Like Deathloop before it, Bethesda and Tango Gameworks' Ghostwire: Tokyo is set to make its Xbox Series X|S debut roughly a year after launching on PlayStation 5. As a timed exclusive it looks like the exclusivity period is ending with Ghostwire: Tokyo set to launch into Xbox Game Pass (both Console and PC) on April 12. Plus it arrives with a bunch of new updates.

There's a whole new rogue-lite style game mode called 'Spider's Thread', new areas to explore in the game's impressive recreation of Tokyo, more story, new enemies, and even new skills. We enjoyed the game at launch but found it a little lacking in some areas, so this new version definitely sounds like an improvement.

Here's a trailer for the update, alongside info on the new things coming - which will also be available on PlayStation 5.

New Spider’s Thread Game Mode

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In addition to the main game, the Spider’s Thread game mode tasks players to navigate a 30-stage gauntlet selected from over 120 hand-crafted levels with one simple goal: get to the end. As players clear challenges and complete stages, they will unlock more skills and earn in-game currency to spend on upgrades.

Explore New Areas and Uncover More Story

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The Spider’s Thread update adds new locations to visit in the ghost-riddled streets of supernatural Tokyo, including the local Middle School area. These new locations come with new missions for players to take on and uncover more mysteries. The main game’s story will also feature extended cutscenes, granting players a deeper look into the plot as they play through Akito & KK’s adventure to stop the menacing Hannya from destroying Tokyo.

Face New Enemies with New Skills

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Dangerous new Visitors arrive to Tokyo in the Spider’s Thread update, like the invisible Silent Gaze or elusive Retribution. To defeat these new enemies, Akito will receive new skills including, Charge Rush and devastating Counter Attack.

Like the recent arrival of Deathloop on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass it’s only a matter of time before Tango Gameworks’ Ghostwire: Tokyo makes its way to Xbox. As a game from a first-party studio, the PlayStation 5 console exclusive is expected to drop on Xbox Series X|S pretty much one year to the day after its March 22, 2022 launch.

Deathloop’s Xbox debut kind of came out of nowhere in the same way, with reports indicating that part of Sony's deals around exclusivity is that developers and publishers (in this case Bethesda) cannot mention other platforms or console versions until the exclusivity period expires.

So on that note, like Deathloop, Ghostwire should arrive on Xbox (and as a part of Xbox Game Pass) on March 22, 2023.And with Twitter user Klobrille noticing that the Bethesda offices in London already list Xbox Series X|S as platforms for Ghostwire: Tokyo, the release is a given.

Bethesda Softworks' new international publishing headquarters in London has Ghostwire: Tokyo wall art, already listing Xbox Series X|S as platforms.https://t.co/qEk9M2eadb pic.twitter.com/ifXPvUruHV

— Klobrille (@klobrille) November 2, 2022

Ghostwire: Tokyo is a fascinating, engaging, but flawed supernatural open-world action-adventure that features one of the most impressive in-game depictions of a real city to date. Our full review.

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The term “open-world” has become something of a genre descriptor in recent years. The style of game where mechanics like quests, side-missions, activities, skill trees, collectibles, a map dotted with icons aplenty, and a way in which to expand said map with a “reveal tower” of sorts, are a part of the underlying blueprint. Ghostwire: Tokyo from Tango Gameworks and Bethesda definitely falls neatly into this descriptor, but it also brings to light the most important part of the open-world experience. The world itself.

Ghostwire: Tokyo is a first-person action-adventure that takes place in an abandoned modern-day Tokyo. Abandoned in the sense that all of the people have mysteriously vanished, with spirits and beings from Japanese folklore taking their place. All of the action and narrative beats take place on a single rainy night, with protagonist Akito working with an inside-his-body spirit by the name of KK, a former detective, to uncover the mystery and restore the balance and barrier between this world and the next.

Our Full Ghostwire: Tokyo Review

Ghostwire: Tokyo’s supernatural setting represents a new benchmark for console ray-tracing. And the immersion it brings is incredible. After spending considerable time with a preview build we bring you a glimpse of its modern open-world Tokyo setting.

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Going hands-on with a preview build and playing through the first two chapters of Tango Gameworks’ Ghostwire: Tokyo, there was definitely a lot to learn and discover about what type of experience it ultimately is. Even after our recent hands-off preview we were left wondering how it felt to play, whether or not using your hands as makeshift supernatural firearms was as fun and interesting as it looked, and would getting to explore a slice of Tokyo by freely moving through streets, alleyways and rooftops live up to the promise of, well, exactly that.

Normally a preview focuses on a small specific chunk of a game, a taste of the broader meal that is the full release. Here the first two chapters of Ghostwire: Tokyo offer up roughly eight hours of immersive open-world exploration, cinematic storytelling, side-quests and first-person supernatural combat. And with that it’s hard to dig too deep into how it all plays and feels without coming off as a review-in-progress. The combat is engaging, strange-at-first, but simple in how you expel wandering spirits back to the spirit realm. Which, judging by the vibrant pyrotechnics on display, is where Tetris Effect and Geometry Wars take place.

Our Full Ghostwire: Tokyo Preview and Ray-Tracing Preview

Ghostwire: Tokyo is one of our most anticipated March 2022 game releases, and something we were definitely impressed by during a recent preview session. Coming from Bethesda and Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within) it's headed to PC and PlayStation later this month, and there's a cool Ghostwire: Tokyo – Prelude in the form of a visual novel you can check out now.

Ghostwire: Tokyo – Prelude is a free visual novel adventure available today on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 systems. The story of Prelude focuses on KK, a wisened detective investigating mysterious phenomenon set roughly six months right before the events of Ghostwire: Tokyo. Following a lead on a missing friend, KK and his fellow investigators stumble upon what can only be described as urban legends coming to life…

“By having people experience and enjoy the events that occurred before the events in [Ghostwire: Tokyo] through a different genre made by a different team, it could help open up and widen people’s interpretations of the world and universe we’ve created,” says Game Director Kenji Kimura.

“There’s a different, kind of more relaxed atmosphere in the visual novel,” says Scenario Writer Takahiro Kaji. “KK is a veteran, accustomed to the situation, working within his realm of expertise and there’s good teamwork with Rinko’s group. By understanding KK a little better through [Ghostwire: Tokyo – Prelude], the player would be able to gain more perspective and see another side to KK’s dialogue in [Ghostwire: Tokyo].”

Ghostwire: Tokyo – Prelude is available now for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation Store. It's set to hit PC next week.

Ghostwire: Tokyo, Bethesda’s second exclusive release for the PlayStation and PC (following Arkane’s Deathloop from last year), is something of a departure for development studio Tango Gameworks. After a behind closed doors, we can’t wait to get our hands on this one.

A snippet.

In fact the best way to describe the combat is DOOM meets Japanese horror, with a dash of Tetris Effect. The particle effects are not only vibrant but playful and in tune with the elemental powers Akito can call on via hand-based Ethereal Weaving. Taking the first-person inspiration a little further you might say that shooting fireballs and things like wind-projectiles with your fingertips is akin to the magical focus of something like Heretic and Hexen. Note to self: be sure to let Team Xbox know that Tango would be perfect for a Hexen reimagining.

There’s a musical quality too, thanks in part to the wonderful animation work. There’s expressive first-person hand movement and animation and then there’s Ghostwire: Tokyo, which finds a way to convey skill, grace, tension, and even split-second moments of rage like you’re watching elaborate hand puppets tell a story of love, revenge, and redemption.

Our Full Ghostwire: Tokyo Preview

Ghostwire: Tokyo is on track for a March 25 release on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and today we got a good look at what to expect thanks to some extended gameplay and behind the scenes talk from Tango Gameworks. Moderated by none other than Shinji Mikami (creator of Resident Evil).

For those expecting a survival horror you might be surprised to learn that this looks to be more of an open-world first-person action-adventure. Though a genuinely creepy one at that. What stands out most of all though are the vibrant pyrotechnics, enemy designs, gorgeous modern-day Tokyo setting, and incredible hand animations... which you'll get as soon as you see them.

Ghostwire: Tokyo is set in modern-day Tokyo after a mass disappearance of its citizens. The story begins at Shibuya’s famous Scramble Crossing, renowned as one of the world’s busiest pedestrian intersections. In an instant, everyone vanishes — except for our protagonist Akito, who suddenly finds himself caught up in events beyond imagination.

A dangerous fog sets in and blurs the line between the normal and the paranormal, sealing Shibuya off from the rest of the world. As Akito, you’ll explore this transformed place and uncover pieces of the mystery of the mass disappearance, your lost family and Hannya, the masked man behind it all.

Stay tuned as we'll have more on Ghostwire: Tokyo in the coming days.

Ghostwire: Tokyo is the second, and last, timed PlayStation 5 exclusive from Bethesda following last year's Deathloop. Developed by Tango Gameworks its modern Japanese setting will set the stage for a supernatural action-adventure, and with a special PlayStation Showcase scheduled to drop tomorrow - the release date for the game looks to have been announced ahead of time.

In that it's right there in the video description.

"FACE THE UNKNOWN IN GHOSTWIRE: TOKYO™, LAUNCHING MARCH 25, 2022 ON PLAYSTATION® 5 – PRE-ORDER TODAY FOR BONUS CONTENT

In an instant, nearly all of Tokyo’s population vanishes and paranormal Visitors from another world take their place in the streets. As Akito, one of the city’s last living humans, you must join forces with a spirit named KK to put an end to the supernatural threat encroaching on Tokyo.

And the bonus content has been revealed to be cosmetics in the form of a Shinobi Outfit, Kunai Weapon, and Streetwear Fashion Pack.

We haven't seen too much on the game so far outside of a shortish gameplay trailer. With its release coming very soon no doubt this will showcase will play a role in drumming up some excitement. That is, in addition to this being the next game from the talented studio behind the excellent The Evil Within. Interestingly this is a departure in that it's not a straight-up survival horror. And yeah, as an Xbox studio odds are this will be a timed exclusive for a year.

The Ghostwire: Tokyo stream will kick off 9am AEST on Friday, February 4.