As gaming enthusiasts would know, there’s no end to their backlog of titles, and it will only grow. Hosted by actor Aaron Paul, the voice behind Dispatch‘s Robert Robertson, the latest edition of the Xbox Partner Preview showcased 19 upcoming third-party games, including never-before-seen titles and new looks at previously announced ones.
Of the list, 14 will be playable day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, with notable highlights including RGG Studio’s Stranger Than Heaven, the first major S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 expansion, and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, as well as an Xbox release date for Hades 2.
Here’s the full list of titles announced during the Xbox Partner Preview, arranged in order of reveal.
Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish
Set in the World of Darkness universe, which extends to the likes of Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish follows a team on hunters on a mission to take down a dangerous vampire, well, masquerading as a law enforcement officer. The first-person action game based on a tabletop classic hits Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud in Summer 2027.
Wuthering Waves
After making its way to PC, mobile devices, and PS5, Kuro Games’ action-RPG is finally getting an Xbox release. While its name sounds similar to a certain Jane Austen novel, Wuthering Waves sees players stepping into the role of Rover, who’s on a quest to recover their memories. It bows on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, and Xbox Game Pass this July – anime-style visuals, open-world exploration, and all.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
The Mass Effect influence permeates The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, the upcoming third-person action-RPG set in James S.A. Corey’s iconic universe that received a TV adaptation in 2014. As a customisable captain, you’ll have to assemble a crew and forge your own path through a solar system plagued with conflict, starting next year on Xbox Series X/S and PC. A beta has also been set for 22 April.
Grave Seasons
A farming simulator with a horror twist? Count us in. In Grave Seasons, players control an escaped convict in a new, quiet town called Ashenridge, only to receive a letter from their cellmate hinting at a sinister secret – a serial killer is on the loose, and the villagers are all suspects. It releases on 14 August, with a public demo arriving soon.
Serious Sam: Shatterverse
Serious Sam is back in Serious Sam: Shatterverse, and this time, there are five of him. Armed with their own unique abilities and arsenal of weapons, the alternate-universe forms will have to band together and defeat the series’ god-like antagonist, Mental. The first-person shooter releases later this year for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Stranger Than Heaven
Much about Stranger Than Heaven, the forthcoming outing from Like a Dragon developer Ryu Ga Gotoku, remains a mystery, including a release date and plot details, but a new trailer confirms that its story spans five different time periods and five unique cities. Expect more information when the Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven showcase rolls around on 6 May.
Super Meat Boy 3D
Launching on 31 May for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud, Super Meat Boy 3D brings a fresh coat of paint to the classic – and no less challenging – platformer. Get ready to execute tricky, precise jumps and uncover the secrets scattered across levels that get increasingly brutal, only to fail at it. Nothing new there!
Forever Ago
Touted as a single-player road trip adventure with emotional highs and lows, Forever Ago explores broken dreams, loss, and regret, alongside courage, hope, and the power of friendship, through Alfred, as he revisits locations and characters from his past. It launches for Xbox X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud sometime in fall.
Ascend to Zero
Time manipulation is the name of the game in Ascend to Zero, where players can freeze foes, gain a second or two to reload, and overcome them in battle. The action roguelike also features cyberpunk aesthetics and fast-paced isometric action, with a release set for 13 July on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud.
Dispatch
AdHoc Studio’s episodic superhero hit will be available to play in full this Summer. In Dispatch, you play as former superhero Mecha Man, now forced into a desk job as a dispatcher for a team of reformed supervillains-turned-superheroes. Your job is to determine the right team member for each emergency call, with the story branching in different directions depending on the interaction with your team across all five episodes.
Alien Deathstorm
A fight for survival is brewing, as the world of Alien Deathstorm promises deadly weather conditions and swarms of terrifying alien creatures on an off-world colony. The atmospheric first-person adventure, which is certainly living up to its name, is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC at a yet-to-be-announced date.
Frog Sqwad
It’s all about living the frog life in Frog Sqwad, with more than a touch of chaos. The slapstick puzzle-platformer offers support for up to eight players (though going solo is also an option), who have to use their sticky tongues to navigate levels and obstacles, and gather enough food for The Swamp King. The hopping fun kicks off in June 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Cloud.
Bluey’s Happy Snaps
Say cheese! Bluey and Bingo is back in Bluey’s Happy Snaps, as they embark on a new adventure to capture moments, discover locations from the show, snap photos of Australian wildlife, and fill out their scrapbook. The game is due in Fall 2026 and will launch for all major platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope DLC
The Chornobyl Anomalous Zone is about to get more dangerous. The first expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl marks the return of two familiar factions, Duty and Freedom, alongside iconic locations such as the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, but there are other new locations to explore, too. The 20-or-so-hour story arrives this Summer for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud.
Moosa: Dirty Fate
Korean culture is at the front and centre of Moosa: Dirty Fate, which takes place in feudal Korean and features painterly Korean-inspired landscapes. After an unknown, powerful sweeping force turned fields and crops to dust, players must track down the threat and save their people, who have adopted extreme methods to survive. The third-person action game lands on PC and console in 2027.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
Filled with dreamy, hand-animated visuals, The Eternal Life of Goldman centres on an elderly adventure who travels to a magical world to kill the fabled Deity with his trusty cane and a set of abilities. The demo is currently available for play, with a full release on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Cloud set for 2026.
Vaunted
Boasting a blend of real-time shooting with turn-based action, Vaunted brings unreliable narrators and unique alien characters to a story about dysfunctional treasure hunters who fend off rival mercenaries and rob ancient loot. It debuts on PC later this year.
Hades II
Death to Chronos (again)! The sequel to Supergiant’s critically acclaimed roguelike is coming to PC, Xbox Cloud, and Xbox Series X|S on 14 April, with players taking on the role of Melinoë, princess of the Underworld and sister of Hades protagonist Zagreus, who sets out to defeat the Titan of Time on a revenge mission.
Artificial Detective
A robot detective and its very human partner is the focus of Artificial Detective. Tasked with solving the mystery behind the disappearance of humanity, the wisecracking sleuth comes across a single human child who has somehow been left behind, and the pair must work together to crack the case. The post-apocalyptic adventure is set to drop sometime in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Cloud.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
