Dune: Awakening is finally upon us, sort of, and its initial response has been pretty good.

I say sort of, because it's currently in its advanced access period, reserved for those who buy the most expensive version of the game. Nevertheless, it's already boasting strong numbers on Steam.

Despite access to Dune: Awakening only going live on June 5, things are already looking extremely good for Funcom's survival epic.

As it stands at the time of writing, Dune: Awakening has peaked at 93,634 concurrent players on Steam, sitting at over 60,000 right now. It died off significantly in the early hours of this morning, but there was also a maintenance period, so it's explainable.

For a game that's required purchase of the $70 or $90 edition to get access to the early play period, that's not a bad first day at all. It's also a pretty accurate look at the initial state of the game, since at present it's only available on PC, and only through Steam.

With the weekend incoming, followed by the general launch on June 10, all signs point to the player counts going up over the coming days and weeks, too.

Further signs of impending success were seen before Dune: Awakening was available in any form, with it briefly overtaking Elden Ring: Nightreign on the Steam bestsellers chart, a game which we know has already sold bucket loads.

Toss in the early reviews for the game on Steam sitting at "very positive" and so far, at least, it looks like being a game worthy of the wait. There was no review period for press, indeed our own codes only went live with the advanced access. But so far the players, at least, are happy.

Eventually we're expecting a console release of Dune: Awakening, but as yet, that's still to be confirmed. With Summer Game Fest happening this weekend, though, fingers crossed that changes.

If you've been playing Dune: Awakening so far, jump into the comments and let us know what you think!

I'm not well-versed in the Dune universe (I saw the first modern movie, but haven't read the books) and I haven't historically played a lot of MMORPGs. Somehow, seeing an early preview of Dune: Awakening (and later playing for a few minutes in a closed demo with Razer) changed my tune on both accounts. Dune: Awakening's actual release date has been mired under several closed betas and shifting time frames, though, making it difficult to manage my excitement.

That changes today. Funcom has finally announced the official release date for Dune: Awakening, as well as some new information on preorders, the standalone character creator and benchmark tool, and bonuses for early adapters. The only thing that's missing... Is any mention of a console release for Xbox and PlayStation.

When is Dune: Awakening releasing on PC?

Dune: Awakening officially launches on May 20, 2025, but the expansive Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (yeah, I'm just saying MMORPG from now on) is arriving exclusively via the Steam platform. If you remember hearing that Dune: Awakening is also supposed to release on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, then you would be correct.

Unfortunately, Funcom has nothing to share on that topic right now. Dune: Awakening is coming to Windows PC via Steam first, and consoles should happen at some point down the line.

Can I preorder Dune: Awakening right now?

Dune: Awakening will be going up for preorder soon. "Soon" being the operative term, as it's not clear exactly when you'll be able to reserve your spot on the dunes of Arrakis, but it is happening.

Funcom has stated that Dune: Awakening will start at $49.99 at Steam for the base game, which is actually lower than the typical $70 I fully expected. Funcom explicitly mentioning "base game" does indicate that there will be more expensive versions players can preorder, likely with additional in-game bonuses and resources.

Everyone who preorders, however, will receive the "Terrarium of Maud'Dib" in-game item, a decorative piece for your personal base that lets you watch a Maud'Dib (a mouse-like creature local to Arrakis) happily live in its safe environment.

Does Dune: Awakening have a character creator or benchmark tool?

Actually, yes, and it's available starting today! The Dune: Awakening Character Creation and Benchmark Mode is dropping on Steam for free today, and will allow players to go through the full, in-depth character creation process. That doesn't just mean how you look (although there are a lot of options there, too), but where your character comes from, their backstory, and the school of thought that determines your starting abilities.

Once your character is created, you can also use the benchmark tool to test your PC's hardware, finetuning performance and visual settings to ensure your gaming rig is compatible. Plus, Funcom says the benchmark tool spoils players with plenty of gorgeous in-game footage.

Any characters you create using this tool will be fully transferable to the full game at launch, so you can really decide your path on Arrakis early and be ready the moment the game drops on May 20. Just downloading and playing the Character Creation and Benchmark Mode will net you a code you can redeem for the exclusive "Frameblade" knife skin at launch, too.

When is Dune: Awakening coming to Xbox and PlayStation?

As far as I know, Dune: Awakening is still coming to consoles, or more specifically Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 and 5 Pro. Funcom hasn't suggested anything otherwise, but that's only because Funcom hasn't suggested anything at all. There's no mention of a console release today, so Dune: Awakening is clearly slated just for PC on May 20.

Although there's no new information to share on a console release for Dune: Awakening right now, I have asked Funcom to confirm that when Dune: Awakening does arrive players will be able to keep all their progress — including their early preorder and character creation bonuses. I hope the answer is "yes" on that front, but Funcom may not be ready to reveal its secrets until all the details for Dune: Awakening on Xbox comes to light.

My first experience with the legendary sci-fi Dune universe was watching the 2021 live action movie two days before I flew out to San Francisco for GDC 2024... And I only had time to watch the first two-thirds of it. On top of my blatant lack of knowledge on the franchise, I'm also historically not a huge fan of either survival or MMORPG video games. There have been some exceptions, such as Minecraft or Grounded, but for the most part both genres have usually failed to capture my long-term attention.

That's why it was odd for me to go preview Dune: Awakening with the developers at Funcom, a blend of both genres set in the Dune universe. I was the only member of the Windows Central team in San Francisco for the convention, though, so I did what research I could on Funcom and Dune and settled in for the unfamiliar. An hour later, I walked away with two thoughts: I really need to finish the Dune movie, and I really want to play this game.

Travel to and from and accommodation at GDC 2024 in San Francisco, California was paid for by Windows Central. Funcom did not see the contents of this article before publishing.

What is Dune: Awakening?

What you need to know

• Dune: Awakening is an open-world, survival and massive-multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Dune sci-fi universe.
• It's developed and published by Funcom, most known for the Conan Exiles online survival game.
• In Dune: Awakening, players are stranded on the hostile planet of Arrakis, and must learn to survive the dangers of the desert.
• Dune: Awakening doesn't have a release window yet, but will come to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 at the same time.

It probably won't surprise you to hear this, but Dune: Awakening is set in the Dune universe created by sci-fi fantasy author Frank Herbert in 1965. The franchise is currently enjoying a major modern revival thanks to two critically acclaimed live action movies, and this video game is part of that interpretation of the universe. Well, visually, at least; the writers behind Dune: Awakening are pulling inspiration from all Dune media, including the original books.

This is an open-world, survival massive-multiplayer online role-playing game. That's a lot of words to basically mean "big world, many players, custom characters, crafting and surviving gameplay." Dune: Awakening features its own original storyline set on the infamous planet of Arrakis, where the spice trade at the center of Dune originates. Gameplay-wise, it's similar in spirit but massively evolved compared to Conan Exiles, the most well-known flagship title developed and published by Norwegian company Funcom.

Dune: Awakening has been in the work for years, but it's still a solid way away from its full release. It's not to be confused with Dune: Spice Wars, the 4X real-time strategy game available now on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Xbox Game Pass. That's also published by Funcom, but it's developed by Shiro Games — It's reasonable to assume that Funcom has a partnership with the Dune IP, and Dune: Awakening is by far the most ambitious project to come out of that collaboration so far.

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Dune: Awakening at GDC — An expanding RPG story

When you start Dune: Awakening, you're first greeted by the in-depth character creator — and when I say "in-depth," I mean it. You start with a basic template based on Dune archetypes, but you're then able to tweak and edit dozens of sliders and options to obtain the exact look you want, complete with plenty of variety for skin tones, hairstyles and more. Funcom also told me it's actively working on adding more diversity to this character creator ahead of launch, which is always great to hear.

Once your character is created, you'll meet the Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit, the leader of a powerful political and religious group. Through your conversation with the Reverend Mother, you'll decide on your character's history and starting traits and abilities — but you won't be locking yourself to any one playstyle. Through gameplay, you'll be able to unlock and mix any of the skills from the four main classes (Mentat, Acolyte, Trooper, or Swordmaster), so every character will be unique.

After, some cinematics and helpful exposition will eventually find your original character stranded on the desert planet of Arrakis, trapped in a cave with deep spiritual significance to the Fremen (the native population living on the planet). Dune: Awakening begins slowly introducing you to its survival and combat mechanics, teaching you how to endure such a hostile environment by staying hydrated and avoiding the midday sun. I'll go into more detail in the next section, though.

What's important is that Dune: Awakening does boast a full-fledged narrative, in which you'll slowly dive into various mysteries while learning to thrive on Arrakis. You'll meet new and familiar characters from the Dune universe and live through an original storyline. Funcom told me that the story at launch will be complete for players, but that it'll also get new chapters through post-launch expansions for those who love narrative-driven gameplay. I know I fit in that boat.

Everything I saw suggested that Dune: Awakening is a relatively strong RPG in and of itself, even if its narrative may not offer quite the choice or branching paths of other entries in the genre (I'm not sure on this front, but I did get that impression). Character progression is multi-tiered with a huge number of different play style options, for one, including stealth-based reconnaissance experts, support-types with powerful psychic abilities, fast and nimble melee masters, or a combination of all or none of these.

As your level and your knowledge increase, your character in Dune: Awakening will become more able to withstand all the challenges of Arrakis. Well, except for the sand worms.

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Dune: Awakening at GDC — Survival at its finest

Much of the gameplay in Dune: Awakening firmly fits in the "survival" genre, including the collection and management of resources (including analyzing the weaknesses of mineral deposits to more efficiently harvest them), crafting of gear, bases, and vehicles, and the constant fight against the elements to survive another day. Much of it very specifically fits within the context of Arrakis, too, highlighting how this universe is perfect for the survival genre.

Early on you'll obtain a Stillsuit of your own, which cycles and purifies your bodily fluids like sweat and urine to retain every last drop of moisture possible, which can very well save your life in the harsh deserts if you're unable to find hydration from plant life or other sources (including the blood of your enemies). You'll also have to be aware of the dangers of the sun when you travel, in addition to keeping an eye on your physical condition and stamina.

Even when you're in perfect condition in every way, Arrakis never lets up the danger. Daytime poses constant hazards due to heat, while nighttime brings its own challenges. Sandstorms are frequent occurrences that can wipe you out in moments, too. The biggest persistent threat, however, are sand worms. You have to be wary as you travel across the sandy dunes, as any amount of vibration (from walking to driving giant spice harvesters) will inevitably attract sand worms. These massive behemoths swallow everything in their path, and there's no way to fight them — all you can do is pray you reach the safety of rocky land in time.

You'll have to protect yourself from other living creatures, too. Humans, in particular, maintain their tendency to inflict violence on one another on Arrakis, and you'll have to employ all your skills to survive. Dart guns and melee weapons bypass personal shields, and your unique abilities can give you an edge with stealth, scouting, and damage output. You can even obtain various traversal abilities, such as the ability to float from any height and negate fall damage, or a grappling hook to quickly scale vertical obstacles.

In motion, the cycle of survival looks highly polished. Combat at times felt rough, but Funcom assured me it's still working to refine and optimize combat mechanics, particularly melee, to ensure it's at the pinnacle of third-person games. Still, something about learning to persist on Arrakis just draws me in; out of most survival games, Dune: Awakening seems particularly well-suited to the core tenets of the genre.

Of course, there are also plenty of crafting options. The basics such as gear crafting and upgrades for your weapons, Stillsuit, and more are here, as well as advanced crafting through special workbenches for components and higher-end upgrades. That's all great, I guess, but what captured my interest the most was base and vehicle crafting.

The base crafting seems very typical of other great survival games, complete with plenty of options and variants, so I won't go too far into that. The only thing I'll note is that you can plan your base building with holograms before committing and actually building the pieces, similar to how Grounded works. I like that.

Vehicle crafting, though, looks fascinating. There are quite a few vehicles in Dune: Awakening, including hoverbikes, spice harvesters, and multiple versions of Dune's iconic ornithopter. It's all modular, though; that means you start with a vehicle base, and then you build the vehicle how you choose by adding modules. It seems there are certain modules you need to make a vehicle operational (that go in specific places), but there's also a fair amount of customization available here, so you can even make your vehicles your own. I love that.

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Dune: Awakening at GDC — MMO fun with friends

The final piece of Dune: Awakening is its online experience, and this is oddly the part that attracted me the most during my preview. The world of Dune: Awakening is vast, ever-shifting, and is carefully balanced for solo, co-op, PvP, and any combination that guarantees you, personally, will enjoy your time in the game. The beginning of Dune: Awakening focuses on onboarding players, even those brand-new to the genre, to make the experience as seamless as possible.

Once you're free to explore all of Arrakis, you learn that everything behind the shield wall is constant and unchanging — in this massive area, you're free to play Dune: Awakening however you desire and access all of its gameplay mechanics without ever fearing interference from other players. Outside the shield wall, however, the desert constantly shifts and changes every week, wiping away player progress. Here, players compete with each other for valuable resources and treasure, making this wild, transforming area a high-risk, high-reward endeavor for those not afraid of a challenge — even if that challenge is other players.

You can think of that area as being like Rust, except you're always free to take your spoils and return to your permanent base inside the shield wall, safe from real-life threats. Both of these vastly different gameplay experiences can be done entirely solo, but Dune has a lot of features that makes co-op even more exciting. Building both bases and vehicles can be collaborative, for one, with one player designing and planning and the other collecting resources and crafting.

Harvest spice in the desert together, with one player driving the spice harvester and the other manning the carry-all ornithopter and watching for incoming threats like sand worms, sandstorms, or players if you're outside the shield wall. Take on larger combative threats together, too! I'm not certain how many players can work cooperatively together (are there parties, guilds, is it just a free-for-all in the servers), but there are a lot of reasons to play together. Careful, though, because there is friendly fire.

Even if you're not playing with friends, there are player hubs in the form of towns that let you safely socialize with other players and role-play, or interact with merchants and other game characters. This is also where you'll be able to participate in the in-game economy (which is entirely in-game, with no real-life money involved), with players able to buy and sell blueprints for base designs, mapping data from the newest areas outside the shield wall, and more.

What I saw from this early build of Dune: Awakening and what I learned from talking with the people at Funcom was very encouraging for the game. The studio has clearly put a lot of thought into how to make a balanced MMO for players of all skill levels, and it shows. There are also plenty of quality-of-life improvements, such as being able to pull resources from all chests in your base area when crafting, or being able to pick up chests and all their content when you want to move them around. There's seriously a lot of good stuff here.

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Dune: Awakening at GDC — A game worth waiting for

Dune. Survival gameplay. Massive online multiplayer. RPG mechanics — For most of my gaming career, I've only really been a fan of one of those things. I've played many RPGs, and some of my favorite gaming experiences have been in that genre. Dune: Awakening looks to combine the best parts of RPGs with the best parts of everything else to make something that could be spectacularly special. Assuming, of course, that Funcom takes the time to get it right.

MMOs especially are famously challenging to pull off, and players are understandably impatient for what may be the quintessential Dune video game. However, Funcom doesn't seem to be any rush to release Dune: Awakening. The team members I spoke to were very upfront about how much work remains to be done on visuals and cinematics, various gameplay mechanics like combat, polishing and optimizing, and networking.

At this point, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Dune: Awakening will launch simultaneously on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, but will it have cross-save or cross-play across platforms? Funcom couldn't tell me, because the studio hasn't quite figured that out yet. How many players can be in a server at once? Funcom also hasn't figured that out yet. Honestly, though, I hope Funcom takes every minute that it needs to make Dune: Awakening the best possible game that it can be.

I'm still beside myself in disbelief that a short one-hour preview has made me so excited about a game I'd normally gloss right over. I'm also glad I did preview it, because there's every chance I would've glossed it over in its normal marketing run. Dune: Awakening could be one of the best Xbox games of the year in, well, whatever year it releases, and I'll be patiently waiting for the day that happens. Um, insert clever Dune quote here (sorry, I told you I'm not a fan... yet).

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What you need to know

• Dune: Spice Wars is a 4X, real-time strategy game developed by Shiro Games and co-published by Funcom.
• Dune: Spice Wars entered early access earlier in 2022, and is slated for a full launch at some point in 2023. 
• Dune: Spice Wars is coming to PC Game Pass at some point "soon."

Another game is headed to PC Game Pass, and strategy fans will likely be happy with what's being offered.

As shared via Xbox Wire, Dune: Spice Wars is coming to PC Game Pass. Developed by Shiro Games and co-published by Funcom, Dune: Spice Wars is a 4X, real-time strategy game that tasks players with controlling a faction on the desert world of Arrakis and achieving victory through an assortment of means. 

Players have to harvest spice, use subterfuge and spies, build armies, and deal with the constant threat of sandstorms and the massive worms lurking underneath the dunes.

Dune: Spice Wars launched on PC earlier in 2022 as an early access title, with the developers offering consistent updates like new units, gameplay mechanics, and even a new faction in the form of House Corrino, the house of the Emperor and his legions of dreaded Sardaukar. 

Dune: Spice Wars is currently planned to leave early access at some point in 2023. There's no exact date for when PC Game Pass players can expect this game, but the announcement does say it will be coming "soon," whereupon it could be one of the best PC Game Pass games available.

This news comes just hours after Microsoft shared news of several games coming to Xbox Game Pass in November 2022, including Vampire Survivors, Return to Monkey Island, and Pentiment.

What you need to know

• Conan Exiles is an action game that takes place in a dangerous land.
• You have to scavenge food and build epic structures.
• The game is getting the long-requested mounts in December.
• You can purchase Conan Exiles for $27 on Amazon.

Updated December 5, 2019: The mounts update is now available in Conan Exiles. The patch also brings a lot of other enhancements like better movement, dodging, and more. You can take a look at the patch notes on Funcom's forums.

Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set in the savage lands of Conan the Barbarian. The game launched in May 2018, and has since received a lot of content updates. While the paid packs are cosmetic, the free updates have added new bosses and much more. However, the greatest changes seem like they're ahead of us.

Today, the developer, Funcom, announced that Conan Exiles is getting one of the longest-requested features. Soon, you'll be able to mount various creatures and wreck havoc on your foes. The team said, "A free update will see all exiles able to capture and train their own mounts, as well as a new pet leveling system and mounted combat. This means players will finally be able to charge into battle, wielding their sword high, driving their enemies before them!"

While the mount system will be free to everyone in December, a new cosmetic pack called Riders of Hyboria, will be released simultaneously for $10 and as part of the Year 2 Season Pass. This will offer a wider range of mounts and armor.

Are you excited for these changes? Let us know. Hopefully, you'll be able to ride the giant rhinoceros because that's sometime I've wanted to do since the game launched.

Xbox

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• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Conan Exiles is an action game that takes place in a dangerous land.
• You have to scavenge food and build epic structures.
• The game just got another cosmetic pack today.
• You can purchase Conan Exiles for $27 on Amazon.

Conan Exiles is a popular survival game from Funcom. The title has received a steady stream of updates over the years, and it's about to get long-awaited mounts in December.

Aside from free game-changing updates, Conan Exiles has received a lot of cosmetic downloadable content (DLC) over the years. Today, it got the rather sexy The Debaucheries of Derketo DLC which offers a host of new items and emotes, with overindulgence as the common denominator.

Debaucheries of Derketo pack is available for $10 and contains the following items.

• 10 new building pieces
• 10 new armor pieces
• 12 new emotes
• 10 new outfit pieces
• 6 new warpaints
• 29 new decoration pieces
• 10 new jewelry pieces

All the new content in The Debaucheries of Derketo is exclusive to this DLC, but does not give any in-game advantage in power. If you're interested, be sure to check it out on Xbox One and PC.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is getting an expansion this month.
• It adds new regions and a playable moose hero.
• The complete bundle will cost $40 at launch.
• You can buy a three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership for $45 on Amazon.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, is an XCOM-like strategy game that lets you explore a post-apocalyptic Sweden. While the base game garnered favorable reviews at launch, there's an expansion coming at the end of July on Xbox One and other platforms.

"Seed of Evil" picks up where the original left off and lets you continue your exploration of the devestated country. Unfortunately, there's a new menace looming on the horizon. According to publisher Funcom, powerful roots have emerged and seem to be taking control over the minds of friends and foes. Fortunately, a new hero has arrived to help you out.

The trailer reveals the new playable character called "Big Khan the Moose." Striding proudly in his Canadian jacket, Big Khan is not only skilled at landing critical hits, he comes with unique mutations that allow him to breathe fire. And no, he's some some random person in an antlered helmet.

If you're on PC, you can preorder the expansion on Steam for $15. A Digital Deluxe Edition will also be available, consisting of both the original game and the upcoming expansion at launch. Lastly, Mutant Year Zero is part of Xbox Game Pass, so you can always play the base game there in order to get ready for the upcoming content.

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PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

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Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

Conan Exiles is an online survival game either played from the first-person or third-person perspective. While the title features numerous characters and mysteries to uncover, it still revolves around gathering resources, learning new schematics, and crafting better gear or shelter. Starting off with nothing more than a stone house, you'll eventually be able to build entire cities from "Black Ice" with dangerous siege weaponry.

Today, Funcom released another add-on for Conan Exiles called "Seekers of the Dawn". Seekers of the Dawn introduces Yamatai-themed building pieces, weapons, armor, and pet skins. In the world of Conan Exiles, Yamatai is a mysterious island located to the north. Seekers of the Dawn is currently available on PC and should launch on Xbox One next week. It's a paid piece of cosmetic content and doesn't impact gameplay.

Conan Exiles has received tremendous post-launch support over the years. The performance was the most pressing issue at launch and now it runs well even on consoles. Hopefully there are larger pieces of content in the works that expand the map further. For example, players would love to explore Yamatai.

If you love Conan Exiles, be sure to check out the game on Xbox One and the pack. We would recommend playing it on Xbox One X because it upgrades the resolution to 1440p while competing consoles only hit 1080p.

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• See at Green Man Gaming

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Recently, developer Bearded Ladies and publisher Funcom announced Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. According to the companies, Mutant Year Zero is a tactical adventure featuring a story set on a "post-human" Earth. The game combines strategy and the turn-based combat of XCOM with real-time exploration and stealth gameplay. The team making Mutant Year Zero has members who previously worked on titles like Hitman and Payday.

Luckily, Mutant Year Zero is now available on Xbox One and PC. Better yet, it's also a part of Xbox Game Pass. You can purchase it digitally right now for $34.99 on the Xbox Store or subscribe to the subscription service for $9.99 a month. If you want a Netflix-like service for games, be sure to check out Xbox Game Pass which features over a hundred titles.

Mutant Year Zero is based on the classic "Mutant" franchise that has spawned several popular pen and paper games. Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish.

Funcom is known for unique experiences like Conan Exiles, so Mutant Year Zero seems like the right fit. Currently, it's unclear if the game is Xbox One X Enhanced because there's no indication on the Xbox Store.

See at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Do you remember the duck from the Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden announcement trailer? Well, he's getting a friend. Today, publisher Funcom and developer The Bearded Ladies revealed a new anthropomorphic fox hero. Farrow will be joining the duck when the game launches next week.

According to Funcom, Farrow is one of the recruitable characters you will encounter during your journey. When you find her, you may notice that she is not quite from around here. Her true origins are a mystery – even to her. All she knows is her name is Farrow. Specializing in stealth and assassination, Farrow comes equipped with skills and gear that make her adept at quickly and quietly dispatching her foes. Her signature ability makes her particularly valuable for initiating combat out of stealth.

Mutant Year Zero should launch on December 4, 2018 on Xbox Game Pass. You'll be able to buy it outright too. The game will also be available on both PC and PlayStation 4, but it won't be part of any subscription service like PlayStation Now. You can only preorder it digitally for $34.99 on the Xbox Store.

Mutant Year Zero is based on the classic franchise of the same name that has spawned several popular pen-and-paper games. Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish. The game picks up from there.

See at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Recently, developer Bearded Ladies and publisher Funcom announced Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. According to the companies, Mutant Year Zero is a tactical adventure featuring a story set on a "post-human" Earth. The game combines strategy and the turn-based combat of XCOM with real-time exploration and stealth gameplay. The team making Mutant Year Zero has members who previously worked on titles like Hitman and Payday.

This week, Funcom announced that Mutant Year Zero will be launching December 4, 2018 on Xbox Game Pass. You'll be able to buy it outright too. The game will also be available on both PC and PlayStation 4, but it won't be part of any subscription service like PlayStation Now. You can preorder it digitally right now for $34.99 on the Xbox Store.

Mutant Year Zero is based on the classic "Mutant" franchise that has spawned several popular pen and paper games. Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish.

Funcom is known for unique experiences like Conan Exiles and The Park, so Mutant Year Zero seems like the right fit. The game is set to release in 2018 on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. It's expected to be enhanced for Xbox One X, too.

See at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Recently, developer Bearded Ladies and publisher Funcom announced Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. According to the companies, Mutant Year Zero is a tactical adventure featuring a story set on a post-human Earth. The game combines strategy and the turn-based combat of XCOM with real-time exploration and stealth gameplay. The team making Mutant Year Zero has members who previously worked on titles like Hitman and Payday.

Today, Funcom announced that Mutant Year Zero will be launching December 4, 2018 on Xbox Game Pass. You'll be able to buy it outright too. The game will also be available on both PC and PlayStation 4, but it won't be part of any subscription service like PlayStation Now. The publisher released an extended gameplay video to celebrate this announcement.

Mutant Year Zero is based on the classic "Mutant" franchise that has spawned several popular pen and paper games. Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish.

Funcom is known for unique experiences like Conan Exiles and The Park, so Mutant Year Zero seems like the right fit. The game is set to release in 2018 on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. It's expected to be enhanced for Xbox One X, too.

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Conan Exiles is an addictive game which still suffers from some serious performance issues on Xbox One X and other platforms. However, that hasn't stopped it from becoming quite the sensation. Recently, Funcom announced that Conan Exiles is now the best-selling and fastest-selling game in the company's history.

Following that success, it seems like Funcom has a number of Conan games in development. According to a report by Only Single Player, there's a single-player Conan the Barbarian title in development, alongside another project by Petroglyph Games. You can read parts of the company's Q2 2018 report below.

• Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden will launch on December 4, 2018 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The game has had significant pick-up in social media and gaming press in Q3 2018.
• Petroglyph's Conan game to be released in Q2 2019.
• Rock Pocket's Funcom IP game to be released for the Halloween season of 2019.
• Funcom North Carolina's cooperative online shooter.
• Funcom Oslo's single-player Conan game.
• Funcom Oslo's open-world multiplayer game.

It's great to see that new Conan titles are in development. Hopefully the focus on single-player will allow the game to be more polished than Conan Exiles.

In our review, we said, "Conan Exiles is a good game which seems like a much more substantial experience than when it first appeared on Xbox One. If Funcom can perfect the console frame rate and eliminate the stuttering, then there's a chance that the title might be one of the most popular survival games on the system."

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Recently, developer Bearded Ladies and publisher Funcom announced Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. According to the companies, Mutant Year Zero is a tactical adventure featuring a story set on a post-human Earth. The game combines strategy and the turn-based combat of XCOM with real-time exploration and stealth gameplay. The team making Mutant Year Zero has members who previously worked on titles like Hitman and Payday.

Today, Funcom revealed new gameplay footage which showcases the combat. Mutant Year Zero takes place in a bleak world that's dilapidated. The dark and gloomy visuals give the game an ominous feel. Apart from that — unlike many other tactical experiences — Mutant Year Zero features unique abilities like flying. Health packs and other boosters are expensive so you can't afford to get hit.

Mutant Year Zero is based on the classic "Mutant" franchise that has spawned several popular pen and paper games. Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish.

Funcom is known for unique experiences like Conan Exiles and The Park, so Mutant Year Zero seems like the right fit. The game is set to release in 2018 on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. It's expected to be enhanced for Xbox One X, too.

See at Green Man Gaming

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Recently, developer Bearded Ladies and publisher Funcom announced Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. According to the companies, Mutant Year Zero is a tactical adventure featuring a story set on a post-human Earth. The game combines strategy and the turn-based combat of XCOM with real-time exploration and stealth gameplay. The team making Mutant Year Zero has members who previously worked on titles like Hitman and Payday.

Today, Funcom revealed new gameplay footage which showcases the combat and exploration for twenty minutes. Mutant Year Zero takes place in a bleak world that's dilapidated. The dark and gloomy visuals give the game an ominous feel. Apart from that — unlike many other tactical experiences — Mutant Year Zero features unique abilities like flying.

Mutant Year Zero is based on the classic "Mutant" franchise that has spawned several popular pen and paper games since the 1980s. Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish. However, the story doesn't end there, as mutants arise from the rubble.

Funcom is known for unique experiences like Conan Exiles and The Park, so Mutant Year Zero seems like the right fit. The game is set to release in 2018 on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more about the project.

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Conan Exiles is an addictive game which still suffers from some serious performance issues on Xbox One X and other platforms. However, that hasn't stopped it from becoming quite the sensation. Today, Funcom announced that Conan Exiles is now the best-selling and fastest-selling game in the company's history. Conan Exiles surpassed Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures which sold 1.4 million copies by the time it went free-to-play three years later.

Recently, Funcom released "The Imperial East Pack" for $9.99 which adds a host of gorgeous objects. In celebration of the sales milestone, the team revealed that more add-ons would hit the game very soon. The "Jewel of the West" content will launch in early August and is also expected to be $9.99. This pack introduces new Aquilonia-themed buildings, weapons, armor, furniture, and more. "Aquilonia" is the center of the civilized world and its clothing and architecture is inspired by that of the Romans.

Creative Director Joel Bylos issued the following statement alongside the Jewel of the West announcement.

It's great to see that pets and taming will be a free update for everyone. Hopefully it'll be here sooner rather than later. Just like Ark: Survival Evolved, taming creatures has been a much-requested feature.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Conan Exiles is an online survival game either played from the first-person or third-person perspective. While the title features numerous characters and mysteries to uncover, it still revolves around gathering resources, learning new schematics, and crafting better gear or shelter. Starting off with nothing more than a stone house, you'll eventually be able to build entire cities from "Black Ice" with dangerous siege weaponry.

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Conan Exiles is an addictive game which still suffers from some serious performance issues on Xbox One X and other platforms. However, that hasn't stopped the developer from releasing new content and fixing some bugs. Today, the creators unleashed The Imperial East Pack for $9.99 which adds a host of gorgeous objects.

According to Funcom, with The Imperial East Pack, you can build great palaces or mighty castles with a whole new set of "Khitan" building pieces. There are also three new armor variations and one new weapon set. These items look vastly different to anything seen in Conan Exiles.

Some of the main additions are listed below.

• Almost forty new Khitan building pieces.
  • Full set of building pieces.
• Fifteen new armor pieces in three sets.
  • Light, medium and heavy sets with an end-game version of each.
• Nine new weapons in one Khitan set.
• Five new warpaints.
• New placable objects like a dragon idol.
• New Khitan Artisan Station.

Keep in mind that the pack is only cosmetic and doesn't give you any in-game advantage over the competition. You'll just stand out from the crowd due to your spectacular style!

Conan Exiles is an online survival game either played from the first-person or third-person perspective. While the title features numerous characters and mysteries to uncover, it still revolves around gathering resources, learning new schematics, and crafting better gear or shelter. Starting off with nothing more than a stone house, you'll eventually be able to build entire cities from "Black Ice" with dangerous siege weaponry.

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Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Recently, developer Bearded Ladies and publisher Funcom announced Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. According to the companies, Mutant Year Zero is a tactical adventure featuring a story set on a post-human Earth. The game combines strategy and the turn-based combat of XCOM with real-time exploration and stealth gameplay. The team making Mutant Year Zero has members who previously worked on titles like Hitman and Payday.

Today, Funcom revealed new gameplay footage which showcases the combat and exploration. Mutant Year Zero takes place in a bleak world that's dilapidated. The dark and gloomy visuals give the game an ominous feel. Apart from that — unlike many other tactical experiences — Mutant Year Zero features unique abilities like flying.

Mutant Year Zero is based on the classic "Mutant" franchise that has spawned several popular pen and paper games since the 1980s. Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish. However, the story doesn't end there, as mutants arise from the rubble.

Funcom is known for unique experiences like Conan Exiles and The Park, so Mutant Year Zero seems like the right fit. The game is set to release in 2018 on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more about the project.

See at Green Man Gaming

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Conan Exiles is an online survival game either played from the first-person or third-person perspective. While the title features numerous characters and mysteries to uncover, it still revolves around gathering resources, learning new schematics, and crafting better gear or shelter. Starting off with nothing more than a stone house, you'll eventually be able to build entire cities from "Black Ice" with dangerous siege weaponry.

When the game initially appeared on Xbox Game Preview, there was some controversy surrounding censorship. PEGI, USK and ESRB are all game rating bodies which assign various classifications to every title. Many months ago, we reported that the American ESRB might give Conan Exiles an "AO for Adults Only" rating which could prevent it from coming to consoles. To avoid this, Funcom had to censor some adult content like exposed penises and testicles in certain countries.

Today, a Funcom spokesperson clarified the situation. On consoles, full nudity is only available in PEGI (Albania, Bulgaria, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and more) and USK (Germany) territories. You can activate it by downloading the "Nudity" add-on which come with the game purchase. Unfortunately, only partial nudity is available in ESRB (Bahamas, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, United States, and more) countries. If the ESRB gave Conan Exiles a rating higher than "M for Mature", it would've prevented the release of the game on numerous platforms in the lucrative American market.

While a lot of gamers living in ESRB countries will be disappointed, developers have to comply with rating agencies. Maybe one day the ESRB will view nudity as less severe than over-the-top violence. Until then, we can all look upon Europe with envy.

Updated May 9, 2018: "AO for Adults Only" is the highest and most restrictive of the American ESRB's ratings. Unfortunately, it dramatically impacts the commercial availability of games because Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony don't let AO games be published for their consoles due to their target audience. Apart from that, a lot of high-profile retailers like GameStop refuse to stock AO games. Lastly, even livestreaming platforms like Twitch ban AO games now. Unless there's a strong following on PC, an AO title won't garner as much exposure because it's limiting its retail viability. This is the reason developers choose to comply with ESRB ratings because the alternative dramatically hurts sales.

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Today, Funcom announced that Conan Exiles, the open-world survival game set in the savage lands of Conan the Barbarian, launched on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. The title was previously only available on Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access.

Today, a major launch update went out across all platforms, introducing massive new areas to the game. The company also said that Conan Exiles sold over a million copies even before launch. Lastly, the developer released a launch trailer which takes you through all of the main features. After watching it, you should have some idea on what to do and what it takes to succeed.

Conan Exiles has seen massive changes throughout development. The size of the world has more than doubled, dozens of new features have been added, and huge amounts of new content have made their into the game. Today's launch version introduces new swamp and volcano biomes, and adds the "Purge" where monsters regularly attack your base.

Funcom head Rui Casais issued the following statement alongside the game's release.

It's great to see that Conan Exiles is no longer in early access. Hopefully the title will live up to expectations now that it's a proper release and more gamers pick it up.

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Conan Exiles is an online survival game either played from the first-person or third-person perspective. While the title features numerous characters and mysteries to uncover, it still revolves around gathering resources, learning new schematics, and crafting better gear or shelter. Starting off with nothing more than a stone house, you'll eventually be able to build entire cities with dangerous siege weaponry. This progression — from a lowly exile to the most powerful being — is what makes Conan Exiles so rewarding to experience.

The most important, and somewhat controversial mechanic behind Conan Exiles is the "Thrall System". Thralls are effectively hostiles the player enslaves so that they become allies. In order to combat the countless otherworldly enemies which plague The Exiled Lands, this is necessary because you need a small army to take out certain strongholds. For example, The Unnamed City is filled with hordes of skeletons and other dragon-like creatures. There's even a massive "World Serpent" you have to fight among the ruins. Having thralls who can accompany you into battle is a necessity.

A large part of becoming stronger involves exploration. Finding new camps, cities, dungeons or ruins grants you a tremendous amount of experience points. This allows you to increase attributes like strength and vitality, as well as unlock new blueprints. However, many places are shrouded by a miasma called "Corruption". In other games, similar mists don't impact your health and stamina after you step out of them. In the case of Conan Exiles, there are permanent reductions to both which can only be restored by an "Entertainer".

It's unclear why Funcom decided to make "curing" Corruption this difficult because it hinders exploration. Finding a dancer at a camp is rare and even then you'll have to fight hordes of enemies just to covert that one character into a thrall. Usually they end up getting killed. Then, you have to watch the thrall for a while before the purple Corruption dissipates. This means that you won't be able to explore the important — and exciting — part of the open world until much later because it's filled with the toxic miasma.

Aside from exploration, day-to-day life focuses on hunting, chopping wood, collecting soft plants, and mining stone. These are the basic building blocks of a lot of items you see in the "Crafting" interface. Stone can be baked into bricks or crude weapons, wood can be shaped into various objects like tables or workbenches, and plant fiber can be woven into clothes. While better gear requires items like iron and resin, you can still get far with these basic materials.

When you go exploring, even if it's to an adjacent enemy camp, there's the chance of coming across chests. These can contain anything from wood to advanced weaponry. During our playthrough of the near-final build which totaled to over 27 hours, we were able to find everything from steel pickaxes to rare swords in them. Equipping these items allows you to easily cut through enemies and explore even further.

Conan Exiles is much more accessible than Ark: Survival Evolved. Getting into Ark: Survival Evolved can be a challenge because even procuring food presents a problem. This results in frequent deaths. For example, in the dinosaur-focused game, you can't eat any fruit you find on plants because it might poison or paralyze you. While Conan Exiles is simpler, it's also much more fun. You can find insects, turtles eggs, and cooked meat on enemies. If you want to grill, that's easy because making a campfire requires almost no resources and there are plenty of turtles roaming around which provide "Savory Meat". Unlike Ark: Survival Evolved, Conan Exiles has a low learning curve so even beginners to the survival genre can find their way around. This is by far the most important trait a game in the genre should possess.

Currently players can venture into different zones like a desert, ruined city, springs, mountains, and grassy hills. However, in a few weeks, a volcano and swamp biome will be added. These present new challenges because undiscovered ancient civilizations and cults reside there. There are plenty of new characters to meet which give you a history of why their great cities fell. Finding about history through enchanted tablets and the last survivors of a long-lost culture is a unique way to present the lore of the region. It adds to Conan Exiles' intrigue because few games effectively replicate it.

Features like the"Purge" — a global event that sends frost giants and other creatures to attack your base — and Fast Travel are also coming to the game. Fast Travel works in a unique way because you have to build a "Map Room" and "attune" your bracelet to various fast travel towers around the map. This allows you to instantly teleport there but it's only a one-way trip. Players must walk all the way back if they wish to return.

The ultimate goal, or ability, is to vanquish your enemies by calling upon the gods. By either conducting human sacrifices or other rituals, players can summon massive gods which can destroy entire cities in one go. This requires a lot of grinding and if you want to do this, you have to play online with other gamers. Teams — or "Clans" — need to constantly gather resources, farm crops, capture thralls, send out exploration parties, make sure they have enough food, among other tasks. From our experience, this is the only way to reach a level where calling avatars to destroy everything in your path is possible.

Ever since Conan Exiles launched on Xbox Game Preview all those months ago, the title has gone through numerous transformations. What was once a broken game is now stable in terms of performance and visuals. The title looks gorgeous on Xbox One X as it runs at 1440p on Microsoft's system. Other consoles like the PlayStation 4 Pro achieve 1080p or less. While the visuals might not be breathtaking like those found in Assassin's Creed Origins, they're still great and the lighting is the real star of the show here.

The frame rate is also mostly 30 FPS but there are a few stuttering issues here and there when a new part of the map loads. Given the massive leap Funcom has achieved with the recent patches, these small problems should be ironed out with further optimizations. When Conan Exiles launches on May 8, 2018, it should also bring even more technical polish to the game.

One of the major ways the developer improved the title has to the upgraded combat system. Beforehand, swinging your sword around was an awful and laggy experience. Luckily, the new model takes cues from titles like Dark Souls where you have a light attack, heavy attack, and block functionality. Targeting an enemy is easy and dodging their attacks works well. This makes combat much smoother but it's still not perfect. There are a few animation issues which need to be ironed out, but taking on foes is much easier as a result of this.

One of the most drastic changes has to be the new health system. To make the game slightly more difficult, the team removed health regeneration. This is more of an annoyance than a meaningful change because now you have to eat after every battle. After a meal, regenerating health is slow and it detracts from exploration because you constantly have to worry about food reserves. The only way to overcome this is to play on the "Civilized" difficulty setting so your hunger and thirst meter don't deplete so quickly.

Aside from polish when it comes to animations and performance, Conan Exiles needs more customization options to create a truly unique character. There are only a few different types of faces and even the sliders to adjust lips, nose or jaw don't do much. More flexibility would be greatly appreciated here.

Overall, Conan Exiles is a great game which seems like a much more substantial experience than when it first appeared in Xbox Game Preview. Xbox One owners should give this title another chance because almost everything about the game has changed. The combat, performance, and scope of the title have greatly expanded. There are also numerous stories to uncover. If Funcom can perfect the console frame rate before launch and eliminate the slight stuttering, then there's a chance that the title might be one of the most popular survival games on the system. However, even in its current state, Conan Exiles is addictive and a lot of fun. This is why you should check it out again.

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Conan Exiles launched on Xbox Game Preview almost a year ago, and since then has gone through a number of important changes. Not only has the game received a larger map, but there are added mechanics like hunting and cooking which greatly enhance the experience.

The title is set to leave Xbox Game Preview — and Steam Early Access — on May 8, 2018 and today, developer Funcom released a major update on Xbox One which overhauls the animations, visuals, and much more. The world is increasing in size, new features and systems are being introduced, hundreds of new items are being added, and there is a new brutal combat system.

Some of the changes in the latest patch which brings the download size to 45 GB are listed below. You can read the complete patch notes, including the countless bug fixes, on the developer's forums.

Upgraded Combat

• The new combat system is very different and a huge improvement over the old one. A specialized team of veteran designers and animators have spent months working on it.
  • The combat features a new visual style. All weapons are getting their own attacks and animations. The attacks consist of lunges, sweeps, jumps, cleaves, and slashes. This makes taking out enemies much more fluid and engaging.
  • All weapons have different light and heavy attacks which can be chained one after the other.

Farming and Shelter

• By obtaining seeds from plants and making compost through a heap, it is now possible to plant and harvest your own crops.
• The building abandonment system has been updated with sophisticated mechanics. Certain structures will decay overtime if you don't live in them or maintain them.

Updated Interface

• Health and stamina are now shown as bars as they're essential in combat. Stamina will replenish over time when you're stationary, but now health doesn't.

Fast Travel

• The new world map is rather large and traversing it can be a problem. Players can now build a map room to teleport all over the place.
  • It is shaped like a map of the Exiled Lands and is quite large and detailed.
  • As you explore the world you discover monoliths. Once your bracelet is attuned to a particular monolith, can teleport to that point from your map room.
  • Unfortunately, you'll still have to walk back to your settlement as teleportation only works one way.

Global Event

• The "Purge" is a global event that sends frost giants, locusts, undead, relic hunters, gorillas, and other creatures to attack your base.
  • The type of enemy attacking your castle depends on where you have built it. The southern areas of the map won't get attacked as that's where you start out in the game.
  • You have a purge meter which fills up depending on your activities. The longer you play, the more you build or kill, the faster your meter will increase.
  • Defeating some of the enemies that attack your structures yields legendary rewards.

Conan Exiles can be experienced in both single-player and online multiplayer. Those who purchase the game on Xbox Game Preview for $49.99 — the PC version currently costs $29.99 — will receive Conan's Royal Armor. Long after his adventures through the Exiled Lands, Conan became King of Aquilonia and this was the armor he wore when defending his kingdom.

Hopefully the game will live up to expectations when it launches in May. We've been playing it for the past few months and despite the fact that the early access build is rough around the edges, it's still a lot of fun. Conan Exiles is one of the most accessible survival games out there and is easy to pick up unlike Ark: Survival Evolved. The developer just needs to optimize the performance, especially on Xbox One X which currently runs at 1440p.

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Conan Exiles launched on Xbox Game Preview almost a year ago, and since then has gone through a number of important changes. Not only has the game received a larger map, but there are added mechanics like hunting and cooking which greatly enhance the experience.

The title is set to leave Xbox Game Preview — and Steam Early Access — on May 8, 2018 and today, developer Funcom revealed some of the major changes coming to the final version of the game. The world is increasing in size, new features and systems are being introduced, hundreds of new items are being added, and there is an all-new and brutal combat system.

Fast Travel

• The new world map is rather large and traversing it can be a problem. Players can now build a map room to teleport all over the place.
  • It is shaped like a map of the Exiled Lands and is quite large and detailed.
  • As you explore the world you discover monoliths. Once your bracelet is attuned to a particular monolith, can teleport to that point from your map room.
  • Unfortunately, you'll still have to walk back to your settlement as teleportation only works one way.

Upgraded Combat

• The new combat system is very different and a huge improvement over the old one. A specialized team of veteran designers and animators have spent months working on it.
  • The combat features a new visual style. All weapons are getting their own attacks and animations. The attacks consist of lunges, sweeps, jumps, cleaves, and slashes. This makes taking out enemies much more fluid and engaging.
  • All weapons have different light and heavy attacks which can be chained one after the other.

New Regions

• With launch comes two new areas and the map is being greatly expanded.
  • Above The Frozen North you can see a mighty volcano, still quite active with rivers of lava running down its slopes. If you climb into the volcano, you find powerful new resources like obsidian and a strange cult worshipping an ancient power.
  • There is a new dungeon inside the the Well of Skelos close to the volcano.
  • Follow the main river east and you will find the swamp. This new area offers jungles, marshes, and a coast filled with pirates.
  • The swamp allows you to build homes and towns in the trees.
  • The swamp also houses the Palace of the Witch Queen dungeon.
  • Derketo is the goddess of both fertility and death is being added to the game so expect to run into her followers.

Global Event

• The "Purge" is a global event that sends frost giants, locusts, undead, relic hunters, gorillas, and other creatures to attack your base.
  • The type of enemy attacking your castle depends on where you have built it. The southern areas of the map won't get attacked as that's where you start out in the game.
  • You have a purge meter which fills up depending on your activities. The longer you play, the more you build or kill, the faster your meter will increase.
  • Defeating some of the enemies that attack your structures yields legendary rewards.

Progression Changes

• The attributes system is getting revamped.
  • For every ten-point increase in each attribute, you get a unique perk which unlocks a special ability like double jumping or extra damage output.
  • New armor and war paint is being added to the game so you can make your character look unique at higher levels.

Health

• Players can no longer regenerate health. Now you must eat food or drink potions to regain your health and all healing is done over time.
  • Funcom has introduced farming to make it easier to get your hands on food items.

Conan Exiles is an open world survival game set in the brutal lands of Conan the Barbarian. Players must persist in a savage world, build their kingdom, and dominate their enemies in brutal combat and war. You start with nothing but your bare hands and forge the legacy of your clan, building anything from a small home to gigantic fortresses and entire cities.

Conan Exiles features swords, bows, siege weapons, and even giant avatars of the gods that can lay waste to enemy strongholds. Gamers can explore a vast, seamless world full of challenge and opportunity. There are also hunting mechanics, treasure, and underground vaults which hold secrets of ancient civilizations.

Conan Exiles can be experienced in both single-player and online multiplayer. Those who purchase the game on Xbox Game Preview for $49.99 — the PC version currently costs $29.99 — will receive Conan's Royal Armor. Long after his adventures through the Exiled Lands, Conan became King of Aquilonia and this was the armor he wore when defending his kingdom.

Hopefully the game will live up to expectations when it launches in May. We've been playing it for the past few months and despite the fact that the early access build is rough around the edges, it's still a lot of fun. Conan Exiles is one of the most accessible survival games out there and is easy to pick up unlike Ark: Survival Evolved. The developer just needs to optimize the performance, especially on Xbox One X which currently runs at 1440p.

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Today, developer Bearded Ladies and publisher Funcom revealed new gameplay from Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. According to the companies, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a tactical adventure featuring a story set on a post-human Earth. The game combines strategy and the turn-based tactical combat of XCOM with real-time exploration and stealth gameplay. The team making Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden has members who previous worked on titles like Hitman and Payday.

The game is set to release in 2018 on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is based on the classic "Mutant" franchise that has spawned several popular pen and paper role-playing games since the 1980s. Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish. However, the story doesn't end there, as mutants arise from the rubble.

Players must take control of a team of unlikely heroes such as Dux, a crossbow-wielding duck, and Bormin, a boar with anger management problems, and help them navigate abandoned cities, crumbling highways, and mutated monsters on every corner. The ultimate goal is to save yourselves by finding the legendary land known as Eden. However, it's unclear if it even exists in the first place.

The game looks like it takes a lot of inspiration from titles like Fallout 3 and not just XCOM. You can explore environments freely, but enemy encounters are restricted to a particular area and require careful execution. Hopefully Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden will be a polished experience even on consoles and provide compelling gameplay for many types of gamers when it launches this year. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more about the game or receive word of a concrete release date.

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Recently, Funcom hosted a livestream featuring new additions to Conan Exiles. Lead designer Oscar Lopez Lacalle and community manager Jens Erik Vaaler run down how the studio is changing and updating ranged combat, adding new weapon and armor tiers, new creature animations, and a new farming system.

The combat seems to be much smoother than before. If you play the game currently, using a bow is cumbersome and taking out enemies with a sword is even worse. The improvements to ranged combat appear to be the most significant improvement because many gamers will notice them the most. Hopefully the developer will continue to upgrade other mechanics as we approach launch day.

Conan Exiles will leave early access and launch in both digital and retail stores on May 8, 2018. The game is an open world survival game set in the brutal lands of Conan the Barbarian. The title is currently available on PC early access and Xbox Game Preview where it's still in a somewhat rough state. Conan Exiles will also launch on PlayStation 4 on May 8.

Funcom also revealed the final price for the game across all platforms. The PC version will cost $39.99 while the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions will be available for $49.99. There will also be a Collector's Edition which includes a wealth of exclusive physical and digital items.

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Today, developer Bearded Ladies and publisher Funcom announced Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. According to the companies, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a tactical adventure featuring a story set on a post-human Earth. The game combines strategy and the turn-based tactical combat of XCOM with real-time exploration and stealth gameplay. The team making Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden has members who previous worked on titles like Hitman and Payday.

Extreme climate change, global economic crises, a lethal pandemic, and increasing tension between old and new superpowers causes the destruction of the planet. Nuclear war destroys the land and humans perish. However, the story doesn't end there, as mutants arise from the rubble. You'll encounter characters like anthropomorphic ducks, pigs and even human-looking rocks on your journey.

Players must take control of a team of unlikely heroes such as Dux, a crossbow-wielding duck, and Bormin, a boar with anger management problems, and help them navigate abandoned cities, crumbling highways, and mutated monsters on every corner. The ultimate goal is to save yourselves by finding the legendary land known as Eden. However, it's unclear if it even exists in the first place.

Bearded Ladies' Executive Producer Ulf Andersson – known for being the designer behind Payday – issued the following statement alongside the reveal announcement.

Funcom is known for unique experiences like Conan Exiles and The Park, so Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden seems like the right fit. The game is set to release in 2018 on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is based on the classic "Mutant" franchise that has spawned several popular pen and paper role-playing games since the 1980s.

The game looks like it takes a lot of inspiration from titles like Fallout 3 and not just XCOM. You can explore environments freely, but enemy encounters are restricted to a particular area and require careful execution. Hopefully Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden will be a polished experience even on consoles and provide compelling gameplay for many types of gamers when it launches this year. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more about the game or receive word of a concrete release date.

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Conan Exiles is an open world survival game set in the brutal lands of Conan the Barbarian. The title is currently available on PC Early Access and Xbox One Game Preview where it's still in a somewhat rough state. Conan Exiles will also launch on PlayStation 4 on May 8. In light of today's announcement, Funcom released a new trailer which showcases some new content that will be available in the final version. There's a new biome and a revamped combat system in the works!

Funcom also revealed the final price for the game across all platforms. The PC version costs $39.99 while the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions cost $49.99. There will also be a Collector's Edition which includes a wealth of exclusive physical and digital items. The contents of the Collector's Edition are as follows.

• Conan the Barbarian figurine modeled after Conan from the Conan Exiles trailer.
• Comic book created in collaboration with Dark Horse Comics which follows Conan on an adventure.
• Three soundtracks featuring the music from Conan Exiles and other adventures.
• Full-color print art book which takes you behind the scenes.
• Full-color printed map of the world of Conan Exiles.
• Code to unlock six full-color digital comic books from Dark Horse Comics.
• Code to unlock the digital rule book created by Modiphius for their Conan pen and paper role-playing game.

It's great to see that Conan Exiles finally has a release date but it still needs a lot of work on Xbox One. Usually when games launch in Xbox One Game Preview, they're at least playable but in its current state Conan Exiles isn't even that. The combat system is broken and even on Xbox One X it has a lot of performance issues. Hopefully the developer can fix all of these problems before May 8 but at this point it seems like a daunting task.

See at Microsoft

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