The Minotaur King has returned…and it’s all your fault!

Woah! You’ve only just started Blossom Tales 2: the Minotaur Prince on Xbox and you’re already causing chaos and getting your brother kidnapped?! Guess it’s time to become the hero (again), set things right and save your brother. Before you do, let’s explore what you might face during your heroic adventure.

We think of Blossom Tales 2: The Minotaur Prince as a heartfelt tribute to both classic adventure games and 80s movies that we loved from our childhood. Movies such as “Labyrinth” and “The Princess Bride” are the best examples and we hope that comes through to our players. Although you play as the protagonist Lily, courageous albeit headstrong, her story is told by her Grandpa who narrates or tells this “story within a story” narrative.

You know how these stories go, the kid keeps on interrupting and suggests how elements of the story should unfold instead. We took that idea and turned it into one of the features of the game. Would you prefer a pig to be your travelling companion instead of a horse? As you wish! What’s your stance on battling badgers over snails? Or maybe you’d like… actually, we better not give away all the secrets, you’ll have to discover the rest yourself.

Your journey begins with the Minotaur Moon Festival in a quiet town called Blossomdale where you and your brother Chrys do what siblings do best…start bickering. As things escalate Lily unknowingly releases the Minotaur King who kidnaps her brother. Oh no! Better grab your gear and save him.

So, dear player/story-teller, take a seat by the campfire and toast some marshmallows, but don’t get too comfortable, Grandpa’s tale will take you on a journey through haunted forests, pirate infested shores, and other mysterious lands across a vast open world.

Blossom Tales 2: The Minotaur Prince is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince

Playtonic Friends

☆☆☆☆☆
1

★★★★★

$14.99

$11.99

Get it now

Grandpa’s latest tale takes you on a journey through haunted forests, pirate shores, and other mysterious lands across a vast open-world! Charming towns, terrible enemies, tricky puzzles, and powerful weapons await you.
Enjoy a “story within a story” as Grandpa narrates exciting moments throughout Lily’s incredible adventure.
Will you help Lily defeat the Minotaur King and save her brother?

The post Grandpa’s Tale of Adventure Comes to Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
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Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview coming to the Alpha ring. It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles.

We continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device. Details can be found below!

System Update Details:

• OS version released: XB_FLT_2310ZN25398.2468.231001-2200
• Available: 2 p.m. PT – October 4, 2023
• Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – October 5, 2023

Fixes Implemented

Thanks to the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this build:

System

• Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
  • Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console, for more information go here.

Known Issues

We understand some issues have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes. These items aren’t being ignored, but it will take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution.

Audio

• We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps.
  • Note: If you experience issues with audio, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
  • Be sure to include as much information as possible:
    • When did the issue start?
    • Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
    • Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
    • Does rebooting resolve the issue?
    • What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
    • And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.

Keyboard Button Mapping for Xbox Controllers

• If you change your keyboard language settings while the Xbox Accessories app is open, the change will be reflected after quitting the app or rebooting your console.

Manage Queue

• When the queue is empty, the border around “When games and apps are installing, you’ll see them here” may appear to extend off-screen. We are working on a fix.

Networking

• We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
  • Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center by holding the Xbox button > Restart console > Restart.

Make sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of your issue. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please reach out to the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to threads with the same issue before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Don’t forget to use “Report a problem” before posting—the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today. We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha (2310.231001-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview coming to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring. It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles.

We continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device. Details can be found below!

System Update Details:

• OS version released: RS_XBOX_DEV_FLIGHT25965.1004.231001-2000
• Available: 2 p.m. PT – October 4, 2023
• Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – October 5, 2023

New Features and Experiences

We have exciting news! Alpha Skip-Ahead users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.

Play From Profile

Users will notice with today’s update we’re making it easier to get, play, and see details about games others are playing directly from their profiles, as well as reorganizing the join and invite commands on these pages.

Fixes Implemented

Thanks to the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this build:

Accessibility

• Fixes to address an issue where the Magnifier would not behave as expected in some titles.

Manage Queue

• Fixed an issue where recent installed titles could wrap to a second row unintentionally.

System

• Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
  • Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console, for more information go here.

Known Issues

We understand some issues have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes. These items aren’t being ignored, but it will take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution.

Audio

• We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps.
  • Note: If you experience issues with audio, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
  • Be sure to include as much information as possible:
    • When did the issue start?
    • Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
    • Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
    • Does rebooting resolve the issue?
    • What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
    • And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.

Keyboard Button Mapping for Xbox Controllers

• If you change your keyboard language settings while the Xbox Accessories app is open, the change will be reflected after quitting the app or rebooting your console.

Manage Queue

• When the queue is empty, the border around “When games and apps are installing, you’ll see them here” may appear to extend off-screen. We are working on a fix.

Networking

• We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
  • Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center by holding the Xbox button > Restart console > Restart.

Make sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of your issue. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please reach out to the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to threads with the same issue before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Don’t forget to use “Report a problem” before posting—the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today. We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead (2408.231001-2000) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Hello Survivors!  My name is Evan Wolbach, co-founder of Dead Drop Studios. Today I’m thrilled to share all sorts of juicy morsels about our latest survival horror title, Dinobreak. It’s our most action-packed game yet, and it absolutely sings (or roars!) on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.Prepare for a truly primal terror!

More Fun Than a Barrel of…Dinos?

Up until now, we’ve created classic survival horror games featuring the undead in the Outbreak series.  Dinobreak changes that with a more action focused approach, and of course, plenty of scaly beasts to take down and flee from. Building upon our years of know-how and on feedback based on Outbreak: Contagious Memories, Dinobreak is a fresh romp featuring an original story, new and accessible difficulty options, our best visuals yet, unlockable modifiers and cheats, and a bonus mode that’s sure to be a blast to replay again and again.

Use Multiple Cameras for a Different Experience

Similar to Outbreak: Contagious Memories, you can freely choose your camera type in Dinobreak.  Whether you prefer a traditional, over-the-shoulder camera, a more modern first-person view, or you have a hunger for that classic fixed-camera style, Dinobreak has you covered.  The game is fully playable in all views, and you can even swap between them on the fly, so explore the way you want to.

Avoid Eggs to Conserve your Resources!

In this adventure, you once again step into Lydia’s shoes to escape Cypress Ridge, but this time it’s being ravaged by dinosaurs. You’ll be taking down hordes of raptors while carefully managing your inventory and solving puzzles. You can choose to sneak around eggs to avoid encounters, or you can go in guns blazing and take down every last primordial pest in sight. Don’t take too much time deciding, though; spend enough time in an area and those pesky eggs will start hatching.

Fun for Both First-Time and Veteran Players

For the first time, we’re offering extra, easier difficulty options so that fresh meat to the world of survival horror can play and enjoy Dinobreak.  In assisted and easy modes, you’ll find plenty of ammo and pick-ups so you can get acclimated to the basics of survival.  If you crave a more savage challenge, hard and primal difficulties will put your back to the wall as an army of dangerous beasts threaten to tear you limb from limb. Gulp!

More Than Just Story Mode

As with most of our titles, Dinobreak features a bonus mode. This time, you can enter Operation: Feral Raptor, score huge points, and escape while also saving other survivors.  Both this and story mode are playable in local co-op, so abscond with a friend to experience a different type of fear. Dinobreak rampages to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One today via Smart Delivery. Can you escape before nature’s most fearsome creatures turn you into their lunch?

Dinobreak

Dead Drop Studios LLC

☆☆☆☆☆
8

★★★★★

$19.99

$15.99

Get it now

The crises of the past return in DINOBREAK as dinosaurs overwhelm a metropolitan city on a fateful night in 1999. Band together with survivors across the city to uncover the origins of the onslaught, and find a path to safety. DINOBREAK looks, sounds and plays like a ’90s-era survival horror game. Cheesy acting, extreme gore, exhilarating action, and resource management await as you fight through hordes of dinosaurs to escape alive. Take one last trip to the world of survival horror in this one-of-a-kind adventure.

The post Dinobreak Stampedes onto Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Tune up your boltgun and prepare for the hoard, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is swarming onto Xbox Series X|S today. A spiritual successor to Warhammer: Vermintide, Darktide takes developer Fatshark’s ferocious, co-op-focused combat and drops you right into the blistered heart of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. 

Alongside its Game Pass launch, Darktide is also set to drop its biggest and most game-changing update yet. Patch 13 will introduce new class systems for each playable archetype and a ton of other game-play refining updates. This is the ultimate version of Darktide, so ahead of its console release, we had the opportunity to chat with three developers from Fatshark about why now is the perfect time to get stuck in. 

A Class of Its Own

The biggest change heading to Darktide is the brand-new class system. Each of the four archetypes – Veteran, Zealot, Psyker and Ogryn – will now come with their own talent tree brimming with new skills and abilities. This affords much more versatility in how to build and play each starting character.

“A really big thing that we’ve been trying to do since launch is give more agency to the player,” explains Victor Magnuson, Design Director on Darktide. “We felt that the system we had before was a little too rigid, and didn’t really allow players to come up with their own playstyle. Now, players can pick and mix what they want to do, and we’re really looking forward to seeing all of the different combinations.” 

When creating a character, players can choose unique traits, such as their starting planet, their upbringing, and some defining moments of their lives. The new class system provides more opportunities to lean into those backstory choices and almost roleplay your character in this vast universe. 

“An Inquisitorial Warband is made up of very different characters,” explains Darktide Chief Creative Officer Anders De Geer. “We want people to be able to create their own version of that fantasy. Anything you read in a book or play in the tabletop game, you’ll be able to come closer to creating in Darktide.”  

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide’s new talent trees

The team has also made changes to the levelling system in Darktide. Before the update, players could only make what the team describes as a “meaningful” choice every five levels. Now, players can add something that will evolve their character significantly every time they rank up, which is much more exciting.”Giving agency across your levelling experience was also important for us to do right,” says Juan Martinez, Executive Producer on Darktide. “We wanted this to cater both to new players and those that have played the game for a long time already.”

The choice sounded almost too overwhelming, so we asked the team about their favorite ways to play to get a little inspiration. Magnuson tells us that he used to be Zealot main through and through, with an aggressive playstyle that goes hard with melee abilities. However, with the new update, he’s brought out the literal big guns, utilising perks that allow him to shred through foes with minimal reloading. De Geer keeps it a little more classic with the Zealot, also leaning into the old bash build but with a stash of throwing knives to add more flexibility to the build. 

Martinez started as an Orgyn main but graduated to Psyker, which now has new skills to control the ebb and flow of the battlefield. This includes chain lightning that damages foes with an area-of-effect radius, and a dome shield that can protect teammates. 

That was the archetype I stuck with in the end – I had a delightful time playing as a Psyker with the Smite ability, letting me release streams of potent lightning onto my foes. I was also able to take talents that let me put up a shield for my allies, while boosting up our damage. Some of the other talent trees offered completely different buffs and skills that complemented my own for some potent combinations to get stuck into.

The skills I picked played perfectly into my background as a Tide Forager from the oceanic world of Incron – I’m a seasoned fisherman, full of comradery and not afraid to get my hands dirty. I chose to believe that my proficiency as a Psyker was also unveiled after I was caught electrocuting all of the fish. The background you choose also shapes dialogue choices throughout the game, which is a fun detail. These starting blocks let me craft my own story before I’d even picked up a weapon.

But, I Don’t Know Anything About Warhammer

The world of Warhammer is dense and brimming with complex lore and jargon, but you don’t actually need to know anything about it to enjoy Darktide. De Geer tells us that the game is first and foremost – a four-player co-op horde shooter, that just happens to be set in this universe.

“The things that you need to know will be introduced to you in the game,” De Geer says. “We’ve deliberately tried to keep it that way, but hopefully the parts you do learn will spark an interest in the wider lore.” 

The gameplay experience shines through, whether you’re a fan of the wider Warhammer world or not. The visceral satisfaction of bashing and slashing through enemies or going ham with a huge machine gun feels still excellent, regardless of who the bad guys are. 

“We have a lot of Warhammer fanatics in the office, but we also have people that don’t know anything about it,” De Geer adds. “This actually helps us sanity check and make sure things make sense even with zero understanding of that world.”

“Warhammer 40,000 knowledge shouldn’t be a barrier, and we’d like to think that Darktide can act as a stepping stone into the wider universe.” 

The good news is that Darktide is now available to download and play on Game Pass for both Xbox and PC. Whether you’re a Warhammer veteran eager to get stuck back into these new classes, a total newcomer looking for an accessible route into the robust world of Warhammer 40,000, or just looking for lovely, violent new game – the new and updated Darktide is a shooter fit for an Emperor, and his three favourite friends.

The post Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Blasts Onto Xbox Today, With Some Major Improvements appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Source: Xbox Blog
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Buy the new Forza Motorsport today! Out-build the competition in the all-new career, race your friends in multiplayer, and compete in 500+ cars on world-famous tracks with cutting edge AI and advanced physics.

See you at the starting line.

Buy Now: https://www.xbox.com/games/forza-motorsport#purchaseoptions

Source: XBOX YouTube
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Exciting News for Wizards & Sorcery Enthusiasts!

Mark your calendars and sharpen your wands because Spells & Secrets is coming to Xbox Series X/S on November 9th!

Source: XBOX YouTube
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