Consoles Archives - Xbox Wire

Everything We Announced at the Xbox E3 2019 Briefing

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on June 9, 2019June 9, 2019

Today, Xbox showcased a blockbuster lineup of 60 anticipated games for both console and PC in its Xbox E3 Briefing and shared a glimpse of the future with Project Scarlett, which launches alongside Halo Infinite in 2020. Headlined by the biggest game of 2019, Gears 5, along with over 30 games premiering with Xbox Game Pass, the Xbox E3 Briefing delivered 11 world premieres and a record 14 games from Xbox Game Studios, which will soon include legendary game development studio Double Fine Productions. “It’s great to celebrate with our incredible fans and show how we are delivering against our vision to empower gamers to play the games they want, with the friends they want, wherever... Read more

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 18 to 21

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

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

E3 2019: Bleeding Edge is Four-on-Four Competitive Brawling Mayhem

by Russ Fischer, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

Hellblade developers Ninja Theory brought their frantic new team-based brawler, Bleeding Edge, to E3. Bleeding Edge is a MOBA riff, a competitive four-on-four battle with frantic, fast-moving combat and ridiculously huge attack effects. I played a few rounds of Bleeding Edge on the floor of at the Xbox E3 Showcase. Here are all the details. Controlled Chaos My first experience with Bleeding Edge was pure chaos. As two teams experienced the game for the first time, the match was a riot of clashing area attacks, rapid retreats and dashes towards checkpoints, with not enough attention paid to strategy by new players eager to try out all their attack options. All of which is a... Read more

Restricted Content

Confirm your age to continue:

You may not view this content.

E3 2019: Call of Duty Modern Warfare is a Dark Franchise Refresh

by Russ Fischer, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

The silence is unnerving. A four-person squad shuffles up a narrow stair in a North London building. There’s no room to turn around. They move floor to floor in near-total darkness, night vision goggles tinting the scene green. Orders are whispered. Each man’s breathing has a slightly ragged edge, but it’s under control. When a shotgun fires from behind a door it sounds like a cannon. One man is down. Those still standing turn to fire at a man holding a woman like a human shield. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is not a sequel, but a refresh. It cuts loose some of the gameplay concepts that have defined the series for years — no more slow-motion action sequences — and leans in to... Read more

Spiritfarer Debuts at Xbox E3 2019 Briefing

by Will Dubé, Founder, Thunder Lotus Posted on June 13, 2019June 13, 2019

“Welcome to the big show.” These were the first words I heard when I walked into rehearsals. We were about to announce our studio’s third game, Spiritfarer, on the biggest stage in the world: E3. My name is Will Dubé, and I’m the founder of Thunder Lotus Games. Five years ago, I quit my job to put an indie game on Kickstarter. Today, I’m writing to you from beautiful Los Angeles as we introduce our new game, Spiritfarer, to the world on the biggest stage in gaming. Spiritfarer is a cozy management game about dying. It’s a game about heritage and what you leave behind. It’s about relationships you create and care for, and the bitter-sweetness of saying goodbye.... Read more

E3 2019: Five News Things We Learned About Cyberpunk 2077

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 13, 2019June 13, 2019

Let’s get this part out of the way first: Cyberpunk 2077 looks even more incredible than the last time we saw it. From its massive open world, branching dialog, and multiple ways to play it’s going to be one of the most talked about games in 2020. After a year of waiting for more details and information, the day is finally here as CD Projekt Red pulled back the curtain with a brand-new demo for E3 2019. In that hour-long, closed-door guided gameplay walkthrough, we learned five new things that helps to give Cyperpunk 2077 an incredible level of depth, immersive world design, and lots of Keanu Reeves. In-depth Character Customization The hands-off demo began with showcasing some... Read more

Play The Division 2 for Free This Weekend with Xbox Live Gold

by Chris Watters, Associate Communication Manager, Ubisoft Posted on June 13, 2019June 13, 2019

It’s been seven months since the population was ravaged by a devastating disease and the streets of Washington, D.C., are overgrown and bristling with danger. Violent factions vie for territory while survivors desperately defend their makeshift settlements, and it’s up to you and your fellow Agents to tip the scales. This weekend, play The Division 2 for free with Xbox Live Gold, and start your fight to take back the city. The free weekend runs from Thursday, June 13, through Sunday, June 16, and gives you access to the full game, including the lengthy campaign (playable solo or co-op with up to three other players), challenging endgame, and dedicated PvP mode. If you decide to... Read more

Free Play Days: Fallout 76, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, and LEGO DC Super-Villains

by Vincent Wang, Product Marketing Manager, Xbox Posted on June 13, 2019June 13, 2019

It’s E3 week, which means it’s time for a breathtaking Free Play Days event! Although E3 is winding down, that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. Through this weekend, Xbox Live Gold members can play Fallout 76, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, and LEGO DC Super-Villains. Endure a nuclear wasteland in the largest Fallout world yet or take back and restore Washington, D.C. as a Division agent. But if you prefer to play as the bad guys, become the best villain ever in a DC/LEGO adventure! The Free Play Days event begins Thursday, June 13 at 12:01 a.m. PDT and runs through to Sunday, June 16 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Fallout 76’s Free Play Day event began June 10 and will continue to run... Read more

Play it Now: Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions

by Mike Brown, Principal Game Designer, Playground Games Posted on June 13, 2019June 13, 2019

Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions is now available! In this all-new expansion for Forza Horizon 4 you are invited to explore a LEGO themed world, with full seasonal changes. You’ll complete LEGO Brick Challenges, build and race amazing new LEGO Speed Champions cars including the McLaren Senna, the Ferrari F40 Competizione, and the 1967 Mini Cooper S Rally. You can explore an entire LEGO city, stunt park, crashed UFO site, pirate’s cove, speedway and a dinosaur graveyard. For more information on Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions be sure to check out the recent announcement. Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions is available on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs for $19.99 and is... Read more

Restricted Content

Confirm your age to continue:

You may not view this content.

E3 2019: Play As Anyone in Watch Dogs: Legion, Coming to Xbox One March 6

by Mikel Reparaz, Editor, Ubisoft Posted on June 12, 2019June 12, 2019

Watch Dogs: Legion is coming to Xbox One on March 6, 2020, taking you to a near-future London torn between sinister factions working to keep citizens meek and controlled. Organized criminals vie with a sinister private military for control of the streets, all under the watchful eye of an oppressive surveillance state. The citizens need something to rally around if they’re going to take back the city, and that something is the hacker collective DedSec. In Watch Dogs: Legion, your mission is to pull together a resistance from the people around you, and use their innate traits to build a group of effective operatives who can hack, fight, and sneak their way through the powerful forces... Read more

E3 2019: The Avengers Finally Assemble at Square Enix’s Press Conference

by Russ Fischer, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 12, 2019June 12, 2019

Square Enix’s 2019 press conference had big superhero energy, courtesy of Crystal Dynamics. The Tomb Raider developer finally unwrapped the first footage of Marvel’s Avengers, which brings a new version of a very familiar band of heroes to gaming. That wasn’t the only title on deck. Square touted recent releases like Octopath Traveler on PC and Life is Strange 2, and debuted footage from another big action title. Here are all the Xbox One and Windows 10 PC games coming from Square Enix. Marvel’s Avengers In Marvel’s Avengers, the team at Crystal Dynamics creates their own interpretation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. While the starting roster is identical to the... Read more

E3 2019: Hands-on with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Coming This Fall with Xbox Game Pass on PC

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 12, 2019June 12, 2019

One of our favorite strategy games will be making a triumphant return later this year in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on Windows 10 and Steam (with cross-play support) and with Xbox Game Pass on PC. Having received an HD treatment in 2013, which helped reinvigorate interest in the franchise, AoE II: DE will literally deliver the be-all, end-all version of this classic real-time strategy game, bringing with it modern quality of life improvements, a new campaign, and brand-new graphics that support up to 4K resolution. Special for E3 this year, the hands-on demo showcased a combination of the hard work the team has put into modernizing this masterpiece and making it incredibly... Read more

E3 2019: Rahul Kohli of “iZombie” Joins Cast of Gears 5

by Bonnie Jean Mah, Franchise Narrative Lead, The Coalition Posted on June 11, 2019June 13, 2019

Sunday’s Xbox E3 2019 Briefing was packed with Gears 5 news, including a partnership with the film "Terminator Dark Fate," the unveiling of Escape mode, and the announcement that Gears 5 will be available for Ultimate Edition owners and with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members starting September 6, with a worldwide launch on September 10. Today’s Gears 5 panel at the E3 Coliseum hosted by WWE Superstar Austin Creed brought one more surprise to Gears fans, as Rahul Kohli joined Rod Fergusson and the rest of the Gears 5 cast on stage to announce that he’s joining the Gears 5 family. Kohli, known to fans of "iZombie" as Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti, steps into Gears 5 as the charismatic and... Read more

E3 2019: Watch Dogs: Legion and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint Lead Ubisoft’s New Offerings

by Russ Fischer, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 11, 2019June 12, 2019

Ubisoft kicked off E3 2019 in a very pleasant way, with a string and voice orchestra performing music from the Assassin’s Creed series. The performance heralds a world tour for the 80-piece Assassin’s Creed Symphony orchestra and choir, with performances through Summer and Fall in the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. After that pleasant lead-in, Ubisoft got busy with a huge announcement for a very ambitious new chapter in one of the publisher’s core series. Watch Dogs Legion Everyone is a secret weapon in the new Watch Dogs title, which drastically reimagines some of the core concepts in the first two games. Legion takes place in London, which as the trailer notes, “was the... Read more

E3 2019: Xbox and Rockstar Energy Drink Unveil Largest Fan Promotion for Gears 5

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on June 11, 2019June 11, 2019

Today, Rockstar Energy Drink and Xbox unveiled plans to launch the largest fan inspired game promotion to date in support of the upcoming Gears 5 release. The program will be coming to the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico. The Can Collection will feature six original designs from UK-based illustrator Luke Preece. The first design -- inspired by Gears 5, all-new "Escape" mode -- was unveiled at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Five additional designs will be announced in the lead-up to the launch of Gears 5 late this summer (September 10), each inspired by a different aspect or character from the upcoming game. On-Can Code activated... Read more

E3 2019: Everything is Awesome in Forza Horizon 4: LEGO Speed Champions

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 11, 2019June 11, 2019

The team at Playground Games had me at “LEGO…” Already a tremendous fan of these amazing plastic bricks, my imagination immediately ran wild with what a crossover between Forza Horizon 4 and LEGO world could look like. Now after spending an hour with Forza Horizon 4: LEGO Speed Champions, this expansion both surprises and exceeds my expectations. By harnessing the playful and comedic tone established by the likes of “The LEGO Movie,” and the already impressive open-world tech and competitive racing of Forza Horizon 4, this expansion drops you behind the wheel of three life-sized vehicles modeled brick-for-brick from actual kits in a can’t miss expansion for an already... Read more

E3 2019: Final Fantasy VIII Remastered Comes to Xbox One This Year

by Ben Stein, Senior Manager, Product Marketing, Square-Enix Posted on June 10, 2019June 10, 2019

At long last, we’re excited to celebrate with fans of Final Fantasy VIII! For the first time in its 20-year history, the beloved adventure of Squall Leonhart comes to Xbox One with a visual overhaul as Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. A widely embraced franchise favorite, Final Fantasy VIII has always stood out for its realistic art style and authentic storytelling – fans have been clamoring for this title to receive the same remastered love and attention as its peers. We heard you! The uniqueness of Final Fantasy VIII’s design, characters, and gameplay mechanics differentiate the game from its predecessors. For the first time in the franchise’s history, characters are modelled... Read more

Inside Xbox – E3 2019 News Recap

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on June 10, 2019June 10, 2019

Today’s special E3 edition of Inside Xbox was chock-full of world premiere trailers, developer interviews, exclusive gameplay and general celebration of all things gaming and E3. We delved deep into the hectic, strategic and violent new game mode for Gears 5, Escape, with Rod Fergusson and showcased the fast and fluid 4v4 competitive gameplay of Ninja Theory’s brand new IP, Bleeding Edge. We welcomed Phil Spencer to the stage to discuss Team Xbox’s vision for gaming, plumbed the depths of Halo Infinite’s moving new trailer with Chris Lee, got details on the incredible partnership with Smilegate to bring Crossfire X to Xbox One, and gave a hearty welcome to Double Fine’s Tim... Read more: Inside Xbox – E3 2019 News Recap

Express Yourself with New Gamertag Features

by Dan McCulloch, General Manager of Xbox Live Posted on June 10, 2019June 10, 2019

At Xbox, your identity has always started with your gamertag – whether it’s a nickname between you and friends, a tribute to your favorite character or something unique that just stuck. We feel that all players should have the opportunity to portray who they are as a gamer and build their identity within the Xbox community. In order to achieve this, we’re revamping the Xbox gamertag to empower players around the world with more choice in how they represent themselves. Starting today, and throughout the next year, we will be updating several features for the Xbox gamertag, which will roll out to PC, mobile devices, and Xbox One consoles. Please note that current Xbox players can... Read more

E3 2019: What’s Next for Xbox Backward Compatibility

by Jason Ronald, Partner Director of Xbox Platform Posted on June 10, 2019June 10, 2019

Since the Xbox One Backward Compatibility program was announced at E3 2015, over half of all Xbox gamers have enjoyed Original Xbox or Xbox 360 games on Xbox One. During that time, the Backward Compatibility catalog we built directly from fan feedback has grown to over 600 titles including entire iconic franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Gears of War, and Mass Effect. Four years later, compatibility remains a priority for Xbox, for our community and for developers and their games, and preserving the art form of video games is part of our DNA. After adding more than 600 titles to the Backward Compatibility catalog, we’re now setting our sights on what’s next for the future of... Read more

E3 2019: Doom Eternal, Fallout’s Battle Royale, and Ghostwire: Tokyo Revealed at Bethesda’s E3 Keynote

by Russ Fischer, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 10, 2019June 10, 2019

We knew going in that Bethesda’s E3 keynote would not have big reveals — and no, there was no footage from The Elder Scrolls 6 or Starfield. The company's presser did feature a handful of notable game updates and expansions, a couple new title reveals, and the much-anticipated reveal of new gameplay from Doom Eternal, including a Slayer-on-Demon multiplayer offering called Battlemode. Fallout 76 Bethesda took a big swing with Fallout 76, which launched in November 2018, with Executive Producer Todd Howard acknowledging the criticism that their title had some difficulties at launch. The new expansion, Wastelanders, will address some of that criticism and “fundamentally... Read more