Author: Elizabeth

What you need to know

• The Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles share an interface, with a large button on the dashboard dedicated to pooling your digital games.
• The Xbox Insider Program lets Xbox users test upcoming versions of the dashboard and other apps.
• The latest build on the Xbox Insider Program has some refinements to the Games & Apps library, adding a tabbed interface that separates content by source.

The Xbox dashboard has seen a few interesting updates in recent times, most notably perhaps the inclusion of Discord as part of the Xbox Insider Program. This latest Xbox Insider Alpha Ring build has issued some notable changes to the Games & Apps section, which is typically where you go to browse all of your installed content and available games for download.

The new interface revamps the “Full Library” section of the dashboard, which was admittedly a little cluttered

Vampire Survivors’ new 0.10.0 update adds a cheats menu, and after using it to unlock some things I had been stuck on, I dearly wish that more games included one.

Vampire Survivors, if you haven’t heard of it, is a delightful game about leveling up and destroying literally thousands of monsters in a single run. I’d describe it as roguelike-ish; you pick a starting character with certain attributes and a specific weapon, and you’ll level up that weapon, other weapons, and other items as you collect gems by defeating enemies. Your weapons fire automatically, so you mostly just have to worry about picking up experience and items while avoiding baddies.

The game launched in Early Access on Steam late last year, and has received regular updates that add things like new characters, weapons, power-ups, stages, and special items, though you typically have to unlock them by completing certain requirements.

On an average day about a dozen new games are released on Steam. And while we think that’s a good thing, it can be understandably hard to keep up with. Potentially exciting gems are sure to be lost in the deluge of new things to play unless you sort through every single game that is released on Steam. So that’s exactly what we’ve done. If nothing catches your fancy this week, we’ve gathered the best PC games (opens in new tab) you can play right now and a running list of the 2022 games (opens in new tab) that are launching this year.

Gigabash

Steam‌ page (opens in new tab)‌ ‌
Release:‌ August 5
Developer:‌ Passion Republic Games
Launch price:‌ $35 |‌ £27.79 |‌ AU$53

Every now and then a game about giant monsters beating the crap out of each other releases, and the world joys. The latest kaiju

The London-based mobile publisher Product Madness has opened applications for a new incubator program that aims to find the next free-to-play hit.

The company, best known for popular games such as Heart of Vegas and Cashman Casino, has slots open for up to ten teams in the program’s initial year, and tells GamesIndustry.biz it wants the incubator to be “a game-changer in the industry.”

The program, called Madness Ventures, will provide funding in three stages: one for prototyping and testing, one for a full prototype, and then for full development and global release. Developers that take part will retain creative independence, as well as full ownership of their IP.

“We want to foster innovation not only internally but also externally because we believe that great ideas exist among talented game entrepreneurs,” vice president of business development and strategy Zvika Pakula told GamesIndustry.biz.

“This incubator platform

Sony just added a bunch of great games to its two higher-tier PlayStation Plus plans today. While the basic PS Plus Essential tier includes three free games each month, subscribing to PS Plus Extra or Premium will get you even more.

At the Extra level, you’ll get new PS4 and PS5 games each month. If you spring for the most expensive plan, PS Plus Premium, you’ll get new PS1, PS2 and PS3 games (though these don’t necessarily release every month).

The new games headed to PS Plus Premium include classics like Sly Cooper, while Extra subscribers will get the sprawling Assassin’s Creed Origins, Arkane’s excellent roguelite shooter death loop (also out on Xbox Game Pass today) and the charming, poignant Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition which includes several content updates from the base version of the game.

Here’s everything new on