Everything Announced At Today's Xbox Partner Preview
Written by Marcus Stewart
Today’s Xbox Partner Preview showcased 14 games across 30 minutes, some brand new, some long lost, and others newly christened with release dates. Here’s a quick rundown of everything announced.
Unknown 9: Awakening - Summer 2024
First announced at Gamescom 2020, this supernatural third-person action game showed its first signs of life in over three years with its first gameplay trailer. It stars Haroona, a woman gifted with supernatural powers used to battle enemies across an Indian city. You can learn more here.
Sleight of Hand - 2025
Created by RiffRaff games led by Framed developer Joshua Boggs, this third-person, stealth-focused noir deckbuilder is directly inspired by Metal Gear Solid. You can learn more here.
The Alters - 2024
We learned that 11bit Studios’ body-duplicating sci-fi adventure, in which a miner must survive a hostile planet by creating multiple versions of himself, is coming to Game Pass when it arrives this year. It also got its first gameplay trailer. You can learn more here.
Creatures of Ava - 2024
Co-written by famed scribe Rhianna Pratchett, the lead writer behind Tomb Raider/Rise of the Tomb Raider, among other tiles, Creatures of Ava is an empathy-driven action-adventure game about taming and protecting creatures to rescue a planet from a life-threatening infection.
Roblox’s Griefville X Chucky Crossover - Available Now
The typically kid-friendly Roblox gets a dedicatedly mature experience in the form of the horror-themed Griefville: Survive the Nightmare. Kicking off this new update is the murderous arrival of Chucky.
The Sinking City 2 - 2025
Frogwares’ The Sinking City gets an encore next year. The Lovecraftian survival horror game takes place in a twisted version of Arkham in 1920s America. The Sinking City 2 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and Frogwares is launching a Kickstarter to further fund the Unreal Engine 5-developed project.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy - Available Now
GSC Game World has remastered the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy for Xbox One (and Series X/S via backwards compatibility). The $39.99 collection includes Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Prypiat. Each game can also be purchased individually for $19.99.
Monster Jam: Showdown - 2024
Monster truck fans have a new Monster Jam racing title to look forward to this year. Showdown boasts 66 official Monster Jam trucks at launch and 10 game modes, including freestyle and off-road racing alone or against others in online and local splitscreen.
Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass - 2024
Although many of us are likely still getting through Persona 3 Reload, our stay has been extended thanks to an expansion pass. Released in three waves throughout the year, the pass adds the fan-favorite epilogue of Persona 3 FES, dubbed Episode Aigis - The Answer (in September) along with new background music sets and a Velvet costume. You can learn more here.
The First Berserker: Khazan
The upcoming single-player action game set in the Dungeons and Fighters universe got another impressive gameplay showing. Unfortunately, it still has no release window.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau - April 23
Ahead of its April 23 launch, Tales of Kenzera: Zau got an in-depth gameplay walkthrough showing off the side-scrolling action game’s mechanics.
Frostpunk 2 - July 25
Frostpunk 2’s new trailer revealed the game is coming to PC Game Pass when it launches on July 25. The game is also coming to consoles (and Xbox Game Pass) at a later date.
Final Fantasy XIV For Xbox - March 21
Final Fantasy XIV will fully launch on Xbox on March 21. The popular MMO is currently playable in beta on the platform, and the launch comes ahead of the summer release of the game’s next expansion, Dawntrail. You can learn more here.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess - 2024
First announced last summer, this colorful Capcom title blends stylish swordplay with real-time strategy elements. You’ll battle supernatural monsters, rescue villagers, and use resources to fortify a village and defend it from invading beasts at nightfall. You can learn more here.
What was your favorite announcement from the Xbox Partner Preview? Let us know in the comments!
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Original Stalker: Legends Of The Zone Trilogy Is Available On Xbox Today
Written by Kyle Hilliard
The classic PC shooter Stalker (often stylized as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.), is now available on Xbox starting today. The game's official title is Stalker: Legends of the Zone Trilogy and includes the base game Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat. For those who never played the original games, this is a great way to prepare before the launch of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which will be on Game Pass on September 5, 2024.
Supernatural Action Game Unknown 9: Awakening Reemerges With First Gameplay Trailer And Release Window
Written by Marcus Stewart
Unknown 9: Awakening has been silent since its reveal at Gamescom 2020, but today’s Xbox Partner Preview saw it reemerge with its first gameplay trailer and release window.
The game is set within the popular sci-fi media franchise and is a third-person adventure starring Haroona (played by The Witcher's Anya Chalotra), a woman gifted with mysterious abilities. The game's official website has the following synopsis:
You play as Haroona, a fierce truth-seeker (what we call a “Quaestor”) with a unique connection to another dimension known as the Fold. This other plane of existence contains powerful energy and long-lost knowledge that, if brought to light, could usher us into a wondrous era of advancement. However, if this forgotten wisdom falls into the wrong hands, it could lead to our inevitable demise.Determined to avenge the wrongs of her past, Haroona’s imminent journey will turn out to involve far more than just retribution. Humanity’s fate is at risk, and her ties to the Fold may be the key to securing our continued existence.
This quest will have you uncover the long-lost secrets of our collective past. You’ll also learn to tap into the Fold’s energy, gifting you incredible skills, known as Umbric abilities, that allow you to take down anyone who stands in your way.
But beware of the Ascendants, a dangerous offshoot of a secret society known as the Leap Year Society. This faction claims to want to use the Fold for the betterment of humankind, but don’t be fooled. Even the best of intentions can lead to catastrophe.
That includes, from what we can tell, sucking people's souls out of their bodies and telepathically blasting enemies through destructible environments. Haroona can also pull enemies, control their minds, and more. The game also features parkour-style platforming across an Indian city.
Unknown 9: Awakening is coming this summer to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Final Fantasy XIV Launches Onto Xbox Series X/S Later This Month
Written by Wesley LeBlanc
Last July, Square Enix revealed that Final Fantasy XIV, the critically acclaimed and long-running MMORPG, would be coming to Xbox Series X/S this spring. After a quick but seemingly successful open beta period on the platform, the company has revealed Final Fantasy XIV will fully launch on Xbox Series X/S on March 21.
This news was revealed during the Xbox Partner Preview, with a reminder that players can partake in the open beta right now. Square Enix also revealed that the starter edition of the game, which includes the base campaign A Realm Reborn and the Heavensward and Stormblood expansions, will be available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. However, you must claim it as a perk between March 21 and April 19.
The timing of the Xbox Series X/S launch for Final Fantasy XIV comes at a great time as the game's next expansion, Dawntrail, is set to launch this summer. Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know about Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.
Before Dawntrail, though, you'll need to play up through the latest expansion, Endwalker, to be fully caught up on the entire story. Getting caught up should be a lot of fun, though, and you'll get to find out why Final Fantasy XIV is ranked so high on Game Informer's ranking of every mainline Final Fantasy game.
Are you going to play Final Fantasy XIV on Xbox later this month? Let us know in the comments below!
Capcom's Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess Gets First Extended Gameplay Showcase
Written by Kyle Hilliard
About eight months ago, Capcom and Microsoft revealed Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess in somewhat vague terms. It is an action game based in and inspired by historical Japan, but that was about all we knew. Today, Capcom showed a lot more gameplay and offered some additional insight into the single player game. Plus it detailed more of exactly what the game is on its Xbox Wire page.
The action is defined as "dancing swords," but you will also be making decisions about what villagers you will take with you on your journey, leading to some strategic elements. You will apparently be making preparations for battle during the day to protect your Maiden and the village before the night, which is when battle takes place.
Capcom and Microsoft do not have a release date for the game yet, but it is apparently coming this year and will be included with Game Pass subscriptions.