Yakuza: Like a Dragon, a new spinoff in the popular Yakuza series will be released on Xbox Series X as a launch title. Yakuza: Like a Dragon will also support Xbox Series X Smart Delivery, meaning players who purchase the Xbox One version of the game will be eligible for a free upgrade to the Series X version. Like a Dragon follows a new protagonist named Ichiban Kasuga, the first main Yakuza protagonist since Kazuma Kiryuu. The setting also shifts from the fictional Kamurocho ward in Tokyo to the Isezaki Ijincho district of Yokohama. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/yakuza-like-a-dragon-next-gen-announcement-trailer"] The combat system has also been changed. Instead of a beat 'em up, Like a Dragon features turn-based RPG combat using a four-player team. But don't expect RPG-style attacks like lighting or frost. Players will still beat up enemies using their fists and nearby weapons. Yakuza: Like a Dragon was released in Japan back in January 2020 for PlayStation 4, but will be expanding to consoles like the Series X when it is released in the west. The full slate of planned platforms listed so far on the game's official website for Yakuza: Like a Dragon include Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4, but there has been no mention of a PS5 release.

For more on Xbox Series X be sure to check out our wiki featuring a full list of rumored and confirmed Xbox Series X games and every game confirmed for Smart Delivery. Plus, a handy PS5 vs. Xbox Series X comparison chart.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Second Extinction has been revealed as part of the latest Inside Xbox presentation, and it's a Left 4 Dead-style co-op shooter from Avalanche Studios Group (Just Cause), developed by Systemic Reaction, the company's new self-publishing division. Most importantly, though: it's got dinosaurs. Second Extinction is a 3-player co-op shooter where players must wipe out a species of mutated dinosaurs that have taken over the planet. Developer Systemic Reaction promises a unique combination of weapons, abilities, and skills, as well as that all important "vast number of enemies" required for that true survival shooter feel. The game will revolve around players grouping up (although solo play is supported), picking a mission, landing planetside, completing objectives, running for extraction, and then using rewards to make upgrades and take on new, harder missions. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/second-extinction-announcement-trailer"] A press release on Xbox Wire explains a little of the story: "As the dinosaurs took over our planet, some people made their escape to an orbital station set up by a group called the ERA. Humanity has licked its wounds and now returns to find out more about this unbelievable enemy. This is where The Extinction War begins. Players pick from a roster of four survivors from around the world, a group that will continue to grow after launch." As that quote suggests, this is a live service title, and the game is designed to evolve over time. The game will take advantage of Xbox's Smart Delivery service. For more on Xbox Series X be sure to check out our wiki featuring a full list of rumored and confirmed Xbox Series X games and every game confirmed for Smart Delivery. Plus, a handy PS5 vs. Xbox Series X comparison chart. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Second Extinction has been revealed as part of the latest Inside Xbox presentation, and it's a Left 4 Dead-style co-op shooter from Avalanche Studios Group (Just Cause), developed by Systemic Reaction, the company's new self-publishing division. Most importantly, though: it's got dinosaurs. Second Extinction is a 3-player co-op shooter where players must wipe out a species of mutated dinosaurs that have taken over the planet. Developer Systemic Reaction promises a unique combination of weapons, abilities, and skills, as well as that all important "vast number of enemies" required for that true survival shooter feel. The game will revolve around players grouping up (although solo play is supported), picking a mission, landing planetside, completing objectives, running for extraction, and then using rewards to make upgrades and take on new, harder missions. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/second-extinction-announcement-trailer"] A press release on Xbox Wire explains a little of the story: "As the dinosaurs took over our planet, some people made their escape to an orbital station set up by a group called the ERA. Humanity has licked its wounds and now returns to find out more about this unbelievable enemy. This is where The Extinction War begins. Players pick from a roster of four survivors from around the world, a group that will continue to grow after launch." As that quote suggests, this is a live service title, and the game is designed to evolve over time. The game will take advantage of Xbox's Smart Delivery service. For more on Xbox Series X be sure to check out our wiki featuring a full list of rumored and confirmed Xbox Series X games and every game confirmed for Smart Delivery. Plus, a handy PS5 vs. Xbox Series X comparison chart. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

The Ascent, a new action-RPG from startup developer Neon Giant and publisher Curve Digital, has been announced as an Xbox exclusive on Microsoft's first next-gen Inside Xbox broadcast as part of its Xbox 20/20 initiative. The Ascent is due for release this fall as an Xbox Series X launch title and will be optimized for Microsoft's new next-gen console. It will also be playable on Xbox One, Xbox One S, or Xbox One X via Smart Delivery; users need only buy it once to run it on any Xbox. A PC version is also launching at the same time. The Ascent is also our IGN First game for the month of May, meaning we'll be doing editorial deep-dives on it all May long, starting with a world-exclusive first look at extended gameplay tomorrow. For now, take a look at the announcement trailer below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/the-ascent-reveal-trailer-ign-first"] Neon Giant is a new Swedish developer comprised of AAA-game veterans. The Ascent is using the Unreal Engine. Stay tuned all May long to learn more, exclusively on IGN! For more on Xbox Series X be sure to check out our wiki featuring a full list of rumored and confirmed Xbox Series X games and every game confirmed for Smart Delivery. Plus, a handy PS5 vs. Xbox Series X comparison chart. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

The Ascent, a new action-RPG from startup developer Neon Giant and publisher Curve Digital, has been announced as an Xbox exclusive on Microsoft's first next-gen Inside Xbox broadcast as part of its Xbox 20/20 initiative. The Ascent is due for release this fall as an Xbox Series X launch title and will be optimized for Microsoft's new next-gen console. It will also be playable on Xbox One, Xbox One S, or Xbox One X via Smart Delivery; users need only buy it once to run it on any Xbox. A PC version is also launching at the same time. The Ascent is also our IGN First game for the month of May, meaning we'll be doing editorial deep-dives on it all May long, starting with a world-exclusive first look at extended gameplay tomorrow. For now, take a look at the announcement trailer below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/the-ascent-reveal-trailer-ign-first"] Neon Giant is a new Swedish developer comprised of AAA-game veterans. The Ascent is using the Unreal Engine. Stay tuned all May long to learn more, exclusively on IGN! For more on Xbox Series X be sure to check out our wiki featuring a full list of rumored and confirmed Xbox Series X games and every game confirmed for Smart Delivery. Plus, a handy PS5 vs. Xbox Series X comparison chart. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

Microsoft's latest Inside Xbox presentation has shown off the first footage of EA's Madden NFL 21, the next entry in its American Football sports series. Presented by Kansas City Chiefs player Patrick Mahomes, the first trailer showed a round-up of Madden through the years, ending with a glimpse of gameplay from the new game. Mahomes promises more news soon, but confirmed the game would take advantage of Smart Delivery for Xbox Series X. However, according to EA, players must purchase Madden NFL 21 on Xbox One by December 31, 2020 and upgrade to Xbox Series X by March 31, 2021 to take advantage of the Smart Delivery offer. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/madden-nfl-21-next-gen-announcement-trailer"] EA promises that Madden NFL 21 will make fans feel "next level" on Xbox Series X, and the presentation demonstrated how the game takes will look on Xbox Series X. If you need a reminder of how things are going for EA's football series, check out our review of last entry Madden NFL 20. For more on Xbox Series X be sure to check out our wiki featuring a full list of rumored and confirmed Xbox Series X games and every game confirmed for Smart Delivery. Plus, a handy PS5 vs. Xbox Series X comparison chart. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Microsoft's latest Inside Xbox presentation has shown off the first footage of EA's Madden NFL 21, the next entry in its American Football sports series. Presented by Kansas City Chiefs player Patrick Mahomes, the first trailer showed a round-up of Madden through the years, ending with a glimpse of gameplay from the new game. Mahomes promises more news soon, but confirmed the game would take advantage of Smart Delivery for Xbox Series X. However, according to EA, players must purchase Madden NFL 21 on Xbox One by December 31, 2020 and upgrade to Xbox Series X by March 31, 2021 to take advantage of the Smart Delivery offer. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/madden-nfl-21-next-gen-announcement-trailer"] EA promises that Madden NFL 21 will make fans feel "next level" on Xbox Series X, and the presentation demonstrated how the game takes will look on Xbox Series X. If you need a reminder of how things are going for EA's football series, check out our review of last entry Madden NFL 20. For more on Xbox Series X be sure to check out our wiki featuring a full list of rumored and confirmed Xbox Series X games and every game confirmed for Smart Delivery. Plus, a handy PS5 vs. Xbox Series X comparison chart. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Don’t miss the first-look at Xbox Series X games during the Inside Xbox May 2020 event by tuning in with us before, during, and after the livestream.

Don’t miss the first-look at Xbox Series X games during the Inside Xbox May 2020 event by tuning in with us before, during, and after the livestream.

Square Enix has revealed a new set of screenshots from upcoming remake, Nier Replicant Ver. 1.22474487319, giving us a better look at the game's world. Nier Replicant Ver. 1.22474487319 is a remake of 2010's Nier, which launched exclusively on the PS3  all the way back in 2010. In Japan, the game was split into two halves, with Nier Replicant being a PS3 exclusive, and Nier Gestalt being an Xbox 360 exclusive - the main difference being that you play as a teenage boy in Nier Replicant, but in Nier Gestalt (the game that came to the West as Nier) you play as a middle-aged man. Given that the remake is named after the Japan-exclusive release, it's safe to say we'll be playing as a teenager for the first time in the West. The game follows Nier as they fight shades in a post-apocalyptic world, in a struggle to find a cure for the Black Scrawl, a disease affecting the protagonist's sister. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nier-replicant-screenshots&captions=true"] In the screenshots above you can see a selection of environments that have been given extra attention in the remaster, from vast deserts and verdant fields to a crumbling metropolis being overtaken by nature. If you're unfamiliar with Nier, it's a spin-off series that hails from the Drakengard franchise of RPGs, helmed by mask-toting developer Yoko Taro. This remaster is being developed by Toylogic, and published by Square Enix. The remake was announced at the end of March alongside a free-to-play mobile game called Nier Reincarnation, which is set to launch on iOS and Android. You can check out the announcement trailer below which will give you a better look at the game in motion. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/29/nier-replicant-ver-122474487139-teaser-trailer"] If this has piqued your interest and you're looking to get into the Nier franchise, the sequel to Nier, Nier: Automata, was recently added to Xbox Game Pass. You don't have to have played the original to enjoy it (I started with Automata too!). Nier Replicant Ver. 1.22474487319 will launch on PS4, Xbox One and PC via Steam, though we're still waiting on news about a release date for the game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN who hopes he never has to write out the game's title in full ever again. Follow him on Twitter.