Category: Xbox News

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox One update preview coming to the Alpha ring. It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox One.

We continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device. Details can be found below!

System Update Details:

• OS version released: RS_XBOX_RELEASE_2010\19041.4789.200903-0000
• Available: 2 p.m. PT – September 4, 2020
• Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – September 5, 2020

New Features and Experiences

We have exciting news! Alpha users can expect something new coming to their Xbox One update preview.

Guide

• We’re testing out a new experience for game and party invites in the Guide! Insiders in Alpha Skip-Ahead will start seeing a new pop-up at the bottom of Guide whenever they’ve recently missed an invite, and the invites can now be found in the main notifications page when opening Guide instead of in a separate tab. You can now check all notifications in one place, but still know whether or not you’ve missed an invite as soon as you open the Guide.

Home

• In addition to seeing the installation progress in the Guide, Alpha users will now be able to monitor the installation progress of games from the Home screen directly. Once the installation is complete the title will remain in the Most Recent list for easy access.

Fixes Implemented

Thanks to the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this build:

Audio

• Fixed an issue where Dolby Atmos audio would be lost with display settings set to 120hz and color depth set to 36 bits per pixel (12-bit).

Guide

• Fixed an issue where text would be obscured while typing a message reply.
• Users should now see the time displayed when opening the Guide.
• Fixed an issue where focus was lost when navigating Looking for Group.

My Games & Apps

• Fixed an issue where the “Show in Store” option would not open the Store correctly.

System

• Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console
  • Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console, for more information go here.

Known Issues

We understand some issues have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes. These items aren’t being ignored, but it will take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution.

We’re still tracking these known issues:

Audio

• Some users have reported that Dolby Atmos for Headphones audio setting changes when the console is rebooted/updated.
  • Note: If you attempt to set the audio to Dolby Atmos for Headphones and see a message advising you to launch the Dolby Access App, please file feedback before launching the app.

Guide

• We’ve received reports that the Delete button in the Share menu isn’t appearing correctly and can’t be selected.
• Some users have reported that the audio mixer cannot be used to adjust chat/game audio levels.
• We’ve received reports of the Guide not launching or loading.

My Games & Apps

• Users have reported seeing black tiles instead of game artwork when browsing their collection.
  • Note: We are still investigating the issue, please report the issue again from the console if you have done so with a prior update and are still seeing this behavior.
• Some titles in collection may appear with a “trial” tag incorrectly in collection.

New Store Experience

• Some titles may display a “Not currently available” message on the product page and will be unavailable to purchase
  • Note: Users can use the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows to complete purchases for these items.
• Users will not be able to use the “gifting” option for both Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles at this time.
• Users will not be able to use the “Build a bundle” functionality at this time
  • Workaround: Create the bundle via the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows.
• Xbox Design Lab customization is not currently supported.
  • Workaround: Use the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows to purchase.

Profile Color

• Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.

Make sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of your issue. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

How to Get Xbox Insider Support

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please reach out to the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to threads with the same issue before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Don’t forget to use “Report a problem” before posting—the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today. We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox One Update Preview ring!

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox One update preview coming to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring. It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox One.

We continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device. Details can be found below!

System Update Details:

• OS version released: RS_XBOX_RELEASE_20111\19041.5076.200903-0000
• Available: 2 p.m. PT – September 4, 2020
• Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – September 5, 2020

New Features and Experiences

We have exciting news! Alpha Skip-Ahead users can expect something new coming to their Xbox One update preview.

Guide

• We’re testing out a new experience for game and party invites in the Guide! Insiders in Alpha Skip-Ahead will start seeing a new pop-up at the bottom of Guide whenever they’ve recently missed an invite, and the invites can now be found in the main notifications page when opening Guide instead of in a separate tab. You can now check all notifications in one place, but still know whether or not you’ve missed an invite as soon as you open the Guide.

Home

• In addition to seeing the installation progress in the Guide, Alpha Skip-Ahead users will now be able to monitor the installation progress of games from the Home screen directly. Once the installation is complete the title will remain in the Most Recent list for easy access.

Fixes Implemented

Thanks to the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this build:

Audio

• Fixed an issue where Dolby Atmos audio would be lost with display settings set to 120hz and color depth set to 36 bits per pixel (12-bit).

Guide

• Fixed an issue where text would be obscured while typing a message reply.
• Users should now see the time displayed when opening the Guide.
• Fixed an issue where focus was lost when navigating Looking for Group.

My Games & Apps

• Fixed an issue where the “Show in Store” option would not open the Store correctly.

System

• Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console
  • Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console, for more information go here.

Known Issues

We understand some issues have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes. These items aren’t being ignored, but it will take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution.

We’re still tracking these known issues:

Audio

• Some users have reported that Dolby Atmos for Headphones audio setting changes when the console is rebooted/updated.
  • Note: If you attempt to set the audio to Dolby Atmos for Headphones and see a message advising you to launch the Dolby Access App, please file feedback before launching the app.

Guide

• We’ve received reports that the Delete button in the Share menu isn’t appearing correctly and can’t be selected.
• Some users have reported that the audio mixer cannot be used to adjust chat/game audio levels.
• We’ve received reports of the Guide not launching or loading.

My Games & Apps

• Users have reported seeing black tiles instead of game artwork when browsing their collection.
  • Note: We are still investigating the issue, please report the issue again from the console if you have done so with a prior update and are still seeing this behavior.
• Some titles in collection may appear with a “trial” tag incorrectly in collection.

New Store Experience

• Some titles may display a “Not currently available” message on the product page and will be unavailable to purchase
  • Note: Users can use the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows to complete purchases for these items.
• Users will not be able to use the “gifting” option for both Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles at this time.
• Users will not be able to use the “Build a bundle” functionality at this time
  • Workaround: Create the bundle via the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows.
• Xbox Design Lab customization is not currently supported.
  • Workaround: Use the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows to purchase.

Profile Color

• Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.

Make sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of your issue. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

How to Get Xbox Insider Support

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please reach out to the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to threads with the same issue before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Don’t forget to use “Report a problem” before posting—the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today. We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox One Update Preview ring!

We’ve been waiting all year to say this: Marvel’s Avengers is now available on Xbox One! With an epic single-player campaign, online co-op, and tons of post-game features that will be rolling out for years to come, today’s the day we can grab our controllers and live out our superhero backyard battles as our favorite Marvel characters. Read on below for a full overview on all of the game’s many features and pick up Marvel’s Avengers today on the Xbox Store.

Become Marvelous

Start your adventure with an epic single-player campaign that features a new and original narrative with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. After a catastrophic accident results in massive devastation leaving superheroes outlawed and the world in peril, you’ll step into the shoes of teenager Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) as she uncovers a shocking conspiracy. Now the world’s only hope is for Kamala to reassemble the Avengers to stop the evil Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM).

Throughout this single-player campaign (it’s recommended you complete before playing online to avoid spoilers), you’ll rebuild a roster of heroes, master extraordinary abilities, and customize a growing batch of playable characters like Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, and others as you endeavor to save the world from threats big and small.

Continue the Fight

The Avengers Initiative is at the heart of the game’s expanding world, where you can jump in and play online co-op with up to four other players to defend Earth from threats that only the Avengers can defeat. This is where you can continue to hone your team while playing through a series of interconnected stories, missions, and personal hero arcs that take place after the conclusion of the single-player campaign. The Avengers Initiative will evolve over time with the free addition of new heroes, villains, regions, and gear for years to come.

Enter the War Zone

The War Zone is an expansive, explorable space that can be played solo or co-op, loaded with side content including caches to uncover, powerful bounty enemies to defeat, AIM depots to take over, faction allies to rescue, and hidden rewards to claim. You can access these via the War Table — found in Outposts, Quinjets, and the Chimera Helicarrier – which keeps tabs on AIM’s activities all over the world.

Up to four players can matchmake into a Strike Team together to complete War Zone missions, and with around 80+ missions available at launch, you have tons of options on what to play in Marvel’s Avengers  — and who to play it with!

Play with Friends

If you’d prefer to assemble a group of friends to your Strike Team, it’s as easy as hovering over their Nameplate and selecting them in the Social tab from the Character menu. Don’t worry if your friends are at a higher level than you. When in a Strike Team, levels are unified across the team. Also, Challenge rating doesn’t limit the matchmaking pool either; difficulty is set individually per player and impacts the rewards you receive at the end of the mission. Speaking of: Rewards are not shared, so don’t worry about other players snatching your hard-earned prizes.

An Accessible Experience

In addition to all these great gameplay experiences, Marvel’s Avengers will also feature a slew of accessibility options to help make sure as many gamers as possible can enjoy this superhero adventure. With subtitle support in 15 languages, including Brazilian Portuguese, German, French, and Spanish (LATAM), closed captions, camera sensitivity, button remapping, a variety of difficulty levels, and more. There’s also a few other features that remain in progress, like a high contrast mode UI and subtitle sizing options – expect these at some point after launch. The team considers accessibility incredibly important and sees these features as an ongoing pursuit to continuously make the game more accessible.

Play Today on Xbox One

Marvel’s Avengers is available today on Xbox One, enhanced for Xbox One X, and is available in two editions: Standard Edition, which includes the base game, and Deluxe Edition, which includes the exclusive Obsidian Outfit pack for your Avengers, including Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, and Ms. Marvel, along with six exclusive Obsidian-themed nameplates to further customize your gameplay cosmetics.

Marvel’s Avengers also uses Smart Delivery technology — buy the game once and play it on Xbox Series X when the console and next-gen version of Marvel’s Avengers are available later this year.

Now go equip Cap’s shield, grab hold of Mjolnir, and don Iron Man’s armor. You’ve got a world that needs saving!

Marvel’s Avengers: Deluxe Edition

Square Enix

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Marvel’s Avengers: Deluxe Edition includes the exclusive Obsidian Outfit pack for your Avengers, including Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, and Ms. Marvel, along with six exclusive Obsidian-themed nameplates to further customize your gameplay cosmetics. Marvel’s Avengers leverages the Smart Delivery technology – buy the game once and play it on either Xbox One beginning September 4th, 2020 or on Xbox Series X when both the console and next-gen version of Marvel’s Avengers are available. *One-time online access required for single-player campaign; online access required for multiplayer and to download post-launch content. Free Square Enix Members account required. Platform-specific online subscription fee may be required. Beta release date(s), platform and region availability to be announced.

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox One update preview coming to the Alpha ring. It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox One.

We continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device. Details can be found below!

System Update Details:

• OS version released: RS_XBOX_RELEASE_2010\19041.4776.200901-0000
• Available: 2 p.m. PT – September 2, 2020
• Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – September 3, 2020

Fixes Implemented

Thanks to the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this build:

Guide

• Fixed an issue where users could not launch background audio apps (Spotify, Soundcloud, Pandora) via the Guide.

Home

• Users should no longer see blank dropdown menus across the dashboard.

System

• Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console
  • Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console, for more information go here.

Known Issues

We understand some issues have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes. These items aren’t being ignored, but it will take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution.

We’re still tracking these known issues:

Audio

• Users who have Dolby Atmos enabled and console display settings set to 120hz with 36 bits per pixel (12-bit) are experiencing loss of Dolby Atmos audio in some situations.
  • Workaround: Disable 120hz or set Video Fidelity to 30 bits per pixel (10-bit) or lower.
• Some users have reported that Dolby Atmos for Headphones audio setting changes when the console is rebooted/updated.
  • Note: If you attempt to set the audio to Dolby Atmos for Headphones and see a message advising you to launch the Dolby Access App, please file feedback before launching the app.

Guide

• We’ve received reports that the Delete button in the Share menu isn’t appearing correctly and can’t be selected.
• Some users have reported that the audio mixer cannot be used to adjust chat/game audio levels.
• We’ve received reports of the Guide not launching or loading.

My Games & Apps

• Users have reported seeing black tiles instead of game artwork when browsing their collection.
  • Note: We are still investigating the issue, please report the issue again from the console if you have done so with a prior update and are still seeing this behavior.
• Some titles in collection may appear with a “trial” tag incorrectly in collection.

New Store Experience

• Some titles may display a “Not currently available” message on the product page and will be unavailable to purchase
  • Note: Users can use the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows to complete purchases for these items.
• Users will not be able to use the “gifting” option for both Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles at this time.
• Users will not be able to use the “Build a bundle” functionality at this time
  • Workaround: Create the bundle via the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows.
• Xbox Design Lab customization is not currently supported.
  • Workaround: Use the Microsoft Store on the web or Windows to purchase.

Profile Color

• Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.

Make sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of your issue. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

How to Get Xbox Insider Support

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please reach out to the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to threads with the same issue before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Don’t forget to use “Report a problem” before posting—the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today. We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox One Update Preview ring!

Tokyo Game Show is one of the world’s biggest celebrations of video games and culture and Xbox is confirmed to participate this year. The 2019 event attracted more than a quarter of a million attendees to enjoy new games and entertainment experiences. This year, the show is moving from the halls of Makuhari Messe to an exclusively digital showcase, where the latest gaming news and titles will be unveiled by some of the world’s top studios over four days from Sept 24-28.

Xbox will take part in this year’s event with a virtual showcase via livestream for Japanese audiences from 9 p.m. JST on 9/24. Our presence at Tokyo Game Show will celebrate the visionary creators and vibrant players in the region. Tune in to see the latest on games, content from our Japanese partners and players, and further details on Xbox services.

What to expect:

• A celebration of Japanese game creators
• The latest updates coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Game Pass for PC, Windows 10 and Steam
• Creativity from the Japanese Minecraft creator community
• A review of first- and third-party announcements from recent months
• No new next-gen news

The Showcase will be broadcast in Japanese.

For more details on Tokyo Game Show Online 2020, visit the official site for the full livestream schedule from the show’s organizers.

それでは、オンラインで皆さんにお会いできることを楽しみにしています。

A flotilla of Italian Warships is headed to World of Warships: Legends in the new Veni, Vidi, Vici update. The new campaign for the update features a battleship to bolster the Italian nation as well, the elegant Roma. French Destroyers exit early access, and now there’s a new system for you to manage and upgrade your camouflage! Brace yourselves for an update packed with Italian ships and more.

First and foremost is the new line of Italian Cruisers in early access: Alberto da Giussano, Raimondo Montecuccoli, Trento, and Zara. They represent the core fighting cruisers of the Regia Marina during the World War II, designed for combat in clear seas of the Mediterranean. Per Italian doctrine, these cruisers are maneuverable, speedy, and have a Smoke Generator Consumable to create concealment wherever they need it. Equipped with reliable armament and torpedoes, the Italian Cruisers are ready for battle. To command them, a cadre of four Italian commanders are joining the roster with new inspirations and skills to use in your fleet.

The Veni, Vidi, Vici campaign features the pinnacle of Italian shipbuilding: the battleship Roma. Well protected, fast, and agile, the Roma is able to gracefully navigate through the battlefield while her high-velocity, quickly-traversing 381mm guns take care of your enemies. Roma was one of the most powerful battleships in the world and now you can add her to your fleet! The Veni, Vidi, Vici campaign will run for five weeks and has 100 milestones to complete.

French destroyers are on the way at flank speed! This update, you can research the full set of French destroyers including the Tier VII Le Fantasque. These gunboats enjoy fast-paced gameplay thanks to their excellent armament, high speed, and Main Battery Reload Booster in lieu of a Smoke Generator. Skilled captains can use these abilities to send devastating bursts of damage onto enemy ships!

The update also brings a new feature for players to manage and upgrade camouflage for their ships. Now, you can convert consumable camouflage into paint or a permanent paint job for your ships! This will make the customization of your ships even easier, while adding a new way to progress and improve your fleet!

There are plenty of new additions to the game coming in the Veni, Vidi, Vici update. Get ready to conquer the seas and turn the tide!

World of Warships: Legends

Wargaming.net

☆☆☆☆☆ 274

★★★★★

Experience epic naval action in World of Warships: Legends, a global multiplayer free-to-play online game in which you can master the seas on the decks of history’s greatest warships! Recruit Legendary Commanders, upgrade your vessels, and stake your claim to naval domination alongside and against players from around the world. FREQUENT UPDATES New content in the form of ships, Campaigns, Bureau Projects, events, and more arrive regularly! Each update brings new features to shake things up in-game. FEATURE RICH Develop Legendary warships such as Yamato from the ground up in the Bureau, compete in Ranked Battles seasons for exclusive patches and extra rewards, and finish epic Campaigns to gain powerful new ships! CHOOSE YOUR COMBAT STYLE Take control of over 120 destroyers, cruisers, and battleships—a range that’s perfect for every playstyle, whether it be an all-guns-blazing approach, more careful and methodical attacks, or tactics that are unique to you. TURN THE TIDE IN EPIC 9V9 BATTLES Join forces with friends to challenge players around the world, and work together across consoles to devise strategies and plan attacks via voice chat. Cooperate to outgun your opponents and Turn the Tide of battle!

I’ve always been passionate about learning how to write for different formats and platforms. I love storytelling that spans across multiple media and story franchises that are able to hold audiences captive through various experiences. And in my journey as a writer, I’ve learned that storytelling is about creating engaging environments, rounded characters, and well-paced plots to reveal compelling stories. 

However, applying good storytelling to different media for different audiences requires different skill sets and understanding. Here are some comparisons I found while working on Road to Guangdong. 

Solitary vs. Social

In book writing, a manuscript doesn’t usually get read by someone else until the first full draft is completed. And even then, it would be seen only by one or two people who are involved with the editing process.

However, game writing requires the writer to be a good team player and not be shy about presenting their work even in very draft form. At every stage of production for Road to Guangdong, I worked closely with the whole team (production, design, art and music) to ensure that the narrative design and the story writing developed in line with all aspects of the game. 

Sequenced vs iterative

Book writing follows a somewhat strict sequence of actions. After a complete draft manuscript is written, it will go through the editorial process where after each edit, the writer will consider the notes and rewrite the manuscript as necessary. Edits are applied to the entire book as a whole each time, which as you can imagine, becomes quite a lengthy process.

In game production, technical developments, design, art, music and writing all need to happen more or less concurrently to keep to fairly tight production schedules. And keeping in mind the close working relationships between teams, game writing becomes an iterative process. What this means is that every bit of writing or development gets reviewed by the team to consider whether it’ll work with the game as a whole before moving on to the next parts. It’s a constant cycle of edits and changes, taking on board comments and feedback from the team, to improve the game while next bits of writing and development are being created. 

Indirect vs Direct (Prose vs Dialogue)

The relationship between the writer and the audience is really interesting and this ties into the required style of writing for the formats. While writing a book, the writer has freedom and scope through writing in prose to do things that might obscure or surprise the reading process. In fact, many book genres favour making the reader work hard to figure out the story. As plain text, prose forces the writer to describe everything and a good writer can do so creatively, but because the engagement is purely with the text, there’s no need to worry about the immersive experience of the reader.

While working on Road to Guangdong, at every point of the game, we had to think about what the player might be experiencing and ensure that they understand what they have to do to advance further. Because games today are so varied and gameplay is becoming more and more intricate, when working on game design, it’s also about applying themes that might be expected in the game’s genre, while adding new ideas that would entertain the player, and still keep to what the game had set out to do in the first place. All of this happens through two types of writing; dialogue that appears in the gameplay; and notes and descriptions that are used in production and design. There is a lot of writing that the player doesn’t read but experiences, and it is this ongoing negotiation between writing while keeping the player in mind that makes the player a core and visible part of the game development process.

Writer’s choice vs Player’s choice

Which brings us to the most important difference: choice. In a book, the writer makes all the choices in the storytelling, leaving the reader to just experience the story through reading. 

However, because gameplay requires that the player make choices that drive the story, the writer’s responsibility here is to ensure that players are able to make meaningful choices. And within these choices, the writer needs to maintain the integrity of the characters and keep within parameters of the plot. In Road to Guangdong, one of my key concerns while writing, was in maintaining Sunny’s character in all the choices presented.

Whether it is about the writing environment, the process, or the audience, I love exploring the differences in writing for different media. However, in every form of writing, I’m always reminded that the ultimate pleasure comes from knowing that the writing is enjoyed by the audience.

Road to Guangdong is out now on Xbox One!

The hit RPG best known for its never-before-seen depth of customization and intense combat is back with exclusive pre-order opportunities on Xbox One!

Kingdoms of Amalur is the brain-child of best-selling author R.A. Salvatore, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion lead designer Ken Rolston. Its original release in 2012 captivated gamers and was soon followed by multiple DLC expansions. Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning delivers the original game plus all existing DLC’s in one package.

For Xbox One players who take advantage of the exclusive FATE Edition pre-order opportunity, all of this content is available at a 10% discount, with 24-hour Early Access and the brand new Kingdoms extension – five hours of story-rich content slated for release in early 2021.

Exploring the sprawling game world that is Amalur on Xbox One with Native 4K support is a true feast for the eyes. From the vibrant city of Rathir to the vast region of Dalentarth to the grim dungeons of Brigand Hall Caverns, players must rescue a world torn apart by a vicious war and control the keys to mortality as the first warrior resurrected from the grips of death. Political intrigue, romance, sinister magic, and even whimsy all await in the rich story that take players on countless sidequests as they battle their way through Amalur.

As in the original, Re-Reckoning’s revolutionary Destiny system allows players to continuously evolve their character class to their preferred gameplay style. Intense, customizable RPG combat allows you to choose from millions of combinations of skills, abilities, weapons and pieces of armor. Magic and melee can be seamlessly integrated into attacks as you take on scores of enemies, finishing them off with brutal Fateshift skills.

It’s time to prepare for a Re-Reckoning in Amalur. Pre-order Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning or Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning FATE Edition today!

I’m happy to share the news on behalf of our studio, The Molasses Flood,that our latest game, Drake Hollow, is finally here. Starting today, you can travel to The Hollow and begin your adventure on Xbox One. This is our newest title, following our studio’s debut release of The Flame in the Flood. And while we’re continually committed to our mission of consistently creating enthralling experiences with tons of heart, you’ll see Drake Hollow heads in a different direction from our first title, with plenty of mysteries up its sleeves.

Drake Hollow is an action village-building game you can play either solo or with friends, and it all takes place in the world of The Hollow – a blighted, mirror of our own world. You’ll quickly realize why you find yourself there (you’ll have to play to find out…), and that the local vegetable folk, the Drakes, need your help. Think of them as lovable, plant goblins. Protect the Drakes while exploring a poisonous, aether-swept landscape of islands for supplies to craft, build and defend your camp. Defending is key. Hordes of feral beasts – real nasties – are out to attack your village of Drakes, and also you. Utilize a unique spread of weapons from tennis rackets, to weed sprayers, to a good ol’ chair leg.

Be prepared for surprise attacks and ambushes while out exploring for essentials. And keep your eyes peeled for other hidden surprises… who knows what, or who, you’ll run into. Mysteries and rewards (as well as all that danger we just talked about) await those curious enough to search every nook and cranny of The Hollow. Your Drakes are hungry, thirsty, and need a place to sleep. They can also – quite literally – die of boredom. Explore the wilderness, set up valuable supply networks to send essentials back to camp (or rail grind on, whatever you’re into), all while keeping your Drakes entertained and happy – think bouncing yoga balls and puppet shows. Continue the fight and eventually, you’ll unravel the peculiar and ancient connection between what lies in The Hollow and our own world back home.

We can’t wait for you to dive in, and hope you enjoy your time in The Hollow.

The Molasses Flood’s Drake Hollow is now available on Xbox One for digital purchase or through Xbox Game Pass. Coming soon to Windows 10 and Steam.

Hello everyone and welcome to your first look at our exciting new turn-based combat strategy shooter, Lemnis Gate! I couldn’t be more thrilled to finally show off all the hard work from everyone here at Ratloop Games Canada.

As you’ll see in the trailer, Lemnis Gate is a mind-altering turn-based strategy shooter where skilful mastery of weapons and abilities meets genius turn-based strategy over several time-bending rounds. It plays a little differently to what you might be used to, so let me explain a bit about how it works…

Our game takes place in a time loop. You have 25 seconds to make your move, whether it’s blasting an enemy, capturing an objective, or defusing a dangerous situation. Your opponent will then take their turn and try to counter your moves (which are now infinitely looping). Round by round, you and your opponent pick different deep-space operatives to throw into the mix, building to an epic climax at the end of the final round where an entire team of your characters faces off against an entire team of your opponents! It’s a fresh, four-dimensional take on a popular genre, which we think you’re going to love.

What’s really interesting about Lemnis Gate is the moment to moment gameplay, the way you think as you play is truly something new. In a regular shooter, your eyes see what’s on screen and you react to what’s happening in that present moment. In Lemnis Gate, you have to consider what happened in the past, what’s happening in the present AND what might happen in the future. It’s four-dimensional combat.

Imagine something simple like a grenade: you throw it into a room and it explodes. In a time loop, unless interfered with, that grenade will go off in THAT room at THAT time the same way over and over until the end of the match.

You can use this to your advantage and anticipate where your opponent might be in the future and throw some well-placed grenades at critical junctions in the map. Your opponent might find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and be obliterated by that same grenade you threw in the past (this is immensely satisfying, by the way!)

But it doesn’t end there! Your opponent, seeking revenge, can then intercept your character BEFORE you threw the grenade, changing the timeline, eliminating that grenade from existence in the first place. This would in turn mean that the opponent’s character killed by your grenade never died! Yes, mind = blown!

Time travel and causality are a core pillar of Lemnis Gate’s gameplay. It’s some pretty mind-bending stuff. You must learn how to perceive time differently and strategize in new ways as you begin your journey towards mastering the game.

There are also many different ways to play. Dive into a match online, execute audacious strategies, master your hero’s abilities, and think several moves ahead to achieve a victory that reverberates across time itself. Or jump into offline play where you can challenge a friend locally sharing the same screen and controller. Get ready to disrupt the past and change the future! Only the smartest will survive.

Lemnis Gate launches in early 2021, and we can’t wait for you to play it.