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SHOWTIME, Amblin Television and 343 Industries Bring Halo to Television

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

It’s a big day for Halo – today, SHOWTIME president and CEO David Nevins announced the network has ordered a 10-episode season based on the legendary video game franchise! In its adaptation for SHOWTIME, Halo (working title) will take place in the universe that first came to be in 2001, dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant. Kyle Killen (Awake) will serve as executive producer, writer and showrunner. Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) will direct multiple episodes and also executive produce the hour-long series which enters production in early 2019. “Halo is our most ambitious series ever, and we expect... Read more

Next Up Hero Available Now on Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass

by Joe Tringali, CEO/Founder, Digital Continue Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

Hello, heroes! Our new game Next Up Hero launches today on Xbox One and Game Pass, and for those of you jumping in for the first time, we have words of wisdom to guide you on your journey. First thing’s first. You’re going to die. A lot. This game is meant to be hard, like old-school quarter-muncher hard. That’s because every time you die, you leave behind an Echo. These Echoes are like AI followers who can be raised again by other players, and they will help take out enemies for you. Combinations of Echoes can also be used to summon the Ancients, massive attack and defense buffs that can be the difference when you’re on your last sliver of life. There are 11 heroes (with... Read more

E3 2018: Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hands-on Experience

by Stephan Freundorfer, Xbox Wire Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

The successor to Ori and the Blind Forest seamlessly follows the 2015 fairy tale platformer, a challenging and highly rousing Xbox One game under an enchanting cover that amazes us right from the start. It is a wonderful painting of orange and red that comes to life on a dozen screens on the stage of the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles at E3 2018. In addition to countless other new Xbox One titles, a level of Ori and the Will of the Wisps was playable after the Xbox E3 2018 Briefing concluded and it only took us a few moments until we are immersed in the earth-colored scenery, overlapped by the filigree and defensive spirit of Ori. Windswept Wastes is the level that the successor... Read more

Games

Online FPS Warface is Coming Soon to Xbox One

by Ivan Pabiarzhyn, Warface Franchise Producer, My.com Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

Dear friends! We’re thrilled to announce that the critically-acclaimed online free-to-play FPS Warface is well on its way to Xbox! Welcome to a massive community with millions of fans all over the world and get ready for a fight! How did we earn this recognition? There’s no universal answer, as each individual player finds their share of fun in this dynamic and action-packed shooter. For example, a large share of our community is inseparable from PVE content: you can always embark on a short co-op mission or launch a full-scale raid against the devouring hordes controlled by a cunning AI. Tread carefully and dare not underestimate these enemies: a single AI marksman or heavy infantry... Read more

Games

The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs Arriving on Xbox One July 31

by Julie Roth, Writer, The Sims Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

Get ready for some furballs, because something new is coming to Xbox One. It’s The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs expansion pack and it will be available July 31, 2018! In this pack, you’ll get the Create-A-Pet tool, a new world, and the tools to make your Sims’ households complete with furry friends. And, if you want to create other kinds of animals, keep reading to find out how to hack this pack! The Create-A-Pet tool makes customizing your dogs and cats easy. You can choose and modify their coloring and breed, and even mix breeds to make something totally original. To make matters more creative, you can experiment with the painting feature. Add a few spots here, a bright color... Read more

Games

Witness the Locust Ascension in the Gears of War: The Rise of RAAM Graphic Novel

by Jerry Chu, Director of Gears of War Licensing Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

Long before Kait, JD and Del united to take on The Swarm in Gears of War 4, Marcus Fenix and the COG Army faced the barbaric tyranny of General RAAM and the Locust uprising on Emergence Day. Now, for the first time, witness his swift and brutal ascent to general of the Locust army in the graphic novel collection of Gears of War: The Rise of RAAM. The trade paperback collects all four single issues from IDW Publishing, the first of which needed to go to second printing after selling out the first run, and includes 10 in-game Gears of War 4 cards featuring comic book weapon skins and a bonus card of a guaranteed multiplayer character: Vold RAAM OR Uzil... Read more

Games

New Games with Gold for July 2018

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

Welcome to another Games with Gold reveal for Xbox One and Xbox 360! In July on Xbox One, blast your way through robot hordes in Assault Android Cactus, then experience one of the most innovative and humorous co-op puzzlers in Death Squared. On Xbox 360 and Xbox One via Backward Compatibility, we'll start with the classic fighting game Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, followed by the covert, action-adventure classic Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction. All games will be available exclusively for Xbox Live Gold members for a limited time as part of Games with Gold. With Xbox Live Gold, you get the most advanced multiplayer service, free games, and exclusive member discounts on games... Read more: New Games with Gold for July 2018

State of Decay 2 Celebrates 3 Million Players with Today’s Release of the Independence Pack

by Brandon Wells, Xbox Senior Product Marketing Manager Posted on June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

In advance of the 4th of July holiday, we are celebrating that the State of Decay 2 community now exceeds three million players. This, along with the recent news that fans made State of Decay 2 the best-selling game of May, puts us in a festive mood. To celebrate, we are revealing our first post-launch content, the Independence Pack. This pack gives you the opportunity to take on the zombie horde with style, grace and most importantly, colorful gunpowder. Available today on both Xbox One and Windows 10, the pack unlocks an array of fiery new versions of vehicles, weapons and gear for your community. State of Decay 2 wants you to show off with explosive awesomeness to the three million... Read more

Dungeon Defenders II: Protean Shift Expansion Available Now on Xbox One

by Colin Fisher, Associate Producer, Trendy Entertainment Posted on June 27, 2018June 28, 2018

Our free Protean Shift expansion for Dungeon Defenders II is now available to download on Xbox One. Protean Shift brings tons of new weapons for every hero, new systems that enable players to keep the items that they like throughout the games progression by using new materials to upgrade their strength, evolve them to higher tiers, and the ability to turn any piece of equipment into a Legendary. Got an awesome weapon from a boss during the campaign that you don’t want to replace? Now you can use our new systems to keep it as long as you want! Some of these new weapons even have special additional effects, like the ability to Shrinkinate your foes. In addition to these new upgrade... Read more

Games

Xbox One Storytellers: Cyanide on Call of Cthulhu

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on June 27, 2018June 27, 2018

It’s hard to match the narrative scope and immersive experience that a compelling story-driven game has over other storytelling mediums, allowing players not only to fall into the world of a well-crafted story but to experience it firsthand. These types of games can empower someone with a new perspective or let us live a double-life as a superhero. Narrative-driven games allow us to become someone we’re not, which is perhaps the biggest reason we enjoy these experiences. Now, with the power of Xbox One X, creators can bring us even closer to their vision. With our Xbox One Storytellers series, we’ll sit down with some of the industry’s greatest creators to talk about the strength of... Read more

Games

Xbox Game Pass: Warhammer: Vermintide 2, DiRT 4, Zombie Army Trilogy and More Coming in July

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on June 27, 2018June 28, 2018

Hello, gamers! Welcome to your July Xbox Game Pass update. Hungry for some more gaming news after E3? Not to worry as Xbox Game Pass is here with an action-packed July update to satisfy that gaming appetite! After announcing earlier this month that Fallout 4, The Division, and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited have joined Xbox Game Pass, members can look ahead to a plethora of games from independent developers through 2018 and beyond, including Warhammer: Vermintide 2 which joins the catalog July 11. Xbox Game Pass members can look forward to DiRT 4, Zombie Army Trilogy, Human Fall Flat, Bomber Crew, Abzu, Shadow Complex Remastered, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and... Read more

Games

Explore an Entirely New Planet in Trove – Geode on Xbox One

by James Karras, Senior Producer, Trove Posted on June 26, 2018June 26, 2018

We are incredibly excited to launch Trove – Geode on Xbox One today! We created Geode with the goal of introducing entirely new ways to play and interact with the Trove universe. This vision led us down two unique paths: cave exploration and problem solving beneath the surface of a besieged planet, and a fun, fast, and frenetic competitive multiplayer game mode called Bomber Royale. When you first land on Geode, you’ll find yourself in a vast new HUB - the Geode Sanctuary. Explore the last bastion of safety for the inhabitants of Geode, who seek refuge from the evil forces of shadow. To prepare for the shadow’s onslaught (in U10+ coming later this year), you’ll need to explore... Read more

Games

Designing the Gunner Class in TERA, Available Now on Xbox One

by Scott James Magner, Writing Team, En Masse Posted on June 26, 2018June 26, 2018

TERA is the only MMORPG with true action combat and starting today that action combat gets taken up a few notches with the introduction of a new playable character class on Xbox One: the gunner. To celebrate the launch of the gunner on Xbox One, I asked our development team some questions about the concept and design challenges of the class, and how it was ported over for the platform. Ko WonJun (UI/UX Designer), Kim Seon Wook (Lead Designer), and Hong Sang Hyuk (Client Programmer) responded with a peek behind the scenes on how TERA’s gunner class came to be. What inspired the creation of the gunner? In TERA, there’s a mostly unexplored story hook about the high elves’... Read more

Games

Slimetastic Platformer Slime-san: Superslime Edition Available Now on Xbox One

by Fabian Rastorfer, Founder, Fabraz Posted on June 26, 2018June 26, 2018

My name’s Fabian Rastorfer and I’m the founder and lead designer behind Slime-san, a platformer about a little slime that gets swallowed whole by a giant worm and whose goal is to escape the worm’s innards before getting digested. When we initially started the development of Slime-san we had one particular goal in mind: Make the gameplay easy to learn but hard to master. It’s a common sentiment among developers but only a few games genuinely succeed at being both approachable yet challenging, essentially targeting and satisfying two entirely different types of players. The concept of “easy to learn but hard to master” is deeply embedded within Slime-san’s design. One... Read more

Games

Play Unravel Two Free for a Limited Time on Xbox One

by Ashley Reed, Writer, EA Originals Posted on June 26, 2018June 26, 2018

Great things come in pairs: two Unravel games, two magical creatures, two levels you can try for free. Starting today, June 26 for a limited time only, you get to sample the first two levels of Unravel Two without spending a cent! The Unravel Two trial gets you a full 10 hours to play these opening levels to the game. Try on your own and then bring a friend along to enjoy seamless local co-op. Unravel Two is designed to let your pals join you anytime, so no matter where you are in the trial, they can jump in. Plus, all your save progress carries over to the full game if you decide to buy, so you can pick up right where you left off. Your trial clock only counts down when the trial... Read more

Games

Discover a New World in World of Tanks: Mercenaries

by TJ Wagner, Creative Director and Executive Producer, World of Tanks Posted on June 26, 2018June 26, 2018

War has raged for far too long. As the dust begins to settle, soldiers and civilians alike forsake the loyalties to which they once held and decide to fight for themselves. In a world governed by lawlessness where history has been changed forever, it’s time to be your own hero. After months of secrecy, Wargaming is finally ready to launch World of Tanks: Mercenaries for Xbox One and Xbox 360. It’s the biggest (and best) update the game has received to date, and we can’t wait for you to roll out and hit the battlefield. With more stories to tell, a new line of tanks to earn, a changed game world, and a totally new game interface, this is the perfect time for new players to... Read more

Games

The Crew 2 Out Now on Xbox One

by Mikel Reparaz, Editor, Ubisoft Posted on June 26, 2018June 25, 2018

Get ready to explore the entire US by land, air, and sea, because The Crew 2 is out now on Xbox One for Gold Edition owners. Standard Edition owners will have access to the full game on June 29. Setting players loose to build a motorsports career in a gigantic, open-world re-creation of the US, The Crew 2 takes a nonlinear approach to stardom, giving players the chance to fall in with four motorsports families that each compete in different disciplines: off-road, street racing, pro racing, and freestyle. Its coolest new feature, however, might be Fast Fav, which lets you instantly switch between driving a car, a plane, or a boat, no matter where you are or how much sense it makes at the... Read more: The Crew 2 Out Now on Xbox One

Minecraft Coral Crafters Recap Video

Games

10 Tips for NieR:Automata Become as Gods Edition, Available Now on Xbox One

by Dan Seto, Community Manager, NieR:Automata Posted on June 26, 2018June 28, 2018

It’s time to bring glory to mankind as NieR:Automata Become as Gods Edition is out now exclusively on Microsoft Store! In the world of NieR:Automata, thousands of years have passed since humans were driven to the moon. Now with your help, we can break the deadlock in this war with the machines and reclaim Earth for humanity. When the game begins, it will be your first mission on the Earth’s surface. To aid in your quest, we have prepared 10 tips to get you started in NieR:Automata. We hope these prove useful in you war efforts! Save your game NieR:Automata does not feature an auto-save function (which you’ll understand why as you play through the game), so remember to find... Read more

E3 2018: Decide the Fate of an Undead World in Dying Light 2

by Ben Silverman, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 25, 2018June 25, 2018

We humans might not always get along, but when it comes to dealing with zombies, we can usually agree on a few things: they’re bad, we’re good, and if you see one, run. The original Dying Light took that to heart, turning gamers loose on a first-person parkour playground infested with vicious shambling corpses. But running from zombies only gets you so far. For the sequel, developer Techland is infusing their world with a heaping helping of brains, giving players a substantially larger world, more opportunities for acrobatics, and the ability to shape the very narrative itself. During a hands-off demo at E3 2018, Techland walked (and ran, and jumped) us through the game’s new... Read more

Games

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 26 – 29

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 23, 2018June 23, 2018

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One, read on below and click on each of the game profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to... Read more