Time to dust off your Akimbo 1887s. The Xbox One Backward Compatibility hits keep coming, and earlier this week the top-requested title, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, became playable on Xbox One via Backward Compatibility. This perennial blockbuster joined more than 500 Xbox 360 and Original Xbox classics already available on Xbox One.
One of the best-selling and most critically-acclaimed video games of all time, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 set a new bar for online multiplayer and continued the gripping and heart-racing action of the Call of Duty franchise as players faced off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. For the first time in gaming, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 featured the musical soundtrack of legendary Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Grammy Award, and Tony winning composer Hans Zimmer.
Enjoy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and stay tuned for more Xbox One Backward Compatibility announcements here on Xbox Wire. In the meantime, we’ll see you on Xbox Live!
Quickly following our news-packed Gamescom Inside Xbox show, we have even more news for our Xbox Insiders as Dolby Vision™ HDR releases today on Xbox! Starting with the Alpha Skip Ahead and Alpha rings, Xbox Insiders with a compatible TV can enjoy Dolby Vision streaming content on Netflix on Xbox One S and Xbox One X.
The team at Xbox is always striving to improve the Xbox ecosystem, and these features will continue to be shaped by fan feedback—we appreciate every thought and idea shared! Enjoy trying out this new feature and providing your valuable feedback as the hype train begins.
What is Dolby Vision?
Dolby Vision transforms your TV experience with ultravivid picture quality — incredible brightness, contrast, and color that bring entertainment to life before your eyes. When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver colors never seen before on a screen, incredible contrast, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker. The result is a refined, lifelike image that will make you forget you are looking at a screen. If you would like to learn more about what Dolby Vision is capable of, check out this video.
To experience Dolby Vision on Xbox One S or Xbox One X
To start enjoying this feature today, you need a TV that supports the latest version of Dolby Vision and a Premium Netflix subscription. There are over 400 hours of content available in Dolby Vision on Netflix including Altered Carbon, Stranger Things, Marvel’s The Punisher, Lost In Space, and many more (just look for the Dolby Vision™ logo).
To setup this feature, first check if you have a compatible TV by going on your Xbox to the 4K TV Details page under Settings. You can also check the full list of supported TVs here (if you connect your Xbox to an AV Receiver, check the compatible AVRs here). Next enable Dolby Vision on your console by navigating to Settings -> Display and sound -> Video output -> Video modes -> Allow Dolby Vision. Then log in to your Netflix account (premium subscription required) and pick your favorite Dolby Vision enabled title. Last, but certainly not least, enjoy!
Throughout its celebrated history, Konami’s award-winning Pro Evolution Soccer series has consistently captivated players by providing an unmatched realistic recreation of the sport of soccer, and this year is no exception. You can finally experience the “power of football” for yourself in Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 (PES 2019), which launches today in the Americas on Xbox One, and will launch globally on August 30.
Off the pitch, there’s been a major shift to Konami’s licensing strategy for this year’s edition, which focused on delivering exciting and fresh content to the series. As a result, PES 2019 boasts more licenses than ever before in its franchise history. This year’s iteration continues to build on past titles and bring new experiences to players with an extended portfolio of all-new, fully licensed leagues, stadiums, partnerships and Legends, on top of its existing premier partnership with FC Barcelona.
New and renewed team partnerships include: Brazilian clubs Corinthians, Palmeiras and São Paulo FC; national teams from Chile and Peru; Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers; German club FC Shalke 04; French clubs AS Monaco and AC Milan; and the International Champions Cup (ICC) to name a few.
Not to mention, there’s a handful of exciting new leagues that will be featured in the 2019 edition: Superliga Argentina, Chile’s Campeonato Scotiabank, Danish Superliga, Portugal’s Liga NOS, Swiss Super League, Scotland’s Ladbrokes Premiership, Turkish Süper Lig, and new and exclusive to PES 2019, the Russian Premier Liga.
You can get your copy of PES 2019 in one of two editions: Standard Edition with FC Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho on the front cover; and a special David Beckham Edition featuring England’s all-time greatest footballer. Also available now is a digital-only Legend edition. Check out all the details for each edition at: www.konami.com/wepes/2019.
For all the latest PES 2019 news, reveals and updates, be sure to follow @OfficialPES on Twitter and Instagram.
In Human: Fall Flat you play as Bob, the wobbly human hero who keeps dreaming about surreal places filled with puzzles in which he’s yet to find the exit. These puzzles have multiple solutions and will challenge your creativity. Exploration and ingenuity are key and every option is welcome!
To date, the game provides a hilarious experience with 1 to 2 players (local co-op couch mode) and 9 open-ended levels. But today the new 8-player online multiplayer update will bring even more players to the mayhem!
So, what’s inside today’s huge online update?
Online Mode
This mode will allow players to join and create public and private lobbies for up to 8 players. The more Bobs the more fun! When you create a lobby, you’ll be in charge. Select your favorite level, change the number of players or lock a level to ensure friends don’t rush to the end. The online mode will also support voice chat! The Bob captain (host) will be able to mute/unmute other players. Always useful!
New Customization features
Bob’s style is unique, so we’ve decided to enrich his wardrobe! Your Bob, your way. In the Customization section, you’ll now find:
2 new skins: Crash Dummy and Dog in the new MODEL section
16 new suits: Snowman, Knight, Princess, Spaceman and many more!
8 new Human hairstyles
In addition to these big features, the update includes miscellaneous improvements and UI fixes across every mode. As a little bonus, we’ve also added a shuffle option under the Audio options to mix up the in-game music tracks.
Four Aztec Achievements
For our completist players, we’re pleased to say the four missing achievements in the Aztec levels are now available. It adds 120G to the game! More details below:
The End – 20G
Bird’s eye view – 20G
Rollin’ – 40G
Clockwork – 40G
That’s it for today, I’ll see you in Bob’s dreams!
Starting at 2:00 p.m. PDT today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha – Skip Ahead and Preview Alpha rings will begin receiving the latest Xbox One system update (1810.180823-1920). Learn more about the new features in development for 1810 here, and read on for a list of fixes and known issues in this 1810 system update.
Build Notes:
Ready to Install
In this update, we’ve simplified “My Games & apps” by making it easier to see what games and apps you have installed vs. what games and apps are ready to install. You’ll no longer see a “Ready to install” tab when you interact with “My games & apps” and will instead be able to toggle between “Installed” and “Ready to install” when viewing either games or apps. We’ve also placed all filter options under one button, so that you can easily view your games and apps by size, letter, last update and more. Try it yourself and be sure to provide feedback!
Fixes:
Avatars
Miscellaneous performance fixes to the new Avatar subsystem.
Clubs
Fixes to Support Multiple Feed Channels in Clubs.
Home
Fixes to the Home Dashboard in which some users would experience an unresponsive Dashboard randomly.
Mixer
We have fixed the issue in which the Mixer chat window was not visible.
My Games & Apps
Ubisoft App – Fixes to resolve the crash when a user launches the Ubisoft app.
Fixed an issue in which some Games and Apps did not always show post-install when installed.
Fixed installation text when a user is installing a Game that leverages the FastStart feature.
Settings
Fixes to the Narrator feature to correctly read the dashboard correctly.
Known Issues:
Audio
We are aware that some users are experiencing issues where mics do not work. Please ensure that your controller is running the latest Firmware (Settings – Kinect & Devices – Devices & Accessories) and be sure to file feedback using the “Report a problem” tool when you experience this issue.
Avatars
We are aware that, in some instances, Avatar limbs (feet & hands) are pointing in unexpected directions and facial hair is appearing where it should not. Please file feedback should you experience this.
It can take up to 10 seconds to view an Avatar on the profile screen after creating a new Avatar.
My Games & Apps
Ready To Install – When looking at the Membership sections (Gold, Game Pass, EA Access), I’m not seeing any games listed under the new “Installed” tab.
Workaround: Look for Ready to Install titles under the Games tab in My Games & Apps.
Memberships – When viewing the Memberships section some users may see all available Ready to Install titles and not just those that are included with their membership.
EA Access App – We are aware that the EA Access app will crash when navigating in the app and become unresponsive.
Shudder App – We are aware that the Shudder app may become unresponsive.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge crashes for some users at random times.
The cursor may disappear when exiting and re-entering the app.
Workaround: Press Y when re-entering the app to make the cursor re-appear
OneGuide
Sometimes users may encounter stuttering when launching straight into Oneguide after the console is turned on from Instant on. Please file feedback when you see this.
Here is a workaround to resolve temporarily:
If you have a Kinect sensor connected to the console, try disabling it by going to Settings>Kinect & devices>Kinect and toggling the Kinect sensor off. Then re-launch OneGuide.
Power
We are tracking an issue in which the console is fully powering off when it is placed into Instant On mode.
Profile Color
Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.
Virtual Keyboard
We are aware that some characters appear incorrectly when using the Virtual Keyboard in conjunction with a chatpad. Workaround: Disconnect the chatpad.
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 change).
Xbox One X Enhanced – With tactical strategy that involves understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each island shape, it’ll be up to you to defend your island kingdom against ruthless Viking invaders. With procedurally-generated islands, command your soldiers against a charming (yet brutal) backdrop making it appealing for both hardcore strategy vets and newcomers alike.
Xbox One X Enhanced – With an array of licensed leagues to choose from, a manager mode, improve player movements, animations, and control, along with photo-realistic stadiums, Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 has everything the hardcore and casual soccer fan is looking for.
Xbox One X Enhanced – It’s up to one group of brave heroes to stand against Seteki the Witch Queen and her army of mummies. Enter the Strange Brigade! In this multiplayer, third-person action adventure you’ll solve challenging puzzles, seek out rare treasures, and shoot your way through armies of the undead. So get ready to grab your friends and embark on this multiplayer adventure on Xbox One.
Demons known as the yokai have escaped, spreading fear across the land and stealing souls — and it’s up to you to stop them in this bullet-hell shoot ‘em up that takes place in a unique, Asian mythology-inspired world. Includes a variety of modes on Xbox One including Arcade, Hardcore, and local co-op.
A multiplayer competitive party game where you must shoot, ram, dodge, and bully your opponents outside the screen with a variety of water gun weaponry. Inspired by classic arcade titles and competitive party games.
Work with your teammates to pull off slam dunks, alley-oops, no-look passes, and outside shots to break the opposing team down in competitive games filled with the joy and energy of street basketball.
Xbox Game Preview – Hungry and lost, you’re a survivor in a post-apocalyptic world with no one to trust. How do you stay alive? DayZ is the genre-defining open-world MMO survival sandbox full of heart-pounding moments, emergent gameplay, and dramatic player interactions.
Abandoned years ago and marked as defective, Watt and Volt aim to prove themselves as deserving of a place to live in the world. With a unique co-op, swapping gameplay mechanic and challenging puzzles, you and a friend will see to it that Watt and Volt can achieve their dream.
This horror game collection contains three Amnesia titles: The Dark Descent, A Machine For Pigs, and Justine. Experience the series that kickstarted the Let’s Play revolution and be immersed in three living nightmares that will chill you to the core.
Features favorite Naruto characters and teams from the series including Naruto, Sasuke, and Team 7, battle as a team of four to compete against other online in this stunning, 4 v 4 fighting game. With a new and improved graphic style full of vivid colors, and dynamic ninja gameplay, it’ll be up to the players to fully take advantage of the vertical environments to come out on top.
Inspired by the ‘80s and addictive gameplay, The VideoKid literally wears its inspiration on its sleeve as you hurl video cassettes through mailboxes to make some cash to take your girlfriend out on a date. Dodge mindless bystanders, pull off some epic grinds on the hoods of cars, and avoid the cops to stay alive.
After a Summer of anticipation, big reveals, and minimal basketball, the season is back and being kicked off today with the NBA Live 19 demo where you’ll get to try several of the features from the full version of the game, available September 7 on Xbox One.
You’ll be able to try out The Rise where you’ll start your journey to becoming The One by traveling the world, beginning to Build Your Squad, and developing your skill set while gaining fans and followers around the globe. Also, get your first taste of NBA Live 19’s Live Events by competing to earn rewards and bragging rights.
Want to play with NBA players? Get your chance to squad up playing with either Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics or Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors as the two teams to play as in the demo. And this is already a great time to get in some practice. Get to know the controls and pick up some tips as you complete drills to fine-tune your ability on the court.
The demo is just a bite-sized portion of nearly everything NBA Live 19 has to offer. While Build Your Squad can be started, getting the full experience is something that needs to be done with the full version! One of the biggest features that just got revealed is called Court Battles; it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen in a basketball video game.
Court Battles
Okay, so, let’s put it simply. Players want a way to stack squads up against each other and, while bragging rights are fun, you should also be rewarded for your efforts, right? In NBA Live 19, you now will be. First step to being able to partake in Court Battles is to be sure to create your own court – we have several customization options. You can touch up everything from logos to colors and even patterns.
Once your court is completely set up, you’re giving other gamers an open invite to come in and try to challenge you. The two sides of it, just like basketball, are attacking and defending – these are called campaigns. They are done in a format where you’ll need to race against the clock to attack as many courts as you can and, based on how many courts you successfully attack, earn exclusive rewards. There are different variables, but typically the tougher the campaign, the better the rewards – you could wind up with anything from different court customization options to animations and even new players to add to your squad for future conquests.
The further you make it in NBA Live 19, and the more games you play, the better your Court Hype is going to be. Hype is a measure for how far you’ve developed your created player in the game – there’s Live Run Hype, League Hype, and Court Hype. Through Court Battles, you’ll continue to build your Court Hype – the more Court Hype you have, the better rewards you typically get.
While attacking is a huge part of this process, defending is equally as important. Defending your courts all comes down to the phrase, “Your court, your rules.” You’ll get the chance to create your own ruleset – this is a group of rules that dictate how visitors to your court need to play. The more you progress your player and Court Hype, the more rulesets you’ll unlock. Some of my favorites include on where dunks are worth five points and another one where everyone must score to ensure a win – I think that these are going to really change the game.
In all, there will be 38 different rulesets that can be created and implemented for your court. When people come into your territory, they need to play by your rules – let’s just consider it homecourt advantage. Always make sure to set your lineup to cater to the rules, too. Let’s use the example of dunks being worth five points – putting in five athletic rim-rockers to defend your court could go a very long way to ensure people can’t take over your court. If you really want to play the coach role, be sure to adjust your gameplans. Again, more gameplans will be unlocked given the more Court Hype you get, but these can be anything from running set plays to bodying up the other team’s stars or guarding all shooters extra tight.
These are only a couple of the key features we’re going live with in NBA Live 19, and you’ll get your first shot at playing these with the release of our demo. If you’re ready, be sure to download the NBA Live 19 Companion app and get your face scan done so you can create your own player and really get cracking on your own career. Be The One and Build Your Squad for global dominance starting today!
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to join the fight for the future as an agent of Overwatch, now’s your chance! From August 23–27, we’re calling on all prospective soldiers, scientists, adventurers, and oddities: assemble your teams and dive in during the Overwatch free weekend event!
If you have an Xbox Live Gold subscription, you’ll be able to play with the full Overwatch roster of 28 heroes––including the newly released Wrecking Ball––across 18 maps set around the globe. You’ll have full access to Quick Play, Custom Games, and a variety of unique play options in the Arcade.
Player progression is unlocked as well, so you’ll be able to level up and earn limited-time Summer Games Loot Boxes. Plus, if you decide to purchase Overwatch, either this weekend or at a later date, you’ll keep any progress you made and achievements earned during the free weekend event––just be sure to use the same Xbox Live account that you played on.
The free period will begin at 11:00 a.m. PDT on Thursday, August 23 and will end at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Monday, August 27 in all supported regions. Instructions on how to participate are below.
Step 1: Turn on your Xbox One and log in to your Xbox Live Gold account
Step 2: Go to the Microsoft Store, then select Search
Step 3: In the search field, type in Overwatch
Step 4: Select Overwatch: Legendary Edition from the search results and then click Free Trial
Step 5: Once the download and installation processes are complete, click Launch to begin!
We hope you have fun playing Overwatch during the free weekend event. For all the latest news about Overwatch on Xbox One and any future free weekend events, keep it tuned here to Xbox Wire. Good luck out there, agents!
I will start with a bold statement: today is an historic day in the videogames industry. It might not be perceived as such by many, of course, and even those who would acknowledge the fact as true would not be rushing to include it in the headlines, but the truth is that an independent studio just did something unprecedented.
MercurySteam has rebranded their independent title, Raiders of the Broken Planet as Spacelords, offered it to all players as a free-to-play game, and added 25% more content on top of it all.
Almost a year ago, MercurySteam embarked on a very special project. After years of working in the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series — arguably, one of the most successful revivals of a classic franchise — our studio launched Raiders of the Broken Planet, our first self-financed game.
We thought our offering would appeal to a wide audience for several reasons. It was an adventure in shooter form, offered innovative game mechanics, unique 4 vs 1 gameplay, included memorable characters, a disruptive art direction, episodic content at a fair price, and two missions offered totally for free. We were only half right.
Sure, the game’s appeal was there, and over 3 million people gave it a go, but the business model didn’t quite take among the gamers. The most repeated criticism we received was, “This game should be free to play.”
That’s not the only feedback we received to help us shape the future of the game. You might be surprised to read that Raiders of the Broken Planet has reunited an incredibly loyal community that plays the game every day. We have been in contact with them since launch through our social media channels and Discord, and all the changes Spacelords packs are a direct consequence of what they have told us they expected from the game.
Spacelords is out now, and thousands of new players are trying it for the first time as I write these lines. Give it a try — it’s free after all — and let us know what you think on Twitter and Facebook channels. Thanks for reading and see you on the Broken Planet!
The moment Ubisoft unveiled Assassin’s Creed Odyssey at E3 2018, our classically-trained lizard brains sharply focused on the mythological possibilities. To many of us, Ancient Greece doesn’t just mean shiny helmets, pointy spears, robed philosophers, and sunbaked cliffs overlooking the Aegean: it means monsters. Big ones. And lots of them.
Of course, the Assassin’s Creed franchise prefers to recontextualize actual historical events through the lenses of its stealthy stars, so we haven’t gotten our hopes up that it will turn into the “Clash of the Titans” playground that immediately popped into our heads.
Or will it? Based on a new gameplay demo at Gamescom 2018, we’re thrilled to say that yes, in addition to the (alternate) history lesson, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will let players do battle with some of the most famous creatures in Greek mythology. And while you won’t necessarily release the kraken, you’ll be properly equipped to deal with these fearsome foes thanks to the most potent combat ever seen in an Assassin’s Creed game.
Fight Club
Set on the island of Lesbos, the demo had a straightforward setup. Playing as protagonist Alexios (we tested fellow protagonist Kassandra at E3), we met a young woman, Bryce, who had been accused of sacrificing her companion to a nefarious creature. Our job: save Bryce and get to the bottom of the mystery by tracking down her lost love.
Within moments of making this decision, we faced off against a swarm of soldiers and citizens convinced Bryce should be punished for her crime. While we experienced the basics of melee combat at E3 2018, the gamescom demo digs into Odyssey’s seriously upgraded fighting, which has been enhanced through the use of powerful, game-changing abilities. Alexios was maxed out at level 50 for the demo, giving us a chance to experience the top tier of Odyssey’s three-pronged upgrade system.
Players can invest in Hunter, Warrior, and Assassin trees, roughly equating to ranged, melee, and stealth approaches. These include both passive and active abilities, up to eight of which can be equipped at a time.
They proved crucial during our initial fight. Odyssey’s combat is challenging, as enemies will smartly surround and tactically attack Alexios. While basic and strong attacks are fine for chip damage, we found far more success triggering attacks like the sweeping Ring of Chaos, knocking back and stunning several guards at once. A well-armored grunt was taken down with a Sparta Kick, while we disarmed another foe with a Shield Breaker attack. Powered by adrenaline, these moves can be charged by engaging enemies and performing well, a fast-paced reward loop that keeps players invested in the action.
Bearing Down
After dispatching the guards, we ran into a significantly tougher foe in the form of a fellow mercenary who was attempting to collect a bounty. Bounties play a big role in Odyssey. Any citizen can place a bounty on your head for transgressions both minor (stealing something cool) and major (killing someone cool). You can resolve bounties by paying them off, keeping a low profile, or getting your hands dirty by killing the sponsor. In this case, we wiped the floor with the merc, spent some of that sweet level 50 cash to remove the bounty, and made our way to a temple Bryce’s friend was rumored to have visited.
This sent us on another errand to locate the temple key. After a bit of horseback and ship sailing, we tested a few more combat abilities in a cave filled with some very large, intimidating bears. This time we used Flaming Attacks to ignite our sword and spear, causing one bear to run in terror. A Slow Time ability let us take a few uncontested swipes at the other before heading to higher ground to try some bow attacks. A controllable Predator Shot let us guide the arrow into the bear’s soft spot, while the wall-piercing Ghost of Artemis shot finished him off. Whether you choose to play up close or from a distance, Odyssey’s arcade-tinged abilities give you incredible power.
We discovered just how valuable these are when we found the key and entered the temple.
Stone Cold
The lifelike statues were a dead giveaway. Only one Greek legend was capable of turning soldiers into art; after a bit of parkour, we came face to extremely ugly face with Medusa, bad hair and all.
The ensuing boss fight required extensive use of our powers. Stay still for too long and the gorgon would turn us to stone; get too close and it was a quick sword to the gut. She also summoned lightning strikes, leading to several abrupt, painful deaths. Eventually, we wore her down with a few potent Devastating Shot bow attacks and summoned the Battlecry of Ares ability to go into a rage, inflicting extra damage with each swing of our blades. Ten intense minutes later, we harnessed our inner Perseus and ended the titan’s reign.
She won’t be the only myth come to life in Odyssey. Players will face off against other legendary beasts culled from the classics, including a beast or two from the famous Twelve Labors of Hercules. No assassin should do without a cozy Nemean lion pelt.
Don’t expect Odyssey to become Dark Souls, however. Mythological battles of this nature are considered end-game content and are hidden in hard-to-reach areas. You’ll mostly flex your newfound abilities against decidedly tamer foes, though if the twitchy, intense action found in the gamescom demo is any indication, it won’t be any less thrilling.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey releases October 5 for the Xbox One.
