Xbox and Marvel Animation’s “X-Men ’97” have united to bring fans an extraordinary collaboration – the “X-Men ’97” Xbox Series X, wrapped in an exclusive comic by Marvel’s Rich Douek and Paco Diaz.
Immerse yourself further with Xbox Design Lab’s X-Men character controllers. Each inspired by your favorites, they come in nostalgic blister packs.
Enter our limited-time sweepstakes for a chance to win this ultimate collector’s bundle! Don’t miss your shot at this iconic piece of mutant history.
Calling all Xbox and X-Men enthusiasts! We’re ecstatic to announce an incredible collaboration between Xbox and Marvel Animation’s “X-Men ’97,” now streaming on Disney+. Prepare to immerse yourself in the world of mutants like never before.
Xbox and “X-Men ’97” have come together to bring you a very special Xbox Series X wrapped in a limited-edition comic inspired by the all-new series and created by Marvel writer Rich Douek and artist Paco Diaz. This thrilling 2-page story with full page cover is exclusive to the Xbox Series X, and features Cyclops leading the X-Men in a battle against Sentinels and Master Mold, with an Xbox Series X console making a special appearance in the Danger Room.
Marking the first time an Xbox Series X has been wrapped by a comic book, this collaboration promises to immerse fans in a nostalgic journey through the world of the “X-Men ’97.”
In addition, Xbox Design Lab created a set of controllers inspired by you the colorways of your favorite X-Men characters from the show: Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Morph, Magneto, Jubilee, Gambit, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Beast, and Bishop. Each character comes to life through unique controller designs, and comes in a 90’s inspired blister pack that makes for the ultimate collector item.
Fans eager to get their hands on the “X-Men ’97”-inspired Xbox Series X and one of the Xbox Design Lab character controllers will have the opportunity to enter the sweepstakes hosted on Xbox Twitter.
By following Xbox on X (formerly Twitter) and retweeting the official Xbox sweepstakes tweet ( #XMen97XboxSweepstakes) during the Entry Period, fans can secure their chance to win a Xbox Series X Console inspired by X-Men ’97, Xbox Wireless Controller (this comes with the console but will not be customized), and a Xbox Design Lab Controller inspired by X-Men ’97 Wolverine . The sweepstakes will run exclusively from Monday, April 22, 6:00am PST through Sunday, May 19, 8:00pm PST, offering participants ample time to join in on the excitement.
Get ready to unleash your mutant powers with this Xbox and “X-Men ‘97” team-up and don’t forget to catch the latest episodes of “X-Men ’97” on Disney+, available on your Xbox!
About Marvel Animation’s “X-Men ‘97”
Marvel Animation’s “X-Men ’97” revisits the iconic era of the 1990s as The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future.
The all-new series features 10 episodes. The voice cast includes Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, JP Karliak as Morph, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, AJ LoCascio as Gambit, Holly Chou as Jubilee, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, Matthew Waterson as Magneto, and Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler. Beau DeMayo served as head writer; episodes are directed by Jake Castorena, Chase Conley and Emi-Emmett Yonemura, and the series is executive produced by Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and DeMayo. Featuring music by the Newton Brothers, Marvel Animation’s “X-Men ’97” is now streaming on Disney+
Check Out the First Metaphor: ReFantazio Gameplay Reveal, Launching October 11
Summary
During a recent livestream, Atlus showed a brand-new trailer for the upcoming Metaphor: ReFantanzio.
Get a first look at gameplay, with developer commentary, as segments of the game are explored.
Metaphor: ReFantanzio is set to launch October 11, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S.
A special developer livestream, titled “Atlus Exclusive,” took place today for Metaphor: ReFantazio, revealing brand new details about the upcoming RPG. Studio Zero Director Katsura Hashino, who you might know from Shin Megami Tensei III — Nocturne, Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 — introduced the first hands-on gameplay for the title with a 30-minute livestream (dubbed and subbed in English), discussing his development vision and creative inspirations as he explored various segments from the game.
During the livestream, Hashino-san started by introducing viewers to the premise of the story and acquainting them with the protagonist, and his fairy companion Gallica. The game is filled with interesting allies, rivals, and terrifying monsters that will come across his journey.
After displaying some of the introductory parts of the game, the first stop of the journey is shown with the Royal Capital Grand Trad. This is where you can start getting a sense of scale of the game as you walk through the city and view the maps. Fans were also given a first look at another local, Martira, a town that hasn’t been shown before.
As Hashino-san moves through dungeons and locations, he dives deeper into the gameplay systems and the journey the game takes you through. At the heart of it is the Gauntlet Runner, a fun and cool vehicle that can travel safely across wastelands, that also doubles up as your home base and HQ. The Gauntlet Runner is quite spacious with numerous functions, so use your time as you please!
Another important element of the game is Archetypes, which lies in the job system. The Archetypes are a special power that can awaken in various forms. A few Hashino-san highlights are the Seeker, the Mage, and the Thief, which were put on display in a dungeon. Archetypes can be used by your other party members, giving countless options in forming your party.
Throughout the livestream, Hashino-san also shared interesting information about the music, concepts behind the art and design, and teased some of the story, as well as insights into combat strategy, enemy analysis and more!
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a massive game, with much more to share throughout the coming months. Notably, one of the most exciting news from the livestream: we have a launch date to share! Metaphor: ReFantazio will launch on October 11, 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.
Physical pre-orders for the title are now open at participating retailers, with a special physical Collector’s Edition for those looking to commemorate this exciting launch. To accompany this exciting announcement, the team shared a new trailer, The King’s Trial, for Metaphor: ReFantazio highlighting much of what is to come – you can watch it below!
Since it’s been 35 years since Atlus released its first title, we see Metaphor: ReFantazio as a culmination of everything that makes Atlus what it is — distinctive style & UI, cutting-edge combat, engaging characters and legendary stories. We can think of no better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than releasing Metaphor: ReFantazio for all the old and new Atlus fans alike.
If you want to learn more, please watch the full livestream on the Atlus YouTube channel or wish list the game here on Xbox. That’s all the team has to share for now but please keep an eye out for more information and reveals as we start the countdown to October 11! Also stay tuned to the ATLUS West official channels Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a fantasy RPG that takes players on a thrilling adventure in a world where eight tribes live in strife and the throne sits empty after the king’s assassination. With no heirs to wear the crown, the will of the late king decrees that the kingdom’s next monarch will be elected by the people, and thus begins your fight for the throne… and the future.
Featuring an epic storyline with fierce turn-based battles against powerful foes and other candidates vying for the crown, you’ll customize your party from endless combinations of classes, dive into the deepest dungeons, and come face to face with this world’s greatest threats – humans.
From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince. Control your destiny, face your fears and awaken magical “Archetype” powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an “Archetype,” you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.
Get To Know Our Team
Vanessa
Technical Program Manager (Xbox Everywhere & Cloud Gaming)
Hi, everyone! Wynn here again. Welcome back to another Xbox Insider Team interview. We’re sitting down to chat with Vanessa—a (slightly not) Technical Program Manager who focuses on Xbox Everywhere and Cloud Gaming. How’re you doing?
Haha. Okay, I loved that intro. I’m doing great.
Yeah, when you sent over your job title as “Not Technical Program Manager” for the pre-work, I chuckled, so I wanted to make sure I included it.
It was perfect.
Excellent. Well, let’s hop right in. Tell the Community a little bit about yourself.
Where to begin. Well, I was born and raised in New York City. Grew up in Brooklyn, moved to the Bronx, and then to Washington Heights. I’ve seen it all. I’ve been into video games my entire life. I don’t think I can remember a time when I didn’t have a controller in my hand. I also love animals and you can hear my voice in some of the Xbox Support videos on YouTube.
Wow. That’s a lot to unpack.
Let’s start with living in New York for your whole life. That’s gotta be pretty cool, yeah?
Well, I grew up as a kid in Brooklyn, but I also spent some time all up and down the East Coast before moving back to the Bronx. So not my whole life, but a pretty large chunk of it.
I know New Yorkers can have a lot of “hometown” pride for their borough. Having lived in a couple, do you have a preference?
I’ve lived in the Bronx the longest, so I’m going to rep the BX. [For context, Vanessa threw her arms up in an “X” symbol here.] But really, all the boroughs are great places to be. Except Staten Island, they don’t count.
Haha. They’re not even really connected to the city, right? I mean come on.
Exactly. What a joke.
So, about this lore drop of being in Xbox Support videos. Tell us more.
Yeah, so I was lucky enough to be in a few of those, which was cool because I got to flex my voice acting muscles.
Have you voice acted in other things?
Nothing really big that I could point to. I mostly audition for commercial work.
How’d you get into voice acting originally?
It was something that sort of found me in college. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and I ended up taking a theatre class and absolutely loved it. I knew I wanted to do something with acting, but I’m not that great of singer.
So, you couldn’t do the typical New York, “I’m on Broadway” route.
Right. I saw at this place called Actors Connection there was a Voice Acting in Video Games 101 coming up and I thought it sounded interesting. I was playing Uncharted at the time and was inspired by Nolan North’s performance, so I gave it a shot. It ended up being incredible. The teachers were amazing, and it solidified that voice acting was something I wanted to pursue.
I’ll be looking for your name in the next Gears, then.
Haha. I wish! My VA stuff has been kind of on the backburner for a bit because when I started this role back in 2021, I wanted to really focus on it. But that’s why stuff like the Xbox Support videos is so cool. Not every VA job is going to be glamorous, main character type gigs. That’s why I focused on commercials to build my portfolio out.
That makes sense. Everyone has to start somewhere, right?
Yes, exactly that.
Speaking of starting though, you mentioned you joined the Xbox Insider Team in 2021, but was that your first Microsoft role?
No. I started a few years before that in the 5th Avenue retail store.
Oh, wow! That place was massive. An entire floor just for gaming tournaments and stuff.
Yeah, it was a pretty wild place to work. Absolutely always busy. But I think my time at the Nintendo Store was probably more hectic, more often.
Microsoft and Nintendo Stores? Living the charmed retail life.
I think I preferred Microsoft over Nintendo, but I did get to meet Reggie [Fils-Aimé] so that was pretty awesome.
I am insanely jealous. So, did you start out as a Product Advisor?
Yup! I did that for almost my whole tenure. I helped out with the gaming stuff and was just starting to shift focuses when the shutdown happened. I had just done a really cool panel with some voice actresses in the store in January 2020, and was thinking, “This is my year.”
Oof. That’s a rough one.
The stores shutting down was definitely a hard time. I shifted to the training team helping businesses with Teams and SharePoint. But I had this anxiety because I wasn’t sure how sustainable it was and, living in New York, there just wasn’t a lot of opportunities in-state. I was incredibly thankful that the original Xbox Customer Success Manager position opened because they explicitly wanted people from all over the country and were set up to support remote work. I didn’t have to choose between my career and my life I had built here.
I think the move to embracing remote work was an all-up win, even if it was required in a lot of cases. Like, our team now is all over the place and it’s 100% better because of it.
Absolutely, like I think we’re the only two on the East Coast on the team.
Which means we get to sleep in every day. See! That’s a win right there.
Ha. I’ll admit it’s nice to not have to worry about 8am meetings very often.
So, do you have anything you’re working on right now you can tell the community about?
Nothing super concrete. But I will say that we’re doing a lot of work on the PC-side of things to get better communication, better info, etc. out to Xbox Insiders. So, if you’re a PC-only Xbox Insider, I think you’ll be excited by the rest of the year.
Excellent. We love to see it.
Of the things you can tell us about, what’s been your favorite thing you’ve worked on since starting at Xbox.
I think the ability to really help people with their issues was something that motivated me while I was a CSM, and it’s something that I took into this role because it’s so important. In that vein, I worked on a lot of the initial support stuff for the Elite 2 Controller launch, and the combination of helping people plus getting to see the shiny new gadget before it released is probably my favorite.
I like that. A nice combo of two different interests.
Okay, we’re pivoting to the more rapid-fire questions now. What’s a game that has had a big impact on your life in some way?
Super Metroid, hands down. It created the best genre of games that still exists today. It’s the perfect blend of action, horror, and atmospheric exploration. Samus is the original strong female protagonist, and no one does it better than her. I honestly don’t know if that game will ever be topped for me.
It’s interesting. I missed Super Metroid when it first came out. I love it, but something about Prime resonated with me more, even though I love MetroidVania games.
The whole Metroid series is great, but Super just scratches that itch like nothing else. When I left the Nintendo Store, one of the things I took with me was this giant Metroid standee that I still have in my apartment.
I have one of those from GameStop. Except it’s from the 3DS re-release of Ocarina of Time. It’s made four moves in the last 10 years and is still going strong; despite my wife maybe wanting to set it on fire.
Moving on from gaming, are you jamming anything on repeat recently?
I’ve been trying to get my fiancé into Daft Punk recently because I’m convinced that no one can’t not like that band. He hates all their newer stuff, so we’ve been going through the back catalog. He’s been vibing with the Discovery album the most and I have no problem with that being on repeat. Otherwise, I’m the standard millennial who doesn’t listen to anything after the early 2010s.
It’s funny. There’s a radio station back in Atlanta who does like “soft rock” stuff, which I don’t even know if that’s a genre anymore. But their tagline when I was growing up was, “The 80s, 90s, and Now!” and when I was back home recently, I was scrolling through and it’s somehow still their slogan. Like, “Now” is suddenly almost 25 years of music, y’all need a better word.
It’s just that period of like 30 or so years is undefeated for me, but it’s probably like you said, because I grew up listening to it.
Exactly. In a similar vein, any movies around that time frame that you keep on repeat? A fav that you watch every year?
I’m actually not really a person who rewatches stuff. There’re so many different movies, or shows, or anything out there, I don’t have time to rewatch them.
I feel pretty similarly. There’s a couple of games I make exceptions for, or like, holiday movies I might watch, but that’s about it.
Oh! I guess my fiancé makes us watch A Christmas Story every year, so does that count?
Hot take incoming. I wish he’d choose anything other than the worst Christmas movie of all time, but sure that counts.
Yeah, I’d rather it be Gremlins.
Jingle All The Way for me. Peak Christmas movie; will never be topped.
Okay, we talked a bit about hobbies previously with voice acting, but do you have any others?
I collect figures. Wanna see?
Readers, I must break the fourth wall here because Vanessa turned on her camera and gave me a guided tour of her apartment. I literally cannot describe to you adequately just how many figures there were. Video game, anime, amiibo. Posable, fixed, plushies. An entire Ikea showroom full of Billy Bookshelves packed to the brim. It was an incredible sight to see. I’ll pick up the conversation after she finished the tour.
I’m still just stunned. I have no idea what I’m going to write for that, but that collection is amazing.
A lot of them are also my fiancé’s, but we love that we can share this hobby together.
Well, we’re definitely at time now, so any last thoughts you’d like to share with the team?
Oh, I’m bad at this sort of thing, but I guess I just want to say like, the team is human? We’re all just people trying to work hard on the stuff that we love. We hear the community, and we want to do all the things but sometimes we just can’t. And I know that it’s easy to say that from our side, but hopefully these chats give a little insight into how much everyone here really does eat/sleep/breathe Xbox and how much we care about the userbase. I think we’ve got a lot of cool stuff coming up, so hopefully all our Xbox Insiders are excited!
Beautifully said Vanessa. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today.
You’re very welcome!
Xbox Insiders, be sure to be on the lookout for more content all throughout February including more interviews from the team, a trip down memory lane, and so much more. All of our 10th Anniversary content can be found on our Hub Page.
The critically acclaimed action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment – in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games – is coming to the Play List on April 25, 2024, for all EA Play members. PC Game Pass and Ultimate Game Pass members can start their adventures this week as a part of their membership to experience the next chapter in Cal Kestis’ saga.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has earned top accolades and awards – including IGN’s Best Action Game of 2023, PC Gamer’s Best Adventure Game of 2023, and a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media.
The game follows Cal Kestis as he explores an untamed galaxy while carrying its hopes for the future on his shoulders. Members can look forward to discovering new planets and revisiting familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. All the while, they’ll be mastering new skills, equipment, and abilities as they traverse the grandiose landscapes.
EA Play also offers members regular in-game rewards. Here are the latest items, coins, and boosts, all claimable now:
Apex Legends Apex Logo (Precious Peaks) Weapon Charm – Now to April 30
Battlefield 2042 Brigade Buster – Now to April 30
EA Sports FC 24 Clubs FC Pro Black Glasses – Now to April 25
EA Sports FC 24 VOLTA FC Pro Neck Tattoo and COINS – Now to April 25
EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team Draft Token – Now to May 14
Madden NFL 24 MUT April Pack – Now to April 30
WRCSeason 4 Rewards – Now to June 3
NHL 24 Super Hero Set – Now to May 22
NHL 24 WOC Coins – Now to May 22
NHL 24 WOC Battle Pass XP Modifier – Now to May 22
Game Pass Ultimate members can claim more member benefits in the Xbox Perks section in the Game Pass App or on console. This month’s perks include:
F1 23 24,000 PitCoin – Now to April 29
NHL 24 Mega Players Pack – April 18 to May 9
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play with their Game Pass subscription. Members enjoy great player benefits, including in-game challenges and rewards, special member-only content, trials of select new games such as EA Sports FC 24 and access to a collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, including the recently added EA Sports PGA Tour and EA Sports NHL 24. In addition, all members get 10% off purchases of Electronic Arts digital content.
Visit the EA Play page for more details, and to stay up to date on the latest from EA Play, follow EA Play on, Instagram, or X. Please see EA.com/EA-Play/Terms for terms and conditions.
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times – but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?
• Continue Cal’s Journey – No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. Carrying the memories and expectations of the Jedi Order with him, his crusade against the Empire has only become more perilous. The Dark Times are closing in – with enemies new and familiar surrounding him, Cal will need to decide how far he’s willing to go to save those closest to him.
• Go Beyond Your Training – The cinematic combat system returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Creatively leverage all these abilities and weapons to strategically take on an expanded host of enemies, sizing up strengths and weaknesses while cleverly utilizing your training to overcome your opponents and solve the mysteries that lay in your path.
• Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
Unlock exclusive cosmetic items inspired by Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, as seen in STAR WARS: A New Hope, with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Deluxe Edition*.
• The “Galactic Hero” Cosmetic Pack
– The “Scoundrel” Cosmetic
– The “Rugged” BD-1 Cosmetic
– The “DL-44” Blaster Set
• The “New Hero” Cosmetic Pack
– The “Rebel Hero” Cosmetic
– The “BD-Astro” BD-1 Cosmetic
– The “Rebel Hero” Lightsaber Set
The story of Cal Kestis continues in STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, a galaxy-spanning third-person action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games. This narratively driven single-player adventure continues five years after the events of STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight to protect the galaxy from descending into darkness.
• Continue Cal’s Journey – No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. The Dark Times are closing in – with enemies new and familiar surrounding him, Cal will need to decide how far he’s willing to go to save those closest to him.
• Go Beyond Your Training – The cinematic combat system from Jedi: Fallen Order returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Combine all these abilities and weapons to find your distinct style and defeat enemies new and old.
• Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and revisit familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will enhance the ways you explore, fight, and roam.
IGN x ID@Xbox Digital Showcase Returns April 29, 2024
Brenda Saucedo, Communications Manager, Xbox
Summary
The ID@Xbox Digital Showcase will premiere on April 29, 2024, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST.
Get the latest updates on games like Vampire Survivors, Dungeons of Hinterberg, 33 Immortals, Lost Records Bloom & Rage, and more!
If you miss out, IGN will have the ID@Xbox Digital Showcase archived on their channel after the show concludes.
Last year, you got a first-hand look at Karateka, Axiom Verge 2,Sea of Stars, and many other incredible games during the first IGN x ID@Xbox Digital Showcase. Today, we’re excited to announce that the show is returning on April 29, 2024, with another batch of hotly anticipated indies for you to play across Xbox and PC.
On top of epic trailers, fresh gameplay, and new reveals, the show will feature new details on upcoming games like Dungeons of Hinterberg, 33 Immortals, Lost Records Bloom & Rage, and many others.
The ID@Xbox Showcase will premiere on April 29, 2024, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST and you can tune in across all IGN Platforms.
We are also proud to share that the ID@Xbox Digital Showcase will also be available in American Sign Language (ASL): Stream the ID@Xbox Digital Showcase in ASL. We hope you’ll join us for lots of indie goodness, but if you cannot watch live, the showcase will be available on demand post-premiere on IGN’s channels, and of course, we’ll have a recap of everything showcased on Xbox Wire!
From Wētā Workshop, known for their work on the world of Middle-earth for The Lord of the Ring film trilogy, comes Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, a Hobbit life sim set in the Middle-earth universe of J.R.R. Tolkien. Coming later this year to Xbox Series X|S.
Wishlist on Xbox: https://www.xbox.com/games/store/tales-of-the-shire/9PKKJBVPP4GW
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Explore New Worlds and Solve Environmental Challenges With Gaming This Earth Day
Trista Patterson, Director of Sustainability, Xbox
Summary
Explore games that allow players to explore and engage with the natural world
Help Duriel sacrifice his horde as they donate buckets of maggots to Tiggywinkles animal rescue hospital
Learn about a new building at Rare, which has sustainability at its heart
At Microsoft we have made bold commitments to improve the impact of our business on the environment. Consequently, Xbox has made strategic, innovative and meaningful investments that scale up across the gaming industry:
Our Shutdown (Energy Saving) power mode, Active Hours and Carbon Aware console updates have made the use of our consoles more energy and emissions efficient.
The Xbox Sustainability Toolkit has empowered game developers to optimize their game code for energy efficiency on Xbox consoles and beyond.
In addition to these software innovations, we are making advancements in hardware and infrastructure spaces as well:
We are supporting impact reductions in-office, with Rare unveiling a new LEED Gold accredited building on its UK campus — Xbox’s first mass timber building in Europe for Xbox Game Studios.
As important as it is that we make these material changes, one of the great benefits gaming can have on environmental issues is often overlooked! The medium of gaming can act as a tool which provides world exploration for those that may not easily access the natural environment. It also fosters outside of the box thinking, empathy, and team action – all necessary ingredients to solve environmental issues. Gaming can unlock the world, break the barriers of what is possible and inspire environmental action for generations to come.
Read on to learn more about gaming as a medium for environmental change and how Xbox is celebrating Earth Day.
Bring climate and sustainability science to life with incredible animals. Minecraft Education Planet Earth III created in partnership with BBC Earth engages students with a free curriculum that includes lesson plans and discussion guides. Explore the way these animals’ lives are intertwined by playing as both predator and prey, parent and offspring, friend and ally, and discover the precarious balance of survival.
Research climate change while learning the principles of AI. With Minecraft Education AI for Earth students will learn principles of AI while taking their first steps into this exciting realm of computer science. Learners will use the power of AI in a range of exciting real-world scenarios, including preservation of wildlife and ecosystems, helping people in remote areas, and research on climate change.
Explore games with environmental themes on Game Pass
Simulation games provide a unique ability to explore and grow environments while also managing and regenerating natural resources. Check out these games that highlight these themes within their mechanics and stories:
Lightyear Frontier (Game Preview) (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Build a sustainable ecofarm and carefully manage your relationship with the ecosystem in this peaceful open-world farming adventure on a planet at the far edge of the galaxy. This game encourages sustainability efforts, including planting trees to replace those you harvest and cleaning up pollution. Invite up to three friends to create a flourishing homestead.
Coral Island (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Play a part in conserving native flora and fauna, dive into the seas to clean up the coral reef, and pick up trash all around the island in this family-friendly farming simulator inspired by Southeast Asia. The development team from Indonesia included themes of conservation in the way players must maintain the island’s ecosystem all while encouraging you to form a bond with nature.
Stardew Valley (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – You’ve inherited your grandfather’s overgrown farm plot and with a little dedication, you might be able to restore Stardew Valley to greatness! With an anti-consumerism plot against the JoJa Corporation and a whole lot of land to explore, Stardew Valley showcases love of nature and focuses on life’s simple pleasures.
Give
The Seattle Aquarium uses Xbox Controllers to research the depths of local waterways
Xbox is excited to spotlight and support the incredible underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) research work of the Seattle Aquarium—a program designed to inform habitat restoration efforts throughout the region and reverse the decline of local kelp forests. The aquarium’s ROV Nereo, named after the scientific name for bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), is a small, customizable, and easily maneuverable device that can dive up to 100 meters deep and transmit live video and data to the surface. Our favorite part? The researchers use Xbox controllers to pilot the ROV Nereo and navigate through the dense and dynamic kelp forests in Elliott Bay, the waterway surrounding the aquarium.
In addition to providing food and shelter for hundreds of marine animals, bull kelp also sequesters carbon from the water and locally mitigates the effects of ocean acidification. While some regions in the Salish Sea have thriving kelp forests, other regions are seeing up to a 95% decline, and researchers aren’t always sure why. The aquarium’s ROV work helps researchers survey declining kelp ecosystems and the factors that impact their health so the broader Washington kelp conservation, restoration, and management community can work towards restoration.
To expand the scope and scale of this work, the aquarium is collaborating with the Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Shellfish Program to help them get their own ROV program up and running. The aquarium is also partnering with state agencies and Reef Check to compare ROV and scuba diving as methods for collecting data, and to evaluate the effectiveness of different environmental monitoring strategies. By using Xbox controllers to operate the ROV, the aquarium is not only making research more fun and accessible to future generations of marine conservationists, but also demonstrating the power of technology for environmental conservation and education. Through education and outreach events with a variety of local organizations, the aquarium hopes this program will inspire more people to appreciate and protect the kelp forests and the marine life they support.
Duriel the Maggot King has enlisted Diablo IV fans to help sacrifice his horde. For every 25 likes on the Earth Day post from Diablo’s X account, Blizzard will be donating a bucket of Maggots to Tiggywinkles, up to 666 buckets of maggots, to help feed their bird nursery. With each bucket containing roughly 45,000 maggots, you could help Blizzard fund Tiggywinkle’s bird rehabilitation program for more than two years by simply liking their post.
Tiggywinkles is a specialist animal rescue hospital in the UK. They are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating all species of local wildlife. Every animal brought to the hospital is given a chance and treated with the best available care. Any animal or bird unable to be released back to the wild is maintained at the Hospital, in as natural conditions as possible. Head to the Diablo X account to help turn likes into buckets of maggots for the birds.
Engage
Barn X on the Rare Campus
Xbox has constructed its first mass timber building in Europe at Rare, the Xbox Game Studio and creator of Sea of Thieves. The new solar-powered studio is already inspiring game developers to create unique shared experiences for players.
Located in Twycross, Leicestershire, Rare’s new building – called ‘Barn X’ – was opened in early 2023 on the Rare campus, which is surrounded by nature in the heart of the English countryside.
Rare’s Studio Head, Craig Duncan, said: “Our new barn is a demonstration of leading-edge sustainability and environmental design, creating a model green workplace. The opportunity to expand our campus by building a state-of-the-art environment for our teams while supporting Microsoft to achieve its sustainability goals has been genuinely rewarding. The new space design promotes collaboration, creativity and wellbeing, which are essential ingredients for a team to create fun experiences for players everywhere.”
Barn X has recently been certified LEED GOLD for its design and construction – a worldwide-recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. It is one example of how Microsoft is implementing sustainable solutions for the future as it pursues its goal to be carbon negative by 2030.
You can read more about the new building and how it is enabling creativity and enhancing wellbeing here.
Playing for the Planet Annual Impact Report
As a founding member of the Playing 4 The Planet Alliance, we are excited to share the 2023 Annual Impact Report. The report includes:
A measure of progress towards Playing 4 the Planet’s strategic goals.
Updates on focus areas, such as decarbonization, The Green Game Jam, and more.
A review of members’ commitments towards sustainability.
And even more from Team Microsoft: Visit Microsoft Unlocked to explore innovations across Microsoft products, partners and customers that are helping to achieve our carbon goals!
