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As Play Anywhere takes center stage, the future of Xbox has never been clearer: "Our plan is to keep making amazing games and have them reach as many players as we can"
As Play Anywhere takes center stage, the future of Xbox has never been clearer: "Our plan is to keep making amazing games and have them reach as many players as we can"

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

As Play Anywhere takes center stage, the future of Xbox has never been clearer: "Our plan is to keep making amazing games and have them reach as many players as we can"

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Xbox is getting serious about Play Anywhere. The initiative has existed in some form for a decade, where a single purchase of a video game carries across to any supported device within the Xbox ecosystem. Despite the clear value proposition, Xbox Play Anywhere has largely been sat in the shadow of Game Pass; more of a curiosity than a centrepiece of the platform. But something has changed. Speaking at the Xbox Showcase, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer declared that "we're working to make sure you're able to play our games wherever you are, which is why every new game in the show is Xbox Play Anywhere." The importance of this is easily overlooked amongst the excitement of an exceptional 2025 lineup of upcoming Xbox games, and the tease of a pivotal 2026 offering which could include new instalments to the platform's most iconic franchises: Fable, Forza, Halo, and Gears. "The Xbox business is pretty unique to the industry" Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios But Spencer's statement is a signal towards the future of Xbox – more critical to the expansion of the platform than any Xbox Game Studios exclusive or day-one entrant into Game Pass could ever be. The way we play is rapidly changing, and Play Anywhere could be how Xbox regains its competitive edge in a marketplace increasingly dominated by Nintendo, PlayStation, and Valve. "The Xbox business is pretty unique to the industry," says Craig Duncan, the head of Xbox Game Studios speaking exclusively with GamesRadar+. "Xbox is a platform. We publish some of the biggest and most-played multiplatform games; we have Cloud Gaming, Game Pass, and Xbox Play Anywhere. Our plan is to keep making amazing games and have them reach as many players as we can, wherever they want to play." To understand the changing dynamics of Xbox in 2025, you need to accept something: whether you like it or not, it's Microsoft's position that everything is an Xbox now – including whatever device you're using to read this article. The platform holder believes that the Xbox Store, Game Pass, and Cloud Gaming are its primary portals into the ecosystem, and that Xbox Play Anywhere will act as the bridge between them. "Recognising that everybody plays in different ways is just so central to what Xbox is trying to achieve – our vision of how we see gameplay evolving," says Roanne Sones, CVP of gaming devices and ecosystem at Xbox. There are over 1000 supported Xbox Play Anywhere titles. If you purchase any one of these video games from any Xbox online store, you'll be able to take it (and your progress) with you to any supported device – allowing seamless switching between console, PC, handheld, and cloud. Now if you only exclusively play Xbox games on console or PC, perhaps this feature doesn't appeal to you. But Xbox has anecdotal evidence and hard data to suggest that you may be part of an increasing minority. "We are really investing in refining the experience of playing your games across multiple devices," says Jason Beaumont, VP of experiences and platforms at Xbox. "What I noticed about my console is that it was just one of a constellation of gaming devices that I use in my house. I'm using my console, my gaming PC, my handheld, and Smart TV apps. I play games everywhere, and I want to be able to pick up my progress and continue that wherever I go." Beaumont is speaking literally here, with Microsoft investing in a collaboration with ASUS to bring the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X to market later this year – handheld gaming PCs that can play Xbox PC games natively, which is undoubtedly a more attractive way to play Xbox games on the go versus the alternative (entrusting your progression to cloud servers and mobile networks). He's also speaking figuratively, to this belief within Xbox that the state of play is changing. "Recognising that everybody plays in different ways is just so central to what Xbox is trying to achieve" Roanne Sones, CVP of gaming devices and ecosystem "Our data shows most console players use two or more devices, and that playing the same game on different devices can be difficult. We also know that the console market growth across generations has slowed," says Duncan. It's why Play Anywhere is the sort of service Xbox is gambling on. Two questions that the company has struggled to answer in the last 12 months are why console players would invest in Xbox over PlayStation when so many of its first-party titles are going multiplatform, and why PC players would purchase games through the Xbox app on Windows when Steam is right there. Here's Duncan's perspective on it: "When you make pro-consumer decisions, you're going to create a strong business now and into the future. We want our game franchises to be as big as possible, while making Xbox the best place to play these games. And our strategy of reaching as many players as we can, anywhere they are, while making it seamless to buy a game once and have it playable across devices is good for everyone." Perhaps Play Anywhere is the answer to both questions, then. A single purchase empowered with cross-progression and cross-entitlement. One which then lets you shift from playing online with friends on console, unlocking achievements on PC, and pick up your play on the move through handheld or mobile devices – your progress, community, and library right there with you. It's a compelling concept, particularly if Spencer's assertion that there's "28% growth in players playing our games on multiple devices, year over year" is evidence of changing consumer trends. One way to look at this is that Xbox is taking proactive steps to meet players. Another is that this shift in strategy is the result of another generation cycle spent in last place – PlayStation recently announced that it has no plans to change its strategy or platform initiatives. Regardless, it's difficult to begrudge Microsoft for wanting to get ahead of a trend rather than be caught following it. The question, of course, is what incentive developers have for supporting something like Xbox Play Anywhere – a service that only works if players are aware that it exists, and if more games are willing to support it. Marcus Morgan, executive producer of Grounded 2, tells me that the executives leading the Xbox division "always talk about Xbox in a way of the platform trying to connect to gamers across the globe – no matter who they are, no matter what they want to play. I think that is such a great and ambitious target." That's a sentiment echoed by Brandon Adler, game director of The Outer Worlds 2: "Anything that encourages more people to play my games I'm always going to love… It's why something like the Play Anywhere initiative is great, because it invites more people to play." Much like Game Pass, it was always going to be down to the first-party developers within the Xbox Game Studios network to really drive something like Xbox Play Anywhere forward. But unlike Microsoft's premium subscription service, I get the feeling that Play Anywhere can only truly succeed as a system seller – a platform incentive that could court players away from PS5 and Steam – if it receives wide adoption from third-party studios. Speaking with Anil Glendinning, creative director of There Are No Ghosts at the Grand, one of the breakout reveals from the Xbox Showcase, tells me that Play Anywhere support "felt like a natural fit" for Friday Sundae's debut game. "We've always believed that players should be able to pick up where they left off, regardless of the screen in front of them – it's something that aligns perfectly with the game's structure." "One moment you're redecorating haunted rooms in a British seaside hotel on your console, the next you're unravelling supernatural mysteries on your handheld. That flexibility just made sense," says Glendinning. "When considering Play Anywhere, the main questions we asked were: will this improve the experience for players? Can we deliver parity across platforms? And does it support the kind of seamless immersion we're aiming for? In all cases, the answer was yes." Of the two dozen independent developers and publishers I've spoken with in recent weeks, I'm told that building Play Anywhere support into upcoming projects is relatively simple (as much as anything in the game development process could be considered simple). A three step process which involves joining the ID@Xbox program, implementing cross-progression, and cross-entitlement. Although the general sentiment between this group was that aligning entitlements (which is to say, each device seamlessly registering that a single purchase should be accessible for a player) can be a 'living nightmare' for teams unfamiliar with the process, and that Xbox's support could be stronger. Does Play Anywhere contribute to (or break through) the noise? "We very much view Play Anywhere as an extension of Game Pass and Xbox's commitment to increasing their audience. That will have beneficial implications for developers, but I don't know if it will remove some of the noise from the gaming landscape," says Squanch Games CEO Mike Fridley. "In the long run, if it survives as a service, it will likely increase the noise as more indie and large studios add more and more titles that take advantage of the Play Anywhere feature. In the short run, though, I think it will give studios that are early adopters of the feature the opportunity to stand out. Long story short, the best way to cut through the noise is to make a great game, build a fanbase, and listen to that fanbase. There is no magic bullet to making your game stand out other than quality and availability. Play Anywhere definitely helps increase your availability." Some developers are taking a proactive approach to ensure its future titles are Play Anywhere ready. Rebellion is one prominent independent studio putting its weight behind the service – including 2025's Atomfall. "At Rebellion, we are keen for as many players as possible to enjoy our games, and Xbox Play Anywhere is a great way to help achieve this goal," says Ben Fisher, head of design at Rebellion. "Specifically, we create games using our own in-house engine, Asura, that has support for Xbox Play Anywhere built in. So, it is very straightforward for our teams to ensure that our titles are compatible for Play Anywhere, as well as support Xbox cloud ecosystem and optimise for Game Pass. The Asura engine also scales nicely for PC-based handhelds, which gives us more options beyond streaming and, alongside Xbox Play Anywhere, gives players a wide choice of when and where they can play our games." Speaking on background, other flashpoints raised by developers weighing support include recognition that video games are both taking longer and costing more to create. That cross-play and cross-progression initiatives have altered player expectations. That cost of living crises have changed spending habits, particularly as games reach $80. With Xbox claiming that Play Anywhere increases awareness, grows engagement, and keeps folks playing for longer, can this initiative help developers shoulder the burden of an increasingly volatile market to keep delivering for players? "We strive to create games that we want to play. As fans of gaming and gamers ourselves, whenever we create something that we love or play a game we enjoy, we want as many people as possible to share that fun," says Mike Fridley, CEO of Squanch Games, following the reveal of High on Life 2 at the Xbox Showcase. "Play Anywhere increases the number of gamers that will be able to play our games and partake in that experience." "Yes, there are potential financial benefits to increasing your audience, and for some other studios, that may be a major driver for them. To some extent, being able to sell to more customers is a driver for us as well, just not our major reason for doing it," says Fridley. "We are a very small indie studio whose fate is directly tied to our market success. We don't have a big publisher conglomerate that will be able to absorb costs if one of our games doesn't hit the financial mark. Being on as many screens as possible comes with some financial benefits that help us keep our doors open." Microsoft Gaming has endured yet another challenging generation cycle. Having spent a decade battling to overcome the perception that Xbox Game Studios isn't delivering new titles, the focus shifted just as the first-party floodgates began to open. There was the public battle to acquire Activision Blizzard, reports of Game Pass missing internal growth targets, and an unsteady venture into multiplatform play. And now, with the incoming release of an Xbox handheld and early talk of next-gen hardware on the horizon, the platform holder is starting to gradually realign its pieces on the board. "We want our players to enjoy the games we make and play where they want to play" Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios "We strive to engage with large communities of players around our franchises, and remove barriers so more people can play together and enjoy the games they love, play with their friends, and connect with likeminded gamers," says Duncan. "It's about playing your favorite games on your Series S or X, having cross-save just work, and your progress coming with you. Or finding new games through Game Pass, or playing cross play with some of our games on PC or that have shipped on other platforms. We want our players to enjoy the games we make and play where they want to play." 'Play Anywhere' is becoming more than an initiative to let you seamlessly carry your digital life between devices, then. It's a mantra which bridges Xbox's multiformat ambitions, its increasing first-party output, ongoing support of Game Pass, and new hardware initiatives. As Xbox looks to its future, with early talk of next-gen hardware on the near horizon, Xbox Play Anywhere is transforming into the sell for the entire ecosystem. Whether it will work, only time will tell. Gears of War: Reloaded campaign preview: If playing this classic campaign co-op with one player on a PS5 and the other on an Xbox Series X is wrong, then we don't want to be right. This is shaping up to be the terrific and loving re-release that builds on the success of Gears' 2015 Ultimate of War: Reloaded multiplayer preview: Both the best and worst thing we can say about returning to the multiplayer mode that once defined our lives is – it's still Gears of War. Chunky, uneven, and punishing. It's a tricky proposition in 2025, but we're so glad Gears is back in Gaiden 4 hands-on preview: It's clear from slicing and dicing waves of enemies that, yes, the joys of the best 3D games in this series are back (and yes, we did manage to beat the boss fight). Talking to the devs, we reflect on the evolution of the action game genre over the last Gaiden 4 interview: Team Ninja and PlatinumGames say that "Soulslikes have kind of taken center stage" since the last installment to the Ninja Gaiden series, but the devs promise that "we are going against the trend in that way" with the upcoming 2025 release of Ninja Gaiden 2 hands-on preview: 30 minutes with a survival game like Grounded 2 is just scratching the surface, but we are already hooked. Talking with the devs, they explain why now was the right time to jump into a full, numbered Grounded 2 an Xbox exclusive? Obsidian won't rule out bringing Grounded 2 to PS5 and other platforms in the future (just as its predecessor did in 2024), but says that this initial release is "all about being in Game Preview and Early Access"Grounded 2 player count: Everything is bigger in Grounded 2, but Obsidian never considered stretching beyond four-players. Speaking to GR+, the studio says doing so "would have undermined what Grounded was really about."Grounded 2 roadmap: Obsidian is targeting updates every "four to five months" after the studio learned the hard way: "When we started with Grounded 1 in early access we were trying to do monthly updates – that was a hassle and it didn't work"ROG Xbox Ally X hands-on preview: With its first handheld, Xbox's 'Play Anywhere' strategy is coming into sharper focus. And I'm not saying I regret buying a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch... but the ROG Xbox Ally X is almost everything I want from a new Xbox Outer Worlds 2 hands-on preview: This sequel feels like one of our favorite RPG devs (they also made Fallout: New Vegas and Avowed) finally got the resources to make a new sci-fi adventure with the scope they deserve. Full of details, choices, and great action, this is shaping up to be Outer Worlds 2 exclusive interview: With The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian Entertainment is dedicated to making sneaky playstyles truly viable in its upcoming sequel: "We have a strike team going room-by-room to see if we can stealth properly through each location"The rising cost of video games: The Xbox Showcase confirmed that The Outer Worlds 2 will be the first video game out of Xbox Game Studios in 2025 to cost $80. Obsidian Entertainment says we don't set the prices for our games" and wishes "everybody could play" its new RPG.

I'm Can't Wait to Play Remedy's FBC: Firebreak on Xbox Game Pass
I'm Can't Wait to Play Remedy's FBC: Firebreak on Xbox Game Pass

CNET

time17-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • CNET

I'm Can't Wait to Play Remedy's FBC: Firebreak on Xbox Game Pass

In 2019, Remedy Entertainment released the mind-bending, Kafka-esque game Control. At the time, I loved the idea of a bureaucratic office turned into a violent battlefield filled with office supplies -- like a floppy disk -- that can give you special abilities. So I'm excited to return to that world in FBC: Firebreak, which is on Xbox Game Pass now. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors' Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gives you access to a large library of games, with new titles, like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, added monthly, plus other benefits, like online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles. Read more: Play Classic Games From the '80s and '90s on Xbox Game Pass Now Here are all the games Microsoft added to Game Pass recently. You can also check out all the titles the company added to the service in May, like Metaphor: ReFantazio. FBC: Firebreak Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play this game now. The Federal Bureau of Control is under attack from otherworldly forces and it's up to you and your versatile unit to restore order. You'll fight chaotic entities, leeches and a monster made of sticky notes using guns, grenades and other supernatural weapons. You can play this first-person shooter game on your own or take on the chaos of the FBC with friends in three-player co-op. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition Game Pass Standard and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play now. You are Capt. Demetrian Titus, an Ultramarine in the Imperium of Man, and it's up to you and your squad to help reclaim the Forge World Graia from an Ork horde. Originally released in 2011, this third-person shooter has been remastered for modern consoles with enhanced character models, a modernized control scheme and more. So grab your chainsword and bolter and get ready to fight. For the Emperor! Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Editions Game Pass Standard and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play now. Gather your party and get ready to go on some epic quests in the enhanced editions of these classic roleplaying games. These games are set in the Forgotten Realms setting of the popular tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons, and each game contains its own story and adventure. In Baldur's Gate, you'll investigate an iron crisis that is plunging the land into war. Baldur's Gate 2 takes place shortly after the initial game and revolves around a mysterious power within your character. Can you resist this power or will you become the new Lord of Murder? Kingdom: Two Crowns (PC) Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now. In this 2D adventure strategy game, you have to build up your kingdom during the day to secure it from a threat called the Greed that attacks at night. You'll then conquer far-off lands to put a stop to the Greed threat once and for all. Barbie Project Friendship Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now. The Malibu Waves Community Center was a once-thriving destination but now it's in danger of being closed forever. You'll play as Barbie and Barbie -- that's two different Barbies -- as you work to bring your friends and neighbors together to help save the center. You can explore Malibu, work at the pet salon and enjoy the skate park solo or with a friend in local co-op mode. EA Sports FC 25 Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now. Get ready to make league history in the latest installment of this EA Sports franchise (formerly FIFA). You can become the manager of your favorite football club and shape the team into a dynasty in Career Mode, or team up with friends and take on others in the new 5v5 Rush mode. And with this edition, you can also get the Supercharge Pack -- which includes 11 Rare Gold Players and other perks -- until July 12. The Alters Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play this game now. You're stranded on a hostile planet and the only way forward is to create alternate versions of yourself. The other versions of you will gather supplies and build your base, and you'll have to attend to their survival needs. And while you're trying to survive, this sci-fi survival game also comes with a side of existentialism: It asks whether we shape our destiny or it shapes us? Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play this game now. The jean-shorts-wearing marsupial is back in this time-shattering, platforming adventure. Neo Cortex and N. Tropy are launching an all-out assault on the entire multiverse. It's up to Crash and his sister Coco to bend the rules of reality and recover the Quantum Masks in order to save reality. Lost in Random: The Eternal Die Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play this game now. You're the once-great ruler of Random, Queen Aleksandra, and you're on a mission of vengeance and redemption in this fast-paced rogue-like game. You'll fight monsters and beasts with four unique weapons, plus powerful card-based abilities and relics. But death isn't final here so if you fall, you'll return to Sanctuary to rearm, upgrade and prepare for your next run. Games that left Game Pass While Microsoft added the above games to Game Pass, it also removed seven games from the service. That means you'll have to buy these games separately if you still need to complete your campaign or any sidequests. For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you. You can also check out what to know about upcoming Xbox game price hikes.

Hideo Kojima says Metal Gear spiritual successor Physint is still "another five or six years" away, and that he may finally direct a movie after
Hideo Kojima says Metal Gear spiritual successor Physint is still "another five or six years" away, and that he may finally direct a movie after

Yahoo

time06-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Hideo Kojima says Metal Gear spiritual successor Physint is still "another five or six years" away, and that he may finally direct a movie after

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Hideo Kojima has told a French magazine that his upcoming Metal Gear spiritual successor, Physint, is still "another five or six years" away. Hideo Kojima is weeks away from launching his studio's next game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, but from the looks of things, he's already planned out the next 10-or-so years of his life (and planned out ideas to leave behind after he's gone). After the Death Stranding sequel, there are two more upcoming Hideo Kojima games currently announced: OD, an upcoming horror game that's being made in partnership with director Jordan Peele for Xbox Game Studios, and Physint, a new entry in the "action-espionage" genre (so basically, a Metal Gear spiritual successor). Physint was confirmed at the end of a State of Play last January, but there hasn't been any news on it since then. With Death Stranding 2 and OD in the way, many assumed it would be a while away yet, and now Kojima has given a rough idea of when we can expect it. In an interview with French magazine Le Film Francais posted by Kojima's assistant @kaizerkunkun on Twitter (and translated by ResetEra user Red Kong XIX), Kojima dropped some info about Physint when asked if he would like to direct a film. "Besides Death Stranding 2, there's also Physint in development." Kojima said, adding, "That will take me another five or six years. But maybe after that, I could finally decide to take on a film." So, unfortunately it looks like we'll be playing Physint in 2031 at the earliest. What's interesting is that Kojima didn't mention OD. Kojima mentioned that both it and Physint faced delays due to the 2024 SAG strike, but he hasn't given any indication as to when OD will be released. If I had to guess, OD will likely release before Physint, and he will probably start revealing more about it once Death Stranding 2 has Stranding 2 isn't weird enough: Hideo Kojima has an idea for a game where your character forgets everything if you stop playing.

Death Stranding 2 devs are taking a break after release, but Hideo Kojima is already working on his next game: "Everyone dislikes it when I submit the project plans at this point in time"
Death Stranding 2 devs are taking a break after release, but Hideo Kojima is already working on his next game: "Everyone dislikes it when I submit the project plans at this point in time"

Yahoo

time06-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Death Stranding 2 devs are taking a break after release, but Hideo Kojima is already working on his next game: "Everyone dislikes it when I submit the project plans at this point in time"

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has recently gone gold, but Hideo Kojima isn't in the mood for taking breaks, something that has the staff of Kojima Productions pretty shocked. While it's been about five and a half years between the original Death Stranding and the release of the sequel later this month, the list of upcoming Hideo Kojima games has been steadily growing. There's OD – an upcoming horror game being made for Xbox Game Studios, and Physint, a PS5 exclusive that's set to be a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid. And while a normal person would take a break after finishing a massive project like Death Stranding 2, Kojima isn't in the mood for that. Speaking on the newest episode of his radio show KOJI10 (translated by Genki_JPN), Kojima confirmed that the staff of Kojima Productions are taking a break after completing work on Death Stranding 2. However, Kojima himself doesn't seem to be interested in that, revealing, "I am already working on the next one now." Kojima added, "Everyone dislikes it when I submit the project plans at this point in time. They are like 'Huh?, I thought you are taking a break. But you're talking about the next one.'" Considering OD already has a trailer, and leaked gameplay that's almost three years old, Kojima is presumably talking about Physint, which he has previously said is about "five or six years away." That or Kojima has some other project he's now just starting and roaming the earth, catching celebrity actors with a big net. Maybe Robert Stranding and Metal Gear Solid mastermind Hideo Kojima has always wanted to make a film, but Guillermo del Toro told him not to.

3 Game Pass games to play this weekend (June 6-8)
3 Game Pass games to play this weekend (June 6-8)

Digital Trends

time06-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Digital Trends

3 Game Pass games to play this weekend (June 6-8)

As Xbox fans, we have a big weekend ahead of us. Summer Game Fest is well underway, but the real attraction comes on Sunday with the Xbox Games Showcase. There are tons of rumors swirling about what games will be shown. We already know that The Outer Worlds 2 will get its own dedicated direct, but who knows if we might see more of Fable, Perfect Dark, or State of Decay 3. Plus, could it be time for a new Halo? Sunday is right at the end of the weekend, so that leaves us with plenty of time to kill with some hot Game Pass games. There's even a good chance that Xbox will drop, or at least announce, a new game coming to Game Pass during the show so I wanted to make sure to put these games on your radar for this weekend just in case a surprise drop does come. Crypt Custodian I love it when Xbox supports smaller indie games by giving them the spotlight in Game Pass. Similar to Tunic years ago, Crypt Custodian is another delightful Zelda-like adventure where you play as a cat named Pluto who is hit by a car and sent to the afterlife. Using a broom as your main weapon, you will become the afterlife's custodian. Mixing in equal parts action and platforming, this is a perfectly tuned and paced adventure. You will explore detailed environments, unlock new abilities and moves, and face off against tough bosses. You can spot its many inspirations, from action RPGs and Souls-likes to Metroidvanias, but it has such great vibes that you won't mind the familiarity. Recommended Videos Crypt Custodian is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC. Symphonia Sticking to smaller games that are well worth your time, we come to Symphonia. This is a pure platformer that weaves music into every moment. You take control of a violinist who is revived into a dying world with the goal of bringing music — and thus life — back. Your violin and bow act as a weapon and a way to traverse the world. Both the soundtrack and art style are eye-wateringly beautiful. That's important because this isn't a simple platformer and will give you a real test of your reactions and skill. It isn't overly long, which you can take as a positive or a negative. My personal take was that it was just the right length for what it needed to be, and a perfect weekend game. Symphonia is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC. State of Decay 2 I'm going out on a bit of a limb with this one, but I predict we're about to see a lot more of State of Decay 3 at this year's Xbox Games Showcase. This game has been in the works for years with almost no updates or showings for way too long. So, either playing the last game now will get you more excited for what we see of the third game, or it will help ease the pain of yet another showcase with no news. That's a win-win, right? Part of why this series has such a hungry fanbase is that there's just no other zombie survival game quite like it. It is especially fun if you can grab a couple of buddies to go scavenging with or playing the horde mode. State of Decay 2 is available now on Xbox One and PC.

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