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SnowRunner Available Today on Xbox One

Get behind the wheel, SnowRunners, there’s work to be done!

The great wilderness of SnowRunner is home to all kinds of jobs, places to discover, and challenges to take on. With this article, we aim to give you a better understanding of what you’ll be doing out there in the mud and snow, besides driving badass trucks!

SnowRunner

The three regions (Alaska, Michigan, and Taymyr) are rugged and harsh, full of beauty and untapped potential. Your role in SnowRunner is as the vanguard, the first in line, taking on contracts for businesses as they try to secure a foothold.

Activities in SnowRunner can be split into four categories: Contracts, Tasks, Challenges, and Exploration.

Contracts

Every region has businesses that require your skills and intrepid spirit. There is a set number of contracts in every region (each made up of several maps), and all the ones you can acquire on a certain map are visible from the get go on the map screen, provided you have uncovered the fog of war in that location.

SnowRunner

Although still visible, some contracts are locked until you meet specific requirements, such as completing a different contract first. These requirements are shown in the contract. Contracts always involve delivering some form of cargo to a specific location, but keep in mind that these deliveries can sometimes take you from one map to another (but not across regions).

Tasks

Tasks are one-time objectives that you discover naturally as you explore the map. When you discover a task, you will get a notification and the task will become visible on your map. There are a variety of tasks that are different from contracted cargo delivery, such as rescuing a stuck vehicle, searching for oil, reaching a special location, and bringing supplies to repair infrastructure or buildings.

SnowRunner

Contests

Entirely optional, contests are timed challenges where a faster completion time equals a better reward. These are accessed in the same way as tasks, through exploring the map, and involve reaching certain locations and delivering cargo. Some of them include special conditions, such as completing them at night, or in first person view, or avoiding damage to your vehicle, and so on.

Exploration

Besides being its own reward, we’ve made sure exploration can lead to other surprises. As you make your way through the snow, mud, hills, swamps, mountains, and forests, you will come across various types of buildings, vehicles, trailers, and even upgrades.

SnowRunner

Watchtowers are spread across the map and will uncover a big chunk of the fog of war when you reach them, revealing things like buildings and upgrades on the map, as well as some kind of tasks. Challenge zones however, will only be discovered and displayed on the map after you have physically approached them.

SnowRunner

The size of SnowRunner’s maps is truly gigantic compared to MudRunner, even if you include all post-launch content. The same goes for the amount of stuff to do – the maps aren’t just bigger, they’re more detailed and crowded with activities.

The Rest is up to You

While SnowRunner features a ton of tailored tasks and challenges, it’s ultimately up to you to play the game in the way you enjoy most. Create your own challenges, race your friends, load your truck with way too much cargo, or have a good old fashioned tug of war using the winch.

The activities we’ve described above, particularly the contracts and tasks, are intended to provide a good flow for players to make their way through the maps naturally, unlocking and discovering new vehicles, buildings, and upgrades as they go. Challenges can spice things up, but are in no way obligatory.

SnowRunner

Your progress, both global and for each map, can be viewed on your driver profile. This shows the number of completed contracts, tasks, challenges, and more, all of which affects your driver rank and badge. You’ll have to achieve a higher driver rank to unlock some trucks and addons, and it’s a good indicator of your overall experience as a driver.

We hope you’ve all enjoyed this look into the activities in SnowRunner. We can’t wait to have you behind the wheel delivering supplies, repairing and building infrastructure, and exploring the wild expanses of SnowRunner. See you in the snow!

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SnowRunner

Focus Home Interactive

51

Xbox One X Enhanced

Get ready for the next-generation off-road experience! SnowRunner puts you in the driver’s seat of powerful vehicles as you conquer extreme open environments with the most advanced terrain simulation ever. Drive 40 vehicles from brands such as Ford, Chevrolet, and Freightliner as you leave your mark on an untamed open world. Overcome mud, torrential waters, snow, and frozen lakes while taking on perilous contracts and missions. Expand and customize your fleet with many upgrades and accessories including an exhaust snorkel for heavy waters or chain tires to battle the snow. Ride solo or with other players in 4-player co-operative! • Face extreme environments in a highly advanced physics engine • 40 unique vehicles to unlock, upgrade, and customize • Complete dozens of challenging missions across an interconnected world • Go solo or play with other players in 4-player co-op

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Xbox Giving NHL Fans a Reason to Cheer with Northern Arena EA Sports NHL 20 Cup

Summary

  • Through a partnership with EA and Northern Arena, Xbox Canada has created a unique way to determine a hockey champion: the NA EA NHL 20 Cup.
  • The tournament will feature the top NHL 20 pros representing all 31 NHL teams for the chance to win a $5,000 (CAD) cash prize.
  • Hockey fans can follow along on Mixer.com/XboxCanada.

In April, hockey fans (such as myself) would typically be cheering on our favourite NHL team as they head into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Personally, I’ve been waiting 53 years for Toronto to sip from the Cup… However, with the suspended NHL season, we’re all craving that breakaway excitement.

For those missing their favourite teams, we’re excited to announce that Xbox Canada has partnered with EA Sports and Northern Arena to bring hockey back to your living room with the Northern Arena EA Sports NHL 20 Cup. This month-long tournament will feature the top NHL 20 pros representing all 31 NHL teams for the chance to win a $5,000 (CAD) cash prize.

An all-star broadcast team featuring Arda Ocal, Nicco Cardarelli, Luca Rosano, and Michael Viens will call the game, with esports athletes such as JohnWayne (Washington Capitals), Nuge (Boston Bruins), and Bonesondemand (Toronto Maple Leafs) battling it out every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to determine who will hoist the NA EA NHL 20 Cup.

Tune in to catch the playoffs live on Xbox Canada’s Mixer channel, GinxTV, and Northern Arena Twitch channels from 6 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30. For full standings and the most up to date leaderboard, check out NANHL20Cup.com and follow Xbox Canada on Twitter.

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NHL® 20

Electronic Arts

215

Xbox One X Enhanced
Free Trial

NHL® 20 introduces cutting-edge gameplay innovation to showcase your skills, more customization to unlock your style, and new modes to compete with friends. RPM Tech-powered gameplay introduces Signature Shots that replicate your favorite NHL players’ real-world shot styles. Over 45 new shot animations make every attack a threat, and new passing and puck pick-ups create faster, fluid gameplay executed at full speed. A revamped broadcast package delivers all-new visuals and commentary. Combined with over 1,100 new customization items for your club and character, your biggest goals look incredible during the action and in the highlight reel. Finally, NHL 20 adds three new game modes. HUT Squad Battles features weekly teams, built by athletes and artists, to challenge for unique rewards. The fan-favorite ONES can now be played with friends on the couch, and the all-new Eliminator mode in World of CHEL introduces winner-take-all competition where you and your friends compete to be the best in the barn. CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY. SEE https://www.ea.com/legal FOR DETAILS. NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2019. All Rights Reserved. Officially Licensed Product of the National Hockey League.

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This Week on Xbox: April 24, 2020

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!


Fortnite

Fortnite and Travis Scott Present: Astronomical – Watch on Xbox One April 23 to 25
The newest member of the Icon Series, Travis Scott, blasts off in Fortnite: Astronomical, a must-see concert event that can be experienced by Xbox One players around the globe from April 23 to April 25. Check out the full show dates below… Read more

Free Play Days – Bleeding Edge, Madden NFL 20, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
Settle in and enjoy another exciting Free Play Days lineup this weekend for Xbox Live Gold members. Enjoy a batch of hard-hitting games like Bleeding EdgeMadden NFL 20, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4Read more

Red Dead Redemption 2 Key Art

Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for Console: Red Dead Redemption 2
You read that title correctly, we’ve got some big news for you coming from the wild, wild (Pacific North) West. Coming on May 7 to Xbox Game Pass for Console: Red Dead Redemption 2. Winner of over 175 Game of the Year Awards… Read more

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition – Survival Tips for First-Time Zee-Captains
The ‘Unterzee’ is the name of the murky, underground ocean in developer Failbetter Games’ highly acclaimed Gothic RPG, Sunless Sea. It’s a vast, unforgiving realm and I wish I could say my maiden voyage on its mysterious waters… Read more

United Nations Foundation and GlobalGiving

Donate to the United Nations Foundation and GlobalGiving by Playing Xbox
Everyone is looking for ways to give back, to support charities and organizations that are making a difference in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. We are so encouraged by the part Xbox gamers have already… Read more

New Smite Update: Baba Yaga Conjures Chaos in the Battleground of the Gods
The highly anticipated Slavic Goddess, Baba Yaga, joins the Smite roster in the Witch of the Woods Update – available now on Xbox One. Sometimes she is cruel and sometimes kind. But two things stay constant: Baba Yaga is… Read more

Deliver Us The Moon

5 Things to Make You Feel Like an Astronaut in Deliver Us The Moon
Deliver Us The Moon tells a sobering tale about a possible future – one in which resources on Earth have run out. Set in the middle of the 21st century, the game sees players embark on a one-of-kind journey as they become… Read more

Quest Hunter is Available Now on Xbox One
Hi! My name’s Dmitry. I’m one of the Quest Hunter developers. My little daughter came up to me while I was testing a new chapter of the game and asked: “What kind of witch is that?” or “Daddy, who’s this knight?” and… Read more

Cyberpunk 2077 Key Art

Own a Rare Piece of Night City with New Xbox One X Cyberpunk 2077 Bundle
Fusing deep, multi-faceted role-playing features with riveting action gameplay, Cyberpunk 2077 is a futuristic action adventure from CD Projekt Red, the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. While we wait in anticipation for the… Read more

Starting Today, Borderlands 3 Goes ‘80s with Latest Free Event
You don’t know it yet, but you’re about to turn Joey Ultraviolet’s criminal underworld upside down. See, Borderlands 3’s latest free, time-limited event – Revenge of the Cartels – revolves around an Eridium cartel composed of three… Read more

Most Relaxing Games Hero Image

The Most Relaxing Games on Xbox Game Pass
There’s over 100 games to pick from with Xbox Game Pass on console and PC. While we love a competitive, white knuckle shooter as much as the next gamer (and we highly recommend Rage 2 for that particular urge), sometimes you… Read more

Hit Survival Game Stranded Deep Available Now on Xbox One
Today, Beam Team Games is excited to announce Stranded Deep is now available on Xbox One. The highly anticipated launch brings this action adventure survival game to console for the first time. In Stranded Deep, you take… Read more

World of Tanks: Valor

Join the Most Rewarding Season Yet with World of Tanks: Valor on Xbox One
Back in 2016, World of Tanks launched its first-ever Earn Op with the “Fight for the Motherland” Operation, and it was a resounding success. The coveted, console-exclusive Motherland T-54 Prototype was up for grabs… Read more

Three Bright Adventure Stories in Braveland Trilogy’s Turn-based Strategy Game
Braveland Trilogy is a set of three Braveland turn-based strategy games inspired by classics such as Heroes of Might & Magic and King’s Bounty. The Xbox One contains a unique Survival game mode, where you will gather a random… Read more

Next Week on Xbox Hero Image

Next Week on Xbox: April 28 to May 1
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One and Windows 10 PC! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console… Read more

Behind the Design Process of Gato Roboto, Available Today with Xbox Game Pass
Hey, y’all!  It’s your second favorite Doink, Cullen, writing to you from the basement that Devolver Digital keeps me locked in. I wanted to tell you a bit about the design process of Gato Roboto which is available today with Xbox Game Pass… Read more

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Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition – Survival Tips for First-Time Zee-Captains

The ‘Unterzee’ is the name of the murky, underground ocean in developer Failbetter Games’ highly acclaimed Gothic RPG, Sunless Sea. It’s a vast, unforgiving realm and I wish I could say my maiden voyage on its mysterious waters had been a successful one, but it was not. It was a total disaster.

No sooner had I set sail from the port of Fallen London and my vessel was battered to death by a giant – and very unreasonable – crab. This unfortunate event was quickly followed by several more short-lived expeditions, all ending with the captain and crew sinking to the bottom of the big subterranean blue like very dead stones.

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition

Each ill-fated tour of Sunless Sea’s bleak, briny world taught me a valuable lesson – the Unterzee can be a cruel, unforgiving place for new captains. So, now that Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition has arrived on Xbox One, here are some valuable pointers to help steer you on a steadier course for survival.

Accept and embrace death

As you may have deduced already, your first forays in Sunless Sea will almost certainly end badly for you i.e. you will die. And while it does, admittedly, seem a little weird to be offering ‘embrace death’ as a survival tip, it doesn’t alter the fact that dying brings its own valuable lessons that will, ultimately, increase your chances of survival on subsequent voyages. In the long-run, dying can save your life.

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition

Think of your initial and inevitably ill-fated attempts as rehearsals. With this in mind, don’t worry too much about taking time to create your captains – choose the ‘Path Wreathed in Shadows’ option to get straight to a new adventure. If/when you do manage to keep a captain alive for a significant length of time, you can always build their character with ambitions and a backstory later in the game. 

Save yourself! (with manual saves)

Highly recommended for first-time zee-farers is manual saving, which can be done in the options menu whenever you’re docked. Doing this activates ‘Merciful Mode’, which disables permadeath, so when you die it’s not a complete ordeal of having to start over again from scratch. You do lose an end of game bonus by saving manually, but seriously, when first setting out, only the foolhardiest captains would entertain the idea of permadeath.

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition

If you insist on being a foolhardy captain who wants to dance with permadeath from the outset, it’s worth noting that when you do inevitably perish (and you will), you can at least choose some of the deceased captain’s stats, money or crew to carry over to your next voyage.

Get familiar with Fallen London

You begin each new voyage docked in Fallen London and it will be a frequent port of call throughout your adventure. It’s where you repair your ship; recruit new officers and zailors; buy and sell provisions and commodities; report to the Admiralty; and much more.

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition

Before you even think of launching into the wide blue yonder, get well acquainted with the people and places of Fallen London. It will be time well spent.

Caution is a new captain’s best friend

Out on the Unterzee, premature daringness quickly leads to premature deadness. While you’re still wet behind the ears, be wary and play it safe. Don’t attempt to explore too far from the relative safety of Fallen London.

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition

Ease yourself in with some low-risk tasks, such as gathering port reports for the Admiralty, or delivering goods or passengers to their requested destinations (opportunities like this can always be found in Fallen London when starting out). And pick your early battles carefully – get the feel for combat by practicing on low-level foes.

Learn the language

With its minimal hand-holding, strange terminology, and myriad systems and stats, Sunless Sea can, at times, feel a little daunting. If you’re struggling to wrap your head around certain aspects, take time to peruse the Gazetteer, which you can consult at any time by pressing ‘X’.

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition

‘Advice For Captains’ (on the ‘Story’ tab), has plenty of vital information, and should be considered essential reading. Also, take note of the hover text that appears as you highlight different parts of the Gazetteer – it provides extra info on pretty much everything, from icons and items, to objectives and curiosities.

Good luck and may the winds of fortune sail you!

Xbox LiveXbox Live

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition

Digerati

2

$19.99 $15.99

“LOSE YOUR MIND. EAT YOUR CREW. DIE. Take the helm of your steamship in a Victorian Gothic roleplaying game of discovery, loneliness and frequent death. Find your father’s bones. Determine London’s destiny. Defy the gods of the deep sea. Build up your story across generations of zailors who braved the sea and lost Real-time combat against ships and Zee-beasts, spider-crewed dreadnoughts and sentient icebergs Stray too far from civilization and your crew will grow fearful and eventually lose their sanity Upgrade your steamship with powerful engines, cannons and pneumatic torpedo guns Hire unique officers, each with their own story Discover the treasures the zee has claimed Choose a ship’s mascot Trade or smuggle silk and souls Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition includes the base game and the extensive underwater expansion.”

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New Smite Update: Baba Yaga Conjures Chaos in the Battleground of the Gods

The highly anticipated Slavic Goddess, Baba Yaga, joins the Smite roster in the Witch of the Woods Update – available now on Xbox One. Sometimes she is cruel and sometimes kind. But two things stay constant: Baba Yaga is cunning and unpredictable.

Dwelling deep in the woods, Baba Yaga lives in a house atop gnarled chicken legs, adorned with human skulls. Travelers seek her in hopes for power, freedom, or influence but there is always a price that must be paid for her aid. If you are foolish enough to seek Baba Yaga, know that she might punish you, aid you, or both just for her own amusement. And sometimes, very rarely, she helps without harm. In Smite’s lore, Mulan seeks out the powerful witch in hopes to find the cause of the strange corruption happening in the universe. Only time will tell if Baba Yaga is friend, foe, or quite possibly neither.

Smite Update: Baba Yaga

When creating Baba Yaga’s kit, we wanted to really stay true to her personality traits and folklore themes. Her personality can be described as chaotic neutral which means she can help, hurt, sometimes both, or neither. Her unpredictable nature is showcased brilliantly in her first ability, Wild Witchcraft. Baba Yaga throws forward magic that follows a random path, leaving behind magical fields on the ground. The magical fields add gameplay effects that can potentially help teammates, or hurt enemy teams. Only Baba Yaga will know the next path and effect, leaving enemy teams uneasy on the Battleground.

At her core, Baba Yaga is a powerful and scary witch who uses her mortar and pestle to create a wide array of potions and spells. We showcase this in the ability “Baba’s Brew,” where Baba Yaga throws together random ingredients to brew a Potion. Each ingredient applies a different effect to the potion. Again, this ability shows the unpredictable nature of Baba Yaga’s witchcraft.

Smite Update: Baba Yaga

One huge part of Baba Yaga’s lore is her strange cabin with chicken legs. To really stick true to the folklore that still brings shivers today, we needed to include the cabin to her kit. As terrifying as the hut may look, for Baba Yaga it acts as an in-game home away from home, providing her with healing and other benefits. Yet the mistress herself doesn’t fully control her cabin, which erratically paces around with delightfully unsettling animations. When using her ultimate ability, Baba Yaga’s cabin will crash onto her and launch nearby enemies away. Baba Yaga will then command the cabin, throwing Witchfire onto the Battleground.

Baba Yaga has by far been the most requested God by the Smite community. We’re truly thankful to have such a supportive community that will bring amazing ideas to our attention. I hope you all enjoy playing as Baba Yaga and we’ll see you on the Battleground!

Xbox Live

SMITE

Hi-Rez Studios

1323

Xbox One X Enhanced

Enter the Battleground of the Gods Join 35+ million players in SMITE, the world’s most popular action multiplayer online battle arena. Become a legend of myth, enter the Battleground of the Gods, and play FREE now! 100+ Gods Unleash each deity’s unique strategies, legendary weapons, and earth-shattering powers. Rain lightning down upon your foes as Zeus, assassinate from the shadows as Loki, or transform and trick your foes as the Monkey King, Sun Wukong. Which God will you choose? Unique Perspective Unlike other MOBAs, SMITE puts you directly onto the battlefield with a third-person action viewpoint. From blind-side ambushes to aimed shots, a new pantheon of strategic possibilities awaits. Become Godlike Never played a battle arena before? Don’t worry. Auto-buy, auto-level, and the deathmatch-like Arena mode let you jump right into divine MOBA action. Aspiring pro? Top the ladders, join a competitive team, and you too could be playing at the SMITE World Championship. © 2012 – 2020 Hi-Rez Studios, Inc. “SMITE”, “Battleground of the Gods”, “Titan Forge Games”, and “Hi-Rez Studios” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Hi-Rez Studios, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All trademarks and copyright material are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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Starting Today, Borderlands 3 Goes ‘80s with Latest Free Event

Summary

  • The Revenge of the Cartels free seasonal event starts today and runs through June 4.
  • Revenge of the Cartels delivers fresh enemies and areas, as well as limited-time challenges and loot.
  • End-game overhaul “Mayhem Mode 2.0” also arrives today in Borderlands 3.

You don’t know it yet, but you’re about to turn Joey Ultraviolet’s criminal underworld upside down. See, Borderlands 3’s latest free, time-limited event – Revenge of the Cartels – revolves around an Eridium cartel composed of three distinct gangs and controlled by the ruthless Joey Ultraviolet. Over the course of the next six weeks, you’re going to kick his ass. A lot.

Starting today, you’ll notice Cartel operatives causing trouble all across the Borderlands, including areas found in each of the game’s campaign add-ons. When you take down one of these operatives, two things will happen: first, a wave of Cartel Thugs will warp in to avenge their fallen comrade – and they might even bring a unique, Badass-level Underboss with them. If you successfully eliminate these reinforcements, you’ll collect some Hideout Coordinates.

Borderlands 3 - Revenge of the Cartels

Collect enough coordinates and your scaly shipmate Maurice (remember him from Bloody Harvest?) will be able to warp you to Joey Ultraviolet’s from his neon-soaked tropical hideout, a new discrete area added specifically for Revenge of the Cartels. There you’ll face not only Joey himself but also waves of enemies from one of three Cartel gangs: the tech-obsessed cyborgs of CryptoSec, the meat-charring debt collectors of The Burnt Ends, or the Eridium dust runners known as The Purpatrators.

Each gang sports its own distinctive look, offers a unique roster of Underbosses, and most importantly, enjoys its own Legendary loot pool. Naturally, we recommend paying Joey multiple visits to increase your chances of snagging every hot new Legendary item. Thankfully, you’ll never face the same gang twice in a row, so the first thing you’ll want to do after leaving Joey’s glitzy mansion is start collecting coordinates for your next trip. Be sure to collect all the best gear before the event ends on June 4 or you might miss out!

Borderlands 3 - Revenge of the Cartels

Oh, and if Legendary gear isn’t enough to convince you, how about some cool event-specific cosmetics? Revenge of the Cartels introduces a set of 18 limited-time Challenges you can only complete while the event is live. Be sure to track your progress via the event tab in your ECHO Device menu to make sure you’re hitting your goals. Here’s a look at what’s available:

  • 3 Challenges: ‘VECH-tor Graphics’ ECHO Device Skin
  • 6 Challenges: ‘Retro Outrunner’ Weapon Trinket
  • 10 Challenges: ‘Framed Firewall’ Room Decoration
  • 14 Challenges: ‘Hotline Pandora’ Vault Hunter Head
  • 18 Challenges: ‘Death by Filigrees’ Vault Hunter Skin

With all of that said, you can always opt out of the event if you’d prefer to just play the game as you normally would. But with an all-new area, fresh enemy types, limited-time Challenges, and of course, tons of new gear, we hope you consider opting back in later. Just remember: Revenge of the Cartels starts today but ends on June 4.

Borderlands 3 - Revenge of the Cartels

Before we go, we wanted to mention one more thing for all you high-level players out there: Mayhem Mode 2.0 is now live! That’s right, we’ve completely overhauled Borderlands 3’s end-game to create a more enduring and rewarding experience. If you’re a high-level player looking for a reason to jump back in, you can read more on borderlands.com.

Between Mayhem 2.0, Revenge of the Cartels, Borderlands Science, our ongoing mini-events, and next month’s Guardian Takedown, there’s really never been a better time to jump in and enjoy Borderlands 3. We hope to see you out there, Vault Hunter!

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Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta Ring (2005.200418-0000)

Hey Beta ring users! Today’s Xbox Insider Release Notes highlight the latest fixes, known issues, and features coming to your console. Starting at 2 p.m. PT today, users will receive the latest 2005 Xbox One system update (build: RS_XBOX_RELEASE_2005\19041.2388.200418-0000). Keep reading for more details.

System Update Details:

  • OS version released: RS_XBOX_RELEASE_2005\19041.2388.200418-0000
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – April 22, 2020
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – April 23, 2020

System Update

Fixes for Beta

We’ve heard your feedback, and we’re happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this 2005 build:

System

  • Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.

Xbox Insider Release Notes

Known Issues for Beta

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

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.

Game DVR

  • Some users have reported that their clips are not recording the full length requested. This is being reported for 4K clips and non-4K clips. We are aware and investigating.

Guide

  • Some users are reporting that they are not seeing Gamerpics or Profile information in the Friends tab.  We are aware of the issue and investigating.
  • We’ve received reports that the Friends tab is not showing the correct status of online/offline friends.

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.

Store

  • Users have reported the game artwork in the Game Pass section is not sized/displayed correctly. We are aware and investigating.

Profile Color

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

Are you not seeing your issue listed above? 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. Learn more about feedback and how each ring is differentiated in the following links: For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter and join the community subreddit for support and updates. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox One Update Preview ring!

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Hit Survival Game Stranded Deep Available Now on Xbox One

Summary

  • Stranded Deep from Beam Team Games is arriving today on Xbox One.
  • Navigate the elements, build shelters and weapons to stave off threatening creatures, and survive in an unforgiving, open world adventure.
  • Explore. Build. Survive. And for the first time ever… Escape.

Today, Beam Team Games is excited to announce Stranded Deep is now available on Xbox One. The highly anticipated launch brings this action adventure survival game to console for the first time.  

In Stranded Deep, you take on the role of a plane crash survivor stranded somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Explore underwater and island environments as you hunt for supplies to craft the tools, weapons, and shelter you’ll need to stay alive. And now, for the first time, you can escape the island — only on console.

Stranded Deep

Experience terrifying encounters against sharks, giant squid and other sea creatures. Defend against attacks on land from wild boar, snakes and other native threats. Creatures are not the only threat: hunger, thirst, and exposure conspire against you as you brave treacherous elements. With a different experience every time you play, you’ll need to stay sharp to stay alive. Can you live long enough to make your escape?

The game was to be published by the original Telltale Games prior to the company’s closure. (The new Telltale Games started its operations last year). Stranded Deep for Xbox One was in publishing limbo for over a year. Beam Team Games finally acquired the rights back for the game and partnered with North Beach Games to bring the game to Xbox One. Beam Team are very thankful to all of the fans of the game that stuck with them during this process and hope they enjoy playing the game… and experiencing for the first time the escape!

Check out the new Console Launch Trailer in this blog post to see the latest footage of the game, including environments, shelters, weapons, and creatures. Or better yet, download Stranded Deep today from the Microsoft Store.

Xbox Live

Stranded Deep

Beam Team Publishing

44

TEST YOUR SURVIVAL SKILLS IN THIS OPEN WORLD ADVENTURE In the aftermath of a mysterious plane crash, you are stranded in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Alone, without any means to call for help, you must do what you can to survive. BUILD. CRAFT. SURVIVE. ESCAPE. Explore underwater and on land as you hunt for supplies to craft the tools, weapons, and shelter you’ll need to stay alive. Stay sharp: hunger, thirst, and exposure conspire against you as you brave treacherous elements and the dangerous creatures of the Pacific. Live long enough, Stay Alive!

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Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead Ring (2005.200418-0000)

Hey Alpha Skip-Ahead ring users! Today’s Xbox Insider Release Notes highlight the latest fixes, known issues, and features coming to your console. Starting at 2 p.m. PT today, users will receive the latest 2005 Xbox One system update (build: RS_XBOX_RELEASE_2005\19041.2388.200418-0000). Keep reading for more details.

System Update Details:

  • OS version released: RS_XBOX_RELEASE_2005\19041.2388.200418-0000
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – April 20, 2020
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – April 21, 2020

System Update

Fixes for Alpha Skip-Ahead

We’ve heard your feedback, and we’re happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this 2005 build:

System

  • Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.

Xbox Insider Release Notes

Known Issues for Alpha Skip-Ahead

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

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.

Game DVR

  • Some users have reported that their clips are not recording the full length requested. This is being reported for 4K clips and non-4K clips. We are aware and investigating.

Guide

  • Some users are reporting that they are not seeing Gamerpics or Profile information in the Friends tab.  We are aware of the issue and investigating.
  • We’ve received reports that the Friends tab is not showing the correct status of online/offline friends.

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.

Store

  • Users have reported the game artwork in the Game Pass section is not sized/displayed correctly. We are aware and investigating.

Profile Color

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

Are you not seeing your issue listed above? 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. Learn more about feedback and how each ring is differentiated in the following links: For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter and join the community subreddit for support and updates. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox One Update Preview ring!

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This Week on Xbox: April 17, 2020

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!


Free to Play Hero image

Our Favorite Free-to-Play Games on Xbox One
With everything going on these days, there are plenty of reasons to take a look at the free-to-play library on Xbox One. Whether you’re gaming on a budget, want to get together online with friends, or just want to try out something new… Read more

Journey to the Savage Planet: Hot Garbage DLC Available Now on Xbox One
Want to spend a weekend in the tropics? Do you mind if it’s in a different part of the galaxy and the beaches are covered with industrial toxic waste? No? Then you won’t mind the murderous robots and bizarrely dangerous heights… Read more

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Gears Tactics Launch Trailer Debuts; Pre-Load Today on PC
We’re two weeks away from Gears Tactics bringing the fast pace, visceral action and trademark executions of the Gears franchise to the turn-based strategy genre on PC., To ensure you and your squad are ready to get boots… Read more

New Event and Episode Available in DCUO: Birds of Prey
Greetings heroes and villains! Today, a new team of superheroes soars into DC Universe Online with our new event and episode: Birds of Prey. An unhinged Lex Luther is threatening Metropolis with an unruly cast of supervillains to reign supreme… Read more

Space Engineers

Unleash Your Need to Create: Space Engineers is Available Now on Xbox One
Hello, Engineers! Finally, after five years and more than four million copies sold on PC, the waiting is over. Starting today, you can play Space Engineers on Xbox One! Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered and gave us valuable feedback… Read more

Convoy: A Tactical Roguelike Available Now on Xbox One
After nearly five years on PC, the indie smash-hit Convoy: A Tactical Roguelike is rolling out on Xbox One! This is our first release on any platform other than PC, and we’ve taken a lot of care to optimize the experience for controllers… Read more

Little Hope

Announcing Little Hope, the Next Game in The Dark Pictures Anthology
I’m hugely excited to speak to you today about Little Hope, the next game in The Dark Pictures Anthology, which will be available this Summer for Xbox One. As you may know The Dark Pictures Anthology is a series of intense… Read more

Generation Zero Turns One
Hello there! I’m here to welcome you to the 1st Anniversary of Generation Zero! To celebrate, we’ve updated the game with a bunch of new features that we hope you’ll enjoy. Quickly, a little about the game for those of you who are… Read more

Free Play Days - April 16

Free Play Days – F1 2019 and Warhammer: Chaosbane
Defeat your rivals on the track in F1 2019 or rise up and battle the Chaos hordes in Warhammer: Chaosbane this weekend with Free Play Days. Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can play these two titles for free… Read more

Party Game Save Your Nuts Scampers to Xbox One Today
Our indie game studio Triple Scale Games is proud to announce today that our eight-player couch and online party game Save Your Nuts is out now on Xbox One. A free demo is already available for you to play through the tutorial and… Read more

Xbox Game Pass - PC

Gears Tactics, The Long Dark, Machinarium, and More Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta)
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been getting some extra game time in recently and could use something new to spice up my gaming queue (because you can’t just play in order that you saw the games, that’d be silly). Luckily, that’s literally our jobs here… Read more

Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York Now Available on Xbox One
Hi, my name is Kris, and I’m the lead designer on Coteries of New York. It is with great pleasure that we can finally announce the game is now available on Xbox One – in fact, it’s the first Vampire: The Masquerade game to be… Read more

Xbox Game Pass - Console

Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for Console: The Long Dark, Deliver Us The Moon, Gato Roboto, and More
I know it feels like we were just here, sharing the new games, new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks – that’s not déjà vu (or that none of us understand the passage of time anymore). We’re back because we have even more games… Read more

Fallout 76: Wastelanders Now Available on Xbox One
Explore Appalachia in Fallout 76 in a completely new way starting today with the worldwide launch of the Wastelanders expansion. All Xbox One players who own the base game can download Wastelanders for free right now… Read more

World of Tanks: Valor Key Art

First Details on World of Tanks: Valor
Are you ready for a challenge? The next major milestone in World of Tanks on console is coming, with bigger rewards than ever! We’re ready to learn about all this and more as we sit down for an interview with… Read more

Bus Simulator Expands Game World and Content with Official Map Extension DLC
As Bus Simulator is still driving on the winning street on Xbox One, we are thrilled to launch a major DLC today that will add a host of new content to the main game. We have extended the main game’s map of Seaside Valley by a huge… Read more

Overwatch

Fly Your Team to Victory as Overwatch’s Newest Hero, Echo, Now Available on Xbox One
Beginning today, Echo joins the Overwatch lineup as the 32nd playable hero. With the ability to fly and duplicate enemies’ skillsets, Echo brings innovative gameplay possibilities to the battlefield. During her time at Overwatch… Read more

World of Warships: Legends is One Year Strong on Xbox One
World of Warships: Legends is celebrating its first mini-anniversary by bringing players rows of content for any kind of captain. First there are the celebration activities where players are bound to get a whole lot of stuff for playing as many ships… Read more

Next Week on Xbox - Hero Image

Next Week on Xbox: April 21 to 24
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One and Windows 10 PC! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console… Read more