On October 17th, Xbox will host its highly anticipated Partner Showcase, featuring exciting announcements and trailers from a variety of third-party developers.
With a promise of "no fluff, all games," this event is set to deliver a concentrated dose of gaming news from industry giants like Sega, 505 Games, and Remedy Entertainment.
Event Overview
Xbox Partner Preview is scheduled on Thursday, October 17, at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM UK, and will run for approximately 25 minutes.
Fans can catch the live stream on YouTube, Twitch, and LinkedIn, making it accessible to viewers in different settings, including those sneaking a peek at work.
Key Announcements
New Titles
FBC: Firebreak
Remedy Entertainment has announced "FBC: Firebreak," a three-player cooperative multiplayer FPS set in the mysterious world of "Control."
Players join the Federal Bureau of Control to combat otherworldly forces besieging its headquarters.
As Remedy's first self-published title, it will launch in 2025 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, and will be available on PC Game Pass, Game Pass Ultimate, and the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium members from day one.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
"Wuchang: Fallen Feathers" is a highly anticipated Chinese action RPG set in a mythical version of the late Ming Dynasty, and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass in 2025.
Developed by Leenzee Games and published by 505 Games, it features a protagonist named Wuchang, an amnesiac heroine battling a mysterious feathering disease.
The game blends Chinese history and mythology with Lovecraftian horror, set against the backdrop of ancient Shu lands, and incorporates both traditional and modern weaponry.
Internationally, it has garnered significant attention for its stunning visuals and unique cultural elements, with many players eagerly awaiting its 2025 release.
Subnautica 2
At the Xbox Partner Preview event, Unknown Worlds announced that "Subnautica 2," the eagerly awaited sequel to "Subnautica" and "Subnautica: Below Zero," will be available in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through the Xbox Game Preview program.
This release will be part of Xbox Game Pass from day one, allowing players to explore a new planet beyond Planet 4546B, either solo or with up to three friends in co-op multiplayer—a feature long requested by the community.
The heart-stopping trailer showcased lush new environments and fascinating creatures, promising fresh and unique experiences while maintaining the franchise's signature sense of exploration.
As with previous titles, player feedback will be instrumental in shaping "Subnautica 2," ensuring it evolves alongside its community.
The game will feature new and improved tools, vehicles, and base-building options, offering challenges both in cooperative and solo play.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
"Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii" takes the beloved Yakuza series in an exciting new direction, featuring Goro Majima, the "Mad Dog of Shimano," as he embarks on a high-seas adventure.
Announced at the Xbox Partner Preview, this game is set to release on February 21, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.
Majima, suffering from memory loss, wakes up on a beach and sets sail with a young boy named Noah, exploring lush islands and engaging in thrilling naval battles.
This installment introduces naval combat alongside the signature brawling action, with Majima switching between "Mad Dog" and "Sea Dog" fighting styles.
Players can enjoy the game solo or in co-op mode, assembling a unique crew and upgrading their ship. The game promises an over-the-top pirate adventure filled with humor, action, and a quest for legendary treasure.
The game also offers pre-order bonuses, including the addition of Ichiban Kasuga and his pet crawfish Nancy to your crew, along with special outfits. Fans can expect to see familiar faces and new characters like Queen Michelle and Raymond Law as they navigate the pirate underworld.
With its mix of naval and land-based combat, "Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii" offers a fresh take on the series, blending the chaos of the Yakuza world with the allure of pirate life.
Pre-order is available now, pricing at $59.99.
Blindfire
"Blindfire," a unique first-person shooter, is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through the Xbox Game Preview program.
Set in pitch-black arenas, this innovative game challenges players to rely on instincts, sound, and strategic use of tools to outmaneuver opponents.
Developed by Double Eleven, "Blindfire" introduces a novel twist to the FPS genre by emphasizing tactical gameplay over traditional shooting skills. Players can engage in tense team-based battles, using the Echo ability to navigate and locate targets in the dark.
As the match progresses, light gradually illuminates the arena, intensifying the action and forcing players out of hiding. With its focus on strategy and even playing fields, "Blindfire" offers a fresh and thrilling take on multiplayer shooters.
Cronos: The New Dawn
"Cronos: The New Dawn" is an intriguing new survival horror game from Bloober Team, developer of "Silent Hill 2", "The Medium," "Blair Witch," and "Layers of Fear."
Announced for Xbox Series X|S, this game set to release in 2025, and will take players on a mind-bending journey across two distinct time periods: 1980s Communist Poland and a futuristic wasteland devastated by a pandemic called The Change.
The world premiere trailer captivates with its strange imagery, including a game of chess, a massive spacesuit, and terrifying creatures.
"Cronos: The New Dawn" promises a unique blend of psychological horror and survival elements, pushing the boundaries of the genre.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire
Set for a 2025 release on Xbox Series X|S and PC, "MOUSE: P.I. For Hire" is a distinctive first-person shooter that combines the charm of 1930s classic animation with the excitement of modern action gameplay, featuring hand-drawn rubber hose animation and a retro jazz soundtrack, creating a unique monochromatic world.
Players step into the role of private investigator Jack Pepper, unraveling mysteries in the corrupt and dangerous city of Mouseburg.
With a variety of power-ups and creative weapons at their disposal, players can defeat enemies in numerous inventive ways.
The game offers expansive cityscapes to explore, from dark city streets to underground sewers, providing a rich environment for discovery.
With its unique visual style and innovative mechanics, "MOUSE: P.I. For Hire" delivers a nostalgic yet fresh gaming experience that stands out in the FPS genre.
Mistfall Hunter
"Mistfall Hunter," by Bellring Games, is a third-person action RPG that blends PvPvE extraction mechanics with a Nordic-inspired setting.
Set in a post-Ragnarök world, players become Gylden Hunters, exploring a land ravaged by the corrupting Gyldenmist.
The game emphasizes high-stakes combat where defeat means losing all progress, and success requires strategic planning.
Players can choose from classes like Mercenary and Sorcerer, each offering unique abilities, allowing for a customizable combat experience.
Both solo and cooperative play are supported, encouraging teamwork to overcome powerful foes.
With its rich narrative and atmospheric world, "Mistfall Hunter" promises a fresh take on the action RPG genre.
It will be available in 2025 on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and available soon for wishlisting on the Xbox Store, with a closed beta test upcoming.
Eternal Strands
"Eternal Strands," from Yellow Brick Games, is an action-RPG set to debut on Game Pass in Q1 2025. Developed by veterans of Dragon Age and Assassin's Creed, the game introduces players to Brynn, a Weaver on a quest to reclaim her people's cultural home.
The game features a unique magic system that allows players to creatively combine spells for strategic combat, such as freezing a dragon's wings mid-flight.
The environment itself becomes a weapon, with real-time interactions like spreading heat and cold adding depth to battles.
Players will face diverse enemies, from humanoid constructs to massive, climbable titans, using enchanted weapons crafted from defeated foes to customize their playstyle.
Exploration is a key aspect, with a world rich in secrets and fully climbable surfaces. Players can use magical abilities to create new paths and uncover the mysteries of the Enclave, a realm filled with danger and wonder.
The next-generation physics system enhances both combat and exploration, encouraging experimentation and creativity.
As players delve into the Enclave's secrets, they'll interact with a cast of characters eager to unravel the mysteries of this lost bastion of power.
Edens Zero
"Edens Zero," an action RPG based on Hiro Mashima's popular manga and anime, is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and potentially other consoles in 2025.
As Shiki Granbell, you'll embark on a cosmic journey aboard the starship Edens Zero, seeking the mythical entity known as Mother. Along the way, you'll gather a diverse crew of characters, each with unique abilities, to aid in your quest.
The game promises to capture the thrilling adventure and emotional depth of the manga, putting players in the heart of the action.
With its open-world design, players can relive the story of the manga, encountering new heroes and experiencing epic battles.
Fans of Hiro Mashima's work, including "Fairy Tail" and "Rave Master," can look forward to an exciting space adventure filled with friendship, combat, and exploration.
Wheel World
A new bicycle racing game, "Wheel World," will arrive in early 2025. Featuring a cartoony style and various bike options, it will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass.
As Kat, a young cyclist, you'll explore a stunning open world, retrieve and repair mystical Ghost Bikes, and compete in thrilling races.
You can customize your bike with endless parts, upgrade with treasures, and face elite teams and quirky rivals.
Set to a unique soundtrack by Italians Do It Better, "Wheel World" offers a relaxing yet exhilarating adventure.
Discover hidden secrets, perform The Great Shift ritual, and save the universe as you pedal through breathtaking vistas.
The Legend of Baboo
"The Legend of Baboo" is an upcoming action-adventure game for Xbox Series X|S, combining heartwarming companionship with intense combat.
Set on a mystical island, the game follows the journey of a young hero, Sepehr, and his loyal dog, Baboo, as they face a demonic invasion led by an ancient evil.
Players will explore this enchanting world, using Sepehr's wits and weapons alongside Baboo's abilities to overcome challenges and save their home.
The game features a dual hero system, allowing players to switch between Sepehr and Baboo, each with unique skills to defeat enemies, solve puzzles, and explore diverse environments.
Sepehr wields a magic staff, while Baboo uses his claws and super-barking ability in combat.
Players will traverse stunning landscapes, including dark forests, roaring waters, and frozen lands, experiencing a mix of platforming and puzzle-solving.
The dynamic combat system offers highly reactive battles, where players can dodge, roll, and strike enemies with a variety of attacks, facing off against demon guardians in thrilling boss encounters.
The game also incorporates RPG elements, enabling players to upgrade both characters through an RPG-inspired skill tree to enhance their combat abilities. Defeating bosses unlocks magical attacks, allowing players to customize their loadout to suit their playstyle.
Customization options let players dress Baboo in various outfits and ornaments collected during the adventure, ensuring he looks his best as they journey together.
The game offers difficulty options, allowing players to choose from easy, medium, or hard modes to tailor the experience to their preference.
Expansions & Updates
Alan Wake 2: The Lake House DLC
"Alan Wake 2: The Lake House" expansion is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S on October 22, diving deeper into the interconnected Remedy Universe.
In this survival horror experience, players step into the role of FBC Agent Kiran Estevez to explore the mysterious Lake House, a research facility at Cauldron Lake.
The expansion bridges the worlds of "Alan Wake 2" and "Control," introducing new horrors like "The Painted," enemies born from a living painting.
Estevez, equipped with new weapons, navigates the eerie halls to uncover dark secrets and face supernatural threats, all while connecting to the broader narrative of both games.
The expansion enriches the storyline by offering a unique perspective parallel to the main game's events, with Estevez's mission occurring alongside Saga's journey in "Alan Wake 2."
It emphasizes horror elements, akin to the main game's most terrifying sequences, and deepens the connection to "Control," teasing a stronger link to its narrative, including potential appearances by characters like Dylan Faden.
Phasmophobia Console Release
Prepare for chills and thrills as "Phasmophobia" makes its way to Xbox Series X|S on October 29, just in time for Halloween.
Known for its intense scares, this co-op horror game casts you and your friends as ghost hunters exploring haunted locations.
Armed with an array of investigative tools, you'll work together to identify the spectral entities lurking in the shadows.
Communication is key, but beware—while your team can hear your every word, so can the ghosts. Get ready to face your fears and survive the supernatural in this spine-tingling adventure.
Animal Well Console Release
"Animal Well" makes its anticipated debut on Xbox Series X|S today, captivating players with its stunning mystery-platformer experience.
Celebrated as one of the year's standout surprises, the game combines pixel-perfect traversal with a beautifully enigmatic world brimming with secrets.
Drawing inspiration from classic Metroidvanias, "Animal Well" offers a rich landscape filled with unique puzzles that reveal more depth the closer you examine them.
Editor's Comments
After watching the summary of the Xbox Partner Showcase October 2024, which do you find more interesting compared to the recent Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 and PlayStation State of Play 2024? Which upcoming game in 2025 are you most looking forward to?
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