Known for developing games of high-quality and excellent writing, Obsidian Entertainment's fantasy RPG Avowed is no doubt on a lot of people's radars. The Fallout: New Vegas studio is looking to rel??ease its new title early ?next year, but there is an opportunity to play it sooner.

However, it will necessitate forking over some extra dough. According to a recent blog post on Xbox Wire, you can get a copy of Avowed on February 13 �??as opposed to February 18 �if you're prepared to buy the Premium Edition.

How to get Avowed Early Access as easily as possible

You can pre-order the more expensive version of the game, which will set you back $90 instead of $70 for the Standard Edition. In addition to getting to download and play "up to" five days earlier, the Premium Edition also gives you access to a digital artbook and soundtrack, as well as two pr?emium skin packs.

The post goes on to say pre-orders are available on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox App, Steam, and even Blizzard's Battle.net service. You can also, if you so cho?ose, buy the Standard Edition and upgrade to Premium at a later date, which will give you the bonuses plus the early access. It will, ??however, cost you an additional $25 for the privilege.

Avowed will also b??e available on Game Pass from day one. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play via their Battle.n??et membership.

As for the exclusive skin pack, these have been inspired by "characters and regions from Pillars of Eternity." If you're like me and you're wondering if you need to have played this game before diving into Avowed, it seems as though that won't be necessary.

Although the latter does take place in the same universe as the former, no knowledge of Pillars of Eternity is required. If you're a fan of Obsidian games overall, then Avowed sounds like it's?? going to be one to look out for, whether you play it five days?? early or not.

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With Call of Duty now under the Microsoft umbrella, the big green giant had previously flexed its muscles by making Black Ops 6 ava?ilable Day One on som??e Game Pass membership options. Now, the company has confirmed it'll come to the Cloud, ??too, on the same day.

In an Xbox Wire blog post, Microsoft has announced Black Ops 6, as well as Call of Duty's Battle Royale Warzone and last year's Modern Warfare 3, will be coming to Cloud Gaming on October 25.

You can play Black Ops 6 on your phone

As per the blog, on? October 25 (Black Ops 6's launch day), all three games will? arrive on Xbox Cloud Gaming.

"We’re thrilled to reveal that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be playable with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) for Game Pass Ultimate members at launch and will begin rolling out to player??s on October 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. PT," it reads.

"In addition, we’re also bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming support to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone for Game Pass Ultimate members on the same day."

It'll be interesting to see how popular Modern Warfare 3 is on mobile with its successor dropp??ing on the service the same day, but there's always room for Favela and Rust in our hearts.

Black Ops 6 will mark the first Day One Game Pass launch since Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, with Modern Warfare 3 coming to the subscription servi?ce just a fe??w months ago.

This month has already been a solid month for the service, with Inscryption and Sifu being added, as well as MLB The Show 24.

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Microsoft really is running out of reasons for people to buy one of its Xbox consoles. While it still has some platform exclusives to call its own, like the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day, you'll soon be able to access the entire Xbox Game Pass library without the actual console by using a??n Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Announced today in an Xbox Wire post, Microsoft doesn't provide an exact date for when it'll happen, but the Xbox app will soon become compatible with select Fire TV devices. Using a Fire TV Stick 4K or a Fire TV Stick 4K Max (which cost $49.99 and $59.99 respectively), you can then play Xbox titles via cloud gaming. The? only other thing you n??eed is a Bluetooth wireless controller, and it doesn't even need to be an Xbox one. You could play with a PS5 controller if that's all you have.

Assuming you have a Fire TV already, this is altogether more affordable than buying an Xbox console. Even if we use the cheaper Xbox Series S, which is $299.99, for our comparison, the console plus a year's Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which is $16.99 a month, comes to nearly $504. The year's subscription plus the $49.99 F?ive TV Stick 4K is just under $254, making it cheaper than the console on its own.

The one caveat is that since you'd be playing games via the cloud, your experience is reliant on your internet connection. If it's not particularly stable or drops for whatever reason, there's no offline option you can fall back on. Plus, like I said, you need to have the right TV for it, which could set you back an additional $240 according to Amazon's website. Even so, for those already?? with a compatible TV and ??Fire TV Stick, this sounds like a very enticing offer considering how many games are available on Game Pass.

Microsoft has always expressed a desire to make its games more widely available. It's why it's grown willing to put its own IPs, like Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush, on rival platforms, especially when the PS5 and Switch are outselling the Xbox. There are even rumors of Halo, one of Microsoft's premiere franchises, coming to PlayStation, but nothing official has been said on the matter. Microsoft has also indicated it's not completely giving up on hardware, with Xbox boss Phil Spencer himself appearing to tease the existence of an Xbox handheld.

This move has most likely been influenced by Microsoft's efforts to get more people subscribed to Game Pass. It's clearly reached as many people as it can through the Xbox console, and growing subscription numbers is a priority for the comp??any.

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Xbox’s latest update has added new ways to customise your background, allowing gamers the option to enjoy the dynamic background while still getting to see the game art?? for titles you choose. There is also a new option to change t?he dynamic background colour on the Xbox console without changing the profile colour.

The new update now lets the Xbox console remember up to 10 wireless networks so that folks can switch between Wi-Fi networks without h?aving to type the passwords again. Xbox players?? can now manage their Xbox subscriptions directly from their consoles, by heading to Settings > Account > Subscriptions.

Microsoft has also ro??lled out a new firmware update for its Xbox wireless controller. The support for the Xbox Adaptive Controller has been expanded, allowing more USB accessories to connect. Each port will now support up to 12 buttons, a second stick, and a hat switch. Connectivity of headsets with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller has also been improved with the new update.

Game Pass sub-navigation menu and Cloud Gaming support for mouse and keyboard now available for all players

On the PC gaming side, now all players can access the new Game Pass Sub Navigation Menu. This feature allows PC gamers to directly access all Game Pass titles from Xbox’s first-party studios??, EA Play, and Riot games. Xbox had rolled out the Game Pass Sub Navigation Menu a??s a preview back in April and it is now available for all players in the Xbox app on PC.

Players who use Xbox Cloud Gaming can now manage their game data and cloud saves by visiting the Xbox play webpage on a browser, through th??e Samsung smart TV app, and other cloud gaming-suppo??rted devices. Moreover, Cloud Gaming now supports mouse and keyboard, and this functionality is now available for all players.

Xbox will also be testing out some more updates on selective Xbox accounts, where some people might? encounter features such as the ability to find people through console search, an updated Game Pass page layout and style, and they may find additional i??nfo on search card results and flashcard store buttons.

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Microsoft has revealed games that are coming to Xbox Game Pass in the first half of June 2024. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will get access to six titles in total, and the list is headlined by Octopath Traveler 1 and 2, alongside The Callisto Protocol.

Xbox Games Pass titles for June 2024 - Wave 1

Here are all the games coming to Xbox Game Pass in June 2024 during the first wave of announcements, and their?? arrival date on the service: 

• Octopath Traveler - June 6
• Octopath Traveler 2 - June 6
• Depersonalization â€?June 12
• Isonzo â€?June 13
• The Callisto Protocol â€?June 13
• Still Wakes the Deep â€?June 18

Octopath Traveler is actually not a new addition to the Game Pass, as it has previously been available on the service. The RPG game made its return at the same time when Square Enix finally released it for PlayStation consoles, six years after its original release in 2018 on Nintendo Switch. Octopath Traveler 2 was released in 2023, but not for the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. It has now arrived on the platform and will be free to play for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Both Octopath Traveler titles are known for their?????????????????????????? storytelling, the unique Path Action game??play, and the "HD-2D" visuals.

Depersonalization is a tabletop RPG game from MeowNature with multiple en??dings and branching storylines. The game offers a variety of choices, with the story changing course as per a player's decision?s. 

Isonzo is a WWI first-person shooter from BlackMill Games.? The game takes inspiration for both its name and setting from the Battle of the Isonzo which took place on the Italian Front between 1915 and 1917. The game offers team-based multiplayer with up to 40 players on consoles. 

Krafton and Striking Distance Studios�The Callisto Protocol is a survival horror game, where players take on the role of Jacob Lee, a starship captain who must escape the Black Ir??on Prison, the Calli?sto moon, and all the horrors lurking within it.

The final game in the Wave 1 announcement is Still Wakes the Deep, which will be a day-one release on the Game Pass. The upcoming psychological, survival horror game from developers The Chinese Room, looks promising. The studio has showcased its storytelling process with Dear Esther in the past and is very much capable of producing another horror game to try out, after previously delivering the likes of Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture.

The post Xbox Game Pass June 2024 games revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

Doubts started to creep in, but it looks as though the next Call of Duty series installment will be comi??ng to Xbox Game Pass after all.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft plans to release the new installment of Call of Duty, rumored to be Black Ops 6, for Game Pass subscribers on launch day.

Previously, Xbox executives reportedly had reservations about the idea because putting the title on Game Pass would undermine revenue for Activision Blizzard. Currently, Game Pass costs anywhere from $9.99 to $16.99 a month, but day one releases are only available to certain tiers. To offset the potential losses Microsoft allegedly considered raising prices, but it's unclear if it intends to follow through with that plan. In comparison, Modern Warfare 3 c?ost $70 or $100, depending on which edition players purc??hased.

This would be the first Call of Duty title on Game Pass. Since finalizing the deal to purchase Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has only recently started to roll out games from the acquisition, like Diablo IV. Microsoft will have to consider whether Game Pass would generate more revenue in the long term t??han cashing in on?? one purchase.

As for when players can get their hands on the upcoming title, rumors suggest that Black Ops 6 will launch in late October. The new Call of Duty is expected to be purchased separately on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. According to the Wall Street Journal report, Activision Blizzard plans to make the official announcement during the Xbox showcase event on June 9.

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Farming is one of the activities you’ll want to jump into as soon as possible in Manor Lords. It will provide the main food source for your digital villagers and will al??so fuel their ale-filled after-?work frivolities.

Manor Lords: Farming Guide

In the beginning of the game, Wheat should be your primary crop because it feeds the townsfolk and could determine whether they survive the first few winters in Manor Lords. There is no harvest during the winter, so you’ll want to ensure there’s a surplus of grain after the harvest in autumn, as well as a Windmill and Communal Oven to churn out bread. Once you’ve got some Wheat stocked up, your next focus in Manor Lords should probably be growing Barley and making ale.

Crop types

• Barley â€?Used to make Ale
• Flax â€?Used to make Linen and Clothing
• Rye â€?Used to make Flour and Bread, more hardy than Wheat and can grow in low fertility areas
• Wheat â€?Used to make Flour and Bread

Key structures for farming

• Farmhouse â€?Employs up to eight families for working the fields. They still need Burgage Plots as permanent homes.
• Windmill â€?Grinds Grain from Wheat or Rye into Flour
• Communal Oven â€?Converts Flour into Bread

Fertility indicator and crop types

Select the Farming tab in the Construction menu, and a list will appear on the right side of the screen with the following relevant options: Emmer, Flax, Barley, and Rye Fertility. These represent the four types of crops available to plant in Manor Lords. Selecting one will overlay a color-coded land fertility indicato??r on the map, with bright green represen??ting most fertile and orange/red designating areas to steer clear of.

What is Emmer?

If you’re like me, the term “Emmer Fertility�might lead you to assume there will be a new crop introduced later in the game. However, when laying out fields specifically to grow Wheat, you may also notice that there is no “Wheat Fertility�indicator. That’s because Emmer is an old-timey word for Wheat. It would have been nice if terminology were used consistently in Manor Lords, but then y??ou?? wouldn’t be learning new vocabulary that you’ll probably never use again.

Soil fertility and crop rotation

In Manor Lords, the fertility of the soil will diminish as it’s used to grow crops?, so it’s helpful to enable crop rotation. This will let you schedule each plot’s growing cycle over a three-y??ear period. It’s a good idea to let a field lie fallow for at least one of those years, as this will replenish soil fertility.

The fields are measured in morgen, an old-school unit of land measurement, and a single family in Manor Lords can manage about 2/3 of a morgen per year. When laying out your first farm, a to??oltip will advise to make fields 1 morgen, and one plot of wheat of t??hat size should produce enough to feed a small town. But due to diminishing land fertility, you’ll want to have at least three fields: two for growing and one laying fallow or being used for pasture.

Useful Development options for farming

Each time you increase your settlement level by upgrading Burgage Plots, you'll earn one Development Point. There are four skill trees to invest these points in, and one of them directly benefits farming in Manor Lords.

• Bakeries â€?Converts Flour into Bread more quickly than a Communal Oven
• Fertilization â€?Allows you to Fence Up a fallow field, turning it into a pasture and quickly restoring lost fertility
• Heavy Plow â€?Enables the use of oxen for faster plowing and crop transportation
• Irrigation â€?Greatly decreases damage from droughts

You may remember illustrations of medieval times with vast farmlands stretching to the horizon just to feed all the people. In Manor Lords, that’s not necessary, though it does ??look nice. And now that you have a handle on farming in the game, blanketing the land with planted fie?lds will be an aesthetic choice and not a haphazard mistake.

The post How to farm in Manor Lords appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the more puzzling elements of Manor Lords are the piles of supplies that get left behind after demolishing a structure, or you'll find yourself side-eyeing a random log left abandoned on the ground. In Manor Lords, these items get destroyed by the weather if they lay around too long, and the??y also impede the construction of new buildings on the site.

Yet, even if there is a storehouse nearby and idle villagers walking around, the supplies may remain?? there, taunting players who crave order in their medieval tow?n.

Make villagers quickly remove supplies in Manor Lords

• Assign more workers to the Storehouse or Granary
• Unassign workers from the Logging Camp to free up oxen for moving logs
• Limit the work area to the specific location with the excess supplies
• Build a road connecting the supply location to the storage building

Move exposed goods/supplies to storage in Manor Lords

Occasionally, you will get an icon on the info bar at the top of the screen, warning that there are exposed goods that need to be moved to a Storehouse or Granary. One would think that assigning a villager to one of these buildings would quickly clear up any supplies laying around, but sometimes it feels like the discar?ded goods aren't being removed in any semblance of a timely fashion.

Unfortunately, the answer to the problem is basically to just wait, though there are a couple of tricks that can expedite things. Assigning more workers to the Storehouse or Granary, while also making sure that there is a road connecting the supplies to the buildings, may lessen your wait time. You can also? “limit the work area�to the specific location where the excess supplies are, forcing workers to focus and move items to storage more efficiently.

Logs, on the other hand, aren’t held in a Storehouse or Granary, but rather a Logging Camp. As with the Granary and Storehouse, you can limit the loggers�work area to the spot with the surplus timber. If that isn't working, you can try either building a new, closer Logging Camp or un-assign workers from an existing one. This will free up oxen and cause the now idle villagers to pick up any abandoned logs sullying your lovel?y town. Don’t forget to select “clear wo??rk area�in the Logging Camp, Granary, or Storehouse interface once the untidy items have been hauled away.

Now, if you want to build a pasture for your newly acquired sheep in Manor Lords and there are discarded logs clogging up that prime rea??l estate, you won’t be forced to relocate or thumb twiddle while waiting for somebody to clean up the mess. A few quick clicks and some micromanagement should clear it right up.

The post H?ow to move excess supplies and exposed go?ods in Manor Lords appeared first on Destructoid.

When first starting out playing Manor Lords, there will be five wee families at your disposal, which are only enough to make you quickly realize that you need more people. ??But how to attract more families to live and work in your fledgling village isn’t that obvious right out of the gate.

Attracting villagers in Manor Lords

There are two key elements in Manor Lords that will result in more families moving to your village: Approval and Living Spa?ce. Approval can be tracked on the bar at the top of the screen, on the left side. You need at least 50% Approval before families will begin moving into your village at the rate of one per month; an Approval rate of 75% or more will attract two fami??lies every month. You also need to be wary of letting Approval drop below 25% because that will cause villagers to start bailing for greener pastures.

How to increase Approval in Manor Lords

In the early stages of the game, the easiest way to gain Approval in Manor Lords is by making sure there is a variety of food available and sufficient housing for the ?population. Building a Hunting Camp and a Forager Hut will satisfy the food variety requirement; constructing Burgage Plots will provide the desired housing.

Burgage Plots in Manor Lords have three levels, and each has amenity and market supply requirements that will further increase Approval. For example, the needed amenities for Burgage Plot Level 1 are a nearby Well and a Church. In Manor Lords, Homelessness has a negative impact on Approval, so it’s also a good idea to build more Burgage Plots than ?immediately necessary to ensure that new families have a home upon their a?rrival.

Other ways to quickly gain Approval in Manor Lords

• Build a Church
• Build a Marketplace
• Build a Woodcutter’s Lodge to make sure there’s always enough Fuel
• Turn Hides from the Hunting Camp into Leather at the Tannery. Set up a market stall in the Marketplace to get Clothing.

Once the initial hump is overcome and more families begin populating your village, things will progress more quickly in the game. There will be enough people to build farms and mines, and you’ll soon have a lively tavern with plenty of ale to keep everybody singing in Manor Lords. And paying taxes.

The post How t??o get more villagers and families in Ma??nor Lords appeared first on Destructoid.

Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios have revealed the second wave of games coming to Game Pass in March 2024, and one is certainly the talk of the town. Diablo IV is arriving on Game Pass this month following the finalization of the Microsoft and Activision deal.

But those who have been waiting for the chance to fight Lilith will have to wait a bit longer. Diablo IV will be available ??on Game Pass on March 28 �that's next Thursday for those wondering. For now, there are a handful of other games worth checking out.

Game Pass ends March 2024 with Diablo IV, Evil West, and more

The first games out of the gate are Lightyear Frontier and MLB The Show 24. Both are available to play starting today. Lightyear Frontier enters Game Pass in early access. An interstellar farm simulator with mech gameplay, Lightyear Frontier lets you harvest alien crops cooperatively with a few friends. MLB The Show 24 is a sports game. Cam doesn't do wel??l with the spor??ts games.

If those aren't interesting enough, The Quarry is arriving on the service on March 20 as a part of the second wave of March games. The horror game from the makers of Until Dawn, The Quarry places you in control of teenage counselors who suddenly find themselves running for their lives. It's a narrative entry like many by Supermassive Games, so at least some of your choices matter. Evil West arrives a day later on March 21.

Four games are getting dropped on the service next week. Keep an eye out for Terra Invicta, coming to Game Pass in early access on March 26. Diablo IV shows up two days later on March 28, along with Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 �Supercharged and Open Roads.

The team at Xbox Game Pass also teased some games coming to the service in April 2024. Ark: Survival Ascended is appearing on April 1 (no fooling), and April 2 sees the arrival of F1 23 and Superhot: Mind Control Delete.

Here are a??ll the games?? coming to March 2024 in the second wave:

• March 19

  • Lightyear Frontier (Game Preview) (PC, Xbox Series X|S, Cloud)

• March 20

  • MLB The Show (PC and Console)

• March 21

  • Evil West (PC, Console, Clout)

• March 26

  • Terra Invicta (Game Preview) (PC)

• March 28

  • Diablo IV (PC and Console)
  • Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 â€?Turbocharged (PC, Console, Cloud)
  • Open Roads (PC, Console, Cloud)

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass in March 2024, continued

A few more games are leaving Game Pass in March 2024??. Jump on these quickly before they're gone:

• Hot Wheels Unleashed (PC, Console, Cloud)
• Infinite Guitars (PC, Console, Cloud)
• MLB The Show 23 (Console and Cloud)

The post The Quarry?? and? Diablo IV join Game Pass to finish off March 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Now that the dust has mostly settled on Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the question remains over when those games will start to trickle onto Xbox Game Pass. Xbox head Phil Spencer seems to still want Call of Duty and othe??r big titles on the pass,?? but it remains to be seen when it could happen.

In an interview with Game File, Spencer said?? the "flagship" franchise for Activision Blizzard is "still coming" to Game Pass.

"Our intent is the full portfolio of game??s from Zenimax, Act?ivision Blizzard, and Xbox Game Studios �will be on Game Pass, day one," Spencer told Game File.

Recently, Xbox confirmed that Activision Blizzard games are making their way onto the Pass, starting with Diablo IV on March 28. The door is open, but Microsoft advises players that there may be a "lag" on making Call of Duty games available on Pass.

The future of Activision Blizzard games on Game Pass

With such massive hits in the Activision Blizzard? library, putting those titles on Game Pass could be a significant advantage from Microsoft?'s acquisition.

Many video game players, especially more casual ones, probably only play Call of Duty and maybe a few other games here and there. If Xbox consoles allow them to play the new games from day one with just a subscription fee, it could lead to a massive shift towards Xbox, either thro??ugh its consoles or just its services.

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Recently the Xbox page for Visions of Mana made news, as it cited the upcoming Square Enix RPG would be included as part of Xbox Game Pass at launch. Today we learned it wa?s just a big mistake.

Game Pass owners thought they had a gem inbound for the subscription platform. X? users, like Idle Sloth below, celebrated the Xbox reveal of the big Day O?ne get.

Eurogamer reached out to Microsft to get clarif?ication on the listing. A Microsoft spokesperson responded to the outlet to confirm that the mention of Game Pass was indeed a mistake.

"We're aware that Xbox.com included language that indicated Visions of Mana was coming to Xbox Game Pass and can confirm this was an error," the spokesperson told Eurogamer. Microsoft concluded its statement by confirming: "We do not have plans to bring Visions of Mana to Game Pass at this time."

When Microsoft rolled out its Xbox Developer's Direct on January 23, Visions of Mana was a surprise inclus??ion within the showcase. The game looked great, and Serie?s X|S owners were rightfully excited to finally get some love from Square Enix on their platform.

With the promotional partnership between Xbox and Square Enix during the Developer's Direct, fans who spotted the Game Pass mention on the Vision of Mana page would have little reason to doubt the game's inclusion. Now, it looks like Xbox Series X|S owners will have to purchase the awesome-looking action-RPG when it rel??eases alongside PlayStation 4, PlayStati??on 5, and PC versions later this summer.

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It turns out that the idea of "Pokémon with guns" appears to be pretty popular. Pocket Pair, the developers behind Palworld, ??have announced that their fledgling title is already selling incredibly well.

How well, you ask? Well, the team revealed that sales for the newly released game have already cross??ed the million copies sold mark - and that was in just eight hours.

Described by the development team as a "monster-catching, survival and crafting game", Palworld just launched yesterday on Stea?m Early Access and Xbox Game Preview. It's also available for Xbox Game Pass, though the subscription service isn't typically accounted for in sa??les figures.

Momentum was strong for Palworld leading up to its release. The night before launch, the game was ranked third on Steam's Wishlist page. On top of that, the hodgepodge project is currently trending on X at the time of this article being published.

I describe Palworld as a hodgepodge project because it seems to borrow lots of different ideas from other notable games. In his recent impressions of the Early Access build, Destructoid's Eric Van Allen noted that on top of there being similarities to the PokĂ©mon series, there are also elements of Breath of the Wild, Rust, Valheim, and Monster Hunter incorporated throughout too.

Again, Palworld will remain in an Early Access/Game Preview build for at least a year according to its Steam page. There are plenty of additions and changes that Pocket Pair plans to implement in the coming months. Amongst them will be new monsters to catch, new areas and dungeons to explore, fresh buildings and items for survival, and more. The development team also noted that they "are also considering incorporating entirely new ?game systems based on player feedback and ideas."

The post Palworld hits 1 million copies ?sold in just 8 hours appeared first on Destructoid.

Game Pass subscribers have had plenty to celebrate in January. The service saw some heavy hitters arrive in the first half of the month, including Assassin's Creed Valhalla and the Resident Evil 2 remake. But it's not done yet. More games are coming to Game Pass to round out January.

For fans of psychological horror, one such game is already available to download. Those Who Remain, a story-driven horror game, is now on Game Pass �as of January 16. The game did earn some rather mixed reviews when ?it launched?? in 2020 but now sits with a 'Mostly Positive' rating on Steam.

All the games coming to and leaving Game Pass in January 2024

Three games are heading to the service this week. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank and F1 23 are coming to Game Pass on January 18 for console and PC, with the former also available on the Cloud. Yep, after committing some tax evasion, I guess Turnip Boy needs to find a quick method to turn around some cash. I do wish the guy finds something less illegal to do in the future. On January 19 comes Palworld, the Pokémon-esque open-w??orld adventure where your captured beasts can wield guns. H??ell yes.

After next week the service will get two mor??e gam??es before the end of the month. But we also get a glimpse at what's coming in early February. Here's the list:

• Go Mecha Ball (Cloud, Console, PC) â€?January 25
• Brotato (Cloud, Console, PC) â€?January 30
• Persona 3 Reload (Cloud, Console, PC) â€?February 2
• Anuchard (Cloud, Console, PC) â€?February 6

Microsoft included a few notable updates coming to the games this month. First, Dead By Daylight will receive Alan Wake content on January 30. Turbo Golf Racing's 'Pet Pack' and Naraka: Bladepoint's Season 11 Bundle are both available now.

Finally, we have a couple of games leaving the service on January 31. Get your final missions for Hitman: World of Assassination complete before the end of the month, because Agent 47 is on the next plane out of here. F1 2021 is also leaving EA Play.

The post Brotato and ?Palworld are joining Game Pass to round ??out January 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

There are some solid additions for Xbox Game Pass subscribers to enjoy as we kick off 2024. With the headliners of the month being Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Resident Evil 2.

One title, Close to the Sun, is out now for Game Pass owners. The rest will be spread out through the rest of January. Close to the Sun is a first-person adventure game from 2019 that has a bit of a Bioshock feel to it. It earned a 75 on Metacritic upon release, with critics coming away impressed for the most part with i?ts?? atmosphere and story.

Following that is Hell Let Loose, which arrives January 4. It's a World War 2 shooter that touts 50 v. 50 battles on large-scale maps. It's a game that dema??nds teamw??ork, but with a Metascore of 84, it's said to be pretty fun for those who take the time to learn the ropes.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla (the Viking one) comes to subscribers on January 9. Destructoid gave it an "Okay" when it hit in 2020. Also on January 9, there's Figment from Bedtime Digital Games. The indie action-adventure game was received pretty favorably back in 2018.

The line-up continues with Super Mega Baseball 4 arriving on January 11 via EA Play. It's an arcadey alternative to MLB The Show that gets steadily stronger with each iteration. We Happy Few makes a return to Game Pass on January 11, too. But that's also the same day Resident Evil 2 arrives, and if you haven't played, you're going to want to. Chris Carter considered it "superb" when Capcom released it in 2019.

Finally, Those Who Remain arrives on January 16. It's a horror title that earned middling reviews when it launched. And with Resident Evil 2 in the mix this month, it's probably a skip.

Alongside new additions, there are also games that are being pulled from the Xbox Game Pass library. And this month is no exception with some big boys being removed from the subscription service. Grand Theft Auto V leaves Game Pass on January 5. And on January 15, players lose access to both Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden.

The post Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Resident Evil 2, and more come to Game Pass appeared first on Destructoid.

While PlayStation and Nintendo reaped the awards with their games, Xbox players might have been the true winners in terms of savings. According to TrueAchievements, after calculating the cost of each new game on Xbox Game Pass, ??the total amounted to nearly $9000.

With big releases like Starfield and Hi-Fi Rush, there was no shortage of new games for subscribers to dig in??to. Clearly, Xbox Game Pass was committed to being the best gaming service, bringing in huge third-party titles and inventive indies. As for the savings, the ex?act amounts are listed below:

• $8763/US
• ÂŁ7695/UK
• CA$11425/Canada
• A$13392/Australia
• â‚?879/Europe
• R$36898/ Brazil

Xbox Lives To Serve

I’ve been an Xbox Game Pass subscriber for a good while. To be honest, I reaped some of the benefits, especially early in the year with the releases of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden. Without an Xbox Series X though, I did miss out on some grand additions like Dead Space and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. I don’t think my poor Xbox One can even cloud-stream Starfield without becoming a portable grill. 

Regardless, many Xbox players did get to dig into some amazing games with the service compared to rival PlayStation Plus. Indies like Cocoon and Sea of Stars were powerhouses, while hotly-anticipated titles such as Lies of P and Persona 5 Tactica brought the house down.

Next year doesn’t seem to let up, either. Game Pass subscribers can get their hands on Persona 3 Reload (one of my most anticipated RPGs) in February, while exclusives such as Avowed, Towerborne, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will join the service later in the year. This, of course, doesn’t account for the many that will be announced later on, especially in future events (though not E3 anymore). 

If you're already an Xbox player, you probably know just how big a value Game Pass is if you checked your Spotify Wrapped-esque year-in-review from Xbox. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes both PC and Console access, costs $16.99/month and has a fairly substantial catalog. It's worth keeping in mind, though, that while $9000 worth of games does seem like a good deal, 2023 was also the year some users saw Microsoft raise the price of the service.

The post Xbox Game Pass added $9000 worth of games in 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Baldur's Gate 3 is now available on Xbox Series platforms, but don't expect the gam??e to make its way to Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service anytime soon.

In a recent interview with IGN, Larian Studios boss Swen Vincke confirmed the company has no plans to release its award-winning title on Game ?Pass, citing the game's sheer scope as a factor for this decision.

"We made a big game, so I think there's a fair price to be paid for that, and I think that that is okay," Vincke said. "We don't charge you an??y micro-transactions on top of it, so you get what you pay for. Upfront, it's a big meaty game. So I think that should be able to exist as it is. This is what allows us to continue making other games."

With the average Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough running for at least 50 hours (according to player data aggregated by HowLongToBeat) Vincke definitely has a point there. My own run took me 107 hours, and I ?ignored a whole bunch of side quests and points of interest in Act 3.

Larian doesn't seem inclined to give up Xbox's market potential for a Game Pass deal with Microsoft, and given the gam??e's overwhelming success, it's no wonder.

Still, Xbox fans might find it disappointing that the studio is dismissing the possibility altogether. Vincke, who recently rel??eased his full G?ame of the Year acceptance speech, certainly isn't mincing words when he tal??k??s about knowing what their game is really worth.

While Baldur's Gate 3 took home multiple trophies at The Game Awards and has received a lot of acclaim, it's easy to see how some might still be wary of spending $70 if they're not not an initiate of the CRPG genre or Dungeons & Dragons itself.

A ?Game? Pass demo might have gone a long way toward alleviating those fears. But as of now, Larian has no plans for one.

The post Baldur’s Gate 3 won’t be coming to Game Pass according to Larian appeared first on Destructoid.

Considered by many to be more than worth the monthly cost, Xbox Game Pass is the front-runner in gaming's fast lean towards subscription-based services. On top of Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer expressing interest in an Xbox mobile gaming store, the company's Chief Financial Officer is now ?keen on bringing Game Pass to... well, just about everything.

As reported by GameSpot, Tim Stuart said in a recent Wells Fargo TMT Summit (form required to access) that the goal is to one day bring the X??box subscription service, as well as first-party titles, to "every screen." This would also include on competing systems from Sony and Nintendo.

Stuart is quoted as saying that it also means smart TVs and mobile devices, as well as "what we would have thought of as competitors in the past, like PlayStation and Nintendo." Quite what these competitors think of ??this idea remains to be seen at this stage, but the report goes on to say that Sony previously blocked attempts to get EA Play on its consoles.

You can't move for bloody Game Pass

It sounds like a lofty ambition, bringing an extremely lucrative Xbox feature to the PS5 or Switch. Obviously, the endgame is to expand Game Pass as much as possible, and with Microsoft now owning the Call of Duty franchise, it has control on how it distribu??tes thes??e games.

With that in-mind, both Sony and Nintendo may have a vested interest in making sure CoD continues to be a mainstay across all major platforms going forward. In that sense, Xbox Game Pass being made available on "every screen" could be somethin?g big tech firms might consider.

Then agai??n, it could also just be another way Microsoft is continuing to gain a stranglehold on the prosperous video game industry. Time will tell on tha??t front.

The post Xbox wants Game Pass everywhere, even other?? consoles appeared first on Destructoid.

After some pretty solid additions in November, the titles coming to Xbox Game Pass for December look to continue the momentum. Remnant: From the Ashes and Remnant 2 are available on both PC and Xbox starting today while the others will be spread out over the first couple weeks of December. Both Remnant games are a ton of fun, and I'd definitely reco??mmend checking out if you have a?? Game Pass subscription.

SteamWorld Build which is? a city-builder our very own Zoey "The Architect" Handley feels is worth trying will be released as a Day One on Game Pass title. Blacksmith simulator WHile the Iron's Hot is also coming Day One on Gmae Pass.

There's some other very solid titles being added throughout December including Spirit of the North, Rise of the Tomb Raider, World War Z: Aftermath, Against the Storm, and Far Cry 6.

Here are all t??he titles coming to Xbox Game Pass in the firs??t two weeks of December:

Added today to Xbox Game Pass (November 30, 2023):

• Remnant: From the Ashes (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Remnant 2 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC)

Heading to Xbox Game Pass the week of December 1, 2023:

• Spirit of the North, December 1 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• SteamWorld Build, December 1 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Clone Drone in the Danger Zone, December 5 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC)
• While the Iron's Hot, December 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• World War Z: Aftermath, December 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Goat Simulator 3, December 7 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC)

Heading to Xbox Game Pass the week of December 8, 2023:

• Against the Storm, December 8 (PC)
• Tin Hearts, December 12 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Far Cry 6, December 14 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Chialvry 2 and Totally Reliable Delivery Service are also being adde??d to Game Pass Core on December 6.

The post Re??mnant 2 headlines a solid December lineup for Xbox Game Pass appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're looking for some fresh titles on Game Pas??s to occupy your time during Thanksgiving break, Xbox has you covered. The console maker announced a new batch of games coming to its subscription service throughout the rest of November.

Launching on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S today is Coral Island. The cutesy farming sim, available via Game Pass, has a specific focus on ocean conservation. Check out today's new trailer to see if ??it's up your alley:

Next up on the docket is Persona 5 Tactica, coming to Game Pass for console and PC on November 17. This turn-based tactical RPG takes the Phantom Thieves on a new adventure in a fresh new realm. Reviews for the day one Game Pass game began rolling out today. You can read through Destructoid's review in progress here.

Following Persona 5 Tactica is Dune: Spice Wars on November 28. It's described as a 4X (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate) real-time strategy game. You lead a faction of warriors within the Dune universe across the world of Arrakis in an attempt to control, you guessed it, spice. The game launched on PC Game Pass about a? year ??ago and will soon be available for Series X|S players.

Rollerdrome also arrives for Xbox Series X|S on November 28. It's a third-person action shooter set in the year 2030, where a brutal and bold new sport has the public going wild. It originally launched on PC and PlayStation 5, the latter of which Destructoid reviewed and gave a glowing 8.5, ??calling it "an exceptional and welcoming game, one that takes the best el??ements from [skating and competitive shooter] genres and combines them into a sophisticated and unabashedly cool experience."

As new games come, other ??games go, so here are the titles leaving Game Pass on November 30. If you're interested, play them soon or get their Game Pass discounts while you can:

• Anvil (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Battlefield 1943 (Console) EA Play
• Battlefield: Bad Company (Console) EA Play
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (Console and PC) EA Play
• Disc Room (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Eastward (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Grid (Console) EA Play

The post The rest of November’s Game Pass titles have been revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

As food price??s rise around the world, it's more important than ever to save money on games. There are a few things you may not consider, which we'll dive into right now.

Check your local library

This might be a shock to you, but there are libraries that let you rent out video games for free. While I was living in Edmonton, I used the library so much because of this. While it took a long time to get new releases (around a month typically), I was able to catch up on franchises like Resident Evil and Fire Emblem because of the library near me.

Look at the deal-searching websites and Reddit groups

If you want to find the best video game deals, you should check out the information available on websites like Cheap Ass Gamer and Game Deals Canada. They can compile great gaming deals for you, especially during Black Friday. There are some Reddit groups, including r/Game Deals and r/NintendoSwitchDeals that provide up-to-date sales info as well.

Facebook Marketplace is fantastic for saving money

You can find some awesome deals on Facebook Marketplace if you're fast enough. New releases can be cheaper used from regular people rather than GameStop. For example, I found Final Fantasy XVI and Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon for $60 Canadian ($45 US) each from one sel??ler a few months after release.

Game bundles can be fantastic

PC gamers might be familiar with Humble Bundle, a retailer that packs a bunch of games together and allows you to save money on awesome games, often while supporting a good cause. During October 2023, there was the Laugh Till You Die: Multiplayer Mayhem charity bundle, including popular games like PlateUp! and Ultimate Chicken Horse in a pack of seven. It also costs around $10; PlateUp! alone costs $19.99 USD usually.

Fanatical is another great option. It offers cheap bundles, and for some, you can actually select what you want. For example, the Build Your Own Play As You Go bundle in October had Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, Doom, The Walking Dead: The TellTale Series The Final Season, and The Ascent, among other h??igh quality games. If you bought three, it would be around $10, but if you get 7, it would total about $20, saving you cash.

Ask a friend to lend you a game

The best way to save money on games is to ask a friend to lend their titles. If you want to check out Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and see a friend who has it playing Diablo 4 instead, perhaps ask if you could borrow their copy of the latest COD. They might say yes. Just make s?ure you schedule a time to r??eturn the game with your pal.

Check out the thrift stores and pawn shops

Pawn shops are a fantastic way to get modern titles. For example, I saw the often expensive Mario Tennis Aces for $35 CAD ($25 USD) at a pawn shop the other week. If you're lucky, you can also find some retro gems in thrift stores. I found a few rare PS2 games available, including the valuable PS2 port of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Read the flyers and check the deals pages

Try to read the weekly flyers ?when you can. They offer some surprising deals at times. In Canada, they're still around often, but I foun?d them difficult to find with some American brands, at least online.

Thankfully, you can check the deals sections of these retailers. For example, on Walmart, I found that Yoshi's Crafted World was $10 off, and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was $20 off on a random October night.

Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra are the best ways to save money on games

Both subscription services Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra offer a wealth of titles to check out for less than $20 a month. Xbox Game Pass is arguably the better of the two with new games like Starfield and Lies of P launching on the platform day one. You can also play the entirety of the Halo and Gears of War series on the service. There are some other standouts like Disney Dreamlight Valley and indies such as Celeste and Inside on Xbox Game Pass.

However, PlayStation Plus Extra has an impressive suite of titles too, such as Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, Demon's Souls (PS5), and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. You can catch up on the games you've missed as well. For example, I never caught up with NieR Replicant, ?and now?? it's available on PlayStation Plus Extra.

Use Bing to get gift cards on Xbox

This might sound like a joke to you, but I use Bing for the majority of my searches rather than Google. Why? Because I can get points towards gift cards on Xbox and other rewards. After a month of searches, this number can increase dramatically, letting you redeem them for a $5 gift card code. You can also answer fun quizzes to get some points. If you're an Overwatch or League of Legends f??an, you can get in-game currency with your points too. It's been very helpful for me, and I've probably saved $50 or more with this method.

PlayStation Stars offers up money too

PlayStation Stars can also get you some cash on the PlayStation Store. You'll get points back from your purchases and finishing tasks on the PlayStation App. You can then redeem them for digital gift cards or actual games like Cuphead. Some of these tasks include playing games from t?he PlayStation Plus?? lineup that month or checking out new titles in the Store.

The Nintendo eShop also gives you back some cash on your purchases too in the form of gold coins. You'll typically get $4 back on every $80 game you buy, according to My Nintendo. However, there are no addition?al tas?ks you complete for more currency.

The post 10 ways to save money on games appeared first on Destructoid.

Hardly anyone would've been surprised to learn that Starfield was the best-selling game in the US for September. To add to that, not only has Bethesda's newest release been played by more than 11?? million people so far, it's also been a major achievemen?t for Game Pass.

That's according to a recent Microsoft earnings call, which took place on October 24. Among a bunch of other wins for the tech giant, Starfield has done wonders for the? Xbox subscription service. According to the transcript (or you could listen to the wh?ole audio if you prefer), the deep space adventure set a new record for the "most Game Pass subscriptions added on a single day ever."

Among the 11 million people that have taken to the stars, almost half of them played the game on PC. The transcript goes on to say that Starfield's launch?? has "benefited Xbox content and services."

The rich get richer

In gaming overall, Microsoft has said that revenue has "increased 9% and 8% in constant currency" with a "better-than-expected subscriber growth in Xbox Game Pass." No prizes for guessing which game is pretty much responsible for this uptick (no, not Redfall. Why would you say that?).

The hype behind Starfield was pretty immense for what ??felt like a long time. Given that it's Bethesda's first game since Microsoft bought the company in 2021, Xbox put its muscle behind the space-faring RPG.

Many of us might be losing a bit of interest in the game now, but the revenue and player count show just how popular Skyrim-in-space has been. But will it last as long as The Elder Scrolls 5? Only time will tell (I say no).

The post More than 11 million people have played ??Starfield, M??icrosoft says appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox Live Gold is no more, but in its place comes dozens of Xbox Game Pass Core g??ames to play alongside access to the console's online services. It's certainly the end of an era, and we've gotten some requests to create a clear list of what's available: here you go!

With Xbox Game Pass Core, you can play many games, including Among Us and Fallout 4. There are a bunch of s?ingle-player and multiplayer titles to check out. The neat thing is that you don't have to do anything if you're already subscribed to Xbox Live Gold.

Every Xbox Game Pass Core game, listed

Here ar?e all of the Xbox Game?? Pass Core games you can play right now. They include:

• Among Us
• Astroneer
• Celeste
• Dead Cells
• Descenders
• Dishonored 2
• DOOM Eternal Standard Edition
• Fable Anniversary
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76
• Firewatch
• Forza Horizon 4 Standard Edition
• Gang Beasts
• Gears 5 Game of the Year Edition
• Golf with your Friends
• Grounded
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Wars 2
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Human Fall Flat
• INSIDE
• LIMBO
• Ori & the Will of the Wisps
• Overcooked! 2
• Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
• Powerwash Simulator
• Psychonauts 2
• Slay the Spire
• Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
• Stardew Valley
• State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
• Superliminal
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
• Unpacking
• Vampire Survivors

[Thanks, Windows Central]

What should you download first?

There are some standouts from the Xbox Game Pass Core list. Golf With Your Friends is a thrilling multiplayer mini-golf game that's a lot of fun with...well...your friends. The courses feature all sorts of twists and turns along the way to catch you off guard.? I've laughed so many times because of seeing my pals' failures.

If you want another indie hit to play, Celeste is one of my favorite games, period. It has a gorgeous pixel art style matched with wonderful, atmospheric music from Lena Raine. The engrossing stor??y it tells, which goes hand-in-hand with the difficult platforming truly hooked me in. It says you can conquer your struggles and triumph.

Some first-party Xbox games are part of the Xbox Game Pass Core lineup as well. It has Halo 5: Guardians, Psychonauts 2, and Gears 5 Game of the Year Edition just to name a few.

Xbox Game Pass Core costs $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year. It includes all?? of the games a??bove and online multiplayer access.

The post Here’s a clear list of every Xbox Game Pass Core game appeared first on Destructoid.

Starfield is the obvious big "get" for Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass program this month, and it'll be arriving on September 6 on the service for cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Before that though you'll be treated to Gris - a lovely little puzzle platformer that's a fantastic rainy-day weekend game. After that, we're getting Solar Ash on September 14, as well as Lies of P o??n September 19. Microsoft also reminds folks? that Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition recently hit the service.

In all, it's a pretty great month for Xbox Game Pass. There's some indie stuff to hit as counterprogramming if you aren't into Bethesda games, and Lies of P has made a decent name for itself over the past ??few months as an enticing option for "sou??lslike" fans. Hey, I'm not the one saying it; that's a direct quote from Microsoft!

Interestingly, Minecraft fans are getting something too: "Game Pass Ulti?mate members can get access to a 3-month subscription to Minecraft Realms Plus! Share your world, build with friends, and play across all of your devices with your own personal server. This Perk requires a payment instrument to redeem. Terms apply."

You can find the f??ull brea??kdown from Microsoft here.

Games coming to Xbox Game Pass in September of 2023

Week of September 4: 

• Gris, September 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Starfield, September 6 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)

Week of September 11:

• Solar Ash, September 14 (Cloud, Console and PC)

Week of September 18: 

• Lies of P, September 19 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

The post Starfield headlines a ni?ce September slate for Xbox Game Pass appeared first on Destructoid.

Sabotage Studio's Sea of Stars launched this week, with a spot on both Xbox and PlayStation's subscription services. Despite that, it looks like the new RPG is already chalking up strong sales. The studio's confirmed that on day one, Sea of Stars accrued 100,000 copies sold.

It's a strong day one for an RPG from a relatively smaller studio. As of this writing, Sea of Stars is sitting on the Steam Top Sellers chart alongside the likes of Starfield, Baldur's Gate 3, and Armored Core 6.

But it's an especially interesting stat given that Sea of Stars is available on both Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. It's at least an indication that Sea of Stars is becoming another ??surprise h?it, in a year already full of bangers.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jkeh6O1Rzs

Starry eyed surprise

There's a few good reasons to pick up a game, even if you have it through a subscription. I know I've personally used Xbox Game Pass as a way to demo a game, and if it's something I know I'll want to play later on down the line, I'll buy it so I don't lose access if it leaves Pass. Sea of Stars had a d?em?o prior to launch, and may have left a strong enough impression that people locked their license in based off that.

Or maybe people are also like me, in that they buy games without remembering they were on Xbox Game Pass/PS Plus. I'm not the best baromete??r for sensible purc?hasing decisions.

Either way, it's a reaffirming notion to see Sabotage's RPG chalking up numbers fast. It's been a golden year for RPGs, and it's nice to see that's not just for ??the biggest blockbusters.

We're still picking away at Sea of Stars here, but if you're a fan of chill fishing minigames, Mario RPG-style co?mbat, and great music, it's worth a look.

The post Sea of Sta?rs hits 100K c?opies sold on its launch day appeared first on Destructoid.

Microsoft? has removed the option to sign up for a 14-day trial of Game Pass for $1. This comes just ahead of Starfield’s release on September 6.

This was first reported by XGP, and you can compare ??what the Game Pass sign-up page looked like before and after the change thanks to?? a tweet by @Wario64. There used to be text in each subscription tier advertising 14 days? for $1, and then full price afterwards. This text is now gone from the live page.

//twitter.com/W??ario64/status/1695809585389740466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

In the past, people were able to try Game Pass for a full?? month for the low cost of $1. This allowed people to sign up, play whatever was in the library for a month, and then cancel their service before paying the full subscription fee. Perhaps to curb this practice, Microsoft removed the $1 month-long trial in March? before reinstating it in July this year. However, after about a month, the month-long trial period was reduced to just 14 days. Three? weeks later, Microsoft has de?cided to remove the trial option altogether.

It looks ?like you can still get a free 14-??day trial through the friend referral system. The program allows current subscribers to gift five people each year with a free 14-day trial of PC Game Pas??s. So if you know someone who already has Game Pass, perhaps you can ask them for a code.

Is it because of Starfield?

Maybe. Without a statement from Microsoft, we can only ??speculate as to why they are making this change. The timing certainly?? lines up with the highly-anticipated release of Starfield, so this seems to be the prevailing theory fo?r now.

If you already have a Game Pass subscription, then this won’t affect you. The change only affects would-be new subscribers who planned to take advantage of the $1 offer to play Starfield on release day.

The full price for a month of PC Game Pass is $10, or $17 for the Ultimate tier. Subscribers can play Starfield when it launches on September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X|S. Those with the Premium Edition of the game can access the ga??me five days early.

The post Microsoft axes $1 Xbox Game Pass trial appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox Game Pass is no doubt worth the monthly cost, especially since you can get a trial version of it for $1. However, said trial has now had its length slashed, and some may think it a strange coincidence this has happened just before Starfield gets released.

Turns out, instead of a cheap introductory offer that provides access to the Xbox gaming service for one month, you now only get half the time. First spotted by Kotaku reporter Ethan Gach over on Twitter, the Game Pass trial ??now only lasts?? two weeks.

//twitter.com/ethangach??/status/1688888019141500929

Indeed, if you head over to the Xbox Game Pass page, you can see that 14 days is all you'll get now for that first dollar. After that, you'll be paying ??the full rate.

Is Starfield the reason?

We can't say for certain why the trial period has been halved, but with Starfield just around the corner, this could be one of th?e reaso??ns.

Seeing as Bethesda's much-anticipated sci-fi RPG wi??ll be on Game Pass from day one, it's possible Microsoft doesn't want people playing it for just $1. The game launches on September 6, so the new trial of the Xbox service would end long before it launches.

This is just speculation, of course, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn't think Starfield had something to do with the reduced trial period. The fact that it's not been mentioned on the official Game Pass Twitter page makes it seem like this change was done ??on the quiet.

In any case, now you'll only get the first 14 days for the introductory $1 price tag. That includes the? Ultimate and PC packages as well,? according to the website.

The post Xbox halves Game Pass trial length right before Starfield’s release appeared first on Destructoid.

Another month in the books! This means it's time we get a look at the first titles coming to Xbox Game Pass in August. As per usual, this includes the additions coming in the first half of the month. Typically more titles are added in the middle of the month as well. Also, even though it was technically highlighted in the July update, Celeste is pa??rt of the Game Pass ??as of today... which is August 1. So that's part of August as well.

It's looking like August will be another month for indie titles, with games like A Short Hike and Broforce Forever.

City building and management game Airborne Kingdom comes to Game Pass later this month as well, which looks like it could be a lot of fun. In Airborne Kingdom we get to build a unique town amongst the cloud??s as it flies across a wide-open landscape.

The indie adventure game Limbo is also coming later this month. We scored Limbo a flawless 10/10 when it was released over a decade ago. If you never got a chance to play it you should definitely check it out. Even though the age may worry you, Limbo certainly holds up to modern games. It's a uniquely haunting narrative laden ??with immersive audio and visuals. A very enjoyable experience all around!

Finally, Everspace 2 rounds out the first half of August. The fast-paced space shooter recently left Early Access and has become a popular ??follow-up to the original.

Here's the full lis?t of titl??es being added to Xbox Game Pass for the first half of August.

[caption id="attachment_394604" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Xbox Game Pass[/caption]

Added today to Xbox Game Pass (August 1, 2023):

• Celeste (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Heading to Xbox Game Pass the week of August 3, 2023:

• A Short Hike, August 3 (Cloud, Console and PC)
• Broforce Forever, August 8 (Cloud, Console and PC)
• Limbo, August 9 (Cloud, Console and PC)

Heading to Xbox Game Pass the week of August 10, 2023:

• Airborne Kingdom, August 10 (Cloud, Console and PC)
• Everspace 2, August 15 (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S)

The post Xbox Game Pass for August incl??udes Limbo and Everspace 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Paramount Pictures and Xbox are teaming up to give you a chance to get your hands on exactly what you've been looking for: a pizza-scented Xbox controller. The cheesy (hehe) event is to celebrate the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie that releases on August 2.

The Xbox Wireless Controllers come with a built-in scent diffuser shaped like a pizza slice. There's? a controller variation for each of the Turtle brothers: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michaelangelo. The announcement provided no details on the t??ype of pizza we can smell from the controller. I mean, what exactly are we talking about here? Just cheese? Pepperoni? An aromatic supreme pie? Just say it isn't pineapple.

Those who need help getting hungry for a pizza while they game can enter to win one of the controllers pretty easily. Simply follow Xbox Game Pass on Twitter and retweet the official Xbox Game Pass swe??epstakes tweet. The giveaway starts on July 24 and lasts through August 13. You can fi?nd the full list of rules? and eligibility details here.

//t??witter.com/XboxGamePass/status/1683492348234??199041

Cowabunga, dude!

The controllers themselves have pretty cool TMNT-themed skins, but the "pizza diffuser" looks a bit off. It kind of looks like one of those plastic doggy squeak toys. This is obviously very gimmicky but I guess it could be cool getting a whiff of pizza-y goodness while playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge.

Also part of the event is a new TMNT DLC for Minecraft. The turtles-themed DLC allows you to play as any of the four turtles and explore iconic locations such a?s the Turtle Lair and fight baddies like Krang.

If you're not confident you will win one of these limited controllers, there's still a chance to smell the 'za. Gamers in the NYC area can head over to the Xb?ox Gaming Lounge at the Microsoft Experience Center on Fifth Avenue and sniff the controllers from 4-7 p.m. EST on August 2.

The post You can win a…TMNT pizza-scented Xbox controller appeared first on Destructoid.

The second half of Xbox Game Pass for July brings mostly indie games

While the first half of July saw Xbox Game Pass add some bigger titles like Grand Theft Auto V and Exoprimal, the second half up??date looks to be mostly indi??e games.

Today specifically will see three new games added including Techtonica as a day one release. The wholesome photography game TOEM is also available starting today, which our own Editor-at-Large CJ Andriessen considers a well-crafted jaunt through a cha??rmin??g world.

At the end of the month, the narrative cooking game Venba will also be added to Game Pass as a day one release. On August 1, the challenging platformer Celeste will appear, which Destructoid scored a 10 back when ?it was released ?in 2018.

Additionally, Game Pass owners can grab some DLC this month. With Naraka: Bladepoint going free-to-play,?? all Game Pass me??mbers get a free upgrade to the Deluxe Edition.

I'm personally excited to check out the city-building simulation game The Wandering Village. I missed out on it when it launched, but something about building a ??settlement on?? the back of a roaming colossal creature just sounds like a good time.

Here’s th?e full list of games added to Xbox Game Pass in the seco??nd half of July.

[caption id="attachment_392266" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Stray Fawn Studio[/caption]

Added today to Xbox Game Pass (July 18, 2023):

• Techtonica (Cloud, Console, and PC) * Day one with Game Pass
• Toem (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• The Cave (Cloud and Console)

Heading to Xbox Game Pass the week of July 19, 2023:

• Maquette, July 19 (Console and PC)
• Figment 2: Creed Valley, July 20 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• The Wandering Village, July 20 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Heading to Xbox Game Pass the week of July 26, 2023:

• Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem, July 25 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
• Venba, July 31 (Console and PC) * Day one with Game Pass
• Celeste, August 1 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

The post Xbox Game Pass July update adds Toem, Ven??ba and more appeared first on Destructoid.