12 Games, Including a Beloved Strategy Classic, Are Headed to Xbox Next Week

Remember 'Age of Empires II?'

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Rob Rich
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Rob Rich
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  • College for Creative Studies
Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more.
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Published on January 27, 2023 02:18PM EST
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Jerri Ledford
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Fact checked by Jerri Ledford
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Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others.
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Next week's Xbox releases are full of new indies and the return of a beloved classic.

Several games are headed to the Xbox One, Series X|S, and Game Pass next week, featuring fast cars, fashionistas, and one of the most highly-regarded strategy games ever. However, a couple of the titles on offer will be limited to Game Pass—at least at first.

Age of Empires II screenshot

Microsoft

Most strategy enthusiasts are familiar with Age of Empires II, and now they (or anyone interested) can revisit (or experience for the first time) the 1999 classic. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition offers upgraded 4K visuals, a remastered soundtrack, new campaigns and civilizations, and a co-op mode. It's the same version released on PCs in 2019, but now you can play it on your Xbox console exclusively through Game Pass. There's no indication of other download or purchasing options for the time being.

Also limited to Game Pass at the moment is the preview of the "FPS roguelite" Roboquest. Smartphone adventure Backfirewall_, and the "ink-based strategy game," Inkulinati, are on the way—but not limited to Game Pass. There's also ReactorX 2, a spaceship-fixing puzzler from TERNOX, and the Spanish martial arts adventure, Albacete Warrior, from Eastasiasoft Limited.

Fashion Police Squad

Microsoft

Also included are ExitMan Deluxe, Rhythm Sprout, and Delivery Us Mars—Frontier Foundry's sequel to Deliver Us The Moon. Fashion Police Squad has you taking to the streets to stop fashion crime, or if you're looking for something more akin to a classic RPG, there's Heirs of the Kings. Driving fans haven't been forgotten either, with Speedway Racing on the way, too.

Both BackFirewall_ and the preview of Roboquest will be available starting on Monday, January 30, with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Inkulinati following on Tuesday, January 31. After that comes ReactorX 2, Albacete Warrior, ExitMan Deluxe, and Rhythm Sprout on Wednesday, February 1. Deliver Us Mars, Fashion Police Squad, and Heirs of the Kings fill out the schedule for Thursday, February 2, and Speedway Racing finishes it off on Friday, February 3.

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