Xbox Wire

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition Makes a Great Game Even Better

by Xbox Wire Staff Posted on March 9, 2016March 9, 2016

Moon Studios’ sidescrolling exploration-platformer Ori and the Blind Forest captured players’ hearts when it debuted on Xbox One last year. And starting March 11, it’s getting the star treatment with the release of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition for Xbox One, which delivers a multitude of new areas, difficulty options, and gameplay upgrades that should appeal to both new and seasoned Ori players. Current owners of Ori and the Blind Forest can upgrade to the Definitive Edition for $4.99, while all new players can pick up the full game for $19.99, which includes the original Ori. Fans can also purchase official merchandise at the new Ori and The Blind Forest shop. As... Read more

Uncover the Truth in 2017 in To Azimuth for Xbox One

by Zach Sanford, Writer/Designer at Bracket Games Posted on March 9, 2016March 9, 2016

Eli Windham had been doing better. Sober. A steady job. Sunday dinner with his sister every week. And, by all appearances, finally shaking off the shackles of whatever changed him in Vietnam. On August 14, Eli Windham vanished from his home in Musgrove, Alabama. * * * * * * I've been dying to talk about To Azimuth again for a while now. The game isn't a secret by any means (I ran an ultimately unsuccessful Kickstarter for the game, after all), but the project sat in limbo for several months while I worked on the console editions of Three Fourths Home. To Azimuth never left the back of my mind, though, and as soon as Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition was ready to release, I... Read more

Sea of Thieves is Looking for the First Fans in the World to Play the Game

by Bobby Lamirande, Engagement Manager, Rare Ltd. Posted on March 9, 2016March 9, 2016

In 2015, Rare Ltd. unveiled our next project, Sea of Thieves. From the get go, we saw a load of excitement from players intrigued by the prospect of being the pirate they want to be in our immersive, shared-world adventure. Since this announcement, we’ve been humbled by the number of people eager to learn more and go hands-on with the game. As such, we’re thrilled to announce an opportunity for these excited fans to be the first people in the world to play Sea of Thieves. Starting today and running until April 26, Rare is hosting a competition to select six fans to travel to the studio, meet the Sea of Thieves team, and be the first in the world to play the game. For a chance... Read more

The Long Dark’s Long Road

by Joe Rybicki, Contributing Editor Posted on March 8, 2016March 8, 2016

When the Xbox One Game Preview Program first debuted at E3 2015, it launched with two games: Elite: Dangerous and The Long Dark. While Elite has since graduated to full release, The Long Dark has been moving along in Preview, adding and refining here and there. This masterfully bleak story of survival in the far northern wilderness hides a cruel heart underneath its gorgeous, almost hand-painted-looking visuals. But its developers have continued to improve and expand this chilly tale through its entire life. Now the game is preparing for the debut of an episodic story mode (and subsequent move out of the Preview program) sometime this spring. It’s a perfect time to check out what’s... Read more

Halo World Championship 2016 – Evil Geniuses

Explore Alien Worlds and Cheat Death in Beacon for Xbox One

by Joseph Russell, Writer and Co-Founder at Monothetic Posted on March 8, 2016March 8, 2016

Hello from Monothetic! We’re a small, young, independent games development team currently working on our first commercial project. That project is Beacon, a sci-fi action roguelike game currently targeting Windows, Mac, and Xbox One – and we’d like to introduce you to it today.� In Beacon, you take control of Freja, a recently-deceased pilot-for-hire whose ship has just crashed into the side of an unknown planet. Luckily for Freja – thanks to her ship’s automated clone bay – being dead isn’t quite the permanent problem that it once was. Played as a top-down shooter, Beacon tasks you with fighting your way through a procedurally generated hostile world. All the while,... Read more

Games

Exploring Survival Games on Xbox One

by Nathan Meunier, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on March 7, 2016March 7, 2016

The desire for self-preservation is ingrained deeply within our human nature. Even in the most dire of situations, there's a primal instinct that kicks in when mortal danger arises. Thankfully, most of us don't face true peril on a regular basis... but there's no denying the adrenaline-fueled thrill that comes from pushing to overcome steep odds. In the gaming world, it’s this struggle – the risk and reward – that's such a big part of what makes survival games so satisfying. More recently, the Xbox One has seen an explosion of interesting and unusual takes on the survival genre, with offerings ranging from the cutesy to the utterly cataclysmic. Join us as we dig into some of the... Read more

Sniper Elite 4 Sneaks Onto Xbox One Later this Year

by Jason Kingsley, CEO and Creative Director at Rebellion Posted on March 7, 2016March 7, 2016

Did you know it’s been just over 10 years since the original Sniper Elite launched on the original Xbox? Back then Rebellion was running out of a smaller studio and Sniper Elite was an exciting new name in an era when World War Two shooters ruled the roost. And here we are a decade later! Rebellion’s a bit bigger - quite a bit bigger actually - but we’re still in Oxford and more importantly we’re still independent and proud to announce that Sniper Elite 4 will release on Xbox One as an ID @Xbox title later this year. It’ll be obvious from the teaser trailer above, but as card-carrying history geeks we’ve been chomping at the bit to reveal the game’s location - 1943... Read more

Games

Changes at Microsoft Studios, UK and Denmark

by Hanno Lemke, General Manager, Microsoft Studios Europe Posted on March 7, 2016March 7, 2016

Today, I have some difficult changes to announce that affect some of our Microsoft Studios teams and projects in the UK and Denmark. After much consideration we have decided to cease development on Fable Legends, and are in discussions with employees about the proposed closure of Lionhead Studios in the UK. Additionally, we will close Press Play Studios in Denmark, and sunset development on Project Knoxville. These have been tough decisions and we have not made them lightly, nor are they a reflection on these development teams – we are incredibly fortunate to have the talent, creativity and commitment of the people at these studios. The Lionhead Studios team has delighted millions... Read more

Games

The 5 Biggest Reasons We’re Loving Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2

by Jack DeVries, Contributor Posted on March 4, 2016March 4, 2016

The ongoing war between the undead and sentient fauna rages on, and both sides are bringing in reinforcements. Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is even bigger and more awesome than its Xbox One launch game prequel. Check out why we’re loving this strategy game turned shooter. Competitive and Co-op Play Garden Warfare 2 features six competitive online multiplayer modes (supporting up to 24 players), and two four-player co-op modes. Whether you’re fighting for control over an expanding map in Turf Takeover, or teaming up with friends to defend your base in Garden Ops, Garden Warfare 2 has a variety of ways for you to enjoy it. Tons of Insane Characters The eight classes... Read more

The Doom Legacy

by Joe Rybicki, Contributing Editor Posted on March 4, 2016March 4, 2016

If you play games today, you owe a lot to Doom. This seminal game wasn’t the first first-person shooter, but it was far and away the most popular one for quite a long time. Developer id Software’s masterpiece of fast-paced, gun-toting mayhem set a template for the genre that is in many ways still in use today, and it pushed forward both gaming technology and the very concept of PCs as gaming machines. And yet, in spite of the game’s massive influence, it’s only gotten two sequels in over 20 years – the last over a decade ago.� But at long last, a new entry is about to join the franchise. Simply titled Doom, this reboot looks to bring everything magical about its predecessors... Read more

Final Groups for Halo World Championship Revealed

by Xbox Wire Staff Posted on March 4, 2016

Mark your calendars or ask Cortana to remind you: we’re now two weeks out from the Halo World Championship (#HaloWC)! Starting on March 18, the final 16 qualifying teams from around the world will travel down to Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA, to compete for the title of best in the world and their share of the $2.5 million crowdfunded prize pool, the biggest individual prize pool in console esports history. In case you missed it, the full Halo World Championship groups are set and teams now know who they’ll be facing at the tournament. Here’s the full rundown: Group A: Chosen Squad (Mexico), exceL (UK), Team Allegiance (NA) and Team Liquid (NA) Group B: Team Infused... Read more

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5 Pieces of Need-to-Know Intel on Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 – Awakening

by Kevin Mooks, Contributor Posted on March 3, 2016March 3, 2016

Good news for Call of Duty fans: Treyarch and Activision have just unleashed Awakening, the first downloadable content pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. As has been the case with many Call of Duty DLC packs before it, Awakening includes four multiplayer maps, as well as a new chapter in Black Ops 3’s Zombies mode, titled “Der Eisendrache.” Here are five key pieces of info that you need to know about it. Six Frags Awakening’s most playful map begs that you pack a wetsuit. Set in an abandoned water theme park, the Splash map comes complete with water slides, a wrecked pirate ship, and a slow river ride that weaves through a fantastical forgotten city. The map is built to... Read more

Impress the Gods this Summer with Jotun: Valhalla Edition for Xbox One

by William Dubé, Creative Director at Thunder Lotus Posted on March 2, 2016March 2, 2016

Jotun is a hand-drawn action-exploration game set in Norse mythology. In the summer of 2014, Jotun raised over $64,000 on Kickstarter. You may have heard of it, since the PC version of the game, released in September 2015, has been featured in some of the biggest gaming outlets in the world. It is the first game from our studio, Thunder Lotus Games, based out of Montréal, Canada. We are very proud to announce that Jotun is coming to Xbox One! In� Jotun, you play Thora, a Viking warrior who died an inglorious death and must prove herself to the Gods to enter Valhalla. The Viking culture is based on valor. This means that you don’t reach Valhalla, their version of Heaven, by being a... Read more

Xbox and Lamborghini Partner for the Next Chapter of Forza

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on March 2, 2016March 2, 2016

The 86th annual Geneva International Motor Show kicks off this week in Geneva, Switzerland – and in the spirit of the event, we’ve got some big Forza news to share. Xbox� and Forza developer Turn 10 Studios are partnering up with Lamborghini to feature the all-new Lamborghini Centenario super sports car as the cover car of the next chapter in the critically-acclaimed Forza racing series. We’re not quite ready to unveil the title or any big details on the next Forza game yet – you’ll have to wait for our Xbox media briefing at June 2016’s E3 for that – but the Centenario will be available “First in Forza,” which means that millions of Xbox One owners across the globe get... Read more

Coming to Preview: Buy Xbox 360 Games on Xbox One, 16-Person Party Chat and More

by Xbox Wire Staff Posted on March 1, 2016March 1, 2016

This month’s update is all about our continued commitment to listen to all of you and transform the Xbox experience based on your feedback. Today, we’re excited to announce a few features that you’ve been asking for which are coming to Xbox One, the Xbox app, or both. The host of updates include top-voted Xbox Feedback requests such as the ability to purchase Xbox 360 Backward Compatible games on Xbox One and improving social features like Party Chat broadcasting to Twitch. The updates will begin to rollout to the Xbox One Preview audience starting today and to Xbox app (beta) members starting tomorrow. Here’s what’s coming to Xbox One Preview: Purchase Xbox 360 Backward... Read more

The Forza Franchise Debuts on Windows 10 PCs This Spring

by Brian Ekberg, Community Manager at Turn 10 Studios Posted on March 1, 2016March 1, 2016

Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is an invitation for Windows 10 PC gamers to join millions of Forza players worldwide and experience thrilling racing, addictive gameplay and stunning graphics. Arriving on the Windows Store this spring and available for free, Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is a powerful demonstration of what the ForzaTech™ engine can do when unleashed by DirectX 12 at resolutions up to 4K. Developed by Turn 10 Studios, Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is the first step in Microsoft’s commitment to creating amazing Forza experiences for Windows 10 PC gamers. New Showcase Tour, Objective System and Spotlight Series Designed for players who are new to the Forza franchise, Forza... Read more

Exploring The Division’s Realistic New York Cityscape

by Nathan Meunier, Contributor Posted on March 1, 2016March 1, 2016

Like many people who have been pumped about going hands-on with Tom Clancy’s The Division, I spent a ton of time in the recent closed and open betas gunning down thugs across the plague-decimated streets, hunting for loot in the early solo missions, and venturing deep into the dark zone to square off against other players. My pursuits in the betas were quite a bit of fun, and the game's mix of open-world gunplay and role-playing quest elements are really shaping up. This was even more evident during our expanded hands on time with the game’s open beta content at the Xbox Spring Showcase event last week. Beyond the satisfying thud of bullet damage stats stacking up and the constant... Read more

Xbox Showcases Stellar Spring Games Lineup for Xbox One and Windows 10

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on March 1, 2016March 2, 2016

In San Francisco last week, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer reaffirmed Microsoft’s commitment to bringing the biggest Microsoft Studios franchises to both Xbox One and Windows 10, and provided journalists, YouTube personalities and Twitch streamers hands-on time with Xbox’s most-anticipated spring games and platform experiences. Kicking off with today’s release of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for Windows 10, the Xbox spring games lineup includes a wide array of fan-favorite franchises coming to both Xbox One and Windows 10, including Quantum Break, Forza, Killer Instinct and more. “At Xbox we believe gamers should be able to play the games they want, with the people they want, on... Read more

Games

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for Windows 10 Available Now on Windows Store

by Miguel Lopez, Contributor Posted on March 1, 2016March 1, 2016

Headline updated for accuracy 3/1/16 - 9:05 a.m. PT Cam McRae, Technical Director at The Coalition – the studio who’s spearheading Gears of War: Ultimate Edition’s transition to PC which is available today – is insistent that his team didn’t mess with the fundamentals that defined the classic shooter’s identity. By this, he means the countless little things that make Gears feel like Gears: the way the characters move, the timing of their weapons, and the tactile feel that you get when they collide with objects in the game’s world. “One of our goals with the PC version was ‘don’t touch the art.’ But beyond that,” McRae said, “we changed... Read more

Games

Survive or Permanently Die in Capybara Games’ Below

by Matt Cabral, Contributor Posted on March 1, 2016February 29, 2016

My recent hands-on session with Capybara Games' eagerly awaited Below didn't conclude with an epic boss battle, a cinematic set piece, or a nail-biting cliffhanger... but with a cup of soup. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Twenty minutes before I discovered said soup, my character washed up on a beach, and I was immediately struck by Below's effective use of scale. Not so much in the traditional sweeping sense, but in how insignificant my character felt in the world. Compared to his top-down surroundings, my “wanderer” looked like a relative speck. According to Creative Director Kris Piotrowski, making the player feel small and vulnerable is intentional. “I wanted to make a... Read more