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Accessible Gaming with the Xbox Adaptive Controller

by Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox Posted on May 16, 2018May 17, 2018

At Microsoft, we believe in empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our CEO, Satya Nadella, has spoken about how essential it is that we push the boundaries of what technology can do in a concerted effort to be inclusive of everyone around the world. These principles have the deepest impact in how we are building products that are designed for everyone. We have been on a journey of inclusive design, which celebrates and draws inspiration from people who are often overlooked in the typical design process. As I discussed at the annual DICE conference in February, when we truly design for all, we help make the world more equal. That’s why I’m so... Read more

Games

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 22 – 25

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on May 19, 2018May 19, 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. This coming week we can return to Lordran in Dark Souls Remastered, stay caffeinated with Super Hyperactive Ninja, and enjoy some zombie survival terror in the console exclusive State of Decay 2 — and these are just a few of the excellent games coming soon to Xbox One! Read more below and click on each of the profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to... Read more

Games

Boss 101 Available Now on Xbox One

by Tim Donley, Founder, Donley Time Foundation Posted on May 19, 2018May 19, 2018

An event four years in the making has finally arrived and we are unbelievably happy to bring Boss 101 to Xbox One. When we started Boss 101 our goal was to make a game about two friends going on an epic adventure. One of the first additions was the Make-A-Boss generator where you create your own enemies to fight. From there it wasn’t long till we had tons of weapons, player upgrades, a campaign and millions of boss combinations for you to battle. We didn’t stop there and worked hard to bring it together with a story both compelling and interesting. The Command Center (your main base) was turned into a home for not just you but your friends, Berl, Rob, and the Professor. We added... Read more: Boss 101 Available Now on Xbox One

Games

Toying with Disney Magic in the Big, Beautiful Kingdom Hearts III

by Ben Silverman, Writer, Xbox Wire Posted on May 18, 2018May 19, 2018

Grab your keyblade, wake up Goofy, and prepare to smack a Heartless with a rollercoaster: Kingdom Hearts III is almost here. Kingdom Hearts III will be the first franchise entry to appear on an Xbox platform, and it’s clear that this is a game for both new and old fans alike. With evolved gameplay punctuated by exhilarating attacks modeled after Disney attractions and characters, Kingdom Hearts III is shaping up to be an action-packed ride for everyone. Action was exactly what we found during a recent hands-on demo touching on two of Kingdom Hearts III’s many worlds: the craggy mountains of Olympus from the 1997 “Hercules” film and a trip to Andy’s Toybox from Pixar’s... Read more

This Week on Xbox: May 18, 2018

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on May 18, 2018May 18, 2018

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox! Accessible Gaming with the Xbox Adaptive Controller At Microsoft, we believe in empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our CEO, Satya Nadella, has spoken about how essential it is that we push the boundaries of... Read more: This Week on Xbox: May 18, 2018

Games

Forza Motorsport 7 Inside Xbox Recap

Games

Sea of Thieves and Xbox One X Mark the Spot with Chips Ahoy!

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on May 18, 2018May 18, 2018

This Summer, Xbox and Chips Ahoy! are teaming up to offer exclusive Sea of Thieves in-game items along with access to Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold with the purchase of specially marked Sea of Thieves packages of Chips Ahoy! cookies. These exclusive in-game items provide everything you need to plot a course, dig up treasure and bail out the lower decks if attacked along the way! And just to make sure you can put these new items to good use, each pack includes free 5-day access to Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, giving immediate access to Sea of Thieves which is included with Xbox Game Pass along with access to over hundred other great titles. These codes are stackable up to 30... Read more

Games

Caleb McLaughlin Puts His Skills to the Test During Xbox Game Pass Challenge

by Ben Decker, General Manager, Xbox Services Marketing Posted on May 18, 2018May 18, 2018

Today, we’re excited to announce that Xbox is partnering with Caleb McLaughlin, also known as Lucas Sinclair on Netflix’s "Stranger Things," for our second-ever Xbox Game Pass Challenge. Last month, Usain Bolt kicked off the first challenge and we’re looking forward to seeing Caleb bring his A-game and watching him as one of the few people in the world to take on Usain in gaming! On May 20 at 3:00 p.m. PT, fans can check out how Caleb’s supernatural sensibilities stand up as he competes in challenges throughout the Xbox Game Pass library. At only 16 years old, Caleb is no stranger to the gaming world. This past November, he joined us in New York for the launch of the Xbox One X... Read more

State of Decay 2 Early Access Starts Today

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on May 18, 2018May 19, 2018

Today, fans who purchase State of Decay 2: Ultimate Edition will get a head start to surviving the apocalypse before the May 22 global launch with early access on Xbox One and Windows 10. In addition to four-day early access, State of Decay 2: Ultimate Edition includes two add-on packs: Independence Pack and Daybreak Pack (available at a later release date) on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC. The Independence Pack will let you celebrate independence with new vehicles, weapons and gear that have been modified to give you patriotic new ways to mow down zombies; while the Daybreak Pack lets you take the fight to the zombies in an all-new game mode that introduces a new map with new siege... Read more

Inside Xbox Episode 3 News Recap

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

Earlier today Inside Xbox Episode 3 aired, continuing to pull back the curtain on Team Xbox to celebrate our games, features, and fans. This episode was full of a variety of projects Xbox is working on, like new content coming soon to Sea of Thieves and updates to The Master Chief Collection, as well as the official reveal of a specially designed controller allowing more gamers to enjoy video games despite any restrictions they may have. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at some of the biggest news coming out of this month’s episode of Inside Xbox. First Look at Sea of Thieves: The Hungering Deep Sea of Thieves hit the open water just two short months ago, starting... Read more: Inside Xbox Episode 3 News Recap

Games

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 Revealed, Coming to Xbox One October 12

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

Earlier today at a community event, Activision and Treyarch pulled back the curtain on Call of Duty Black Ops 4, the latest and most gaming changing entry in the Call of Duty franchise where they showcased a wide variety of multiplayer features, an expanded zombie campaign, as well as the first details on a new battle royale mode. One of the biggest reveals was the Call of Duty Black Ops 4 won’t have a traditional single-player campaign. Instead, Black Ops 4’s narrative experience will be told through each of the unique Specialists you can play as, each with their own unique toolset to bring to the battlefield -- like the medical specialist Crash who can heal and resupply teammates... Read more

The Gears Pro Circuit and Halo Championship Series Are Coming Together

by The Coalition and 343 Industries Posted on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

This summer, two of Xbox’s largest gaming franchises are coming together as the Halo Championship Series and Gears Pro Circuit unite for a unique esports event in New Orleans. Working with Major League Gaming (MLG), The Coalition and 343 Industries will host simultaneous standalone tournaments at the New Orleans Convention Center from July 13th-15th. The event will feature hundreds of players, two main stages, multiple feature stations and two open bracket areas for what’s sure to be a historic spectacle. Fans of both franchises will witness non-stop action and high-quality gameplay all weekend. Gears Esports Pro Circuit “Gears of War 4” players will compete for a $250,000... Read more

Introducing Halo: Fireteam Raven

by James Monosmith, Sales and Marketing Manager, Halo Consumer Products Posted on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

For some gamers, their fondest and earliest memories are of long hours and countless quarters spent in a local arcade blasting through their favorite adventures. And for Halo fans, some of their best memories are of uncovering the secrets of an enigmatic ringworld and battling the twin threats of the Covenant and the Flood during their initial foray into Halo: Combat Evolved. Today, we’re excited to combine these two cherished memories into one brand-new unforgettable experience. Enter Halo: Fireteam Raven, a cooperative arcade sci-fi shooting game from arcade legends Raw Thrills and Play Mechanix in a unique partnership with 343 Industries. Set in the timeframe of Halo: Combat... Read more: Introducing Halo: Fireteam Raven

No Man’s Sky Coming to Xbox One July 24, First Multiplayer Details

by Sean Murray, Programmer, No Man’s Sky Posted on May 17, 2018May 18, 2018

Hello from Hello Games! We are busily working on Next for No Man’s Sky, but wanted to share a little news from behind-the-scenes. Today, we’re letting people know that you’ll be able to play No Man’s Sky as a full multiplayer experience with your friends in Next. We wanted to share our new cover art too (see above) and announce the release date: No Man’s Sky will launch on Xbox One July 24. We were delighted by the reaction to Next, even though we just shared the name so far, it means so much to see that people were already pumped about it. The reaction that No Man’s Sky is coming to Xbox One was lovely too. I’m excited for new players to be able to play such an expanded... Read more

May Xbox Update Becomes Available Today

by Patrick Perkins, Xbox Platform Marketing Posted on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

Today the May Xbox One update arrives for gamers around the world. As part of our ongoing effort to continually improve the Xbox experience, we’ve got a feature-packed update that enables you to get even more out of your console with some exciting new features. Here's what’s new: Connect with Gamers Across Xbox Live and Discord In response to your feedback, you now have the option to link your Discord account to your Xbox account, making it easier than ever to see what your friends are playing. Starting from the Discord app on PC or on a mobile device, you will see an option to link your Xbox account with your Discord account through the Connections tab under User Settings.... Read more

Xbox Live Free Play Days for All This Weekend

by Enrico Toro, Senior Business Planner Posted on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

Xbox is happy to invite all Xbox Live players without a Gold membership to play online with friends for free during our Free Play Days For All event from 12:01 a.m. PDT on May 17 to 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 20 on Xbox One and Xbox 360. This is a great opportunity for players across both consoles to experience one of the most-popular benefits of Xbox Live Gold membership -- when it comes to multiplayer gaming, network reliability is everything. Log in now to play on a network that delivers as well as you do. Great Games Unlocked for a Limited Time And how about two free Xbox One games to play during this event? All Xbox Live members will have free access to play Rainbow Six Siege and... Read more

Games

DC Universe Online Celebrates Superman’s 80th Anniversary with New Content

by SJ Mueller, Creative Director, DC Universe Online Posted on May 16, 2018May 16, 2018

DC Universe Online, the free-to-play action combat MMO set in the iconic DC universe, is celebrating Action Comics #1000 and the 80th anniversary of Superman! How does a game celebrate? With new content of course! Starting May 16, The Death of Superman: Part I will be available to all Xbox One players level 10 and above, taking you to an updated area of Metropolis that shows a city under attack by Doomsday, the supervillain notoriously associated with Superman’s iconic death. Fight alongside Superman and others as you confront, and ultimately try to stop Doomsday and his destruction of Metropolis. On top of new content, there are new rewards for players to earn, like a new... Read more

Inside Xbox One X Enhanced: Below

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on May 16, 2018May 15, 2018

Many of gaming’s most compelling stories come from those who’ve helped to create our favorite Xbox One games. In our Inside Xbox One X Enhanced series, these creators will share the behind-the-scenes accounts of the work involved in enhancing these epic games for Xbox One X, how they’ve helped chart the course of the world’s most powerful console, and what that means for the future of gaming. Today, we’ll be chatting with Nathan Vella, Co-founder & President at Capybara Games about enhancing Below for Xbox One X. What specifically is your development team doing to enhance Below for Xbox One X (textures, draw, framerate, resolution)? The big ticket enhancement for Xbox... Read more: Inside Xbox One X Enhanced: Below

Exploration-Driven Game Shape of the World Launches June 6 on Xbox One

by Stu Maxwell, Lead Everything Dude, Hollow Tree Games Posted on May 16, 2018May 16, 2018

Hi there, I’m Stu Maxwell, and, in high school, I was the nerd who played too much Quake, though I’m proud of all the custom levels I created. Today, I’m an adult nerd who makes small parts of huge shooter games by day and, for the past four years, I have also been developing my own indie game by night. That game is Shape of the World, a dreamy, exploration-driven escape to relax in after a busy day at work, or when life is not really going your way… I’m super thrilled to announce it’s coming to Xbox One on June 6 – of this year! It’s hard to believe I’m here. Shipping a game as part of a big studio is difficult enough but trying to figure out every aspect of making a... Read more

Games

Build Your Streaming Library with These Indie Favorites

by Tao Sila, ID@Xbox, Product Marketing Manager Posted on May 15, 2018May 15, 2018

We’re living in the era of the live streamer and it’s never been easier to start broadcasting your gameplay to millions of viewers around the world through Mixer. Which is why ID@Xbox Game Fest Week 3 will feature some of our favorite games to stream, making this week a wonderful time to pick up that game for your favorite streamer (or yourself) who won’t stop talking about: Descenders (Xbox Game Preview) - Launching into ID@Xbox Game Fest with stunning visuals and Mixer interaction. Descenders is extreme downhill free-riding for the modern era with procedurally generated worlds, and where mistakes have real consequences. In Descenders, your team is your life. When you pick a side... Read more

Games

Xbox Creates World’s First Gaming Bunker for State of Decay 2

by Aaron Greenberg, GM of Games Marketing Posted on May 15, 2018May 15, 2018

To celebrate the release of State of Decay 2, the ultimate zombie survival game on Xbox One and Windows 10, we created an amazing experience for fans to put their survival skills to the test in an environment unlike any other: the world’s first Xbox Gaming Bunker. The bunker is an authentic World War II-era Quonset bunker just seven miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Originally built to house military personnel in 1947, the 4,000 square-foot space perfectly embodies the feeling of the dangerous, unpredictable dystopia inspired by State of Decay 2. To give fans a firsthand look at all the action, "The Walking Dead" star Chandler Riggs will be on hand playing the game and also... Read more