Yesterday evening saw the Xbox Partner Preview. Hosted by voice actor Aaron Paul, the 30-minute show focused on games from third-party partners. A total of 19 games were showcased, including seven world premieres. Fourteen of these will be available to play on day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
The broadcast started with the first showing of Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish, an upcoming first-person action game set in the World of Darkness universe. It is being developed by Teyon (RoboCop: Rogue City) and published by Nacon. This marks the return of the World of Darkness franchise after a long absence. Hunter: The Reckoning was released in 2002, and two sequels, Wayward and Redeemer, were released in 2003. The game is described as an action RPG from a first-person perspective, slower than RoboCop: Rogue City, but with a more branching story and very different approaches to solving problems.
Hooded Horse has announced a new addition to its portfolio of strategic and tactical games. The new title is being developed by Lost Lake Games, an independent studio headed by James Phinney, who was the design lead for StarCraft, Guild Wars 1 & 2, and State of Decay. Their debut title is Vaunted, a sci-fi tactical RPG. It combines the action of a third-person shooter with a turn-based tactical RPG, told through the eyes of three unreliable storytellers on an expedition gone wrong. The game's tactical combat blends turn-based planning with real-time action - there is no initiative-based order; players control who acts when, alternating with the enemy as the battle unfolds. "I've loved the games James Phinney has created in the past, and he and his amazing team have another masterpiece here," says Hooded Horse CEO Tim Bender. "Vaunted brings true innovation to RPG and tactical games. I loved playing it even in an earlier form over a year ago when we first became publisher, and the game has been getting more amazing each day leading up to this announcement." Lost Lake CEO and co-founder James Phinney: "Were thrilled to partner with Hooded Horse. As a game developer, there's nothing better than seeing people enjoy your game. Striving to build something that really connects with players guides everything we do at Lost Lake, and we see that exact same passion in them."
UK-based Rebellion unveiled their next first-person shooter, Alien Deathstorm. It is set on a volatile alien planet. Players take on the role of the Combat Engineer, an elite first responder tasked with investigating an isolated colony on a foreign planet with which all contact has been lost. However, the engineer will face more than just a devastating Deathstorm there. Alien creatures have also set their sights on him, and what began as a rescue mission will become a fight for survival. Alien Deathstorm is set to be released in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 and will be available on Game Pass from day one.
Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku offered a sneak peek at Stranger Than Heaven, set across five cities and five eras in Japan. They also announced "Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven", a new show set to offer an in-depth look at the game. The broadcast will take place on 6 May. Stranger Than Heaven will be available on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Steam and PlayStation 5.
Flyway Games has announced that its fast-paced, time-control-based roguelike game, Ascend to Zero, will launch on 13 July 2026. The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, as well as on Steam. "We're incredibly excited to Bring Ascend to Zero to the Xbox ecosystem. Launching on Xbox day one with Xbox Game Pass and supporting Xbox Play Anywhere will allow us to reach more players exactly where they want to play," said Huh Taewook, Director at Flyway Games. "Whether you're freezing time on your couch with the Xbox Series X or taking the fight on the go with the ROG Xbox Ally X, we've optimized every second of the experience to be high-impact, rewarding, and memorable." Flyway Games is a South Korea-based studio under the Krafton umbrella.
Developer Behaviour Interactive (creators of Dead by Daylight) and publisher Devolver Digital have joined forces to release Serious Sam: Shatterverse. This multiplayer first-person shooter is based on the adventures of 'boomer shooter' Sam 'Serious' Stone - whose classic run-and-gun game, Serious Sam: The First Encounter, celebrates its 25th birthday this year -, but with a modern roguelite twist. "Seeing Shatterverse come to life is a really big moment for us," says Croteam's Davor Hunski, co-creator of Serious Sam. "It's very exciting to see another talented team step in and create something bold, fresh, and different within the universe we cherished for so long. I can’t wait for both the old and new fans to experience this new interpretation of the series!" Behaviour Interactive's Nic Duchesne: "Our main goal was to respect Serious Sam’s rich legacy while presenting it in a fresh, contemporary way unlike anything seen before in the series. Working with Devolver has been an incredible, enriching experience for our team. The folks there are real renegades of the video game publishing world: they always put the game first and aren’t afraid to carve their own path." Serious Sam: Shatterverse is launching on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S later this year.
Also announced was Moosa: Dirty Fate, an action game from Iggymob set in 17th-century Korea during an age of famine and chaos. Players take on the role of a fallen warrior and use a sword and bow to battle demons, corrupt factions and creatures from Korean folklore. The game is scheduled for release in 2027.
The show concluded with the world premiere of Artificial Detective from Vivix Inc., a post-apocalyptic adventure featuring a robot detective and his young human companion. It is currently planned for release in 2027 on PC and Xbox Series X|S.
THQ Nordic has announced that The Eternal Life of Goldman will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. A demo has also been released for Xbox Series X|S.
This summer, AdHoc Studio will release the superhero comedy Dispatch for Xbox. Following its debut on the Nintendo Switch, with more than 4 million copies sold on PlayStation 5 and PC, the title is now completing its journey across the major consoles.
Annapurna Interactive presented a new trailer for Forever Ago, a third-person, single-player road trip adventure that tells a story of redemption. It will launch in fall 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via the Steam, Xbox, and Epic Games stores.
Starting on 22 April, the closed beta for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will be available on Steam, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 for anyone who purchases the Collector's Edition or Miller's Pack from the website. The closed beta will give players an idea of what to expect from the game's combat and movement in a zero-gravity environment, as well as how to deal with life and death situations on a remote space station. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will also be released in spring 2027 for PC (via Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG), Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, with an Xbox Game Pass launch on day one.
The slapstick puzzle-platformer Frog Squad launches in June 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud.
Developed by Perfect Garbage and published by Blumhouse Games, Grave Seasons launches on 14 August 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming and PlayStation. This narrative farming sim has a twist: someone in the town is a supernatural serial killer. Players must farm, romance and investigate their way through the unsettling town.
Hades II is set to launch on 14 April 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud. It will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title and will be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass. The game will also be released for PlayStation 5 on the same day.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope, the first major story expansion for Heart of Chornobyl, will be released for PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 this summer. Players will embark on a new journey through the Zone and visit uncharted locations, such as the abandoned Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the labyrinthine Iron Forest. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 expansions will be released in instalments, with Cost of Hope serving as the middle chapter of the 'second trilogy'. Together with a future story DLC - details of which will be revealed later - it will form a new, expansive narrative arc within the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. saga.
On 31 March 2026, the two North Rhine-Westphalian companies Sluggerfly and Headup will release Super Meat Boy 3D. This 3D version of the snappy precision platformer will be available on all platforms.
The story-rich action RPG Wuthering Waves is heading to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Xbox Game Pass in July 2026.
Developed in Bluey's home town by Gameloft Brisbane in close collaboration with the producers of Bluey, Ludo Studio, and BBC Studios, Bluey's Happy Snaps will be released for PC, consoles and real life in autumn 2026.
