Game Xbox Wire

Game Xbox Wire


Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids Expansion Available Now

Posted: 13 May 2021 01:00 PM PDT

Wrath of the Druids, the first major expansion for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, is out now for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Wrath of the Druids brings Eivor's saga to Ireland, where players will forge alliances with Gaelic kings, conquer forbidding ring forts, and delve into the mystery behind an ancient druidic cult known as the Children of Danu. Wrath of the Druids adds a beautiful, myth-steeped open-world region to Assassin's Creed Valhalla, encompassing Dublin and three Irish provinces, where Eivor embarks on a quest to unite Ireland's warring factions at the behest of High-King Flann Sinna.

In addition to the new region – which features such landmarks as the Hill of Tara, the Ben Bulben rock formation, and the Giant's Causeway – Wrath of the Druids adds new abilities, skills, and weapons to Eivor's arsenal. As Eivor battles the Children of Danu, along with new Irish enemy factions (not to mention more than a few mythical creatures), players can wield (and dual-wield) sickles in combat, and deploy new abilities, including smoke-bomb arrows and Irish hounds that can be summoned to attack enemies.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids

When not fighting shadowy enemies or exploring Ireland's natural beauty (and haunted forests), players can use raided resources to build and upgrade a network of trading posts, with the eventual goal of dominating Ireland's trade routes and building Dublin up as the capital of Irish commerce. Wrath of the Druids is connected to the main campaign, doesn't require a specific power level, and unlocks once players have arrived in England and completed either the Grantebridgescire or Ledecestrescire arcs. There's a whole new land of mystery and adventure to explore, so load up the longship and get ready to see what happens when druids and Vikings clash.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids

Wrath of the Druids is available through the Season Pass or as a separate purchase, and is included with Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Gold and Ultimate Editions. The Gold Edition of Assassin's Creed Valhalla is currently 33% off on sale until May 17.

Assassin's Creed® Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids

UBISOFT

18
$24.99
Journey to 9th-century Ireland and unravel the secrets of a mystical cult: The Children of Danu. Fight your way through cursed forests and dazzling landscapes as you come to the aid of the High King of Ireland, Flann Sinna. Expand your Assassin's Creed® Valhalla experience with Wrath of the Druids: – Immerse yourself in the beauty of 9th-century Ireland. – Take down a dark and mysterious druidic cult. – Gain influence among Gaelic kings. – Encounter legendary characters and mythical creatures. Upgrade to the Season Pass and get the Wrath of the Druids and Siege of Paris expansions, PLUS the Legend of Beowulf bonus quest!
Xbox Live

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Gold Edition

Ubisoft

1596
$99.99
This game leverages Smart Delivery allowing access to both the Xbox One title and the Xbox Series X|S title Includes the game and season pass. Get access to two epic expansions and an exclusive quest, The Legend of Beowulf. Build your own Viking legend at 60 FPS and in 4K resolution on Xbox Series X. Become Eivor, a legendary Viking warrior on a quest for glory. Raid your enemies, grow your settlement, and build your political power. – Lead epic Viking raids against Saxon troops and fortresses. – Relive the visceral fighting style of the Vikings as you dual-wield powerful weapons. – Challenge yourself with the most varied collection of enemies ever in Assassin's Creed. – Shape the growth of your character and your clan's settlement with every choice you make. – Explore a Dark Age open world, from Norway to England.
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Neverwinter Sharandar Episode 2: The Soul Keeper Now Live

Posted: 13 May 2021 12:00 PM PDT

The magic of the Annis Hag may have been weakened, but the renewed battle within the Feywild continues with Neverwinter‘s Sharandar Episode 2: The Soul Keeper!

Following the defeat of Granny Necksnapper in Episode 1, the Illiyanbruen elves are focused on reinforcing their position in the Ruins of Malabog and seeking answers to the disturbing accounts coming from the Mended Grove (known previously as the Blighted Grove). In Episode 2, adventurers will once again assist the elves in uncovering information regarding the strange specters seen wandering among the trees of the grove; the bodies of these long departed Eladrin disrupting the rest of visitors and Illiyanbruen alike.

Neverwinter

In this new installment of the Sharandar storyline, players are introduced to Mathilda Soulstealer, the Night Hag, when she boldly reveals herself during an attack. Retreating into the ethereal plane, the Night Hag will ultimately face daring adventurers in her own lair. It is within these twisted and dark corridors where players will seek to once again neutralize the darkness gripping the Mended Grove and stop future threats to the rebuilding of Sharandar.

Players' efforts to combat these ongoing threats within the Feywild will be rewarded with new companion gear in Episode 2. Found within Shattered Diamonds and in the Vault of Stars dungeon, players will now be able to obtain items such as the Glistening Grimoire of the Companion, Glistening Sword Knot of the Companion, Pristine Ring of the Companion, and more!

Neverwinter

In addition to the adventure rewards, Episode 2 launch day brings with it a colorful swarm of limited time mounts available for purchase. Three new color variants of the Butterfly Swarm Mounts will be available for the first month of the episode release.

Finally, the mid-Episode 1 release of the Vault of Stars dungeon provided adventurers the opportunity to complete the Wish Upon A Star achievement. Continuing the storyline and completing all Episode 2 missions will also allow players to progress through the Defender of the Feywild Xbox achievement, ultimately completing it when Episode 3 releases in the future.

Neverwinter

With one Hag purportedly defeated, Adventurers should be well prepared to vanquish a second one. But will this really be the end of the dark presence lurking in the shadows? Neverwinter Sharandar's Episode 2: The Soul Keeper is now live on Xbox!

Xbox Live

Neverwinter

Perfect World Entertainment

1030
Neverwinter is the premier Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG experience, featuring fast-paced combat and epic dungeons. Explore the vast city of Neverwinter and its surrounding regions, battle its many enemies, and be a part of Forgotten Realms history. Experience Dungeons & Dragons Like Never Before – Neverwinter is an action MMORPG that bridges intense combat with classic D&D gameplay. Journey through the city of Neverwinter and the legendary subcontinent of Faerûn, and face off against the greatest adversaries from D&D legend. Build Your Own Legend – Bring your adventures to life through iconic D&D classes and races, advanced paragon paths, companions, and a remarkable range of customization options. Whether you're hunting dragons and beholders within crumbling dungeons or battling other players in the icy reaches of Icespire Peak, you'll discover why Neverwinter is the definitive Dungeons & Dragons experience. Optimized for Xbox One – Neverwinter inspires classic Dungeons & Dragons adventures with a fully optimized player experience for Xbox One. The fast-paced action gameplay of Neverwinter has been mapped to the Xbox One controller, giving adventures the ability to move around the battlefield and cast powerful spells with ease. Xbox One players can also use their Xbox One friends list to find and party up with others as they explore iconic locations of the Dungeons & Dragons universe. This game supports English, French, German, Italian, and Russian. Additional System requirements: Minimum broadband internet connection of 512 Kbps is required to access all features.
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Boomerang Fu: Grilling Spree Update Out Now

Posted: 13 May 2021 11:00 AM PDT

Summary

  • The free Grilling Spree Update for Boomerang Fu is out now!
  • The update includes two spicy new characters and six new arenas
  • Get ready to roast and toast your friends in style with dozens of new costumes to unlock

Hello, everyone! I'm excited to announce that our first free content update for Boomerang Fu is available today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Boomerang Fu is a frantic physics party game for up to 6 local players that lets you slice and dice your friends with boomerangs. With the Grilling Spree Update, we're introducing two spicy new characters to the roster: you can now play as the cheeky Burger or the formidable Hot Sauce.

Boomerang Fu: Grilling Spree Update

We've also added six new arenas to the game with some fun tricks and traps that we think returning players will love. These arenas include a cloudy mountaintop cut in half by a deadly moving block trap, and a tranquil bamboo grove — ­the perfect destination for your epic final showdown.

Finally, the Grilling Spree Update brings unlockable costumes to Boomerang Fu for the first time. Every time you play a match, you now earn experience points that let you unlock hats and costumes to garnish your favorite characters with. Get ready to roast and toast your foes in style with top hats, snorkels, cat ears and many, many more.

Boomerang Fu: Grilling Spree Update

The new content we're bringing to Boomerang Fu today was inspired by requests from our wonderful community of players. So whether you're brand new to the game or a returning boomerang veteran, I think you'll really like what we're serving up with the free Grilling Spree Update.

Xbox Live

Boomerang Fu

Cranky Watermelon

64
$14.99
Free Trial
Slice and dice your friends with boomerangs in this frantic physics party game. Join a crew of your favorite foods as you grill, chill and spill your enemies. Discover ridiculous power-ups and stack them together in deadly combinations to become the ultimate Boomerang Fu master. LOCAL MULTIPLAYER CHAOS Roast and toast your friends in lightning-fast rounds of cute physics combat for up to 6 players. Perfect for parties! STACK POWER-UPS TOGETHER Discover a ridiculous range of power-ups like explosive boomerangs, disguises and telekinesis. Then stack your power-ups together to form outrageous combinations! SIMPLE CONTROLS It only takes one stick and three buttons to pulverize your pals. Anyone can play immediately, but hardcore players will love mastering the advanced techniques of this lost martial art. Deflect attacks, recall dropped boomerangs, and curve your throws around corners to become a powerful boomerang assassin. OVER 30 ARENAS Journey to an edible world as you do battle in over 30 Kung Fu arenas, each filled with unique tools and traps. Jump over moving platforms and sneak through lush foliage. Trigger sliding walls to squish your foes. Dive between giant rolling pins and delight the Toaster King. TEAM UP Join forces with your buds to take on the ingenious AI opponents. Or squabble over the precious Golden Boomerang in a frantic alternative game mode. CHANGE THE RULES Play with only the power-ups you love. Turn off shields. Turn on friendly fire. You change the rules to suit your tastes! UNLOCK COSTUMES Earn experience points every time you play to unlock new hats and outfits for your favourite foods.
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Psychonauts Available Now with Xbox Game Pass

Posted: 13 May 2021 10:00 AM PDT

Earlier this month, we announced that the original Psychonauts would be coming soon to Xbox Game Pass, and today we're excited to share that Psychonauts is available now with Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 PC, and on Android phones and tablets via Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). Psychonauts is a psychic-comedy adventure from the mind of Tim Schafer and brought to life by the strange game-wizards at Double Fine Productions. The game follows the story of a young psychic acrobat named Razputin, where you explore the fantastic realm of the inner mind – join the Psychonauts!

Originally released in 2005, Psychonauts has resonated with fans of all ages for nearly two decades thanks to its mixture of comedic storytelling and inventive level-design. As Raz expands his psychic abilities, he must leap into the minds of those around him and explore levels based on their personalities and neuroses. A happy-go-lucky Psychonaut agent's mind is a constant dance party with secrets lurking in the unlit corners; the mind of a conspiracy theorist is full of twisting roads and pathways that loop in every direction imaginable. Combined with sharp wit and a cast of memorable characters, every step forward in Psychonauts is a step into the unknown and wonderful world of our minds.

Double Fine Productions is immensely pleased to bring Psychonauts to Xbox Game Pass, allowing diehard fans and new players alike to experience the classic that started everything ahead of the release of Psychonauts 2 later this year. Keep an eye on the studio's Twitter for more information on a "book club" style series of streams that span an entire playthrough of the game and feature guests who worked on it back in the "old days."

Xbox Live

Psychonauts

Double Fine Productions

163
$9.99
Xbox One X Enhanced
Xbox Game Pass
This classic action/adventure platformer from acclaimed developers Double Fine Productions follows the story of a young psychic named Razputin. In his quest to join the Psychonauts–an elite group of international psychic secret agents–he breaks into their secret training facility: Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp. But this is no average psychic summer camp! A mysterious villain has kidnapped Raz's fellow campers and stolen their brains. Now he must use his psychic powers of Telekinesis, Levitation, and most of all his ability to project himself into the minds of others–to find the loose noodles and keep them from falling into the wrong hands. Fight mental demons! Uncover hidden memories! Sort emotional baggage! Explore the fantastic realm of the inner mind! Join the Psychonauts!
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Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance is Coming to Xbox Game Pass on Day One
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Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance is Coming to Xbox Game Pass on Day One

Posted: 13 May 2021 09:00 AM PDT

I am thrilled to announce that Dark Alliance will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows 10 PC, and phones and tablets via Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) with Xbox Game Pass on Day One, June 22! The game will also support PC and console cross play at launch!

Gather your party, choose your adventurer, and get ready to set out on an epic brawl through Icewind Dale on June 22 with Xbox Game Pass. Forget character sheets and math for the night, Dark Alliance is a third-person action brawler that drops you and your friends into the unforgiving frozen hellscape of Icewind Dale to take on iconic Dungeons & Dragons monsters and collect epic loot. You can venture on your own, but with the addition of cross play on PC and Xbox featuring up to 4-player co-op, why would you?

The Friends of the Hall

Dark Alliance lets you choose from four iconic heroes, the Companions of the Hall – Drizzt, Catti-brie, Bruenor, and Wulfgar – with over 50 different moves, special abilities, and team-attacks. The combat is pick up and play but difficult to master, with emergent strategies and tactics depending on the situation, skills, and monsters.

Choose what's best for you: rapid strikes, backstab executions and a giant panther? Drizzt is your guy. Acrobatics, long range bow and arrow more your style? Catti-brie will suit you just fine. Whatever your play style, the Companions have you covered. And it's a good thing they do…

Frost Giants, Dragons and Verbeeg, Oh my!

You're not in Baldur's Gate anymore, Bruenor. The companions (and you!) find yourself in the frozen north of Icewind Dale seeking the ancient and powerful crystal shard – Crenshinibon. Whoever wields it, possesses immense power. The only problem are the legions of monsters seeking it for themselves. You know the drill. You'll face 30 different iconic monsters and factions like the above-mentioned beholders, frost giants, white dragons and verbeeg, as well as duergars, gnolls and many more.

The Adventure Begins

We are excited to bring Dark Alliance to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows 10 PC with Xbox Game Pass! But this is only the beginning of our adventure.

Launch isn't too far away, and we have so much more to show. That's why starting tomorrow, May 14 and every Friday until launch, come watch us play Dark Alliance.

Join the developers at Tuque and special guests live every Friday at 12 p.m. PT (3 p.m. ET/7 p.m. UTC) on twitch.tv/dnd and youtube.com/darkalliance.

Join the party!

Xbox Live

Dark Alliance

Wizards of the Coast

$39.99
Dark Alliance brings to life the world of Dungeons & Dragons in an explosive action RPG filled with real-time combat and dynamic co-op. Frost giants and vengeful dragons roam unchecked through Icewind Dale as invading armies of evil grow stronger every day. Now four heroes must beat back the onslaught of creatures and defend against the dark. Choose your hero and join up to four friends to battle legendary monsters. Explore the frigid world of Icewind Dale as you vanquish unstoppable bosses, earn powerful gear, and unlock new abilities to take on even bigger challenges. Conquer Unstoppable Monsters Dark Alliance pits players against some of the most legendary monsters from the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Frost giants, Beholders, White Dragons—muster the strength to defeat them all against insurmountable odds. Fight Alongside Your Friends Join up to four friends and fight together in a dynamic co-op experience with explosive real-time combat. Unleash devastating combos as you topple unstoppable monsters too powerful to go it alone. Choose Your Hero Play as one of four distinct heroes, each with their own unique playstyle and customizable abilities. Complete missions and vanquish bosses to unlock new skills and earn powerful gear, allowing players to take on even bigger challenges. Brave the Frozen Landscape Dark Alliance brings to life the world of Dungeons & Dragons like never before. Explore the frigid and dangerous world of Icewind Dale as you defend your homeland from armies of abominable monsters. Pre-order now to get the following digital content: Standard Game Beholder Weapon Set
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Celebrating 20 Years of Xbox

Posted: 13 May 2021 08:00 AM PDT

Do you remember where you were when you played your first Xbox game?

It may be hard to believe, but this year will mark the 20th anniversary of Xbox. I'm proud to have been a member of Team Xbox for 17 of those 20 years!  The original Xbox console was released in North America on November 15, 2001, followed by many more launches all around the world including Japan, Australia, Europe, Latin America, China, and more! 

Twenty years ago, playing on Xbox meant hooking up your console with three (or more!) cables to a standard definition CRT TV.  You had to pre-order the hottest new games and stand in line at your favorite retail shop to pick them up. Games were played in 640×480 resolution, and you only had 8GB of storage and 64MB of memory to enjoy them with. And you either played alone or with a friend sitting next to you on the couch.

Two Decades of Gaming

The Xbox experience today, as shaped by you, is wildly different. You can now jump into your favorite games on your Xbox Series X|S console (imagine showing your past self a 4K HDR game!), on PC, or on mobile*. You and your friends can play with and against the more than 100 million players who log into Xbox every month from around the world. And there’s no more convincing every person in the group to go out and buy a big game. If you all have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can pick the destination from a variety of games in the catalog and just start playing. We love this gaming future.

Thanks to game creators and players like you, we have a greater variety of games and diverse characters  – with more worlds to explore, stories to tell, heroes and villains to meet, and achievements to unlock – in the 7 thousand games that have been released across the Xbox platform. Do you remember unlocking your first Xbox achievement? To-date, you and the Xbox community together have racked up nearly 1 trillion total Gamerscore. Most importantly, you've worked together to change the face of gaming by welcoming players from all walks of life, everywhere in the world. 

Halo Key Art

The Game That Started It All

This year not only commemorates 20 years of Xbox, but it also marks the 20th anniversary of the Halo franchise. That magical moment when the Master Chief first stepped on to a mysterious ringworld has long been a hallmark of the Xbox experience, and over the last 20 years, Halo has become deeply embedded into the Xbox DNA. We're thrilled to celebrate this milestone, as well as the launch of Halo Infinite, with our players this Fall.

Celebrating Together

As we approach the 20-Year mark, it has never been clearer that the heart of Xbox is you. And we are excited to celebrate this milestone together. 

Halo Gear

The celebration starts today and continues through November 15, 2021. 

  • #Xbox20: This celebration is all about you, and we want to hear what Xbox means to you. Use #Xbox20 on social media to share your favorite Xbox moments, stories, friendships, prized possessions, achievements… anything! We'll be asking loads of questions on Xbox social channels and spotlighting your answers through November 15, so keep an eye out.
  • Check out the Xbox Gear Shop for the first wave of Xbox 20th Anniversary official gear.
  • Show off your Xbox and Halo love with free anniversary-themed wallpapers.
  • Register today for Xbox FanFest to participate in 20th Anniversary FanFest activities including exclusive sweepstakes, FanFest gear, and digital experiences.
  • Personalize your Xbox experience: check out the new 20-Year gamerpic and "The Original" profile theme in your "Customize Profile" menu.  For Xbox Series X|S owners, "The Original" dynamic background is available in the Personalization menu. 
  • Looking for something new to play? Check out this collection featuring some of the greatest games that have marked Xbox history. You can also find the game collection on your Xbox console by searching for "Xbox Anniversary" in the Store.
  • Join us today at Twitch.tv/Xbox at 11am PT / 2pm ET to kick off the celebration with our livestreaming hosts as they reminisce about two decades of gaming while playing the game that started it all – Halo: Combat Evolved via the Halo: Master Chief Collection.
  • We'll keep the fun going through November with more announcements, activities, and ways to celebrate.  Visit xbox.com/20Years for up-to-date details on anniversary activities throughout the year.

We'll have more fun to share as we get closer to the November 15th anniversary date. Keep an eye out here on Xbox Wire or at xbox.com/20years for the latest updates.

Looking Ahead

Whether you have been an Xbox fan since day one or joined Xbox for the first time this week, we are humbled and excited to be a part of the Xbox community with you. As we reminisce together about the memories we've shared over 20 years, we also can't help but be excited about what's next for Xbox. Imagine what we will do together over the next 20 years! 

Celebrating 20 Years of Xbox
Celebrating 20 Years of Xbox

*Where available, requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Related:
Halo: The Master Chief Collection Season 5 Now Live
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Free Play Days: NBA 2K21 and TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2

Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT

Show off your handles on the hardwood or your reflexes on the road, all in this weekend's Free Play Days. NBA 2K21 standard edition and TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 are available for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, May 13 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, May 16 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

How to Start Playing

Find and install the games here on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One.

Keep the Fun Going

Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discount percentage may vary by region.

Game Details

NBA 2K21
The NBA Playoffs are almost upon us, and NBA 2K21 is the perfect way for fans to get into the game. Enjoy best-in-class gameplay and one-of-a-kind immersion into all facets of NBA basketball and culture with the full game this Free Play Days weekend.

TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2
Enjoy the unique experience of TT Isle of Man 2 with Free Play Days. Race across an over 60 km long ultra-technical track at breakneck speed requiring realistic riding skills, challenge your friends, and become the best motorcycle rider in the most dangerous race in the world.

Don't miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.

Related:
Free Play Days – Peaky Blinders: Mastermind and Hunting Simulator 2
Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass: Red Dead Online, Final Fantasy X/X-2, FIFA 21, and More
Free Play Days – Override 2: Super Mech League and Monster Truck Championship

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