Coming Soon

Sandustry(Game Preview) (PC) – October 21
Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

Explore and mine fully destructible worlds. Automate increasingly complex production chains. Delve deep to uncover an ancient civilization’s powerful secrets and learn to love the sand in this factory game where every pixel is a valuable resource.

Dodo Duckie (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 22
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Waddle into a reality-bending odyssey where simply being a duck is your greatest superpower. With the help of your magical cap, switch instantly between 2D and 3D to uncover hidden paths, outsmart aliens, solve puzzles and rescue your kidnapped chicken friends in this wholesome puzzle platformer adventure.

Scramble Knights Online(Game Preview) (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 26
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with XBOX Game Pass! Adventure together with your friends in this MMO-lite action RPG! Explore the shared online kingdom of Terracott as a knight-in-training. Work together to take on quests, conquer dungeons, slay monsters, discover rare loot, and return home to forge powerful new gear before setting out on your next quest.

The Séance of Blake Manor (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 27
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

The Séance of Blake Manor is a supernatural detective mystery, set in 1897 Ireland, where you investigate the disappearance of a young woman in a remote hotel full of secrets and other-worldly occurrences.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 29
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

The award-winning Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade retells the original story up to the escape from Midgar with breathtaking visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and additional story elements. This RPG delivers unforgettable characters, a powerful narrative, and a hybrid battle system that blends real-time action with strategic, command-based combat.

Mouthwashing(Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – October 29
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass 

Hope to die, or for goodness sake, pray that everyone else did. The five crew members of the Tulpar are stranded in the empty reaches of space, shrouded in perpetual sunset. Developer Wrong Organ and publisher CRITICAL REFLEX are bringing the critically acclaimed psychological horror Mouthwashing to XBOX Game Pass.  

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted (Cloud, Console, and PC) – October 29
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

The classic Plants vs. Zombies returns in glorious HD! The original battle between Plants and Zombies is back – bigger, brighter, and crazier than ever before. EA Play members can revisit the epic backyard battles that started it all, now with new levels and more.

Terrible Lizards (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 29
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with XBOX Game Pass! Terrible Lizards, a horror parkour game, is the debut game from WDR Studios, founded by the creators behind JTMusic. It is a love letter to the games and media the team grew up with and sees players escaping threats using parkour moves. Rather than fighting back, players rely on fast, fluid movement.

Pit of Goblin (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – November 3
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

In this online horror co-op, you play as a scrappy goblin, scavenging dungeons, dodging traps, and fleeing monsters to feed the Goblin King-Queen. Team up with goblin pals, or go rogue, as you dive deep and cause chaos! Fail to feed them, and you might be the next meal!

Game Updates

The Elder Scrolls Online: Season 2 Update: Echoes of Skyrim – October 21

Return to the homeland of the Nords in Western Skyrim, stand alone in two perilous solo dungeons, enjoy player-requested gameplay improvements, and unlock monstrous new rewards with the free and premium versions of the Season Two Tamriel Tome- available until January 27!

In-Game Benefits

The Finals: Welcome Pack – Available Now
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, PC Game Pass

The Finals, a free-to-play, team-based, first-person shooter is the ultimate virtual combat game show. Get the Welcome Pack which includes 500 Multibucks, a 25% Bonus XP boost, and the “Pretty Hostile” set featuring a weapon skin, an emote, a spray, and an outfit. Only available while the season lasts!

World of Tanks Modern Armor: XP Stock – November 3
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, PC Game Pass

Stay ahead of the competition with this exclusive bundle, specially crafted for Game Pass subscribers! It’s packed with powerful rewards that will help you dominate even the toughest challenges! Here’s what you’ll find in this bundle: 20 Enhanced Repair Kits, 20 Enhanced Med Kits, 20 Automatic Fire Suppressors.

Leaving October 31

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Don’t want the fun to end? Save on these games now before they leave Game Pass!

• Day of the Tentacle Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Dead Static Drive (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Deep Rock Galactic (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Full Throttle Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Grim Fandango Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Wartales (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Wildgate (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Leaving November 10

• Football Manager 26 (PC)
• Football Manager 26 – Console Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Plenty to keep you busy, assuming your backlog hasn’t already achieved sentience. We’ll be back with more games soon, so stay tuned and we’ll see you next time!

_{Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.}

Editor’s Note (October 20): Following its announcement during the ID@XBOX x IGN October 2026 Showcase, we’ve included Mouthwashing as part of our upcoming games coming soon to XBOX Game Pass.

The post Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, The Séance of Blake Manor, and More appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s new DMZ mode is here! Following the release of Campaign Early Access last week, Modern Warfare 4’s new action extraction mode is arriving early ahead of its global launch of October 23 for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, Steam, Battle.net, and other platforms.

If you’re unfamiliar, DMZ is the new extraction mode available exclusively with Modern Warfare 4 where you’ll deploy to the massive Hajin map, gather valuable resources, and extract before enemy forces eliminate your Operator. Success will depend on not only what you bring into each deployment, but how you recruit, develop, and protect your Operators. This guide will cover many of the starting basics to help get your boots on the ground and into action. Let’s get started.

Recruitment and Preparing for Active Duty

Your first task: Assign an Operator to one of your Active Duty slots – the Operator you pick is locked to that slot until they are dismissed by you in favor of a replacement recruit. Starting out, you’ll begin with two Active Duty Operator slots, and another unlocks as you progress through your DMZ Player Levels.

When building out your Operator roster, a key strategy you want to consider is to have multiple specialized roles and builds — by having Operators built around different playstyles, you can select the one best suited to each deployment.

Operators are more than cosmetic: each is an individual character who grows stronger by surviving deployments and earning DMZ XP. As you progress an Operator, their Dog Tag quality improves and you earn Trait Points to spend across three Trait Trees, enabling specialized builds for different playstyles.

Collect ’em All: Dog Tags

Every Active Duty Operator carries a Dog Tag that can be removed after elimination by an enemy combatant during a DMZ deployment. Dog Tag quality rises as the Operator progresses, completes exfils, and is the key to earning Traits. Any Dog Tags you collect will appear in your Loadout profile, which records the Dog Tag type, any bounty on the Operator, and the human Operators you’ve eliminated.

The Cost of Recovery: MIA Operators

If your Operator is eliminated during a deployment, they become MIA (Missing in Action) and cannot deploy until recovered or dismissed. To recover them, open their profile at the FOB’s Active Duty station and pay the required DMZ Cash from your in-game Bank. The cost increases with the number of invested Trait Points, making experienced Operators more expensive to recover.

A recovered Operator keeps all selected Traits but loses their gear, so you must equip a new Loadout before deploying again. Alternatively, you can dismiss the MIA Operator and recruit a replacement. This creates a risk/reward: the longer an Operator survives, the more specialized and valuable they become, raising the stakes of every deployment. Don’t worry if you run out of equipment; you’re able to secure a Free Loadout every time you deploy, if you need one.

Understanding the Three Trait Trees

Every Operator who completes a successful exfil will earn one Trait Point. Those points can then be spent across the Warfighter, Scout, and Survivalist Trait Trees, and sustained deployments in Hajin lets an Operator develop across more than one tree.

After leveling up your Dog Tag in DMZ by acquiring enough XP, you’ll automatically “bank” one Trait point that you can choose to either save up or spend at any time through the Operators Station and the Traits menu. Though you might want to keep these Trait Points until you can better understand which traits you really want to invest in later, most might prefer to receive a Trait benefit as soon as possible.

The first point unlocks the initial Trait in a selected tree; later points can advance that tree or be used to unlock the other two trees. Once chosen, a Trait is locked in, and alternatives on the same branch cannot be obtained. There is a total of 66 Traits to unlock, but any given Operator can earn no more than 18. Increased Trait investment raises the cost of recovering that Operator if they become MIA.

Our Favorite Traits

Most Traits are hidden and randomized and, according to Call of Duty Blog, there is considerable variety as Operators progress. Traits can eventually become permanent through DMZ Prestige (more on that in a minute), but here’s some of the favorites we’ve learned about and ways you could employ them, organized by tree:

Warfighter Traits

Great if you want to strengthen your direct engagement and survivability in the DMZ.

• Adrenaline Burst resets Tactical Sprint after a kill.
• Equipment Professional slowly recharges equipped Lethals and Tacticals.
• Combat Resistance reduces explosive damage and the effects of enemy Tacticals.
• Viper Sense warns you when enemy players are nearby.
• Quick Fix reduces the health-regeneration delay after killing an enemy Operator or hostile.
• Possum provides a once-per-match self-revive from death.

Scout Traits

A great Tree to invest in if you want to create an agile Looter who can grab supplies and exfil quickly to help acquire ingredients back at the FOB. These are focused on resource acquisition, detection, and field preparation.

• AI Drop Rare Loot gives AI enemies a small chance to drop Rare loot.
• Extra Loot from Hostiles lets enemies occasionally drop an Uncommon printer ingredient (with a small chance for a Rare).
• Extra Container Loot provides a chance to find an additional item in containers.
• Thermal Padding hides you from UAVs.
• UAV Upgrade converts a UAV into a longer-lasting Advanced UAV.
• Overwatch prevents UAV Towers from expiring.

Survivalist Traits

These are great all-rounder Traits that improve upkeep, recovery, and exfil options.

• Metabolism slowly regenerates lost health sections.
• Faster Revive increases revive speed.
• Consumable Duration Increase extends consumable effects and gear durability.
• Impact Smokes releases smoke when you’re downed.
• Free Tourniquet prevents the first tourniquet used in a match from reducing health.
• Numb the Pain applies a painkiller effect on revives.
• Die Hard automatically calls an exfil when you’re near the pick-up point and grants unlimited bleed-out time while in Last Stand.

Reaching Prestige

Once your Active Duty Operator has earned 18 Trait Points, obtained the required DMZ Cash to cover the cost, and equipped the required collection of rare gear, you may Prestige them – this is separate from the Standard Level 1–55 Player Progression and tied to a specific Operator, giving you a long-term path for developing them across many deployments. Just make sure any items you want to keep are removed from the Backpack because its contents will be wiped!

When all requirements are met, all Trait Points are reset. In exchange, that Operator receives a Permanent Prestige Trait that is randomly selected from the available Trait pool and belongs only to the Operator who earned it. It remains on that Operator even if they are dismissed, moved to another Active Duty slot, or given a different Operator Skin. It’s a permanent foundation on which you can rebuild the Operator and gradually develop a roster of highly specialized characters.

After your first Prestige, you can earn Trait Points again for another Prestige – just know that each successive level requires more valuable equipment and a greater DMZ Cash cost to qualify for that additional Prestige level.

DMZ rewards smart preparation just as much as sharp shooting. Develop Operators for different roles, study the Trait Trees, utilize points as you acquire them, and weigh the recovery cost before risking your most experienced build on the battlefield. With every successful exfil, you’ll move closer to Prestige and a Permanent Trait that can shape future deployments. Gear up and we’ll see you in Hajin!

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4 – Vault Edition

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$99.99

Pre-order

Pre-order loyalty discount for previous Call of Duty® owners: 10% off Modern Warfare® 4 Vault Edition for eligible players*. Pre-order any digital edition and receive: – Inner Circuit Weapon Blueprint – Unlock the Inner Circuit Weapon Blueprint in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4 at launch. Show off the Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition on Xbox Series X|S only** – Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty®: Warzone***. Also available in Modern Warfare® 4 at launch: — Hunter Killer Operator Skin – Immediately unlock the Hunter Killer Operator Skin — Gilded Pearl Camo Pack – Immediately unlock the Moonlit Pearl weapon camo. Plus, get access to unlock the Gilded Ruin weapon camo. – Campaign Early Access, starting October 16th**** – DMZ Early Access, starting October 20th**** The Vault Edition includes: – Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4 – Hostile Alliance Operator Pack — 4 Operator Skins: Price, Valeria, Ghost, Blix – Special Forces Operator Pack — 4 Operator Skins representing the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and South Korea, each with voice packs in their local languages – Signature Weapon Collection — 5 Signature Weapons – BlackCell (1 Season)***** — Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more – DMZ Deployment Bonus — Additional bonus content in DMZ War erupts on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches a full-scale invasion that threatens to destabilize the world in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4. A young squad of South Korean soldiers fight to survive on the collapsing front lines, while half a world away a vengeful Captain Price wages a personal war from the shadows as he stays one step ahead of those hunting him. As Price’s off-book mission collides with the forces behind the invasion, the war spreads beyond anyone’s control. Modern Warfare® 4 pushes the series into darker and more dangerous territory, where consequence and escalation bring long-running storylines to a powerful and emotional breaking point. – Campaign drops players into trench warfare in Korea, close-quarters combat in New York, high-octane chases through Paris, SAS night raids in Mumbai, and city-wide assaults to reclaim occupied territory. – Multiplayer delivers grounded, precise combat where fluid movement, player choice, and greater control define every engagement. – In DMZ, players operate as an off-the-books asset behind enemy lines, where every extraction run into contested territory forces hard choices about which objectives to pursue, what to secure, and when to get out. Available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC, not available on Xbox One. Not on Xbox Game Pass this year. Online Multiplayer requires a Game Pass Essential subscription (sold separately). TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm. *Based on MSRP, discount applied at checkout. To qualify, must own and have played one of the following Call of Duty® titles on the same Xbox account as being used for current Pre-order: Modern Warfare® (2019), Modern Warfare® 2 Campaign Remastered (2020), Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard, Modern Warfare® II (2022), Modern Warfare® III (2023), Black Ops 6, or Black Ops 7. Offer subject to change, applies to Pre-orders only. Offer valid until 23rd October 2026. Visit support.activision.com/mw4 for full details. **Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4 on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox on PC required to redeem. The Inner Circuit Weapon Blueprint features an Xbox 25th Anniversary visual treatment when used on Xbox Series X|S. On all other supported platforms, the Blueprint will appear with its authentic mil-spec visual treatment. Must be redeemed by October 23rd, 2027. ***Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox PC required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 23rd, 2027. ****Actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences. Actual platform availability and start date subject to change. *****BlackCell, Battle Pass, Call of Duty® Points and Tier Skips will be accessible in Modern Warfare® 4 upon availability of the Season 1 Battle Pass in-game. Redemption applies to one Season of the Modern Warfare® 4 Battle Pass only. Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate. Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Modern Warfare® 4. Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates. For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com. ©/TM/® 2026 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software ('Id Technology'). Id Technology © 1999-2026 Id Software, Inc.

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Pre-order any digital edition and receive: – Inner Circuit Weapon Blueprint – Unlock the Inner Circuit Weapon Blueprint in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4 at launch. Show off the Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition on Xbox Series X|S only* – Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty®: Warzone**. Also available in Modern Warfare® 4 at launch: — Hunter Killer Operator Skin – Immediately unlock the Hunter Killer Operator Skin — Gilded Pearl Camo Pack – Immediately unlock the Moonlit Pearl weapon camo. Plus, get access to unlock the Gilded Ruin weapon camo. – Campaign Early Access, starting October 16th*** – DMZ Early Access, starting October 20th*** War erupts on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches a full-scale invasion that threatens to destabilize the world in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4. A young squad of South Korean soldiers fight to survive on the collapsing front lines, while half a world away a vengeful Captain Price wages a personal war from the shadows as he stays one step ahead of those hunting him. As Price’s off-book mission collides with the forces behind the invasion, the war spreads beyond anyone’s control. Modern Warfare® 4 pushes the series into darker and more dangerous territory, where consequence and escalation bring long-running storylines to a powerful and emotional breaking point. – Campaign drops players into trench warfare in Korea, close-quarters combat in New York, high-octane chases through Paris, SAS night raids in Mumbai, and city-wide assaults to reclaim occupied territory. – Multiplayer delivers grounded, precise combat where fluid movement, player choice, and greater control define every engagement. – In DMZ, players operate as an off-the-books asset behind enemy lines, where every extraction run into contested territory forces hard choices about which objectives to pursue, what to secure, and when to get out. Available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC, not available on Xbox One. Not on Xbox Game Pass this year. Online Multiplayer requires a Game Pass Essential subscription (sold separately). TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm. *Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4 on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox on PC required to redeem. The Inner Circuit Weapon Blueprint features an Xbox 25th Anniversary visual treatment when used on Xbox Series X|S. On all other supported platforms, the Blueprint will appear with its authentic mil-spec visual treatment. Must be redeemed by October 23rd, 2027. **Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox PC required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 23rd, 2027. ***Actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences. Actual platform availability and start date subject to change. Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate. Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Modern Warfare® 4. Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates. For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com. ©/TM/® 2026 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software ('Id Technology'). Id Technology © 1999-2026 Id Software, Inc.

The post Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – How to Get Started as an Operator in DMZ appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Summary

• Magenta Down is an atmospheric sci-fi adventure about traversing a hostile exoplanet to save yourself and your missing crew.
• The developers provide a glimpse into their design goals and approach.
• Magenta Down is coming in 2027 to XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC.

Magenta Down is designed around a simple premise: you and your crew have crashed and are now scattered across the surface of a harsh, remote exoplanet. With limited supplies and surrounded by hostile terrain, can you find your crew and escape?

We wanted to create an atmospheric journey about moving forward and enduring the consequences of the decisions you make along the way. For us, that’s what makes an adventure interesting, facing difficult decisions with imperfect knowledge and living with the repercussions.

While enduring the planet’s weather and radiation, you’ll need to manage your current condition and decide where to head next. That might mean moving towards flashing lights because they often mark a downed supply pod, or the beacon of a recently rebooted antenna array in hopes of learning where the next industrial outpost is located.

Whether you’re moving across the surface or making your way through a decommissioned mining facility, these traversals can be tense. For example, getting caught in a storm will greatly increase your radiation exposure while also limiting your visibility. As your Geiger counter crackles and your radiation meter ticks upward, it becomes increasingly important to be on the lookout for signs of creatures, valuable supplies, and places where you can shelter from a storm.

In addition to the environment, the planet’s creatures offer a distinct challenge. If aggravated, they are extremely fast and dangerous. Combat, however, is about standing your ground and picking the right moment to attack, rather than precision aiming or complex button inputs. We like the balance this creates between tension and accomplishment, while still being accessible.

Over the course of the journey, we provide various ways to learn about the challenges ahead, prepare for them, and mitigate the threats you face. Whether that means gathering information from a crash location or facility before you journey out, making strategic use of scarce supplies, or simply being careful and observant, we’ve worked hard to build a concise, focused journey that rewards thoughtful and deliberate gameplay.

Magenta Down is coming in 2027, and we’re looking forward to sharing more as we get closer to release.

The post Magenta Down: A Journey Across a Hostile Exoplanet appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Summary

• Two critically-acclaimed CRITICAL REFLEX indie hits are coming to XBOX just in time for Halloween: Arctic Eggs is available today, while Mouthwashing arrives on October 29.
• Mouthwashing has become one of the most acclaimed indie horror games of recent years, selling more than 800,000 copies on Steam and taking home multiple awards.
  No, I’m Not a Human, the viral paranoia horror that has sold more than one million copies on PC, is coming to XBOX and Game Pass in 2027. 

The nights are getting darker, the weather is getting harsher… Can you feel it? Halloween is almost here, and there’s never been a better excuse to turn off the lights, lock the doors, and play something that fills your head with dread and despair.

Luckily, we have you covered. From doomed spaceships and apocalyptic paranoia to Antarctic cooking, CRITICAL REFLEX delivers all kinds of indie weirdness.

In today’s ID@XBOX and IGN Showcase, we revealed that three more of our unconventional indie hits are coming to XBOX, with two arriving just in time for Halloween, and one more bringing its own particular brand of paranoia to the platform in 2027.

Critically-acclaimed psychological horror hit Mouthwashing is coming to XBOX Series X|S and Game Pass at the end of the month – don’t miss one of the most talked-about indie horror games of recent years.

Meanwhile, Arctic Eggs is on XBOX Series X|S today, and asks a much more important question: can you make an omelette out of eggs, bullets and beer bottles?

And then there’s No, I’m Not a Human (coming in 2027), where the end of the world is happening outside your front door, and absolutely everyone looks suspicious.

So get ready for plenty of terrifying gameplay on XBOX.

Prepare for One of Indie Horror’s Most Talked-About Nightmares

There are horror games that scare you. And then there’s Mouthwashing.

Developer Wrong Organ’s psychological horror hit takes place aboard doomed space freighter The Tulpar, where five crew members are left stranded with dwindling supplies, no hope of rescue, and plenty of secrets.

Since launching on PC in 2024, Mouthwashing has sold more than 800,000 copies and picked up multiple awards, including Best Narrative and Players’ Choice at the Horror Game Awards.

Explore the dying ship, uncover the crew’s fractured history, and piece together exactly what happened aboard the Tulpar.

The deeper you go, the harder it becomes to tell delusion from reality – and the more uncomfortable the answers get.

Whether you’ve already experienced Mouthwashing or somehow managed to miss out on the PC phenomenon, October 29 is your chance to find out what all the screaming is about.

Mouthwashing launches on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX On PC, XBOX One, and XBOX Game Pass on October 29, 2026.

Can You Fry Eggs On Top of Mount Everest?

Arctic Eggs has scrambled its way onto XBOX Series X|S today!

The Water Museum’s surreal cooking game drops you into a bizarre Antarctic city where eggs, beer bottles, bullets, and pretty much anything else you can find can become an ingredient.

It’s strange, funny, surprisingly satisfying, and makes you really appreciate how much precision and effort goes into frying an egg (or any remotely egg-shaped object).

And there’s no waiting around to play it. Arctic Eggs is available now on XBOX Series X|S.

Knock Knock… Who’s There?

The apocalypse has transformed the outside world into a deadly wasteland, leaving you with one simple rule:

Stay inside.

Unfortunately, people keep knocking.

Interrogate your visitors, look for signs that something isn’t quite right, and decide who gets to come inside. Just make sure you choose correctly.

Developer Trioskaz’s viral paranoia horror No, I’m Not A Human has already sold more than one million copies on PC, and is coming to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, and XBOX Game Pass in 2027.

Your Next Obsession Awaits 

Whether you’re looking for psychological horror, apocalyptic paranoia, or surreal cooking, CRITICAL REFLEX has something suitably strange waiting for you on XBOX.

Arctic Eggs is available now on XBOX Series X|S.

Mouthwashing arrives October 29, day one with XBOX Game Pass.

No, I’m Not a Human is coming to XBOX and Game Pass in 2027.

And that’s not all. Militsioner is also making its way to XBOX and Game Pass in 2027. For a closer look at the colossal policeman, surreal town, and everything else waiting inside, check out its dedicated XBOX Wire article.

Whatever your idea of a good Halloween game, CRITICAL REFLEX has something suitably strange waiting for you. CRITICAL REFLEX TIME is also now live, offering an exclusive look at some of our other upcoming games coming to XBOX – catch up on the showcase and see what’s next. 

Happy Halloween!

The post Three CRITICAL REFLEX Hits Are Coming to XBOX, And One Arrives Today  appeared first on XBOX Wire.

The show included the reveal of A Game About Digging a Hole Together, the sequel to the popular subterranean sandbox adventure, and Magenta Down, a new sci-fi adventure. We also announced that several CRITICAL REFLEX titles are heading to XBOX soon, including the frosty cooking sim, Arctic Eggs, which is available today! 

Many of the ID@XBOX games featured during today’s showcase will also support XBOX Play Anywhere at launch – so you can enjoy them across console and PC at no additional cost. 

Check out the full recap of everything shown during the event below! 

A Game About Digging a Hole Together 

Revealed during today’s ID@XBOX and IGN show, A Game About Digging A Hole Together is a minimalist experience about digging a hole at the beach, now with friends. Dig together, collect resources, sell them, upgrade your equipment and search for a promised treasure buried deep beneath the sand. A Game About Digging A Hole Together is heading to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass on December 4, 2026. 

Chronoscript: The Endless End 

Chronoscript: The Endless End is an innovative, exploration-based action-adventure game comprised of two worlds: a 3D rendered grand residence littered with thousands of manuscript pages, and the 2D pen-and-ink illustrated worlds within them. Face off against the Ruined, twisted remnants of those who lost their lives in the waking world. Grow stronger through exploration and battle, and immerse yourself in the winding narrative of the Immortal Vampire and her Editor. A unique approach to spatial perspective awaits you. Chronoscript: The Endless End arrives summer 2027 for XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC. 

Croak 

Tongue-grapple and pinball-bounce the frog prince across levels to reach the Witch’s Banquet in this hand-drawn 2D precision platformer. Each whimsical world has its own wacky boss, hidden collectibles, and a unique traversal ability. Hungry for a little competition? Take on your friends and the fastest frogs in the world on the online speedrunning leaderboard. CROAK will be available March 2027 for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, day one with Game Pass, and supports XBOX Play Anywhere. 

CRITICAL REFLEX Montage 

Three unconventional, yet critically acclaimed indie hits from CRITICAL REFLEX are coming to XBOX, with two titles heading to Game Pass and one available today for purchase.  

Arctic Eggs: Make an omelette out of beer bottles, bullets and cigarettes in this dystopian, physics-and-patience-driven frying sim set in a surreal Antarctic city. Oh, and there are eggs too. Available on XBOX Series X|S today. 

Mouthwashing: Take responsibility for the dying crew of a shipwrecked space freighter in this psychological horror drama. Coming to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX On PC, XBOX One, and XBOX Game Pass on October 29, 2026. 

No, I’m Not a Human: Interrogate door-knocking strangers to spot deadly shape-shifting impostors in an apocalyptic anxiety thriller. Coming to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, and XBOX Game Pass in 2027. 

Learn more about what CRITICAL REFLEX is bringing to XBOX in our deep dive here. 

Drill Keeper 

Play as a heroic Drill Keeper in this deck-building roguelike siege defense game as you travel the galaxy securing vital resources for your people. As a dutiful symbol of the future, you’ll build fortresses around your mining operations to protect them from the dangers lurking in the depths of distant planets, designing labyrinthine pathways and traps to stall and bewilder the enemy. Build powerful synergies in your deck as it grows over a run, optimize your dig strategy to acquire resources for immediate and future use, and experiment with a multitude of heroes and factions. Drill Keeper launches summer 2027 for XBOX on PC and Game Pass. 

Graytail 

Graytail is a mystery action-adventure in a 2.5D pixel-art world. A famous pilot has vanished somewhere in the Pacific. A detective with a headache that never stops takes the case, with the pilot’s daughter at his side. Grab your cane, get on your motorbike, and uncover the island’s secrets. The deeper you dig, the less you can trust. Greytail launches November 2027 for XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC, and will support XBOX Play Anywhere. 

Love is a Roguelite 

Love is a Roguelite (or LIAR for short) unveiled its world premiere trailer, delivering a unique hybrid where turn-based tactics meet deckbuilders and dating sims, set within a procedurally generated love story. Powered by the proprietary LoveSync system where your choices matter, you’ll manage relationships alongside tactical card combat, utilizing multiple character classes and exploring 16 distinct romantic pairings across diverse gender and species variations.  

You’ll need to complete multiple successful runs to reveal the complete story when Love is a Roguelite launches in Fall 2027 for XBOX Series X|S and XBOX PC.

Magenta Down

From the creators of Unto The End, Magenta Down is an atmospheric sci-fi adventure set on a harsh, remote exoplanet. Endure injury and radiation exposure with scarce supplies as you search for a way to save yourself and your crew. Magenta Down is coming to XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC in early 2027 – learn more from the developers in our deep dive.

Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game 

 Clock in for a sinister roguelike deckbuilder where you’ll build your deck, push your luck, and combine powerful “synergies” to tip the odds in your favour. Every choice is an opportunity to demonstrate your value. With Matt Mercer providing the voice of Mr. Magpie, your deeply unsettling host, you can look forward to a workplace experience where nothing is quite as it seems. It’s just a harmless card game.  

Mr Magpie’s Harmless Card Game is coming to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass in early 2027, and will support XBOX Play Anywhere. 

Mr. Records 

Mr. Records is an uplifting adventure where every vinyl transports you into a world of memories and emotion, where you will jump, slide, and move though psychedelic landscapes in time with the music. Alongside his loyal dog Buzz, George welcomes a colourful cast of characters to his record store each day. As new records are unlocked, each sale deepens his connection with customers, uncovering heartfelt stories, revealing important life lessons, and forging lasting friendships along the way.   

Mr Records is coming to XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC in spring 2027. 

Paper Shredder 

Shred your company’s paperwork to earn a $1,000,000 payout. Paper Shredder is an incremental game where a sheet-after-sheet grind scales into mass document destruction. Shred, sweep, upgrade, and cut down tower-high piles of confidential records to uncover what’s buried beneath. If you want the job, Paper Shredder is coming to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and XBOX Play Anywhere this winter! 

Red Kiss 

In Red Kiss, you’ll dispatch mysterious vampire spies and uncover the dangerous thrills of Cold War Berlin. The house’s alluring leader, Daddy, gave you a taste of his team, alongside a first look at the recently resurrected Fritz. You’ll be able to fulfill your darkest impulses as you tap into their powers, gain your agents’ trust, and manipulate your way through this (blood)thirsty tactical narrative RPG. Red Kiss is coming soon to XBOX Series X|S, will arrive day one on Game Pass, and supports XBOX Play Anywhere. 

Rustown 

Five years after the “idiot virus” pandemic, many survivors live with lasting cognitive difficulties. Pushed out of society, they have gathered in Rustown. Jian comes to the city after receiving a letter from her father, who disappeared three years ago and whom she thought was dead. In this story-driven stealth adventure, players explore Rustown, avoid danger without fighting, and uncover clues while getting to know its residents. Jian’s search reveals conflict and prejudice, but also people who care for one another. Developed by Plotrick, Rustown is coming to XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC on June 30, 2027, with XBOX Play Anywhere support. 

Scramble Knights Online 

Adventure together with your friends in this MMO-lite action RPG! Explore the shared online kingdom of Terracott as a knight-in-training. Work together to take on quests, conquer dungeons, slay monsters, discover rare loot, and return home to forge powerful new gear before setting out on your next quest. Scramble Knights Online launches October 26, 2026 for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass. 

Shrek 2 Remastered

DreamWorks’ Shrek 2 Remastered is now available for pre-order on XBOX Series X|S. 

The cult-classic, button-mashing co-op adventure is back with all your favorite characters, improved graphics, and new features. Create timeless snapshots using the new Photo Mode and unlock cheats in Cheat Mode to make your playthrough a seamless experience. Journey through the fairytale kingdom of Far Far Away from Shrek’s swamp to Fiona’s castle and everywhere in between, in a classic action-adventure experience inspired by the DreamWorks Animation movie. 

Shrek 2 Remastered arrives on XBOX Series X|S November 10, 2026. Get up to 20% off the pre-order with XBOX Game Pass (non-members receive a 10% discount) now through November 9. 

VANRAN 

VANRAN is a dark fantasy action RPG focused on brutal boss encounters and intense close-range combat. Fight deadly enemies, climb colossal monsters, strike their weak points, and bring them down. Cut through blood and steel, rise from the depths, and start your rebellion again. Vanran is coming to XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC in early 2027. 

Waveling Island

Waveling Island is a cozy creature-collecting sim set on a beautiful, hand-drawn pixel-art island packed full of mysterious creatures called Wavelings. Craft, battle, make friends, explore and uncover the island’s secrets when Waveling Island comes to XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC in early 2027.  

The Wolf Among Us Remaster 

The Big Bad Wolf is back. Telltale’s The Wolf Among Us Remastered brings Fabletown back with a new story trailer that gives a first look at Bigby’s redesigned werewolf form. The definitive edition of Telltale’s acclaimed detective thriller remasters Bigby’s first investigation with enhanced visuals, upgraded animation and audio, an all-new Noir Mode, behind-the-scenes bonus content, and playable deleted scenes restored from the original 2013 production. The Wolf Among Us Remastered launches digitally October 29, 2026 on XBOX Series X|S and XBOX One. 

ZERO PARADES: Director’s Cut 

ZERO PARADES: Director’s Cut, ZA/UM’s award-winning espionage RPG, is coming to XBOX! Play as Hershel Wilk, a brilliant, burnt-out spy recalled for one last shot at redemption. The definitive edition includes around 40,000 words of new story, Backstage Mode and full English voice-over. ZERO PARADES: Director’s Cut arrives on Xbox Series X|S and XBOX on PC on November 3. 

The post ID@XBOX x IGN Showcase Recap: All the News and Announcements appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Summary

• Explore the new Woodpile adventure area and face returning Termites, new O.G.R.R. variants, and the Centipede boss.
• Saddle up on the new Potato Beetle Buggy, give your base a new look with Painting and the Splotcher, and upgrade weapons and armor to higher Tiers using the new Bismuth resource and Yoking Press.
• Discover new SCA.B Themes, collectible figurines, stations, and more throughout Brookhollow Park.

Survive the Rot and Ruin Update

Brookhollow Park is getting a little more rotten. The Rot and Ruin Update expands Grounded 2 with a new area to explore, dangerous creatures to face, another Buggy to saddle up on, and new ways to customize both your gear and your home away from home.

Explore the Woodpile

A new adventure awaits in the Woodpile, where towering structures and winding passages have become home to a familiar threat. Termites are back, including Workers, Soldiers, the mighty Termite King, and new O.G.R.R. variants. But these aren’t exactly the Termites you remember. Keep an eye out for new attacks and some particularly strange behavior as you make your way deeper into their territory.

And Termites aren’t the biggest thing lurking among the rot. One of the community’s most requested creatures is finally crawling into the Park. Prepare to face the Centipede, a formidable new boss with plenty of legs and even more reasons to run.

Saddle Up on the Potato Beetle

Need some backup? The Potato Beetle Buggy is ready to roll. Bigger than the Ladybug Buggy and built for close-range combat, this Potato Beetle Buggy can unleash a spread of projectiles against creatures in front of it and use its Healing Roar to help keep you in the fight. It can also haul resources and contribute materials to blueprints while you’re out building across the Park.

Paint the Park

Your base, your colors. Painting gives builders a new way to personalize their creations by crafting paint and putting it to use with a new paintball gun we are calling the Splotcher. Walls, floors, roofs, stairs, doors, and other structures can take on a fresh coat of color, giving you even more ways to make your corner of Brookhollow Park your own.

Take Your Gear Further

The Fall Update also introduces a new way to keep your favorite equipment growing alongside you. Weapons and armor can be upgraded to higher Tiers using Bismuth, a new resource connected to the strange forces of Raw Science beneath the Park. Gather it, refine it, and put it to work at the new Yoking Press to make your equipment even stronger.

And there’s still more to discover, including new SCA.B Themes, collectible miniatures, new stations, and more when Rot and Ruin arrives in Grounded 2 this fall.

Grounded 2 (XBOX Game Preview) is available now for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass. Also available on Steam through Early Access and PlayStation 5. Version 1.0 will arrive in 2027.

Grounded 2 (Game Preview)

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆ 3870

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. Survive a sprawling open world alone or in co-op with friends. Craft weapons, forge armor, and build bases while exploring the park on your trusty Buggy mounts. Unravel hidden mysteries and face unexpected threats. But something else is out there—and it hasn’t forgotten you. Shrunk to the size of an ant, you’ll find once-familiar spaces turned into a sprawling, uncharted frontier. Survive alone or in co-op with friends, crafting weapons, forging armor, and building bases as you explore manmade playgrounds overgrown by nature. Traverse this new realm on trusty Buggy mounts—your capable allies—and uncover the mysteries lurking beneath bright colors and towering structures. But stay wary: something else is out there, and it hasn’t forgotten you. Survive, Adapt, Overcome The world is relentless, but so are you. Shape your adventure with unique archetypes, each offering distinct abilities to match your playstyle. Whether you rely on precision, cunning, or sheer strength, you’ll need every advantage to survive against the threats lurking in the park. Stronger Together The perils of the park are daunting alone, but with friends, every challenge becomes an adventure. Work together to build, fight, and uncover the secrets buried beneath the grass. Whether you’re facing danger side by side or continuing your journey in a shared world, survival is always better with allies. Because Walking is Bogus They scurry, they fight, and now—they help you survive. Hatch, raise, and ride your own insect friends – Buggies! Saddle up and traverse through the park, fight on them or alongside them in battle, or use them to gather resources and build your base. The right partner could mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving. A Shadow That Follows You The threat is always there—watching, learning, waiting. You don’t know where it’s coming from, only that it never leaves. The deeper you dig, the closer it gets. Some mysteries should stay buried, but it’s too late now. It knows you’re looking. And it’s ready. Every answer drags you deeper, every step invites something closer. You were never alone. You thought you were in control. You were wrong.

The post Grounded 2: 100 Reasons to Run in the Rot and Ruin Update appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Summary

• Gauntlet mode arrives in Fountains.
• Tips and tricks to survive the ultimate challenge.
• Fountains and other Crunching Koalas titles on sale today.

So, what exactly is the Gauntlet Mode? Think of it as the ultimate proving ground for warriors who crave a real challenge. Originally designed on PC to accommodate the most demanding souls-like connoisseurs, it’s now arriving on XBOX just after the console version’s premiere.

It’s your turn to test your mettle!

Built for the most demanding players, the Gauntlet gives you something to sink your teeth into after the credits roll. It’s a place to push your skills to the limit, and emerge victorious… or not at all.

A bit confused about what Fountains is like? This gameplay trailer should clear things up.

Entering the Gauntlet

Along the main story, a new character appears: a very literal one. The NPC who runs the show looks exactly like a medieval gauntlet protecting a noble knight’s hand in combat. However, first you’ll need to prove you’re worthy of entrance. After defeating the final boss, have a chat with the gauntlet keeper and the challenge begins.

The Run

Here’s the deal. Fountains has ten boss fights, and the Gauntlet throws every single one of them at you back-to-back. If you own the Shattered Shape expansion, you’ll be able to choose that variant of the Gauntlet and face those bosses too. Each boss stalks their own arena, and every victory teleports you straight to the next showdown.

You’re not walking into this unprepared, though. Bring in your equipment and stock up on consumables. After your third fight, you’ll land in a rest area. Recharge your healing flasks, swap your gear and take a breath before the next round. The same safe haven awaits after the sixth fight, and again after the ninth. Then comes the tenth and final fight – the final boss of the game.

And since every consumable you use during a run is returned to you when it ends, you can spend them without a second thought.

Tips & Tricks

A few tips from the team before you dive in.

Treat every run like a lab. The Gauntlet is a trial you can repeat as often as you like, so use that freedom. Test strange builds, try bold strategies and learn what works.

Pack more than one loadout. Every boss has its own tricks, and the build that melts one might crumble against another. Bring a few sets and switch them up at the rest areas.

Spend your consumables, but spend them smart. They return after the run, but that doesn’t make them infinite during it. Don’t hoard them for a “later” that might never come. Use them boldly and make every one count.

That’s the Gauntlet! Keep a cool head, keep trying and don’t let a defeat shake you. Only the best will pass the test.

Haven’t picked up the game yet? There’s never been a better time. Fountains: Extended Edition (containing the base game and the DLC) is now 20% off, so you can jump in and take on the challenge yourself!

On the Go? We’ve Got You.

Love gaming wherever you are? Other XBOX Play Anywhere compatible titles from Crunching Koalas are on sale too, all with a -50% discount!

Heading Out – Hit the highway in a genre-bending road trip adventure that fuses high-speed racing with narrative storytelling. Outrun your fears across a mythic America, balancing roguelike routes and limited resources, all set to a jazz-and-rock Americana soundtrack and a comic-inspired art style.

Kamikaze Lassplanes– A visual novel and an arcade shoot-’em-up in one. Meet Alba and Hannah, charismatic Lassplanes who transform into deadly war planes you pilot. Your story-branching choices decide the fate of the war, and of your heart.

Once Upon a Jester – A musical comedy adventure starring best friends Sok and Jester, who plot to steal the Royal Diamond by becoming the kingdom’s best improv theatre act. Perform improvised shows, befriend a cast of wacky, fully voiced characters and sing your heart out to an original indie soundtrack.

Want to give Gauntlet mode a try yourself? The Gauntlet update is live now in Fountains!

FOUNTAINS: Extended Edition

Crunching Koalas

☆☆☆☆☆ 11

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

The Fountain of Youth is unearthed – but the One Kingdom hides far more than one secret. Face brutal, precise soulslike combat across a sprawling, interconnected world, then descend into the forsaken Vainlands with Shattered Shape, where new foes, weapons, skills and a new land await. This bundle contains everything you need to conquer the One Kingdom. – Full soulslike action-RPG + Shattered Shape expansion – A seamless, labyrinthine world – now even more sprawlin with the uncharted southern Vainlands – New enemies, weapons, and armor to master alongside the base arsenal – Uncover the entire truth of the Usurper's Prophecy, start to finish

The post Think You’ve Beaten Fountains? Prove it in the Gauntlet appeared first on XBOX Wire.