Xbox Partner Preview Had Something For Everyone
We got 3D Meat, a new Bluey game and everything inbetween.
G’day Gamers,
I’ve spent the better part of the last two weeks asking myself the question: to Pokopia or not to Pokopia. After seeing hundreds of TikTok clips of it, I’ve finally caved, and it’s currently downloading as I type this.
There goes any form of productivity for the next couple of weeks.
In other news I was very excited to see Fox McCloud is making his way to the big screen. Please, Nintendo, make this mean a new Star Fox game.
Anyway.
Let’s get into it.
Xbox Partner Preview: March 2026
Microsoft hosted a 30-minute third-party showcase earlier today. Nineteen games, with 14 confirmed for Game Pass.
Stranger Than Heaven, the new IP from the Yakuza team at RGG Studio, got its most detailed look yet. One protagonist aging across five cities and five eras of 20th century Japan, from 1915 through 1965, with footage hinting at familiar Yakuza locations woven into the story. No release date, with a full reveal in a dedicated Xbox broadcast on May 6.
Hades 2 was the best-reviewed game of 2025 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic, and console players have had to watch PC and Switch owners have all the fun since September. It makes its way to Xbox and PS5 on April 14 it will be on Game Pass, at 120fps with new bonus content included.
Elswhere, STALKER 2’s first major story expansion Cost of Hope was announced adding two new regions including the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant this summer.
Further out, Owlcat’s The Expanse: Osiris Reborn has a beta opening April 22 before landing Spring 2027, and Rebellion’s Alien Deathstorm puts you as a rescue engineer arriving at a storm-ravaged alien colony to find things considerably worse than expected, also 2027.
The show closed on Artificial Detective, a robot detective piecing together why humanity vanished. One we don’t have to wait very long for is Super Meat Boy 3D, launching on March 31.
Check out All 19 reveals.
In Case You Missed It...
Epic Games lays off over 1,000 employees Fortnite engagement has been sliding since 2025 and the company is now spending more than it makes, this is their second major round of cuts in three years.
Star Wars Zero Company gets its first proper look New screenshots have appeared, showcasing gameplay elements.
Nintendo will charge $10 more for physical Switch 2 games from May Digital games are coming down, physical isn’t going up. Never understood why they were equal pricing.
Mewgenics is coming to Switch 2 Now this will do numbers on Switch 2.
A Jak and Daxter remaster was pitched to Sony and rejected This makes me sad, I was only saying earlier this week how much I love Jak & Daxter.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream demo is out now on Switch Full game lands April 16 if you are new to the franchise, you may as well check out the demo.
The Final Fantasy IX animated series has a name and is being made Titled Black Mages Legacy, it follows Vivi’s children and quietly resurfaced on a French studio’s production listing after the original developer went bankrupt in 2024
Releasing This Week (AEST)
Screamer (PS5 / Xbox / PC) · March 26 · Anime arcade racer from Milestone with a 20-hour story campaign and combat mechanics baked into the racing.
Life is Strange: Reunion (PS5 / Xbox / PC) · March 26 · Max and Chloe are back together for the final chapter of their story, set across three days before a fire destroys Caledon University.
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection (PS5 / Xbox / PC / Switch) · March 27 · All seven Mega Man Star Force games on modern platforms for the first time, including online play and an illustration gallery.
Super Meat Boy 3D (PS5 / Xbox / PC / Switch 2) · March 31 · The brutal precision platformer makes the leap to 3D. Get yourself some meat.
GRIME 2 (PS5 / Xbox / PC) · March 31 · Sequel to the cult 2021 metroidvania. Absorb enemies, summon their forms, explore a surreal world obsessed with art. Demo is live now.
What I’m Playing
I thought I’d introduce this section as a place to yap about whatever I’m currently playing.
I’ve recently started Neva and I just know this game is going to end in heartbreaking fashion. It’s such a beautiful game.
I’ve also been hopping into Marathon, and Bungie just excel when it comes to gunplay.
My biggest obsession at the moment though, is Super Battle Golf. I’m not very good, constantly frustrated, but it keeps dragging me back. That actually sums up my relationship with golf in real life when I think about it.
If you’ve been enjoying The Save File, the best thing you can do is forward this to a mate who’d get something out of it.
Till next time,
Jayden
P.S. Got thoughts on the issue, or feel like telling me your favourite Pokemon? Drop me a line at Jayden@thesavefile.com.au