XBOX Wire

Ghost at Dawn is about Fear, Empathy, and Questionable Choices

johns — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Category: ID@XBOX

June 19, 2026

Ghost at Dawn is about Fear, Empathy, and Questionable Choices

Brandon Roberts, Creator of Ghost at Dawn

The ESRB rating for this game reads like a rap sheet. You would be forgiven for thinking this is another over-the-top, gory, exploitation horror game – because you’d be right. But you’d also be glossing over the fact that Ghost at Dawn is, at its very core, a game about empathy.

The central location of the game, The Pines Hotel, has all the trappings of a film noir setting – the seedy hotel littered with corpses, the dames to kill and die for – but the reason our reluctant detective subjects himself to the nightmare within these walls is that Emi Kosuke is missing, and nobody but her sister seems to give a shit.

It’s 1947, and private eye Ben O’Hara would rather be at the bar than digging around an abandoned hotel with a couple dozen too many stiffs in it. He’s got his own problems. The docs tell him he has something called “shellshock”. He ain’t been the same since coming home from Germany, and even though a little whisky or a quick smoke usually sets him right, he’s a little in over his head on this one. He’s used to tracking down cheating spouses and deadbeats. This is a job for the coppers.

Except the coppers don’t care. You see, Emi is Japanese, and her papers aren’t exactly in order, if you catch my meaning. And the other gumshoes in town? You think they care if there’s one less Japanese girl in Seattle? Let me tell you, my friend, they do not.

And that’s where Ben O’Hara comes in. Because “Ben O’Hara” ain’t his real name. It’s Benjiro Ohara. And as far as Emi’s sister, Yuhiko, can tell, Ben’s the only Japanese American private detective in the city.

But here’s the thing. Ben can leave the hotel whenever he wants. Or I should say you can decide when he leaves. In fact, that’s the only way to end the game. You decide when you’ve seen enough. You’ll see an ending cutscene based on the clues you’ve found during your investigation.

Ghost at Dawn pays homage to the Survival Horror classics that inspired it but also takes that formula and twists and turns it in unexpected ways. The ending mechanic is one example. Another is the permadeath system.

Ben only has a limited number of lives before the game erases your save, and you’ll have to start your investigation over. So maybe you’ll want to check out of the hotel before it’s too late.

Or maybe you push through. Because you know if you don’t find her – no one will.

Ghost at Dawn is available on Xbox Play Anywhere June 24, and you can wishlist it today!

GHOST at DAWN

Blue and Red Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Horror Game Awards Player’s Choice and Best Indie Game Award–nominated Survival Horror cult hit. In 1947, hard‑boiled private eye Ben O’Hara is searching for a missing girl in an abandoned hotel. Investigate room by room, piece together clues, and give the living dead lead poisoning in this Detective Noir nightmare. Can you push through your fear and uncover what became of her?

The post Ghost at Dawn is about Fear, Empathy, and Questionable Choices appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Sea of Thieves is Handing Players the Keys to the Seas

Joe Skrebels, XBOX Wire Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Category: Games

Sea of Thieves is Handing Players the Keys to the Seas

Sea of Thieves: Season 20 is here, and with it arrives Custom Seas – a new way to play that hands you (and your friends) ultimate control of Rare’s pirate paradise! Custom Seas offers a private sandbox and a suite of creative tools that allow you to set the rules governing the Sea of Thieves – which creatures can appear, the time of day, the weapons in players’ loadouts and much more.

You can also summon enemies, treasures and items in the blink of an eye, swiftly send players and ships to particular destinations, and freely assign up to 24 players to crews as you see fit. If you’ve ever dreamed of cramming two dozen pirates onto a single sloop, now’s your chance!

Silver is an important addition to Custom Seas, but you don’t spend it – it’s a way of gauging your position on dedicated Scoreboards for crews or individual players, according to scoring rules that you decide. Handing in treasure, landing a hit on a ship’s mast, letting your ship sink… once scoring is underway, all of these actions and more can be set to reward or deduct silver, with your choice of score or time limits used to determine who’s victorious.

All of this gives you the freedom to create your own game modes, like the ones we showed off during the recent XBOX Games Showcase. Want some extra help setting things up? You can pick pirates in your session and give them permission to access the same tools and commands.

Once the action’s underway, you can unleash your inner director and make use of a powerful Free Camera to view proceedings from some truly cinematic angles, adjusting the field of view and other settings to create any pirate epic you desire, including making use of some Legendary Locations that aren’t normally accessible. Ultimately, though, how you use Custom Seas is entirely up to you; you’re just as free to hang out and relax with anyone you’ve invited or shared your unique Join Code with.

Of course, a new Sea of Thieves Season also brings fresh treats as you play, courtesy of a revamped Season Pass that offers rewards as you rack up Seasonal Renown, providing everything from cosmetics to valuable Voyages. There’ll also be an extravaganza of Events to look forward to, including regular returnees like a Community Weekend and Bilge Rats Weekender as the Season unfolds.

The team behind Custom Seas are incredibly excited to be putting these powerful tools into players’ hands at long last, and can’t wait to see the chaos and creativity that ensues throughout Season 20 and beyond. If you’re looking for some inspiration, be sure to check out the Sea of Thieves website for more information, and even some recipe sheets that’ll help you get you started making mayhem…

Sea of Thieves: 2026 Edition

Microsoft Studios

☆☆☆☆☆ 21499

★★★★★

$39.99 $31.99

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Sea of Thieves is a smash-hit pirate adventure game, offering the quintessential pirate experience of plundering lost treasures, fighting intense battles, vanquishing sea monsters and more. Additional digital bonuses* include access to the Sea of Thieves Original Soundtrack – 2026 Edition, the Sea of Thieves: Athena's Fortune audiobook and The Rough Guide to Sea of Thieves eBook. * A Sea of Thieves website login is required to access the digital bonuses – visit www.seaofthieves.com/bonuses online and follow the instructions.

The post Sea of Thieves is Handing Players the Keys to the Seas appeared first on XBOX Wire.

End of Abyss: I’m the Little Nightmare, and You’re Locked in Here With Me

Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Category: Games

June 19, 2026

End of Abyss: I’m the Little Nightmare, and You’re Locked in Here With Me

Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor

From Reanimal to the Grace sections of Resident Evil Requiem, I’ve spent a lot of the last year feeling helpless in games. There’s something very compelling about the rush of being a defenseless little guy just trying to get by in a big, scary world (just look at how excited everyone is about Alien Isolation 2). Sometimes, however, I’d rather be a scrappy little guy taking on that big, scary world with a shotgun and grenades.

End of Abyss is an atmospheric top-down 3D twin-stick shooter Metroidvania, coming to XBOX Series X|S on October 1, 2026. Published by Epic, it is the debut of Malmö-based Section 9 Interactive, co-founded by brothers Mattias and Marcus Ottval and Gustaf Heinerwall, all three of whom previously worked together at Tarsier Studios (Little Nightmares, Reanimal) as leads in programming, art and game direction, respectively. I got to play a brief demo from several hours into the game recently at Summer Game Fest: Play Days with Mattias walking me through and explaining the game as we went. The demo focused on the nuts-and-bolts basics of combat and exploration.

The game is set in a dark, sprawling, underground complex. The section I played was particularly industrial, as I sought to find and activate three power cores to bring a reactor back online. Protagonist Cel is a “young combat technician” exploring the facility, armed at first with a recharging pistol and wearing a big spherical helmet, reminiscent of an old diving helmet. With the perspective pulled relatively far back from the character, that kind of broad gesture in her silhouette is a smart and efficient way to make her design pop while still looking broadly realistic.

The lineage from the three founders’ work at Tarsier is immediately obvious: End of Abyss is dripping with atmosphere. Everything was perfectly grim and drab and spooky. Shambling, misshapen mutants stalked the facility, lurking in the menacing darkness. I was not in the least surprised to learn from Ottval that some of our shared favorite sci-fi horror films served as aesthetic foundation for the game: “We like the same kind of things, and it’s very much the things we grew up with, like the Alien movies, ‘The Thing.’ Those types of movies are very fond to us, and I think that’s the main inspiration for the atmosphere.” “Alien” is a particularly good comp for all the great industrial detail in the environments.

As I learned when I interviewed Reanimal’s leads earlier in the year, Tarsier’s work is very much focused on crafting a series of big, cinematic moments, with mechanically simple gameplay stringing them together. End of Abyss takes a lot of aesthetic cues from their work at Tarsier, but then layers in a lot more traditional action and exploration gameplay. As a twin-stick shooter, you walk with the left and aim in 360 degrees around you with the right. On face buttons there is a dodge roll and limited-use healing, which recharges when you use save pods around the map.

In addition to the unlimited-use energy pistol, I also acquired a limited-ammo shotgun that was necessary for tougher enemies, or managing crowds with its knockback. I first found flares, which could be used to illuminate areas and distract enemies, and then grenades. All this gear is supported by a crafting economy of various materials collected from the environment and enemies and spent at stations to craft new ammo and equipment, as well as unlocking permanent upgrades.

In terms of exploration, there was a lot of classic Metroidvania on display: locked doors and keys, backtracking and shortcuts, scanning things to update your map with informative icons, etc. With limited time for the demo, Mattias was proactively directing me the whole time, so I didn’t really get a sense for the rhythm of exploration, but it all seemed familiar and well executed.

Crucially, all the movement and combat felt great. Controls are snappy and smooth, and I very quickly felt pretty slick dodging past enemies and snapping back to shoot them. I elegantly solved one of the more challenging encounters in my session against a room full of tougher enemies by kiting them around and taking out three or four in one go with a well-placed grenade. Part of why the combat feels so expressive is that so much of the gear had different modes of use on a single button: holding fire on the pistol charges up a powerful shot that temporarily drains your ability to shoot, or the grenade button can be tapped for a close toss or held for a farther one.

Combining the exquisite craft and atmosphere of Little Nightmares with a rock-solid and expressive twin-stick combat system that lets me feel like a badass is gaming cocktail I didn’t know that I needed. Now that I’ve had a little taste and know that the foundation is solid, I can’t wait to see what horrors await deeper in the facility when End of Abyss arrives on XBOX Series X|S in October.

End of Abyss

Epic Games Publishing

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Pre-order

In the depths of a mysterious underground compound, a mission to investigate disturbances of unknown origin spirals into a harrowing descent through a broken and abandoned world. Play as the young combat technician, Cel, as she uncovers the truth behind the facility’s derelict areas and confronts the monstrous creatures that roam them. Enter the Abyss Descend into the halls of a sprawling complex, where broken machines whisper to you from the depths, and nothing you encounter is fully human. Fight to Survive Outmatched by the twisted horrors you face, you must upgrade your gear and adapt, pushing your limits just to stay alive against the crushing pressure of the facility you’re trapped within. Explore Lost Paths Navigate branching paths and uncover hidden areas using your Scanner and the tools you unlock along the way. Pathways open as you grow stronger, allowing you to return to forgotten corridors and secrets once sealed away. Developed by Section 9 End of Abyss delivers a focused and immersive experience shaped by a small team in Malmö Sweden, led by experienced developers known for crafting hit games.

The post End of Abyss: I’m the Little Nightmare, and You’re Locked in Here With Me appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Next Week on XBOX: New Games for June 22 to 26

Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Category: Next Week on XBOX

June 19, 2026

Next Week on XBOX: New Games for June 22 to 26

Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor

Welcome to Next Week on XBOX! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!

Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition – June 23

Command civilizations, boost your economy, and outmaneuver rivals with the precision of mouse & keyboard. Experience exhilarating, rapid pacing with the strategic elements that PC strategy players demand: optimized mouse control and settings, full keyboard navigation, refined UI, and enhanced 4K visuals let you dive into swift and intense battles while forming alliances with hundreds of players to build a dominant empire.

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round

KOEI TECMO AMERICA

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$39.99

Pre-order

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round – June 24
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S

Fan-favorite 3D fighting game DEAD OR ALIVE 6 is back with stylish moves, striking animations, and a cast of colorful characters to go head-to-head in the fighting game world’s most extreme battles! Place, pose, and take picture-perfect screenshots of your favorite characters in the new Photo Mode. Play with the classic DOA6 roster and 5 additional DLC characters from the original version, along with new costumes. Whether you’re a new player or a longtime veteran, DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round has the action you’re looking for.

Murder on the Disorient Express – June 25

An interactive murder mystery on the world-famous train! Step into the role of a cunning detective tasked with solving a perplexing murder before time runs out. William James Magnus III has been murdered, and you’re the only one with the investigative know-how to interrogate the other passengers and find the true culprit. But, with the train barreling towards the station, you only have so much time to solve the case before the murderer gets away.

Acorn Avengers

Cascadia Games LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$9.99

Pre-order

Acorn Avengers – June 26
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere

The forest is at peace until lizards from space abduct the ranger! Now it’s up to a pair of plucky chipmunks, aka the Acorn Avengers, to make the rescue. Journey from the park all the way into space in a chase to save the beloved forest ranger. Toss boxes, hurl explosive barrels, climb trees, and most of all be sure to gather nuts!

Alchemist: Journey of The Soul

OnSkull Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Alchemist: Journey of the Soul – June 26
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere

First-person adventure game, playable solo or co-op with up to 4 players. Use your magical abilities to solve puzzles or navigate through areas! Explore, use items, brew potions and unlock your full alchemical potential. Are you willing to do what it takes to claim a soul of your own?

Axel Quest

Ratalaika Games S.L.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Axel Quest – June 26
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere

Explore a dangerous pixel-art world, fight deadly monsters, defeat powerful bosses, and discover new paths as you progress. Along the journey, you’ll collect equipment, meet helpful NPCs, and uncover hidden secrets that reward your curiosity. With tight controls and fast-paced gameplay, Axel Quest offers a nostalgic experience inspired by classic 2D games, designed for both newcomers and seasoned players.

Death Run – Round 1

EpiXR Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$4.99

Pre-order

Death Run – Round 1 – June 26
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S

Death Run drops you into the world’s most dangerous live broadcast: a high-stakes sci-fi game show where participants are thrown into merciless laser gauntlets and the only exit is the finish line. Watched by billions, judged by the millisecond, you are the latest contestant. The question isn’t whether the show wants you dead — it does. The question is whether you’re fast enough, sharp enough, and precise enough to make it out anyway.

Punch Monkey Revenge

GamePoc LTD

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Punch Monkey Revenge – June 26
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere

PUNCH MONKEY REVENGE is a stylish, slow-motion action adventure where one determined little primate sets out to rescue his favorite toy from the toughest kids in school. Inspired by the cinematic action of classic movies — but served up with cartoon flair, comedy chaos, and absolutely no chill.

Shoot The Wall

Dolores Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Shoot the Wall – June 26
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere

Shoot the wall! Simple, right? Use your gun to blast your way through the wall, upgrade and change your weapons so you can shoot your way through the wall even faster! I mean come on, you’ve gotta know what’s behind that wall, right?

Wild West Supermarket Simulator

Toplitz Productions, SunDust

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Wild West Supermarket Simulator – June 26
Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere

The Wild West during the prime of the Gold Rush. The year is 1850. It was an offer you couldn’t refuse: Take over a prosperous General Store on the main street of a thriving growing town. What they forgot to mention: The store is a mere shadow of its former self in the middle of a ghost town. After the Gold was gone, so were most of the people. But you want to live the American Dream. And no one can stop you.

Word Quest: Nature

Gametry LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$1.99

Pre-order

Word Quest: Nature – June 26

Reconnect with the natural world in Word Quest: Nature, a peaceful yet captivating word search adventure. Wander through lush forests, serene lakes, blooming meadows, and majestic mountains as you connect letters and uncover hidden words inspired by the beauty of the outdoors. Each puzzle invites you to relax, breathe, and explore. How far will your journey take you through the wonders of nature?

The post Next Week on XBOX: New Games for June 22 to 26 appeared first on XBOX Wire.

EA SPORTS FC 26 Is Now on EA Play

Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Category: Games

June 18, 2026

EA SPORTS FC 26 Is Now on EA Play

Juliet Niczewicz, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, EA

Members can shape your legacy in The World’s Game. Get unlimited access with EA Play, and score a Supercharge Pack starting June 18 until July 17.

Welcome to the Club. Members can make their mark with unlimited access to an overhauled gameplay experience, recurring rewards, and so much more. Plus, experience The World’s Game like never before and play a brand-new international tournament mode.

EA SPORTS FC 26 is now available on The Play List. Play with XBOX Cloud Gaming, XBOX PC Game Pass, or Ultimate with EA Play.
Members can score a Supercharge Pack reward starting June 18 until July 17 in addition to Football Ultimate Team Draft Tokens and seasonal Clubs rewards.
Play through a brand-new international tournament experience and lead your nation to glory in The World’s Game.

Game Pass Ultimate members can jump into the action with EA Play. Get unlimited access today, as well as 10% off EA digital purchases.

Play EA SPORTS FC 26 now, with an overhauled gameplay experience powered by community feedback, Manager Live Challenges that bring fresh scenarios to the new season, and Archetypes inspired by greats of the game. Members can also snag a Supercharge Pack to use in Football Ultimate Team.

What’s new in EA Sports FC 26

Overhauled Gameplay, Powered by Community Feedback

Play your way in EA SPORTS FC 26 with more responsive dribbling, smarter AI positioning, and sharper, more explosive movement. Goalkeepers now react more naturally with improved positioning, animations are more lifelike, and new Playstyles and Player Roles give you more ways to shape how your team plays.

Chase Glory in International Tournaments

Experience The World’s Game like never before in EA SPORTS FC 26, with match data from the world’s top leagues powering 20,000+ players and 48 national teams, alongside new authentic stadiums to play in. Take on international-themed Manager Live Challenges, and step into Player Career with new international ICONs and Heroes.

Play with Two Distinct Gameplay Presets

Try out two new gameplay presets. Competitive is tuned for head-to-head action in Ultimate Team and Clubs, with faster passing, smarter keeper rebounds, and more direct control, while Authentic brings a true-to-football feel to modes like Career, featuring more positionally-responsible defenders, realistic corner success rates, lifelike goalmouth scrambles, and more.

Craft and Develop Your Perfect Player with Archetypes

Brand-new Archetypes, inspired by greats of the game, introduce new classes to Clubs and Player Career to bring more individuality to your player customization and progression.

Discover More Ways to Compete in Football Ultimate Team

Compete in new ways across Football Ultimate Team with Tournaments and Live Events, as well as a refreshed Rivals and Champs experience. New Bounties allow you to earn additional rewards or accelerate your weekly progress.

The post EA SPORTS FC 26 Is Now on EA Play appeared first on XBOX Wire.

How The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Balances Exploration, Combat, and Discovery

Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Category: Games

June 18, 2026

How The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Balances Exploration, Combat, and Discovery

Shez Sheikh, PR Manager, Square Enix

Summary

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales blends exploration, combat, and progression into a discovery-driven action RPG adventure.
Start your adventure off right with six tips and tricks from the developer.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is coming to XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC on June 18.

With the launch of The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales fast approaching on June 18, players won’t have to wait much longer to discover how the upcoming adventure blends gameplay, story, combat, and exploration together into a world built around curiosity and discovery.

Set in the world of Philabieldia, the game follows young adventurer Elliot and his fairy companion Faie, after the discovery of a mysterious set of ruins threatens to unravel something far greater than either expected. What begins as a dangerous expedition soon expands into a journey that stretches across time and space, with players exploring everything from open plains and hidden caves to ancient ruins filled with enemies and secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Exploration in The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales isn’t simply about moving from one destination to the next – every area is designed to reward curiosity, whether that means uncovering hidden paths, finding rare upgrades, or discovering new ways to approach combat. Faie’s abilities are a major part of that, scouting ahead, retrieving distant objects, and assisting during exploration in ways that make traversal feel more interactive and dynamic.

Combat is built to support the wider sense of adventure rather than interrupt it. Elliot has access to seven different weapon types, ranging from traditional swords and bows to more versatile options like chains and sickles, capable of pulling enemies closer. Each weapon offers a different approach to encounters, encouraging players to adapt their playstyle depending on the situation ahead.

That flexibility extends even further through the game’s magicite customisation system. Weapons can be modified with enhancements that either boost stats or fundamentally change how they behave in combat. Some magicite focus on increasing damage output, while others introduce entirely new effects, creating opportunities for players to experiment with different builds and combat strategies throughout the journey.

Outside of the main adventure, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales also includes optional activities and unlockables designed to encourage exploration beyond combat encounters.

One example is the game’s cat-collecting side activity, where players can search the world for stray cats in exchange for various rewards. Faie’s Magic Lessons also introduce additional mini-games, including sprint-based challenges.

These activities don’t only provide a break from combat, but also feed back into the game’s wider progression systems. Completing mini-games can unlock records for the game’s soundtrack, while hidden shrines and optional exploration paths reward players with new abilities and upgrades that can influence future encounters and exploration opportunities.

Whether players prefer uncovering secrets or experimenting with combat builds, here are five tips and tricks (plus a bonus one!) to know before starting your journey…

Use Faie to scout ahead

Faie isn’t just a companion, they’re one of your most useful tools during exploration and combat. Using the right stick, you can control Faie independently to scout dangerous areas, attack enemies from a distance, or grab objects without putting Elliot directly in harm’s way.

Perfect the block mechanic early

Blocking with ‘R’ can completely change the flow of combat. Well-timed blocks don’t just reduce damage, but can stun enemies and even reflect incoming attacks back at them. Mastering the timing early can make later encounters more manageable, especially against aggressive enemies inside dungeons and ruins.

Experiment with weapon switching

Elliot can equip up to two weapons simultaneously and swap between them in real time, allowing you to chain abilities and maintain weapon durability and stamina balance.

Different enemy types can reward different approaches, so it’s worth experimenting with weapon combinations to open up new combat strategies.

Don’t overlook magicite customisation

Elliot can enhance his weapons by using magicite fragments to strengthen his gear. Discovered in dungeons, magicite are vital for progressing through the game. Some upgrades provide stat boosts while others introduce new combat effects, allowing players to enjoy experimenting with their playstyle.

Break everything you see

If something looks breakable, smash it. Pots, jars, crates, and even patches of grass can hide valuable loot, crafting materials, or useful items. Exploration – and sometimes a little destruction – can reward curiosity.

Bonus tip: Don’t skip the explosive brooch

One of the most useful game accessories is the Explosive Brooch, available from a merchant in town. While expensive, it turns anything you throw into an explosive projectile.

From hidden secrets and optional shrines to fast-paced combat encounters and time-spanning exploration, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales encourages players to carve out their own adventure across Philabieldia. The journey begins when the game launches on XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC on June 18.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆ 26

★★★★★

Get it now

Digital Preorder Bonus: Elliot’s Departure Pack This pack includes items that give Elliot an edge at the start of his adventure. • Departure brooch accessory • Attack up sword magicite *Preorder bonus valid for purchases up until June 17, 2026, at 23:59. *Bonus contents may be sold separately at a later date. ——————————- A brand-new action RPG from the creators of OCTOPATH TRAVELER and BRAVELY DEFAULT – The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales combines stunning HD-2D visuals and exciting action-adventure gameplay for the first time! In a corner of a continent overrun with beast tribes, the Kingdom of Huther is humanity’s sole bastion, kept safe by a magic barrier. After the discovery of heretofore unknown ruins, the adventurer Elliot and his fairy sidekick Faie brave the dangers outside the kingdom on a journey across four ages to fulfill a thousand-year mission. Open new paths as you explore this untamed continent and reveal the world’s mysterious history. Enjoy intuitive and rewarding action-based battle with a healthy dose of strategic support abilities from a fairy. Herein are intertwined the fates of one adventurer and one fairy. It is time to unravel the threads of history.

The post How The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Balances Exploration, Combat, and Discovery appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Free Play Days – PGA Tour 2K25, Two Point Museum, Assetto Corsa and Dead by Daylight

Danielle Partis, XBOX Wire Editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Category: Games

June 18, 2026

Free Play Days – PGA Tour 2K25, Two Point Museum, Assetto Corsa and Dead by Daylight

Kyle OceanMarketing Manager, XBOX

Stay inside and keep cool this weekend with Free Play Days! PGA Tour 2K25 Standard Edition, Two Point Museum and Assetto Corsa are available this weekend for XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday, June 18 until Sunday, June 21.

During this time, Dead by Daylight is free for all XBOX members to try until Monday, June 22.

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

Get it now

Xbox Game Pass

Dead by Daylight
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Dead by Daylight is celebrating 10 Years! Summer camps, hockey masks, and machetes have never been the same…Dead by Daylight: Jason brings the legendary horror icon into The Fog. Dead by Daylight is free to play this weekend, with up to 60% discount on the base game and special discounts on select DLCs until July 2.

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

The post Free Play Days – PGA Tour 2K25, Two Point Museum, Assetto Corsa and Dead by Daylight appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Why You Should Follow Dave the Diver to the Jungle in New DLC Today

Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Category: Games

June 18, 2026

Why You Should Follow Dave the Diver to the Jungle in New DLC Today

Jaeho Hwang, Head of Mintrocket

Summary

Dave the Diver – In the Jungle DLC is available now on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX Cloud Gaming, and XBOX on PC, and as an XBOX Play Anywhere title.
This robust new expansion takes Dave and friends to the jungle, with new wildlife, cuisines, and secrets to discover, inspired by substantial research in the real world (plus a heavy dose of imagination).
In the Jungle unlocks after the main story of Dave the Diver, though players can also start it directly if they want.

It’s D-Day once again at Mintrocket studios as we send Dave the Diver’s biggest DLC yet into the wild with the launch of the In the Jungle expansion.

This isn’t our first Dave the Diver DLC, but we consider it so much more than a typical DLC, and it’s a much different experience than the previously released DLCs that our fans are used to. With today’s launch, I wanted to share a little about what In the Jungle is (and isn’t), highlight some of the experiences I’m most excited for players to discover, and, of course, offer a few behind-the-scenes stories about how this expansion came to life.

A Wild Caught Jungle Adventure

Firstly, while In the Jungle is a DLC in name, it is really a full-fledged expansion and a departure from the base game in many ways. Deciding to go this route instead of an official sequel was a strategic and creative choice; with a DLC, we could afford to be much bolder and take some risks, and I think that shines through with the final product. With up to 10 hours of playable content in the expansion, there’s no question that our team put a ton of effort and heart into this project, and we never looked at it as a simple DLC. From the start, we knew this was going to be big, bold, and a whole new experience for Dave.

While there’s plenty of familiarity, there’s a lot of new experiences for players, between new characters, fish and wildlife, ingredients, and even the Bancho Grill, which brings a completely new experience to the restaurant management aspects. With this adventure, Dave and the crew venture into a remote jungle region with Dr. Bacon, and even while completely out of their element, Dave always has a way with the locals, so he’s able to form relationships with the villagers, manages and serves at Bancho Grill, and still have plenty of time to explore and uncover amazing new ingredients.

As we designed this expansion, both narratively and from a mechanics-driven standpoint, we knew the Jungle biome offered enormous potential. Freshwater ecosystems are incredibly diverse, and outside of the deep sea, few environments can match the jungle’s abundance of wildlife, natural resources, and culinary inspiration.

That rich foundation allowed us to focus on the elements that make Dave the Diver special and elevate them in meaningful new ways.

What’s New In the Jungle

Longtime fans know that we don’t cut corners, and we rarely create ideas based on assumptions alone.

During development, our game design lead and I traveled throughout Southeast Asia to experience local cuisine firsthand. We participated in cooking classes, explored regional food culture, and immersed ourselves in the communities that inspired much of the expansion. I personally spent two weeks in Indonesia, discovering local ingredients and flavors.

It’s difficult to fully capture those experiences in words. Instead, I hope players can feel those inspirations throughout In the Jungle. Seeing those memories and experiences transformed into gameplay has been one of the most rewarding parts of bringing this expansion to life.

Of course, we also take creative liberties. Some of the dishes featured in Dave the Diver couldn’t exist anywhere in the real world, and that sense of imagination remains central to the game’s identity. In the Jungle continues that tradition by blending authentic inspiration with fantastical ingredients and culinary creations.

The expansion also introduces several new characters, including Muna and Marone, who bring fresh personalities and perspectives to Dave’s growing world. There are also a few crossover surprises waiting to be discovered. Some are subtle, while others are much harder to miss, but I hope they can bring in an extra bit of enjoyment as you adventure the new Jungle village.

Diving Back In

With an expansion of this scale, we know In the Jungle will attract both returning fans and players who are experiencing Dave the Diver for the very first time.

To all of our new players: welcome. We’re excited to have you join us, and we hope this adventure exceeds your expectations.

For both newcomers and longtime fans, it’s important to note that the In the Jungle expansion becomes available after completing the main story of Dave the Diver. In case there are players who are willing to dive straight into the DLC content, we’re offering an option to start In the Jungle right away without finishing the main game. That said, we still strongly recommend completing the main game before you start In the Jungle, as there’s important story continuity that we don’t want anyone to miss.

An Unexpected Perspective

Another fun surprise we’ve been working on behind the scenes is our partnership with The Asylum to create a live-action short film inspired by the In the Jungle expansion.

Several members of the team and I have been longtime fans of The Asylum’s unique brand of over-the-top creature features and mockbuster films — you may know them from titles like “Sharknado” and “Meth Gator.” Collaborating with them was a dream come true, and we’re excited to finally share the results with our players.

Be sure to check out the full short film here: [LINK TO YOUTUBE VERSION]

The Jungle Calls

Our team pursued some ambitious ideas with In the Jungle, and without the passion and support of our community, we might never have had the confidence to bring them to life.

So, thank you.

We invite you to join Dave on his next great adventure and discover the secrets waiting to be uncovered in Utara. The jungle is filled with new mysteries, new friendships, and plenty of surprises.

And for players who have been waiting for the perfect moment to jump in, there has never been a better time to dive. Dave the Diver is currently available at its lowest price ever, with 50% off for a limited time.

Dave the Diver – In the Jungle is available now on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX Cloud Gaming, and XBOX on PC, and is an XBOX Play Anywhere title.

DAVE THE DIVER – In the Jungle Content Pack

MINTROCKET

☆☆☆☆☆ 5

★★★★★

$9.99

Get it now

Dave’s adventure continues, this time in the heart of the jungle. Leaving the Blue Hole behind, Dave and his crew travel to the jungle to investigate a mysterious phenomenon reported in the village of Utara. Beneath the jungle lake awaits a brand-new ecosystem to explore, along with new missions and discoveries. Featuring over 10 hours of new story and gameplay, DAVE THE DIVER – In the Jungle Content Pack introduces new systems, new locations, and thrilling new adventures beyond the ocean. Freshwater Lake – Discover a whole new ecosystem Prepare to encounter unfamiliar creatures, discover new ingredients, and face the hidden dangers lurking deep within an ancient underwater civilization. Bancho Grill – New restaurant, new menu, same Bancho standards Welcome to Bancho Grill, where bold jungle ingredients meet Bancho’s uncompromising culinary craft. Build relationships with the villagers and they might stop by as guests. See for yourself whether Bancho’s legendary cooking can win over the jungle too! Utara Village – a warm welcome in the jungle Lend a hand to the villagers and build meaningful relationships. Some may be wary of outsiders at first… but a thoughtful gift or a great meal can go a long way! The jungle runs deeper The jungle holds more than just villages and lakes. From mysterious ancient temples to eerie forests, Dave and his crew’s adventure continues deeper into the unknown!

The post Why You Should Follow Dave the Diver to the Jungle in New DLC Today appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Grand Theft Auto VI: Pre-Order Starts June 25

Danielle Partis, XBOX Wire Editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:28:11 +0000

The post Grand Theft Auto VI: Pre-Order Starts June 25 appeared first on XBOX Wire.

From Handheld to Console: Discover the World of Kemco on XBOX

Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Category: Games

June 17, 2026

From Handheld to Console: Discover the World of Kemco on XBOX

Matteo Conti, Deputy Manager at Kemco

What if you could jump into nearly 100 RPG adventures anytime, anywhere, on any device? In this XBOX Wire feature, we spotlight how Kemco continues to release a steady stream of titles, driven by a unique development approach focused on creativity and consistency rather than blockbuster scale.

Rather than focusing on a single large-scale release, Kemco works with multiple development partners to bring a wide variety of experiences to players. This approach allows us to consistently deliver new stories, systems, and worlds, each with its own identity, while maintaining a reliable rhythm of releases for RPG fans looking for their next adventure.

Here’s a key fact many players may not know: almost every Kemco title supports XBOX Play Anywhere, making it easy to pick up and play across console, PC, and cloud. Whether you’re playing at home or on the go, your progress is always with you.

RPGs are often filled with dungeon exploration, story events, and long play sessions, but Kemco titles are designed with flexibility in mind. You can save your progress almost anywhere, in towns, in the field, or even deep inside dungeons. Combined with cloud saves, this creates a seamless experience between XBOX and PC, letting you continue your journey exactly where you left off, no matter the device.

At the same time, each game offers a satisfying amount of content without the heavy time commitment often associated with higher-priced blockbuster titles. This makes them easy to pick up for shorter sessions, whether you’re commuting, taking a break, or just looking to make a bit of progress in between your daily routine.

For players who enjoy story-driven experiences, Kemco’s lineup also includes a diverse range of visual novel-style adventures. These titles offer unique and sometimes unexpected narratives, providing plenty of variety for those who prefer text-based storytelling.

Not sure where to begin? That’s part of the charm; you can start anywhere. Whether you’re into classic JRPGs, strategic dungeon crawlers, or narrative-rich visual novels, Kemco’s catalog is built for players who enjoy thoughtful, system-driven gameplay over pure action. While we do have some action-oriented titles, our strength lies in experiences that reward planning, exploration, and immersion.

Finally, there’s no better time to jump in. The Kemco Publisher Spotlight Sale is now live, offering a wide selection of titles across multiple genres. From anime-style adventures and charming pixel RPGs to casual horror experiences, retro-inspired dungeon crawlers, and tactical RPGs, there’s something for everyone. We’ve grouped the titles by genre below, so you can easily find your next adventure.

JRPG

Asdivine Cross — 50% off

Ambition Record — 50% off

Ghost Sync — 50% off

Gale of Windoria — 50% off

Infinite Links — 50% off

Jinshin — 50% off

Alphadia I & II — 50% off

Alter Age — 35% off

Astrune Academy — 45% off

Hero Seekers — 25% off

Chronus Arc — 50% off

Fernz Gate — 50% off

Asdivine Hearts I & II — 50% off

Illusion of L’Phalcia — 50% off

Revenant Saga — 50% off

Dragon Lapis — 50% off

Chroma Quaternion — 50% off

Dragon Prana — 50% off

Chrome Wolf — 50% off

Onigo Hunter — 50% off

Glorious Savior — 50% off

Covenant of Solitude — 45% off

Action RPG

Frane: Dragons’ Odyssey — 50% off

Tactical RPG

Legend of Ixtona — 50% off

Dungeon Crawler

Metro Quester — 50% off

Metro Quester | Osaka — 45% off

Dragon Ruins 2 — 35% off

Adventure

Matsuro Palette — 50% off

1f y0u’re a gh0st ca11 me here! — 40% off

Puzzle

3°C: Sand Puzzle — 50% off

With so many titles available, the best place to start is simply with what catches your eye. And if something piques your interest but isn’t part of this sale, keep an eye on the XBOX Store, there’s always more to discover from Kemco just around the corner.

The post From Handheld to Console: Discover the World of Kemco on XBOX appeared first on XBOX Wire.