Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3566 (KB5037002) to the Beta Channel.

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package. For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle (shown in the image below) to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

Turn on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available to get new features rolled out to you.

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• In response to feedback, we are now showing the “show desktop” button by default and users can still manage this by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing “Taskbar settings” (which opens Settings > Personalization > Taskbar directly).

[File Explorer] 

• Dragging-and-dropping files with your mouse between breadcrumbs in the File Explorer Address Bar that began rolling out with Build 22635.3420 is now available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel.

Fixes and Improvements for everyone in the Beta Channel

• New! This update improves the Widgets icons on the taskbar. They are no longer pixelated or fuzzy. This update also starts the rollout of a larger set of animated icons.
• New! This update affects Widgets on the lock screen. They are more reliable and have improved quality. This update also supports more visuals and a more customized experience for you.
• This update fixes an issue which was causing Settings to crash when copying out text in the last few flights.
• This update addresses an issue that affects universal printers. The system creates duplicate print queues for them.
• This update adds support for Arm64 .msi files using a Group Policy Object (GPO). You can now use the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to add Arm64 .msi files. You can also use a GPO to install these files on Arm64 machines.
• This update affects hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI). It accepts drivers that are now compatible.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you elevate from a normal user to an Administrator to run an application. When you use a PIN to sign in, the app will not run.
• This update affects Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2). Intermittent name resolution fails in a split DNS setup.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the netstat -c It fails to perform effective port exhaustion troubleshooting.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a low latency network. The speed of data on the network degrades significantly. This occurs when you turn on timestamps for a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). A memory leak occurs when it retrieves mappings.
• This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• This update affects the touch keyboard. It makes the Japanese 106 keyboard layout appear as expected when you sign in.
• This update adds a new mobile device management (MDM) policy called “AllowScreenRecorder.” It affects the Snipping Tool. IT admins can use this policy to turn off screen recording in the app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) hardware offload. A stop error occurs on PCs that support it.
• This update addresses a memory allocation issue in the Host Networking Service (HNS). The issue causes high memory consumption. It also affects service and pod deployment and scaling.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the container networking Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). It returns the wrong Virtual Subnet ID (VSID) for external ports.
• This update affects media allocations. It improves their memory granularity for some hardware setups. This lowers overcommitment. Also, performance is more efficient.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an accelerator backing store management path. A memory leak occurs that affects some devices.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). Its Post Authentication Actions (PAA) do not occur at the end of the grace period. Instead, they occur at restart.
• This update addresses a race condition that might stop a machine from starting up. This occurs when you set up a bootloader to start up multiple OSes.
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for some mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resilient File System (ReFS). A high load might make the system unresponsive. Also, signing in might be slow.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Settings. It stops responding when you dismiss a flyout menu.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Protected Process Light (PPL) protections. You can bypass them.

Known issues

[General]

• We are investigating an issue where Internet Information Services (IIS) and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) may not work after installing this update.

[Copilot in Windows*]

Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who have the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application window may see the following known issues:

• We are aware of reports by Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels that Copilot is auto-launching unexpectedly after restarting their PCs. We hope to have a fix for this issue soon and is unrelated to the auto-launching experience we tried out with Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels in early Februarywhich we stopped rolling out in March.
• Voice access does not work reliably with the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application.
• Using Windows Ink to write in Copilot will not work with the updated Copilot in Windows experience.

[Widgets]

Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who have the new position for the Widgets entry-point on left-aligned taskbars may see the following known issues:

• Swipe invocation for Widgets may not work if taskbar is center-aligned instead of left-aligned.
• Unpinning Widgets from the taskbar may not work if taskbar is center-aligned instead of left-aligned.
• The Widgets board is incorrectly positioned when Copilot is in side-by-side mode.
• Turning on/off Widgets in taskbar settings may refresh the taskbar.

About the Beta Channel

The Beta Channel is the place we preview experiences that are closer to what we will ship to our general customers. Because the Dev and Beta Channels represent parallel development paths from our engineers, there may be cases where features and experiences show up in the Beta Channel first. However, this does not mean every feature we try out in the Beta Channel will ship. We encourage Insiders to read this blog post that outlines the ways we’ll try things out with Insiders in both the Dev and Beta Channels.

*Getting new features: For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

**Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links

• Want to learn how we made Windows 11? Check out the Inside Windows 11 website to hear and meet our makers from Engineering, Design and Research to share their insights and unique perspectives throughout this journey.
• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks,
Amanda & Brandon

Source: Windows Blog
—

Brace yourselves for a one-of-a-kind party-based soulslike. Deathbound is a passion project developed by Brazilian developers at Trialforge Studio, with the game already garnering critical acclaim from IGN, Kotaku, The Escapist, and many others.

In Deathbound, your journey through the city of Akratya isn’t a solo quest. You’ll need to forge bonds with seven fallen warriors whose stories you’ll discover during your crusade through the forbidden city. Take advantage of the four-hero party system, something new to soulslike games, and switch warriors at any time during gameplay – even while executing attacks and dodges.

Each of the playable characters available in Deathbound is unique with their own skill sets, combat styles, and rich histories. Fallen warriors are intricately connected to the world of Deathbound and each other, belonging to conflicting factions and driven by diverse motivations. Synergies between warriors can provide combat buffs, while conflicts among them can lead to debuffs within your party.

The combat system in Deathbound was meticulously crafted over many months, with developers implementing feedback from players and fans of the genre. A key element of the combat system, and one of the most important mechanics in Deathbound, is the Morphstrike – a devastating attack similar to combos that crushes every enemy in your path, uniting the forces of the fallen warriors in your party.

But what would a soulslike game be without unforgiving monsters and bosses? In Deathbound, you’ll confront challenging enemies meticulously crafted to test your skills to the fullest. Encounter abominations created in dark laboratories by a cult devoted to eternal life. Each battle could be lethal for you, don’t underestimate any of the enemies that stand in your way.

Deathbound is coming to Xbox Series X|S consoles later this year. If you’re intrigued by what you’ve read, we encourage you to visit the game’s store page and add Deathbound to your Wishlist.

See you in Akratya, Fallen Warrior!

Deathbound

Tate Multimedia Sp. z o.o.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Deathbound is a one-of-a-kind party-based soulslike set in a callous world where Faith and Science clash. The forbidden city of Akratya is an unforgiving land that cannot be conquered alone. Bind with fallen warriors found throughout your crusade and dynamically transform between characters seamlessly in mid-combat with the unique 4-hero party system.

The fallen are individual characters with their own unique skill sets, combat styles, and rich history. By absorbing their essence, you inherit the fiber of their very being. Conflicts and synergies between characters greatly impact gameplay, so relationships must be balanced. Strong synergies may offer combat buffs that can spell disaster for the ruthless boss awaiting your steel and magic.

Throughout combat, you will charge a sync meter shared across all characters. During an opportune moment, dispel your sync meter and unleash a devastating Morphstrike using the combined power of the bound fallen warriors. When faced with a formidable abomination, a precisely executed Morphstrike can be the deciding factor between life and death.

The world of Deathbound has been lovingly crafted and influenced by the developer’s homeland of Brazil, a vibrant culture brimming with life, creativity, rhythm, and a rich history. From the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira to the sweeping music cascading through Akratya, Trialforge’s origins shine throughout every aspect of Deathbound.

The post Deathbound is Coming to Xbox Series X|S appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Summary

• Learn how the team at Gunfire Games designs Remnant II’s incredible Archetypes.
• The new Invoker Archetype was introduced in the now available The Forgotten Kingdom DLC.
• Remnant II is available now for Xbox Series X|S, Windows, and currently available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

At its core, creating Archetypes for Remnant II is all about providing new gameplay opportunities. The goal is to provide fresh gameplay solutions to combat and fill in any perceived gaps. The Dual Archetype system already allows a lot of creativity, but sometimes we know of, or identify, places that could use a fully featured solution.

The first thing we do when creating a new Archetype is determine what hasn’t been covered by previous offerings. We then look at our ever-expanding list of internal ideas to see if something stands out. Sometimes an idea may be a simple sentence or a few words, like “evil status guy” (Ritualist) or “draws power from the sisters of Yaesha” (Invoker), and sometimes it may be based on a more fully fleshed out design that has existed for quite a while.

While going through these concepts, another method of inspiration we use is both internal and external player feedback. While we always have quite a few paper designs in various states of progress, sometimes hearing the desire for a specific type of gameplay can inspire us to go back to older designs to see if there’s something there, or even spark something completely new. This often happens because, after creating hundreds of new weapons and items and seeing thousands of players experiment, new ideas start to emerge due to brand new item combinations and/or player creativity.

As we start to settle on a new theme, certain elements often fall into place. When we started thinking about the Invoker, we knew we wanted to build an Archetype around the concept of Skill manipulation. Additional Skill Charges, Cooldown, Duration, and even buffs that triggered while a Skill was active; these were all things we wanted to explore. It immediately felt like a Hybrid Utility class with a “positive” vibe, especially compared to the “evil” Ritualist we previously released with The Awakened King. Since this was Yaesha, and we knew we had a third Spirit Sister being introduced, it fed right into the Jungle theme and the Archetype Skills.

The first Skill we came up with was Way of Kaeula. It came together quick because a Water Skill is so versatile. You can slow enemies, speed up allies, and hey… “Making it Rain” is just cool. The second Skill, Way of Meidra, was a more support-based option. While it affects both allies and enemies, we wanted the focus to center around allowing allies to heal themselves through fighting debuffed enemies. At this point, we had a speed/slow option and a debuff/heal option, and we wanted a more “self-serving” option. Way of Lydusa was a means to allow the player to feel like a boss, so to speak. They weaken the defenses of their enemies while also collecting shards they’ve chipped off from their now-brittle exterior. It felt cool to be able to pull something away from the enemy only to use it to damage them and their cohorts!

Usually, most Archetypes come together in a similar way. We figure out the theme first, then we figure out a marquee Skill. For Invoker, it was “Skill/Jungle” theme, and the marquee Skill was Way of Kaeula. From there, we build around it until we have all three unique options. After that, most perks almost write themselves, especially if the Archetype theme is exceptionally strong up front.

Then it’s time to get Concept Art involved. We talk about the theme “Is this Archetype evil? Positive? Neutral? Is it pure DPS or is it support. Maybe a hybrid?”. Ideally, we also present the Concept Artist some pictures we discovered that highlight the mood and maybe even give some insight into potential armor ideas. They go off and do their thing and bring us a handful of concepts and we provide feedback “1A looks too friendly” or “that part on the gloves in image 2C is exactly what we are looking for… maybe that could continue through the pants / boots as well”. We usually go back and forth for a bit, and they go off and come back with a more focused second pass. Rarely do we need a third pass. We submit the look to the Creative Director (David Adams) and 99/100 times, he says “COOL”.

Next, we review the Skills, Perks, Trait and any special behavior with the Gameplay Engineering Team and Technical Designers. We review each element to determine how complex they are to make sure they can fit within our schedule. Sometimes we may have to rethink something, and sometimes we are inspired to enhance our designs even further because someone points out an additional feature that may be appropriate. We also talk to the Animation team in case we have any special requests (casting animations, other features, etc).

As each element comes online – usually the Prime or an individual Skill – we start to test them out in our combat test room. Sometimes things sound great on paper but in practice they leave something to be desired. This is where we start to determine if something is missing, too complex or confusing, too cumbersome, or if we are on the right path. Quite often we will test the first pass of a Skill and think “ok, this is pretty awesome!”. We tune things like damage or healing values, ranges, durations etc… to get them feeling “good for a first pass”. If we are happy with them, we send them to VFX and SFX to really help make them shine. However, if we find something missing, then we take some time to figure out where it can improve and after it’s adjusted, we redo the “first pass” testing process over again.

With VFX and SFX added, we start fine-tuning animations as well as all the values that affect gameplay. Damage, duration, timings, transition windows. We finalize the animations and make sure VFX/SFX has another chance to look at it.

Then we send it to QA and let them hammer on it. At this point, it’s really just about fixing any bugs that pop up, determining if something is way too strong, a bit too weak, and of course, if it generally feels fun and rewarding to use. The testing team tries dozens and dozens of combinations with other Archetypes and builds. They try their best to find exploits and we try our best to nail everything down.

The process of making a new Archetype is more than just the sum of its parts. By themselves, Archetypes are the foundation of any build, but our final goal is to do our best to promote player creativity as they combine them with all the gear options we provide. While creating our Archetypes, we try to build items that interact with the new theme or expand on existing items that do the same. While not every item can (or should) be themed to the new Archetype, we created the Archetypes so that players had new solutions to combat challenges. Creating items that also play into that goal often goes a long way to reinforcing the overall theme.

In the end, creating an Archetype is a full team effort. From Design to QA, and every discipline in between, there are lots of moving parts that all need to come together. Once the Archetype is in the hands of our fans, we gather all the feedback we can so we can improve it even further. Sometimes that feedback even sparks new ideas!

We hope people enjoy the new Invoker Archetype… and we aren’t done yet!

Remnant II – DLC Bundle

Gearbox Publishing

☆☆☆☆☆
131

★★★★★

$24.99

$22.49

Get it now

THE REMNANT II DLC BUNDLE INCLUDES 3 DLC PACKS THAT ADD EVEN MORE TO THE REMNANT II EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING NEW STORY ELEMENTS, CREATURES, AND ENVIRONMENTS. DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED. ALL DLC RELEASED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF LAUNCH.

INCLUDES SURVIVAL PACK
2 Mudtooth Elixir (EXP Bonus)
5 Bloodroot
3 Ammo Boxes
1000 Scrap, 10 Iron

Remnant II – Ultimate Edition

Gearbox Publishing

☆☆☆☆☆
2342

★★★★★

$69.99

$55.99

Get it now

REMNANT II ULTIMATE EDITION
INCLUDES REMNANT II GAME

INCLUDES EARLY ACCESS TO 3 REMNANT: FROM THE ASHES ARMOR SETS
ELDER ARMOR SET
RADIANT ARMOR SET
VOID ARMOR SET

INCLUDES SURVIVAL PACK
2 Mudtooth Elixir (EXP Bonus)
5 Bloodroot
3 Ammo Boxes
1000 Scrap, 10 Iron

INCLUDES REMNANT II DLC BUNDLE (3 DLC PACKS)
THE REMNANT II DLC BUNDLE INCLUDES 3 DLC PACKS THAT ADD EVEN MORE TO THE REMNANT II EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING NEW STORY ELEMENTS, CREATURES, AND ENVIRONMENTS. DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED. ALL DLC RELEASED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF LAUNCH.

UNIMAGINABLE WORLDS. UNRELENTING ODDS

REMNANT II is the sequel to the best-selling game REMNANT: FROM THE ASHES that pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself. To succeed, players will need to rely on their own skills and those of their team to overcome the toughest challenges and to stave off humanity’s extinction.

Features:
Intense Remnant Combat Experience
A mix of methodical and frenetic ranged/melee combat returns with cunning enemies and large scale boss battles. Choose specific gear and weapons to optimize for the different biomes and battles ahead. Bosses will bring high-level players to team up to overcome the challenge and try to obtain the biggest rewards

New Worlds to Explore
Players can travel alone or with friends as a team through strange new worlds and beyond, overrun by mythical creatures and deadly foes while trying to stay alive. There are multiple worlds to explore with different types of creatures, weapons, and items. Utilize and upgrade discovered items to take on tougher challenges

Endless Replayability
Branching quest lines, augments, crafting, and loot rewards will test the resolve of even the most hardened players in dynamically generated dungeons and areas. Playthroughs will feel challenging, varied, and rewarding as players succeed against unrelenting odds. Various stories are woven throughout the different worlds, encouraging exploration and multiple revisits

New Archetypical Progression
Expanded Archetype system provides players with unique passive bonuses and stunning powers. Multiple Archetypes can be unlocked during play, leveled up, and equipped together for a variety of play styles

Remnant II – Deluxe Edition

Gearbox Publishing

☆☆☆☆☆
2236

★★★★★

$59.99

$47.99

Get it now

REMNANT II DELUXE EDITION
INCLUDES REMNANT II GAME

INCLUDES EARLY ACCESS TO 3 REMNANT: FROM THE ASHES ARMOR SETS
ELDER ARMOR SET
RADIANT ARMOR SET
VOID ARMOR SET

UNIMAGINABLE WORLDS. UNRELENTING ODDS

REMNANT II is the sequel to the best-selling game REMNANT: FROM THE ASHES that pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself. To succeed, players will need to rely on their own skills and those of their team to overcome the toughest challenges and to stave off humanity’s extinction.

Features:
Intense Remnant Combat Experience
A mix of methodical and frenetic ranged/melee combat returns with cunning enemies and large scale boss battles. Choose specific gear and weapons to optimize for the different biomes and battles ahead. Bosses will bring high-level players to team up to overcome the challenge and try to obtain the biggest rewards

New Worlds to Explore
Players can travel alone or with friends as a team through strange new worlds and beyond, overrun by mythical creatures and deadly foes while trying to stay alive. There are multiple worlds to explore with different types of creatures, weapons, and items. Utilize and upgrade discovered items to take on tougher challenges

Endless Replayability
Branching quest lines, augments, crafting, and loot rewards will test the resolve of even the most hardened players in dynamically generated dungeons and areas. Playthroughs will feel challenging, varied, and rewarding as players succeed against unrelenting odds. Various stories are woven throughout the different worlds, encouraging exploration and multiple revisits

New Archetypical Progression
Expanded Archetype system provides players with unique passive bonuses and stunning powers. Multiple Archetypes can be unlocked during play, leveled up, and equipped together for a variety of play styles

Remnant II – Standard Edition

Gearbox Publishing

☆☆☆☆☆
416

★★★★★

$49.99

$39.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

REMNANT II STANDARD EDITION
INCLUDES REMNANT II GAME

Unimaginable Worlds. Unrelenting Odds

Remnant 2 is the sequel to the best-selling game Remnant: From the Ashes that pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself. To succeed, players will need to rely on their own skills and those of their team to overcome the toughest challenges and to stave off humanity’s extinction.

Intense Remnant Combat Experience

A mix of methodical and frenetic ranged/melee combat returns with cunning enemies and large scale boss battles. Choose specific gear and weapons to optimize for the different biomes and battles ahead. Bosses will bring high-level players to team up to overcome the challenge and try to obtain the biggest rewards

New Worlds to Explore

Players can travel alone or with friends as a team through strange new worlds and beyond, overrun by mythical creatures and deadly foes while trying to stay alive. There are multiple worlds to explore with different types of creatures, weapons, and items. Utilize and upgrade discovered items to take on tougher challenges

Endless Replayability

Branching quest lines, augments, crafting, and loot rewards will test the resolve of even the most hardened players in dynamically generated dungeons and areas. Playthroughs will feel challenging, varied, and rewarding as players succeed against unrelenting odds. Various stories are woven throughout the different worlds, encouraging exploration and multiple revisits

New Archetypical Progression

Expanded Archetype system provides players with unique passive bonuses and stunning powers. Multiple Archetypes can be unlocked during play, leveled up, and equipped together for a variety of play styles

The post Building the Invoker Archetype for Remnant II: The Forgotten Kingdom DLC appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
—

It’s hard to believe, but we’re now in our third month of Indie Selects – and the hits just keep on coming. The team have picked some amazing games this month. We’ve played them, we’ve loved them, and we feel confident that you’ll like them too.

April’s Indie Selects include an interactive, playable historical artifact, two completely different approaches to building, and even a lo-fi, jazzy space shooter. As always, you can find the whole list in one easy-to-access spot on the Xbox Store, right now. With that in mind, here’s the list (in no particular order):

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a work of passion from the same solo developer behind the original Falconeer. In this iteration, the universe of that game is expanded into vast new territory, and you’re tasked with building the ultimate settlement in an oceanic world. It’s a relaxed, immersive city builder for the most part, serving up an open world where you can scavenge for resources to support your ever-expanding creation.

Later in the game you can open up trade routes and defend your city from invaders, or even become the invader yourself, taking on rival civilizations. It’s really the unique world here that sets this game apart from other city builders: you start with a simple island village, and then expand out into, and over, the seas, with steampunk-inspired flying ships and gothic architecture. You can really play Bulwark any way you like and it’s easy to get sucked into, building and exploring for hours.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles

Wired Productions

☆☆☆☆☆
24

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an open world builder with freedom and expression at its core, allowing players to build sprawling towns, spires, and fortresses that become hubs for trade, or rallying grounds for conquests.

Carve your legacy into a world shattered by the decisions of those who came before you, tower by tower, wall by wall, sculpting from the daunting cliffs and perilous waters of an unforgiving landscape that refuses to be tamed.

Tasked with rebuilding a civilization devastated by the aftermath of a war 40 years prior, you are in command of creating the last great settlement upon the Great Ursee – a vast, fantastical oceanic world filled with lost myths, breath-taking vistas and danger.

From humble docks and wooden jetties, you will scavenge resources and grow your settlement as your population and creations grow ever grander, sculpting monumental stone towers and battlements that scrape the skies, where airships and giant warbirds rule.

Create trade routes and strike alliances with other factions scattered across the waves, acquiring powerful Captains and Commanders to protect your creations and utilise their aid in exploration – or muster your own battlegroup to strike at them, waging war upon your ancient enemies.

This world and its choices are yours to make – what legacy will you leave behind? What creations will bear your name?

Build Your Bulwark.

House Flipper 2

Veteran “flippers” will love the revised mechanics and new content, and will completely lose themselves in the sandbox building mode, in which you can design and build your own original creations. But you don’t have to be an experienced flipper to have fun – it’s super easy to jump in and start painting, renovating, and remodeling, bringing new life to the old, shabby buildings in your town.

There’s even a story mode, where an old pal unveils the secrets of each house under renovation to you. Hard to believe that a game that involves painting, sweeping and hammering – things you’re not likely to see many of us here on the ID team doing in real life – on our “favorites” list, but there are a lot of dedicated flippers on the team now.

House Flipper 2

Frozen District

☆☆☆☆☆
80

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

The Flipper’s new groove

It doesn’t matter if you’re a makeover veteran or if you’re only starting out – you’ll feel at home in no time!
House Flipper 2 introduces new mechanics and revamps the ones from the original game.
The good old hammer, the trusty paint roller, and the sturdy mop, all await your return! The new visuals make our fixer-uppers look crisp as never before!

Another brick in the wall

Why renovate a house when you can just build one? Unleash your creativity in the Sandbox Mode! Use it to recreate real-life buildings or design projects that exist in your imagination.
Remember: building from scratch is no easy task! But let’s face it, it’s definitely worth putting in extra effort to design the house of your dreams.

Once upon a time…

Between the mountain tops and the endless sea, there lies the town of Pinnacove.
A place where time slows down, and the friendly residents are ready to entrust you with their homes.
Can you discover some of the stories within these walls?
Your old pal Tom, who seems to know everybody in the neighborhood, will gladly share some local knowledge with you.

Sea of opportunities

In House Flipper 2, you are the foreman!
You get to decide what ‘relaxing gameplay’ means!
Do you enjoy building? Choose the Sandbox Mode which allows you to construct houses from scratch. Or maybe you prefer cleaning and decorating? In the Story Mode, you will delve into long and engaging renovation projects, as well as deal with some quick jobs.
Sit back and relax, here comes the new age of House Flipper!

Broken Roads

Picture the Australian Outback after the apocalypse with man-eating spiders, raiders, and even blood-thirsty kangaroos. Is it Mad Max? No, this is Broken Roads, a deep RPG that introduces a novel Morality System to mix up the genre. What kind of character will you be? Much is decided in advance as you set out your character’s visions and ideals, which then influence what kind of story you’ll experience.

Much of the game involves discovering, befriending and influencing the vast cast of characters you’ll encounter on your journeys, as you peel back the many layers of the detailed story. It’s an ambitious game that is infused with Australian culture, dialect and humor.

Broken Roads

Versus Evil, LLC

☆☆☆☆☆
18

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

Born of a love for traditional computer role-playing, Broken Roads provides a rich, engaging narrative in which players make their way across a desolated future Australia. Blending together traditional and all-new role-playing elements on top of a classless system offering nearly unlimited character development options, Broken Roads presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass. This novel design sees dialogue options and questing decisions influence, and be influenced by, a character’s philosophical leaning.

Features

• All-new post-apocalyptic setting
• Unique morality system influencing dialogue, quests and character development
• Authentic Australian locations and environments
• Blend of traditional and original RPG mechanics
• Up to 5 party members
• Turn-based tactical combat
• Hand-drawn artwork
• A content-rich and densely-crafted world

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story

If you’re under the age of 40 or so, and you’re not from the UK, you could be forgiven for not having heard of games like Attack of the Mutant Camels or Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time. But now’s your chance to rediscover some of the wildest and weirdest games to come out of the ’80s and early ’90s. Not only the games: developer Digital Eclipse serves these classics up in their landmark “interactive documentary style”, and takes you into the mind of creator Jeff Minter, and through the entire history of the iconic British Video game company, quixotically named Llamasoft.

If you played any of the originals – like Jeff’s signature shooter Gridrunner – on systems such as the Sinclair ZX81, the Commodore VIC-20, or the Atari 1040 ST (this writer’s favorite computer of all time) you’ll absolutely fall in love with these remasters. But if you’re entirely new to Jeff and his trippy games, you’ll find the Llamasoft story to be a fascinating journey into video game history – a history that you can jump into and play.

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story

Digital Eclipse

☆☆☆☆☆
7

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

Gridrunner. Revenge of the Mutant Camels. Tempest 2000. Llamatron. In the British gaming universe of the 80s and 90s, nobody made games like Jeff Minter. Now, in a new interactive documentary from Digital Eclipse, you can play the history of one of the weirdest, wildest game developers to ever exist – a man who loved shooters and sheep, lasers and llamas.

LLAMASOFT

Journey back in time to an era of cassette tapes, photocopied zines, and README.TXT. An era in which a kid with a Commodore VIC-20 and dreams of radioactive sheep could become one of Britain’s best-known game makers. A virtual museum of design documents, playable games, and all-new video features tell the fascinating story of a true independent game designer.

PLAY THE ACCLAIMED ORIGINALS

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story includes 42 classic games from 8 different platforms, from Jeff Minter’s earliest work on the Sinclair ZX81 and Commodore VIC-20, to later work on the Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Atari 800, and deep into the 16-bit era with the Atari ST and Atari Jaguar.

GRIDRUNNER: REMASTERED

Jeff’s signature shooter masterpiece Gridrunner gets an all-new look from Digital Eclipse, updated into thrilling modern graphics and sound – while still running the core of the Commodore 64 version for 100% gameplay accuracy.

GAMES, GAMES, GAMES

Sheep In Space. Andes Attack. Attack of the Mutant Camels. Matrix. Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time. Hellgate. Laser Zone. And many more. All the Minter classics you’ve heard of (and several you probably haven’t), now with new quality-of-life features to make playing them more fun than ever before.

Two of Jeff Minter’s earliest “light synthesizers,” Psychedelia and Colourspace, are also included, with all-new options and features optimized for controller-based play. Finally, Jeff’s demo of Attack of the Mutant Camels for the unreleased Konix Multi-System console is also included.

THE GOLD MASTER SERIES

New from Digital Eclipse (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, The Making of Karateka), the Gold Master Series presents iconic games in an innovative “interactive documentary” format, putting the shared history of games and their creators into one comprehensive package.

Grandia HD Collection

Speaking of classic games, the original Grandia dates back to 1997, and Grandia II came out in 2000. Both iconic RPGs have been lovingly remastered in the Grandia HD Collection. Groundbreaking in their time, the series featured a novel dynamic attack system, deep skill progression, and an extensive and immersive storyline.

New UI enhancements, updated HD cinematics, and tweaks to gameplay make the games feel modern and fresh, while maintaining the original classic characters and stories. If you didn’t get a chance to experience these incredibly influential RPGs, which really defined the idea of “going on an adventure” in a game, now is your chance to set out on that quest.

Grandia HD Collection

GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
36

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

The highly-anticipated Grandia HD Collection for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S are here! Get your hands on two games that changed the landscape of RPGs forever, in beautiful HD graphics.

GRANDIA: Dive into the captivating journey of Justin and his allies as they race against the sinister Garlyle Forces. Unravel the mysteries of a forgotten civilization and immerse yourself in an RPG hailed as a timeless classic, inspiring generations of games to come.

GRANDIA II: Step into the shoes of Ryudo, a jaded Geohound with a heart, as he embarks on a magical quest alongside a group of unlikely allies. Their journey is riddled with twists and turns as they seek a divine weapon to save the world. Delve deep into this tale where the line between good and evil blurs, and everything is open to question…

Super Space Club

Imagine mashing up a classic top down “shoot-‘em-up” with a lo-fi, chill-out music channel and you’d end up with something very much like Super Space Club. Usually “shmups” go for more of a frenetic, kinetic vibe with lots of angry aliens and what not, but Super Space Club opts for a much more relaxing tone, while also serving up some great space combat.

You can select different weapons, ships and pilots to customize the build you want to take into battle, which is a nice plus-up to the genre. And nothing is more satisfying than mowing down wave after wave of aliens while grooving alone to some jazzy, lo-fi tunes.

Super Space Club

GrahamOfLegend

☆☆☆☆☆
5

★★★★★

$14.99

Get it now

Super Space Club is a colorful endless arcade gunner set to the backdrop of chill, lo-fi music. As a club of skilled misfit pilots, defend the galaxy by taking on galactic forces and completing a series of thrilling missions. In space, everyone can hear you groove.

Sling fireworks with the explosive Olly, or dish out ship-seeking shots with the stealthy Roscoe? With a variety of pilots, ships, and weapons at your disposal, choose the perfect build and soar across the stars through physics-based thrusting. As you’re taking down enemies and completing objectives, be wary of your ship’s energy. Depleting energy could leave you vulnerable to devastating damage. Don’t get too comfortable after coming out on top, as the next wave is always right around the corner.

Despite the challenge that gameplay may bring, space can be quite dope. Missouri-based audio duo Fat Bard provides the backdrop of lo-fi beats and chill-hop tunes featuring vocal artists from around the globe. Paired with a vibrant and colorful cool-toned aesthetic, Super Space Club delivers a relaxing yet challenging arcade experience unlike any other.

The post Indie Selects for April: Play the Recent Indie Games That We Know You’ll Love appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Summary

• Crafted by the late Akira Toriyama, Sand Land tells the tale of humans and demons coming together to try and save their devastated world.
• We’ve put together some early game tips to help you get off on the right track in this epic action role-playing game.
• Sand Land is available today for Xbox Series X|S here on the Xbox Store.

The world of Sand Land, as you may have surmised from the title, is comprised of sand and lots of it. But it wasn’t always this way. The version of the world we’re introduced to at the start of the game is the result of a massive environmental disaster, leaving its land barren and its inhabitants starving for water.

Crafted by the late Akira Toriyama (“Dragon Ball”) and developed by the talented team at ILCA (One Piece Odyssey), Sand Land tells the tale of humans and demons coming together to try and save their devastated world. This is where you come in.

As the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, along with his friends Sheriff Rao and the demon Thief, you’ll set off on an adventure in search of a “Legendary Spring,” one that may hold the key to restoring water to the region. Along the way you’ll encounter ferocious wildlife, wild mercenaries, challenging soldiers, and giant-ass scorpions to name a few. You’ll also encounter many friendly faces who want to help you on your journey.

Oh, and there’s a tank. Your very own armored chariot will be a key component in your adventure within this action role-playing game as you’ll learn how to upgrade it, improve its various components, and learn how to master vehicular combat if you have any hope of saving this world.

To help set you on your way in Sand Land, we’ve assembled a couple of starting tips to help get your adventure off the right track. From understanding where to spend Skill Points, to populating your town, and revealing what’s up with all those Water Supply Points, we hope these starters will help ease you into this epic adventure.

---

Invest in Sheriff Rao Early

A big aspect of Sand Land‘s early game involves a lot of combat with your tank. Spending Skill Points on Sheriff Rao can help make many of these encounters much easier as his active abilities all help with dealing damage, while his passive skills act as buffs for those abilities. He can also help with landing a couple of punches when it comes to melee combat with his Tonfa Attack.

Some of our favorites were his Vehicular Warfare ability, paired with VW: Upgrade. This is incredibly useful as it spawns an additional mini-tank that can help draw fire and deal damage — you’ll often find yourself outgunned and surrounded in many instances, so this will come in handy. We also liked Poison Gas which can confuse and incapacitate enemies — very helpful for giving you an opening for attack (or a breather) against some of the most difficult foes.

Level Up Thief When Ready to Start Looting

Completing main quests and side quests will net you close to the necessary amount of components and credits to upgrade your vehicles early on as the game eases you into its mechanics. It’s later when you really need to spend some more time out in the game’s world where you’ll find that you need to be making the most of every bit of scrap you can find – this is where Thief is at his strongest.

While his active skills can help a bit in battle — like Boom Box – it’s his passive skills like Zeni Ahoy and Pilfering Pro that can help the most when needing money and increased drop rates from defeated enemies. These passives can make the loot you acquire more plentiful and your pockets fuller when it comes to purchasing components from vendors found in the world.

Don’t Skip on Water Supply Points

As you’ll soon find out, the world of Sand Land is huge and eventually you’ll find yourself exploring nearly every inch of it by the time you’re done with it. You’ll also find that there will be a fair amount of backtracking involved in your quests.

To help save you some time, it’s highly recommended you take every opportunity to activate Water Supply Points that you come across on your way to those objectives. Not only will they refill your life and water gauge, but many of these supply points also unlock as a Fast Travel Location – which can be super useful in saving you time when your quest involves you checking back in with your quest giver for your reward.

Build Up Your Town

One of the smartest moves you can make is to upgrade your town early on so that you have a solid foundation that you can build upon later in the game. The main way to upgrade your town is by convincing NPCs to move in and, often, open shops — the quests to recruit the NPCs and the shops they run will help you get materials or weapons you need for vehicle upgrades.

Then, once the shops are established, make it a habit to check in with the shop owners as they may have some requests for you to complete. Finishing these quests will improve the shop vendor’s inventory with useful and valuable items to help you in the game.

Talk with Peddlers and Vendors Often

To make new vehicles or improve their components, you will need to craft. A lot of crafting. This process requires various types of materials and components that you can either get from exploring the wasteland or purchasing from vendors, like those found in the Junker Market (or later in your Town once you’ve upgraded it a bit).

Both Peddlers and Vendors will have their stock update throughout the game. So, if you find yourself missing out on Raptor Alloy or missing a Frame Component to build a new vehicle, those are the folks you want to touch base with. Some are even open for trading material like ore for scrap components. In short: Talk to everyone. You never know what they might be offering – for a price of course.

---

We hope these tips help you with your early journey in the epic adventure of Sand Land. You can pick it up today for Xbox Series X|S here on the Xbox Store.

SAND LAND Deluxe Edition

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
14

★★★★★

$69.99

Get it now

The Deluxe Edition includes:
• SAND LAND
• My Room Furniture Set: Army Base
• My Room Furniture Set: Hideout
• Speed Demon Pack
• Beelzebub Decal Set

*Decal customization will be available after unlocking Paint Shop in Spino.
*My Room will be available after unlocking Furniture Store in Spino.

Dive into a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an extreme water shortage – SAND LAND. Meet the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao, and follow the team on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert. The end is only the beginning, as beyond this arid ground lies a new realm to explore.

In this action-RPG, players will find a nostalgic and heartwarming world created by Akira Toriyama, where you will become the main character Beelzebub. Learn how to control his powers and lead your company of heroic misfits exploring the legendary world of SAND LAND. Beware of the many dangers that populate it: between bandits, fierce wildlife, and the Royal Army, reaching the spring won’t be easy! Use your tact and imagination to develop tanks and other vehicles that will help you navigate this vast land, using a wide array of part combinations.

VEHICLES FROM BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION
Unlock vehicles that can be leveled-up with various mechanic parts including weapons, engines, and suspensions. Design and operate a large variety of vehicles including Battle Tanks with powerful cannons, Motorbikes that speed through deserts, and Jump-bots that bounce over rivers to explore every corner of the continent.

BECOME THE SAVIOR THE WORLD NEEDS
Develop your basecamp in the city of Spino, as you build relationships with its inhabitants. As you bring the exiled people of the desert to Spino, watch the town and its capabilities grow. Listen to their requests and wishes, and unlock useful materials and city features.

ADVENTURE BEYOND THE DUNES
Travel through SAND LAND and its canyons, unveil its secrets, overcome all obstacles, and find the entrance to an unknown world.

SAND LAND

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
14

★★★★★

$59.99

Get it now

Dive into a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an extreme water shortage – SAND LAND. Meet the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao, and follow the team on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert. The end is only the beginning, as beyond this arid ground lies a new realm to explore.

In this action-RPG, players will find a nostalgic and heartwarming world created by Akira Toriyama, where you will become the main character Beelzebub. Learn how to control his powers and lead your company of heroic misfits exploring the legendary world of SAND LAND. Beware of the many dangers that populate it: between bandits, fierce wildlife, and the Royal Army, reaching the spring won’t be easy! Use your tact and imagination to develop tanks and other vehicles that will help you navigate this vast land, using a wide array of part combinations.

VEHICLES FROM BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION
Unlock vehicles that can be leveled-up with various mechanic parts including weapons, engines, and suspensions. Design and operate a large variety of vehicles including Battle Tanks with powerful cannons, Motorbikes that speed through deserts, and Jump-bots that bounce over rivers to explore every corner of the continent.

BECOME THE SAVIOR THE WORLD NEEDS
Develop your basecamp in the city of Spino, as you build relationships with its inhabitants. As you bring the exiled people of the desert to Spino, watch the town and its capabilities grow. Listen to their requests and wishes, and unlock useful materials and city features.

ADVENTURE BEYOND THE DUNES
Travel through SAND LAND and its canyons, unveil its secrets, overcome all obstacles, and find the entrance to an unknown world.

The post Start Your Journey into Sand Land Today with These Helpful Tips appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Six months ago, we welcomed you to the daunting dark fantasy world of Mournstead, as we launched our debut game, Lords of the Fallen, on Xbox Series X|S. We wanted to challenge action-RPG fans with a fresh take on the genre and – as one of the first games to be developed in Unreal Engine 5 – deliver a unique experience.

This week, we’ve reached the biggest milestone since launch: Version 1.5 – Master of Fate. It’s the culmination of over 30 updates released since launch, which has seen additional new content and quality of life updates – including rigorous difficulty balancing – that have significantly improved performance, stability, and optimisation across the board. All of this has resulted in Master of Fate being the very best version of Lords of the Fallen to date.

Importantly, Master of Fate delivers the final milestone of the game’s extensive post-launch roadmap: A genuinely groundbreaking advanced game modifier system that enables you to warp and twist the gameplay in several fundamental ways.

Available to campaign completionists and total newcomers alike, these modifiers include the ability to randomize loot so you’ll never know what you’ll pick up next; any and every weapon, piece of armor, or item can be found any point throughout the dark and perilous journey through Mournstead. Similarly, you could also choose to enable the random enemy spawn modifier, and at any point face off against any of the 70-plus enemy types that scar the landscapes of both the realms of the living and of the dead… who knows what will be waiting for you around the next corner!

As if not knowing which unholy creature is ready to pulverize you at a moment’s notice isn’t enough to send a shiver down your spine, other modifiers include the ability to adjust the number of enemies during group encounters, while another – the Withered Healing modifier – restricts the effectiveness of health items. Turn this on, and health can only be regained by dealing damage to enemies, encouraging you to take a more aggressive style of play. And for the ultimate ‘git gud’ challenge, we’ve added a rather nefarious modifier… Ironman Mode. Get slain in Umbral  – the realm of the dead – with this enabled, and you’ll have to start your journey to thwart the demon-god Adyr all over again, albeit with your loot and character level intact (I did say you’ll have to git gud!)

Of course, enabling one or any number of modifier combinations will dramatically change how you experience Lords of the Fallen. The idea of making your way up through Redcopse Village – the very first location in the game after the tutorial area – and being confronted by several Skinstealers when you’re only armed with level one weaponry, is surely enough to trigger nightmares… However, no combination has a greater effect on the game than enabling the randomised enemies, randomised loot, and Ironman Mode modifiers…

Imagine for a moment, having the fortitude and courage to begin a journey through the dual realms, where any weapon could be found at any time, and where the most hellish end-game creature could lurk in the darkness. Imagine knowing that a momentary lapse of concentration or judgement, would plunge you back to the very beginning of the Dark Crusader’s tale. To put it bluntly, activate those specific modifiers, and you won’t be experiencing Lords of the Fallen as an action-RPG; instead, you’ll be facing the brutal cliff-face of the game as an action roguelike – an incalculably formidable prospect!

So… do you dare become a Master of Fate?

Lords of the Fallen

CI Games

☆☆☆☆☆
348

★★★★★

$69.99

Get it now

Lords of the Fallen introduces an all-new, epic RPG adventure in a vast, interconnected world more than five times larger than the original game.
After an age of the cruellest tyranny, the demon God, Adyr, was finally defeated. But Gods… do not fall forever. Now, aeons later, Adyr’s resurrection draws nigh. As one of the fabled Dark Crusaders, journey through both the realms of the living and the dead in this expansive RPG experience, featuring colossal boss battles, fast challenging combat, thrilling character encounters, and deep, immersive storytelling. Will your legend be one of light… or one of darkness?
Dare to Hope.

Explore A Vast, Interconnected World
Journey across two expansive, parallel worlds in your epic quest to overthrow Adyr. While the living realm presents its own brutal challenges, untold terrors lurk in the nightmarish realm of the dead.

Define Your Own Legend
Fully customise your character’s appearance from a wide array of visual options, before selecting one of nine character classes. Whichever starting path you take, develop your character to your own playstyle by upgrading stats, weapons, armour and spells.

Master Fast, Challenging Fluid Tactical Combat
Only those that master the deep, tactical combat can hope to survive. Choose from 100s of uniquely brutal weapons, or forgo metal for magic with devastating attacks of the arcane.

Unite or Fight in Online Multiplayer
Experience the expansive, single player campaign alone, or unite with other Lampbearers in online co-op. You are free to journey together for as long as you or they desire, collecting vigor (xp) and any weapons or gear enemies drop, ready to bring them back to your own world. Key items and quest progression won’t be transferred, to retain the integrity of your own tale. For those playing online, be warned, as heroes from other realms can, and will invade.

Wield a Device of Ungodly Power
Your lantern possesses the ungodly power to cross between worlds. Use this dark art to reach forgotten places, unearth fabled treasures, and even manipulate the very soul of your foe.

Rise from Death
Fall in the world of the living, and rise again… in the world of the dead. You now have one final chance to return to your living state, as all manner of hellish creature descends upon you.

The post How Lords of the Fallen Goes Rogue(like) with its New ‘Master of Fate’ Update appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Last week, we asked you put the spotlight on robots and droids using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

TheFourthFocus shares a smiling tiny robot in the rain of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

​​

call_me_xavii shares Kara smiling downwards in Detroit: Become Human.

MrioMoreno5 shares Astro sitting playing on a platform, while a larger robot stands in the distance of Astro’s Playroom.

wingsforsmiles shares a droid standing at a panel of buttons and levers in Star Wars Jedi Survivor.

BBSnakeCorn shares a portrait of Jack-8 in Tekken 8.

BarryPaust shares the titular Stray cat looks up at a robot.

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME:  Stellar Blade
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on May 1, 2024

Next week, we’re turning our lens on Stellar Blade. Share epic moments from Stellar Blade using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Source: Playstation Blog
—