Image: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (Free Xbox Series X|S Upgrade)
Welcome to your new Xbox games roundup for January 9th to 13th! Things are still looking pretty quiet as we slowly roll back into a new year of releases, but the likes of One Piece Odyssey, Breakers Collection and the free next-gen upgrade for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot are definitely worth looking out for.
Here’s what’s coming to Xbox this week:
New Xbox Releases (January 9-13)
Optimised For Xbox Series X|S
Children of Silentown (January 11): “A dark adventure game that tells the story of Lucy, a girl growing up in a village deep in a forest inhabited by monsters.”
Breakers Collection (January 12): “Featuring both of the original games (Breakers and Breakers Revenge) and new content for the cult-classic that was first released in 1996 for the Neo Geo and arcades.”
Chasing Static(January 12): “Inspired by ‘80s sci-fi horror and contemporary surrealist cinema, Chasing Static delivers a unique take on the narrative adventure genre through new audio driven gameplay mechanics and non-linear exploration.”
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (January 13): “Relive the Dragon Ball Z saga like never before. With enhanced graphics and 60 fps, DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT is coming to Xbox Series X|S!”
One Piece Odyssey (January 13): “Washed up on a lush tropical island and surrounded by raging storms and separated from his crew, Luffy sets off on a grand, new adventure to find his friends and escape the island!”
Xbox One
Children of Silentown (January 11): “A dark adventure game that tells the story of Lucy, a girl growing up in a village deep in a forest inhabited by monsters.”
Breakers Collection (January 12): “Featuring both of the original games (Breakers and Breakers Revenge) and new content for the cult-classic that was first released in 1996 for the Neo Geo and arcades.”
Chasing Static(January 12): “Inspired by ‘80s sci-fi horror and contemporary surrealist cinema, Chasing Static delivers a unique take on the narrative adventure genre through new audio driven gameplay mechanics and non-linear exploration.”
NEScape! (January 13): “NEScape! combines the look and feel of an 8-bit retro game with the modern-day elements of escape rooms.”
UnderDungeon (January 13): “Become the deadliest delivery… cat in the world. Intense fights, multiple weapons, and demanding boss fights.”
Xbox Game Pass Titles
We haven’t got any confirmed Xbox Game Pass titles for the week of January 9th to 13th as of yet, but there’s a chance Microsoft might have some games announce over the next few days — watch this space!
The official Xbox app has now revealed the first batch of games that will leave Xbox Game Pass in January 2023 (the initial set of removals for the year), and it includes five games such as Nobody Saves The World and Windjammers 2.
We’ve listed the removal dates as January 15th — that’s the expected date for every game — but Microsoft hasn’t actually confirmed this yet, so we’ll let you know if there are any changes later this week.
Xbox Game Pass: Leaving Soon (January 15th, 2023)
As always, Xbox Game Pass members can get a discount of (at least) 20% on these titles before they’re removed.
You’ve probably noticed we haven’t had any Xbox Game Pass additions in quite some time now, and that’s apparently because Microsoft was waiting until early January for the next batch. Hopefully we’ll hear something this week!
So, without further ado, here’s a look at what we’ve got to look forward to over the coming twelve months. Let’s jump in!
Publisher: Atlus Persona Team / Developer: Atlus Persona Team
Release Date: 19th Jan 2023 (USA)
2012’s RPG masterpiece, Persona 4 Golden hits Xbox consoles on the 19th of January via Game Pass, alongside Persona 3 Portable, and it’s worth highlighting here as it really is a toss up as to whether this or the incredible Persona 5 Royal is the true highlight of this amazing series. Either way, what we’re saying is that this is an unmissable RPG, a slick, stylish and highly addictive collision of fantastic turn-based combat, brilliant characters, stylish graphics and a cracking soundtrack, a game that hits you in the feels in a way only Persona can. We can’t wait to get back to Inaba and experience the whole thing all over again in just a few weeks time.
Release Date: 19th January 2023
Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 20th Jan 2023 (USA)
Capcom’s incredible action RPG, Monster Hunter Rise, finally roars onto Xbox consoles in January 2023, and we can’t wait to blast back into this one, especially since this is the first time we’ll get to see it run at a silky smooth 4K/60FPS. For those who’ve maybe fussed over whether or not they fancy giving Capcom’s series a try, Rise really is a fantastic place to get started. It’s much more newcomer-friendly in its opening hours, taking its time to explain its newly streamlined core mechanics, it’s got a fun narrative, tons of side quests and cosmetics, and introduces a handful of excellent new combat and traversal elements, such as the Wirebug, that make the action at the heart of it all feel better than ever. Yep, if you’ve ever been on the fence, this is the Monster Hunter to get you going, and we reckon once you get in the groove of what this series has got to offer, it’s almost impossible to stop. Check out the game’s launch trailer to get yourself in the monster-slaying mood!
Release Date: 20th January 2023
Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Publisher: EA / Developer: EA Motive
Release Date: 27th Jan 2023 (USA) / 27th Jan 2023 (UK/EU)
One of the all-time great horror games gets a big fancy flippin’ remake, and it’s arriving very, very soon. OMG! To say we’re excited to get our hands on this ground-up revamp of Isaac Clarke’s original adventure is something of an understatement, and all of the gameplay we’ve seen of Dead Space so far suggests an experience that looks set to give us a vision of the USG Ishimura, and all that happens within her twisted innards, that’s gonna blow our tiny minds. We’re ready and waiting to suit up, boot up and get back to hacking and stomping the limbs off some Necromorphs, baby!
The sequel to 2018’s excellent Deliver us the Moon, Deliver us Mars looks set to be another top-notch slice of adventure/puzzle action. Set a decade after the events of the original game, this time around players assume the role of earth’s youngest astronaut, Kathy Johanson, as she journeys to Mars on a high-stakes mission to retrieve lost colony ships. Expect lots of clever puzzling and exciting physical challenges based around the harsh environs of the Martian surface, all wrapped up in what’s sure to be a highly absorbing sci-fi narrative.
Release Date: 2nd February2023
Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: Warner Bros / Developer: Avalanche Studios
Release Date: 10th Feb 2023 (USA) / 10th Feb 2023 (UK/EU)
Harry Potter fans. The time has come. Hogwarts Legacy is almost here and, as much as we know this game is, quite rightfully, controversial given the current circumstances regarding the views of Harry Potter’s creator, there’s no doubt that many will be counting down the days to this one releasing. What we’ve seen of Warner Bros action adventure so far is certainly impressive graphically, and the opportunity for long-time Potter nuts to create their very own wizard and attend classes at Hogwarts whilst levelling up their magical abilities, taming beasts and taking on adventure quests, is sure to see this title fly off the shelves when it finally arrives.
Release Date: 10th February2023
Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: EA / Developer: Koei Tecmo
Release Date: 16th Feb 2023 (USA)
So, if you find that Monster Hunter Rise isn’t your jam but you’re still keen to scratch that Monster Hunter itch, perhaps Wild Hearts will be more up your street? This is a brand-new game from the team behind the Dynasty Warriors franchise, and it’s being published under the EA Originals label, so the publisher clearly has confidence in it! Releasing this February, you’ll be able to go it alone or team up with friends to conquer fearsome beasts as you explore a fantasy medieval Japan. This game’s gone under the radar a bit so far (it was revealed quite late actually), but it’s shaping up to be a great addition to Xbox in the very near future.
Release Date: 16th February 2023
Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: Mundfish / Developer: Mundfish
Release Date: 21st Feb 2023 (UK/EU)
Mundfish’s Atomic Heart got a brand-new gameplay trailer at The Game Awards 2022 and it’s got us super-hyped to finally get our hands on this alternate reality FPS. Set in a future where the USSR has thrived, Atomic Heart tells the tale of a ruined dystopia where advanced AI once served mankind, before they turned on their masters and went on a killspree. It’s now up to you to determine what went wrong, and in order to do so you’re gonna have to get to grips with Bioshock-esque elemental/telekinetic abilities and a deep melee system that reminds us of Techland’s brand of heavy-hitting violence. All of these powers then sit alongside straight-up FPS action that looks flashy and ferocious from what we’ve been shown so far. With a huge world to explore and a story that should be packed full of surprises, we’re ready and waiting to dive in. Roll on February!
Release Date: 21st February2023
Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Publisher: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio / Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Release Date: 21st Feb 2023 (USA)
A very flashy remake of the 2014 Japan-only PlayStation game, Like A Dragon: Ishin! sees the Like A Dragon series paired with Unreal Engine 4, making for a historical epic that looks absolutely incredible. Seriously, check out the trailer, it looks nuts. Telling the story of the end of the Samurai era, players assume the role of Sakamoto Ryomo, an actual real-life figure, as he…well…as he uses fancy sword techniques and a ruddy great big pistol to do what we expect him to do in a Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio joint, kick the living flip out thousands of thugs and bosses and henchmen and oh look there’s tiger! Quick punch that man in the face with some dog food and steal his underwear! We’re expecting lots of chaos here, madcap violence mixed with a surprisingly emotional and thoroughly epic storyline. This studio never lets us down.
Release Date: 21st February2023
Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: Bungie / Developer: Bungie
Release Date: 28th Feb 2023 (USA)
Yep. More Destiny 2. This time, guardians, we’re off to Neptune where a metropolis “unlike any you’ve explored in Destiny 2” awaits. In this huge new slice of DLC, you’ll join the Cloud Striders in a life or death battle against the Shadow Legion, as you work to prevent devastation in the technologically advanced secret city of Neomuna – which all sounds absolutely exhausting tbh. With a brand-new helping of narrative campaign goodness, a new raid and, we’re sure, a ton of new weapons, cosmetics and so on, Lightfall looks and sounds every bit as great as the six helpings of D2 DLC that have preceded it. We can’t wait to get back to the action.
Release Date: 28th February2023
Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Koei Tecmo
Release Date: 3rd Mar 2023 (USA)
Team Ninja returns to the hack and slash fray in March of 2023 with the phenomenal looking Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Seriously, have you seen the trailer yet? You gotta go watch it. This is looking set to be a supreme slice of action gaming from the makers of the superb Nioh series, a dark fantasy tale that sees players step into the role of a nameless warrior as he cuts a bloody swathe through the demons who plague this alternate version of the late Han Dynasty. Expect tons of weapons and upgrades, powerful magical spells and the ability to summon divine beasts to aid you as you batter your enemies to a pulp across some absolutely glorious looking locations. There’s shades of Nioh here, of course, but we’re also getting heavy Sekiro vibes, all very good news for fans of fast-paced action experiences backed up by epic narratives, sweeping scores and all that good stuff. Oh yeah.
A new rumor associated with Microsoft’s Xbox platform should excite those that used to play games on Xbox 360. For a prolonged period of time, Microsoft focused heavily on ensuring that Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles would be backward compatible with titles from the original Xbox and Xbox 360. And while this backward compatible library is quite deep on current-gen platforms, Microsoft has since stopped with its efforts to bring new titles to the service. Fortunately, it sounds like this might not be the case for much longer.
According to XboxEra Podcast host Nick Baker, who has previously had accurate insider information related to Xbox in the past, Microsoft could be planning one final batch of backward compatible games to bring to Xbox Series X and Xbox One platforms. Specifically, Baker noted that these games would be associated with Activision Blizzard and would arrive following Microsoft’s acquisition of the publisher. Although Baker didn’t state which games might be joining the Xbox backward compatible library, it was said that Microsoft’s ownership of Activision Blizzard would make licensing that much easier, which is why new titles would be added in the first place.
One group of games that Baker stressed likely wouldn’t be part of these new Xbox backward compatible additions are those associated with Marvel. During the Xbox 360 era, Activision published a handful of games like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, and many others. Sadly, it doesn’t seem like any of these games will be playable on current Xbox hardware due to licensing problems.
Based on what we’ve seen from Microsoft in the past with these new additions to the backward compatible library, it seems like Activision’s games from the Xbox 360 era would be most likely to join the lineup. As such, if you played certain Activision games on Xbox 360 back in the day, those titles could soon become that much easier to revisit.
Are you excited to hear that more classic Xbox games might soon become playable on Xbox Series X and Xbox One? And which games, in particular, are you hoping will join the backward compatible catalog? Let me know either down in the comments or message me on Twitter at @MooreMan12.
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Best Buy is in the midst of an anniversary sales event that includes a pretty fantastic deal on video games. For 10 days, Best Buy will roll out a featured game priced at only $9.99, and the title for the third day is Back 4 Blood on Xbox. They even tossed in the sweet SteelBook cased pictured below for free. That’s an insane deal that you can take advantage of right here until the end of the day today, August 12th. Just make sure to check out the latest deal each day through August 19th. Note that the Xbox Back 4 Blood Standard Edition is compatible with the Xbox one and Xbox Series X|S.
Shop the 10 Days. 10 Games. 10 Dollars Sale at Best Buy
In our review for Back 4 Blood, we noted that the game was “an enjoyable shooter with some notable drawbacks”. However, a lot of changes have happened since the launch, which makes this game an absolute steal for only $10.
“Back 4 Blood isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s absolutely the closest we’ve gotten to a new Left 4 Dead game in the years since Left 4 Dead 2. Because of this, it’s hard not to have fun with B4B, even if it doesn’t always feel inventive and has some notable drawbacks. Despite some qualms, if you’re hungry for a new co-op shooter to jump into with some friends, Back 4 Blood has more than enough meat on the bone to keep you entertained for quite some time.”
Back 4 Blood is available right now across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC platforms. You can keep tabs on the latest Back 4 Blood updates right here.
Xbox users across Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X just got a stealth release, and the game in question is a former Nintendo 3DS exclusive. It’s not often Xbox consoles get a stealth release, with a majority of surprise releases going the way of Nintendo Switch, or occasionally to the way of PlayStation players. This time though it’s Xbox players who have been provided the stealth release, courtesy of Inti Creates.
If you’re on either the current-gen Xbox machines or the last-gen Xbox machines, you can now buy, for $14.99, over on the Microsoft Store, Azure Striker Gunvolt, a game that debuted back in 2014. More specifically, the 2D side-scrolling action platformer — known as Armed Blue: Gunvolt in Japan — debuted on August 20, 2024, but only in Japan. Nine days later it came to North America, before hitting Europe the following year. Upon release, the game was a Nintendo 3DS exclusive, though Nintendo had no involvement in its release. In the following years it came to PC, then Nintendo Switch, and then PS4 finally in 2020. And now it’s on both generations of Xbox consoles.
Upon release, the game — which legendary developer Keiji Inafune served on as executive producer — garnered a 77 on Metacritic. Its user review score on the platform was very similar to this, coming in at 8.1. Below, you can read more about the game, courtesy of an official blurb straight from Inti Creates. And below this, you can check out the game’s original Nintendo 3DS trailer since a new one was not provided alongside the Xbox release.
“Azure Striker Gunvolt is a 2D action game featuring the talents of star creator Keiji Inafune as the Executive Producer and Action Supervisor. With the ‘septimal’ power to create and manipulate lightning, Gunvolt faces off against the massive conglomerate known as the Sumeragi Group. Intense battles unfold against Sumeragi’s ultra-powerful adepts (those who possess septimal powers) as Gunvolt fights to keep his nation free.”
For more of all the latest coverage on all things Xbox, all things Nintendo, and everything else beyond but under the gaming umbrella — including not just all of the latest gaming news, but all of the latest gaming rumors, leaks, speculation, and deals — click here.
An Xbox 360 game from the wonderful year of 2010 is now available for free, alongside an Xbox One game, courtesy with Games With Gold, which means it’s limited to those with an Xbox Live Gold subscription. And like other games previously made free with Games With Gold, it’s free only for a limited time. More specifically, between now and the end of the month, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can now download Raskulls for free.
An action platformer, the game was released back on December 29, 2010 via developer Halfbrick Studios. Meanwhile, Microsoft itself published the game. Upon release, the Xbox Arcade and Xbox 360 exclusive garnered a 75 on Metacritic. The developer behind the game has since become a mobile game studio.
“Raskulls is a bone-shakingly crazy action platformer for Xbox Live Arcade,” reads an official pitch of the game. “Embark on an action-packed adventure in the Raskulls Mega Quest, starring the lovable yet completely self-centered King, tough-but-fair Bonesaw, and the unlikely hero Dragon. Save the world and unlock Achievements in the single-player Mega Quest spanning three chapters and over 60 levels! Take your platforming prowess online around the world, or simply on the couch with friends in Raskulls Multiplayer! Raskulls is here to stay, so it’s now your quest to jump, fall, swim, and bash your way through every inch of the rich Raskulls world!”
As for the Xbox One game itself, it’s Project Highrise: Architect’s Edition, which is free until July 15. Developed by SomaSim and published by Kalypso Media — and released in 2018 — the game boasts a 74 over on Metacritic.
“Your job as the architect and developer is to build world-famous skyscrapers that will be the envy of the entire city, masterpieces of art and engineering,” reads an official pitch of the game. “But a skyscraper is more than just steel and glass, it’s an intricate ecosystem, full of people that live and work in the building. They become a complex machine that needs your steady hand to keep it running smoothly and efficiently.”
For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest on Xbox One, all of the latest on Xbox Series X|S, and the latest on Xbox Game Pass — click here or, alternatively, check out the relevant and recent links listed right below:
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A new Forza Motorsport game — tentatively dubbed Forza Motorsport 8 — was announced back on July 23, 2020 for Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PC. At the time, the game was announced alongside a reveal trailer featuring in-engine footage or, in other words, footage that’s not representative of what the actual game will look like. In-engine trailers aren’t CGI trailers, but they always look better than the finished product. In other words, the trailer didn’t have any gameplay.
It’s been nearly two years since the game’s reveal and since then it’s been media and information blackout. The game has yet to resurface, leaving many fans wondering what going’s on with it. At the time of the announcement, the game was said to be in the early stages of development, but fans didn’t take this to mean it was going to be a couple of years and counting before they got to see the title again.
Right now, Xbox and developer Turn 10 Studios still aren’t talking about the game, but a new leak has surfaced online revealing not only our first look at the actual game, but revealing that it may actually be a cross-gen release. The leak comes the way of Reddit and is accompanied by media that is said to be showing the game running on Xbox One last summer. There’s no room to doubt the validity of the images. They pass the sniff test and then some, but there’s no evidence the images are pulled from an Xbox One version of the game other than the leaker’s claims. That said, if the leaker has access to these images then it’s safe to assume the complimentary details are accurate as well.
So, why are fans divided over the leak? Well, because it claims and seemingly reveals the game is cross-gen after the title was previously announced as next-gen and PC only. Why is this a problem? Well, for some — especially those on Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and high-end PCs — the worry is the game being on Xbox One will limit the potential of the game as it will have to be made within the confines of the Xbox One’s old tech. And this is a reasonable worry, but not very applicable to Forza Motorsport. From a design perspective, where the limitations would be a problem, Forza Motorsport is the same game no matter what platform it’s running on. The evolution is purely technical. When you’re looking forward to a new Forza Motorsport game, you’re looking forward to an increase in graphical fidelity and performance, mainly. The game being cross-gen won’t limit the title in this regard because Turn 10 Studios can simply scale the game depending on what platform it is on.
All of that said, take everything here with a grain of salt. While the leak above is seemingly credible, it’s not official. So far, neither implicated party has addressed the leak and its implications. If this changes, we will update the story accordingly.
It seems as though the PlayStation 5 version of Grand Theft Auto V runs better than the Xbox Series X|S version. The new remaster of GTA 5 gives the game a technical boost with an increased framerate, 4K resolution, and all kinds of new effects for console players to admire. PS5 players also get to take advantage of new DualSense-specific features, such as vibrations and feedback that react to weather and road conditions among other things. The remaster offers some marginal upgrades, but isn’t anything too mind-blowing and it isn’t as big of a leap as the game’s first re-release.
Nonetheless, it seems like some people may have a better experience with the game depending on their platform. A new video from YouTube channel ElAnalistaDeBits compared the different versions of the game side by side and revealed that the PS5 version of GTA V is noticeably better than the Xbox Series X|S version. Not only does the game look sharper and generally a bit more detailed on PS5, but the framerate also holds up in demanding conditions as well. The framerate on PS5 holds steady, only losing a few frames in particularly explosive moments, while the Xbox Series X|S version drops from 60FPS to high 40s at times. Although the game still looks good on Xbox consoles, the PS5 version appears to be the most technically impressive of the two.
In addition to that, PS5 players get GTA Online for free for the first three months. Players can even keep it after this window ends, so that’s just yet another bonus for PlayStation players. It’s not exactly clear what’s causing these kinds of discrepancies between PS5 and Xbox, especially because Xbox Series X has been advertised as the most powerful console ever made, but it is an interesting comparison.
What do you think of the differences between the Xbox Series X and PS5 versions of the new Grand Theft Auto V remaster? If you’ve played the remaster, what do you think of it? Let us know in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
