Tag: Xbox Series S

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Don’t Pass on GamePass

Over the span of 7 years, the Xbox brand has been transformed into an entity almost unrecognizable from its 2013 self. The massive undertaking of accruing lost MindShare and rejuvenating the gaming division was not a simple task, but was one that Phil Spencer and the wholly dedicated team at Microsoft’s Xbox division were more than up to. 

The official GamePass account on Twitter announced today that the titular Baseball franchise, MLB: The Show would be launching Day and Date on GamePass for the Xbox. This includes both the Xbox One and Series X version of the game. Coming off the excitement of recently launched Outriders being in GamePass as well, we have a very important precedent that is being set not only for the service, but the Xbox Ecosystem as a whole. 

Outriders

Xbox has been cementing itself as ‘the’ place to play for console play-no-for gamers in general, at an incredibly staggering rate. Cross-platform saves for games available on PC and console, heavy support for Cross-play, an impressive Backwards Compatible structure that sees 4 generations of games given new life, legacy support for existing accessories, and a very solid mobile gaming solution are just some of the highlights one will experience being in the Xbox ecosystem. However, there is one very important piece that completes the puzzle. That piece is GamePass.

Being available on PC, Console, and Mobile means that you are able to access a huge library of games, old and new, virtually anywhere and in anyway that is most preferable to you. For less than the cost of a Premium Netflix subscription (Currently $17.99, whereas GP Ultimate is $14.99.) you have unlimited access to every game available in the service, can collect Perks and Rewards for other services and games, and will receive discounts on games and add-ons among other things. 

This isn’t even mentioning the acquisition of Bethesda and Zenimax that has now put hit titles like Doom: Eternal, the Wolfenstein series, and even underappreciated gems like Prey back into the service with the benefit of the Series X|S’s FPS boost and performance enhancements. I know this all reads like some kind of ad for GamePass, and maybe it ultimately is, but that’s because the service and what Microsoft is doing with it is just that good.

https://youtu.be/oWLQUse0oYg

Seeing what GP has become from its ‘very’ humble beginnings of only a handful of games and a mission is remarkable. What’s more is that there’s no reason to be concerned with whether the platform is sustainable and beneficial for developers since time and time again, studios have come forth and praised the service. Case in point: If video games are the entertainment equivalent of your favorite foods, then GamePass is the buffet made up of all your favorite dishes plus a bevvy of treats that may have never thought to try before. Don’t just take my word for it. Try it out for a month. Go in with no expectations, start playing games, and see what happens.   

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Fight On. Killer Instinct Lives.

Last night was a treat for fighting game enthusiasts. Particularly those of us fond of a little old game called Killer Instinct. Fans were treated to one of the most exciting fighting game tournaments thanks to a collaboration between streaming platform Twitch’s Twitch Rivals division, super popular content creator, streamer, and longtime advocate of the FGC (Fighting Game Community), Maximillian Dood, and numerous other supporters. 

The premise was simple: Get 32 of some of the best Killer Instinct players and host an online tournament to not only generate some excitement, but also remind people of how good of a game the 2013 Killer Instinct is (and also give the Winners and Top Placers a nice little cash prize.). What we got was a rather professional tourney complete with energetic commentary, documentary snippets, and interviews that highlighted the production process and what actually went on behind the scenes of the game’s development process. This was the icing on the cake as we were treated to some of the highest level of play you’ve ever witnessed in a fighting game. 

Buy Killer Instinct: Combo Breaker Add-On - Microsoft Store
Killer Instinct’s reboot debuted in 2013 with a humble 6 man roster, but quickly began evolving into something far more.

 

Longtime players like @WheelsFGC, @NickyFGC, @CharbokFGC, @XiBassiX, @Hologrammmxx1, and so many others brought nothing less than their best to put on a show like no other. It’s always a personal treat for me to see and interact with longtime players and community members during these events. When it comes to Killer Instinct, participating in a tournament feels more like gathering friends and family together for a Super Bowl party than watching your typical online event. 

Ever since the reboot debuted all the way back in 2013 (Has it really been 8 years already?!) a very passionate and dedicated community was formed around KI. From its humble beginnings with a 6 man roster in Season 1 which eventually evolved into its insanely diverse and eccentric cast of 29, Killer Instinct was always supported by a seemingly ravenous community that remained hungry for more content.  Of the 29 available fighters, we saw 18  of them on display last night; more than half of the roster. This speaks to how well designed the entire cast is, as there is quite literally someone for every type of player here.

See the source image
The Wolf and the Spider.

 

The most important takeaways from last night’s festivities is that Killer Instinct is very much alive and still has a lot to offer newcomers and veterans alike. Not only this, but as over 43K viewers tuned in on an unassumingly ordinary Monday evening, it shows Microsoft that the IP still has a magnetic draw. 

 

With the exception of the recent update that improved the game’s performance for the Series X/S consoles in Oct. 2020, Killer Instinct had largely remained untouched since 2018. KI is easily one of the most content complete fighting games on the market with its huge roster, single player offerings, bevy of multiplayer modes, and some of the best Tutorials and on boarding you’ll ever come across. Not only this, but there is a smorgasbord of community created content to help new and longtime players learn and improve. Of particular note is @Infilament’s insanely detailed guide that breaks down nearly every single nuanced element of the game.  You can view that right HERE.

Kan-Ra Revealed as Next Killer Instinct Season 2 Character
Maya was treated to a fantastic redesign for her debut as one of Season 2’s new characters.

 

Ever since I walked into my local PowerZone arcade and heard Chris Sutherland (original announcer) screaming at the top of his lungs and being entranced by the crazy 1994 cabinet design all those years ago, I’ve held Killer Instinct close to my heart. This IP is special, and absolutely deserves to be nurtured further. The Xbox brand is in the perfect position to really elevate the franchise and bring it to as many people as possible. It would be absolutely criminal to let it languish as long as it did before its 2013 reboot all over again.

Buy Killer Instinct Classic - Microsoft Store
Where it all started.

 

In the meantime, we can still enjoy this absurdly entertaining gem via Crossplay on Xbox consoles, Windows 10 (also available on GamePass!), or on Steam (Note that progress from other platforms does not transfer over to the Steam version).

Fight on, friends. Fight on. 

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Welcome Home Series X|S

We’re finally here. Both the XBOX Series X and S are out in the wild, being delivered to those lucky enough to pre-order and being crammed into eager consumer’s digital carts. It’s been when helluva’ year, but let’s bask in this moment of happiness for as long as we can (This is a BIG week for gaming!). To really kick things off, Microsoft is holding a launch day event that will be streamed live.

There will be announcements, guest speakers, a wealth of gameplay footage, and maybe even some surprises! Here are a few words from Phil Spencer:

“Think of our livestream celebration as a companion to your gaming plans for the day.  We’ll host “Let’s Play” segments with the creators, showcase special launch highlights from around the globe and harness the power of gaming to raise vital funds for great causes. This will be a moment of play, not press releases, as next generation consoles begin to land in the hands of players around the world. Instead of big announcements, we will mark the beginning of a new era by gaming alongside one another. We will take this moment to have some fun and look forward to having you join us.”

The show will be streaming TODAY starting at 11:00 am PST/2:00 pm EST.

It’s an awesome time to be invested in the gaming industry and you’d be kidding yourself if you think the massive strides that were made to recover from 2013 haven’t impacted the Xbox brand AND the industry as a whole. That’s neither here nor there now. It’s time to enjoy the present and be excited for the future! 

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Series X|S Pre-Launch Checklist

It’s almost unbelievable to think that it’s only been a year since the infamous stealth reveal of the Series X at last year’s Game Awards. This has truly been one of the most unique and tension filled lead ups to a Next Generation launch, but here we are. The XBOX Series X|S both launch globally tomorrow and the excitement could not be more palpable. Most people that were lucky enough to secure their hardware during the initial pre-orders are likely set with their choice of games, peripherals, etc., but for those hoping to secure a stray unit or two tomorrow I have a bit of a checklist that will hopefully ease you through the process. Let’s go: 

 

HOW/WHERE to SECURE a CONSOLE

With retailers no longer offering units to walk-ins, potential buyers must face the online trenches once again. Here are the major retailers confirmed to be selling units online tomorrow and when they will start selling them:

ACCESSORIES

Whether you need a few extra controllers for your friends and/or siblings, want a fancy new media remote, or just really need a charging stand; Here are some of the best picks for launch day:

*Do keep in mind that Microsoft has confirmed legacy support for the full suite of Xbox One accessories with the exception of the Kinect. All your existing peripherals will come with you into the Next Generation!

GAMES

This is why you’re even getting a shiny new console, right? You want to experience not only new games but all the ones you might have missed with the best fidelity and performance features possible. Here are some standout titles that pique your interest on D-Day (Click the Box for the direct link!):

Now here’s a table of more 1st & third party titles that are coming and will be available and Enhanced: 

Game Title Resolution Framerate Cross-Generation Play Xbox Series X Upgrade
Apex Legends 2K 60fps Yes* Yes
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Borderlands 3 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Bright Memory 1.0 TBA TBA Yes Yes
Cuisine Royale TBA TBA Yes* Yes*
Dead by Daylight 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition 4K (with options for Ray Tracing on/off) up to 120fps (Ray Tracing disabled), 30fps (Ray Tracing enabled) No Post Launch
Destiny 2: Beyond Light 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
DiRT 5 4K (in Fidelity mode) up to 120fps (in Performance mode) Yes* Yes*
Enlisted 4K 60fps TBA TBA
Evergate 4K 60fps TBA TBA
Fortnite TBA TBA Yes, cross-play and cross-generation play with cross-progression Yes
Forza Horizon 4 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Gears 5 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Gears Tactics 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Grounded 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Just Dance 2021 TBA TBA TBA TBA
King Oddball 4K 60-120fps Yes* Yes*
Maneater 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Manifold Garden 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate 4K (Dynamic) TBA Yes*, for specific modes Yes*
NBA 2K21 TBA TBA No Yes, for owners of the Mamba Forever Edition
No Man’s Sky 4K 60fps Yes Yes
Observer: System Redux 4K TBA TBA N/A
Ori and the Will of the Wisps 4K 60-120fps Yes* Yes*
Planet Coaster: Console Edition 4K TBA Yes* Yes*
Rogue Company 4K 120fps Yes* Yes*
Sea of Thieves TBA TBA Yes* Yes*
Tetris Effect: Connected 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
The Touryst 4K 60fps Yes* Yes*
The Falconeer 4K 120fps Yes* Yes*
The Sims 4 N/A N/A Yes Yes
Star Wars: Squadrons 4K 120fps Yes* Yes*
War Thunder TBA TBA Yes* Yes*
Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition 4K 60fps N/A No
Watch Dogs Legion 4K 30fps Yes* Yes*
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship TBA TBA Yes* Yes*
Yakuza: Like a Dragon 1440p native, 4K in Resolution mode 60fps native, 30fps in Resolution mode Yes* Yes*
Yes, Your Grace TBA TBA Yes* Yes*

 

This is just a small smattering of high profile pickups, but it’s time to address the real Elephant in the Room:

GAMEPASS

I have experienced first hand the exponential growth and value that Microsoft’s titular service has become in less than half the time of the competition. Dollar for dollar, GamePass is an exceptional value for gamers of all kinds. Whether you are playing primarily on console, PC, or a mix of both, GamePass has an extremely solid collection for you to browse and experience whenever, and now, wherever you are. Here are the key points of value that GamePass will offer you:

  • Includes Xbox Live Gold
  • Exclusive Member Discounts 
  • Day 1 Access for all 1st Party Titles
  • Includes EA Play starting Nov. 10th, Launch Day
  • Play on PC, Console, and/or Android Mobile via xCloud (iOS service provided via Remote Play)
  • Free Perks ranging from in-game content, premium access to services such as Spotify (Disney + 30 day access was recently added. Just in time for the new season of The Mandalorian!)

 

What’s more, the service isn’t that much more expensive than traditional Xbox Live Gold services. In fact, for the amount of full games you have access to at any given time you will save far more than you will pay for the entirety of your time subscribing to the service. Peep the payment plans below (Click for the official page):

ALL ACCESS

I don’t Microsoft and the Media have spoken about this super consumer friendly service enough. This is especially true considering the very real nature of our Economic climate. At 0% APR and NO upfront cost, you can have a Series X, S, or even Xbox One S delivered to your home with a VERY reasonable monthly payment plan. 

Xbox All Access, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S with Xbox game characters

CLICK HERE for ALL ACCESS DETAILS

Console launches are always fun and exciting. The Series X & S are no different. It feels like the lead up to this moment has been even more grueling and strenuous due to the peculiarities and challenges brought upon by the current state of the world. I can’t wait to receive my own Series X and ring in this brand new generation of gaming in style! Good luck and have fun!

https://youtu.be/DIMAujZpry0
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Next-Gen is Upon Us. Are You ready?

We are merely 8 days away from the highly anticipated launch of the Xbox Series X|S and just 10 for the titular Playstation 5. New consoles also mean new games and there is a mountain’s worth of new content coming to sink your teeth into. Let’s start breaking down some of the standout games (-and even electronics!) coming in November: 

Nov 6th.

Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia :Nintendo Switch

Dirt 5: XBOX(Smart Delivery Upgrade on Nov. 10th for Series X|S), PS4(Upgrade available for PS5 at launch)

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered: XBOX, PS4, Steam (Nov. 13th for Nintendo Switch)

 

Nov 10th. 

(XBOX Series X|S Launch Day)

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: XBOX, PS4, Epic Game Store ( Series X and PS5 receive free upgrades. Gold & Ultimate Editions also available) 

The Falconeer: XBOX Series X|S, Steam

Bright Memory: XBOX Series X|S (Digital Only)

Gears Tactics: XBOX Series X|S

Yakuza – Like a Dragon: XBOX, Series X|S, PS4

Tetris Effect – Connected: XBOX Series X|S  (Digital Only)

Observer – System Redux: XBOX Series X|S, Win 10 (Also coming to PS5 on the 12th.) 

Destiny 2 – Beyond Light: XBOX Series X|S, Steam, PS4 (Xbox One & PS4 owners receive performance upgrade when moving to Series X|S or PS5)

XIII Remake: XBOX Series X|S, PS4, Nintendo Switch (Limited Edition also available.)

Sakuna of Rice and Ruin: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Steam 

Fuser: XBOX, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch

 

Nov. 12th 

(PS5 Launch Day)

Marvel’s SpiderMan – Miles Morales: PS4, PS5, Ultimate Edition (PS5 Only)

Demon’s Souls Remastered: PS5

Sackboy – A Big Adventure: PS5, PS4, Special Edition (PS4 Only)

The Pathless: PS4, PS5 (Comes with PS4 Version), Epic Games Store, Apple Arcade

BugSnax: PS4, PS5, Epic Games Store (15% off)

Godfall: PS5, Ascended Edition (PS5), Epic Games Store

 

Nov. 13th

Call of Duty Black Ops – Cold War: XBOX1, Series X|S, PS4, PS5, PC

Game & Watch Super Mario Bros. Handheld

Apple iPhone 12

 

Nov. 17th

Mortal Kombat 11 – Ultimate: Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5

 

Nov. 19th

Monster Truck Championship: XBOX, PS4, Nintendo Switch 

 

Nov. 20th

Katamari Damacy Reroll: XBOX, PS4, Nintendo Switch

Hyrule Warriors – Age of Calamity: Nintendo Switch 

 

Nov. 24th

Just Dance 2021: XBOX, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Pokemon Sword & Shield – The Crown Tundra DLC: Nintendo Switch 

There are even MORE games than this coming, but these are the standouts and what are sure to be the big hitters. How about you? Anything you’re super excited for that isn’t on the list? Let me know in the comments! 

 

 

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Microsoft Confirms the Xbox Series X & S are “The ONLY Next-Gen Consoles” with FULL RDNA 2 Hardware Support

AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 Series of RDNA 2 GPUs have been revealed today, and following the presentation, Microsoft released an statement of their own. Simply put, the Xbox Series X/S will be the only next-generation consoles “with full hardware support for all the RDNA 2 capabilities AMD showcased today.” This flies directly into the face of those that have been disputing the implementation for months now, and puts the narrative to bed.

The following are some excerpts from the announcement that go into further detail regarding the technology:

“AMD’s latest RDNA 2 architecture delivers a significant increase in performance and efficiency over previous architectures, as well as adding new hardware acceleration capabilities including hardware accelerated DirectX Raytracing, Mesh Shaders, Sampler Feedback and Variable Rate Shading. Hardware accelerated DirectX Raytracing, showcased at launch by titles such as Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs: Legion, enables developers to deliver a new level of visual fidelity and immersion through techniques such as realistic lighting, shadows, reflections and acoustics. 

Mesh Shaders can manipulate geometry in real time to provide a high level of fidelity and flexibility that developers have never had before. Sampler Feedback greatly improves memory efficiency by allowing games to load into memory, with fine granularity, only the portions of textures that the GPU needs for a scene, as it needs it, providing an effective 2.5x memory and bandwidth multiplier beyond the raw hardware capabilities. Sampler Feedback also enables efficient creation and shading of textures on-demand. 

Finally, Variable Rate Shading (VRS) delivers much finer grain control on how developers can leverage the full power of the Xbox Series X|S by enabling developers to focus their GPU resources on the areas of a frame that most benefit without reducing the overall image quality. 

By leveraging techniques like VRS, games such as Gears 5 can see performance increases up to 15% and beyond resulting in higher, more consistent frame rates and resolution at the exact same image quality. All of these next-generation capabilities are available via hardware in both the Xbox Series X and Series S and we are excited for them to also come to PC, providing a common set of features that developers can rely on when developing their games across console and PC.” 

Check the full article Here

On the flip side of things, Sony’s PS5 will feature some Custom RDNA 2 features, but will not be utilized at the Hardware level. 

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Preparing for Launch

With just 15 days left before the Global launch of both the XBOX SERIES X & S on Nov. 10th, Microsoft has released an official and comprehensive breakdown of to expect and how to prepare for, what is arguably, one of the Xbox brand’s biggest console launches ever.  

Right away we’re treated to a speedy boot sequence that brings to like the latest UI, as well as the dynamic backgrounds. Via Quick Resume, we jump right into Gears of War 5 which has become a showcase for the how the visual fidelity and overall performance of games can be improved thanks to the Series X’s beefy hardware and software architecture. After a few minutes our hosts snap over to Dirt 5 in literal seconds. If I’m being honest, Quick Resume is probably one of the biggest game changers coming to consoles in this new generation. The feature is akin to using ‘Save State’ when running emulators on PC, or PC games in general. 

After some more gameplay we get into the new Share Button on the controller and just how convenient and quick it is to not only save, but also share your captures. Quite literally, a tap or two of the button is all it takes to being building and sharing your content with friends and the community.

Watching just how smooth and snappy the UI and Storefront are is definitely encouraging and impressive. What’s more; Navigating “My Games & Apps” is quicker than ever. For someone like myself that has literally hundreds of games installed on my internal and external drives, this is truly a Godsend. 

The mini-presentation is just over 14 minutes long and goes over the primaries of what to expect when booting up your new console. While it is disappointing that there wasn’t a quick clip or two of some new gameplay, it wasn’t expected from this video anyway. Microsoft is committed to providing content every week leading up to launch, a strategy that will keep consumers/fans engaged and excited. They’ve also confirmed that there WILL exclusive Series X gameplay footage before launch, so keep it locked here for future updates!