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Source: @nigelsylvester / Instagram
Once again, sneaker heists have become a topic of discussion in the sneaker community as bandits made off with thousands of pairs of one of this year’s most anticipated upcoming releases.

According to The Los Angeles Times, thieves in Arizona, Texas, pulled off quite the jux last month when they stole 2,000 pairs of sneakers off an BNSF freight train, many of which were pairs of the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 “Brick By Brick.”

Already regarded by many in the sneaker community as the “Shoe of the Year,” the “Brick By Brick” Air Jordan 4s have the kind of hype behind its release that we haven’t seen in quite some time, so when word of the heist hit the internet, many sneakerheads were furious that there would be less pairs to be had for retail, as it’s already a limited edition sneaker.
Authorities were able to arrest the group of thieves and interestingly enough they were undocumented immigrants.
Per The Los Angeles Times:
New sneaker releases may have touched off at least some of the recent incidents. In Perrin, Ariz., thieves allegedly cut an air brake hose on a BNSF freight train on Jan. 13 and unloaded 1,985 pairs of unreleased Nikes worth more than $440,000, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. Many were Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4s, which won’t be available to the public until March 14 and are expected to retail at $225 per pair, the complaint states.
Theft crews typically scout high-value merchandise on rail lines that parallel Interstate 40 by boarding slow-moving trains, such as when they are changing tracks and opening containers, said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk’s CargoNet and a deputy sheriff in Arizona.
Lewis said the thieves are sometimes tipped off to valuable shipments by confederates working at warehouses or trucking companies. Other times they simply look for containers with high-security locks, which they cut with reciprocating saws or bolt cutters, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent said in affidavits filed in federal court.
Of the 11 people arrested for the Jan. 13 heist, nine were Mexican citizens illegally in the U.S. and were charged with illegal reentry after removal and six were charged with improper entry. Five of those detained pleaded not guilty while the other six have yet to enter their own pleas.
While the people behind the theft have been apprehended, there’s no word on whether the sneakers were retrieved. That’s all us sneakerheads really care about because damnit, man! We want those kicks! Go ambush a truck filled with adidas Sambas or Crocs or something, b.

What do y’all think about this crazy heist? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin / Getty
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, announced he’s quitting Twitter “for now,” saying the app’s been censoring his freedom of speech. In his tweet, he wrote, “I quit Twitter for now. They just deleted my last tweet. Jordan leaving the NBA.”

The Chicago rapper clearly draws a parallel to Michael Jordan stepping away from basketball for a bit before making a legendary comeback. Ye’s saying his exit could be temporary, just like MJ’s break, and he might be back sooner than later. This announcement comes after Ye’s been pretty vocal about his relationship with Twitter’s owner, Elon Musk. Ye’s shared a bunch of screenshots of their private convos, showing that the two have been having casual chats. Despite their connection, Ye’s frustration with how Twitter handles free speech seems to have hit a tipping point.

The platform’s been under fire for limiting content, and Ye’s decision to step away looks like a protest against those restrictions on what he can say. It’s clear that Ye feels like his voice is being silenced, and he’s not having it. Whether this is a permanent move or just a brief break, only time will tell. But for now, Ye’s out — and he’s making it clear that he’s not here for any platform holding him back.
Kanye West and his wife, Bianca Censori, recently went viral after they crashed the Grammys recently, and they turned heads. Bianca showed up in an outfit so revealing, she was damn near topless. The couple didn’t hold back, and their bold move had the internet buzzing. Ye doesn’t seem to stay away from the limelight for too long.

Anotr were worried. The Dutch dance duo had gained a following with a fleet, flinty style — “that minimal tech-house sound, a little edgy, a little gritty,” says Abel Balder, a singer who has collaborated with the pair. But in the summer of 2022, Anotr were readying new music that veered in another direction: Bubbly and openhearted, with scraps of live guitar and hand-played bass lines. 
“The first few months of having the music out, we didn’t put it on Beatport,” says Oguzhan Guney, one half of the duo. “And we didn’t send it out to people because we were afraid of getting judged. We were super concerned about it.”

The attempt at stealth wasn’t entirely successful: The songs, which eventually appeared on the album The Reset, were still judged — just not the way Anotr expected. They were braced for rejection; instead, “everybody started asking us to play the new stuff” during club gigs, says Jesse van der Heijden, Guney’s partner in the group. One track, “Relax My Eyes,” became a streaming hit, with more than 225 million plays on Spotify alone. As van der Heijden puts it happily, “it’s good to be proved wrong.”

Trending on Billboard

The genial duo stripped away even more of the armor on its latest album, On a Trip, released at the end of January. While there are still songs aimed at clubs, the album sees a duo known for making dance music sometimes abandon the form altogether: “We started making music that wasn’t necessarily four on the floor,” van der Heijden says.  

Once again, listeners seem happy to follow Anotr on its adventures: “How You Feel,” a giddy, sensual nu-disco single, is nearing 50 million streams on Spotify. Balder has a theory about the duo’s success: “A lot of people who go to these more edgy club nights, deep down inside, want a hug,” he says. “Maybe they didn’t know they were looking for that. And then Anotr came, and they’re like, ‘You know what? The joy and the lightness, this is what you guys need.’”

Anotr debuted on Defected Records, a dance music institution, in 2015. For years it produced stern, unflagging rhythmic workouts, sometimes moistening the dry beats with fragments of vocal samples. During the pandemic, however, the two became conscious of a gulf between the songs they were playing at home and the tracks they were producing. “We were listening to jazz, funk, soul,” Guney remembers. “[We thought], why not try to bring those two cultures together?” 

Anotr is not the first artist from the dance world to move from a programmed, sample-heavy approach to one that is heavier on live instrumentation. Daft Punk built its towering reputation as shrewd samplers before famously discarding that approach in favor of human players on Random Access Memories. Crazy P also started as a pair of sample-happy producers but later morphed: “We effectively wanted to be like a disco band,” co-founder Jim Baron told Billboard.

The inflection point for Anotr was a 2022 song titled “Vertigo.” The track was created with Balder, who had been doing sessions with the duo for years. They always got along well personally, but often landed far apart musically; Balder’s attempts to add “borderline-cheesy melodies” were always politely rebuffed. Until that year, when the duo was reenergized by its ambition to bring more funk, soul, and jazz into its productions. 

The pair recorded a racing rhythm track punctured by keening electric guitar; feeling a little reckless, Balder offered to sing on the track, even though he had never cut vocals before. By way of explanation, he remembers that “it was around 3 a.m., and we were on the couch getting high.” 

Anotr has enjoyed a number of creative breakthroughs in this state. “Relax My Eyes” was made over the course of a couple days during which the two took “long walks, smoked a lot of weed, and took mushrooms.” (Such psychedelic mushrooms feature prominently in the press release announcing the album, almost as if they were a high-profile executive producer.) Van der Heijden believes the duo has “never been as high” as they were when recording “24 (Turn It Up)(+6).” “We took a lot of shrooms, smoked a lot of weed, and the instrumental already felt really right,” he remembers. 

In February 2022, when Anotr debuted “Vertigo” during a boat party off the coast of Uruguay, Balder didn’t expect much. But the audience on the boat “exploded — people kept coming up to all of us saying, ‘Wow, that track is amazing.’” 

“Vertigo” came out on The Reset, and several tracks from On a Trip giddily improve upon that template. “How You Feel” channels impassioned Euro-disco, with guitars that flicker like candlelight and come-hither vocals from Leven Kali. That one proved to be so effective ANOTR basically remade it as “Currency,” a deft bilingual collaboration with Cimafunk and Pame. “24 (Turn It Up)(+6)” evokes David Morales’ singles from 20 years ago like “Here I Am.”

At the same time, Guney says, “we wanted to do something more downtempo and more straight-from-the-heart, instead of only feel-good music.” “Care for You” and “Bad Trip” are both stuttering, loungey funk. “Don’t Understand” also gives a cold shoulder to the pounding beats that underpin most dance tracks, and “Can’t Let It Go” is a melancholy ballad. Mushrooms sometimes helped the duo write more candid lyrics: “You’re taking these psychedelics,” Guney explains, “and they basically enhance what you feel from the inside, so you can’t hide your emotions anymore.” 

In January, Anotr were in a familiar place — nervous about putting out new music. “It’s a lot of fun trying new things until the moment where you actually know that you need to share it, and anxiety creeps up,” van der Heijden says. “But after we’ve released it, we can see people still f— with this.” 

The duo has already embarked on a country-hopping tour that takes it from Australia to South America to the U.S. and then back to Europe, with upcoming U.S. dates including March shows at Brooklyn Storehouse in Chicago’s Radius. “Now,” van der Heijden adds, “we know we can actually do anything we want.”

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Lewis Hamilton is not only driving for a new team this year, he’s shifting gears to a new apparel sponsor as well. Following the news of the seven-time Formula 1 world championship driver making a major team switch up from Mercedes to Scuderia Ferrari, Hamilton joins Lululemon as its newest brand ambassador. He’ll be apart of a star-studded lineup of athlete ambassadors, including PGA golfers Min Woo Lee and Max Homa; ATP tennis pro Frances Tiafoe and WTA tennis pro Leylah Fernandez; NFL wide receiver DK Metcalf; NBA player Jordan Clarkson, and NHL player Connor Bedard.

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As a face of Lululemon, Lewis will work closely with the brand’s research and innovation and design and development teams to collaborate on future products, provide insight and feedback on athletic and lifestyle collections. The active-wear brand will also partner with Lewis’ global foundation, Mission 44, to integrate movement and mental health experiences into their efforts to build a fairer future for young people through education, employment and empowerment.

Trending on Billboard

“Lululemon product is such high quality, looks amazing and ultimately delivers the performance I need it to,” Hamilton said in a statement. “I’m excited to partner with a brand that embraces a holistic approach to wellness. Together we want to inspire our communities to be the best versions of themselves.”

Lewis is renowned for his unparalleled achievements on the track. As the sport’s only Black driver, he’s achieved the most Grand Prix race victories, podiums and pole positions, as well as a record equaling seven World Championships. Off the track, he’s made a name for himself within the fashion industry, becoming a front-row regular at fashion shows and wearing bold style choices. He’s also secretly dipped his toes into music by collaborating with Christina Aguilera on her song “Pipe” in 2018 under the artist name XNDA.

Lewis will be elevated in Lululemon’s upcoming global campaign No Holding Back. The project highlights the dedication it takes to be a champion through the rigors of daily physical and mental training, highlighting the latest men’s training apparel, including the brand’s Metal Vent Tech franchise.

Shop Lewis Hamilton’s Lululemon campaign look below.

Lululemon EasySet Training Sleeveless Shirt

Lululemon License to Train Lined 7″ Short

Lululemon Beyondfeel Running Shoe

Lululemon Metal Vent Tech Short-Sleeve Shirt

Lululemon Pace Break Lined “7 Short

My Chemical Romance, Deftones and Blink-182 will headline this year’s Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park on Sept. 19-21. They will be joined by an eclectic roster of rock and pop acts including Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, The Marias, Pixies, Cage the Elephant, The Black Keys, Public Enemy, Vampire Weekend, Alabama Shakes, Lucy Dacus and Devo, among many others.

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The 12th edition of the fest will move from its previous home in the city’s Central Park — and from its typical spring slot in May to the fall — with a pre-sale slated to kick off on Thursday (Feb. 27) at 10 a.m. ET, with a public on-sale to follow if tickets remain; ticket information is available here.

Trending on Billboard

This year’s line-up also includes: Idles, Spoon, Inhaler, Joey Valence & Brae and the Lambrini Girls on night one alongside the Deftones, with The Backseat Lovers, TV on the Radio, The All-American Rejects, Johny Marr, The Beaches, Mannequin Pussy, Bilmuri, Cmat, Scowl and Michigander warming up the stage for MCR on night two.

Night three will feature Wet Leg, the reunited 4 Non Blondes, Franz Ferdinand, Stereophonics, The Stews, Fleshwater, Murder By Death, Mdou Moctar and special guest “Weird Al” Yankovic performing before Blink.

Last year’s edition was top-lined by Noah Kahan, Weezer and Foo Fighters, as well as sets by Arcade Fire, Young the Giant, Interpol, Queens of the Stone Age, The Offspring, Royal Blood, Billy Idol, Portugal. The Man, Dinosaur Jr., Waxahatchee and many more.

Check out the Shaky Knees 2025 poster with full artist roster below.

Bonnaroo is building a brand new stage for its 2025 event.
Announced Tuesday (Feb. 25), the Infinity Stage will feature a collection of dance and electronic acts, including a b2b set from bass masters Of the Trees and Tape B, a DJ set from Big Gigantic, a DJ set from Rebecca Black, heavy hitter Mary Droppinz, indie dance producer Washed Out, Italian duo Parisi and a Friday stage takeover featuring artist’s from John Summit’s Experts Only label.

The Infinity Stage will be an open-air space composed of three domes, which together will form an immersive area being called “the world’s largest 360-degree spatial audio experience.” The stage is being produced in partnership with Polygon Live, which specializes in such immersive audio experiences, and which has previously hosted stages at festivals including Thailand’s Wonderfruit and MDLBEAST in Saudi Arabia.

“We want to keep it an intimate and truly engaging spatial experience for everybody, so we’re going the route of multiple circles moving forward,” Polygon Live’s David Lopez de Arenosa said at the Billboard Touring Summit in November, in terms of how the company’s multi-domed stage setups optimize sound.

Trending on Billboard

Elsewhere, the Bonnaroo 2025 lineup is heavy on dance acts, with headliners including Justice, Dom Dolla and John Summit, along with Sammy Virji, Green Velvet, RL Grime, Lszee, Barry Can’t Swim and many more. Outside of dance, 2025 headliners include Luke Combs, Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Glass Animals, Avril Lavigne, Queens of the Stone Age, Hozier and Vampire Weekend.

Bonnaroo 2025 happens in Manchester, Tenn., June 12-15.

See the complete Infinity Stage lineup below.

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Rachel Maddow, one of the foremost personalities on the MSNBC network, used her time on the platform to address the unceremonious ouster of anchor Joy-Ann Reid and the cancellation of The Reidout show. During a segment on her eponymously named show, Rachel Maddow made a glowing defense of Joy-Ann Reid and called MSNBC’s decision to end things a “mistake.”
Rachel Maddow opened up a segment on her show Monday night (Feb. 24) to discuss the major shakeup at the MSNBC network which saw the end of Alex Wagner’s evening show along with the announcement that Jen Psaki will take over the 9 PM slot. Maddow reiterated that after the first 100 days of covering the Trump presidency, she’ll return to Mondays only. It was then she launched into her statement regarding Joy-Ann Reid.

“Joy Reid’s show The ReidOut ended tonight. And Joy is not taking a different job in the network. She is leaving the network altogether and that is very, very, very hard to take,” Maddow began.
She added, “I am 51 years old. I have been gainfully employed since I was 12. I have had so many different types of jobs you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. But in all the jobs that I have had, in all of the years I have been alive, there is no colleague for whom I’ve had more affection and more respect than Joy Reid. I love everything about her. I’ve learned so much from her. I have so much more to learn from her. I do not want to lose her as a colleague here at MSNBC, and personally, I think it is a bad mistake to let her walk out the door.”
MSNBC, now led by President Rebecca Kutler, did not answer any public inquiries about the shift in programming.
Check out the moment courtesy of a clip from The Jasmine Brand below.


Photo: Gerty

Chris Jasper — the award-winning Isley Brothers songwriter, producer and keyboardist — has died. He was 73 years old.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s family broke the news with a notice on Facebook posted Monday (Feb. 24), one day after Jasper’s death. “He will be deeply missed and his legacy will live on as an inspiration for generations,” it reads.

The message also noted that Jasper had been battling cancer following a diagnosis in December.

Born Dec. 30, 1951, and educated at the Juilliard School of Music, the Cincinnati native helped transform the Isley Brothers from vocal trio to full-fledged band when he joined the original lineup — comprised of brothers O’Kelly Jr., Rudolph and Ronald Isley — in 1973 alongside Ernie and Marvin Isley. During his decade with the group, they scored numerous entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including top 10 hits “That Lady (Part 1)” and “Fight the Power Part 1,” both of which Jasper helped write.

Trending on Billboard

The Isley Brothers also charted a dozen albums on the Billboard 200 during Jasper’s tenure, including 1975’s No. 1 LP The Heat Is On. 1973’s 3+3, 1976’s Harvest for the World, 1977’s Go for Your Guns, 1978’s Showdown and 1980’s Go All the Way also all reached the top 10.

After the group disbanded in 1984, the pianist formed Isley-Jasper-Isley with Ernie and Marvin, and recorded hits such as 1985’s “Caravan of Love.” He would later go on to pursue a solo music career, becoming known for tracks such as “Superbad” and “The First Time.” He released his final album, It Started With a Kiss, in 2023.

Jasper’s contributions to R&B and popular music were recognized with numerous major accolades over the years, including with his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with the rest of his Isley Brothers bandmates in 1992. In 2014, the Grammys honored the group with a Lifetime Achievement Award, eight years after which the Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted the members into its 2022 class.

The icon is survived by his wife, New York attorney and author Margie Jasper, as well as his three sons Michael, Nicholas and Christopher.

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Source: Xbox / ID@Xbox Showcase
IGN kicked off its annual Fan Fest event on Monday with a showcase from ID@Xbox, highlighting exciting games from indie developers coming to Xbox platforms.

It’s a good time to be a gamer, thanks to the embarrassment of riches in terms of games we get to enjoy. During the ID@Xbox Showcase, we got release dates, new gameplay videos, world premieres, and more on several titles gamers can look forward to playing soon.

Whether you’re into action-roguelikes, cozy games, or card games, there was something for everyone in this showcase. So, let’s jump into all the announcements.
33 Immortals Launching March 18
Per Xbox:
We first saw 33 Immortals during 2023’s Xbox Game Showcase, and this long-awaited co-op action roguelike will arrive on March 18. Pitting up to 33 players against hordes of monsters and gigantic bosses, 33 Immortals captures the joy of MMO raids in a more ‘pick up and play’ context. The release date trailer showed us some of its dark cartoon looks, frenetic gameplay, and huge party sizes.

Balatro Comes To Xbox Game Pass
Per Xbox:
This award-winning roguelike poker sensation gets a surprise Game Pass release today, but that was far from the only announcement we got. Balatro is also headed to Windows PC, and we got the fourth Friends of Jimbo collaboration update, bringing themed cards based on (deep breath) Fallout, Assassin’s Creed, Civilization VII, Rust, Slay the Princess, Bugsnax, Dead By Daylight, and YouTube channel Critical Role.

Blue Prince Arrives On Game Pass April 18
Per Xbox:
A truly unique experience, Blue Prince combines exploration, puzzles, mapmaking, and card game systems to create a game we’ve truly never seen before. Solve the mysteries of Mount Holly manor by literally piecing its rooms together, and solving mysteries hidden throughout the house you build as a result. Discover its secrets when the game launches on April 10, coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and launching day one with Game Pass.

Hit the gallery for more announcements.

1. Buckshot Roulette – Coming Soon to XBOX GamePass

This haunting experience makes “gambling with your life” a very literal concept, and has already captivated and horrified PC players. Transforming the (already unpleasant) game of Russian Roulette by introducing a shotgun and some dastardly extra rules, this is a true tabletop strategy game with a grim twist. In today’s show, we learned that Buckshot Roulette is on its way to Xbox and Game Pass – prepare yourself.

2. Descenders Next – Hit the Slopes on APRIL 9

This sequel to the downhill biking Game Pass sensation, Descenders Next broadens its scope to include multiple ways to go really, really fast down a mountain. Promising to be the ultimate extreme sports game, tackle multiple biomes on snowboards and mountainboards when it arrives on April 9 with Game Pass.

3. Echo Weaver – Coming to Xbox and Game Pass

This beautifully rendered “Metroidbrainia” draws from classic adventure platformers and the likes of Outer Wilds to create a time looping world where knowledge is your greatest weapon. The trailer offered clues as to how, across multiple loops, you’ll piece together the story and shape of a collapsed utopia and escape the temporal prison you’re trapped within. Echo Weaver is coming to Xbox, with Game Pass.

4. Herdling – Coming to Xbox and Windows PC

Developer Okomotive created two of the most exciting, mechanic-packed adventures of recent years in the form of Far: Lone Sails and Far: Changing Tides, so you can count us very excited for their first fully 3D outing, Herdling. In a new trailer, we saw much more of how you’ll guide a herd of curious cattle across a ruined world (and the dangers you’ll face along the way) – and learned that it’ll be coming to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC when it launches this summer.

5. Hotel Barcelona – Launching 2025

This long awaited collaboration between legendary designers Suda51 and Swery is almost upon us. This 2.5D action-platformer pits you against the horror-inspired denizens of the titular hotel, and the new trailer dives deeper into the Slasher Phantom, a brutal game mechanic that summons echoes of the player’s past runs to aid them in battle. We also saw some of the game’s arsenal of deadly weapons and abilities, each designed to turn the tide of battle in the most gruesome ways possible.

6. Jump Ship – Coming to Xbox Game Preview

Developed by Hazelight (It Takes Two) and Mojang (Minecraft) alumni, this 1-4 player FPS puts you in charge of a spaceship and asks you to take on on-foot combat sections, seamlessly transitioning between the two. The new trailer gives us a taste of how you’ll have to work together to survive, not to mention its tongue-in-cheek approach to bombastic action – plus we learned that it’ll be available in early access through  Xbox Game Preview this summer.

7. Lies of P: Overture – New Story Trailer

We got a closer look at the newly announced DLC for acclaimed Soulslike, Lies of P. The Overture expansion will see Geppetto’s Puppet encounter a mysterious artifact that transports him back in time to the world of Krat in its final days of grandeur. The trailer gives us a melancholy look at Lea, the Legendary Stalker, on her relentless path of vengeance.

8. The Lonesome Guild – World Premiere

We got a world-first look at the new game from Don’t Nod (Life Is Strange, Jusant), a whimsical action-RPG full of heart, battles, and bonds that change everything. Embark on a heroic adventure as Ghost, a spirit who wakes to find they hold no memories. Build your dream team, switch seamlessly between them to solve puzzles and fight your way through the collapsing world of Etere. The Lonesome Guild arrives for Xbox Series X|S this fall.

9. Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – Coming to Game Pass

The sequel to the beloved action-RPG that answers the question, “where do RPG merchants get their stock”, Moonlighter 2 takes on a brand new full-3D, isometric look – offering new challenges and rewards as a result. The new trailer shows both your new hometown and shop, and the adventures in store as you adventure to keep your stock flowing. Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Game Pass in 2025.

10. Outbound – Coming to Xbox in 2026

This gorgeous open-world exploration game sets you off with an empty camper van and sees you turn it into the home of your dreams – alone or together with your friends. Build and explore at your own pace. Scavenge materials, craft, and build in and on top of your vehicle with modular parts. Advance in technology and efficiently use energy to power your home, while adjusting your playstyle to adapt to new landscapes and changing environmental conditions. Outbound is coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2026.

11. Ratatan – Coming to Xbox

A new game from the creators of the beloved Patapon, Ratatan is a rhythm strategy roguelike that sees you taking increasingly huge groups of minions through a world in which you need to literally conduct your attacks – hit the rhythm and you’ll stay alive. Mix in up to four-player co-op, and you can have over 100 characters onscreen in a single fight. Ratatan comes to Xbox this year.

12. Revenge of the Savage Planet – Coming to Game Pass on May 8

We got a new look at this co-op exploration adventure by way of an in-universe commercial for the Kindred Catalog –Revenge of the Savage Planet features dozens of fresh and funny upgrades such as the goo cannon, which allows players to create slippery, sticky or flammable surfaces in the world! Or a whip to keep creatures from eating your face! Or a grapple to swing from point to point! Or a lasso to capture creatures and send them back to your Habitat for research. So many tools, so many options, so many ways to play. We don’t have long to wait to try all of this out – Revenge of the Savage Planet arrives for Xbox on May 8, and will be available day one with Game Pass.

13. Rockbeasts – World Premiere

We got another world-first look at Rockbeasts, a “rock and roll band manager” game in which you playthe manager of a legendary ‘90s band (who just happen to be animals). Lead a band of misfits on a roller-coaster ride to stardom in the age of MTV, rock anthems, and bad haircuts. Rockbeasts is a story-driven, role-playing management game that puts you in the shoes of a manager of an up-and-coming rock band. Your job – take them to the top. It arrives for Xbox Series X|S this year.

14. TANUKI Pon’s Summer – Arriving to XBOX Game Pass

We got another look at this adorable courier life sim after its debut at Tokyo Game Show. The new trailer showed us how we’ll be performing stunt-filled delivery missions alongside relaxing in its bucolic town – from baseball, to sumo practice, to drumming. Tanuki: Pon’s Summer arrives in late 2025, and it’s coming to Game Pass.

15. Tempopo – Coming to Game Pass on April 17

The newest title from the award-winning team behind Unpacking, Tempopo is a puzzle adventure bursting with music. Playing as Hana, you enter a fantasy world in which you need to conduct the titular Tempopo creatures to solve puzzles scattered across the world’s sky islands – before heading back home and cultivating her garden. The new trailer showed off new gameplay, and revealed that the game will come to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on April 17, and will launch into Game Pass day one.

16. TRON: Catalyst – Release Date Trailer

From Disney, publisher BigFan, and the development team at Bithell Games, the new trailer for Tron: Catalyst gave us a closer look at our game’s protagonist, Exo, who is fighting for her survival in the arena. An explosive event has gifted Exo the ability to perceive the glitch tearing apart her home, the Arq Grid, and given her the unique ability to loop time itself. This thrilling isometric action our game offers combat, conversation, and Light Cycle exploration in the city of Vertical Slice. Tron: Catalyst comes to Xbox Series X|S on June 17.

17. Ultimate Sheep Racoon – Coming to Game Pass

This chaotic side-scrolling, bike riding party game got a new trailer announcing that it’ll come to Game Pass upon release – and then we saw the IGN team playing the game’s 8-player mode. They showed off a variety of different blocks that can hinder your movement or launch you ahead of the competition, two different levels with varying difficulty, and showed how the different power-ups can really make a difference in the race.

18. Wax Heads – Launching Summer 2026

We got a new look at this slice-of-life narrative game set around running a struggling record store. Showing off its gorgeous hand-drawn looks, the trailer shows more of how you’ll chat to quirky customers with unique tastes, explore a handcrafted record collection, fall in love with bands (and their drama!), or just slack off with your colleagues  – whatever gets everyone’s groove back! Wax Heads will come to Xbox Series X|S in summer 2026.

19. Woodo – Coming to Xbox

This cozy, story-driven game showed off more of its beautiful art style and pieced-together 3D puzzles. The trailer revealed how you’ll build the story by literally building the world, pulling 3D objects from your menus to fill a scene, revealing more of the tale of main characters Foxy and Ben as you go. Woodo is on its way to Xbox Series X|S.

GloRilla has been in the gym fighting BBL allegations, and she’s feeling confident these days. The Memphis rapper shot her shot at popular streamer Duke Dennis at the end of her feature verse on Jorjana’s “ILBB2 (Remix),” in which she raps, “Like my n—as tall and brown (What else?) And mixed with a little bit […]