Developer Romero Games and publisher Paradox Interactive announced Make It Count, the first expansion for Empire of Sin. Make It Count will release on all platforms alongside the free Precinct update. The Precinct update introduces a Precinct management mechanic, adds new ways to win, and introduces mod support. Mods will be available to play at launch.

“After all the work we put into patching the game in the past few months, we’re ready to explore new aspects of the game to give players more content to sink their teeth into,” said Brenda Romero, co-founder of Romero Games, in a press release. “Make it Count, alongside the free Precinct update, brings new ways for players to play, manage and win as they build up their own Empire of Sin!”

According to Paradox, “the expansion will introduce a new boss, Meyer “the Accountant” Lansky, new gangsters, “the Fixers,” and their Loan Sharking Racket.” Lanksy “excels at economics and creates synergy in combat,” and can make peace using his money and connections. Five gangsters known as “The Fixers” are also up for hire. The Fixers come with loan sharking Racket and combat abilities, which allows player to Blackmail other characters and factions.

The expansion will also include several story missions based around Lansky and the Fixers, and several other additions, including “new rackets, new abilities, new gangsters and new missions.” Further details will be revealed later.

Empire of Sin is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC and Mac. You can watch a trailer for the expansion below.

Even after adding 20 Bethesda titles to the service, Microsoft has even more games coming to Xbox Game Pass. It announced that Empire of Sin would be available for Xbox consoles, PC and Android devices via the cloud on Mach 18th along with NieR: Automata and Torchlight 3 on PC and Star Wars: Squadrons on consoles.

Next week is even more interesting as Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler arrives for Xbox consoles and PC on March 25th. This will mark the RPG’s debut on Xbox One after previously releasing for Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC over the years. Galactic-scale adventure title Genesis Noir will also be available on console and PC along with Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition and Supraland for PC on the same day.

But that’s not all as Sega’s Yakuza 6: The Song of Life also comes to Xbox, PC and cloud on March 25th, followed by pixel platformer Narita Boy on March 30th for the same. As announced yesterday, next month’s Game Pass offerings begins with People Can Fly’s Outriders coming to Xbox and cloud (but not PC) on April 1st. Stay tuned for more details on other titles in the meantime.

Cyberpunk 2077

After numerous delays, Night City Wire episodes and seemingly insurmountable hype, Cyberpunk 2077 is definitely, assuredly, 99.9 percent for sure releasing this month. We hope. There’s a lot to look forward to, whether it’s choosing one of three Life Paths and pursuing the story or simply cruising around Night City, completing Scanner Hustles and interacting with the citizenry. There’s an extensive arsenal of weaponry, cyberware and daemons to experiment with, not to mention an entire world of Braindance to get lost in, all while conversing with Johnny Silverhand played by Keanu Reeves. Cyberpunk 2077 releases for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Google Stadia on December 10^th. Hopefully.

Call of the Sea

Out of the Blue’s first person adventure title arrives next month, following the tale of Nora as she travels to a strange island in the South Pacific to locate her missing husband. Inspired by the works of Lovecraft, Call of the Sea focuses more on a dreamy and ethereal atmosphere as opposed to horror. Players explore locations, solve puzzles and take in the sights while piecing together the truth. Releasing on December 8^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC, Call of the Sea will also be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Chronos: Before The Ashes

Before one was traveling to different dimensions and dodge-rolling with firearms, there was the labyrinth. Set before Remnant: From the Ashes, Chronos: Before the Ashes sees players venturing into said labyrinth and defeating the evils within. The twist is that dying results in expulsion, which means returning a year later. Thus do players begin their journey as a spry, Souls-like adventurer before having to rely on their wits and magic to survive as they mature over the years. Chronos: Before the Ashes is out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4, PC, Google Stadia and Nintendo Switch.

Empire of Sin

Travel back in time to the Prohibition era, where syndicates and mob bosses battled it out for reign over Chicago. As a strategy title, Empire of Sin is all about recruiting gang members and expanding an empire, dipping into all kinds of illegal activities while evading the law. Other gangs will want a piece of you though, and when negotiations and deception fail, a turn-based strategy combat system lets you deal threats. With numerous perks and traits for characters, resource management and gang warfare, Empire of Sin looks to be a nice change of pace for publisher Paradox Interactive. It’s out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Twin Mirror

Developed by a separate team at the Life is Strange studio, Twin Mirror is ultimately a tale of mystery and duality. It sees Sam, an investigative journalist, returning to his hometown in Basswood, West Virginia. Things aren’t what they seem though, and the player will interact with various towns-folk, deciding who to trust, while dealing with The Double, Sam’s “inner voice.” That also means investigating different events and piecing together clues with the unique “Mind Palace” while questioning the truth. Twin Mirror is out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond

In the midst of new IPs, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is a familiar sight for long-time fans. Developed by Respawn Entertainment, it’s a VR title for Oculus Rift and Steam VR that sees players venturing through Europe at the height of World War 2. Afterwards, it may be worth watching interviews with veterans who experienced the conflict and learning more. Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond could be a dark horse when it launches on December 11^th.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

In the midst of more “serious” offerings like Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Immortals Fenyx Rising is much less heavy material for Ubisoft. It sees a Greek soldier named Fenyx washing ashore off the Golden Isle and battling the titan Typhon to rescue the Pantheon. While exploring the lush, colorful world and battling mythical foes, players will also deal with Prometheus and Zeus as narrators, each offering their own take on events and humorously clashing. Immortals Fenyx Rising is out on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Google Stadia, PC and Switch on December 3^rd.

Haven

A co-op RPG about two lovers exploring a strange world isn’t quite what you’d expect from the team behind the twitch-based Furi. Nevertheless, The Game Bakers’ Haven has looked appealing since day one, focusing on the struggles of Yu and Kay as they scavenge for parts, battle the local wildlife and cook meals. Will their quest for freedom and love ultimately win out? We’ll find out when Haven launches December 3^rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Switch.

MXGP 2020

With many of the big-name racers out of the way this year, MXGP 2020 looks to round things out in its usual fashion. Sporting bikes and riders from more than 110 brands, while offering a track editor and dedicated servers for online play, the title is certainly looking to improve on past experiences. If previous games are any indication, it could end up being another solid racing title. Releasing on December 16^th, MXGP 2020 is coming to previous and current gen consoles along with PC.

Override 2: Super Mech League

Big mech battles are back with Override 2: Super Mech League. It features 20 robots with all kinds of over-the-top abilities and customization for players to mess around with. A new Career Mode allows for earning influence for one’s Club and taking on all challenges. Local and online multiplayer for up to four players also returns with modes like Free for All, Xenoswarm, King of the Hill and more. Battle it out on December 22^nd when Override 2 launches on Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Romero Games’ crime-centric strategy title Empire of Sin is coming this Winter. It’s out on December 1st and will release for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and PS4. A new trailer was also released during yesterday’s Nintendo Direct Mini – check it out below.

The trailer serves to highlight Goldie and her gang, the Fortune Tellers. A performer by trade, Goldie is one of the many crime bosses in Prohibition-era Chicago that’s out to rule everything. Pitting the other bosses against and gunning down fools are only some of the things that players will be capable of in Empire of Sin.

Players will choose one of 14 crime bosses and set about controlling the the city, managing establishments and supply chains while keeping rival gangs at bay. Combat is more turn-based and allows for the use of different special abilities. All in all, the gameplay an interesting divergence from Paradox Interactive’s grand strategy titles while still having some manner of empire management. Stay tuned for more details on it in the coming months.

Romero Games and Paradox Interactive’s upcoming mobster strategy title Empire of Sin received a meaty update today at the Paradox Insider Showcase, giving us an extended look at gameplay, with the developers also dropping some new details on the game.

Empire of Sin will allow players to play as one of fourteen real life mob bosses in in Chicago during the Prohibition Era. This demonstration put a spotlight on Charles Dean O’Banion, showing his skills in combat, his negotiation tactics, and more. His special mob boss ability was also shown off. Called Blasphemy, it sees him using his special shotgun to knock back enemies and damage their armour. Take a look at the full thing below.

Originally scheduled for a Q2 2020 launch, following its delay, Empire of Sin is now slated to launch this Fall, when it will release for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more updates on the game.

Like many other major releases, Romero Games’ Empire of Sin has been delayed. Originally slated to release in Q2 2020, it’s now coming this Fall. According to a statement on Twitter, the development team simply said that game development can’t be rushed and that it appreciated the support of fans.

Published by Paradox Interactive, Empire of Sin is a strategy title set in Chicago during the Prohibition era. It’s a time of gangsters and illegal activities and players will need to manage four different resources to take their claim on the city. Over time, different allies can be recruited and will have their own traits.

Said traits will ultimately influence how these allies behave in the long run so don’t be surprised if one of them suddenly elopes upon finding love. Empire of Sin is in development for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay on it in the coming months.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! We have an update regarding the release of Empire of Sin: pic.twitter.com/5EMq7QZYCU

— Empire of Sin (@EmpireOfSinGame) February 18, 2020

Death Stranding – Mama, Deadman and “Gameplay”

The star of Gamescom Opening Night Live was Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding which spared no expense to out-weird previous reveals. Mama (played by Margaret Qualley) has a child born on the other side, who she’s still connected to. Deadman (played by Guillermo del Toro) basically “updates” a baby…sorry, BB and talks about still-mothers. Even the actual gameplay section was all about Geoff Keighley and BB shaking. No, not shaking hands – literally shaking the breach baby in its pod. Depending on where you sit – which is also a thing in-game – Death Stranding either looked madly brilliant or just plain mad. Either way, it made an impact.

Want to manage a criminal empire of your own during Prohibition era Chicago? Romero Games’ Empire of Sin is the game for you. Pre-beta gameplay was showcased during Inside Xbox and we got a close look at how you’ll be managing your empire, battling foes and taking over the city. Check it out below.

As a strategy title, you’ll have four resources to manage including money and alcohol. Along the way, you can recruit different allies who have randomized traits and will go to battle with you. Depending on how one plays the game, these allies can evolve over time – Tammy, for instance, can either find love, become a serial killer, or the perfect sniper.

Empire of Sin is out in Spring 2020 for PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC.

"Xbox Game Pass will also have some reveals so expect some titles to be announced for both the PC and Xbox One version of the same."

For starters, The Coalition’s Gears 5 will debut its new Horde Mode. Thus far, we know that character abilities and skills seen in Escape Mode will be available here. Gear Packs are gone from the game and characters are purchasable with real money a la Rainbow Six Siege. But otherwise, we don’t know a whole about the changes made to Horde 5.0 (or whatever it ends up being called). Will it offer three player co-op action like the teaser trailer implied? It would certainly be a different approach, though a big departure from previous titles. If you’re hanging around for campaign gameplay, we’d advise you to wait it out – that won’t appear until Opening Night Live.

Other major first party titles you can expect to hear about at Inside Xbox include Dlala Games’ Battletoads (likely a release date, if not a release window); Age of Empire 2 Definitive Edition (which could mean a release date, if not some gameplay; and potentially Age of Empires 4. Vigor (Bohemia Interactive’s other survival game which is currently in Xbox Game Preview), Wasteland 3, Metro Exodus (with its next major DLC “The Two Colonels out this Summer), Blair Witch and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds will also be making appearances.

Xbox Game Pass will also have some reveals so expect some titles to be announced for both the PC and Xbox One version of the same. Our money is on some high-profile titles that will be live at the end of the month, if not early in September.

Of course, arguably the biggest third party reveals are Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, which will see its multiplayer debut, and Bungie’s Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, which will likely tease us with new missions and activities. The former is especially interesting because Ghost Recon Wildlands received its multiplayer component much later while Breakpoint will launch with the same.

"Don’t expect any new information on Project Scarlett or Halo Infinite."

What new classes or dynamics can be expected, especially with all the drones, prone camo and survival mechanics that have been added to the campaign? We’ll have to wait and see but don’t expect much deviation from the established formula.

Paradox Interactive’s Empire of Sin will also have a gameplay showcase – an interesting decision, considering it’s not exactly the most high-profile title on the line-up but still promoted as a “featured” title. Ninja Theory’s Bleeding Edge featured in the teaser trailer and while it could just receive some new gameplay snippets, that will probably just be to announce its availability at the Xbox booth for attendees.

So now for the real question: What could be appearing at Inside Xbox that Microsoft hasn’t been announced? First of all, don’t expect any new information on Project Scarlett or Halo Infinite. 343 Industries has already confirmed that a proper blowout for the next Halo will be taking place at E3 2020. The same can be said for Project Scarlett because it’s still too early to really promote the console, especially when there are existing Xbox One accessories to showcase here.

Expect a few mentions here and there but nothing more. Updates on Halo: The Master Chief Collection for PC will likely be offered for those who want to get in on the testing.

"It wouldn’t be strange if Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds received a new trailer as well."

We also expect Undead Labs’ State of Decay 2 to receive a mention. The survival sandbox title recently reported a total of five million players, thanks in no small part to Xbox Game Pass. A major new update or smaller DLC – especially since the Heartland expansion is still recent – seems likely. In case you’re thinking it’s time for another sequel, Undead Labs has already clarified its focus on the current game. So it’s a no go in that department.

With inXile’s Wasteland 3 making an appearance, it wouldn’t be strange if Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds received a new trailer as well. The title is out in October, after all, and will be coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch. Again, nothing revolutionary in terms of reveals but hearing the team at Xbox Game Studios chat about it, especially after studio head Matt Booty expressed interest in making the franchise Xbox One-exclusive, wouldn’t be strange. You have to flex those acquisitions, after all. The same goes for Double Fine Productions, whose acquisition by Microsoft was announced at E3 2019. Psychonauts 2 is still very much a third party title by the way but expect an appearance from that as well.

Hot take: Given how well received Cyberpunk 2077 was at E3 2019, expect CD Projekt RED to reveal a new trailer at Inside Xbox. Why? Well, because it’s going to showcase the E3 2019 behind closed doors walkthrough to the public at Gamescom. What better way to hype it up than by revealing a new trailer? It makes sense, especially if the marketing between Xbox and Cyberpunk 2077 is really that strong.

"Temper your expectations and check it out for Gears 5, Ghost Recon Breakpoint and, sure, even Battletoads but don’t expect too many other bombshell announcements."

Last but not least, expect another appearance from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. If not a full-blown trailer, then there may possibly be a teaser for a reveal at Gamescom Opening Night Live. Electronic Arts hasn’t confirmed if new gameplay will be showcased or even if the game is at Gamescom for attendees to try. This is likely to not overshadow the gameplay reveal of Need for Speed Heat or even the announcement of Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville (the trailer for which recently leaked). Still, given the title’s appearance at Microsoft’s E3 2019 presser, it could possibly drop by at Inside Xbox with its release close by.

Overall, Gamescom is looking to be an interesting albeit less hyped showing for Microsoft. Temper your expectations and check it out for Gears 5, Ghost Recon Breakpoint and, sure, even Battletoads but don’t expect too many other bombshell announcements.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Though Gamescom will have its own Opening Night Live on August 19th, featuring announcements and trailers from a number of publishers, Microsoft has its own plans for the show. On August 19th at 8 AM PT, Inside Xbox will feature a number of different reveals including multiplayer in Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Gears 5’s Horde mode and much more. Check out the trailer below for a few hints.

Other big names include Wasteland 3, the gameplay reveal for Empire of Sin, Battletoads, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, Wasteland 3, Blair Witch and much more. The show will be streamed live on Twitch, Mixer and YouTube so make sure to check it out live for all the latest updates. Of course, you should tune into Opening Night Live as well, since it features the long-awaited campaign reveal for Gears 5.

Other titles appearing at Gamescom include Cyberpunk 2077, Watch Dogs Legion, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Marvel’s Avengers, Death Stranding, and much more. Sadly, it seems that FromSoftware’s Elden Ring will only be showcased privately and not to everyone in attendance. Gamescom Opening Night Live will start at 11 AM PDT, August 19th, with the show itself running from August 20th to 24th.