Category: Xbox News

Happy New Year, fellow gamers!

We’re excited to kick off 2019 with seven exclusive Xbox Game Pass quests! Members can earn up to 2100 Microsoft Rewards points by playing any game from the Xbox Game Pass catalog. It’s easy to rack up points that you can spend towards your membership or DLC for your favorite games — just play the games you love and watch your rewards grow.

How does it work?

Head to the Xbox Game Pass membership area on your Xbox One console to check out your quests. Members in the United States who complete their quests will earn Microsoft Rewards points. If you are not already a Microsoft Rewards member, you will be prompted to sign up on your Xbox One.

Track your progress on Xbox One

It is easy to track your progress. Just open the Microsoft Rewards app on your Xbox and check your quests. Your quest progress will update as you complete your quests.

What games can I play?

For the first time ever, you can earn points playing any game from the Xbox Game Pass catalog. Complete up to seven exclusive Xbox Game Pass quests before February 3 and earn up to 2100 Microsoft Rewards points:

• Extraction Expert: Complete two specific extraction achievements in Tom Clancy’s The Division to get up to 200 points. You earn points with each achievement. Complete this before January 31.
• Metro Redux: Play Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux to complete four specific achievements and get up to 200 points. You earn points with each achievement.
• Adventurer: Bring out your inner adventurer and get up to 200 points when you complete two specific achievements in Strange Brigade. You earn points with each achievement.
• Achievement Hunter: Get points with your first achievement and continue to complete up to 21 achievements in any combination of Xbox Game Pass games to get a maximum of 600 points.
• Genre Explorer: Get 300 points when you complete an achievement in three games from different genres.
• Play something new: Complete an achievement in a Xbox Game Pass title that was added in December to get 100 points.
• Quest Master: Complete all Xbox Game Pass quests to get an additional 500 points.

Check your Xbox One console for more details on each of the quests.

Stay tuned for new Xbox Game Pass quests

We’ll have new quests lined up every month and will unlock the next set of quests on February 4. So, stay tuned in the Xbox Game Pass membership area on your Xbox One.

With over 100 great games for one low monthly price, including highly-anticipated new Xbox One exclusives the day they’re released, plus more games added all the time, Xbox Game Pass gives you the ultimate freedom to explore and play. If you haven’t tried Xbox Game Pass, join today and get your first full month for $1, and discover your next favorite game.

For more information, please visit https://www.xbox.com/xbox-game-pass/quests

It’s been a long time coming, but we’re excited to finally announce that our neon-soaked arena brawler Hyper Jam will launch February 12 on Xbox One.

The inspiration for Hyper Jam came from many different sources spanning music, film, art and other games, which have all come together to make the game what it is today. And with its dynamic perk drafting system that makes each match different from the last.

An example of this is our perk drafting mechanics, which were inspired by games such as Risk of Rain and Binding of Isaac where you never know how your character will end up at the end of each game, which is an element we wanted to explore within the context of competitive multiplayer instead of the usual Rougelite format. As soon as we played our first prototype, we knew we were onto something special!

Other inspirations include the team’s love for Synthwave, which we would often listen to in the office while making our initial prototypes, and eventually became the primary theme of the game. It’s amazing to be able to feature many of the artists we listened to while working on the game as part of the official Hyper Jam soundtrack.

We are only a small team but have been pouring everything we’ve got into this game over the past few years, transforming Hyper Jam from a humble prototype into a fully-fledged game with cross-platform online multiplayer.

We’re very proud of what we’ve managed to achieve so far and can’t wait for everyone to be able to play Hyper Jam together at last!

Since Absolver was first announced in 2016, the Xbox community has asked our small team at Sloclap to bring our melee combat adventure to their favored platform and we’re happy to do finally do so! The gang here are Sloclap are thrilled to be launching Absolver on Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass and share our work and the world of Adal with everyone that’s been waiting for this day.

Sloclap is a small studio in Paris full of talented folks with a great deal of experience across the game industry and Absolver is our debut game as a studio. While the team was able to draw upon a wealth of experience from our past projects at larger studios, it was the development of Absolver that put our full complement of skills to the test. From the start we wanted to create a game that combined beautifully fluid martial arts combat with a unique fantasy adventure that blended a solo and online cooperative experience together seamlessly. Our hope is that Absolver would give players a new experience, one that would be accessible to all players but deep enough to demand mastery to unlock its full potential.

Players will arrive in the fallen empire of Adal as a Prospect in hopes of joining an elite corps of combatants, fighting to maintain stability in the world called Absolvers. Customize your Prospect as you see fit from skills and gear to combat styles and stances, players will create their own combatant however they see fit. Prospects will need to train and travel both alone and with others to overcome the trials before them – from ritual combat arenas, to formidable bosses lurking in the shadows, to the mazelike mines of Adal, your focus and skills will be put to the test!

Absolver accomplished a lot of what our team wanted in the project during its initial launch on the PC but also left room for improvement based on community feedback and our own grand vision for the game. The Absolver that’s arriving on Xbox One is a much more complete vision, one that brings along the multitude of updates over the nearly two-year journey for the development team including the recent Downfall expansion. From new combat styles and game modes to new combat arenas and an entire catalog of character gear, Absolver arrives on Xbox One with the full arsenal of content for every new Prospect.

Our thanks to all those on the Xbox team that helped shepherd Absolver onto the platform and our love to the community that has followed development from the announcement until the launch before us now. We encourage everyone to try their hand at the battles and adventure of that lies in Adal and let our team at Sloclap know what you think of Absolver!

Absolver is now available for download from the Microsoft Store and is available for Xbox Game Pass members.

With 2018 behind us, we here at Xbox Wire decided that now would be the perfect time to start looking ahead to some of the big games coming out in 2019. There are already a lot of them on the books, many of which will be coming out during the first few months of the year. While there’s already a decent amount of info on these titles, we’ve found that it can be tough to figure out details with all of the information spread out across the web. So, with that in mind, we’ll be spending the rest of the year taking a closer look at some of 2019’s biggest games and pulling together as much info as we can into one place. Today, we look at 4A Games’ upcoming Metro Exodus.

When was Metro Exodus Announced?

At the Xbox E3 2017 Briefing with this awesome reveal trailer and has been in development since 2014.

When will Metro Exodus be released?

February 15, 2019.

What sort of game is Metro Exodus?

Exodus describes itself as an epic, story-driven, first-person shooter, with a mix of combat, stealth, exploration, and survival horror. It also sounds like there will be a significant amount of exploration above ground and allow us to experience a variety of seasons from spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Who is making it?

Metro Exodus is being developed by 4A Games, creators of the series predecessors Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light (as well as their Redux versions) and will be published by Deep Silver.

What is the story about?

Heavily inspired by the series of novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky (Metro Exodus draws a lot from “Metro 2035”) and will continue the story of Artyom – the main protagonist from the first two games. And in case you’re wondering how he’s still around after the events of Metro: Last Light, I hate to break it to you but that was the “bad” ending. Artyom is just fine. Well, as fine as having to live underground, freezing to death, and fighting mutants.

The world of Metro takes place in Russia in the not-too-distant future where a nuclear winter has made the surface of the planet inhospitable to life. This has left the last remaining survivors of the country to live out their lives in the twisted underground metro tunnel system below ground. Not all human settlements get along so there can be a bit of tension (see: killing) between these human factions. Oh, and there are hellish and mutated monsters that roam both the surface and the tunnels of the metro, along with the mysterious Dark Ones. As you might have been able to surmise, the universe of Metro is incredibly rich for some post-apocalyptic, sci-fi storytelling (and shooting).

But this time it sounds like a lot of the game may take place above ground. As shown in the reveal trailer, Metro Exodus will have players board the Aurora, a heavily modified steam locomotive, and join a handful of survivors as they search for a new life in the east.

What is the combat like?

Like the previous games, Metro Exodus will feature a variety of gameplay mechanics that blend into an incredibly immersive experience. It’s like a mix of Fallout, Thief, and Call of Duty, blending a deep RPG with some awesome gunplay and weapon upgrades as well as stealth elements. It also sounds like the levels will be much larger, focusing on non-linear gameplay and sandbox survival elements with a dynamic weather system. Our hands-on time with the game from E3 2018 attests to this.

Like the original games, your choices and interactions in the world will affect your experience. The prior games offered multiple endings based on these choices, and now it will involve companions who will join you on this adventure, adding a new level of choice/consequence.

Is Metro Exodus Xbox One X Enhanced?

Yes it is! Metro Exodus will be running on an upgraded version of the 4A engine that powered Last Light and is made for 4K on the Xbox One X with intricately detailed characters, crisp textures, and impressive sight lines. It will also have full HDR support at launch.

What versions of the game will be available?

The Standard Edition of Metro Exodus will include the base game and pre-orders will receive a free copy of Metro 2033 Redux when Exodus is released. The Gold Edition includes the base game, the pre-order bonus (Metro 2033 Redux), and the Metro Exodus Expansion Pass. There’s also a Spartan Edition that includes an incredible resin statue and other goodies. Learn more about that version here on MetroTheGame.com.

Previous Xbox Wire coverage:

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One, read on below and click on each of the game profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to change).

Games

January 07, 2019

An online multiplayer combat experience where you are placed behind the mask of a Prospect by the ever-present Guides, rulers of the fallen Adal Empire that will determine your worth in joining their elite corps of enforcers. Wander forsaken lands, encounter others to learn new combat skills, acquire weapons and armor, and engage in solo duels and intense three-on-three battles. Absolver will also be available for Xbox Game Pass members.

Games

January 10, 2019

A 3 v 3 competitive game pitting invisible robots against an invincible security squad in high-voltage tactical skirmishes. The robots must sneak around to punch down all the energy extractors on the site while the guards are tasked to spot the attackers. It’s up to you to stop them and put an end to the uprising! Aftercharge will also be available for Xbox Game Pass members.

 

Games

January 11, 2019

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tales of Vesperia and the return of this fan-favorite with the Definitive Edition. Tales of Vesperia is one of the most beloved entries in the ‘Tales of’ series and returns with beautifully remastered full HD graphics, never before seen characters, expanded story, and much more!

Games

January 11, 2019

Xbox One X Enhanced – Assume the role of the Jumpers and blast your way through subterranean alien hives in chaotic run-and-gun 2D platforming action. Up to four players can band together via local multiplayer to destroy aliens, avoid traps, collect treasures and lost relics. Win the final battle against the hive queen to save the galaxy!

 

Games

January 11, 2019

Arcade style, top down 2.5D space shooter where intense action is the focus and choosing the right education could pay off. Manage your Space Bucks to destroy your student loans before you die. If you succeed your score could sing your praises through all of Valhalla.

With 2018 behind us, we here at Xbox Wire decided that now would be the perfect time to start looking ahead to some of the big games coming out in 2019. There are already a lot of them on the books, many of which will be coming out during the first few months of the year. While there’s already a decent amount of info on these titles, we’ve found that it can be tough to figure out details with all of the information spread out across the web. So, with that in mind, we’ll be spending the rest of the year taking a closer look at some of 2019’s biggest games and pulling together as much info as we can into one place. Today, we look at Capcom’s Devil May Cry 5. 

How would you describe DMC5 in a sentence?

Combo-heavy, sword-n-gun gameplay which Capcom refers to as “stylish mayhem,” unfolding at a silky smooth 60 fps.

What do we know about the story so far?

As you might expect, Devil May Cry 5 picks up a few years after DMC4 (and DMC2; the series is somewhat out of linear order) – but since that was more than 10 years ago, here’s a refresher: Demon Hunter Dante has been around since the first game, taking on all manner of abominations from the Demon World, whose leader was defeated by Dante’s father long ago. During the events of DMC4, young Demon Hunter Nero appears, and, ultimately, the two end up on the same side (against evil, obviously). Both characters will be playable in DMC5, along with a new Demon Hunter, V, who appears to have a very different skillset than either Nero or Dante. 

Wait, wasn’t there a Devil May Cry more recently than 2008?

Yes! But note that Ninja Theory’s 2013 Xbox 360 release DmC actually takes place in a different universe/timeline (!). The Definitive Edition is available now on Xbox Game Pass if you’ve never given it a go.

Is there anything I can watch to get a better idea of what’s going on?

Capcom isn’t kidding with that “stylish mayhem” description. This Devil Breaker trailer (named for the replaceable arms that serve as Nero’s differentiating gameplay mechanic) delivers among other things: hideous demons, powerbombs (yes, the wrestling move), Nero surfing on his own arm, a car getting bicycle kicked, and a motorcycle turned into dual sawblade melee weapons, all in buttery smooth 60 fps.

Devil May Cry? I’m more of a Mega Man fan.

So weird that you’d say this! Fortunately there’s something for you too.

Is it Xbox One X Enhanced?

Nero will be immaculately coiffed in 4K HDR glory (that’s a yes, btw)

When do you get to play it?

March 8th, 2019

Ugh, that’s forever from now!

Well then, you can slake your thirst for decapitating demons by downloading the Xbox One-exclusive demo, right here, right now! Also, there’s never been a better time to get up to speed on the series, as Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition is included in Xbox Game Pass. You’ve got that, don’t you? It’s only a dollar for the first month.

What versions of the game will be available?

Standard Edition (there are some preorder bonuses going on right now), Deluxe Edition (includes an extra DLC pack containing four additional Devil Breakers for Nero, additional weapon for Dante, alternate style rank announcers, alternate title calls, live action cutscenes, and additional music tracks from the first four Devil May Cry games)

Previous Xbox Wire coverage:

Thanks for reading! Tomorrow we’ll be taking a look at Metro Exodus.

Lives are strange (even stranger in video games). Have you ever jumped into a game because you wanted to be someone else? Like a high school student with superpowers that can stop time, a sneaky invisible robot in space, or perhaps you just want to be a farmer riding his tractor all day. Maybe even be the tractor!

Okay, you can’t be the tractor.

But you can be so many other people thanks to January’s Xbox Game Pass titles! We have many great games coming your way, in addition to the over 100 great games already included in your membership, that run the gamut from the punch in the feelings from the Life is Strange series (which we sneakily added over the holidays), to an actual punch in the face from Just Cause 3.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the new games:

Life is Strange Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) (December 20)
Welcome to the portside town of Arcadia Bay. In the seminal award-winning narrative adventure game Life is Strange, you play as Max, a high school senior who discovers that not only can she rewind time, but that all her actions, no matter how big or small, have consequences that will last a lifetime.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm (Episodes 1-3) (December 27)
A three-episode arc taking place years before the first game, Before the Storm puts you in the shoes of Chloe Price, whose rebellious character formed much of original game’s tone. As Chloe struggles with difficult changes in her own life, she will need to support her friend Rachel whose world continues to be rocked and shaken.

Life is Strange 2: Part 1 (January 3)
A new adventure with new characters and the prevailing themes of friendship, family, and mystery the series has come to be known for. Life is Strange 2 will follow the path of two brothers, Sean and Daniel Diaz, as they are forced to flee from their home after an unexplainable and tragic event. Experience this first episode with Xbox Game Pass, plus look out for episodes 2-5 coming to Xbox Game Pass soon.

Ark: Survival Evolved (January 3)
Ever wanted to run around on a mysterious, futuristic island full of giant dinosaurs? Cool, we thought so too. Which is why we’re bringing Ark: Survival Evolved to Xbox Game Pass in January. You’ll have to craft, hunt, and survive against not only the ferocious local wildlife, but the hundreds of other players as well all in the hopes of escaping the shores of this deadly island.

Farming Simulator 17 (January 3)
It’s time to live out your dream as a farmer, but without that whole, getting dirt under your fingernails business. In Farming Simulator 17 you will have access to over 250 vehicles and equipment to help harvest a variety of crops, take care of livestock, and then sell your goods to your local market and continue to expand your farming empire so you can take over the world… ok, maybe that’s too far. But you can ride a tractor!

Absolver (January 7)
Live out a life as martial arts expert focused on a variety of fighting skills, weapon knowledge, and hand-to-hand combat in the competitive, online world of Absolver. Journey across forsaken lands and come face to face with others like you, learning new combat skills, obtaining new weapons, gear, and armor along the way, all in the hopes of being considered worthy enough to be welcomed into the corps of the Absolvers.

Just Cause 3 (January 10)
Cause chaos on a massive scale to take down a Mediterranean island’s evil dictator. Return as Rico Rodriguez in the third entry of this awesome open world action game that lets you skydive, swoop across mountain ranges, hijack vehicles, and experiment in all sorts of unique, hilarious, and explosive ways to get your mission done.

Aftercharge (January 10)
Aftercharge is a bit like a cat and mouse game. But in space. With invisible robots (and no cats). With teamwork at its core, two teams of three players compete against one another – one must sneak across the battlefield to shatter six cylinders; the other is completely invincible, armed to the teeth, and must stop that from happening. Both teams need to work together, either coordinating attacks or creating distractions, all in the hopes of coming out on top.

Join Xbox Game Pass Today

With over 100 great games for one low monthly price, including highly-anticipated new Xbox One exclusives the day they’re released, including the highest-rated* Xbox exclusive of this generation Forza Horizon 4, plus more games added all the time, Xbox Game Pass gives you the ultimate freedom to play. If you haven’t tried Xbox Game Pass, join today and get your first month for $1, and discover your next favorite game.

For the latest Xbox Game Pass news, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, download the Xbox Game Pass app for Android and iOS and keep it tuned here to Xbox Wire. Until next month, game on!

*Source: Metacritic

With 2018 coming to a close, we here at Xbox Wire decided that now would be the perfect time to start looking ahead to some of the big games coming out in 2019. There are already a lot of them on the books, many of which will be coming out during the first few months of the year. While there’s already a decent amount of info on these titles, we’ve found that it can be tough to figure out details with all of the information spread out across the web. So, with that in mind, we’ll be spending the rest of the year taking a closer look at some of 2019’s biggest games and pulling together as much info as we can into one place. Today, we look at Anthem from Electronic Arts.

When was Anthem announced?

Anthem was originally announced at E3 2017.

When will Anthem be released?

Anthem launches on February 22 on Xbox One.

What sort of game is Anthem?

Anthem is a multiplayer action RPG that thrusts you into a savage world filled with threats. You’ll assume the role of a Freelancer, a job that entails using your super-powered exosuit to take down enemies and save humanity – all while exploring the marvelous terrain along the way.

Who’s making it?

Anthem is being developed by BioWare, the same studio behind the “Mass Effect” and “Dragon Age” franchises.

What is the story about?

Gods known as the Shapers have harnessed a tool called The Anthem to create the world in which the game takes place – a planet rife with creatures and monsters. However, the gods disappeared before their work was completed, leaving behind the various instruments they’ve used to construct the world. The overwhelming power that these tools contain, known as The Anthem, have caused insanely strong cataclysms to occur, posing threats to mankind.

This is where those javelin exosuits come in. The handcrafted armor endows you with superhuman abilities and was created to help humanity survive the harsh conditions created by the planet’s ancestors.

That might sound like an enormous undertaking, but you won’t be tackling this challenge alone. Your crew is well-equipped to help you navigate these missions, with each member offering its own advantage and perspective. Haluk is a legendary Freelancer that younger Freelancers look up to, while Fay Navine possesses the rare gift of mental communication. Owen Corely is a new Freelancer largely defined by his ambition and enthusiasm.

Tell me more about these javelin suits.

The world of Anthem includes four different types of javelin exosuits, which players can unlock as they progress through the game. Each javelin is equipped with its own unique characteristics, and players will be able to jump between them to upgrade the skills of their pilot as well as their javelins.

Players start the game with the versatile combat-ready Ranger javelin, known for its focus on precise damage and access to a wide variety of weapons. The Colossus javelin is a powerhouse with an appetite for destruction that’s ideal for fending off hordes of enemies, while the small and sleek Interceptor offers superior evasion and agility. The Storm javelin is powered by elemental forces that enable pilots to float above the ground, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of defense making it best-suited for experts.

What will multiplayer gameplay be like?

Anthem is designed to be played with a team, especially when it comes to combat. With a full team, you can divide and conquer rather than spending most of the match dodging hits from enemy waves. You’ll be able to jump into a friend’s mission at any point and won’t be disadvantaged if you’re at a significantly lower power level than the people you’re playing with. And if your whole team wants to use the same type of javelin, that’s also totally fine. Anthem doesn’t require specific roles to be filled on a team like some traditional RPGs.

What’s the combat like?

Your javelin exosuit provides a range of tools to help you in battle, enabling you to move effortlessly throughout the battlefield to attack enemies at range and up-close. Striking an enemy’s weak spots will deal bonus damage, and Ultimate Abilities such as the Colossus javelin’s Siege Cannon can result in devastatingly effective blows. Javelins are also designed to be highly customizable so that you can adjust its qualities based on your play style. As you progress through the game, you’ll collect equipment that can be used to upgrade your javelin’s capabilities.

Will I be able to play it before launch?

Yes, there will be a VIP Demo and an Open Demo prior to launch. The VIP will take place from Jan. 25-Jan. 27, and there are three ways to gain access: pre-ordering Anthem, subscribing to EA All Access or subscribing to Origin All Access during the demo period. The Open Demo will take place from Feb. 1-3 that will be available to everyone on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.

Is Anthem Xbox One X Enhanced?

It sure is!

What versions of the game will be available?

Standard Edition which includes a pre-order incentive which includes the Legion of Dawn Ranger Armor Pack and Legendary weapon, Founders banner, plus VIP access to pre-launch demos. The Legion of Dawn Edition gives you the complete set of Legion of Dawn Javelin Armor Packs, Legendary weapon and gear attachment, and digital soundtrack. Pre-orders also receive the Anthem Pre-Order Bonus, which includes VIP Access to pre-launch demos.

Previous Xbox Wire coverage:

On Wednesday we’ll take a look at Ubisoft’s The Division 2.

With 2018 coming to a close, we here at Xbox Wire decided that now would be the perfect time to start looking ahead to some of the big games coming out in 2019. There are already a lot of them on the books, many of which will be coming out during the first few months of the year. While there’s already a decent amount of info on these titles, we’ve found that it can be tough to figure out details with all of the information spread out across the web. So, with that in mind, we’ll be spending the rest of the year taking a closer look at some of 2019’s biggest games and pulling together as much info as we can into one place. Today, we look at Capcom’s Resident Evil 2.

What do we know about the story so far?

Ah, 1998… when receiving email was so much fun, they made a movie about it. Fortunately we had Resident Evil 2 to distract us, a definite high point in the long-running series. While the original Resident Evil has been revisited a number of times, it’s only now that Resident Evil 2 is getting a chance to spook us again (or for the first time).

Resident Evil 2, coming to Xbox One next month, will be a complete remake of the original game; bye bye fixed camera angles and tank controls! And thanks to the RE Engine that powered last year’s terrifying Resident Evil 7 biohazard, RE2 should simultaneously be more beautiful and horrifying than we could ever have imagined in the 90s. Including Savage Garden.

In case you forgot (or were too young to play the original), RE2 largely follows college student Claire Redfield (sister of series mainstay Chris) and rookie Racoon City cop Leon S. Kennedy, who’s having the worst first day of work ever. A big part of the value of Resident Evil 2 is the ability to play through the game’s events from both of their perspectives. As this Story Trailer shows, young Sherry Birkin and the fashionably mysterious Ada Wong will also play a role, but… I’ll leave you to discover that yourself.

Watch this: Capcom has released a number of trailers and gameplay segments for Resident Evil 2, but if you want to have a good idea of how intense, frightening, and gross this game is going to be, I highly recommend this “Licker gameplay video.” Yep, I’ll be playing this with the lights on.

When do you get to play it?

Resident Evil 2 will be released on January 25, 2019.

Is Resident Evil 2 Xbox One X Enhanced?

You bet it is!

What versions of the game will be available?

Standard Edition (includes Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield Samurai Edge Deluxe Weapons), Deluxe Edition (everything in Standard Edition plus Extra DLC Pack which includes 5 additional costumes, a specially-designed handgun, and the classic in-game soundtrack. weapon, and the original soundtrack)

Previous Xbox Live coverage:

Resident Evil 2 Remake Coming to Xbox One on January 25

On Monday, we’ll take a closer look at EA’s Anthem.