Category: Xbox News

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!

Tips for Playing Outer Wilds, Available Today with Xbox Game Pass
Hello, travelers! As you prepare for liftoff, here are some tips from a veteran member of Outer Wilds Ventures, your local hearthian space program. As a combination of narrative mystery and astrophysics simulation, Outer Wilds can often be counter-intuitive if you approach… Read more

Creating the World of Hunt: Showdown, Available Today in Xbox Game Preview
If you know Crytek as the developer that made Crysis or, more recently, Ryse: Son of Rome, then you might be surprised to see what we’ve done with Hunt: Showdown, which we are releasing today on Xbox One through the Xbox Game Preview program… Read more

Our Approach to PC Gaming
We believe the player should be at the center of their gaming experience and be able to harness the unique benefits of the devices they choose to play on. Nowhere is that belief more important than on the PC. As the creators of Windows, we have a unique responsibility… Read more

Strategic Choice Fuels Survival in Void Bastards, Available Today with Xbox Game Pass
Over 20 years ago, when we were getting ready to launch System Shock 2, I finally found the time to sit down and play through the game. I was surprised that after two years of development, I loved playing it. The only thing was I wanted to spend more time with… Read more

New Games with Gold for June 2019
Welcome to another Games with Gold reveal for Xbox One and Xbox 360! In June on Xbox One, it’s a solid hat trick with EA Sports NHL 19, and an all-out brawl in Rivals of Aether. On Xbox 360, and Xbox One via Backward Compatibility, play the popular and award-winning… Read more

Build Your World on PixArk with These Tips, Available Today on Xbox One
Snail Games and Studio Wildcard are excited to announce a new adventure within the Ark universe: PixArk. Explore endless possibilities in an open world full of infinite voxel-based maps and a procedural quest system that allows you to build fortresses, discover prehistoric… Read more

Activision and Infinity Ward Announce Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Coming to Xbox One October 25
Take on the role of a highly-skilled tier one operator in a gritty narrative affecting the global balance of power in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare; a powerful, reimagined experience and all-new title built from the ground up by award-winning developer Infinity Ward… Read more

Xbox Ambassador and MVP Gives Back to the Community That Has Given Her So Much
Imagine waking up early in the morning with the sound of birds chirping outside. You approach your gaming setup with energy drinks meticulously placed in a perfect line and enough snacks for a whole day scattered across your desk. You sit down, take a deep breath… Read more

Crackdown 3 Makes it Extra with Free Update, Available Now
It’s been an exciting few months since we first saw Agents band together to take on the cruel and corrupt TerraNova Corporation in Crackdown 3 with Xbox Game Pass and on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC, and today we’re excited to release, for free, the Crackdown 3 Extra Edition… Read more

Supermarket Shriek Comes Crashing to Xbox Game Pass This Summer
Crashing into stores soon, Supermarket Shriek is the second Xbox One title from us at Billy Goat Entertainment, an obscure Irish video game developer based in sunny Belfast, best known for the biggest nautical disaster of the Twentieth Century… Read more

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 4 to June 7
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 more

New Combat and Weapon Skills in Black Desert Awakening Update
In the three months since its launch on Xbox One, Black Desert has added two new regions, doubling the size of the world, four new classes, and massive world bosses that take whole servers of players to defeat. Today, we’ve added a whole new way for players… Read more

Imagine waking up early in the morning with the sound of birds chirping outside. You approach your gaming setup with energy drinks meticulously placed in a perfect line and enough snacks for a whole day scattered across your desk. You sit down, take a deep breath, and silently think to yourself, “I hope I don’t have to run to the bathroom,” because you are about to take part in a 24-hour charity livestream.

Over the last six years, Bowski477, an Xbox Ambassador and Xbox MVP, has done just that. While conquering games and encouraging others, she has been making a difference hosting charity streams through Extra Life, a 24-hour, livestream charity marathon. Extra Life has raised more than $40 million for hospitals treating children across the U.S. and Canada.

As an Xbox Ambassador and MVP, charity streaming made sense to Bowski477.

“Prior to joining Extra Life, I would just sit back, watch others charity stream, and donate. But eventually I felt like I was ready to do more,” so she did.

With the support of her Xbox Ambassador and MVP family, she went all-in.

“I had the support of a lot of my friends in the Ambassador and MVP programs, many who also do charity streams,” said Bowski477. “Having that kind of support is awesome.” Now, every year Bowski477 dedicates one full day to raising funds for hospitals treating children.

Why Charity Streaming?

Bowski477, along with nearly 200,000 others, are Xbox Ambassadors who are passionate gamers driven to spread positivity, share knowledge and create a space where everyone can have fun. Xbox Ambassadors participate in many activities, including charity streams, to make our communities better for everyone. Like all Ambassadors, Bowski477 strives to help fellow gamers.

“I think my motivation to get more involved in helping others comes from my upbringing,” Bowski477 explains. “My parents taught me from a young age that helping others is a good feeling. I like to ride that feeling wherever I can. So, getting involved in programs, like Xbox Ambassadors, that helps others within the gaming community was a perfect fit for me.”

From the Xbox Ambassadors Program and Beyond!

By 2015, Bowski477 had become an Xbox MVP and was involved with the Xbox Playdates United States team. The playdates mission is simple: get groups of people together to play games once a week. Since that day, she along with other gamers, play every Tuesday at 9 pm ET and Saturday at 8 pm ET.

“My favorite thing about playdates are the friendships I’ve made from it. Even when we have a low turnout night, we still have a good time,” says Bowski477.

Nine years later, she is not only an Xbox Playdates team member, but a well-trusted and respected Alpha Ambassador and moderator in the Xbox Ambassadors program. Bowski477 is a community leader that has demonstrated exemplary commitment to helping others. She shares her passion, knowledge, and expertise with the Xbox community. Because of her contributions to the gaming world, she received the Xbox MVP award.

From charity streaming, to receiving the MVP award, becoming a trusted Alpha Ambassador and moderator, to joining the Xbox Playdates US team, Bowski477 not only goes above and beyond to make the gaming community fun for everyone, but she unequivocally demonstrates what it means to be an Xbox Ambassador: impact makers, content creators, inclusive gamers, and passionate Xbox fans. They are real gamers in the Xbox community and through their love for Xbox, they want to make the gaming community better for everyone.

Connect with Someone New

The Xbox Ambassador program encourages you to connect with someone new on Xbox Live, say hi, join a game, or help someone. Whatever you want to do to make our community a fun and safe place to play, we encourage you to do it.

Want to Join the Xbox Ambassadors Family?

The Xbox Ambassadors community is filled with positive and welcoming gamers just like Bowski477. Want to make your own impact on Xbox? Become an Xbox Ambassador.

Thank you for reading this gamer spotlight and we look forward to sharing more incredible stories with the Xbox Wire readers.

Starting at 2:00 p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Delta Ring will begin receiving the latest 1906 Xbox One system update (19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4036.190524-1924).

DETAILS:

• OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4036.190524-1924
• Available: 2:00PM PDT 5/28/19
• Mandatory Date/Time: 3:00 AM PDT 5/29/19

New Features:

In this 1906 update you’ll find fixes and known issues listed below, please keep an eye out for feature announcements as they’re ready to be previewed. Thanks, as always, for your passion for helping make Xbox One system updates the best they can be prior to release to GA!

Mixer

• Users can watch full-screen Mixer streams on the Mixer Twist.  Simply navigate to the Mixer twist, select a stream and hit A.  Please test out these new features and provide feedback.

Fixes:

 

My Games and Apps

• Fixed an issue in which some games were stalling or crashing when installing.

 System

• UI fixes to Home to correctly show when your Game Pass subscription is expiring.
• Narrator fixes to various parts of Home and the Dashboard. Localization fixes.

Known Issues:

Audio

• Headsets are not being assigned to the users profiles and not working correctly.

My Games and Apps

• We have identified an issue with any game that you own that is also in Game Pass does not show in your Ready To Install (RTI) – Workaround – Install from the Store PDP.
• We are tracking an issue with duplicate tiles in RTI.

Profile Color

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

Starting at 2:00 p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha & Beta Rings will begin receiving the latest 1906 Xbox One system update (19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4036.190524-1924).

DETAILS:

• OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4036.190524-1924
• Available: 2:00PM PDT 5/26/19
• Mandatory Date/Time: 3:00 AM PDT 5/27/19

New Features:

In this 1906 update you’ll find fixes and known issues listed below, please keep an eye out for feature announcements as they’re ready to be previewed. Thanks, as always, for your passion for helping make Xbox One system updates the best they can be prior to release to GA!

Mixer

• Users can watch full-screen Mixer streams on the Mixer Twist.  Simply navigate to the Mixer twist, select a stream and hit A.  Please test out these new features and provide feedback.

Fixes:

 

My Games and Apps

• Fixed an issue in which some games were stalling or crashing when installing.

 System

• UI fixes to Home to correctly show when your Game Pass subscription is expiring.
• Narrator fixes to various parts of Home and the Dashboard. Localization fixes.

Known Issues:

Audio

• Headsets are not being assigned to the users profiles and not working correctly.

Profile Color

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

Starting at 2:00 p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha and Beta Rings will begin receiving the latest 1906 Xbox One system update (19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4035.190523-1940).

DETAILS:

• OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4035.190523-1940
• Available: 2:00PM PDT 5/24/19
• Mandatory Date/Time: 3:00 AM PDT 5/25/19

New Features:

In this 1906 update you’ll find fixes and known issues listed below, please keep an eye out for feature announcements as they’re ready to be previewed. Thanks, as always, for your passion for helping make Xbox One system updates the best they can be prior to release to GA!

Mixer

• Users can watch full-screen Mixer streams on the Mixer Twist.  Simply navigate to the Mixer twist, select a stream and hit A.  Please test out these new features and provide feedback.

Fixes:

 

Audio – Blu-ray

• We have fixed an issue in which Xbox Blu-ray without passthrough did not correctly handle headset insertion/removal when Spatial is enabled.

Messaging

• Fixes addressing navigation with the Voice capture feature

My Games and Apps

• Additional fixes addressing the failure to launch some games and apps with the “Too Long to Start” error.
• Additional fixes address games that simply failed to launch and dropped the user back to home.
• Fixed an issue in which some games were displaying the incorrect update size.

System

• Narrator fixes to various parts of Home and the Dashboard.
• Localization fixes.
• OOBE (Out Of Box Experience) UI and workflow fixes.

Subscription UI Bug

• We have fixed the Subscription UI bug to reflect the actual status of the user signed in in Settings Account and in My Games and Apps.

Known Issues:

Audio

• Headsets are not being assigned to the users profiles and not working correctly.

Profile Color

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

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!

ID@Xbox Game Fest Super Sale Starts Today
Thank you for following ID@Xbox Game Fest, hopefully along the way you have had some fun discovering new content, creators, and ways to game. To close out the last week of Game Fest we’re excited to kick off the ID@Xbox Super Sale… Read more

A Tourist Guide to American Fugitive’s Redrock Country
Hey, city slickers. If Gordon Gekko is getting you down with absured sales targets, jump on a Greyhound and visit the beautiful Redrock County, winner of 1981’s Most Active Home Defense and Speediest Police Response awards. Aside from being home to the largest… Read more

The Biggest Backward Compatibility Sale Ever Begins Today
The Xbox Backward Compatibility Sale is back again this year, and this time we’re celebrating by discounting more games in the catalog than ever. Starting today through May 27, Xbox gamers around the world can take advantage of awesome discounts… Read more

Dauntless Hits Xbox One Today with 10 Tips to Slaying with Style
The team here at Phoenix Labs is excited to welcome the Xbox One community into Dauntless, our co-op action RPG launching today! Dauntless is all about teaming up with your friends to take down larger-than-life behemoths, crafting epic gear… Read more

Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass: Dead by Daylight, Metal Gear Survive, and Many More
Hello, Xbox Game Pass members! It’s me again. Forgive me for taking up your precious internet moments, but I think it’s worth it because we’re bringing you even more games. Good thing you can install directly to your console from the Xbox Game Pass… Read more

How to Customize Your Car’s Stats in Team Sonic Racing, Available Now on Xbox One
Team Sonic Racing is a colorful and competitive style kart racer where racers can go online and compete with players around the world – the competition is going to be fierce on day one. You’ll find that there’s a few ways to victory including improving your driving skills…. Read more

Introducing the New Xbox Game Bar
At Xbox, we put gamers at the center of our vision – enabling them to play the games they want, with the people they want, and on the devices they want. As part of our efforts and commitment to improve the gaming experience on Windows 10, we want to bring PC players… Read more

5 Reasons How Just Cause 4’s Spring Update Brings More Destruction Than Ever Before
Get ready for the biggest update ever to the explosive world of Just Cause 4. Xbox One players can get the Spring Update for free starting on May 21 — here’s an exclusive first look at what to expect from this free update to Solìs: Improvements to World Lighting Bringing… Read more

Gaming Must Promote and Protect the Safety of All
Today, in an opinion article I published on the Official Microsoft Blog, I shared my views on gaming as one of our society’s great unifying forces. We are a 2.6 billion-person strong community of parents playing with our kids, adventurers exploring worlds together… Read more

World of Warships: Legends Brings Reinforcements to Xbox One with the Atlanta Cruiser
After a month since World of Warships: Legends entered its Xbox Game Preview phase globally, Wargaming Saint Petersburg is ready with reinforcements for Xbox One players, with the all-new Atlanta Premium Tier VI cruiser! The team behind World of Warships: Legends… Read more

Project xCloud: More for Gamers and Developers
Last fall, we pulled back the curtain on Project xCloud – our game-streaming technology. Our vision for Xbox is that you can play the games you want, with the people you want, on the devices you want. Project xCloud brings us closer to fully realizing that vision… Read more

Warface Adds Battle Pass and New Themed Content
The Blackwood corporation has been quiet as of late… too quiet. In the latest big Warface update, out on Xbox One today, you’ll take the fight to them in our reimagining of Japan and find out exactly what they’re up to! The Sunrise update also introduces the first ever Battle Pass…. Read more

Gears of War 2019 Funko Pop! Collection Available May 23
The next wave of Gears of War Funko Pop! figures are about to hit store shelves this Thursday, May 23! As we announced earlier this month, the mainline collection includes Kait Diaz in her winter gear from last year’s Gears 5 trailer, Marcus Fenix in his classic gear… Read more

Tower Attack Card Game Minion Masters is Now Available on Xbox One
It’s been a long journey through development, full of many twists and turns, but we’re super excited to bring Minion Masters to Xbox One. We’ve poured blood, coffee, and countless hours into making (at least what we think is) the best tower attack card game out there… Read more

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 28 to 31
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 more

Thanks to all the Xbox Insiders who joined the Windows Gaming ring and provided feedback on our tailor-made gaming technology for Windows!

With the release of the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (19H1), we encourage all Xbox Insiders on Windows 10 to download the latest update and play State of Decay: Year One. Thousands of new slots for State of Decay: Year One are now available on a first-come first-serve basis. If you didn’t have a chance to play previously, please join in now!

In addition, you can also sign up to be the first to receive the latest and greatest updates for the new Xbox Game Bar. Listen to Spotify, chat with your friends, and monitor performance, all without ever leaving your game!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

1. Launch the Xbox Insider Hub on your Windows 10 PC (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary).
2. Navigate to Insider content > Windows Gaming.
3. Select Join.
4. Once the registration completes, return to the Insider content page, andselect State of Decay: Year One.
5. Select Join, wait for the registration to complete, then install State of Decay!

NOTE: Your PC must be on version 18329 or better to access State of Decay: Year One in the Xbox Insider Hub—be sure to download the Windows 10 May 2019 Update before joining.

Thanks for being an Xbox Insider!

Starting at 2:00 p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Beta Ring will begin receiving the latest 1906 Xbox One system update (19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4028.190516-1940).

DETAILS:

• OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4028.190516-1940
• Available: 2:00PM PDT 5/22/19
• Mandatory Date/Time: 3:00 AM PDT 5/23/19

New Features:

This first update is meant to lay the groundwork for what’s to come in 1906, so while you’ll find fixes and known issues listed below, please keep an eye out for feature announcements as they’re ready to be previewed. Thanks, as always, for your passion for helping make Xbox One system updates the best they can be prior to release to GA!

Mixer

• Users can watch full-screen Mixer streams on the Mixer Twist.  Simply navigate to the Mixer twist, select a stream and hit A.  Please test out these new features and provide feedback.

Fixes:

 

Audio:

• Fixes addressing the stability of audio when the console comes out of Instant on mode.

System

• Fixes to narrator bugs in Settings.
• Various UI alignment fixes to the Home and settings.
• Localization fixes.

Known Issues:

Audio

• Headsets are not being assigned to the users profiles and not working correctly.

Profile Color

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

My Games and Apps – Apps/Games taking too long to start error

• Sometimes users may encounter this launch error and we are tracking a fix.  Workaround – Hard reboot the console.

The Blackwood corporation has been quiet as of late… too quiet. In the latest big Warface update, out on Xbox One today, you’ll take the fight to them in our reimagining of Japan and find out exactly what they’re up to! The Sunrise update also introduces the first ever Battle Pass, with over 100 tiers of fantastic rewards to be earned. Before you gear up and head out, allow us to brief you on everything you’ll be facing with your squad.

Battle Pass: Season 1

The Battle Pass is one of the biggest additions to Warface to-date. This new system gives you the opportunity to earn massive rewards, including exclusive weapons and gear, just for playing the game the way you like it. All players will start off with the trial version of the Battle Pass, which allows prizes up to level 10 to be unlocked. If you upgrade to the full version, you’ll have access to over 100 levels, and a treasure trove of epic rewards. The main prize, the Kriss Super V Custom, is one of the most powerful submachine guns in the game, and it’s definitely worth the effort!

K.I.W.I. Rewards

Progressing through the Battle Pass will reward you with distinctive Maori-style items when you clear certain levels. These items are from the K.I.W.I. series, belonging to a mysterious organization that has a history of acting in its own interests against Warface and Blackwood alike. This collection features some of the best weapons and gear that can be found in the game, and you’re sure to feel a powerful boost from the set’s bonuses when equipped.

Sunrise Raid

Why has Blackwood established a base on a peaceful Japan-themed island, and what exactly are they building in there? The latest story content in Warface will take you through a series of picturesque locations, including beautiful temples and areas covered in sakura blossom, as you delve into the murky depths of Blackwood’s schemes. The Sunrise Raid features new places, enemies, gameplay mechanics, and a dark plot. Suit up, grab a gun, and prepare for trouble!

PvP Sanctuary Map and Yakuza Weapons

Loving the new Japan setting? You’ll be able to enjoy the sakura blossom outside of the raid in the Sanctuary map, inspired by locations in featured in Sunrise, and available to play in ‘Free For All’ mode! We’re also adding the Yakuza series, a striking collection of weapons that combines Japanese cultural inspiration with incredible weapons technology. Make sure you get all the new achievements that can be earned by mastering Yakuza weapons and taking on the Sunrise Raid too!

Ready to dive back in and face a new menace in Warface? Download the free Sunrise update, fire up your Xbox One, and get all this new content in your crosshairs!

Warface is available now for Xbox One on the Microsoft Store as a free to play title. Click here for details.

Starting at 2:00 p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha Ring will begin receiving the latest 1906 Xbox One system update (19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4028.190516-1940).

DETAILS:

• OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4028.190516-1940
• Available: 2:00PM PDT 5/20/19
• Mandatory Date/Time: 3:00 AM PDT 5/21/19

New Features:

This first update is meant to lay the groundwork for what’s to come in 1906, so while you’ll find fixes and known issues listed below, please keep an eye out for feature announcements as they’re ready to be previewed. Thanks, as always, for your passion for helping make Xbox One system updates the best they can be prior to release to GA!

Mixer

• Users can watch full-screen Mixer streams on the Mixer Twist.  Simply navigate to the Mixer twist, select a stream and hit A.  Please test out these new features and provide feedback.

Fixes:

 

Audio:

• Fixes addressing the stability of audio when the console comes out of Instant on mode.

System

• Fixes to narrator bugs in Settings.
• Various UI alignment fixes to the Home and settings.
• Localization fixes.

Known Issues:

Audio

• Headsets are not being assigned to the users profiles and not working correctly.

Profile Color

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

My Games and Apps – Apps/Games taking too long to start error help needed!

• We wanted to reach out and let you know about an experience you’ll begin encountering with an upcoming build of 1906.
• Starting with todays build of 1906, we’ve introduced a deliberate console crash when a game fails to launch due to an activation timeout (0x8027025A). We realize this isn’t the best experience, but this will help us better understand the increase in activation timeouts we’ve seen in recent releases. Here’s what you can expect if you hit an activation timeout while launching a game after taking this update:
  • Your console will freeze on a “Something went wrong” error screen
  • The console’s power button will begin flashing
• So that we can gather data and drive for a fix, please leave the console alone if you notice the behavior described above. Once the console is finished collecting information (approximately 2 minutes), it will shut down on its own. At this point, please turn your console back on, allowing the console to automatically upload the dump information that was collected in the background. After your console has rebooted, please file a bug using the “Report a problem” tool and indicate in the subject line that you hit the activation timeout console crash.
• Thanks for helping us track down and squash difficult bugs like this one prior to GA!