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Xbox players that have been waiting to dive into Konami and Bloober Team's remake of Silent Hill 2 may not have to bide their time for much longer. A store page for Silent Hill 2 is now up on Xbox and indeed, the game is actually available for purchase at the Xbox Australia webpage.

Silent Hill 2 is listed for $100 AUD, with a launch discount bringing the price down to just $50 AUD. The game also noticeably supports Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning it's available for players across Xbox Series X|S consoles and Windows PC (via Xbox on PC) through a single purchase.

The remake of Silent Hill 2 first launched on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC (via Steam) back on Oct. 8, 2024. At the time, the game was noted to explicitly be a timed PlayStation console exclusive, meaning the absolute earliest it could possibly come to other platforms would be a year after launch.

Despite this, an Xbox version of the game still hasn't technically been announced, but it's now clearly a matter of when, not if the developers and publisher are choosing to make it known and available.

The team at Windows Central will be keeping an eye out, but we'd expect to see an official announcement extremely soon.

Silent Hill has come roaring back to life over the past year

While Konami's survival-horror franchise was dormant for years following the cancellation of Kojima Productions' Silent Hills, the series has returned in a fairly major way.

Silent Hill 2's remake has done well so far, garnering critical praise and selling over 2 million copies as of January 2025. Then, developer NeoBards Entertainment launched an entirely original game earlier this year with Silent Hill f.

Silent Hill f is set in 1960s Japan, and follows a teenage girl named Shimizu Hinako as she struggles to understand and survive the fog and monsters that have suddenly descended on her quiet hometown.

The game's story and themes have been heavily praised, and it quickly supplanted Silent Hill 2 as the fastest-selling game in the franchise, with over a million copies sold just a day after the standard edition's launch.

Looking ahead, there's far more to be excited for, with Bloober Team returning for round two by revisiting and remaking the original Silent Hill. Little is known right now, but after how well the team handled Silent Hill 2 remake, expectations are significantly higher than they would be otherwise.

Konami is also teaming up with Annapurna Interactive to publish Silent Hill: Townfall. The game is being developed by Screen Burn Interactive, the studio formerly known as No Code that was behind Stories Untold and Observation.

While Silent Hills may never come to fruition, Hideo Kojima is taking another stab at horror with OD, a game that's also a partnership with Xbox Game Studios. OD is bringing in horror directors like Jordan Peele (Get Out, Nope) for an episodic experience.

The first episode, titled "Knock," is directed by Kojima himself. We don't currently have a release date for OD, but from what has been shown so far, it's taking a lot of inspiration from the ideas Kojima previously explored with P.T, the infamous teaser for Silent Hills.

FAQ

Silent Hill 2 Remake is coming to Xbox, with evidence now reaching fever pitch.

Silent Hill 2 is a legendary survival horror title from Konami. Released originally on the PlayStation 2, the game follows James into the notorious and haunted town, hunting for the source of a ominous letter ... from his deceased wife.

Renowned for its atmospherics and psychological writing, Silent Hill 2 remains one of the gaming industry's most legendary and influential titles. Last year, Konami teamed up with Bloober Team to release a full remake of the game. Despite fan scepticism Bloober Team fully delivered to the surprise of almost everyone (myself included). That is, at least for PlayStation 5 and PC. An Xbox version of Silent Hill 2 Remake was nowhere to be seen. Until now.

Xbox community and news site True Achievements recently reportedly discovered a store listing for Silent Hill 2 Remake. True Achievements has privileged access to Xbox's back end systems to power its achievement cataloguing and community features, and sometimes the site discovers upcoming game meta data as a result of that access — assuming it's real, of course.

True Achievements notes that Silent Hill 2 has a November 21, 2025 launch date on the store listing, and also has options for a Deluxe Edition including digital art and soundtracks. The store listing suggests it'll be available on both the Microsoft Store for PC and console, but it has no Xbox Play Anywhere designation as of writing. It could be that the store page isn't finalized yet, though. Silent Hill F did support Xbox Play Anywhere, so it stands to reason that Silent Hill 2 Remake would as well.

True Achievements didn't share the URL to the reported Silent Hill 2 Remake store listing, but its report does say that the team there found the listing, suggesting they saw it first hand.

Silent Hill 2 is, however, broken on the Xbox Ally as of writing, due to an issue with Unreal Engine Lumen lighting on the AMD Z2E — hopefully AMD and Unreal are working through that ahead of the game's launch ...

Silent Hill 2 for Xbox evidence has been ramping up over the last few months, as people noticed a previous ESRB rating for the game, in addition to website updates that hint at space for Nintendo Switch and Xbox logos. PlayStation previously enjoyed 12 months of console exclusivity for the game. Bloober Team is also known to be working on a remake of Silent Hill 1 as well, following Silent Hill 2's massive success, and Bloober's own immaculate survival horror Cronos: The New Dawn.

But, could this Silent Hill 2 store listing reveal more than just the game itself?

Did Xbox leak its own November Partner Preview event date? 🤔

I wrote a few weeks ago about how Microsoft has an Xbox Partner Preview showcase slated for November, set to reveal upcoming games from Microsoft's publishing partners. I've heard this event was also going to be Xbox Play Anywhere-heavy, detailing games supported by the Xbox Ally and wider Xbox PC ecosystem. Hopefully that means, despite not being listed yet, Silent Hill 2 will also join the program.

Microsoft has done incredibly well to on-board Japanese publishers into Xbox Play Anywhere, with Square Enix recently launching Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remakes straight into the program, and Silent Hill F hit the program over the summer as well. It stands to reason that Silent Hill 2 will join Xbox Play Anywhere given these trends, but we won't know for sure until it all becomes official.

(EDIT: I previously wrote that Monster Hunter Stories was due to hit Xbox Play Anywhere, but this was an error. Apologies for the mistake. Capcom had sporadically supported XPA in the past, with games like Kunitsu-gami, however.)

Silent Hill 2 dropping on November 21 could be a hint that the Xbox Partner Preview event is slated for prime time close to that date. It would make sense to show off the game to a broad audience ahead of launch, as Xbox would doubtlessly stream the event across its main social media channels. I'm curious what other games we could see at the show, as it looks like 2026 will be just as stacked for amazing games of all shapes and sizes as 2025 was.

It shouldn't be too long before we find out for sure.

FAQ

Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 remake, which defied expectations to critical acclaim and commercial success, may soon be heading for Xbox consoles in the future.

This is because the ESRB, an organization that assigns age and content ratings for games released in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, recently gave an Xbox Series X|S rating for Silent Hill 2 on its official website.

Silent Hill 2 is currently locked behind PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, so the fact that the ESRB has given it an Xbox Series X|S rating is potentially great news for Xbox fans. There is already precedent for PlayStation exclusives coming to Xbox.

For example, the third-person adventure game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, launched in 2021 exclusively for PlayStation 5 and PC via Epic Games Store. Then, in 2022, it came to Steam, and in April 2024, Kena was given an Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One rating before launching for those systems three months later on August 15, 2024.

This means we'll likely see Silent Hill 2 launch on Xbox consoles sometime in the future, possibly even in a few months.

Xbox fans may soon get a taste of the melancholy horror and beauty of the Silent Hill 2 Remake

Silent Hill has been enjoying a well-deserved revival this past year.

Not only did the Silent Hill 2 remake end up being a great remake that sold 2.5 million copies, but the unexpected and equally beloved spin-off, Silent Hill f, also did well, selling over a million copies.

We've even given Silent Hill f's Xbox version a near-perfect 4.5/5 star review for making the franchise frightening again while standing on its own merits for its engaging, horrifying story, oppressive atmosphere, and engaging combat system.

Now, if only we can get the Silent Hill 2 remake on Xbox, that would be a true Halloween treat, as currently, the only way to experience Silent Hill 2 on modern Xbox consoles is through the Silent Hill HD Collection.

Without going into too much detail, the Silent Hill HD Collection remaster of Silent Hill 2 was controversial to say the least.

While it retained the original game's iconic gameplay and music, it removed tons of the atmospheric fog and dark lighting that Silent Hill was famous for.

Plus, the HD collection replaced the original game's voice actors with a new cast that rubbed many fans the wrong way, especially those who appreciate the PS2 version's stilted but appropriately creepy voice work.

The Silent Hill 2 remake by Bloober Team changed a lot of aspects of the original game, like revamping the game's combat and bosses, having another new voice cast, having a third-person camera, and even rewriting the dialogue here and there.

However, it managed to succeed in the places that mattered. It remained faithful to the original Silent Hill 2's grim and tragic story and had improved graphical fidelity while being appropriately rusty, dusty, foggy, and dark enough to maintain Silent Hill's iconic atmosphere, much more than the HD Collection.

So, I hope that the Silent Hill 2 remake eventually comes to Xbox, as it's the best way to experience one of the finest horror games in the genre.

Well, aside from scouring eBay for a second-hand PlayStation 2 or OG Xbox and a still-working physical copy of the original Silent Hill 2 for those systems. It is a classic that still holds up today in my opinion.

FAQ

When the Silent Hill 2 remake was announced in 2022, I, like many old-school gamers who grew up on the PlayStation 2 classic, thought it would never live up to the original game or even be good.

Thankfully, Bloober Team came in clutch to deliver one of the best survival-horror remakes I've seen since Resident Evil HD Remaster, and it's now 55% off on Loaded for $36.69.

Why should you play Silent Hill 2 for Halloween?

Bloober Team had a herculean task on its hands when Konami approached them to remake Silent Hill 2.

Fortunately, they managed to succeed. The Silent Hill 2 remake ended up being so good that it not only sold 2.5 million copies (which is insane for a horror game outside of Resident Evil) but also helped revive the Silent Hill franchise alongside Silent Hill f.

This remake accomplished this feat thanks to its engaging story and characters, which, while changing a couple of scenes, are very faithful to the tone and themes of the original game.

Additionally, the game has done a superb job of improving the original game's clunky combat system with more advanced controls and mechanics, without making you feel overpowered to maintain the remake's fear factor.

The bosses in particular are a major highlight as they've been completely revamped to be ten times more threatening, with multiple phases and deadly moves that will destroy you if you haven't been conservative with your supplies before encountering them.

Furthermore, the Silent Hill 2 remake graphics look stunningly detailed, with dark and gritty locales dripping with the iconic, oppressively lonely atmosphere Silent Hill is famous for.

If you're brave enough to venture into one of the scariest towns in video game history to experience spine-chilling thrills and heartbreaking tales, then I highly recommend Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 remake, as it is awesome, and I can't wait to see what they do with their remake for Silent Hill 1.

The PC version of Silent Hill 2 is currently on a 55% discount at Loaded for $36.69.

Loaded is also having a Halloween Sale from October 29, 2025, to November 3, 2025, where if you log in and buy two or more select horror games, you will get an extra 10% discount on them at checkout.

FAQ

In my restless dreams, I see that town.

Genuinely. I think I have a cluster of neurons dedicated specifically to Silent Hill and Resident Evil, both games that heavily defined my childhood. I remember getting Silent Hill 2 for Christmas, and spending the festive day bunkered down in my room with the curtains drawn, having myself a second Halloween instead.

Silent Hill remains one of the industry's most iconic, most legendary video game franchises, horror or not. The uniquely haunting atmosphere, uncanny enemies, and now retro graphics have found a new life in modern times, too, inspiring a wave of analog horror projects in gaming and beyond.

It's against this backdrop of admiration and nostalgia that I dove into Silent Hill F on Xbox Series X (and a bit on PC too, via Xbox Play Anywhere). This is the first truly new entry in the franchise in years upon years, with a barrage of disappointing spin-offs in its rear-view mirror.

Following the confident remake of Silent Hill 2 from Bloober Team, it began to look like Silent Hill was ready for a big comeback. Bloober is also remaking Silent Hill 1, and doubtless, Silent Hill 3 and maybe even the controversial Silent Hill 4 will follow. But remakes won't last. Silent Hill needs new blood, too, which is where NeoBard stepped in with Silent Hill F.

Like a lot of Silent Hill fans, I was sceptical at best about this project for a variety of reasons, from its combat focus to its completely new setting. However, after spending a couple of dozen hours in Ebisugaoka, I left this new nightmare feeling haunted in the best and most familiar way possible.

Silent Hill is back. F is an unmissable Xbox, PC, and PS5 game for horror fans everywhere.

This review was written primarily on Xbox Series X with an Xbox Play Anywhere (Xbox / PC) code provided by Konami. Konami did not see the review prior to publishing.

Silent Hill F Review: Art and Performance

Silent Hill F follows the classic franchise traditions, taking place in a contemporary Earthly locale twisted by horrific corruption and nightmarish fog. Set in the mountain village of Ebisugaoka, Silent Hill F puts us in control of Hinako Shimizu, a troubled mid-teen embroiled in what seems to be standard high school drama and familial tensions. Those notions unravel quite quickly in Silent Hill F, however. More on that in the story segment.

Ebisugaoka is a truly gorgeous location and a very impressive canvas for presenting the horrors of Silent Hill F. Washed in that familiar fog, the town gradually succumbs to a seeping rot comprised of rapidly spawning Higanbana red spider lilies and mounds of heaving gore. Silent Hill F uses light and shadow incredibly well, contrasting the desaturated natural tones of its wooden architecture with the glistening crimson of the strange contagion gripping Ebisugaoka — leaving the impression of a town gradually slipping into the underworld.

No self-respecting Silent Hill landscape would be complete without horrific monsters to go with it, and F is no exception here either.

In typical Silent Hill fashion, the monsters in the game are in part inspired by the protagonist's central traumas. Expect to see contorted mannequinized school students eager to stab you in the back, and screeching matriarchal and patriarchal figures strewn through a nightmarish lens.

Silent Hill F's combat scenarios join previous games with dynamic music, which ramps up as more enemies enter the fray, or as your health depletes. Akira Yamaoka reprises his role as Silent Hill's signature sound architect, joining with Kensuke Inage, Dai, and Koichi "Xaki" Sakita to score the game. The team did a truly amazing job here, weaving in subtle nods to Silent Hill's iconic wailing radio in among the twisted Japanese folk-inspired tones.

I found the game to be decently performant on my Xbox Series X and my RTX 4080 PC. On Xbox Series X, I would have liked to have seen a smoother frame rate from the game's "quality" mode. I found it to be a tad too choppy to abide, and ended up switching it to performance mode for 60 FPS. Even there, some sequences had performance issues, but it was relatively rare. My PC is pretty beefy overall and was able to run Silent Hill F on high settings without issue. On the Legion Go (Z1E) on 30W turbo, it was also very playable, and even on lower settings like 15W, there were plenty of tweaks you could pull to get it to hit a smooth 30.

Silent Hill F Review: Gameplay

Silent Hill F is a survival horror at its core, with a large maze-like township with a solid variety of locales. You'll traverse densely packed urban areas, haunted farmland outskirts, mountain trails, and traditional complex interiors. There's also Silent Hill's signature "otherworld," which I won't spoil here; suffice to say that I felt like these segments were the game at its weakest and least creative, ironically, since inside an "otherworld," you're technically no longer constrained by having to make something seem realistic.

I found myself wishing more of the game took place in the township with its variety and "lived-in" sense of realism, rather than the repetitive and occasionally maddening corridors of the other world. Alas, maybe next time.

I played through most of Silent Hill F on the "hard" difficulty, although its "Story" difficulty says that's the difficulty setting for a standard Silent Hill experience. I wanted to get a good taste of its approach to combat, which even generated use of the dreaded "soulslike" word in some reports, and get a sense of how the different settings differed. As someone who's played a decent amount of soulsborne and soulslike games, I'm not sure I'd attach the "soulslike" moniker anywhere near Silent Hill F, but its combat is a lot more involved than previous instalments.

For those worrying that they made Silent Hill F more combat-heavy for the simple sake of it, there are actually some compelling story reasons as to why she's oddly adept with a baseball bat and the like, which you'll find out as you play. I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of the game's stamina, health, and "sanity" meters, as it does give it a bit more of an arcade-y feel. But I also acknowledge that's a personal taste thing. What I feel less is an issue with taste is how combat sometimes intersects with encounter design, which isn't always congruent.

It's satisfying to successfully intercept an enemy attack, leading to a powerful swing that will usually immediately stun or stagger a monster. You can extend these "parry" windows by spending sanity meter, too, which slows down time a bit. You can also spend sanity meter to tee up your own powerful attacks even outside of parry windows, albeit at permanent cost to your meter maximum. You can replenish all of this with consumables found in the field, of course, in tried-and-true survival horror fashion.

Where the combat doesn't perform as well is towards the end, when the game goes trigger-happy with combat gauntlets. Hinako is easily staggered by enemies, and being ganged up on in a corner and stun-locked can make for a frustrating end.

I played through most of the game on "hard" difficulty, but towards the end, when anywhere up to 4 monsters were chasing you down at a time, stunning, staggering, and depleting your stamina, I started to feel as though the combat hadn't been designed with these types of encounters in mind. Hinako is hardly agile and moves incredibly slowly in general. There are some charms and things you can equip that marginally improve your combat prowess, but it does little to offset the number of interrupts the game occasionally wants to throw at you.

The problem on the other end is that "Story" difficulty is too easy, ironically. The game absolutely inundates you with health consumables to the point you will have a permanently full inventory and will trivialize combat to the point of not needing any thought or care.

I think more care and effort spent on some of Silent Hill F's late-game forced combat situations might've helped its overall feeling, because the underlying combat gameplay is very good. It's very satisfying to crack into an enemy's porcelain skull with a sledgehammer, and managing equipment durability does force you into fearful and risky scenarios. I just wish it were tuned a little more with forethought to how frustrating some encounters can be on Hard difficulty, and how bland and easy Story difficulty is.

Luckily, the story is so, so good that any combat foibles I had were quite easily washed away.

Silent Hill F Review: Story (No Spoilers)

Hinako serves as the main protagonist throughout the entire game, as she navigates her increasingly haunted town and collaborates with her remaining school friends, who seem to be the only survivors.

At the start, Hinako leaves her family home following what seems to be some kind of argument with her parents, and resolves to meet her friends in her town. Set in 1960s Japan, the game's themes revolve around societal expectations at the time, which have caused strife between Hinako, her parents, and even her school friends.

While not explicitly stated, Hinako and her friends seem to be around the "tween" age, where the divide between childhood play and more adult concerns becomes blurry. Hinako and her best friend, Shu, still pine for the old days when they could hang out and play pretend battling aliens, even if society expects them to behave more "appropriately" for young men and women. That's only the most surface-level tension going on in Hinako's life, however.

The further you play, the more you'll learn about how complex and dark Hinako's personal life is, which feeds the horrors plaguing the town of Ebisugaoka.

In Silent Hill F, you'll explore a variety of locations Hinako is familiar with, and she'll remark, often nostalgically, about childhood events therein. Silent Hill F follows familiar themes and traditions from previous games to some degree, but there are some absolutely huge curve balls that left me jaw agape.

Silent Hill F pulls absolutely no punches with its story delivery, and explores very mature themes in a way that doesn't come across as simplistic or exploitative, nor for spectacle. The game leaves a lot up to the user's interpretation, too, potentially weaving in visual hints, metaphors, and symbolism that have broad implications both for Hinako and the entire Silent Hill mythos.

It's difficult to really traverse the depths of Silent Hill F's story without straying into spoiler territory. Suffice it to say, the character performances are excellent across the board, urging me to dig deeper into the game's rabbit hole despite some frustrations with the game's combat difficulty roller coaster. I found myself eagerly reading every note, and hanging on to every word, searching for clues in that familiar Silent Hill way. The dark corners of Hinako's personal experience made a fitting canvas for Silent Hill F, which combines those familial horrors with Japanese mysticism into something truly unique.

Like Hinako, I often found myself transported back to my childhood years in Silent Hill F, albeit vicariously through the safety of its video game lens — enthralled, intrigued, and horrified in the best possible way. I was restlessly invested in Hinako's plight from start to finish, and I'm curious to see if she will return someday, in some form, in a future instalment.

Silent Hill F Review: Final thoughts

If there's one word I can use to sum up how I felt about my experience with Silent Hill F, it's grateful. This was clearly a labor of love for NeoBard and everyone who worked on the game, tasked with adding to the legendary canon that is Silent Hill.

With years hidden in the shadows, Silent Hill as a franchise has taken on a life of its own to some degree, as fans pine for the uniquely gnawing horror that it represents.

Going from minimal expectations, it's more than I could've hoped for to say that Silent Hill F is absolutely worthy of a place among the best entries in the franchise, and definitely one you should personally experience.

Silent Hill F is thoughtful in its themes, confident in its presentation, ambitious with its combat design, and unapologetic with its violence. It's a game that will stick with you after you reach any one of its conclusions, and the nightmare continues even further in New Game+ with additional story elements.

Silent Hill F is one of 2025's best games, whether you're a fan of horror or simply want a deep story, frankly. Definitely don't miss this one.

Konami's iconic survival-horror franchise is back in a meaningful way right now, as the latest entry, Silent Hill f, has already crossed a million copies sold, as confirmed by Konami in a report on Monday.

Silent Hill f crossed this milestone just one day after the release of the standard edition on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, meaning it's now the fastest-selling Silent Hill game ever.

The title was previously held by Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 remake, which launched last year on PlayStation 5 and PC and has sold over 2 million copies as of January earlier this year.

As of June 2025 (prior to Silent Hill f's launch), the Silent Hill franchise as a whole had sold over 11.7 million copies, per Konami, making this game's addition a significant boost to the whole.

Developed by NeoBards Entertainment — a studio that's previously provided support work on titles like Square Enix's Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Capcom's Resident Evil franchise — Silent Hill f is the first new, paid entry in the series since 2012's Silent Hill Downpour.

I say "paid" because a team at Konami did develop and release a free title called Silent Hill: The Short Message on PlayStation 5 early last year. It received mixed reviews, with some praise for the thematic ideas but criticism around the overall structure.

I'm thrilled that Silent Hill is back in force

Just a short few years ago, the Silent Hill franchise appeared to be on ice, with no hope of new games or interesting ideas being renewed. Konami and Hideo Kojima's infamous falling-out led to the cancellation of Silent Hills, and things looked quite dour for a time.

Now, in back-to-back years, things have improved, with Bloober Team doing a tremendous job on the critically-acclaimed Silent Hill 2 remake, and now NeoBards stepping up with Silent Hill f.

Time will tell if this continues, but for now, Silent Hill seems to be doing quite well, in a complete reversal of its position years ago. This also marks a good year for Konami, which also recently launched Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid 3. That remake was well-received and has also sold over a million copies since its launch.

I haven't had the chance to play Silent Hill f just yet — I've been busy playing a lot of Supergiant Games' excellent Hades 2 — but I bought it and am excited to dive in this week. It also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, which means it'll play across consoles and PC without issue.

I'm also curious if we'll see a Silent Hill 2 remake announced for Xbox soon. The game was explicitly announced as a timed console exclusive on PlayStation 5, so that should be lifting in the coming weeks.

Looking ahead, Bloober Team isn't done with Silent Hill just yet, and the team is now working on a remake of the original game. Little is known at this time, so we'll be waiting a while for further details, such as what platforms it'll be available on at launch.

I'll always mourn what could have been with Kojima and Silent Hills, but the iconic director does seem to be returning to horror with his upcoming Xbox Game Studios-published title, OD.

This game appears to be structured in an episodic format, with one chapter called "Knock" being directed by Kojima, while another chapter will see horror director Jordan Peele take the lead. OD does not currently have a release date, but did get a macabre new trailer during Tokyo Game Show.

I am curious just what other directors might end up attached to this project, though. I've got some suspicions, but nothing concrete just yet.

It's time once again to round up the next batch of upcoming Xbox weekly releases. This time, we'll be highlighting a bunch of Xbox titles launching between September 22, 2025, and September 26, 2026.

There are dozens of games coming out next for Xbox Series X|S, ranging from remastered retro titles like the 3D platformer, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, to original indie titles like the 4-player co-op roguelite, hack n' slash, Sworn.

The biggest highlights of these upcoming Xbox titles, however, are Silent Hill f, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and EA Sports FC 26.

EA Sports FC 26 is EA's latest entry in its long-running football simulation series, bringing in overhauled gameplay, general improvements to Career mode, and more.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the latest entry in the Sonic Racing series. In this game, Sonic the Hedgehog, his friends, and various guest stars from other SEGA-published franchises like Persona and Like a Dragon, challenge each other in high-speed races across the multiverse.

Last but not least is Silent Hill f, a new entry in Konami's legendary horror franchise, Silent Hill.

Set in 1960s Japan, a young girl named Shimizu Hinako experiences the worst day of her life as her town of Ebisugaoka is engulfed in an oppressive fog and is suddenly infested by nightmarish creatures looking to murder her.

Now Shimizu must traverse this corrupted version of her hometown to find a means to bring it back to normal while being confronted with dark secrets that will eat away at her soul.

Here is the full list of Xbox titles launching from September 22 to 26, 2025. Don't forget to check out September 15-21, 2025's batch of Xbox titles to see if your favorite wishlisted Xbox game has been released yet.

September 22, 2025

• Baseless (Xbox Series X|S) — "Baseless is a challenging planet-jumping shooter. Blast from planet to planet with 360° gravity, creatively demolishing every enemy in your path. Fire powerful weapons, rescue cute friends, and discover a galaxy worth fighting for!"
• Brews & Bastards (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Brews & Bastards is an intoxicating dungeon crawler, overflowing with action-packed combat, potent brews and outlandish bosses. Select from a group of inebriated heroes and blast your way through hordes of drunken demons in search of the stolen Brew Stone."
• Endless Legend 2 (Game Preview) (Windows PC) — "A fantasy strategy game where you lead wildly varied factions as they build grand empires and wage planet-spanning wars on an ever-evolving ocean world at the brink of extinction. Cataclysmic events have wrought havoc on natural order, and the very world will change as time goes on revealing new opportunities for exploration and conquest to the bold and daring."
• SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia In Asia (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "A thrilling “Find-the-Difference” game with a hidden object twist. The notorious Cheddar Mafia is spreading chaos across Asia, and only SpotCat can stop them. Explore vibrant, hand-drawn scenes from different countries, spot the subtle differences, and stay sharp—mafia rats can appear when you least expect it."

September 23, 2025

• Forgive Me Father 2 (Xbox Series X|S) — "Journey once again into a malevolent world inspired by H.P Lovecraft’s myths where madness awaits on every corner. Embark on a path to salvation as you continue the story of the Priest character from the first installment. How long can you balance on the edge of sanity? Will your sins be forgiven, or your soul consumed by madness?"
• Hyper Team Recon (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "Hyper Team Recon is an adorable 3D platformer about three aliens and their adventure across Earth! Three energetic alien slimes, Ember, Penny and Lite, are tasked to travel to Earth to learn more about the lifeforms inhabiting the planet, using their species’ unique morphing abilities to disguise themselves as girls to keep a low profile!"
• Kingdom Shell – White Temple Edition (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "The magical Shell that has protected the Kingdom for centuries has been shattered. Hordes of nightmarish creatures now overrun the Kingdom, terrorizing its inhabitants. The White Temple, which has stood guard over the Kingdom for centuries, cannot face this threat alone. Explore the lands of the Kingdom, fight hordes of nightmarish creatures and powerful bosses, find secrets, help inhabitants in distress and stop the impending catastrophe."
• Radiant: Guardians of Light (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "Radiant: Guardians of Light is a fast-paced co-op action adventure where magic, teamwork, and powerful gear come together to decide the fate of a kingdom. The kingdom of Helia is under threat, and only the Guardians can push back the darkness. Explore stunning hand-crafted worlds, face massive bosses, and master elemental powers as you fight to rescue those you love."
• Slime Rancher 2 (1.0) (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "A sequel to the award-winning, smash-hit original that has been enjoyed by over 10 million fans worldwide. Continue the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau as she journeys to Rainbow Island, a mysterious land brimming with ancient technology, unknown natural resources, and an avalanche of wiggling, jiggling, new slimes to discover."

September 24, 2025

• Bunny Pit Stop (Xbox Series X|S) — "Get ready to hop into action in Bunny Pit Stop, a puzzle game where a clever rabbit mechanic takes center stage. Inspired by the classic push-and-place style, your mission is simple but tricky: push cars into their maintenance bays and keep the garage running smoothly."
• Edgar Poe: Hidden Objects Game (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "Do you know who pioneered the world of detective fiction and whose legacy still leaves us guessing? Discover the eerie genius of Edgar Allan Poe in The Fall of the House of Usher, reimagined as a thrilling hidden object adventure – now fully optimized for Xbox!"
• Electronics Puzzle Lab 2 (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "Learn circuitry and electronics engineering in a fun way with concepts simple enough for beginners but engaging for enthusiasts! Awaken your inner engineer once again with the brainteasing circuitry of Electronics Puzzle Lab 2! In this fun and educational 3D puzzle game, your task is to inspect circuit boards and adjust power LED lights. Take a seat at your workbench, cut wires, flip switches and more as you trace the path of the current. Start with basic puzzles and progress to advanced challenges that will test your limits in logic and electronic knowledge."
• Emerald Huntress (Xbox Series X|S) — "Precision. Speed. Survival. Dive into a deadly forest in this fast-paced action platformer. Battle fierce enemies, dodge traps, and uncover hidden emeralds across 10 challenging stages. Master melee, ranged, and aerial attacks to survive escalating threats and unlock powerful upgrades. Only the sharpest reflexes will reveal every secret."
• Full Throttle Parking (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Full Throttle Parking is a 100% physics-based arcade racing game. Your mission is clear: speed through tricky obstacle courses, collect every checkpoint, and park your car precisely in the marked spot — all in the fastest time possible."
• Ink Enigma: Hidden Object Challenges (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Ink Enigma: Hidden Object Challenges turns every hand-drawn puzzle page into your personal sketchbook. Scan the scene, circle each secret, and watch the artwork come alive with your own signature ink."
• Meow Moments: Celebrating Beats & Books (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Join the Celebration! In this cozy hidden-object adventure, cats and friends gather to explore creativity, connection, and self-expression across two lively scenes. Every detail invites you to imagine stories unfolding in a world where music and learning bring everyone together."

September 25, 2025

• Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile (Xbox Series X|S) — "In Death on the Nile, a peaceful cruise on the Nile is disrupted by a terrible crime. Thankfully, famous detective Hercule Poirot is onboard. Meanwhile, a private detective is tracking a murderer, leading her from London to Majorca, New York, and finally to Egypt. The two investigations collide at Abu Simbel. The dynamic duo will solve a complex case full of twists and turns. But the story doesn’t end with the book, and it still holds many mysteries and twists, even for Agatha Christie fans."
• Endoparasitic (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "A tactical survival horror game where you must manually do every action from reloading to moving. Juggle movement and firing and plan entrances to avoid getting swarmed. Drag yourself through the corridors of a secret research lab on a remote asteroid, fight off horribly mutated monsters, inject countless syringes of vaccines, and survive at all costs."
• Extremely Powerful Cabybaras (Xbox Series X|S) — "Extremely Powerful Capybaras features multiple exciting stages, hilarious (and deadly) foes, and the action will keep you busy for a long time with epic difficulty challenges and modifiers to make each run a thrill! Brave the chaos solo or with up to 4 friends in local and online multiplayer, forge your path through hordes of enemies, gather capy-powering weapons & skills and embrace your inner capybara in this action-packed bullet heaven frenzy!"
• Frozen Rune (Xbox Series X|S) — "Frozen Rune is a challenging 2D platformer with 30 levels full of traps and obstacles designed to test your precision and skill. The goal is simple, but far from easy: collect the powerful Ice Rune to open the magic door and advance to the next level. Each stage introduces new progressive challenges, where a single mistake is costly — if you take damage, you must restart the level. This mechanic increases the intensity of the experience, turning every achievement into true overcoming."
• Mamorukuen ReCurse! (Xbox Series X|S) — "Wipe out smaller enemies and clear projectiles from the screen, or power up larger enemies, making them harder to defeat… The greater the risk the higher you’ll score, and you can even curse yourself to increase your damage to overcome more challenging enemies."
• Pilot Sports (Xbox Series X|S) — "Brilliant gaming fun for the whole family! Split screen mode for up to 4 players, over 50 different courses, the widest variety of aircraft and thrilling challenges provide for all sorts of gaming enjoyment!"
• Republic of Pirates (Xbox Series X|S) — "In the heart of the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy lies the Republic of Pirates, a powerful alliance of crews united by their shared ideology and collective ambitions. But while the early days of the confederacy were prosperous, greed and jealousy soon spread, leading to a vicious mutiny and a final bloody breakup."
• Silent Hill f (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "In 1960s Japan, Shimizu Hinako’s secluded town of Ebisugaoka is consumed by a sudden fog, transforming her home into a haunting nightmare. As the town falls silent and the fog thickens, Hinako must navigate the twisted paths of Ebisugaoka, solving complex puzzles and confronting grotesque monsters to survive. Discover a new chapter in the Silent Hill series, blending psychological horror with a haunting Japanese setting."
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Xbox Series X|S) — "Speed to victory solo or as a team in a variety of offline and online modes and compete against players from around the world. Build the ultimate vehicle to match your racing style, unlock gadgets to gain the upper hand, and unleash power-up items to bring home the win!"
• Super Long Cat (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "Meet the cat who loves milk… and with every sip he gets longer and longer! Mommy Cat asks you to return the lost kittens home, which means you must use your unusual talent to get through tricky puzzles, jump over traps and reach the most unexpected corners of the levels. Collect milk, become longer and help Daddy Cat reunite the whole furry family. Meow!"
• Sworn (Xbox Series X|S) — "A 1-4 player co-op action rogue-like. Explore and reclaim a fallen Camelot from the reign of a corrupted Arthur and his Knights of the round table. Play solo or unite with friends to stand off against the Knights of the Round Table. Combine the strengths of your characters in surprising ways and master abilities to become knights worthy of standing off against Arthur himself."

September 26, 2026

• Airborne Justice (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "Join pilot protagonists Rock and Stan for an arcade sky battle experience built for one or two players. Control a military helicopter capable of rapid fire and maneuver through the clouds while harnessing incredible firepower. Obtain devastating weapons and bombs, shoot down imposing bosses, and unlock 3 additional modes of play. Become an ace fighter pilot and take down five intense levels of enemy air force!"
• Crystal Veins (Xbox Series X|S) — "Crystal Veins is a charming 2D platformer adventure that blends lighthearted cartoon visuals with intense subterranean challenge. Players take control of Toby, a rookie miner who wakes up trapped deep underground after a mysterious cave-in. With only his pickaxe, helmet, and a flickering lantern, he must dig, dodge, and dash his way through a forgotten mine full of secrets and dangers."
• EA Sports FC 26 (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "The Club is Yours in EA Sports FC 26. Play your way with an overhauled gameplay experience powered by community feedback. The new Authentic Gameplay option delivers the most true-to-football experience ever in Career, while the Competitive Gameplay option—driven by refined fundamentals, added consistency, and enhanced responsiveness—is tailor-made for play in Football Ultimate Team and Clubs."
• Giant Rush (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Run and collect stickmen of your color to grow bigger and more powerful! Outsmart traps, avoid danger, and smash everything in your path. The bigger you grow, the more unstoppable you become!"
• Grief like a stray dog (Xbox Series X|S) — "A short interactive play about a young postwoman in a tight-knit rural community. In the outside world, WW2 rages at its apex. Nadia is thirteen. She delivers papers, letters. And death notifications to families of those killed in action."
• Hanoi Puzzles: Flip Match (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Assemble towers by flipping pieces to get the right color on top, stack pieces of the same color to assemble a tower in a mysterious futuristic atmosphere. Use the rules of the famous Tower of Hanoi puzzle, where a larger piece cannot be on top of a smaller one."
• Hotel Barcelona (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Justine, a rookie U.S. Marshal, thought this was just another routine case. But when her car crashes in a freak accident at the edge of nowhere, she finds herself trapped in a twisted new world: Hotel Barcelona. In this blood-soaked 2.5D sidescroller straight from your nightmares, you’ll battle through insane horror-themed floors, face killers inspired by the nastiest corners of your local video store, and every time you die, your past-self fights beside you – like a ghost with a grudge!"
• Liquid Cat (Xbox Series X|S) — "Embrace two forms in this unique puzzle-platformer! As a solid cat, leap and run through treacherous platforming challenges. Then, dive into a pipe and transform into a liquid cat! Rotate the pipes to solve intricate puzzles and create a safe path to the exit. With 40 progressively difficult levels, Liquid Cat offers a refreshing blend of fast-paced action and brain-bending logic."
• My Horse Stories (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Put on those cowgirl boots, style your new horse, and start racing like a champ! You were looking forward to chilling this summer in NYC, but your plans have changed. You’re sent to middle-of-nowhere Kentucky to spend the summer with your grandma on a star-stable horse farm. Soon, you realize that this summer adventure holds untold potential! The horse farm becomes your heaven, and with each passing day, you grow closer to your loyal companion – a graceful horse with whom you’ll weave your own unique horse-riding tale!"
• Napoleon Maiden Episode.1 A maiden without the word impossible (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Shoichi Sakikawa was a normal, second-year high school student. Or, he was, until he woke up from a car accident only to find himself trapped in mid-revolution 19th century France. What saved him from an onslaught of bullets was a girl armed with a sword. “I am Napoleon Bonaparte. And one day I shall be ruler of all France.” Having been saved by this “Napoleon” in the form of a girl, Shoichi ends up accompanying her on her quest. But in this world, not only is the past distorted, but the gods grant chosen girls the gift of greatness, who in turn fight one another using superhuman abilities known as “Apocalypse.”
• NBA Bounce (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere) — "Ready to step onto the court with your favorite team? Choose from 30 NBA teams like the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and more as you dribble, and dunk to victory. Play on team-themed courts with energetic mascots and crowds. Can you beat the buzzer?"
• Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac (Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery) — "Pac-Man World 2 has been modernized, enhanced, and upgraded! The Ghosts snuck into PAC-Village and stole the Golden Fruit, unwittingly freeing the all-powerful ghost king, Spooky! PAC-MAN must venture across PAC-LAND to reclaim the Golden Fruit and put a stop to the dastardly Spooky!"

And there you have the next batch of Xbox titles to close out September 2026. Out of these games, I'm putting Silent Hill f on my backlog as Silent Hill has made an epic comeback recently, thanks to the amazing Silent Hill 2 remake by Bloober Team, the creators behind the equally excellent, Cronos: The New Dawn.

Are there any other upcoming Xbox titles you're excited to see? Leave us your suggestions, and we'll be sure to highlight them in the next Xbox Weekly Release round-up.

In 2004, Hideo Kojima, in partnership with Konami, would release a game on the PlayStation 2 that would go on to become one of the most critically-acclaimed games of all time, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

This 3rd mainline entry into the Metal Gear Solid franchise is considered by many to not only be Hideo Kojima's greatest work or just the best game in the series, but one of the greatest games ever made.

It captured the hearts and imagination of fans worldwide for its refined stealth action gameplay, revolutionary graphics that pushed the limitations of the PlayStation 2's hardware, and a captivating espionage story filled with political intrigue, betrayal, action, and tragedy.

Even someone like me, who absolutely sucks at stealth games and prefers action-heavy titles like Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, can't deny how impactful Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was to the gaming industry.

Now, over two decades later, Konami has decided to resurrect this classic title with a next-gen remake called Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. This remake will reimagine the original game with improved visuals, new camera controls, extra game modes, and more.

Here is everything you need to know about Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

When is the release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater?

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater was announced in 2023, with its release date being leaked two years later. Metal Gear Solid and stealth action game fans will be able to play this game when it releases on August 28, 2025.

However, if you pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, you will be granted a 48-hour early-access period to play the game two days before its full launch date.

When is Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater up for Preorder and what is its price?

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is available for pre-order at multiple online and offline retailers for $69.99.

This price, however, applies to the Standard and the Tactical Editions of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater. There is also a Digital Deluxe Edition and a Collector's Edition available for pre-order for $79.99 and $199.99, respectively.

The contents of each edition are as follows:

• Standard Edition: Full game.
• Tactical Edition: Full game and the Sneaking DLC Pack, which contains several cosmetic outfits and accessories for Naked Snake.
• Digital Deluxe Edition: Full game and the Sneaking DLC Pack.
• Collector's Edition: Content from both the Tactical Edition, along with several bonus items including a Collector's Box, a Terrarium Diorama, Naked Snake's ID Card Lanyard, a FOX Patch, a HALO Jump Patch, and a metal game case.

Pre-ordering any edition of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will grant you access to a White Tuxedo cosmetic outfit for Naked Snake.

Also, as stated previously, pre-ordering the Digital Deluxe edition will grant you 48 hours of early access to the game.

What will the gameplay and story be like in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater?

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a third-person stealth-action game set during the height of the Cold War in 1964. You play as Naked Snake, a covert operative assigned by the US government to infiltrate Soviet Union territory to extract a defecting Soviet Union scientist named Nikolai Sokolov, who is forced to develop a nuclear superweapon for the USSR.

Snake's first attempt at rescuing the scientist goes horribly awry when his mentor, the legendary soldier codenamed 'The Boss', betrays Snake by siding with the USSR's Cobra Unit and leaves Snake for dead.

After recovering for a week, Naked Snake HALO-jumps right back into enemy territory to complete his mission, destroy the superweapon that Sokolov was coerced into building, and make The Boss pay for her betrayal.

Like most Metal Gear Solid games, this is a stealth game where you will need to sneak around to avoid enemy detection and use a variety of weapons and close-quarters combat techniques to silently take your foes.

However, there will be times when you will be forced to confront bosses head-on, and you will need to employ quick thinking and mastery of your tools to dispatch them before they can silence you forever.

What makes Snake Eater stand apart from other Metal Gear Solid titles is that you will need to employ outdoor guerrilla warfare tactics to get past enemies.

These tactics include covering your body with camouflage outfits to blend into the environment, using the environment to your advantage by luring enemies to hostile wildlife like bees and crocodiles, and more.

Additionally, Snake Eater has unique survival-based mechanics to keep track of if you hope to survive. Naked Snake will sometimes get hungry, so you will need to hunt wild animals to keep him fed and maintain his stamina.

During combat, Naked Snake can get brutally injured, so you will need to employ first-aid items crafted from the wild to heal broken bones and wounds.

What's changed from the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater?

The story and gameplay of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater's main campaign will remain largely unchanged from the original game.

However, the remake will include a few new features such as:

• A third-person camera control mode where you can move the camera like any modern third-person action game. There is also a Legacy Style camera mode where the camera will be overhead at all times, like the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
• The remake will have updated graphics rendered in Unreal Engine 5, designed to help the player get deeply immersed in the setting.
• The battle damage system from the original game will be refined in the remake. Battle damage Naked Snake endures will be shown in real-time, and any injuries healed will leave scars that will stick for the rest of your playthrough.
• A side game mode where Naked Snake will need to capture monkeys from the Ape Escape franchise.
• A side game mode where Naked Snake will face off against Bomberman from the Bomberman franchise.
• A competitive multiplayer mode called Fox Hunt, where players need to sneak around and silently take down each other until one player remains standing.
• A Secret Theater mode where you can watch funny vignettes involving characters from the main campaign. However, you will need to find 8mm film canisters found throughout the main campaign in order to unlock the vignettes and watch them in the Secret Theater.

What platforms will Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater be released on?

It has been confirmed that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will be launching on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

This upcoming Xbox title/upcoming PC title will not be coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch. However, there's a chance it may do so in the future, as Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 once did.

One of the most exciting horror games announced in years is the latest addition to the legendary Silent Hill franchise, a Japan-bound adventure known as Silent Hill f.

We were pretty confident this intriguing title stood no chance of releasing in 2025, but the latest State of Play show from Sony just proved us wrong. Silent Hill f is officially landing on Xbox, Windows PC, and PlayStation on Sept. 25, 2025.

That's only a few months away, and you can already preorder the game so you're ready to unravel the mysteries of the terrifying fog consuming the home of our main character, Hinako.

Of course, we also got a new trailer alongside this release date. This time around, we got to enjoy more gameplay, as well as further peeks into the endangered town of Ebisugaoka, Japan.

I need to see more of Silent Hill f's combat to be fully convinced, but the atmosphere for this game is immediately impeccable. The tried-and-true mannequin-esque horror monster returns, too, but the way these creatures move is truly unsettling.

Silent Hill f arrives later this year on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store), and PlayStation 5, with physical editions for Xbox and PlayStation collectors.

You can preorder a physical copy of Silent Hill f on Xbox Series X|S for $69.99 at Best Buy or $69.99 at Amazon, but it may be worth waiting for digital preorders to open (which should be any day).

Silent Hill f is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, meaning you only have to buy it once to own it across Xbox and Windows PC, with full cross-save between platforms.

There's another Silent Hill game on the way, and if the reveal trailer for "Silent Hill f" (yes, it's lower-case) is any indication, this just might have the horror goods players are hoping for.

In the reveal trailer, which you can find on YouTube, a girl named Hinako Shimizu has her life suddenly thrown into chaos when a dense fog descends on her hometown of Ebisugaoka, twisting the environment and unleashing nightmarish monsters.

It's not clear exactly what the gameplay will be like, though given how Hinako is seen wielding a pipe, some form of against the creatures coming after seems extremely liked.

Silent Hill f is set in 1960s Japan, with the store page indicating the game will be confronting some uncomfortable themes.

"These depictions do not reflect the opinions or values of the developers or any individuals involved. If you feel uncomfortable at any point while playing, please take a break from playing or speak to someone you trust," reads the store page description.

Silent Hill f is being developed by NeoBards, a team that's previously done support work on a number of Capcom and Square Enix titles, including Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

NeoBards is being aided by a support team at Konami, while series mainstay Akira Yamaoka is returning to help score the game's soundtrack.

Interestingly, the Xbox store page reveals a bit more, with the page description showing a PC version alongside Xbox Series X|S, as well as Xbox Cloud Saves support.

That's a pretty solid pointer toward Xbox Play Anywhere support, meaning players can buy a copy and then play the game on Xbox consoles or through the Xbox PC app at no extra cost.

Xbox Play Anywhere is a staple of first-party games and often appears in third-party titles that come to Xbox Game Pass, but support elsewhere has been limited, making this nice to see.

Earlier on Thursday, Microsoft vice president of next generation Jason Ronald shared an update on the program, revealing that over 1,000 games now support Xbox Play Anywhere.

Silent Hill back in force

Silent Hill is such an iconic series that has done incalculable service to survival-horror as a genre, so I'm definitely excited to see how Silent Hill f turns out. The reveal trailer has things off to a great start, but hopefully we'll be learning more soon.

I'm not expecting this game to launch in 2025 (it really seems like Konami would be saying that already if that were the case) but maybe 2026 isn't out of the question?

With the Silent Hill 2 remake launching last year to critical acclaim and commercial success while Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is slated to arrive in August, Konami has a stronger slate of games on its plate than it's had in a long time.

Silent Hill f is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Xbox PC app), and PlayStation 5.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater may have a release date of Aug. 28, 2025. That's according to a trailer that went up seemingly early on PlayStation Network (PSN), revealing when the game is planned to arrive across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.

At the time I'm writing this, the PlayStation App for mobile devices also lists a release date of August 28 for the game, meaning we should likely expect an official announcement in the next couple of weeks.

Konami is making a bit of a comeback

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, with teams at Virtuos and Konami working to rebuild Naked Snake's mission in Unreal Engine 5. First officially announced back in May 2023 during the last PlayStation Showcase, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater was chosen because while it's the third game in the original Metal Gear Solid series, it's the first game chronologically.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater then popped up again during an Xbox showcase in 2024, revealing more of the rebuilt gameplay and graphics, though Konami again refrained from sharing when the game would launch. Outside of this remake, Konami has also worked to bring back Metal Gear Solid with the Master Collection Vol. 1, letting players grab versions of the original games that play on modern hardware.

Konami's Silent Hill franchise also made a big comeback in 2024, with the Silent Hill 2 remake from Bloober launching across PlayStation 5 and PC to critical acclaim. The remake was financially successful, selling over two million copies so far.

Is a PlayStation State of Play on the way?

With this trailer and release date leaking from PSN, it's fairly likely that a PlayStation State of Play presentation could be on the way in the next week or two. It'll be interesting to see just what else is announced.

In addition to seeing proper confirmation of this release date, I'm firmly expecting to see a big update on Bungie's Marathon, a multiplatform title that Sony has high expectations for. Coincidentally, that's another game that was first revealed back during PlayStation's last showcase in 2023.

Ideally, we'd also learn about some more PlayStation Studios games coming to Windows PC, though with the recent arrival of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the list of potential titles is a fair bit thinner than it used to be.

What you need to know

• Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 was previously revealed during the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase. 
• During a recent Nintendo Direct, Konami confirmed that the collection is headed to multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC. 
• Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is slated to launch on Oct. 24, 2023.

If you're ready to dip back into the world of nanomachines and private military espionage, we've got great news. 

During a Nintendo Direct presentation on Wednesday, Konami revealed that the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 was headed to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch, in addition to the previously-confirmed PS5 release. 

Additionally, the publisher shared that players can expect this bundle of games to launch on Oct. 24, 2023. You can take a look at the release date trailer below:

The Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 includes Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, the latter of which is also receiving a separate remake from Konami called Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

This collection joins an already-packed fall slate of games that includes Starfield, Mortal Kombat 1, Alan Wake 2, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and many more.

Windows Central's take

While I wish perhaps more effort was put into the remastering the visuals of the main three games in this collection, I'm mainly just happy this is happening at all. 

Speculation abounds as to what the contents of a potential Vol. 2 could include. Could we finally see ports of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, keeping it from being trapped on the PS3 for all time? I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but we'll see.

What you need to know

• Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is officially being remade as Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater for Xbox, Windows PC, and PlayStation.
• Confirming earlier reports from Windows Central, the game aims to be a "faithful remake" of the legendary original.
• The game is coming after a "Master Collection" of Metal Gear Solid 1, 2, and 3 heading to multiple platforms in Autumn 2023.

Metal Gear Solid is one of the most legendary franchises in video games history, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater counts among the best of them. On Wednesday, during the PlayStation Showcase, Konami officially revealed that the epic shooter is being remade for modern platforms.

This confirms earlier reporting from Windows Central — Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (the project's official name, with the triangle being the "Delta" symbol) is coming at some point in the future to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC via Steam, and PS5. Not much is known about the project at this time, except that Konami is aiming for it to be a "faithful remake" that reproduces the original's narrative and game design while injecting new elements. There's no release window at this time.

Also confirmed was the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection: Vol. 1, which includes the classic versions Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater in one collection compatible with multiple modern platforms. This bundle is coming to players in Autumn 2023.

Will the new era of Metal Gear Solid earn a place among the best Xbox games? The chances are high, seeing as how all of these games were among the best titles of their respective time at release. Now, players will be able to experience the original trilogy all over again, at least until Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is officially in our hands.

What you need to know

• Publisher Konami has announced a Silent Hill "Transmission" for Oct. 19, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. PT. 
• This "Transmission" will be focused on new updates for the Silent Hill franchise. 
• The last planned game in the series, Silent Hills, was infamously cancelled after relations soured between Hideo Kojima and Konami.

It appears that at long last, legitimate information about the next Silent Hill game could be on the way.

Publisher Konami shared on Sunday that a Silent Hill "Transmission" is coming on Oct. 19, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. PT./ 5:00 p.m. ET. According to the official Konami Twitter account, this "Transmission" will be focused on the "latest updates for the SILENT HILL series."

The first Silent Hill game was developed by Team Silent and released in 1999. While successful, the franchise would explode in popularity and critical acclaim with the release of Silent Hill 2 in 2001. Silent Hill 3 and Silent Hill 4 were developed simultaneously and released in 2003 and 2004, respectively. 

Other assorted games were released in the following decade, with the latest planned game in the franchise, Silent Hills, infamously being cancelled by Konami after relations fell apart between the publisher and developer Hideo Kojima. A playable teaser for the game, PT, was released in 2014 before the official announcement of the game, with the ending scene revealing actor Norman Reedus as the main character for the game.

Kojima went on to found an independent Kojima Productions following his split from Konami, with Reedus performing as the main character for his new game, Death Stranding, which was developed in partnership with PlayStation.

Numerous rumors and reports have claimed various Silent Hill games were in various stages of development over the last couple of years. Bloober Team, developers of horror games like The Medium, are possibly involved with the project, with the latest reports indicating a remake of Silent Hill 2 and a new mainline game are both in development.

What you need to know

• Bloober Team is working on a horror IP with a "very famous" publisher.
• This news comes very recently after Silent Hill composer Akira Yamoaka stated his next project would be revealed later in 2021.
• According to VGC, Konami has given the Silent Hill IP to a "prominent Japanese developer" for a new game to be revealed later this year.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Bloober Team, the developers of games like Layers of Fear and more recently The Medium, confirmed that the team is working with a "very famous gaming publisher" on an upcoming title.

"In fact, we've been working for more than a year on another gaming project, another horror IP, and we're doing this with a very famous gaming publisher," Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno says. "I can't tell you who. I can't tell you what the project is, but I'm pretty sure when people realize we're working on it, they will be very excited."

This comes just a short time after Silent Hill composer Akira Yamoaka stated in a now-removed interview that his next project was being revealed later in the summer of 2021 and that "I think it's kinda the one you're hoping to hear about."

Further compounding the mystery of everything, VGC reports that Konami has entrusted a new Silent Game to a "prominent Japanese developer" with the game currently scheduled to be revealed sometime over the summer.

Fortunately, with these different (or possibly one and the same?) reveals said to be announced later in the year, we won't have to wait too much longer to find out. Overall, The Medium has received a wide range of reviews, with our lead gaming editor Carli Velocci argued that while there are things for horror fans to enjoy in The Medium, it's not the game that Silent Hill fans need right now.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

What you need to know

• Akira Yamaoka is a celebrated composer who has worked on Silent Hill, The Medium and more.
• In a recent interview with Al Hub, Yamaoka stated that he has a new project that'll be revealed later in the summer.
• He also stated through a translator "I think it's kinda the one you're hoping to hear about."

Update, February 5 (10:37 am ET): The interview has now been pulled.

Akira Yamoaka is an accomplished composer, well known for his work on the Silent Hill soundtracks. More recently, he composed part of the soundtrack for The Medium, a horror game from Polish studio Bloober Team. Now, it seems like we'll know what else Yamoaka is working on later this year.

Speaking with Al Hub, when asked when people would see his next project, Yamaoka answered through a translator that we'll probably hear something "this summer" and that "I think it's kinda the one you're hoping to hear about."

Now, it's important to note that he doesn't ever say he's working on a Silent Hill game, or that he's working with Konami. This could be something completely separate from that game and company. With that said, the phrase he chose to use is absolutely eyebrow-raising, so it'll be interesting to see just what's going on. Overall, The Medium has received favorable reviews, though our editor Carli Velocci argues it's not the game Silent Hill fans need right now.

More horror games are coming years out from all over the gaming industry, with former Sony Japan studio employees founding a team called Bokeh Game Studio, which is working on a multiplatform horror game while aiming to release it at some point in 2023. Meanwhile, the co-creator of Dead Space is working on a title called The Callisto Protocol, which is being aimed for a 2022 release.

Update, February 5 (10:37 am ET) — The interview is no longer up

Al Hub confirmed on Twitter that the interview has been pulled.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

What you need to know

• Konami has a large back catalog of classic games.
• Today, Konami revealed that several of these games, such as Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, are now available on GOG.
• GOG is a PC storefront that often specializes in playable versions of older games.

If you've been looking for a way to play some older Konami games on PC, we've got great news. Konami and CD Projekt-owned PC storefront GOG have teamed up, bringing classic Konami titles Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance and more to PC. Here's the full list of games now available:

• Metal Gear
• Metal Gear Solid
• Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
• Castlevania
• Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
• Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
• Contra
• Super C

It's worth noting that the non-Metal Gear games are all bundled as one collection and aren't available to purchase separately. All of these games are now compatible with Windows 10 and should support modern PC gaming controllers like the Xbox One Wireless Controller.

GOG often has special ports of older games that were previously lost to time, such as the Blade Runner point-and-click game. With the addition of these titles, there's another chunk of classic games that can be experienced — either again or for the very first time. Is this simply a move to support old titles, or does it signal more interest in these Konami IPs moving forward? We'll have to wait and see.

PC Gaming

Main

• Best PC Games of 2020
• Best PC Gaming Mice in 2020
• Best PC Gaming Keyboards in 2020
• Best Gaming Laptops in 2020
• 12 Essential PC Accessories Under $30

What you need to know

• The Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee reportedly just rated a collection of classic Konami games for PC.
• This indicates that Konami could be planning to launch these games on PC in the near future.
• The games include classics like Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania, and Contra.

In a new report from Gematsu, the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee has reportedly rated a selection of classic Konami games for PC, which could indicate an imminent relaunch for these games on PC on official platforms. Eight games in total were rated for PC, five of which are in a collection, spanning a fifteen year period starting all the way back in 1987 and ending in 2002. The games that were rated include:

• Metal Gear
• Metal Gear Solid
• Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
• Konami Collector's Series: Castlevania and Contra, which includes
  • Castlevania
  • Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest
  • Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse
  • Contra
  • Super C

It's not clear if these are HD remasters that are intended for release on all modern gaming platforms, or if Konami is simply porting the original games to PC (which would be a slightly baffling move). Either way, it's likely that we'll be seeing these games at some point in the near future, now that they've been rated by at least one committee. This could be a great opportunity for fans of these classic games to revisit their favorite series, and see how they've held up after at least 18 years.

We'll have to wait a little longer to see exactly what Konami is planning here, as the nature of the ports and the cost attached to them is what will likely make the decision for most people. Either way, it's always exciting to see old and classic games become revived for modern platforms.

What you need to know

• Silent Hill is a popular horror franchise from Konami.
• Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer game.
• Dead by Daylight is getting a Silent Hill crossover in June that adds Pyramid Head.
• You can purchase Dead by Daylight on the Microsoft Store.

Silent Hill is an incredibly popular horror franchise that would've seen a new entry had P.T. panned out. While Konami is still deliberating what to do with Silent Hill, if you're into Dead by Daylight, you're in luck. This asymmetrical horror game along the lines of Friday the 13th: The Game pits survivors against a powerful villain. Pyramid Head is coming to Dead by Daylight.

The developer said the following.

The Silent Hill content is coming to Dead bt Daylight in June 2020. Be sure to check it out if you're a fan of the franchise. Pyramid Head sounds like an incredibly powerful foe. The team also said that cross-play was coming soon. Now, we know that it's going live on August 13.

What you need to know

• Kazuhisa Hashimoto created the Konami Code cheat — Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.
• The cheat has been used in countless games, both from Konami and other publishers.
• Konami shared today on Twitter that Kazuhisa Hashimoto has died.

We've got some sad news to share today. Konami has confirmed via Twitter that Kazuhisa Hashimoto, the creator of the Konami Code, has died at age 61. The sequence he created, Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start, is known as the Konami Code.

The Konami Code is easily the most well-known video game cheat code of all time. The first game it appeared in was Gradius, a sidescrolling title that released in 1985. Since then, it's found uses in countless Konami titles, such as the Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid series, as well as games not developed or published by Konami.

We are saddened to learn of Hashimoto's passing. Our thoughts are with his friends and family during this time.

What you need to know

• Contra: Rogue Corps is an upcoming top-down shooter from Konami.
• It's the next installment in the fabled Contra franchise.
• The game launches in September and runs at 4K resolution on Xbox One X.
• You can preorder it for $45 through the Microsoft Store.

Updated October 4, 2019: We've been playing Contra: Rogue Ops for many days now, and we've waited for patches. Unlike what Konami says on the Microsoft Store page, the title doesn't appear to be running at 4K resolution.

Everyone knows that Contra is a legendary shoot 'em franchise from Konami. While the company may be more interested in pachinko machines at the moment, it hasn't stopped it from working on the next step for the franchise. Instead of the regular 2D levels, Contra: Rogue Corps is a top-down 3D shooter. While that may not sound that appealing, early previews say that it's a lot of fun.

If you want to play Contra: Rogue Corps, be sure to preorder it through the Microsoft Store. A listing by the name of Contra Rogue Corps with Season Pass is going for $45 at the moment. Luckily, the wait won't be too long to play it because the game launches on September 24.

Contra: Rogue Corps will be somewhat of a treat for Xbox One X owners. The game runs at 4K resolution on the system and even features high dynamic range lighting. Konami is going all-out for this game it seems. It even features player vs. player and player vs. enemy multiplayer modes!

Several years after the events of the Alien Wars, Contra: Rogue Corps follows a former military group living on the fringes as bounty hunters and treasure finders in the Damned City. Survival requires fast reactions, powerful weapons, and the occasional cybernetic augmentation.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

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

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

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.

What you need to know

• Konami has filed a new trademark for Silent Hill in Canada.
• This trademark is separate from Konami's ownership of the Silent Hill franchise.
• While unlikely, it's possible this is pointing to a new game or project that could be in development.
• We still wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up though because it's Konami.

Silent Hill fans, there's something interesting going on, as Konami has filed a trademark for Silent Hill in Canada. You can see the trademark right here. This trademark is new, having been initially filed by Konami Digital Entertainment on July 25 this year. As such, this doesn't appear to be an update or renewal related to Konami's ownership of the Silent Hill franchise. It's possible this means a new project is in development.

With that said, I'd have to advise against getting your hopes up too much. Over the last few years, Konami has been publishing fewer and fewer video games, instead focusing on arcade cabinets and pachinko machines. There have been a handful of games, like the ongoing Pro Evolution Soccer series, but of late they're the exception, not the rule.

The latest Silent Hill game to be announced was the ill-fated Silent Hills, which was going to be developed by Hideo Kojima and star Norman Reedus. With input from Japanese horror mangaka Junji Ito and Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, the game seemed quite exciting and ambitious, garnering the attention of newer horror fans and Silent Hill hardcore alike. Announced through the downloadable P.T. teaser, the game was cancelled and a falling-out between Kojima and Konami led Kojima to parter with Sony on the upcoming Death Stranding.

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

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

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

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

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.

It's been 50 years since Konami was founded, and the company is celebrating in style by bringing a ton of its classics to modern consoles. In all, several classic arcade games are making their way to Xbox One as part of this push, along with entries from the Castlevania and Contra series.

The games are being released as a part of three separate collections and will only be released digitally. The first to make its way to gamers will be the "Arcade Classics" collection, which is set for release on April 18 for $20. The collection will include the following eight titles:

• Haunted Castle
• Typhoon (A-Jax)
• Nemesis (Gradius)
• Vulcan Venture (Gradius II)
• Life Force (Salamander)
• Thunder Cross
• Scramble
• TwinBee

The Castlevania and Contra collections, meanwhile, are expected to launch in the "early summer" timeframe with eight games each. However, Konami has only revealed four games for each collection so far, leaving the other four in each as a mystery.

In the Castlevania collection, the only titles Konami has revealed thus far are Castlevania, Castlevania II Dracula's Curse, Castlevania II Belmont's Revenge, and Super Castlevania. For Contra, Konami has revealed Contra, Super Contra, Super C, and Contra III The Alien Wars. Presumably, we'll learn what else will be included with both collections as their releases near.

Each collection will also come with an eBook featuring more information about each game included.

There are no preorders available just yet for any of the collections, but well update you when they go up.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Castlevania franchise has been another hot series. Today, Xbox Live's Director of Programming, Larry Hryb, announced that Just Cause, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Just Cause

In Just Cause, you take on the role of the flamboyant Rico Rodriguez — an undercover operative specialized in regime changes — as he tries to overthrow the corrupt government of San Esperito. This rogue South American island is suspected of stockpiling nuclear weapons and it's your job to negate the threat. This essentially means blowing everything up in sight.

Just Cause costs $9.99 on the Xbox Store.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

According to Konami, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a dark and vivid new reimagining of the Castlevania mythology. It takes place during the end of days as ungodly powers isolate the Earth. You step into the shoes of Gabriel Belmont, a member of the Brotherhood of Light, armed with the Combat Cross to defend the living and destroy the dead.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow costs $16.99 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD is a sequel to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. The game reveals the story of the Belmonts, as they battle destiny across generations, to discover their true fate. Trevor Belmont, knight of the Brotherhood of Light, embarks on a quest to avenge his mother, killed by his father, Gabriel.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD costs $14.99 on the Xbox Store.

See at Microsoft Store

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

In Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Gabriel Dracula returns once again. Dracula wants to die and this might be the key to end his immortal suffering. However, this time around he faces a new powerful threat so he has to reacquire his old powers.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 costs $20.78 on Amazon.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out Castlevania: Lords of Shadow in particular if you're a fan of the franchise. The Castlevania games aren't just cult classics, they're also a lot of fun to play.

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

Bomberman is an incredibly popular franchise with a long history. The first game came out in 1983 and since then has garnered a significant fan following. The latest entry in the franchise is a Nintendo Switch exclusive called "Super Bomberman R". It's been many years since a Bomberman game came out so gamers were understandably excited for this release. Unfortunately, players on Xbox One felt left out because they haven't received a new game since the Xbox 360 got Bomberman Live: Battlefest in 2010.

Today, a Microsoft Store listing for Super Bomberman R appeared for Xbox One. The game is expected to launch on Tuesday‎, ‎June‎ ‎12‎, ‎2018. Unfortunately, the preorder link doesn't work at the moment so we were unable to ascertain the price. Those who preorder the title gain the additional "Golden Vic Viper" and "8 Shiny Bomberman Brothers" characters.

Super Bomberman R allows you to play alone or with a friend in Story Mode, in a bunch of different levels. The game also contains the classic Battle Mode where you can play with up to eight players locally or online. Lastly, the new Grand Prix Mode focuses on teamwork just as much as individual skill.

If you love the Bomberman series, be sure to check out Super Bomberman R on Xbox One. We'll update you as soon as we have a price point or the preorder goes live.

Updated March 15, 2018: Super Bomberman R is now available for preorder on Xbox One for $39.99.

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!

Storied game publisher Konami has released four games on the Windows Store, allowing fans to take a crack at some classics and some newcomers right on their PCs. Included in the new releases are Bomberman '94, Animal CUEBRICK, Frogger's Crackout, and Power Golf.

Bomberman '94 will take fans back to the TurboGrafx days, allowing fans to bomb their way through the franchise's early roots. Meanwhile, Power Golf, another title that previously appeared on the TurboGrafx in 1989, will let you check out some retro golf action.

As for newer titles, Animal CUEBRICK is what Konami describes as an "action puzzle game." Players will have to slide panels to create paths to lead animals to safety, with the final goal being to grow your zoo. In addition, Konami has also release Frogger's Crackout, which is a new block-breaking game that stars the classic gaming character.

If you're interested, you can check out the games via the Windows Store links below. While each carries a price tag, there arefree trials available as well.

• Download Bomberman '94 from the Windows Store ($2.49)
• Download Power Golf from the Windows Store ($2.49)
• Download Animal CUEBRICK from the Windows Store ($1.49)
• Download Frogger's Crackout from the Windows Store ($1.49)

Welcome to our weekly ICYMI for Xbox news!

We're also giving away a copy of Star Wars: Battlefront for Xbox One to one lucky commenter! Simply leave a reply and join the discussion for a chance to win.

We'll still be posting major Xbox announcements in the main feed. However, I'll be collecting some of the more nuanced news, rumors and talking points into one handy post every weekend. You can also rely on this weekly column to keep up to date with all the latest game releases too.

So without further ado, here's the latest edition of This Week in Xbox One News.

Missed The Division's Alpha? Check out these leaked gameplay videos

Tom Clancy's The Division makes up part of Ubisoft's 2016 onslaught, and if the queues I saw at Gamescom and EGX were any indication, interest in this game is on the high end (to say the least).

In The Division, you play as a member of an eponymous organisation tasked to uncover the causes behind a massive pandemic. The disease spread on bank notes, causing society to collapse in less than a week. The Division agents are supposed to be self-sufficient soldiers, capable of completing missions independent of command. The game has heavily connected multiplayer elements, such as asynchronous PVP, but it can also be enjoyed entirely solo without teaming up, or fighting against other players.

Be sure to check out the videos as soon as possible, as Ubisoft will likely issue takedown notices soon.

The Division launches on March 8th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Phil Spencer discusses cloud compute for third party games, backwards compatibility and more

Xbox head Phil Spencer frequently engages fans on Twitter, and he's had quite a bit to say in the past week.

Regarding Titanfall 2, a fan asked whether the game would lose access to Microsoft Azure as a result of it going multiplatform. Of course, the first Titanfall became a poster-child for Azure, appearing in commercials to tout the way Microsoft's server infrastructure helped power the game's A.I., analytics and more. Phil Spencer replied that Azure is available to any game, even PS4 exclusives - after all, Microsoft Azure is a large business in its own right.

It might work out cheaper for EA to use its internal server infrastructure to power Titanfall 2. Whether or not it can keep up with Microsoft Azure in terms of quality and features is another matter entirely, though. Considering Respawn Entertainment own the Titanfall IP, and studio head Vince Zampella stated that he partnered with Xbox specifically for Azure, there's every chance we could see Titanfall 2 remain in the Microsoft cloud.

Phil Spencer also fielded a few questions about backwards compatibility. Regarding previously announced backwards compatible titles such as Halo Wars and Call of Duty: Black Ops 1, Phil said that the dates for those titles haven't yet been announced, but the team were actively working to get them ready for Xbox One.

Phil also replied to an inquiry about backwards compatibility for the original Xbox, stating that an achievements system would need to be figured out beforehand. As noted by justinmorgan57, backwards compatibility for the original Xbox is potentially easier to accomplish than the Xbox 360, as it shares an x86 hardware architecture with the Xbox One.

Motiga updates fans on the status of its upcoming Xbox One and Windows 10 universal game, Gigantic

Gigantic is an upcoming shooter/MOBA hybrid for Xbox One and Windows 10. Gigantic is special, not only for its great gameplay but because it'll be among the first games released as a Universal Windows App across Xbox One and the Windows 10 Store.

Sadly, the game's independent developer, Motiga, recently suffered layoffs - but the remaining staff are soldiering on, and recently provided fans with an update on Gigantic's progress.

Motiga noted that switching Gigantic from two separate clients to a single, Universal Windows App has been a difficult challenge, but the developer strongly believes in Microsoft's vision for the Universal Windows Platform, as noted below.

Early next year Motiga will ship a new build to its closed beta testers on Xbox One and Windows 10. This new version will be a Universal Windows App, possibly the first available on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC. Some of the benefits include improved matchmaking, changes to the core gameplay mechanics and tons of additional content. Read the full list of improvements over on the Gigantic blog here.

I've played the game at Gamescom, and, despite not being a fan of MOBA-type games, Gigantic helps gamers accustomed to all sorts of genres find enjoyment in its third-person, team-based gameplay. If you haven't checked out Gigantic before, you can do so over on GoGigantic.com, and if you believe in Microsoft's universal app vision, keep a firm eye on Gigantic.

Konami is hiring for a new Metal Gear following an exodus of Metal Gear developers

If there was an annual award for this year's most reviled publisher, I'm pretty sure Konami would top 2015's proceedings. The drama between Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima and IP owner Konami has dominated video game news over the past year. Hideo Kojima and Konami recently unceremoniously parted ways, but that hasn't stopped Konami's plans for one of gaming's most beloved franchises.

Kojima's contract forbids him from discussing his time at Konami (and apparently, from attending award ceremonies), but the reports haven't been pretty. Beyond removing Hideo Kojima's name from Metal Gear Solid marketing and box art, Konami is reported to have made life very difficult for the staff working under Kojima.

The supposed 'power struggle' between Hideo Kojima and Konami resulted in the abrupt cancellation of a wildly anticipated Silent Hill sequel, a Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain that was quite obviously rushed to completion. Reportedly, Konami also began treating uninvolved Kojima Productions staff very poorly, resigning video game developers to menial jobs, installing CCTV cameras in offices and hiring supervisors to monitor breaks.

Konami strangely denied reports that Kojima was leaving the company following MGSV's completion. Unsurprisingly, that turned out to be a fabrication, as Kojima recently re-opened Kojima Productions as an independent studio, signing a deal with Sony to build a PS4 and PC game with a small team comprised of former Metal Gear developers.

If you're a game developer looking for work, and Konami's reported behaviour doesn't bother you, you might be interested to know that the studio has begun hiring "highly skilled" developers to build the next Metal Gear. It doesn't sound like a smartphone game, at least.

Regardless of whether or not the reports about Konami's strange behaviour are true, it's quite obvious that the studio has a long journey ahead of it to regain consumer trust. Metal Gear is, at least for now, synonymous with Hideo Kojima.

EA and Visceral are hiring for a Star Wars action adventure game

In a piece of job listing news that fills me with far more optimism than a Kojima-less Metal Gear, former Assassin's Creed producer Jade Raymond and Legacy of Kain writer Amy Hennig could be working with Visceral Games to develop the Star Wars action adventure game that we so very desperately deserve.

Visceral (Dead Space, Battlefield Hardline) are known to have been working on a Star Wars game for some time, but this new job listing offers tantalising hints about the game's nature.

Given Jade Raymond's experience with open-world action adventure games like Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs, EA could be onto a serious winner here. As someone still basking in the glow of The Force Awakens, I surely hope we'll get a glimpse at next year's E3.

Giveaway - Star Wars Battlefront for Xbox One

This week we're giving away an Xbox One copy of Star Wars: Battlefront! Simply join the discussion below to enter.

The winner was Lazy666Beard! Congrats! To everyone else, check back next week for another giveaway!

ICYMI - Some of Windows Central's biggest Xbox articles of the week

• Check out how much time your Xbox One controller spent in your hand during 2015
• Hacker group claims it brought down Xbox Live this week, pledges to do it again
• Minecraft for Xbox gets huge free update with new blocks, mobs and more
• Gigantic to get fresh beta build with new characters and more in early 2016
• Super Party Sports Football review: Soccer meets physics puzzles on Xbox One
• Halo: Reach, Fable III, and 14 other Xbox 360 games gain Xbox One compatibility
• Forge map editor is part of the newest free update for Halo 5: Guardians
• Acclaimed RPG The Banner Saga will fight its way to the Xbox One on Jan. 12
• Plex on Xbox One is now free to use
• Review: Fallout 4, post-hype post-apocalypse

New Xbox One game releases for the week ending December 20th, 2015

ARK: Survival Evolved (Game Preview) - Action & Adventure, Survival - Studio Wildcard

"Stranded on the shores of a mysterious island, you must learn to survive. Use your cunning to kill or tame the primeval creatures roaming the land, and encounter other players to survive, dominate... and escape!"

And that's a wrap!

This week I've been struggling through ARK: Survival Evolved in between sessions of Star Wars: Battlefront and Star Wars: The Old Republic - it's almost as if a recent movie had some influence on me.

It's encouraging to see the backwards compatibility list grow this week, even if it was just over a dozen titles. Hopefully, Microsoft will increase the visibility of backwards compatible titles on the Xbox Store, and release sales figures to entice some of the other heavy hitters on the UserVoice request page. Mass Effect 2 and 3, Red Dead Redemption and Elder Scrolls V would've been a pretty swell Christmas present.

Will you be stepping away from gaming for the holidays? Or is the vacation from work simply an excuse to play even more? Join the discussion for a chance to win Star Wars Battlefront for Xbox One!

Welcome to our weekly ICYMI for Xbox news!

We'll still be posting major Xbox announcements in the main feed. However, I'll be collecting some of the more nuanced news, rumors and talking points into one handy post every weekend! You can also rely on this weekly column to keep up to date with all the latest game releases too.

So without further ado, here's the latest edition of This Week in Xbox One News.

Phil Spencer discusses Final Fantasy 14: Realm Reborn's Xbox One absence

Final Fantasy XIV: Realm Reborn is one of the few MMOs reporting consistent growth. If World of Warcraft's upcoming Legion expansion fails to wow consumers, it's conceivable that FFXIV could eventually become the world's 1# subscription-based MMO.

FFXIV: RR is currently available on PS4, PS3 and PC. All versions of FFXIV share the same servers, as was the case with FFXI, which also featured a Xbox 360 version.

Square Enix's Naoki Yoshida previously outlined his enthusiasm for the prospect of FFXIV on Xbox One, stating:

Yoshida made this comments over a year ago, but he mentioned that discussions for an Xbox One version were still taking place as recently as last month.

Despite this, Phil Spencer recently claimed that FFXIV is a third-party exclusive - responding to questions about the game's Xbox One absense.

These comments appear to contradict Yoshida's assertions that FFXIV isn't exclusive. Whether or not Phil Spencer considers it "exclusive" because Square Enix won't bend on its cross-platform play intents, I'm not sure. There's also a chance IGN took his comments about third party exclusivity out of context.

Either way, the whole situation is utterly confounding, especially as Final Fantasy XI was cross-platform enabled between Xbox 360 and PS3, even PS2. I'm not in charge of a multi-million dollar console business, but I can't envisage any negative effects would occur as a result of allowing PS4 and Xbox One FFXIV players to co-exist. In an age where Microsoft appears at one of Apple's keynotes, it seems at total odds with the company's wider philosophy of playing nice with the competition.

I'd genuinely like to know the full story and reasoning behind why Xbox One owners can't have FFXIV. What do you think?

Report states Konami have ceased all Triple-A development beyond Pro Evolution Soccer

If you were hoping Metal Gear Solid V's cut content (spoilers) would make it into the game via DLC, you might find yourself disappointed if these rumors are true.

French site Gameblog reported that Konami has shuttered all AAA development beyond Pro Evolution Soccer. If true, once Metal Gear Online ships on October 6, that'll be it. Silent Hill, Castlevania and Metal Gear could become nothing more than text on an IP holder's document in the back of some filing cabinet.

MGSV's roaring sales success apparently isn't enough incentive for Konami, who have previously signalled the intent to devolve into a freemium shovelware peddler. Similar reports state that Fox Engine overseer Julien Merceron recently fled Konami, for reasons relating to the company's disinterest in console development.

Right now, it's looking like the end of the road for Metal Gear, Silent Hill and various other beloved Konami franchises. That is, of course, unless you like pachinko machines.

Bioshock re-releases rumoured for Xbox One

Video game retailer Raru.co.za appears to have outed a "Bioshock Collection", listed for PS4 and Xbox One for a November 2015 launch.

The retailer has reportedly leaked games well in advance of announcement before, and given 2K's penchant for re-releases, I think this rumour will likely turn out true. If so, I'd hope the collection comprises all three current games - Bioshock, Bioshock 2 and Bioshock Infinite, as well as their DLC.

Bioshock took the world by storm on the Xbox 360 back in 2007. It introduced us to the depths of Rapture - a nightmarish undersea community that fell into murderous anarchy. Bioshock was an intense and atmospheric shooter wrapped in a biting political critique, complimented with strong characters and an intriguing plot. Bioshock 2 wasn't received as favourably as the first game, as it failed to live up to mammoth expectations set by its predecessor. Thankfully, Bioshock Infinite made up for the lull in quality with a brand new setting, new characters and incredible visuals.

Considering the Xbox One now features backwards compatibility, collections such as this are going to be a hard sell for those who already own the games. Hopefully, 2K will sweeten the deal with a graphical refresh.

Of course, until we get official confirmation, take this news with a pinch of salt. We've reached out to 2K for comment.

Halo 5: Guardian's REQ system as explained by Mister Chief

Mister Chief has returned to explain Halo 5: Guardian's REQ system. Halo 5: Guardians has made sweeping changes to Halo's iconic multiplayer, and its REQ system raised the spectre of microtransactions when it was first announced. It turns out that they're not all that scary.

REQ packs are similar to Battlefield 4's Battlepacks, delivering a box of random items in exchange for points accrued in multiplayer. Some of the items you unlock are permanent, such as cosmetic rewards, emblems, standard weapons and armor styles. Others are one use only, allowing you to spawn vehicles or power weapons in the game's Warzone mode.

You can buy REQ packs with real money, but that's not to say someone addicted to micro-payments will have any material advantage. To spawn the more powerful requisitions, you'll still have to achieve the appropriate "level" during the match, by capturing objectives, killing enemies, and general engagement. Only cosmetic REQs will work in Arena mode, preventing the classic Halo experience from being diluted. Warzone, however, is 12 v 12 anarchy, and everything is fair game. Be sure to check out the video above for more detail.

Halo 5: Guardians launches on October 27th, 2015 as a Xbox One exclusive.

Pre-order Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition for Xbox One at the Microsoft Store ($99.99)

Pre-order Halo 5: Guardians Limited Collector's Edition for Xbox One for Xbox One at the Microsoft Store ($249.99)

Pre-order the Xbox One Limited Edition Halo 5: Guardians Bundle at the Microsoft Store ($499)

Pre-order the Xbox One Limited Edition Halo 5: Guardians Wireless Controller at the Microsoft Store ($69.99)

Pre-order the Xbox One Limited Edition Halo 5: Guardians – The Master Chief Wireless Controller at the Microsoft Store ($69.99)

Ubisoft emphasises authenticity in Ghost Recon Wildlands

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands is an upcoming open-world tactical shooter, and if this video is anything to go by, it'll be dripping with authenticity. The team at Ubisoft visited the CIA itself to research how to shape the game's plot, which features drug cartels and large-scale organised crime.

After MGSV's fairly lifeless open-world, I'm hoping Ubisoft's comments about Wildlands' "living, breathing world" ring true once the game is released.

Boss-heavy Cuphead expands to include platforming levels

Cuphead is an upcoming Xbox One console exclusive under the ID@Xbox program. Since its reveal, it's become somewhat of a poster-child for Microsoft's indie program, owing to its incredible visuals and old-school gameplay. Cuphead demos thus far have only shown off boss fights, which draw inspirations from 90s side-scrollers like Gunstar Heroes.

In a recent interview, Cuphead purveyors Studio MDHR noted that they've been able to push the game beyond its original scope.

Studio MDHR's Chad Moldenhauer describes their partnership with Microsoft as "awesome" in the interview, and thanked fans for their reactions.

I played Cuphead at Gamescom (captured in the video above) and found it to be nothing short of maddening brilliance. Thanks to its expanded scope, I'd say it's pretty firmly in my list of most anticipated Xbox One games for 2016.

Bonus: Check out Rare's Sea of Thieves pirate consultants

Ubisoft might have enlisted the CIA to make Ghost Recon Wildlands more authentic, but Rare have gone the extra mile, bringing in bonafide pirates to help develop their upcoming Sea of Thieves MMO. Check out the vidye' above ye' scallywags. Yarrgh, matey, etc.

ICYMI - Some of Windows Central's biggest Xbox articles of the week

• Xbox (beta) for Windows 10 shows up in the Store a little early
• Check out the content in the Halo 5 limited editions and the Xbox One console bundle
• The new Windows 10-based Xbox One Experience to roll out today for first testers
• The Xbox One Elite Controller may be released alongside Halo 5 on Oct. 27
• FIFA 16 free trial now available for Xbox One owners with EA Access
• Xbox app for Windows 10 rolling out new features, Xbox Beta app coming soon
• Xbox app for Windows 10 rolling out new features, Xbox Beta app coming soon
• Latest Xbox 360 update adds new features alongside 2GB of cloud storage
• Exclusive: Press Play discuss Project Knoxville, their ambitious and exclusive Xbox One survival game
• Halo 5: Guardians uses dynamic resolution scaling to maintain its 60 FPS frame rate

New Xbox One game releases for the week ending Sept 19th, 2015

Pumped BMX + - Sports & Recreation - Carbon / Curve Digital

" Pumped BMX + uses the hit game 'Pumped BMX 2' as inspiration - taking everything which made the mobile version so successful and enhancing every aspect of it for console."

The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 - Action & Adventure - King Art

"A fantasy story with over 20 hours of pointing and clicking. The trademark BoUT-humor, lovingly spoofing LotR, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Discworld, The Hobbit, WoW and more. Hundreds of weird, yet oddly logical puzzles."

Plague Inc: Evolved - Strategy & Simulation - Ndemic Studios

"Plague Inc: Evolved is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation. Your pathogen has just infected 'Patient Zero' - now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself."

Frozen Free Fall: Snowball Fight - Puzzle & Trivia - Disney

"Get ready to turn your living room into an epic puzzle matching battle in Frozen Free Fall: Snowball Fight, featuring 195 FREE levels and an ALL-NEW local multiplayer mode!"

Overruled! - Fighting - Dlala Studios

"Overruled is a multiplayer brawler like no other where the players change the rules as they play, directly influencing the dynamics and direction of combat. Challenge up to three friends with both local and online multiplayer to a battle and the person with the most points at the end will win the game!"

EA SPORTS™ NHL® 16 - Sports - EA Sports

"Built with more input from our fans than ever before, NHL 16 steps onto the ice to deliver new features across the most played single player and team modes, including a reimagined EA SPORTS Hockey League."

Forza Motorsport 6 - Racing - Turn 10 Studios

"Forza Motorsport 6 is unrelenting action at simulation speed in the most beautiful and comprehensive racing game of this generation. Collect, customise, and race over 450 Forzavista™ cars, all with working cockpits and full damage."

And that's a wrap!

This week, I've been mostly playing Mad Max, which I think is criminally underrated. Sure, it has boatloads of grind (literally), but the vehicular combat, visceral fist fighting and gorgeously rendered open-world really help it shine. I'm also trying to distract myself from the seemingly inevitable death of Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill, should Konami shut down its game development business. Sigh.

What have you guys been playing this week? Any thoughts on this week's news? Let me know below!

It’s no fun kicking a downed horse, but we have another bit of bad news about an Xbox game for Windows Phone. Not only did the number of games in the Xbox WP lineup fail to increase this week, it actually fell by one! That’s because Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (PES 2012) was delisted, seemingly permanently.

Deja vu

Now, anyone who has followed the Xbox WP lineup for long enough shouldn’t be too surprised at PES 2012’s delisting. The first Pro Evolution Soccer title for Windows Phone (PES 2011) got delisted on January 23, 2012 – 10 months after its debut. This seemingly happened because of PES 2012’s impending release, but that game didn’t appear until March 20, 2012, leaving Windows Phone without a PES title for two months that year.

Now PES 2012 is also gone – 20 days sooner than its delisted forbear. Anyone who purchased PES 2012 or 2011 cannot redownload those games. Tough luck if you need to switch to a new handset and still want to play your soccer game (not that you’d retain your save data anyway). Sometimes users manage to secure refunds for delisted games by chatting with Microsoft’s customer support in India; I succeeded once myself. But we don’t have a dedicated web link for this type of refund request, and individual results may vary.

Call for improvement

This latest delisting highlights several larger problems affecting both the Windows Phone ecosystem and specifically Xbox Windows Phone games. The general issue: Windows Phone users have no way to back up their purchased games and apps, unlike iOS and Android users who can simply save them to a computer.

Microsoft could at least allow users to redownload any Windows Phone app they’ve purchased regardless of whether it’s still being sold, but they don’t. This despite the fact that Xbox 360 digital purchases can usually be redownloaded after such a removal. Once a game gets removed from the Windows Phone Store, people who paid for it can never get it again.

I hinted at the other issue earlier: save files. Even if PES 2012 hadn’t been delisted, someone who started playing the game on one phone and then switched to a new phone couldn’t resume their existing save data. Both PES 2011 and PES 2012 require the player to complete hundreds of games in order to unlock all of their Achievements. Why should anyone commit to that endeavor when their save data could be lost from any number of circumstances, and the game will simply become unavailable to download one day anyway.

More PES on the way?

The future of the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise on Windows Phone remains uncertain. Konami might just have a PES 2013 game in store for us, but they’ve made no announcement to that effect. If PES 2012 wasn’t pulled to make room for a sequel, it could have been pulled due to the WP8 crashing issues that several recent reviews mention on its Store page. That would be unusual though, as every other WP8-incompatible game we know of can still be downloaded from WP7 devices.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft and Konami about PES 2012’s delisting and will update if they issue a response.

Photo: Slice of Shanghai

Last week Gerbil Physics went up on the Marketplace a bit early, and it’s happened again this week. Somebody at the big MS is on the ball! Anyway, you can now buy this week’s Xbox Live release, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012.

What’s new in PES 2012? Well, you can’t tell from the official description, which sounds just about identical. Here it is:

• Unrivalled realism: Experience incredible gameplay and focus on tactics, goals and winning trophies while competing against the most advanced team and player AI on the market. Striking animations such as referee cut-scenes or goal celebrations and technical moves (diving header, bicycle kick, and more) will make you feel the beauty of the game.
• Exclusive UEFA Club Competitions: PES 2012 includes many of the best European club teams in the officially licensed UEFA Champions League™ and UEFA Europa League™ modes.
• Online connectivity: Prove your skills and unlock the various Xbox LIVE achievements, compare yourself to your friends, make it to the top of the leaderboards and become the world’s greatest PES player.
• Outstanding Accessibility for Beginners and Experts: The uniquely designed true flow™ control system provides instant access for players of all levels by utilising the accelerometer and AI-supported touch controls. More advanced players are presented with unlimited freedom of play by being able to master classic console-style controls with virtual pad and buttons.
• Stunning graphics: Detailed stadiums, pitches and weather effects provide the perfect visual environment for exciting matches
• Avatar awards: These aren't listed in the official description, but we have it on good authority that they're coming in the near future.

Hmm... One of those bullet points doesn't add up. Having played both PES 2011 on Windows Phone and PES 2012 on Xbox 360, I can tell you without a doubt that this series is not accessible for beginners. It’s an extremely realistic and challenging depiction of soccer, which is great for people who’ve been playing it for years. Me, I just couldn’t get overcome the learning curve. You might also consider that the PES 2011 was delisted from the Marketplace without warning, which will likely happen to 2012 once next year’s version gets closer to release. Hopefully Microsoft starts allowing users to back up or redownload delisted games between now and then, but I’m not holding my breath.

Enough commentary! Football/soccer fans who want to play their sport on Windows Phone can’t do any better than Pro Evolution Soccer, and that’s what matters. PES 2012 costs $4.99 and there is a free trial. Get it here on the Marketplace.

Thanks to Natres for the tip!

It’s been a while since an Xbox Live game has been pulled from the Marketplace. Last year, Fast & Furious: Adrenaline, Star Wars Cantina, and Star Wars: Battle for Hoth all got pulled at once. Besides that, the beleaguered Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst was taken down for good, and Twin Blades got temporarily pulled. Now we can add another game to the delisted list: Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 (aka PES 2011) from Konami.

As with the previous pulled games, no warning was given before PES 2011 got yanked. Some have speculated its removal is due to PES 2012’s impending release. It is true that once PES 2012 comes out, nobody will want to buy the previous version. But is there any harm in allowing 2011 to collect virtual dust alongside its successor? After all, once a game has been pulled, people who already purchased that game can no longer redownload it. Removing a game every time its sequel comes around isn’t very fair to customers.

We’ve contacted Konami and Microsoft for comment and will update if they’re able to shed some light on the subject.

If you’ll pardon the pun, Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night is a hidden gem in the mobile Xbox Live lineup. The $6.99 price has kept many gamers from entering Dracula’s labyrinthine castle… Until now! Castlevania Puzzle is finally on sale for $4.99 this week.

Encore of the Night reworks Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the most beloved entry in the Castlevania franchise, as a puzzle RPG. It offers 15-20 hours of adventuring, a fine story, and some of the best music of any Windows Phone game, hands down. Puzzle Quest 2 fans will find Castlevania’s puzzle battles are much more frantic and challenging since here your pieces never stop dropping, nor do the enemy’s. For an in-depth look at the puzzle and RPG mechanics, check out our full review.

Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night is on sale for one week only. Grab it here on the Marketplace

If you’ll pardon the pun, Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night is a hidden gem in the mobile Xbox Live lineup. The $6.99 price has kept many gamers from entering Dracula’s labyrinthine castle… Until now! Castlevania Puzzle is finally on sale for $4.99 this week.

Encore of the Night reworks Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the most beloved entry in the Castlevania franchise, as a puzzle RPG. It offers 15-20 hours of adventuring, a fine story, and some of the best music of any Windows Phone game, hands down. Puzzle Quest 2 fans will find Castlevania’s puzzle battles are much more frantic and challenging since here your pieces never stop dropping, nor do the enemy’s. For an in-depth look at the puzzle and RPG mechanics, check out our full review.

Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night is on sale for one week only. Grab it here on the Marketplace.

For those who aren't aware of Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), it's a series of football (soccer to some parts of the world) games by Konami that began back in 2001. It sports similar gameplay to the likes of Fifa by EA Games, but is put down by lack of licensing. PES2011 for Windows Phone is no exception with a handful of teams sporting unlicensed names – Man Red (Manchester United) and Man Blue (Manchester City) to name but a few.

Don't allow the above to put you off from trying PES2011 out, it really is a superb football sim for Windows Phone. There are a number of game types available including quick match, exhibition, UEFA club competition and leagues & cups with fairly challenging gameplay and intelligent AI. Head on past the break for the quick run through and video goodness.

On arriving at the main menu we can see all the game types available as well as extra options. Being an Xbox Live title we have achievements for players to earn points, but before we all get excited at adding to our gamerscore, the achievements are insane. You're required to play hundreds of matches if you wish to earn each and every one. But hey, if you love football and enjoy PES, you'll have no problem at all.

PES2011 features leaderboards where players can check how they fare against friends. Training is available, which I recommend you take before getting into matches just to get a hang of how you control players. Lastly we have a gallery of trophies won in leagues and cups as well as options for users to manipulate the difficulty level, length of matches and more.

Getting into the gameplay itself (always the main selling point of a football sim), it's not actually too bad. One would think that the breakup of controls and buttons available and be limited to a single d-pad accompanied by two buttons would have a negative impact on the control of players. Konami has done a superb job in keeping the controls simple while providing the player with all the functions available to effectively play football and score goals.

It's not all green grass and roses for PES on Windows Phone, and if you find loading screens to be a real pain in the rear-end then you should definitely dribble clear of this title. Even returning to the main screen from the options section or the achievements podium will award you with a loading screen.

While the gameplay remains true along with the Android and iOS versions, you can't help but notice that each match you play feels artificial in a strange way. There's no involvement that you find with other Xbox Live (or Indie) titles available on the platform and feels like a truly rushed port of an already dumbed down console alternative.

Check out our quick video walk through below. Excuse my terrible skills.

Wrapping this all up with a conclusion is metaphorically comparable to preparing a Mexican wrap with no fillings. PES is perfect for die hard football/soccer fans, but other than the obvious charm with smashing a rubber compressed ball of air into your opponents goal it's a relatively dull port.

You can download PES: 2011 from the Marketplace for $4.99 (£3.99).

Updating a classic game for modern audiences is tricky business. Change it too much and you’ll turn off people who liked the original. But stick too closely to the original and it might not appeal to today’s gamers. For examples of perfectly accurate classic ports that are unlikely to gel with people living in the now, see Asteroids Deluxe and Lunar Lander. The Windows Phone port of Frogger, oddly enough, is simultaneously too similar and too different to make much of an impression. It’s not as bad as getting hit by a car, but Konami could have done a lot better.

What qualifies Frogger as a classic? The game made quite a splash when it debuted in arcades in 1981. Its premise and game play are fairly unique: help a group of frogs cross the highway, one at a time, and make it safely to their homes. Most importantly, it inspired a terrific early Bad Religion song.

Jump across the street and past the break for our full review.

My way or the highway

In each level, players have to get five frogs from the highway to their homes. Of course, you only have limited lives to do so – four in the Windows Phone version. The road is filled with cars and trucks who don’t think twice about running over a helpless amphibian. Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t even notice if I hit a frog with my car. Hitting a turtle, on the other hand – that’d make me feel terrible! Konami should have made a sequel with turtles instead of frogs, or maybe turtles that eat frogs.

A river runs through it

Anyway, make it across the street intact and the river becomes the next challenge. The river basically consists of five lanes, with either turtles or logs floating by from the left or right side of the screen. Strangely, the game’s frogs die if they fall in the water, so gamers must hop skillfully from turtles to logs in order to cross. Pink lady frogs occasionally show up on a log; touch one and she’ll follow you to base, which is worth a few extra points.

Predators

Falling into the water isn’t the only reason for caution on the river – frogs have natural enemies to deal with. Snakes appear both on shore and logs, slithering back and forth. Otters swim around in the water, waiting to consume any frog they find on the edge of a log. Then there are alligators. Much like Pitfall!, it’s safe to land on the back of an alligator and use it like a log, but not the tooth-filled region above the neck. Gators will sometimes appear in a frog base too, rendering that base unusable until the reptile disappears seconds later. Flies also show up in bases for brief periods of time, but they are the one animal that’s safe for frogs to eat (for points).

Taking it to the next level

Just past the river are five small bases – time your jumps from the last row of logs carefully, as less-than-perfect jumps to a base also kill the pitiful frogs. Once all five frogs make it to their bases, it’s on to the next, more challenging level. Only after clearing five levels does the subsequent level get easier, but then the difficulty starts ramping up again.

Not easy being green

Frogger has never been an easy game. With every new level, the cars get faster and denser until eventually it’s a pain even getting to the river. Enemies increase in numbers and turtles start diving in the water, making the crossing that much harder.

The left-most frog base can be particularly hard to reach: the frog dies if the turtles it’s riding in the fourth lane hit the edge of the screen. You have to jump across to a log or alligator in the fifth lane and immediately jump again into the base in order to survive. But sometimes the frog ends up all the way at the left with nothing to jump on, resulting in unavoidable death. Considering how many arcade games in the eighties let characters exit one side of the screen and reappear on the other, it’s always been particularly cruel of Frogger to buck the trend.

As if there weren’t already enough ways to die, every life is timed as well. The timer constantly ticks down, killing the little green protagonist when it runs out. All of these factors combine to create too much pressure and challenge after the third level, severely limiting Frogger’s fun factor.

Not quite the arcade

Flyer scan courtesy of the Arcade Flyer Archive.

The arcade game was fairly colorful for its time and had better than average music thanks to its use of dual processors. Unfortunately, the Windows Phone version completely ditches the original graphics and music. The new art style comes from artist Emily Steigerwald. It’s generic and barely recalls the look of the arcade classic. The new music (whose composer goes uncredited, probably to his or her benefit) has nothing on the original tunes, either. The title screen music in particular gets old almost before it even starts. If these elements were optional (like in the Xbox 360 version) then their poor quality wouldn’t matter so much.

The port’s not all bad, though! Touch-screen controls often suffer in arcade ports like Pac-Man, but not in Frogger. In the arcade game, tapping the four-way joystick moved the frog one space at a time – no buttons or fast-turning involved. The touch-screen swipes of the mobile version actually replicate those controls very well.

There is also a new Phantom Mode that works just like the ghost mode in racing games. The game saves the replay data of the player’s best play through; the ghost frogs of that play through can then be played against. I suppose it could be useful for anyone who actually likes Frogger enough to want to hone his or her game.

Achievements

Frogger’s Achievements match its overall difficulty. Remember, the game gets tough as nails after level four. Thus, four separate Achievements for reaching later levels (6, 9, 12, and 15) will be way too hard for most gamers to get.

Overall Impression

Unless you’re a pattern-memorizing, high score-chasing old-school gamer, Frogger is a game that’s best played in short doses. The idea of weaving between cars and over logs is perfectly sound, but the difficulty ramps up too quickly to play for very long. The Windows Phone version’s annoyingly tough Achievements and gaudy audiovisuals don’t do it any favors either. Only die-hard Frogger fans who can overlook the cheesy new look will get anything more than a few minutes of fun from this frog. Everyone else should drive over the sucker and on to better games.

Frogger costs $2.99 and there is a free trial. Hope over here (Zune link) in the Marketplace to get it.

We've known about Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 for sometime now, even that it was going to be $4.99 and sure enough, it has landed.  The application is quite hefty in size (74MB), requiring a WiFi connection to download, so best to grab it at home before heading out. From the app description (note: we removed their spelling errors, nice)

The unrivaled and award-winning football simulation is entering its first season on Windows Phone 7! Immerse yourself in unprecedented football atmosphere and the true PES experience with PES 2011. Features:

• Unrivaled realism: Experience incredible gameplay and focus on tactics, goals and winning trophies while competing against the most advanced team and player AI on the market. Striking animations such as referee cut-scenes or goal celebrations and technical moves (diving header, bicycle kick, and more) will make you feel the beauty of the game.
• Exclusive UEFA Club Competitions: PES 2011 includes many of the best European club teams in the officially licensed UEFA Champions League™ and UEFA Europa League™ modes.
• Online connectivity: Prove your skills and unlock the various Xbox LIVE achievements, compare yourself to your friends, make it to the top of the leaderboards and become the world’s greatest PES player
• Outstanding Accessibility for Beginners and Experts: The uniquely designed true flowTM control system provides instant access for players of all levels by utilizing the accelerometer and AI-supported touch controls. More advanced players are presented with unlimited freedom of play by being able to master classic console-style controls with virtual pad and buttons.
• Stunning graphics: Detailed stadiums, pitches and weather effects provide the perfect visual environment for exciting matches

First impression: massive game with huge initial load time (even with 'NoDo'), the game is nonetheless impressive. Must for soccer fans. Grab it here in the Marketplace.

Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 already has a puzzle RPG game, Namco’s Puzzle Quest 2. But that game is riddled with bugs and really wasn’t optimized for mobile platforms. Thankfully Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night from Konami shows a lot more care in making a quality puzzle RPG. In fact, it may be the best Xbox Live title released for Windows Phone 7 so far.

Castlevania has a long, proud history. The first title was released on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System way back in 1987. Castlevania games tend to be action-platformers; after 1997’s Symphony of the Night, strong RPG elements became standard as well. In adapting the series to mobile platforms, Konami realized that action games don’t usually work well with touch screen controls. Prudently, Encore of the Night replaces the traditional platform jumping and battles with something new to Castlevania: puzzle battles. Role-playing elements haven’t fallen by the wayside, though, resulting in a game that is at once familiar and fresh to series veterans.

Head past the jump for our in-depth review.

Encore to a Symphony

Castlevania Puzzle is not a completely original game (and how few Castlevanias are, if we’re being honest). This WP7 game re-imagines Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the most-beloved and pivotal title in the series. The exact same story remains: Alucard, the half-human son of Dracula, awakens from hibernation thanks to the reappearance of Dracula’s castle. He encounters Maria Renard, a teenage girl who helped Richter Belmont defeat Dracula once before. Richter, latest in a long line of vampire hunters, entered the castle after it reappeared and hasn’t been seen since. Alucard must unravel the mystery of the haunted castle’s return while trying to help Maria save Richter.

A vast castle

Symphony of the Night is often praised for its vast Castle and Metroid-like exploration. Castlevania Puzzle retains both elements: the entire castle map is present (save for one part I’ll mention later), with dozens of rooms and shortcuts to explore. Like the original SOTN, many pathways won’t be accessible to Alucard until he gains the abilities or relics needed to pass them. Instead of running and jumping from room to room, navigation is accomplished by clicking on the paths that connect each castle room. The player selects a path and Alucard moves there automatically. A hint system insures players will always know where to go. It’s often necessary to backtrack to old areas, but special safe rooms make things easier. Alucard can warp between the safe rooms he has reached, and he can always return instantly to the last one entered as well.

Puzzlin’ battles

Alucard’s travels are often interrupted by battles. Enemies usually attack the first time he enters a room, and randomly thereafter. Defeating foes earns experience points, money, and sometimes items.

At first glance, Castlevania Puzzle’s battles resemble Capcom’s classic Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. The player and enemy’s separate playing fields occupy either side of the screen. Pairs of gems fall from the top of each playing field; these gems disappear when three or more of the same color are matched horizontally or vertically. Making matches and chain reactions causes pieces to fall on the opponent’s field and vice-versa. In the center of the screen, animated versions of the combatants trade blows until the fight ends. There the similarities to Puzzle Fighter end.

Encore of the Night much more closely resembles another puzzle game series, Puyo Pop (AKA Puyo Puyo). Both games have junk pieces – blocks can’t be destroyed until an adjacent set of pieces is cleared. That only reverts the junk blocks to regular colored blocks, which still need to be matched. Stacking blocks wisely and clearing the right ones can result in huge chain reactions that send plenty of junk blocks to the opponent. Wild card blood blocks occasionally appear, too, eliminating whatever junk blocks and pairs of normal blocks they happen to touch.

Hack and slash

Castlevania Puzzle is unlike other falling block puzzle games in that filling the opponent’s field with blocks isn’t the main goal of combat. It certainly helps, lowering their Hit Points and making it harder for them to make matches and fight back. But here, an hourglass located below the fighters flips at regular intervals. At each flip, the combatants trade blows and damage each other’s HP. Damage depends on both parties’ attack and defense stats as well as the number of blocks on their playing field. Because attacking isn’t married directly to filling the enemy’s field, stats make a big difference in the outcome of battles. A well-leveled Alucard can kill lower-level enemies without matching a single set of blocks; powerful bosses will often dispatch careless players in short order as well.

You cast a spell on me

Key to dispatching bosses and tougher enemies is Encore of the Night’s magic and item, or Quick Cast system. Enemies have up to two unique magic spells, while Alucard can select up to four to bring into battle. Spells may be cast at any time as long as MP is sufficient. They hurt, heal, buff, and debuff opponents, just as you would expect in an RPG. Alucard can opt to use some of his Quick Cast slots for items. Once cast, an item falls into the playing field. Destroying an adjacent set of blocks activates the item.   Items are a great way to heal without using MP, which you’ll need for offensive spells when fighting later bosses.

Build me up, break me down

Encore wouldn’t be an RPG without a leveling system, now would it? Upon earning enough XP from felling bad guys and accomplishing other tasks, Alucard levels up. The player then allocates points to a variety of stats:

• Strength:  Affect Alucard’s damage to enemies
• Stamina:  Regulates Alucard’s HP. The only stat that automatically increases a bit with each level up
• Intelligence:  Determines the power of spells and maximum MP
• Luck: Influences the color of blocks that drop and the patterns of junk blocks that drop when either opponent attacks. Lucky definitely matters.
• Fire Affinity : Unlocks spells that do quick damage
• Lighting Affinity : Lightning spells deliver delayed, conditional, and powerful damage
• Shadow Affinity: Utility and buffing spells
• Holy Affinity – Healing and defensive spells
• Water Affinity – Utility and de-buffing spells

Affinities also affect damage dealt and received when the hourglass flips, depending on what colored pieces each combatant’s field holds. Depending on which stats the player develops, Encore’s battles can play out fairly differently. If this all sounds complex (it is), the game’s useful Help section will help make sense of things.

Dress to kill

Customization in Castlevania Puzzle is not limited to leveling up. Equipment also influences stats and block drop percentages. All sorts of weapons and armor are hidden throughout the castle, encouraging thorough exploration. Enemies sometimes drop equipment too. New stuff is usually better outright, but some equipment may suit various character builds better than others. Collecting full equipment sets earns XP bonuses (and eventually the Son of Dracula Achievement).

Vampires live a long time

Encore of the Night takes quite a while to beat by mobile gaming standards. Whereas many WP7 games are short, score-based affairs, Encore’s Story Mode took me around 15 hours to beat. Even after all that playtime, I would still have fun going through the game again with a different character build. There is also an Arcade Mode with 8 playable characters. Arcade Mode doesn’t offer much to do besides choosing a pair of characters to mash up in battle and setting the difficulty though. This mode would be way more useful if it supported multi-player (where many a puzzle game shines), but of course Xbox Live games are not allowed that privilege just yet.

A most memorable soundtrack

No Castlevania review would be complete without discussion the sound. Encore of the Night easily boasts the best soundtrack of any Windows Phone 7 game to my ears, period. Michiru Yamane’s haunting Symphony of the Night score is wonderfully reproduced here. Each castle area has its own excellent tune for gamers to enjoy. My only criticism here is that the music switches to a separate battle tune whenever a fight starts. Thus players will only experience brief snippets of the wonderful castle themes unless they stop moving and avoid fights for a while (Encore sadly lacks a sound test). I would have been happier if the regular castle songs kept playing throughout non-boss battles, but it’s a minor complaint.

Achievements

Castlevania Puzzle mainly awards Achievements for exploring Dracula’s castle, collecting sets of cards, and defeating enemies. They tend to come easily enough and encourage player progress. Only two Achievements should provide any trouble: Master Collector (Acquire all 26 playing cards) and Son of Dracula (Complete the 'Son of Dracula' Equipment set). The final card and piece of equipment are guarded by Galamoth, an optional boss and the toughest enemy in the game. Multiple failed attempts at defeating him discouraged me until I finally learned to rely on High Potions for healing while fighting him instead of healing spells. Persistent gamers should be able to net the full 200 GamerScore as I did.

Stumbling blocks

For all my adoration of Encore of the Night, the game is not quite perfect. The leveling system needs some fine tuning. Initially, regular enemies provide enough XP to eventually level Alucard up. After a while though, their XP awards become tiny drops in a Titanic-sized bucket. At that point in the game, felling bosses becomes the only practical method of leveling up, as bosses award instant level increases. If the player doesn’t spend some time grinding against regular enemies early on, it’s possible to reach the last couple of bosses under-leveled and with no realistic way to power up further.

Speaking of those bosses, I found the difficulty for the Galamoth and Dracula battles a little higher than necessary for a phone game, though they would be fine on a console where gamers typically have more time to play and more precise control methods. Yes, there are minor control issues. The game sometimes misinterpreted my gesture for dropping a block instantly (a downward swipe) and simply rotated the block instead, slowing me down in the heat of battle. The controls are fine on the whole though, and their sensitivity can be adjusted in the Options menu.

The game’s menus aren’t the best, either. Selecting things at the title screen takes longer than it should because of an unnecessary flying bat animation. The Character Menu, from which practically every essential non-battle function is performed, is buried beneath another Menu. It really should have its own button on the castle map screen. I also encountered the occasional crash when attempting to view Relics and Cards from the Item screen, but otherwise the game ran extremely well, with super fast load times to boot.

A few of Symphony of the Night’s features didn’t make it into the Encore. The Inverted Castle - which mirrored the original castle, nearly doubling Symphony’s length - has been replaced by the much shorter Demon’s Corridor in this version. Most of the original bosses are present in Encore, except for the classic battle against the trio of heroes from NES Castlevania III (aww). While Symphony’s story scenes remain, they are now told with text only instead of voice acting. The exclusion is unwarranted since voices wouldn’t have increased the game’s file size too terribly; Symphony is only 96 MB on Xbox 360, a size that The Harvest already approaches on WP7. Also missing are a bestiary and a sound test, two staple Castlevania bonus features.

Overall impression

Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night is an exceptional Xbox Live game for Windows Phone 7. Its intricate puzzle battles, immense castle to explore, deep RPG features, and unparalleled soundtrack will appeal to puzzle and RPG fans alike. Castlevania fans will get even more out of the game thanks to nostalgia, but experience with the series is not necessary. Konami may have gotten off to a rocky Windows Phone 7 start with Frogger, but Castlevania Puzzle is a complete turnaround in quality. The game costs $6.99; the high price tag actually feels justified for once.

Buy Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night or delve into the free trial here on the Marketplace.