After this year’s March presentation of the Xbox Partner Preview, just like last year, Microsoft has planned another one for October, as it was finally officially confirmed at the end of this week. With the announcement, we also received a rough outline of what games from partner developers and third-party studios we can look forward to in less than half an hour. We already knew in advance that we would see titles like Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers or Alan Wake II, or its new DLC The Lake House, for which confirmation of the release date was expected. However, let’s summarize everything we could see, or take a look at the broadcast with our commentary.
Alan Wake 2: The Lake House
As promised in advance, the very first trailer revealed more of the Lake House expansion for the second part of the Alan Wake series. Upfront, fans knew that the second DLC would be much darker than the first Night Springs expansion, and while we didn’t see much of it, the gist of it is that the expansion will arrive on October 22nd, so we really won’t have to wait long. Immediately after the release of the trailer, an article appeared on the Xbox Wire website with more information about the main character – Agent Estevez – who we will be watching at a time when the line of the main game’s main character Saga Anderson is just getting started. We should expect real horror and especially other links with Control, which is set in the same common universe.
Cronos: The New Dawn
Bloober Team is not idle and shortly after the release of the remake of Silent Hill 2, it reveals one of its previously hinted projects, but only very vaguely at the time. Their new venture is called Cronos: The New Dawn and is a sci-fi horror, the latter of which is of course not surprising from these developers. The story of the game is set in a “ruthless post-apocalyptic future, but it is set in Poland in the 80s. The announcement trailer is certainly impressive, but it didn’t reveal much about the game itself, but we do know that it will be a third-person game. Cronos: The New Dawn is headed to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, we should expect a release next year, as well as other information that will bring the title closer.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
After its recent and truly unexpected reveal, there was also talk of a Yakuza pirate spin-off during today’s broadcast. The developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku have shared a new video with a bunch of gameplay footage, focusing mainly on ship battles. As fans already know, the main character will be Goro Majima, who wakes up on one of the Hawaiian beaches with memory loss and decides to become a pirate. But if you’ve ever played Yakuza or Like a Dragon, you’ll surely understand that it’s going to be a heavily overworked version of a pirate full of all kinds of side activities and crazy moments, as we’re used to. However, the developers kept the pleasing news for the very end – although the title was supposed to arrive on February 28 of next year, they managed to move the release date by a week and the game will be available from February 21, 2025.
Subnautica 2
The development of Subnautica 2 was definitely not a secret, as the developers did not only hint at it, but now we finally have a full-fledged introduction, including the first teaser trailer, which took us deep into the depths of a brand new alien planet, where players will fight for survival alone and with friends. We’ve also learned that another underwater adventure will arrive as early as next year via Early Access on PC and Xbox Series, with the game also coming as part of a Game Pass subscription.
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
The Chinese soulslike action RPG Wuchang: Fallen Feathers from Leenzee Games has also signed up, whose presence we already knew about in advance, and its release is slowly but surely approaching – it was set for 2025 when the publisher took over the title in the summer 505 Games, which will bring it to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series including Game Pass, as of course not omitted here. The new trailer focused mainly on gameplay, battles and the overall action part of the game in the style of Souls. In addition to artillery weapons, it will be possible to use magic and dangerous special abilities in battle, which the heroine does not skimp on, but the game also boasts beautiful scenes and processing of the local culture. As we already know from before, the plot takes us to China during the Ming Dynasty, while players take on the role of the cursed warrior Bai Wuchang, who sets out to find the truth and uncover the secrets of her past.
FBC: Firebreak
The Lake House expansion for Alan Wake II wasn’t the only project Remedy had ready for today’s broadcast. The second was the action we have known until now as Condor. But the official name is FBC: Firebreak and it’s a cooperative shooter for three players, set in the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Control at the time of its attack. But only the Firebreak team can deal with the unknown forces and, at least according to the trailer, beat them out of the headquarters in a much talked about spirit. Literally. It must be said that the relaxed stylization contrasts quite nicely with the previously rather scary places of the FBC headquarters and it is interesting to watch them in a completely different light than in Control with Jesse. It’s just a shame that even in this case we don’t know exactly when we’ll see the game, for now we have to settle for 2025.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire
More than a year ago, developers from the Fumi Games studio presented their game Mouse. From the beginning, it is presented as a shooter that combines the aesthetics of classic Disney movies with the approach of the authors of Cuphead, which we could see in the next video. Unfortunately, even this time Fumi Games does not come with information about the release date and only refers vaguely to next year. Still, it cannot be denied that the game looks great, very original, and the gameplay is not bad either. In addition, it will not only be filled with shooting, as can be seen from some shots, when the hero fulfills his role as a private detective and tries to investigate what happened at the scene of the crime.
Eternal Strands
Eternal Strands from the studio Yellow Brick Games, which was put together by Mike Laidlaw, the former creative director of Dragon Age, together with other veterans of game development across a number of studios, already attracted attention when it was announced this year with the color palette and the possibilities it offers. In this third-person fantasy action-adventure, players take on gigantic arks, battling them using innovative physics-based gameplay mechanics and a plethora of magical abilities that allow protagonist Brynn to overcome obstacles, cast fire or ice, disable or control the limbs of enemies and so on. And that’s exactly what the new action trailer shows in all its glory, showing off the rich possibilities of combat. Eternal Strands will be released in early 2025, and in addition to the Xbox Series, it is also targeting PC and PlayStation 5.
Mistfall Hunter
Developers from the studio Bellring Games have introduced their 3rd person PvP extraction RPG Mistfall Hunter, which will arrive on Xbox and PC next year. Players will find themselves in a world inspired by Norse mythology, where they will try to save what is left of their world as the reborn champions of the people. Of course, this means confronting mutated monsters and extracting their blood, which is supposed to be the way to regain control over people’s lives. As this is an extraction event, players will meet in locations and fight against each other and against the environment. To do this, they will be able to use a number of fighter classes and various weapons.
The Legend of Baboo
The Turkish studio Permanent Way Entertainment announced the action-adventure game The Legend of Baboo, which is inspired by Turkish fairy tales and stories passed down through generations. The hero is a little boy, Sepehr, who embarks on a harrowing quest to save his family, which is threatened by the dangerous forces of an ancient mythical evil. However, he will be accompanied by the loyal giant dog Baboo, whose mutual bond has the power to save what they love most. It will be possible to control not only Sepehr, who holds a magic stick in his hands, but also Baboo, who for a change has claws and a powerful bark. Together they will wander, jump, climb, fight, fend off enemies and solve puzzles. The game will be released in 2025 on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series.
Wheel World
During the recent upheaval at Annapurna’s gaming division, some players became rightfully concerned about some of the projects under their umbrella, with their developers gradually coming forward to reassure them that their concerns were misplaced. At that time, however, there was no statement from the developers from the Messhof studio, which, thanks to Annapurna, was supposed to release the Ghost Bike game this year. Fortunately, the game is also fine, but the new name is Wheel World and it presented a new gameplay trailer. At the same time, however, there was a delay, as the game will not be released until the end of 2025, without a specific date yet. Wheel World is a cycling game in an open world, in which the players, in the role of a young cyclist Kat, try to save it from collapse. The game impresses with its interesting artistic stylization or the possibilities of customizing your own bike, thanks to which nothing will stop your ride. You will be racing, searching for rare components and parts, and trying to perform a great ritual. All this in style and accompanied by songs from Italians Do It Better. The game will be released on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, and will also be in Game Pass from day one.
Blindfire
Don’t be fooled by the logo and overall cover art, this is nothing Cyberpunk, nor is it Ghostrunner. Blindfire by Double Eleven is a first-person shooter that takes place in an arena, but in the dark, so players have to rely on their instincts. So the developers decided to change the gameplay and try to offer players a slightly different challenge and force them to play the game differently than other shooters. For now, Blindifre offers Free-For-All and Team modes, while it’s already available in Early Access on Xbox Series, Steam and Epic, with a later arrival on PlayStation 5.
EDENS ZERO
Next year, the popular manga by Hiro Mashima will see a game adaptation of the same name in the form of an action RPG, which, of course, was preceded by years of waiting for fans, as the title was first revealed by Konami in 2020. Players familiar with the originals can look forward to familiar characters and locations, which they will be able to visit in the open world. The game is currently announced for PC and Xbox Series.
Phasmophobia
Kinetic Games’ co-op horror game Phasmophobia has already sold 20 million copies despite still being in early access, and now it’s finally heading to PC, as announced back in the summer. Console players can wait in less than two weeks, namely on October 29, when the game will be released on PlayStation 5 including support for PlayStation VR2 and, of course, on Xbox Series.
Animal Well
The well-reviewed indie metroidvania Animal Well arrived on the Xbox Series today, heralded by a rather quirky shadow-filled trailer. If you watch it, everything will be clear to you.
Microsoft’s Xbox Partner Preview: October Games and More!
Ah, the time of year when gamers teeter on the edge of their sofas, waiting for Xbox to drop the next big thing! After an exhilarating March preview, Microsoft has done it again, confirming an October showcase filled with enough gaming goodness to fill a pirate ship—or at least a very spacious living room. Let’s dive into the murky waters of what we can expect, shall we?
New Trailers and Fan Frights
First up, the Alan Wake II: The Lake House expansion! It’s darker, it’s scarier, and it has a release date—October 22nd, which is just around the corner! Who knew we missed that much horror? Oh, wait—everyone who played the first game did. Agent Estevez takes us on a terrifying journey where we might just scream so loud that the neighbors call the cops. And if you fancy yourself a fan of the game ‘Control,’ this expansion promises to titillate that itch with some familiar connections. A horror universe intertwining? It’s like a crossover episode of your favorite series—but with more nightmares!
“If ever there was a time to stock up on sanity potions, it’s now!”
Bloober Team’s Dark Dive into the Future
Moving on to Cronos: The New Dawn. Let’s be honest, when you see “sci-fi horror” and “Bloober Team” in the same sentence, your brain instantly screams, “I must prepare for my therapist’s bill!” Set in 1980s Poland (because that’s where all great adventures begin), this third-person game promises to be as chilling as a winter’s night in the same country. Can’t wait to lose sleep over that one!
Ahoy, Yakuza Lovers!
Next, we’ve got Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. I can hear the collective jaw drops all around the world. Goro Majima as a memory-loss pirate? Talk about a midlife crisis! The gameplay looks as chaotic as an untrained cat on catnip—lots of ship battles and activities galore. Oh, and the release is now bumped to February 21, 2025. Sure, let’s just call that a Christmas miracle, shall we?
“Because nothing says ‘pirate’ like a flashy melee on a Hawaiian beach!”
Underwater Excursions and Soulslike Thrills
Let’s journey deeper with Subnautica 2, unveiling a trailer that makes your heart race faster than the sea under a full moon. The promise of cooperative gameplay is like a siren’s call! Of course, this won’t be the only underwater adventure, but it certainly feels like a wet and wild ride. Expect to see that game washed ashore sometime next year!
“Reminder: Don’t forget to take a snorkel—water levels may vary!”
From Action to Literature: We’ve Got It All!
In the realm of WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, a Chinese soulslike action RPG, players navigate a beautifully rendered world reminiscent of the Ming Dynasty, armed with magic and mayhem. Meanwhile, the name FBC: Firebreak gives us cooperative shooter vibes with a twist of ‘control’—pun intended. It’s just a shame that we have to wait until 2025 for these thrilling escapades!
“Because who wouldn’t want to get scared and be heroic all in one sofa break?”
Quirky Adventures and Mystical Tales
Among the more whimsical titles is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire. Imagine a shoot-’em-up meets detective noir with an adorable furry protagonist! Yes, please! The visuals are delightful enough to make any Disney aficionado weep tears of joy. And then there’s The Legend of Baboo, which sounds like a G-rated version of a Viking saga, with a boy and his canine companion battling mythical forces. Cuteness overload, folks!
Final Thoughts
With so many new titles highlighted at this Xbox Partner Preview, it seems likely that gaming in 2025 will be a mélange of horror, action, and heartwarming adventures. So grab your controllers, folks! This October is shaping up to be nothing short of spectacular. If you don’t see me in the coming weeks, I’ve probably been consumed by the darkness of Alan Wake or lost in the depths of Subnautica. Until next time, keep your consoles charged and your snacks at the ready!
“Now if only we could charge our social lives like we charge our devices!”
