crafted for Game Pass subscribers! It’s packed with powerful rewards that will help you dominate even the toughest challenges, so don’t miss this chance to gear up and roll right into battle, Commander! 

Bundle includes:

• x4 Commander XP (10)
• x3 Vehicle XP (10)

Leaving June 30

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Don’t want the fun to end? Save on these games now before they leave Game Pass!   

• Mecha Break (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Payday 2 (Console)
• Rise of Tomb Raider (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Tomb Raider (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Slay the Spire (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Ultimate Chicken Horse (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Volcano Princess (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Unpacking (Cloud, Console, and PC)

As always, keep an eye on social media for the latest XBOX Game Pass updates or here on the Wire. We’ll be back here to chat soon!

_{Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.}

Our curtain rises on a darkened stage. The show hasn’t begun yet. In the wings, past the faded backdrops and garbage mounds of unused props, in the hidden places where the limelight can’t reach, a Resident of the Nowhere toils in secret.

This is the Puppeteer.

She inhabits a new area of the Carnevale that you’ll explore this summer in the first chapter of Secrets of the Spiral, a two-part DLC story for Little Nightmares III, available now on XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S.

The Scissors Behind the Seams

The Puppeteer is the perfect lady. Too perfect, in point of fact. Hair too coiffed to be authentic. Skin too pale to be natural, although she’s seen her share of wear and tear.  She’s a fading façade of beauty inlaid over a grimy clockwork core. Every movement is mechanically studied and executed with ruthless efficiency.

And yet, in spite of her perfection, she never performs in the Carnevale. A grand circus should have need of a lovely dancer, flouncing and pirouetting gracefully to the delight of crowds, but instead, she’s preparing other talents for the spotlight. She is the creator of the Puppets who entertain and enforce throughout the Carnevale and the Backstage is her workshop.

In her element, she is an implacable stage mother, primping and fussing over every cockeyed button and loose thread. She stuffs and stitches her little darlings and transforms them from rough, lively raw materials into clattering shills or security for the boardwalk.

Do take care if you ever find yourself in the Backstage – she is always recruiting new talent.

What Still Remains

Visitors wandering through the Spiral are always at risk. Of the many terrible fates waiting for hapless children, one unkind end is joining the ranks of the Remains, shadowy forms of children who lurk on the edge of the darkness here behind the curtain.

They seem to crave the life and vitality of other Visitors, as if they’re missing the bodies they once had. They tend to attack en masse, blocking off retreat by slipping out of dim corners that were empty only a moment before.

It’s not completely clear what connection these Lost Remains have to the Puppeteer. They seem to stay out of her way, sticking to the dusty stockrooms and dilapidated rehearsal spaces far from the fuss and clamor of the Kin’s theater.

What might these pitiful shades have witnessed as they slipped between the studio and the stage? Perhaps that’s why they blind themselves with strips of cloth. Best not to ask, little ones. If you go poking around, you might find out.

New Raw Material

At the start of this first chapter of Secrets of the Spiral, Low sees Alone being captured and wakes up to find his friend is missing. Low and his new companion Dime set off on a journey through the Backstage to find her before she can be turned into a brand-new pincushion.

Unfortunately for them, the Puppeteer is terribly dangerous. Apart from her horde of sharp scissors and long needles, behind her mask of perfection is a petrifying glare that can hypnotically freeze any annoying living thing in their tracks. Low and Dime will have to keep out of her sight or they’ll be in the spotlight in the worst possible way.

There’s one small glimmer of hope, though. Dime shared one of two special helmets with Low. They each have a bulb that can be overloaded to give off an intense flash of light. If either of them are caught by the beam, the other can overload their bulb nearby.  This momentarily stuns the Puppeteer’s evil eye, giving the children a chance to escape.

It should be noted that this may not be the first time a known Visitor has encountered the Puppeteer. In the “Sounds of Nightmares” podcast, Noone described an encounter with a lady who was a kind of uncanny perfect manikin in an atelier full of costumes and living puppets. That interaction didn’t go particularly well, so if they are one and the same do try not to meet with the same fate.

Showtime Is Almost Here

This is only the start of the unfortunate journey deeper into the Spiral. Will Low be able to find Alone in time? Will the Puppeteer gain two more manikins for her next costuming project? No matter what, the show will go on – Secrets of the Spiral: Chapter 1 for Little Nightmares III is available now.

Last call, time for places, little ones.

Little Nightmares III

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 544

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

Two young friends, lost in a frightening world not made for children. If they cannot find a way out of this Nowhere place, they’ll be condemned to a fate worse than death. FACE YOUR CHILDHOOD FEARS TOGETHER You play as Low and Alone, best friends ever since they found each other in this lonely nightmare. They each possess their own iconic item: a bow for Low and a wrench for Alone. Working together, they’ve become adept at sneaking through hidden passages, hoisting each other over massive obstacles, and watching each other’s backs. Whether you’re playing with a friend or an A.I. companion, you’ll depend on each other's iconic items to create opportunities and to progress. The environment is full of clues and possibilities for imaginative children to exploit. Low’s arrows can reach high targets, cut through ropes, or down flying enemies, and Alone’s wrench is just the thing for crushing stunned enemies, smashing through barriers, or manipulating the workings of massive machines. EMBARK ON AN IMMERSIVE AND DISTURBING ADVENTURE No matter where you go, the Nowhere is home to horrific monsters. These Residents won't hesitate to go out of their way to capture any intrusive little Visitors that draw their attention. You might find yourself playing a terrifying game of hide and seek with Monster Baby in the sandy ruins of the Necropolis, struggling to avoid swarms of voracious Candy Weevils in an unsetling Candy Factory, or dodging heavy feet while running along the rain-soaked promenade of a filthy funfair. You'll need to be ready to run, hide, or even defend yourself at a moment's notice to stay in one piece. SINK INTO THE SPIRAL Don’t be too distracted by the desolate beauty of the Nowhere. There are dark mysteries waiting for you as Low and Alone follow their mirror path across the Spiral. As each new location will become more dangerous and disturbing than the last, traumatic flashes from the past will begin to emerge. Will Low and Alone finally escape from this unending nightmare? Only you can help them, little ones…

Little Nightmares III – Secrets of The Spiral – Expansion Pass

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 119

★★★★★

$14.99

Get it now

Delve deeper into the eerie lands of The Spiral with the Expansion Pass. Secrets of The Spiral gives you access to 2 additional chapters and the Ferryman Costumes Set, exclusive to the Expansion Pass. 2 ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS: While not essential to the main story, these additional tales enrich the experience and let you uncover hidden secrets, new perspectives, and unexpected horrors. FERRYMAN COSTUMES SET (exclusive to the Expansion Pass): A mysterious figure familiar to all children in The Nowhere. This costume is available in a set of two, suited for both characters Low and Alone. *Little Nightmares III – The Backstage can also be purchased separately, please be careful of duplicate purchases.

One of my first thoughts from the reveal trailer of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve a few months ago was how that dog on the carrier flight deck could not possibly be following protocol. That doggy detail helps to reinforce the fictional realm of Ace Combat’s Strangereal universe, where continents like Osea, Belka, Erusea, Sotoa, and Usea cover the globe and routinely engage in hostilities via air combat.

That trailer also gave us a hint at how ACE8 will be changing, with a first-person narrative perspective mixed with high-stakes combat. At Summer Game Fest: Play Days we had a chance to go hands-on with this anticipated title and came away impressed with how this next entry in the long-running series is looking to be the most personal yet.