Everything announced at Microsoft’s Xbox Partner Preview
Welcome back to the FBC in Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak
Microsoft broadcasted its Xbox Partner Preview on Thursday, featuring updates from Remedy Entertainment, Sega, and plenty more. Players got a look into Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Alan Wake 2’s next expansion, and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. The event began at 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday, streamed on YouTube, Twitch, and LinkedIn.
Everything featured — more than a dozen trailers over 25 minutes — was from Microsoft’s external’s partners, meaning nothing from Xbox’s internal studios. The stream featured a ton of horror games, like Phasmophobia and Alan Wake 2: The Lake House. But the most exciting news might be what came last: a co-op shooter set in the Control universe, called FBC: Firebreak.
Missed the event, which Xbox described as “no-fluff, all-games?” Here’s what you can expect from Microsoft’s third party partners in the future.
Alan Wake 2: The Lake House
Microsoft kicked off its Xbox Partner Preview with a trailer for the upcoming Alan Wake 2 DLC, called The Lake House. It’ll be released on Oct. 22. It’s definitely a much darker, horror-based take on Alan Wake. Perfect for Halloween!
Chronos: The New Dawn
Next up, more horror! The scary trailer for Bloober Team’s Chronos: The New Dawn features a granny playing chess with a bloodied, science fiction-looking monster hunter. There’s a lot of creepy crawly monsters, and the game’s expected out next year.
Blindfire
Less blood and guts, but more heart-racing gameplay is on offer in Blindfire, a shooter that “removes light” and is in early access right now.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
The Yakuza franchise heads to the high seas in Hawaii for a rousing pirate adventure in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. As with other games in the Yakuza franchise, it seems to be based in magical realism, but make it pirates.
Mouse: P.I. for Hire
Mouse: P.I. for Hire looks straight out of Disney’s old Mickey Mouse cartoons. The noir mystery shooter looks like it’ll be available in 2025.
Subnautica 2
Back to scary! Microsoft showed a trailer for Subnautica 2 — the co-op game is a survival game set in an alien planet’s ocean, and it looks positively horrific. It’ll be released in early access in 2025. Microsoft also confirmed it’ll be on Game Pass.
Animal Well
Surprise! Animal Well will be released on Xbox Series X on Thursday. The neon platformer is one of the year’s best indie games — so Xbox players won’t want to miss out.
Edens Zero
Edens Zero will be released in 2025. It’s based off Hiro Mashima’s manga of the same name.
Eternal Strands
Burn, freeze, or throw everything in Eternal Strands, to be released in 2025. The game looks to give players a ton of freedom in how they want to take on the world’s monsters. Microsoft also confirmed it’ll be on Game Pass.
Mistfall Hunter
Microsoft described Mistfall Hunter as a mix between extraction games and souls-likes, expected out in 2025.
Wheel World
Get cycling in publisher Annapurna Interactive’s Wheel World, formerly known as Ghost Bike. The bike-based adventure game mixes the carefree nature of cycling with what seems to be a little mystery. Microsoft also confirmed it’ll be on Game Pass.
Phasmophobia
Hit horror ghost-hunting game Phasmophobia is making its way to Xbox Series X on Oct. 29. Another great way to spend your Halloween night.
The Legend of Baboo
Who doesn’t love a game with a dog? The Legend of Baboo is coming to Windows PC and Xbox in 2025. Even better, you’ll be able to play as the dog, Baboo, and its human companion Sepehr.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
OK, that’s gory! The Wuchang: Fallen Feathers trailer began with a person wading through a forest of dead, hanging bodies before showcasing the game’s sword-fighting gameplay. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will be released in 2025. Microsoft also confirmed it’ll be on Game Pass.
FBC: Firebreak
Set in the world of Control, FBC: Firebreak is a multiplayer first-person shooter coming to Windows PC and Xbox Series X in 2025. The three-player cooperative shooter is set in Control’s Federal Bureau of Control as “deadly,” “otherworldly forces” lay siege to the headquarters. Microsoft also confirmed it’ll be on Game Pass.
