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As the gaming world gets ready for a jam-packed Spring 2024 season, Xbox once again shares a glimpse at the wonderful games coming for its players. In the Xbox March 2024 Partner Preview, we saw some incredible and original titles revealed alongside long-awaited sequel news and ports. For those craving brand-new adventures, there’s potentially something for every kind of player, so let’s unpack everything revealed so far!
Developer Direct: All Xbox March 2024 Partner Preview Reveals
At a glance, you can quickly see a wide variety of titles stretching across JRPGs, Strategy, Third Person Noir Thrillers, and eclectic new IPs. Here is a brief listing of all the latest newly revealed or displayed titles:
- Unknown 9: Awakening
- Sleight of Hand
- The Alters
- Creatures of Ava
- Roblox: Griefville x Chucky
- The Sinking City 2
- Final Fantasy XIV
- STALKER Original Trilogy
- Monster Jam: Showdown
- Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass
- The First Berserker: Khazan
- Tales of Kenzera: Zau
- Frostpunk 2
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
While some reveals were to be expected, such as more details on FFXIV and Persona 3 Reload, there were some excellent glimpses such as at The Alters and Sleight of Hand. But let’s explore each of these reveals individually, as well.
Unknown 9: Awakening
At parts feeling like an interesting blend of globe-trotting action along with individual influences like Sekiro and Tomb Raider, Unknown 9: Awakening looks promising. In this game, you play Haroona as she leaves the streets of India and discovers impressive powers within herself, and a connection to The Fold.
The game showcases a wide array of abilities including what appears to be time manipulation, taking over your enemies, and more, seamlessly integrated into third-person action. Your adventure will take you to many different locations across the globe as you fight the villains in your way and discover esoteric ruins.
Unknown 9: Awakening is coming out in Summer 2024 for Xbox, where you can wishlist it now.
Sleight of Hand
While not much is given in this teaser, it’s still a bespoke one with plenty to indicate it’ll be a moody third-person noir detective thriller. For many players, that’s already plenty to chew on, as it’s a genre that’s been left with few noteworthy entries in recent years.
The fact that Sleight of Hand also appears to channel some serious Dishonored energy should get players hyped as well. Tying its gameplay mechanics into the title by making a stealthy detective version of Marvel’s Gambit is especially cool and genre-appropriate, and a gamble worth taking.
Sleight of Hand does not have a confirmed release date, but you can wishlist it now for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and it will be coming to Game Pass.
The Alters
This trailer oozes promise as you build a team of alternate versions of yourself. They fulfill different purposes and inhabit different parts of a massive moving wheel-shaped base as you explore mysterious and beautiful biomes in a rich sci-fi world.
As the trailer mentions, each version of the player character Jan is an alternate one based on a different choice in his past. You can also track their well-being, and discover how quickly they become different people despite being fundamentally the same. With the tagline “All by Myselves” it toys with the idea that just because it’s single-player, doesn’t mean you’re ever alone.
The Alters does not have a firm release date but is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass.
Creatures of Ava
For those seeking a vibrant color palette, Creatures of Ava was a quick aesthetic change for the Xbox March 2024 Partner Preview. It’s a third-person adventure that allows you to interact with wildlife, cooperating with them to cross or remove obstacles, wield fascinating magic, and bond with adorable creatures along the way. And yes, it gets points for letting you pet the especially cute creatures.
Creatures of Ava is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass.
Roblox: Griefville x Chucky
The next trailer in the showcase swapped atmospheres for a spooky and eerie one, complete with distorted audio of children singing in the background. But then it reveals that it takes place in a Roblox experience centered around surviving and fighting in arenas against killers from classic movies.
Think of it as Dead by Daylight but for the world’s largest online playground, more accessible than ever. This showcase trailer features none other than Chucky, the killer doll from the eponymous franchise.
Roblox: Griefville x Chucky is available today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
The Sinking City 2
The original The Sinking City made a splash, and this sequel looks promising thanks to an impressive visual showcase. It blends cosmic horror with intense Jacob’s Ladder-like psychological terror to create a mind-bending journey against impossibly dangerous entities beyond our comprehension.
The Sinking City 2 is coming in 2025 to Xbox Series X|S.
Final Fantasy XIV
While we already knew the game was in beta this month, Xbox players appreciated the trailer showing more to come. This is especially great in light of what Xbox players might not be able to otherwise experience from Square Enix. We now know the full release date, along with perks coming to Game Pass players.
Final Fantasy XIV will be released fully on March 21, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S players. Game Pass subscribers will be able to get the Starter Edition through their perks as long as they claim them between March 21, 2024, and April 19, 2024.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy
The original STALKER games were shadowdropped on the Xbox March 2024 Partner Preview and fans are ecstatic. This trilogy includes Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat. Fans are quickly skeptical about whether this will fix the rampant crashing errors of the games. However, it’s undeniably excellent news, especially while we wait for STALKER 2!
STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy, as well as its games, Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat, are available now on Xbox Series X|S.
Monster Jam Showdown
Kids from the 90s will see this trailer and just say “hell yeah.” Monster truck games are few and far between in the world of modern gaming. In a very direct sense, this game aims to remedy that. You can race, execute killer tricks, and drive around difficult terrain in these hulking vehicles that bring out your inner kid.
Monster Jam: Showdown is coming in 2024 to Xbox Series X|S.
Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass
While it’s already wonderful that Xbox players have gotten a massive deluge of Persona games this past year straight to Game Pass, the iconic franchise isn’t done yet. Persona 3 Reload reveals its expansion pass, with Wave 3 featuring Episode Aigis in this trailer.
The expansion will feature new Theurgies and a new dungeon, the Abyss of Time, and will release in September 2024. Game Pass subscribers will enjoy the Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass for free, as well!
The First Berserker: Khazan
For those seeking a Wo Long–esque game, The First Berserker: Khazan from Nexon’s Dungeon & Fighter universe is one to watch. It features an unusual anime-adjacent framerate with its actual, along with Soulslike combat and brutal executions.
The First Berserker: Khazan has yet to confirm a release date, but will come to Xbox Series X|S.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau
Tales of Kenzera: Zau was announced months ago, but in the Xbox March 2024 Partner Preview, we got more. This trailer treats us to a varied showcase of Metroidvania exploration, tight movement, character customization, and creative assistance from Critical Roll and the Ridley Scott Creative Group. It’s a colorful journey and one we’ll get to experience soon.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC on April 23, 2024.
Frostpunk 2
Fans have been waiting for this highly-anticipated sequel for years, and good reason. The original captivated players with its frigid and hellish dystopia where your strategy often meant making tough, pragmatic choices.
In Frostpunk 2, the scope has been elevated to incredible heights as you create a sprawling metropolis. But beyond this, the most important detail was at the end, to the delight of fans: a release date.
Frostpunk 2 is set to release for PC and PC Game Pass on July 25, 2024.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Capcom has been coasting for years on magnificent nostalgia bait like the fantastic Resident Evil 2 and 4 remakes. However, a brand new IP was not on our bingo card here. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess closed out the Xbox March 2024 Partner Preview with a bang with something entirely new.
While Kunitsu-Gami may share some aesthetics with Monster Hunter, it feels unabashedly unique. It features an eclectic blend of elements from Japanese folklore and mysticism as its setting and aesthetic. Kunitsu-Gami also introduces activities spread across day and night cycles where you must combat hostile spirits.
It feels reductive to call it a tower defense, as it’s a pretty seamless blend of strategy and action. But it’s new, it’s fresh, and it’s a new property from Capcom so this should be celebrated!
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is set to release for Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass in 2024.
Xbox’s Developer Direct may not have had news on other hot topics (like Silksong) but it was an exceptional showcase. These unique contributions are vital, especially in an industry that wants to push out the same tired content.
