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Valfaris: 5 Reasons It’s the Heaviest Metaliest Game of the Year

Summary

  • Set in a far corner of space, Valfaris is a heavy metal infused 2D action-platformer and the next game from the team behind Slain: Back From Hell
  • Explore a diverse range of tainted environments as you venture ever deeper into the dark world of Valfaris
  • Full of brutal combat, deadly enemies, stunning pixel art, and a savage soundtrack

If you like your gaming experiences loud and over-the-top (and excellent), then you’re in luck – Valfaris, the heavy metal action-platformer, is available to download today for Xbox One on the Microsoft Store.

With its heady mix of relentless
run-and-gun thrills and rowdy ear-blistering riffs, here are five reasons why Valfaris
is the heaviest metaliest game of the year.

1. There’s a gun that fires tormented
souls (and 18 other extremely metal weapons to play with)

Sure, bullets are fine and everything, but shooting
tormented souls at your enemies? That’s metal. And the Hellwraith, one of
Valfaris’ Destroyer-class heavy weapons, does exactly that. In addition to
spitting tortured spirits at foes, the Hellwraith – which is a rapid-fire
Gatling gun style killamajig – also drips blood from its sizzling-hot muzzle.

Valfaris

And the fun doesn’t stop with the Hellwraith.
A total of 19 outlandish weapons are waiting to be played with, including the
Bringer of Mayhem (fires a plasma beam capable of combusting the internal
organs of multiple enemies), the Wolf Light (slowly cooks its target until they
burst, releasing spirit wolf heads that attack other enemies), and the Jelly
Whip (a fleshy weapon made for flagellation).

2. The soundtrack! Also, headbanging!

It can’t be heavy metal without a heavy metal soundtrack, right!? Valfaris obliges with an original score composed by former Celtic Frost guitarist, Curt Victor Bryant. Having previously worked on the Slain: Back From Hell soundtrack (the first game from Valfaris developer, Steel Mantis), Curt returns with 20 rad tracks, including “Torture March,” “Abysmal Souls,” “Birth of a New Death,” and “Lost in Time” (which you can hear in the trailer at the top of the page).

Valfaris

And you can’t have heavy metal without a little headbanging, right!? Valfaris delivers on that front as well – every time you collect a new weapon, Therion, the game’s long-haired hero, performs a celebratory headbang!

Bonus fun fact: There’s a weapon in Valfaris called Hellhammer, which also happens to be what Celtic Frost was originally called when they first formed.

3. You fight a bio-mechanical snake called Hell Cobra that lives in a toxic swamp and breathes fire (and it’s only a mini-boss!!!)

The fact the cybernetic pyromaniac Hello Cobra only holds the rank of mini-boss gives you an idea of how excessively metal a foe needs to be in order to qualify as a proper big boss in Valfaris. For example, Itnan – the big boss of The Tombs level – is armed with a ridiculously over-sized railgun, lives in a coffin, wears skull boots, and can transform into a swarm of bugs.

Valfaris

Then there’s Furrok, a big boss and warrior hulk that’s clad in gold and black armor who attacks with a pair of enormous flaming hammers that are mighty enough to give Thor an inferiority complex. In total, there are over 70 different types of enemy (spread across basic, elite, mini-bosses, and bosses) to terminate with extreme prejudice.

4. You get to stomp about in a skull-headed
mech

Nothing screams heavy metal quite like trampling
over hapless enemies in a literal hunk of, erm, heavy metal. Piloting an Exterminator
Mech is a lot of cathartic fun. The mechanical colossus is fully weaponised and
capable of causing maximum carnage.

Valfaris

The Exterminator is equipped with a triple-whammy of deadly weapons. There’s a head-mounted Soulwraith gun that can blast enemies into itty-bits in an instant, a Star Fist melee weapon ideal for reducing hostiles to mucky puddles of guts, and a plasma incendiary called Soul Thrower that’s a fun way to flambé foes.

5. Full Metal Mode is on the way with
even more metal

If you’ve got the mettle to complete Valfaris then buckle-up for an even bigger challenge! Developer Steel Mantis is currently working on a New Game+ mode called, appropriately enough, Full Metal mode. It will be released as a free update in the not-too-distant future and will be automatically unlocked if you’ve got a Game Clear save file.

Valfaris

In Full Metal mode, enemies and bosses are tougher and more aggressive, and you take more damage when hit. However, to help even the odds, all your weapons, upgrades, and upgrade items are carried over, which means you’re beefed up right from the outset. You also get a devastating new Destroyer class weapon to play with. But make no mistake about it, Full Metal mode is going to be hardcore!

Valfaris is available to download now for Xbox One via the Microsoft Store. Good luck and keep it metal!

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This Week on Xbox: November 15, 2019

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!

X019: Rare Announce Its New IP and Share Details on the Next Sea of Thieves Update
Even for a studio with as long and rich a legacy as Rare, today has been a special day. At this evening’s X019 event in London, we were able to share with fans some of the incredible things that the different teams at Rare have been working on…

X019: Team Up and Cause Chaos: Bleeding Edge Launches with Xbox Game Pass on March 24
Today at X019, we were excited to share that Bleeding Edge, our 4v4 online team brawler, will launch on March 24, 2020 with Xbox Game Pass as well as for purchase at $29.99 / €29.99 / £24.99! During Inside Xbox, we also showed off our latest trailer…

Project XCloud Hero Image

X019: Expanding Project xCloud with More Games, More Ways to Play, and More Players
Today we crossed our one-month milestone for the Project xCloud preview. A huge thank you to participants in Korea, UK, & US for the incredibly valuable insights that help us shape the cloud gaming experience. We’ve loved hearing anecdotes…

X019: Announcing Tell Me Why, the Newest Narrative Adventure Game from DONTNOD Entertainment
This year at X019 in London, Xbox Games Studios was proud to unveil Tell Me Why, a gripping, true-to-life narrative adventure coming to Xbox One, Windows 10 PC, Xbox Game Pass and Steam starting Summer 2020. Tell Me Why is the next title…

Black Friday IX Hero image

X019: The Complete Lineup of Xbox Black Friday Deals: Bundles, Xbox Game Pass, Games, Accessories and More
It’s that time of year again – Thanksgiving is around the corner and the holidays are just weeks away. At Xbox, we take gift-giving seriously, and we know how important it is to not only share gifts that your friends or family will love, but to receive maximum…

X019: Age of Empires IV, World’s Edge, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Out Now
Wololo! Today marks another milestone in the journey of the Age of Empires franchise at X019 in London. Earlier this year, we announced that Age of Empires now has a dedicated studio as part of the Xbox Game Studios family. Today, we unveiled…

Yakuza

X019: Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 Coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2020
We’re happy to announce that SEGA / Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s Yakuza series is headed to Xbox One and Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2  (the first three titles in the series, chronologically) will be available on the Microsoft Store and with…

X019: The Falconeer Soars to Xbox One Next Year
The Falconeer, created by independent developer Tomas Sala, will be flying to Xbox One in 2020! We’re excited for fans to experience The Falconeer, a true gem that will set the bar for what indies can offer games. From the beginning, we’ve been enamored with this…

Microsoft Flight Simulator

X019: Microsoft Flight Simulator Reveals First Wave of Aircraft Partnerships
At X019, we’re thrilled to reveal many of the great aircraft manufacturers we are partnering with to make Microsoft Flight Simulator the most realistic flight simulation yet. As you saw in our new trailer, we have a broad range of aircraft, including commercial…

X019: Celebrate Minecraft Earth Rollout in Real Life in NYC, London and Sydney This Month
Since announcing Minecraft Earth as part of Minecraft’s 10-year birthday in May, releasing the closed beta in July, and now rolling the game out in early access, the excitement for our newest game is starting to feel very real. In celebration of the game’s…

Kingdom Hearts Key Art

X019: Classic Games in Kingdom Hearts Saga Come to Xbox One
If you’re a fan of Disney, Final Fantasy, or RPGs, get ready – we have a lot of very exciting news to share. Like… a lot. During the Microsoft X019 event in London, we announced that the full Kingdom Hearts saga is making its way to Xbox One in 2020…

X019: Xbox Game Studios and Obsidian Entertainment Announce Grounded, Available in 2020
During X019 in London, Xbox Game Studios and Obsidian Entertainment today announced Grounded, a new first-person, co-op survival game coming Spring 2020 to Xbox One digitally through Xbox Game Preview and with Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft Store…

X019: CrossfireX: The Journey to Bring One of the World’s Biggest Games to Console
At the E3 Media Briefing this year I was surprised to hear Phil Spencer’s announcement about CrossfireX, a first-person shooter coming exclusively to Xbox consoles in 2020 and the first console version of one of the most played PC games in the world…

X019: The Legendary PC Racing Game, KartRider: Drift, Coming Soon to Xbox One
When KartRider released in 2004, we hoped it would perform well, but we couldn’t have anticipated what a massive hit it would become. The game has now been around for over 15 years, amassed over 380 million players in Asia, and grown to become an eSports…

X019 Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass at X019: Announcing Over 50 New Games, and Ultimate Holiday Offer
Hi friends! I know we’re not ready for the holidays to be here just yet, but I have been holding this news in for so long that I can’t wait any longer to share it with you. We have so many­ good games, and some unbelievably amazing partnerships…

November 2019 Xbox One Update Brings Xbox Action for the Google Assistant, Gamertag Updates, Text Filters and More
November is here and that means friends, family, food and plenty of gaming in between. Thanks to your feedback, we’ve got a number of exciting new updates and features to share with you. The November 2019 Xbox Update begins rolling out today and delivers the…

New Gamertag Features Come to Xbox One and Mobile Devices
At E3 2019, we unveiled new ways to customize gamertags including a new display option and 13 additional alphabets which support over 200 languages worldwide that empower players around the world with more choice in how they represent themselves…

Team RWBY Invades the Battleground of the Gods
The huntresses of “RWBY”have entered the MOBA arena of Smite on Xbox One! In this divine crossover event, you can play as all four heroines of Rooster Teeth’s acclaimed animated series. Ruby Rose, Blake Belladonna, Weiss Schnee, and Yang Xiao Long now…

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Play Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Today on Xbox One
One of our most-anticipated adventures of the year is here! Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is available now on Xbox One and enhanced for Xbox One X – get it here on the Microsoft Store and start playing today. In Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order you take on the role…

Broomsticks, Wizards, and Spells Collide in the Magical World of Citadel: Forged with Fire, Available Now on Xbox One
It’s been four years in the making, but I am proud to say: Welcome to the magical open-world RPG Citadel: Forged with Fire! During our studio’s history we have enjoyed creating games in a variety of genres including the survival-horror game Slender: The Arrival…

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled

Master a New Mode in Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Today on Xbox One
Ready up for a new way to play in Ring Rally, a timed race that pits players against the clock and themselves! Ring Rally is only one piece of the new content that includes new characters, a new track, and new Pit Stop items from the Neon Circus Grand Prix…

The Biggest Inside Xbox Episode of the Year Will Be at X019
This week, we’ll be kicking off X019, our global celebration of all things Xbox, with a special episode of Inside Xbox live from London on Thursday, November 14, at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT. We’re incredibly excited to be in London this week with our local…

Disney+ Key Art

Disney+ is Available Now for Xbox One
The day that Disney fans have been waiting for is finally here: Disney+ is now available on Xbox One! This app, downloadable via the Microsoft Store, offers fans of all ages a new way to experience the unparalleled content from the company’s iconic entertainment brands…

Let Your Imagination Ride the Rails with Tracks – The Train Set Game
Did you play with wooden train sets when you were younger? How about making little toy scenes in your living room? Imagination is a key part of everyone’s development as a child, but the fun doesn’t have to stop when you’re grown up. We don’t think the fun…

Mobs in the Park

Minecraft Earth Early Access Available Now in the US
It’s been more than two years since we began our journey to make Minecraft Earth a reality. Following a steady rollout in select markets around the world, today we’re thrilled to announce that Minecraft Earth early access can be downloaded on iOS and Android in another…

Tell Surreal Stories in Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, Coming to Xbox One November 29
It’s been a long journey, but I’m happy to announce that Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is coming to Xbox One! This game began on a train in Siberia – a fitting start to a story about traveling, riding the rails, and telling stories. I had spent several months…

Carrion

“Reverse Horror Experience” Carrion Coming to Xbox One Next Year
Phobia Game Studio and our friends at Devolver Digital are thrilled to announce that our “reverse horror” experience Carrion will release on Xbox One when it launches next year! Our little team has been working hard in Poland to create something that we…

Fishing Planet Update: New Motorboats, Waterway, and Fish
Big hello from Fishing Planet to all anglers around the world! We’re excited to present you the recent update Fishing Planet had! And we certainly hope that you’ll have immense fun exploring all of the game’s new features that we prepared in this update…

Black Desert - Mystic

Get Ready to Rumble with Mystic, Now Available in Black Desert on Xbox One
Greetings, adventurers! Today, our team has added a new character class to the extensive open world of Black Desert on Xbox One in a free update. Mystic is a brawler who uses her fists to beat enemies with powerful and precise blows. If you have experience…

Experience the Mystic Awakening Event in Black Desert Today on Xbox One
Greetings, adventurers! Today, our team has added the Mystic Awakening event, Bartali’s Adventure Log, and new craftable costumes to the world of Black Desert in a free update on Xbox One. Mystic, the master of martial arts, can now achieve her true potential…

TERA - Red Refuge

Introducing the Red Refuge in TERA on Xbox One
Fans of TERA on Xbox One should take notice: the Unmasked content update brings you not only a new dungeon to explore, but also a stat-boosting mask that will compliment any character’s playstyle. Better yet, all this awesomeness comes from one…

Permadeath Comes to Remnant: From the Ashes with Hardcore More
If you thought your first playthrough of Remnant: From the Ashes was too easy, boy do we have a treat for you. Introducing, Hardcore mode – a new game mode released today on Xbox One where death is truly the end. It’s going to take everything you’ve got to make…

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 19 to 22
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…

Free Play Days – NASCAR Heat 4 and Contra: Rogue Corps
This weekend, it’s all about speed and fast-paced action! Immerse yourself in the world of high-speed racing with NASCAR Heat 4 or save the world from an otherworldy invasion in Contra: Rogue Corps. Jump into this Free Play Days event, which runs from…

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Xbox All Access available to U.S. Xbox Insiders This Weekend

Hey everyone, we have some exciting news! We’ll be giving a select group of Xbox Insiders in the U.S. early access to the Xbox All Access program on Amazon.com between November 16th and November 17th, ahead of when the program launches in the United States on November 18th.

In late October, Team Xbox reintroduced Xbox All Access, including an all-new upgrade option for Project Scarlett. This offer has everything you need to play right out of the box for as little as $19.99 (USD) per month for 24 months.1

Here’s What to Expect2

  • Xbox One console bundle – Players can choose between Xbox One X, Xbox One S, or Xbox One S All-Digital Edition bundles.
  • 24-month membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, including online multiplayer, and access to over 100 great games on console and PC.
  • Upgrade Option – Option to upgrade to Project Scarlett once it’s available in Holiday 2020.

Players who purchase an Xbox One console with Xbox All Access have the option to upgrade to Project Scarlett once it’s available Holiday 2020 and they’ve made 18 payments. As a limited time offer this holiday season, players who purchase an Xbox One X with Xbox All Access through December 31, 2019, have the option to upgrade to the next Xbox console in as few as 12 months and once Project Scarlett has officially launched.3

Learn more about the program here.

How to Participate

Xbox Insiders in the US must register at this link to be eligible to participate. A group will be selected in this early access opportunity.

  • The selected Xbox Insiders will receive a follow-up email from Amazon with more information.
  • Participants will then go through the purchase experience on Amazon.com between November 16th and November 17th.
  • Participants must be over the age of 18 and willing to check eligibility for the program, including completing an application and consenting to a soft credit check with our financing partner, Citizens One.
    • The soft credit check will not impact your credit score or credit report. You’ll be given the option to proceed with a full credit check when making the purchase.
  • If you do not have an Amazon.com account, please sign up with this link.

This Xbox Insider early access is to ensure the processes for making an Xbox All Access purchase on Amazon.com, and the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate activation, are simple and easy-to-understand for users. If you have any issues with the purchase or activation processes, please use one of the following contact options:

  • Microsoft for Xbox All
    Access product or Xbox Game Pass activation questions
  • Amazon
    for questions related to making an Xbox All Access purchase on Amazon.com
  • Citizens One at 888-522-9881 for questions about
    financing or the credit application

We look forward to your feedback. Thank you for helping us bring Xbox All Access to the U.S later this month!

More Information

This early access opportunity is limited to selected participants. Microsoft may suspend or terminate the early access opportunity at any time in its discretion. You may not share the registration link or any images of the purchase experience with anyone else. If you are found to violate that restriction, your ability to participate in the early purchase opportunity may be revoked.

  • Learn more about Xbox All Access here.
  • FAQ and legal terms found at the bottom here.

1With approval of Citizens One Line of Credit at 0% APR and 24-month term. Subject to individual credit approval. Total payment amount from $479.76; taxes, shipping, and other charges are extra and may vary (estimated retail price with Xbox One S All-Digital Edition console; prices will vary by console and retailer). See Citizens One Line of Credit Agreement at https://www.citizensone.com/XAA for full terms and conditions.

2At participating retailers; prices vary by console. 24-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and other benefits; game catalog varies over time. Internet access required (ISP fees apply). Membership conversion: your existing Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass membership(s) will automatically convert to
Ultimate at a conversion ratio, learn more xbox.com/gamepass. Digital Direct: Your 24-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership is delivered directly to your console during set-up and is available in Settings; no codes required. Warranty: console is under a 1 year limited hardware warranty (90 days for controller/accessories) regardless of length of financing. (Microsoft Limited Hardware Warranty: https://support.microsoft.com/warranty). Upgrade: Upgrade option after the equivalent of 18 payments for the next Xbox console only,
coming Holiday 2020 (excludes Xbox One X, S, and S All Digital Edition). New contract, terms, and pricing apply. Upgrading from Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will require payment of a $20 upgrade fee (subject to change). The fee will be billed by Citizens One and will be due according to the first statement issued following the upgrade. Requires return of console, controller, and power cord in good condition. The next Xbox console available under the upgrade option is subject to FCC rules and will comply with the appropriate FCC rules when available. See product and upgrade terms at Xbox.com/XboxAllAccessTerms.

3Special Holiday Upgrade Offer: Upgrading to Project Scarlett is subject to its release and availability at the time you attempt to exercise your upgrade option. Upgrade requires at least 12 payments on your original Xbox All Access contract, and
purchase of a new 24-month Xbox All Access contract for Project Scarlett, expected Holiday 2020. Offer valid for original purchase of Xbox One X with Xbox All Access through Dec 31, 2019; not available with Xbox One S. New contract, terms, and pricing apply. Requires return of console in good condition. Project Scarlett is subject to FCC rules and will comply with the appropriate FCC rules when available. See product and upgrade terms at Xbox.com/XboxAllAccessTerms.

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X019: The Falconeer Soars to Xbox One Next Year

The Falconeer, created by independent developer Tomas Sala, will be flying to Xbox One in 2020! We’re excited for fans to experience The Falconeer, a true gem that will set the bar for what indies can offer games. From the beginning, we’ve been enamored with this breathtaking aerial combat RPG, so we’re proud to be able to work collaboratively with Tomas, whose passion and talents can be seen in this beautiful and mesmerizing game.

The Falconeer

The Falconeer combines classic dog fighting mechanics and acrobatic twists and turns with an awe-inspiring open environment and bestiary of fantastic enemies in land, sea, and air and will have its world debut at this week’s XO19 in London. Check out the seriously mesmerizing new trailer above, created using in-game footage from Xbox One X.

The Falconeer

Set above The Great Ursee, a magical world that has fallen from grace with all inhabitants forced to live in the dangerous swollen oceans, players will take their armed aerial mounts in third-person to the skies as a Falconeer, an airborne and agile warrior equipped with devastating ranged weaponry. Your mission as a chosen Falconeer will be what you make of it – be it a noble or rogue path. In doing so, each player experience will be unique as they explore the bleak and hauntingly beautiful world, filled with wondrous locations and warmongering rival factions vying for the mysterious secrets hidden at the Ursee’s unfathomable depths.

For more information, visit TheFalconeer.com or follow the game on social media to receive future updates via Facebook or Twitter.

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X019: Celebrate Minecraft Earth Rollout in Real Life in NYC, London and Sydney This Month

Summary

  • At X019 we unveiled a look at “Mobs at the Park” – the one-of-a-kind, life-sized statues of interactive mobs popping up in New York City, London and Sydney starting on Saturday, November 16
  • The pop-ups will be available to experience from 10am-7pm local time in each location
  • Players will be able to complete an adventure onsite to receive exclusive access to the Jolly Llama in-game before it’s globally available in December

Since announcing Minecraft Earth as part of Minecraft’s
10-year birthday in May, releasing the closed beta in July, and now rolling the
game out in early access, the excitement for our newest game is starting to
feel very real. In celebration of the game’s continued early access
rollout, we unveiled “Mobs at the Park” at X019 – the one-of-a-kind, life-sized
statues of interactive mobs popping up in New York City, London and Sydney
starting on Saturday, November 16.

The statues are life-sized creations of the Muddy Pig, Moobloom and the
all-new, amazingly-festive Jolly Llama which will feature a scannable QR code
to play an exclusive new adventure built by the Minecraft Earth
development team. Once players complete the adventure, they’ll receive
exclusive access to the Jolly Llama in-game before it’s globally available in
December.

The custom-built experience demonstrates the magic of bringing
Minecraft into the real world through the power of Microsoft Azure Spatial Anchors
and Azure PlayFab technologies, all coming together to create one of the
world’s first true augmented reality experiences.

We encourage everyone – families, friends, Minecraft super-players,
first-timers – to come down and experience the game hands-on while the pop-ups
are live in three locations around the world – Hudson Yards in New York City,
the Queens Walk in London and Campbell’s Cove in Sydney – during
the weekends of November 16-17, November 23-24 and November 30-December 1.
There will also be a special appearance of the statues at Hudson Yards in New
York City on Black Friday, November 29. The pop-ups will be available to experience
from 10am-7pm local time in each location and everyone can stay tuned to Minecraft.net or @MinecraftEarth for more
information.

Not able to make it out in-person on any of the weekends? Following the
event, players worldwide will be able to collect the Jolly Llama as a festive,
Minecraft-y way to enjoy this holiday season.

We can’t wait for you to experience these pop-ups in person
and play with the Jolly Llama yourself! For more information on early access
and the Jolly Llama, head to https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/earth.

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Permadeath Comes to Remnant: From the Ashes with Hardcore More

Summary

  • A new game mode where death is truly the end
  • Defeating a Hardcore World Boss will drop new rings with powerful effects
  • Hardcore mode is only a small slice compared to the variety of additions and quality of life improvements

If you thought your first playthrough of Remnant: From the Ashes was too easy, boy do we have a treat for you. Introducing, Hardcore mode – a new game mode released today on Xbox One where death is truly the end. It’s going to take everything you’ve got to make it out of this one alive.

When creating a new character you’ll have the option to make them a Hardcore character – the true test of skill in Remnant. Hardcore characters will only be playable until their first death, after which they are permanently lost. One mistake could mean curtains for your entire party. To maintain a level playing field, Hardcore characters can only play online with other Hardcore characters and will not be able to random matchmake. Feel free to manually invite your friends or other stalwart World Walkers.

Remnant: From the Ashes

Those who are brave enough to face the most dangerous challenges will also receive the greatest rewards. Defeating a Hardcore World Boss will drop new rings with powerful effects. These items will be available to all of the characters on your account (old and new, Standard and Hardcore) after you’ve obtained them. This means future Hardcore characters will begin their journey with greater potential. Time to git gud, kid.

Hardcore mode is a major new feature, but only a small slice compared to the larger list of additions and quality of life improvements! Thanks to your feedback, we’re implementing some of the most frequently requested systems with this update. Some of these include a Comms wheel with pings and emotes, the ability to hide helmets, disable tutorial prompts toggle, and more balance changes.

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Get Ready to Rumble with Mystic, Now Available in Black Desert on Xbox One

Greetings, adventurers! Today, our team has added a new character class to the extensive open world of Black Desert on Xbox One in a free update. Mystic is a brawler who uses her fists to beat enemies with powerful and precise blows. If you have experience with the Striker character class, you’ll find a lot of similarities here in Mystic’s combat playstyle. Find more tips on today’s content below!

A victim of the ruthless Calpheon Republic’s
military push into her homeland as a small child, Mystic was adopted and
trained to be a martial-arts warrior by a foreigner from the far east. After
winning the coveted Martial God Tournament, she has returned to her homeland
within the Black Desert to find her true self.

Using the Gauntlets as her main hand weapon,
and the Vambrace for her offhand weapon, Mystic can perform the following
standard skills:

  • Wolf’s Frenzy – Mystic hides in
    the shadows and unleashes a barrage of hits against her enemies.
  • Rage Hammer – Unleashes her inner
    power into a massive attack onto the ground, knocking down foes.
  • Soul Basher – Mystic performs a
    flurry of kicks that deals damage to her enemies.

This is it – step into the ring today with Mystic and use your fists to fight enemies in Black Desert!

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Broomsticks, Wizards, and Spells Collide in the Magical World of Citadel: Forged with Fire, Available Now on Xbox One

Summary

  • Play as an apprentice Wizard, starting out with basic arcane abilities and then build up your character’s magical strength
  • Fight, tame, and fly on dragons then soar across the massive world filled with fantastical creatures
  • From the creative team behind Slender: The Arrival and Valley

It’s been four years in the making, but I am proud to say: Welcome to the magical open-world RPG Citadel: Forged with Fire! During our studio’s history we have enjoyed creating games in a variety of genres including the survival-horror game Slender: The Arrival and our second title, the action-adventure game Valley. So, we were ready to tackle a massive online multiplayer project with Citadel!

We have put so much into this game and today, we like to think of Citadel as the ultimate fantasy sandbox. It has been a true passion project for the entire team at Blue Isle Studios, with tons of additional content planned with all the content we’re launching in the next six months will be free.

Citadel: Forged with Fire

Magic is woven into every aspect of Citadel! As an apprentice Wizard, start with basic arcane abilities and build your character’s magical strength by gathering more spell essences throughout the world, crafting them into weapons. Fight, tame, and fly on dragons then soar across the massive world filled with fantastical creatures, both friendly and dangerous. With thousands of custom pieces for castle building the design possibilities are endless for creating the base camp of your dreams. Make friends and forge alliances online and jump on your broomsticks to lead a Wizard army to raid enemy camps, explore perilous caves, challenge monsters or take on deadly endgame Bosses!

The cool thing about a game like this is that things are always changing. When you play online, no two days in Citadel are alike. Those of you who want to avoid the heat of competition can also choose to play in cooperative PvE servers or skip online entirely and jump into a single player campaign. 

Citadel: Forged with Fire

Like any living, breathing game, we are always
looking to add to the experience. We have a huge content roadmap planned for
2020 that we are excited about. We’re hard at work on an epic quests system
with a brand-new storyline that will answer some age old questions about the
world of Ignus… and create new mysteries as well.

In addition to quests, we are adding more
content like new weapons, a dye system for clothing and structures, mini-boss
world events and more. We don’t plan on stopping there, so don’t hesitate to
let us know what you want to see in the game. I encourage you to share your
feedback and ideas with us on Discord. We’re always reading what you have to
say and are focused on building a world that you want to play in.

I look forward to seeing you in game and if
you see one of my personal castles (I usually paint my flags blue), come by and
say hi!.

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This Week on Xbox: November 8, 2019

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!

Over 24
Titles Playable at X019

It’s almost our favorite time of year, where the Xbox community will come together to take part in X019. Kicking off for the very first time in London, United Kingdom at the Copper Box Arena, we’ll be celebrating all-things Xbox with world premiere hands-on gameplay… Read more

Pre-Order
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey Today on Xbox One, Coming December 6

Prepare to embark on the greatest adventure of all time: your own. Today, the teams at Panache Digital Games and Private Division are excited to announce that Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is now available for Xbox fans to pre-order digitally on the Microsoft Store… Read more

Xbox Game Pass for PC/Dell Promo

Purchase
Select Alienware PCs and Get 3 Months of XGP for PC (Beta) Plus New Game
Reveals for November

Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta) is built from the ground-up for PC gamers, giving them a highly curated library of titles to choose from. With over 20 years of experience in creating best-in-class PC gaming devices, Alienware is a trusted brand in the PC gaming… Read more

Free
Play Days – The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, Cities: Skylines –
Xbox One Edition, and The Surge

This weekend, we have some exciting games to announce for the Free Play Days event, including one that’s available to play for a week! The games will be available for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to download and play during the event duration… Read more

Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller

The
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is Available Now and Coming to More
Markets Later This Year

Earlier this week, we launched the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 in 31 countries. Since release, we’ve seen a great response from our fans and have enjoyed seeing impressions on the controller show in reviews, unboxing videos, and posts from Taco Bell promo winners… Read more

Capitalism
and Economy in Jalopy, Available Now on Xbox One

The rise of capitalism brings an economical conundrum. Scavenge for scraps to make a small return of investment or become a baron of the open road and smuggle contraband under the eyes of border patrols to make a sizable profit… Read more

Bless Unleashed

Bless
Unleashed Enters Open Beta Today on Xbox One

I’m very happy to be able to tell you that Bless Unleashed enters open beta today on Xbox One! This is an important moment for its development, as it’s the first time fans will be able to play Bless Unleashed with no barriers to entry starting… Read more

Check
Out The Elder Scrolls Online Free Trial & New Dragonhold DLC Content

Experience a world without limits during the The Elder Scrolls Online free play week and explore Southern Elsweyr with the release of the game’s new DLC, The Elder Scrolls Online: Dragonhold. Check out TESO for free from now until Wednesday, November 13… Read more

Alwa's Awakening Key Art

Embark on an Epic 8-bit Adventure in Alwa’s Awakening, Available Now on Xbox One

I have this very fond memory of being around ten-years-old sitting at the window waiting for my dad to come home with a video game I wanted. This was way before the Internet so actually finding out which games to get was almost impossible. I don’t remember asking my dad… Read more

Build
Your Gamerscore with the Achievement Enthusiast Sale

There’s nothing like the sound of that ding when you unlock a new achievement to boost your gaming spirits. Now you have the opportunity to make it rain achievements and take out that friend that always sits at the top of your personal leaderboard every month (we all have one)… Read more

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Next
Week on Xbox: New Games for November 11 to 15

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… Read more

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Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta, Delta and Omega Ring (1911.191106-1945)

Hey Beta, Delta and Omega ring users! Today’s Xbox Insider Release Notes highlight the latest fixes, known issues, and features coming to your console. Starting at 2:00 p.m. PT today, users will receive the latest 1911 Xbox One system update (build: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1911\18363.8117.191106-1945). Keep reading for more details.

System Update Details:

  • OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1911\18363.8117.191106-1945
  • Available: 2:00 p.m. PT – November 8, 2019
  • Mandatory: 3:00 a.m. PT – November 9, 2019

New Features:

Xbox Home Experiment

Simplified Settings

We’ve got a brand new face lift for your Xbox One console’s Settings with simplified categories and subcategories. Xbox heard your feedback, and we’re working to make Settings easy to navigate and manage, to control your device and account, as needed.

Note: These settings are now available to all users in Beta, Delta and Omega rings.

System Update

Fixes for Beta, Delta and Omega

We’ve heard your feedback, and we’re happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this 1911 build:

Audio

  • Users who disable spatial audio should no longer see it re-enabled when the restarting the console.

Console Streaming

  • Fixed an issue where users would see a “Failed to obtain NAT type.” when using “Test Console Streaming” in error.

Guide

  • Fixed an issue where attempting to access the Store would not work through the context menu.
  • Users should no longer see an issue where the Guide closes unexpectedly while in a party.

Home

  • Users should no longer see a “Something Went Wrong” error message when restarting the console after an update.

 My Games & Apps

  • Users should no longer see duplicate titles in their collection.
  • Fixed an issue with EA  Access titles not showing the “Install” option when viewed in collection.

System

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

Xbox Insider Release Notes

Known Issues for Beta, Delta and Omega

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.

Dolby Access

  • Users are unable to complete the setup for Dolby Atmos in the app and the app is not recognizing Dolby Atmos headphones.
    • Note: This is an issue with the Dolby Access app and the app developers are aware and investigating.

Home (Experiment)

  • Some users may see their content blocks reset randomly during the experiment.
  • Users may see the images for ads on the dashboard looking cropped or cutoff.

 Profile

  • Users are reporting that their badge showing Xbox Live tenure is not displaying.
    • Note: This is a known issue unrelated to Preview and is being investigated.

 Plex App

  • Users have reported playback is buffering constantly while streaming content.

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!