Want a little bit of everything this Free Play Days? Sneak through a tense sci‑fi hunt, build a booming rail empire, throw down in an over-the-top anime fighter, and hit the court for fast, arcade hoops action this weekend! Railway Empire 2 and NBA Bounce are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from April 30 until May 3.

Enjoy more time with Predator: Hunting Grounds as it is unlocked from April 28 until May 4 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is free for all Xbox members to try from April 30 until May 3 (Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).

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)

Railway Empire 2

Kalypso Media

☆☆☆☆☆ 317

★★★★★

$49.99 $24.99

Get it now

Railway Empire 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
In Railway Empire 2, you don the coat of a clever entrepreneur in the golden age of the railroad. Take your enterprise from a small, local company, to a continent spanning titan of industry by using the 60+ historic engines at your disposal. Embark across the five-chapter campaign which will take you across Europe and the United States, attempt one of the 14 different challenging scenarios, or play your way in free play mode. Railway Empire 2 is available with Free Play Days from April 30th until May 3rd. Railway Empire 2 is now 50% off until May 11th, with all DLCs discounted by 15-25% during the same period.

NBA BOUNCE

Outright Games Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆ 17

★★★★★

$19.99 $15.99

Get it now

NBA Bounce
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
Step onto the court and bring the energy with NBA Bounce. Now 20% off for a limited time! Choose from all 30 NBA teams, hit team-themed courts, and pass and slam dunk your way to victory. Play solo or jump into local co-op and party modes with friends as you unlock jerseys, sneakers, and mascots while climbing from rookie to pro. With simple controls and fast-paced arcade action, it’s the perfect game to pick up, show off your skills, and beat the buzzer

Predator: Hunting Grounds

IllFonic Publishing

☆☆☆☆☆ 865

★★★★★

$19.99 $5.99

Get it now

Predator: Hunting Grounds
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Are you Predator or prey? Predator: Hunting Grounds is an asymmetrical shooter set in remote areas worldwide, coming to Free Play Days the weekend of April 30 – May 4. Play as a member of the Fireteam and complete paramilitary operations before the Predator finds you. Or play as the Predator to hunt the worthiest prey. If hunting or being hunted is the mission for you, get the game for 70% off during the event.

Free Play Days For All

DRAGON BALL FighterZ (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One)

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 790

★★★★★

$59.99 $8.99

Get it now

Dragon Ball FighterZ
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Experience spectacular fights filled with aerial combos, destructible stages, and famous scenes from the beloved anime with high-end anime graphics. Utilize the unique abilities of your fighters in 3v3 tag teams to master your skills and overcome your opponent. 

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

The day you’ve all been waiting for is finally here. I’m so excited to say that Invincible VS launches today and will be available to play in just a few short hours at 10:00 am PT!

By now, I’m sure players know about our stacked, 18-character roster of badass fighters across the Invincible universe, including Mark Grayson (Invincible), Omni-Man, Atom Eve, Rex Splode, and Invincible VS’s first original character, Ella Mental, voiced by visionary rapper Tierra Whack. Whether you’re a casual player or a fighting game aficionado, you’re gonna enjoy getting to know each of them, and we’re eager to see what team-ups our fans start to favor. Players really can’t go wrong though. Every fighter hits hard and is as brutal as you’d hope, so don’t be afraid to try ‘em all out!

There are plenty of ways to throw down in Invincible VS, too. We have several modes that each offer something a little different. Training Mode is great for learning specific characters and movesets, Arcade Mode gives players the chance to uncover character-specific lore, Versus Mode is the prime place to settle scores with fellow players and Story Mode offers a gripping and fast-paced narrative with intense and satisfying battles.

And speaking of Story Mode, ours is an exciting one for fans of our Invincibleanimated series on Prime Video. Fans can think of it as a bonus, playable episode of the show, set between later episodes of Season 3 – except now, they’re the ones in control. It features over 25 minutes of original cinematics and brings back a ton of the original voice cast, like J.K. Simmons as Omni-Man, Gillian Jacobs as Atom Eve, Jason Mantzoukas as Rex Splode and Michael Dorn as Battle Beast, just to name a few. As players dive into the mode, they’ll get a deeper look at the roster while experiencing an all-new story that captures the signature Invincible tone fans know and love.

Launch is really just the beginning. We’ve already got some exciting plans lined up post-launch with our Year 1 Character Pass, bringing four additional fighters into the mix – including Universa and The Immortal, who both arrive this Summer. Players who pick up our Digital Deluxe Edition are already set to receive these DLC characters upon their arrivals, but for those who don’t, the pass will be available separately.

It’s surreal that launch day is here, and to our fans – THANK YOU! This is a huge moment not just for us, but for the Invincible universe as a whole. We’re ready for all of the heated battles to ensue… are you?

Invincible VS launches today on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud as an Xbox Play Anywhere title at 10:00am PT, and is available for purchase now at invinciblevs.com.

Find out more by following Invincible VS on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and online at InvincibleVS.com.

Invincible VS – Deluxe Edition pre-order

Skybound Games

☆☆☆☆☆ 51

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Pre-order now to get the following digital content: – Zero-Suit Mark Skin – Year 1 Character Pass – Profile Card Cosmetics Invincible VS is a brutal superhero 3v3 tag fighting game set in the Invincible universe, where you can battle to the death as a team of fan-favorite characters in iconic locations. Unleash bone-breaking combos through fast combat and smart defensive tactics to leave a trail of blood and destruction. Land vicious Super moves and Ultimates to leave your opponents in a mess of blood. Invincible VS features a variety of game modes including a captivating cinematic story mode with an original narrative from a writer of the animated series. Jump into Arcade and battle with your team, hone your combos in Training mode, and test your skills against the world in competitive and casual multiplayer. Show, comic fans, and fighting game lovers will experience unparalleled heroic brutality, where every earth-shattering blow will leave you feeling… Invincible. This is the debut title from the newly formed Quarter Up—the first in-house studio at Skybound—led by former members of the core Killer Instinct (2013) dev team.

Invincible VS – Standard Edition pre-order

Skybound Games

☆☆☆☆☆ 51

★★★★★

$49.99

Pre-order

Pre-order now to get the following digital content: – Zero-Suit Mark Skin Invincible VS is a brutal superhero 3v3 tag fighting game set in the Invincible universe, where you can battle to the death as a team of fan-favorite characters in iconic locations. Unleash bone-breaking combos through fast combat and smart defensive tactics to leave a trail of blood and destruction. Land vicious Super moves and Ultimates to leave your opponents in a mess of blood. Invincible VS features a variety of game modes including a captivating cinematic story mode with an original narrative from a writer of the animated series. Jump into Arcade and battle with your team, hone your combos in Training mode, and test your skills against the world in competitive and casual multiplayer. Show, comic fans, and fighting game lovers will experience unparalleled heroic brutality, where every earth-shattering blow will leave you feeling… Invincible. This is the debut title from the newly formed Quarter Up—the first in-house studio at Skybound—led by former members of the core Killer Instinct (2013) dev team.

Next Wednesday, May 6 (US time), we’ll be dedicating a whole new show to a very special project from the legendary RGG Studio. Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven will bring us inside the minds behind the game, offering around 30 minutes of details and insights on the game’s story, world, characters and more, from the developers and cast bringing us this hugely ambitious new title.

Stranger Than Heaven is an entirely new action-adventure game from RGG Studio and – as we revealed at Xbox Partner Preview in March – takes place over five distinct eras of modern Japan, and across five entirely separate cities. But there’s so much more to discover about this game, and this new show promises to dive deeper into the structure of that storytelling.

From the 50-year story you’ll play through, to seeing more of the all-star cast shown in the Partner Preview trailer, Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven will offer our most substantial look at the game so far.

Want to tune in and watch live? Here are all the details you need:

What time does Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven begin? Wednesday, May 6, at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern (May 7 at 12am UK time).

How do I watch?  Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven will be available through a variety of outlets, including:

• YouTube.com/Xbox (available in 4K 60FPS – EN & JP)
• Twitch.tv/Xbox
• Twitch.tv/XboxASL
• Regional Xbox channels around the world

Is the event available in languages other than English?  The full show will be available in Japanese on the Xbox Japan YouTube channel. During the live show, we will also be providing subtitle support in the following languages: Simplified Chinese (ZHCN), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish (Castilian), and Spanish (Mexican).

Following the show, we will provide additional subtitle support for: Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Filipino, French (Canadian), Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Māori, Persian (Farsi), Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Just click the gear icon in the lower righthand corner of the primary stream to choose the language of your choice.

Is the show going to be Accessible to those with low/no hearing or low/no vision? There will be a version of the show with Audio Descriptions (AD) in English on the Xbox YouTube channel, as well as American Sign Language (ASL) and Japanese Sign Language (JSL) options.

I’m not going to be able to watch live, where can I find out what was announced? The Xbox Wire team will publish a recap rounding up all the news from the show immediately following the end of Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven.

Co-streamer and content creator notes for Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven: We at Xbox greatly appreciate any co-stream efforts and aim to ensure you have a smooth experience if you choose to do so. However, due to forces beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that glitches or disruptions by bots and other automated software won’t interfere with your co-stream. For those planning to create post-show breakdowns of Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven in the form of Video on Demand (VOD) coverage, we recommend you do not use any audio containing copyrighted music to avoid any action by automated bots, and to also consult the terms of service for your service provider.

Stranger Than Heaven is coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud. It will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title and available with Xbox Game Pass.

MotoGP26 has just been released on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, on ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. While we cannot wait to see all of you follow your own path to becoming a legend of the sport, here are five reasons why this is the most complete and realistic chapter of the franchise:

1. A completely new physics system

With MotoGP26, we have decided to rebuild the physics system to give you the best control and bike feedback ever. That’s why we have implemented a new, innovative rider-based handling. This enables you to make precise trajectory corrections and manage the bike through difficult situations such as banking and turn exits. Thanks also to improved animations and revised weight management, both the rider and the bike will now behave more realistically than ever, mirroring movements and actions seen on TV during race day.

While we aimed for realism, we also ensured the game remains accessible with a manageable difficulty level. With the Arcade and Pro experiences, you can rise to champion level, regardless of your abilities and background with simulation games.

2. Discover the new riders’ ratings and live the full 2026 season with the new rookies and Brazil’s great come back

Thanks to MotoGP26, you can experience the full official 2026 MotoGP Championship, including Moto3 and Moto2. You can race on all the tracks of the season, including the new Brazilian GP, which returns to the calendar after more than twenty years, and compete against the full roster of riders, featuring rookie Diogo Moreira and WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu. Have you ever wondered which rider has the best race pace? Or who is stronger in the head-to-head? Thanks to the new ratings, you can finally find out. These will be available in the rider selection menu and will be updated throughout the 2026 championship, faithfully reflecting real performance in the virtual space.

You will not only be able to view the riders’ stats but also collect them with the exclusive cards. As you play, you will receive dedicated card packs, and with more than a hundred to discover, hunting for the rarest one will keep you glued to the saddle. Each card celebrates riders and tracks, with special artwork, including illustrations created by legendary MotoGP Japanese artist Ranka Fujiwara.

3. Take control of your journey with a deeper managerial career

The revamped career mode immerses you in the heart of the MotoGP universe: the paddock. In this new 3D environment, you can choose to start your journey to glory in the junior categories, such as Moto3 and Moto2, or jump straight onto the saddle of a powerful MotoGP bike.

In response to community feedback, we added a new highly requested feature: you can finally play the career in the boots of great riders such as Francesco Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi, and Pedro Acosta, deciding their future one race at a time. Starting with the Thursday press conference, each reply to the journalists will help you take the path you want to pursue. Want to start a new rivalry? You can target a specific rider and throw them the gauntlet managing your answers and your track behaviour. Alternatively, if you want to join a better team, you can show your interest by targeting the weakest rider of that team to demonstrate to their managers that you have what it takes. And if you want to bring your current team to the next level, you can drive the development of your bike through your statements and the revised debriefing system.

Throughout your career, your personal manager will be there to support you in every crucial moment. During dedicated appointments, they will help you analyse your position and decide what to do next. Based on your choices, your manager will organise a direct conversation with manufacturers’ managers to begin negotiations. We are proud to see the improvement we make every year to the career mode. Our goal is to bring the players as close as possible to reality, and we think that with MotoGP26, we really nailed the sense of immersion.

4. Train and improve your skills with the expanded Race Off modes

Training is a fundamental part of a rider’s routine. Just like in real life, in MotoGP26 you have to train between official races to improve your skills. A new English environment, called Canterbury Park, has been added to the two previous ones, and there you will find two brand-new tracks perfect for racing with Motards, Flat Tracks, and Minibikes. But that’s not all, since riders cannot use their racing bikes for training due to championship regulations, you can learn all the secrets of the official tracks thanks to manufacturer-dedicated events. Using production bikes, which have been faithfully reproduced, you can train along with your manufacturer mates from all categories.

5. Challenge riders from all over the world and show off your style

Thanks to the improved multiplayer mode, you can now compete against up to 22 players with full grid implementation, allowing intense battles, while still creating balanced lobbies based on your skills and those of your opponents. And to showcase your style, the powerful editors allow you to design and customize your accessories such as helmets, stickers, and butt patches. Once finished with the creation process, you can share your work with the community and use it during online matches. Finally, we have a surprise for you. You have the chance to design Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s helmet and see your work on track during a real race with the MotoGP26 Helmet Design Contest. The contest is about to begin, are you ready to unleash your creativity?

The starting grid is set, and the lights are about to go out. Take your place on the grid and begin your new adventure in MotoGP, you could be the next legend! MotoGP26 is out now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.

MotoGP26

Milestone S.r.l.

☆☆☆☆☆ 2

★★★★★

Get it now

Be the first on the grid. Preorder MotoGP26 and get the Full Game, together with the MotoGP26 – Scorpion Helmet Pack and the MotoGP26 – HJC Helmet Pack. The Official 2026 Championship Experience the full intensity of the 2026 MotoGP Championship with all the official riders, teams, bikes and tracks in a more authentic way: for the first time, the real-world results dynamically update Riders Ratings, directly influencing in-game performance throughout the season. Step into the spotlight and track your journey with dazzling Collectible Cards celebrating your progress. Renewed Physics for Total Control Jump straight into action with the Arcade Experience or dive into pure simulation with the Pro Experience, both supported by tutorials, adaptive difficulty and Neural Aids. Enjoy a renewed physics system built around a new rider-based handling model: your body movement on the bike matters more than ever, delivering greater control and a more authentic riding feel. A Deeper Career Build your legacy from Rookie to Legend with a custom rider or relive and reshape the career of an official MotoGP star. Your journey evolves season after season through contract negotiations, rider market dynamics and press conferences that shape your future. Your words to the media influence upcoming challenges, while your collaboration with teams drives bike development. Every decision becomes part of your story. Train and Experiment Step away from the paddock and explore new ways to ride. Train with the Motard, Flat Track and Minibike disciplines, or hit the circuit with Production Bikes, models featured in single-brand events with dedicated physics. Race Together Compete online with full cross-play* and race on a full grid of up to 22 riders in new online lobbies. Customize your look with advanced graphic editors and share your creations! *Nintendo platforms excluded

Some collaborations are about swapping outfits. Overwatch x Hatred’s Reckoning, running April 28–May 18, is about figuring out how two very different worlds can borrow each other’s clothes—and still feel like themselves.

Overwatch is famously hopeful. It’s full of bright colors and Heroes who look like they believe things can get better, even when they’re knee‑deep in chaos. The world that inspires Hatred’s Reckoning, on the other hand, is all heavy atmosphere and big moods that don’t politely leave when the fight is over. Blending the two didn’t mean dialing either one down, it was about finding the overlap. Being able to bridge that gap without drifting into imitation required intention, restraint, and deep creative trust.

Interpretation was the key. The creative teams quickly realized that beneath the surface, both worlds actually take similar things very seriously: conviction, sacrifice, and what it means to keep fighting when things get grim. Once that clicked, the fun part began—asking what Overwatch Heroes might look like if they’d grown up in a different genre of battle.

Thus, five new Legendary skins were created, each playing with that “alternate fate” fantasy.

Ramattra x Mephisto turns hatred into something slow and inevitable—less explosion, more creeping dread.

Brigitte x Paladin is all about holding the line, faith and steel working together with zero hesitation.

Freja x Rogue keeps things quiet and efficient—clean shapes, quick strikes, no wasted motion.

Lifeweaver x Warlock leans into stark danger, where life and corruption are uncomfortably close friends.

And Mauga x Druid is joyful chaos showing up with muscles, teeth, and a very loud opinion.

Mauga’s skin proved to be a particularly creative puzzle. Turning a shapeshifting Werebear fantasy into a dual‑chaingun bruiser meant solving a lot of questions at once. His bear face, jaw, and eyes had to look great, animate smoothly, and still read clearly during gameplay. It was a balancing act between visual flair, technical reality, and “does this still feel like Mauga?” He’s the perfect example of exactly the kind of challenge the team loves tackling together.

In addition to these five skins, four Legendary skins return to complete the visual dialogue: Pharah x Inarius, Moira x Lilith, Reinhardt x Imperius, and Sombra x Gilded Hunter. Together, they act as echoes of earlier explorations of Sanctuary.

Alongside the skins, original event challenges return, joined by new rewards like the deliciously deadly Crab with a Knife Weapon Charm and Twitch Drops running now through May 10.

Hatred’s Reckoning proves that when hope and darkness collide, heroes rise—even when they’re wearing borrowed clothes from another world. Overwatch x Hatred’s Reckoning runs April 28–May 18.

Overwatch®

Blizzard Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆ 73939

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

Ultimate Game Pass

Overwatch is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes. Reign of Talon – Season 2: Summit Reach Heroic New Heights The climb continues as a new Hero rises and the fight for a better future pushes higher than ever! The story resumes in Reign of Talon – Season 2: Summit, raising the stakes as new DPS Hero Sierra joins the Overwatch ranks, and letting you stand with her in an Operation: Grand Mesa defensive event. Then celebrate your squad with the return of Post Match Accolades and explore a reworked Antarctica map. Plus, overclock justice as Mythic Volted Overdrive Solder: 76 and wield the Sumi-ichimonji Genji Mythic weapon to cut down your foes in style. Ramattra steps into Stadium alongside a new Lijiang Night Market map to expand experimentation and test your skills. And Spring has sprung in the Battle Pass and Shop, with Spring Fairy and Sakura looks for you to truly bloom on the battlefield. The climb is on, find out what lies beyond the summit!

Once feared as the Emperor of Darkness, Krauser ruled society’s underworld with absolute cruelty—until he was said to have fallen in battle to the indomitable Hungry Wolf. Or so the story goes. Those rumors, carefully spread by his own son, painted Krauser as a relic of the past: defeated, dethroned, forgotten.

But legends don’t die so easily.

Years later, that very son now hosts a fighting tournament of his own, drawing warriors from every corner of the world. For Krauser, whose ambition and ruthlessness have only sharpened with time, this event is not a celebration, but rather an opportunity. A chance to step back into the light. A chance to reclaim what was taken.

This is no funeral march for a fallen tyrant—it’s the opening note of vengeance.

Wolfgang Krauser first entered the ring as the final boss of Fatal Fury 2 in 1992, instantly cementing himself as one of the series’ most fearsome figures. Standing an imposing six foot five, his overwhelming power and long-reaching strikes make him the very embodiment of combat itself. The cross-shaped scar etched into his forehead tells a silent story of countless brutal encounters.

A fighter once dreaded as the Emperor of Darkness, Krauser brings relentless pressure on both offense and defense, never giving his opponents room to breathe. Faithful to his legacy, his crushing presence returns in full force, delivering high-impact, adrenaline-fueled battles that only Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves can offer.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key techniques that define Krauser’s strength.

Blitz Ball

A projectile attack that fires a condensed sphere of flame forward.

Because it’s a long-range attack, it’s effective for zoning and poking from a distance.

The light, heavy, and REV versions each travel at different heights, and by holding the button you can adjust the projectile’s speed. Mixing up the timing and speed allows you to apply strong pressure and control the pace of the match.

Leg Tomahawk

A leaping attack where Krauser jumps forward and brings his leg down in a wide arc.

It can be used to surprise opponents from long-range or canceled from normal attacks to interrupt enemy actions.

Take advantage of its long reach and aim to hit with the tip of the attack for maximum effectiveness.

Phoenix Slam

A command throw that grabs the opponent by the neck, lifts them up, and slams them into the ground.

This attack is effective against guarding opponents and can even grab from a slightly extended range.

The heavy and REV versions can absorb incoming attacks before grabbing, allowing you to punish opponents who hesitate or commit recklessly.

Kaiser Claw

A command throw that launches the arm upward to grab airborne opponents and slam them down.

Note that this throw only works on opponents who are in the air.

After establishing ground pressure with moves like Blitz Ball or Phoenix Slam, punish opponents who attempt to jump in.

The REV version causes a ground bounce, making it ideal for extending damage when chained from REV Accel.

Knee Halberd

A forward-moving flying knee strike.

With an additional input, it can be followed up by a downward kicking attack.

Its forward momentum makes it easy to integrate into combos and pressure strings.

The REV version causes a bounce, making it a strong launcher to build high-damage combos around.

Kaiser Wave 

A super move that fires a massive energy projectile straight ahead.

By holding the button, Krauser can remain in a charging stance to increase its power.

When you have Power Gauge and get some distance, prepare Kaiser Wave to apply heavy pressure and force your opponent to react.

Introducing the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Standard Edition!

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is now available in a Standard Edition format, allowing you to experience all game modes and characters (aside from DLC) at an affordable price.  

Season Pass 1 can now be purchased individually as well. The pass includes the five DLC characters from the first season: Andy Bogard, Ken and Chun-Li from Street Fighter, Joe Higashi, and Mr. Big. Broaden your battle horizons with these exciting roster additions! 

* Season Pass 1 and Season Pass 2 are sold separately. 

Get 40% off in CotW’s 1st Anniversary Sale! Celebrating a year of full throttle fights! 

To mark the 1st anniversary, the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Legend Edition, now on sale at 40% off for a limited time. This edition bundles the base game with Season Pass 1 and Season Pass 2, granting access to all current and future characters added through upcoming updates. Season Pass 2 will feature six characters, with one character scheduled for release every month. The lineup includes Kim Jae Hoon, Nightmare Geese, Blue Mary, and Wolfgang Krauser from the Fatal Fury series, plus Kenshiro from the anime “Fist of the North Star”—with another mystery character to be announced at a later date. 

Join the pack and savor the excitement of a new season in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves! 

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves – Legend Edition

SNK CORPORATION

☆☆☆☆☆ 120

★★★★★

$49.99 $29.99

Get it now

* The main game and each content included in this product are also available as stand-alone products. Please be careful when purchasing. Contents Base game Season Pass 1 – Andy Bogard – Ken, additional stage – Joe Higashi – Chun-Li – Mr. Big, additional stage Season Pass 2 – DLC Character 1 "Kim Jae Hoon", additional stage (Available Now) – DLC Character 2 "Nightmare Geese" (Available Now) – DLC Character 3 "Blue Mary", additional stage (Available Now) – DLC Character 4 "Wolfgang Krauser", additional stage (Available Now) – DLC Character 5 "???" (May 2026) – DLC Character 6 "???" (June 2026) – Additional stages * Release date estimates are current at the time of publication.

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves

SNK CORPORATION

☆☆☆☆☆ 117

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

After 26 years, FATAL FURY is back! SNK’s beloved Fatal Fury series first hit the market in 1991, spearheading the fighting game boom of the 1990s that swept the industry thereafter. GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES (released in 1999) has, for some time, served as the franchise’s most recent installment. But that is all about to change: 26 years on, a brand-new entry—FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves—is set to arrive on the scene! FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves features a unique art style that stimulates the senses, an innovative REV system that supercharges the excitement, plus a host of other battle systems even more robust than before. The game also breathes new life into the series by introducing two distinct control schemes (ensuring fun and excitement for newcomers and veterans alike) as well as other fresh features and elements. The streets of South Town are a hotbed of action, wild dreams, and even wilder ambition. Here, at long last, a new legend is about to unfold…

Aphelion is out tomorrow, and my colleagues (Kevin England, Sound Designer, and Mathieu Fiorentini, Senior Sound Designer) and I wanted to talk about one of the highlights of the game: music and sound design.

Music and Emotion

For the music, we chose Amine Bouhafa as the composer for the game’s original score. He was our top choice due to the richness of his musicality and because we specifically wanted a composer from outside of the video game industry.

In most games, music is often used as a form of gameplay feedback – for instance, to convey a particular game state. For Aphelion, however, our intention was to have a more narrative and emotion-driven approach to music. Its primary role was to carry and express these emotions consistently throughout the game, through its themes and compositional language, while also highlighting the relationship between the two characters, Ariane and Thomas. Amine brought a personal and distinctive perspective to the project, rather than focusing on a single feature or theme.

He also succeeded brilliantly in one of the game’s major challenges: composing music for gameplay sequences. Unlike cinematic scenes – where the process closely resembles film scoring – writing music for gameplay requires balancing musical composition, narrative, and gameplay rhythm simultaneously. This is significantly more complex during gameplay: once the music begins, both the narrative elements (dialogue, environmental storytelling, etc.) and the musical structure evolve independently as the player progresses.

On one hand, the music must be sufficiently developed to convey emotion; on the other, it must avoid becoming repetitive or monotonous for the player. And the more one seeks to tightly control how music evolves alongside player actions, the more it must be broken down into smaller, reactive loops. While effective from a systemic standpoint, this approach often constrains musical expression and can weaken its emotional resonance.

For Aphelion, we made the deliberate choice to preserve the integrity of the musical writing, allowing it to unfold more naturally – even during gameplay. Rather than synchronizing music to specific events, as in cinematic sequences, the score accompanies the player’s journey in a more organic way, subtly shaping the emotional tone of the experience. For example, there’s a specific moment in Chapter 9 when Ariane triggers dialogue about Thomas as she walks down into the Quarry. We decided to trigger a very long music composition, which keeps playing no matter what the player does.

This approach brought a new level of depth to several sequences, some of which had previously felt overly extended before the integration of music.

The Sound of Loneliness

When it comes to sound design, we defined several audio pillars during conception. They served as our reference and compass throughout the production of the game.

First, we wanted to shape the game audio experience to bring a feeling of loneliness and isolation, since Ariane and Thomas are separated by the crash and must navigate their own paths to survival on this planet at the edge of the solar system. Silence is a very simple but powerful way to emphasize this. Music integration is another powerful way to emphasize loneliness. As an emotional guide, the music brings context and feedback to the player somehow. On the contrary, facing the unknown without any music will bring emptiness.

We also gathered a lot of movie and game references during the conception. “Arrival” (Denis Villeneuve, 2016) has always been one of the strongest references for the audio of Aphelion, especially for the sci-fi sound design vision. We wanted to get away from the traditional audio direction for sci-fi (equipment, electronic noises, etc.) and build the most natural soundtrack as possible, as Aphelion is a narrative character-driven game. This choice relegates the technological aspect and highlights what is most important in Aphelion: the characters, the story, and the emotions.

Again, “Arrival” was an important reference for one of the biggest sound design challenges of the game: the Nemesis. This hostile and unknown lifeform required special attention, as it is blind and relies heavily on sound to navigate its environment. Initially, all we knew was that it needed to feel both threatening and unsettling. The goal was to create something eerie and alien, while still maintaining a grounded sense of realism. To achieve this, we combined heavily processed synthetic sounds with more organic textures, such as squeaking glass, cracking vegetables, and animal recordings like dolphin and sea lion calls. Another key aspect of the creature’s vocal range is its use of echolocation. By using rhythmic and syncopated patterns, we were able to clearly communicate its behavior, and whether it is roaming, searching, or attacking.

We all hope that you will feel the tension facing the Nemesis and enjoy exploring Planet 9^th with your ear as well as your gamepad!

Aphelion is available on April 28 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud. It is an Xbox Play Anywhere title and is available on Game Pass right now. We really hope you enjoy your journey on Persephone! For more Aphelion content, follow Don’t Nod on X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Aphelion DAY ONE Edition

DON'T NOD

☆☆☆☆☆ 162

★★★★★

Get it now

Aphelion Day One Edition includes the full game and exclusive cosmetics: . Backpack sticker: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Eyeball . Backpack sticker: ESA – Friends in High Places . Backpack sticker: Jusant – Climber . Backpack keychain: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Three-eyed Cat . Backpack keychain: ESA – Hope-01 . Backpack keychain: Jusant-Ballast . Space Pioneer – ESA alternative suit . Space Hero – a suit worthy of a space opera You can select your cosmetics through the main menu at the start of the game.

Spring is in the air, which means Summer Game Fest is right around the corner. This year, Xbox has assembled a phenomenal crew of developers from all over the world – from Sacramento to Kraków to Hangzhou – eager to share their work at Summer Game Fest Play Days.

We can’t wait for fans to hear about the collection of demos, along with everything else that Xbox has in store this summer. Read on for all the juicy details!

Grounded 2

A customer is waiting. Another one’s tapping their foot. A machine is sitting somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t be. And somehow — somehow — things are already a mess. That’s the gist of Party Club.

Party Club is a single-player or co-op (same-room or multiplayer) party game. In the game, you run a noisy, animal-filled venue and try to keep up with demanding customers while the entire business teeters on the brink of disaster.. It starts simple enough. Then it really, really doesn’t.

On day one 3.7 million players jumped in when the PC version of Party Club launched. Not because it was different from others. Because there’s something genuinely fun about organized chaos when you’re playing with the right people. Now a better experience is coming to Xbox, with full cross-platform, play anywhere support so you can drag your friends in regardless of what they’re playing on.

If you’re new to this chaos, there are some things you should know before diving in alone or with your friends.

Tip 1: Your Layout is Everything.

Be careful, even before a single customer walks through the door, you might be already winning or losing the day.

Where you place your juice machines, tables, restroom determines how smoothly everything will run when things get busy (which they will). A well-planned layout buys you precious seconds. A sloppy layout turns manageable chaos into a full chaos.

Think of it less like decorating the restaurant. Think of it more like solving a puzzle.

Every placement decision creates a chain reaction. Take it seriously before hitting the gong.

Tip 2: Not All Customers are Equal

Some customers have more needs. Some are dangerous neighbors. And some, if ignored long enough, will ruin your entire day.

Wolves, for instance, come with bigger points if you can handle their demands in time. But if you seat them next to the wrong animals, like rabbits, chaos begins. If a gorilla has been waiting too long, it can be loud and, don’t be surprised when the whole room decides to leave with him. They can take every animal out.

Know who needs attention first. And who can afford to wait.

Tip 3: Think Before you React

Speed matters in Party Club, but blind speed will get you nowhere.

Each level brings new customer types and new conditions, and walking in without a plan is a recipe for disaster. Where are the disruptive animals sitting? Is your skunk positioned somewhere there, uh, influence won’t spread across the room? Have you thought about the flow from entrance to exit?

The players who do well aren’t just fast. They’ve already thought of more moves ahead.

Tip 4: Be Smart With Your Upgrades

Deciding what to buy from the shop between days is just as important as how you play during the day.

You’ll get the chance to upgrade your restaurant after each day, but more isn’t always better. Since customers only order from machines you actually have placed in your venue, a cluttered setup means more complex orders. Sometimes pulling a machine out entirely makes the next level dramatically more manageable.

Spend carefully. Upgrade with intention. And don’t be afraid to simplify.

Tip 5: Split the Work

No one can do everything alone. And trying to is how teams fall apart.

In multiplayer, assign roles and stick to them. Someone handles orders, someone manages machines, someone cleans, someone controls the layout. When everyone knows their job, the chaos becomes workable.

Power-ups make this coordination even more important:

Cleaning Spray: Allows you to quickly complete cleaning tasks.

Skates: You’ll move faster, seat faster, serve faster.

Boxing Gloves: One-touch finish for annoying customers
Mechanical Power: Quickly gets broken machines and tables working again.

Pro tip: Put one player almost exclusively on cleaning with the Spray, and give another player Skates for rapid response. Specialized roles under pressure make a real difference.

Tip 6: Keep it Clean

We all know a dirty restaurant is not a place where you can earn money.

Your score takes a constant hit as things get messy, so cleanliness isn’t just aesthetic. It’s for your survival. Between the mess left by customers, environmental issues, and the general chaos of running a place full of animals, keeping everything clean becomes a full-time job in itself.

Oh, and meteors. Falling meteors are a thing. They’re hot when they land, so you’ll need to cool them down with drinks before you can clear them. Just another Tuesday and an example.

Tip 7: Be Ready to Rethink Everything

Whatever strategy helped you get past the first levels, won’t work all the time.

New mechanics get introduced. New challenges show up. What worked yesterday might actively hurt you today. Don’t get too attached to any one layout or approach. Sometimes the smartest move is tearing things down and starting fresh.

Seating certain customers near restrooms, swapping out machines mid-run, reorganizing your entire floor plan between days.

 All of it is fair game. Stay flexible.

Tip 8: Pick a Difficulty That Fits

Party Club doesn’t force one experience on everyone.

On Easy, there are no tasks. Just keep things running and survive. You can clear the game with the lowest possible rating and still have a good time. You don’t need to focus on tasks.

But high-level challenges come with clothing rewards you can show off to your friends.

Tip 9: Things Will Go Wrong. Get Ready

At some point, your carefully crafted plan might fall apart. This isn’t a bug. It’s the nature of the game.

Moles will pop up and you’ll need to deal with them immediately, Rich Pig will sneak into your place and drop money every time you hit him or a cat will be looking for shelter and suddenly you’ll be tasked with protecting him in the middle of it all.

Some of the best moments in Party Club come from things going completely wrong. Last-minute saves.

An unexpected series of failures. A victory that no one can quite explain. That’s the game. Just let yourself go.

Out Now on Xbox

Party Club is built for those moments. With full cross-platform and play anywhere support of Party Club, it doesn’t matter what platform your friends are playing.

Come see how long you can keep the party under control.

Party Club

Lucid11 Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$4.99

Get it now

Seat customers, serve drinks, and manage chaos with up to 4 players! Keep the peace by considering customer types while seating them. Survive disasters, handle quirky customers, and design the perfect venue to keep the party going!

Hey everyone, Jensen here, producer at Ethereal Fish Studio.

Today, we’re finally bringing Star Fire: Eternal Cycle to Xbox Series X|S and Windows Store. And yes, it supports Xbox Play Anywhere—so your progress follows you whether you’re on console or Windows PC.

So, What is Star Fire: Eternal Cycle?

It’s a side-scrolling roguelite that’s quick to pick up but keeps you coming back. No steep learning curves, no overcomplicated systems—just fast, satisfying gameplay. It combines the precision of side-scrolling action with the unpredictable fun of roguelite buildcraft. Tight feedback, responsive movement, random skill progression.

Combat controls are simple, but expandable to master. No two runs are the same. Each run, you can try something different by mixing elements and tweaking your gear, exploring secrets and unlocking resources.

Tips for Xbox players Just Starting out

Since this is your first time jumping into Star Fire, here are a few things we’ve learned from playtesting that might help:

Get Comfortable with Dodging

Don’t just dodge; time it. Trigger a “Perfect Evade” to slow time and unleash a high-damage counter-attack. It’s your best tool in the chaos.

Experiment with Elemental Combos Early

With eleven elemental types, the combinations are vast. Trigger explosive Fire and Thunder reactions or tactical Wind and Water synergies. Every strategic pairing transforms your combat style—the best builds come from total experimentation.

Branching Paths are There for a Reason

With randomized skills and branching paths, no two runs play the same. Don’t avoid that Elite Challenge Room—clearing it is the fastest way to earn Larval Cores and outpace the game’s difficulty curve.

Keep an Eye out for Secrets

 From hidden Dimensional Rifts to high-stakes random events, there’s always an unexpected edge waiting to be found. These aren’t just lore—interacting with them is how you secure rare Relics or high-tier Cores that can save a struggling run.

Grinding Helps, but Skill Wins

New meta talents let you grind to grow stronger, but you can still win without them. Master your synergy—like pairing Ronine with Water Swirl for massive crits—and you can clear high difficulties on pure skill. Grinding makes it smoother; a solid build breaks the game.

And About that Difficulty Setting…

Higher Heat actually makes the game easier. More risk, better Cores, faster power spikes. Don’t ask. Just try it.

What’s in the Xbox Version

• Here’s what you’re getting today:
• 11 elemental types to mix and match.
• Multiple weapons—primary and secondary, each with its own feel.
• Skins to unlock by beating difficulties.
• Permanent upgrades that carry between runs.
• 20% launch week discount.

About that Studio Name

You might be wondering about “Ethereal Fish.” We wanted the team to work in a relaxed, unburdened state. Not chasing success at all costs—just doing what we love. If we make some money along the way, great. But the main thing is, the work feels meaningful.

Anyway, if you’ve read this far—thanks. And if you pick up Star Fire: Eternal Cycle on Xbox and Windows Store today, know that you’re supporting a small team that actually loves making games.

Pick your weapon. Pick your path. May the elements be with you.

Jensen & the Ethereal Fish Studio Team

Star Fire: Eternal Cycle

E-Home Entertainment Development Company Ltd

☆☆☆☆☆ 11

★★★★★

$16.99

Get it now

Star Fire is a quick-to-pick-up, action-packed roguelite built for fast, satisfying gameplay — no steep learning curves, no overcomplicated systems. It combines the precision of side-scrolling action with the unpredictable buildcraft of roguelites, offering tight feedback, responsive movement, and random skill progression. Fluid, Skill-based Combat Dodge, dash, and unleash combos with satisfying precision. The core controls are simple, but leave plenty of room to master your moves. Every move feels good — because every hit counts. Roguelite Replayability Every stage, every loadout, every enemy lineup is different. With randomized skills and branching paths, no two runs play the same — keeping things fresh, surprising, and addictive. Elemental Mayhem & Build Variety With eight elemental types, multiple primary and secondary weapons, and a wide range of hero abilities, each run gives you the freedom to try something new. Customize your gear, mix elements, and develop a combat style that feels right for you. Surprises Around Every Corner Secret rooms. Random events. Weird mini-challenges. There’s always something unexpected waiting — and often, it pays off big. Unlock More with Every Run Collect resources from each playthrough to unlock badass new skins, powerful weapons, and permanent upgrades that crank up the chaos every time you play.