Category: Xbox News

After discovering a mysterious Ubersreik Lodestone, it’ll be up to the heroes of Warhammer: Vermintide 2 to fight their way through the illusion of the city of Ubersreik to unearth the truth hidden deep within the city. This is the foundation of the latest DLC, Back to Ubersreik, that’s available now on Xbox One.

Three Remastered Classics

With Back to Ubersreik, players can revisit three of their favorite levels from the original game. The levels Horn of Magnus, Gardens of Morr, and Engines of War have been revamped to fit the higher standards of Vermintide 2. If you wish to know more about the process of bringing the levels from Vermintide 1 to Vermintide 2, you can find a dev blog about it ​here​.

A City in Rubbles

Ubersreik lies at the mouth of the Grey Lady Pass and is claimed to be the birthplace of Sigmar. Of course, our heroes have been here before and left the entire city in ruins. When they discover the Ubersreik Lodestone, Olesya knows that the heroes must return. There’s something they must find, and the heroes can only find it in Ubersreik. There is little left of the former Ubersreik and finding what they seek can be difficult. To solve this, Olesya creates an illusion of the city, but as they enter, she realizes something is not quite right. The Ubersreik five are now facing an entirely new challenge in a familiar place.

New Quest, Challenges, and Weapons

Not only does the DLC contain three remastered levels from Vermintide 1, but we’ve added five new weapons with illusions, so you can complete the new quests and challenges in style.

We’re excited to bring some of the amazing maps from Vermintide 1 into Vermintide 2. We hope that players will enjoy experiencing them as much as we enjoyed breathing new life into them. It was a labor of love and we hope it will bring you many new and challenging adventures.

Back to Ubersreik DLC is available on the Microsoft Store for Xbox One and contains three remastered Ubersreik levels: The Horn of Magnus, Garden of Morr, and Engines of War as well as new quests, challenges, weapons, and illusions.

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!

343 Industries’ Bonnie Ross to be Inducted Into the AIAS Hall of Fame
Today, we are happy to share that the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced its 23rd Hall of Fame recipient: Bonnie Ross, Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Head of 343 Industries. Ross has been integral… Read more

Xbox Celebrates Your Year in Gaming
This is our favorite time of year when we can all come together and celebrate community shenanigans. We marvel at how one million of you managed to reach the top 10 in a battle royale without panning anyone, just as much as we relish… Read more

New Games with Gold for January 2019
Welcome to another Games with Gold reveal for Xbox One and Xbox 360! In January on Xbox One, play the highly acclaimed platformer Celeste, then show off your mud-driving skills in WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship. On Xbox 360 and… Read more

NFL Running Back Todd Gurley to Play Madden NFL 19 on Next Xbox Live Sessions
Have you ever wanted to see the Los Angeles Rams’ running back Todd Gurley play as himself in the newest Madden? If so, you are in luck! Todd will join the next episode of Xbox Live Sessions on Friday, December 21 at 4 p.m. PST to play Madden NFL 19… Read more

Celebrating Gaming, Community and What #MyXbox Can Mean for You
Xbox recently hosted a celebration of gaming with a #MyXbox holiday event at the Flagship Microsoft Store in New York City. I’m on the Xbox Community Team and had the pleasure of serving as event emcee and helped lead this gathering that… Read more

Operation Absolute Zero Brings a New Kind of Cold War to Black Ops 4
Hello, Xbox fans! Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s Operation Absolute Zero starts December 18. This second free season of content introduces a new Specialist to the line-up, along with tons of gameplay and customization items. In Blackout, winter has arrived… Read more

Insight from the Developer of the Action Shooter Rival Megagun, Available Now on Xbox One
I’ve been passionate about game development since childhood. I started with software like level and map editors, Klik & Play, Multimedia Fusion, and Flash. This led me to discover my love for programming. In 2013 I finished a computer systems degree… Read more

New Reserve Parque Fernando Available Now for theHunter: Call of the Wild on Xbox One
There are few things quite as exciting for a development team as releasing new content. Months or years of hard work finally bear fruit, and the creators behind it can finally step back to listen to the reactions and feedback from players… Read more

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is the journey of a broken Celtic warrior on a vision quest to save the soul of her dead lover from Viking Hell. Hellblade was developed and published independently by a small team with a limited budget. As such, our developers… Read more

What’s Hellfront: Honeymoon and How to Be Really, Really Good at It
Now that Hellfront: Honeymoon has launched on Xbox One, it’s time to ask yourself: What is it, and more importantly, how do you get better at it than your friends? No worries! The developers of SkyGoblin are here to help answer these profoundly important questions… Read more

39 Days to Mars Coming Soon to Xbox One
I’m excited to announce that 39 Days to Mars will be coming to Xbox One in 2019! 39 Days to Mars is a co-operative steampunk puzzle-adventure game, that’s been designed from the very start to support two people playing together. You step into the shoes… Read more

Journey to Find The First Tree, Available Now on Xbox One
I never thought I’d say this, but after all the blood, sweat, and tears, The First Tree is available today on Xbox One. Why is that unbelievable? I started this project as a simple way to tell a story and deal with the ideas of death, loss, and hope, and I didn’t think… Read more

State of Decay 2 Soundtrack Available on Vinyl Today
As 4 million players have been writing their own survival story in State of Decay 2, they’ve been enjoying BAFTA award-winning and Billboard / MTV VMA nominated Danish composer’s Jesper Kyd soundtrack, which is available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon… Read more

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Now Available with Xbox Game Pass
As if you needed any more reason to pick up Xbox Game Pass – Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is now available for Xbox Game Pass members! With its release into the catalog today, Xbox Game Pass members will have the chance to join Senua… Read more

The NBA and NHL seasons are underway, the playoff picture is taking shape in the NFL, and qualifications for the Champions League knockout stage have begun. And, it’s also time for Xbox players to hit the pitch, gridiron, court, and rink, as the EA Sports Bundle has arrived with four great sports games for the price of one. That’s right, you can enjoy a discount from December 21 to January 3 as part of Countdown Sale, which delivers a 20% discount to this four-game bundle. Let’s break down each game that’s part of the bundle.

FIFA 19 delivers a champion-caliber experience on and off the pitch. Led by the prestigious UEFA Champions League, it offers enhanced gameplay features that allow you to control the pitch in every moment. There are new and unrivaled ways to play, too, including a dramatic finale to the story of Alex Hunter in The Journey: Champions, a new mode in the ever-popular FIFA Ultimate Team, and more. Champions rise in FIFA 19.

If you choose to cross over from the pitch onto the hardwood, you’ll get the chance to dunk over the competition in NBA Live 19. You can become The One and embark on a dynamic career experience that gives you the opportunity to create your legacy on The Streets and in The League. When you’re not turning your created player into a hoops legend, make sure to play the Build Your Squad mode by beating other squads and recruiting their best players to join your own. Real Player Motion, Female Create-a-Player, and an all-new Icon Progression System have made this the deepest NBA game we’ve ever created. In addition, the Canvas Program lets you win unique elements to add to your own personalized court, the Creator Challenge brings some of the biggest celebrities, streamers, and personalities right to your console, and LiveStrike gives your created player the freshest clothes to rock on the court.

Go from the courts to the gridiron and score big touchdowns in Madden NFL 19. With it, you’ll be able to play out the most in-depth career mode as quarterback Devin Wade, making his comeback story come true. If you want to take the reins of your favorite team, you’ll now get the chance to start your own franchise where you make all the decisions yourself. And in Madden Ultimate Team, you can play against other gamers online with a team you make comprised of current and historical NFL greats. Build your own fantasy roster, upgrade your players through solo challenges and online matches, and take advantage of regularly updated in-game opportunities like Zero Chill to win exclusive players for your MUT squad.

Xbox players can journey from the pitch, to the courts, to the gridiron, and then go from the ponds to the pros in NHL 19, the most fun and immersive experience in hockey gaming to date. Create your own character and jump onto outdoor rinks for the first time in franchise history, playing in multiple game modes with your one-of-a-kind skater or goalie. Then compete with or against the all-time greats, as Legend and Alumni players like Wayne Gretzky are found in Hockey Ultimate Team and Pro-Am modes. Real Player Motion technology is also in NHL 19, bringing you closer to the ice than ever before, delivering precise control over your skating and hitting that makes for bigger and more exciting moments.

Get ready for the holidays and make sure you think about all the gamers in your life! Gift the EA Sports Bundle to your favorite sports fan through the Microsoft Store when you choose “Buy as gift.”

The Countdown sale officially starts today and now is the perfect opportunity to give thrills with great deals on all things Xbox. Microsoft Store online and Xbox have hundreds of deals for Xbox fans, including savings of up to 65% on select Xbox One and Xbox 360 digital games, discounts on select Xbox consoles and accessories, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold each for $1 the first month, as well as deals on select Movies and TV shows, apps for Xbox, and PC games.

There is still time to give thrills with last minute deals on great gifts that you can either buy online and pick it up at a Microsoft Store location near you (US and AU only) or send the gift of digital games and apps from Microsoft Store.

Save on Xbox Digital Games

Now is the time to take advantage of great discounts and save up to 65% on more than 800 deals between Xbox One and Xbox 360 including new releases like Forza Horizon 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Red Dead Redemption 2, Battlefield V, smash hit Tom Clancy’s The Division and the award winning Forza Motorsport 7. There also are first-time discounts on Just Cause 4, Hitman 2 and Spyro Reignited Trilogy as well as even deeper discounts on best-selling titles like Rainbow Six Siege. Additionally, there’s a wide selection of discounted family content games, game bundles, and add-on content, plus over 200 Xbox One deals priced at $10 or less.

Don’t forget that Xbox Live Gold members save up to 10 percent more on most deals during the Countdown sale.

Get Your First Month of Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold for $1

• Get your first month of Xbox Game Pass for $1 and enjoy unlimited access to over 100+ games including new first party releases. Sign in to save. Promotional $1 offer not valid for existing members.*
• Not Gold? Get your first month of Xbox Live Gold for $1 and take advantage of exclusive savings and join the best community of gamers on the most advanced multiplayer network. Sign in to save. Promotional $1 offer not valid for existing members.*

 Save on Xbox Consoles and accessories

• For a limited time, save $100 on select Xbox One consoles including popular bundles like Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, Fallout 76, Fortnite, Minecraft, and more, all starting at $199 (now through 12/25/2018).
• Receive a digital code redeemable for Gears of War 4 for free ($39.99 MSRP value) with the purchase of any Xbox One S, Xbox One X or Xbox Wireless controller at participating retailers worldwide (digital code emailed 10 days post-purchase; available now through 1/31/2019).
• Get free engraving when you personalize your Xbox Design Lab controller (now through 12/31/2018).

 Save on popular Movies & TV Shows, Apps, and PC Games

• Save up to 50% on select hit movies and TV Shows including Avengers: Infinity War and Mission: Impossible Fallout, plus even bigger discounts on a different daily deal Dec. 21 – Dec. 31.
• Save big top apps for Xbox including Dolby Access, Nitrado, Amazon Music, and more.
• Save up to 50% on popular PC games including Forza Horizon 4, Sea of Thieves, Age of Empires Definitive Edition, Minecraft Starter Pack, ARK: Survival Evolved, and more.

All of these deals are available on console and online at Microsoft Store and Xbox.com starting today, so take advantage of the great deals before they end on January 3, 2019 (or as otherwise noted above).  Availability and pricing varies by location. May not be combinable with other offers. Other limitations may apply. Not valid on prior orders or purchases. See webpage for each offer’s specific details.

* After promotional period, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold subscriptions continue to be charged at the then-current regular monthly price (subject to change) plus applicable taxes, unless cancelled. Credit card required. Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold offers not valid for existing subscribers; Game catalog varies over time.  Limit: 1 Gold offer and 1 Game Pass offer per account. Valid at Microsoft Store online or in-console in all Xbox Live markets excluding Quebec. Some Xbox Game Pass games also require Xbox Live Gold to play on Xbox (subscription sold separately).

Have you ever wanted to see the Los Angeles Rams’ running back Todd Gurley play as himself in the newest Madden? If so, you are in luck! Todd will join the next episode of Xbox Live Sessions on Friday, December 21 at 4 p.m. PST to play Madden NFL 19 on Xbox’s Mixer and YouTube and Twitch channels.

Hosted by artist Trey Smith, Todd will play Madden NFL 19 on Xbox One X. Tune in to see him achieve gridiron greatness by training his favorite players to build his ultimate team dynasty. Who will he select to be on his team? What does he think of his in-game character? There’s only one way to find out! You might also pick up some tips and tricks on how to win against your friends or family over the holidays.

Madden NFL 19 gives you game-changing control on and off the field and enhanced by Real Player Motion by delivering you gameplay control with precision and intent. Create and share custom Draft Classes, design your game strategy, progress your players and execute your game plan with all new positional archetypes in Franchise. Explore all-new ways to train your favorite players to fit your roster and lead your team to glory.

Don’t miss your chance to see Todd Gurley and host Trey Smith play Madden NFL 19 on Friday, December 21 at 4 p.m. PST on Mixer and YouTube and Twitch.

Be sure to keep a look out for more episodes of Xbox Live Sessions via Xbox Wire!

Welcome to another Games with Gold reveal for Xbox One and Xbox 360! In January on Xbox One, play the highly acclaimed platformer Celeste, then show off your mud-driving skills in WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship. On Xbox 360 and Xbox One via Backward Compatibility, get set to raid more tombs in Lara Croft: Guardian of Light, and then fight your way across deserts, jungles, and savannas in Far Cry 2.

All games will be available exclusively for Xbox Live Gold members for a limited time as part of Games with Gold. With Xbox Live Gold, you get the most advanced multiplayer service, free games, and exclusive member discounts on games in the Microsoft Store — get Xbox Live Gold today to get in on the action!

• Celeste ($19.99 ERP): Available January 1 to 31 on Xbox One
• WRC 6 ($49.99 ERP): Available January 16 to February 15 on Xbox One
• Lara Croft: Guardian of Light ($14.99 ERP): Available January 1 to 15 on Xbox One and Xbox 360
• Far Cry 2 ($19.99 ERP): Available January 16 to 31 on Xbox One and Xbox 360

Celeste

Recent winner of The Game Awards 2018 Best Independent Game category. Help Madeline survive her inner demons and scale to the top of Celeste mountain in this tight, narrative-driven platformer. You’ll uncover a multitude of devious secrets and side chapters in 700+ screens of hardcore challenges, built into a touching story of self-discovery. Don’t miss out on this highly acclaimed title.

WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship

On a race track, the car makes all the difference. In a rally, it’s all on you. Take your driving skills to the limit in World Rally Championship 6. Whether fog, mud, or punctured tires, you’ll deal with it all, in 11 Super Special Stages including local split-screen multiplayer. Experience rally racing like never before.

Lara Croft: Guardian of Light

Team up with a friend or go it alone in Lara Croft: Guardian of Light. In this co-op action-adventure title, traverse and solve deadly traps, fight hordes of the undead and collect over 60 artifacts and relics with the help a 2,000-year-old Mayan warrior. Retrieve the ancient Mirror of Smoke and stop the forces of evil.

Far Cry 2

Survive war-torn Africa and eliminate the mysterious Jackal in Far Cry 2. The first sequel in the award-winning franchise features real-time storytelling, where every decision you make will affect the final outcome of the game. Use cunning, subversion and brute force to exploit your enemies and fulfill your deadly mission.

Read more about our Games with Gold program here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire for all the latest news on Xbox. Also, check out more than 100 great games in Xbox Game Pass included in its monthly membership that you can try free for 14 days.

Xbox recently hosted a celebration of gaming with a #MyXbox holiday event at the Flagship Microsoft Store in New York City. I’m on the Xbox Community Team and had the pleasure of serving as event emcee and helped lead this gathering that, of course, included all of the usual holiday party standbys like games, music, food, and fun. It also provided the time and space for us to celebrate the importance of diversity and inclusion in our industry. It was a moment for myself and other members of the Black community of all ages to come together, much like any other community, through their love of gaming.

Now, more than ever, I am a firm believer in games as a great unifier. However, even as we all strive to be understanding, we still need to make a conscious effort to ensure everyone feels included. After all, we know that when everybody plays, we all win.

To that end, the team from Xbox welcomed actor, musician and avid Xbox gamer Trey Smith and Power 105.1 The Breakfast Club host Angela Yee to the Store to inspire and motivate younger gamers to get into games and bring their imaginations to life. Kids and their family members and mentors from the Harlem Children’s Zone, Royalty Project and Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club enjoyed playing some of the hottest games on Xbox and designing their own versions of the new Xbox Avatars.

In addition to giving away some great prizes, including Xbox One S consoles, games, and Xbox Game Pass memberships, other highlights included a photo booth and “Forza Horizon 4” stream with Trey Smith on the Xbox Ambassadors Mixer channel.

As a life-long Xbox fan, I cherish the opportunity to empower Xbox fans to help make the Xbox community not only the best on the planet, but also a place where everyone feels welcomed and included. If you are an Xbox fan and want to help celebrate the Xbox community and all the ways we make gaming for everyone, here are a few easy ways to jump in on the fun:

1. Become an Xbox Ambassador – Xbox Ambassadors are the leaders of the Xbox community. Whether they are welcoming a new Xbox gamer into the community or playing with a new friend from a different country, they represent all the best parts of gaming – fun and togetherness. If making Xbox fun for everyone is something that interests you (and you are 17 years or older), become an Xbox Ambassador today!
2. Create your Xbox Avatar – The new Xbox Avatars are expressive, creative and, most importantly, bring to life the community of fans they represent. They appear throughout the Xbox One dashboard, including on profiles, Gamerscore comparisons, community posts and more.
3. Join Clubs on Xbox Live – Clubs are groups on Xbox Live created by the Xbox community for people to play and socialize. You can join or create clubs that interest you, so that you can be sure to share the things you love with other like-minded gamers.
4. Create a “Looking for Group” (LFG) Post – It’s easy to make new friends and play the games you love by creating an LFG post or responding to one created by someone else on Xbox Live. With LFG you can looking for gaming sessions that fit your style.

The wondrous look on the faces of young gamers at the event was proof of the power of gaming to make everyone, everywhere have fun together and celebrate this holiday. Everyone’s #MyXbox story is different and unique to them. So, get out there and show us how YOU Xbox this holiday.

Hello, Xbox fans! Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s Operation Absolute Zero starts December 18. This second free season of content introduces a new Specialist to the line-up, along with tons of gameplay and customization items. In Blackout, winter has arrived, but the action heats up with a brand-new destination and a turret-mounted vehicle. But, first let’s meet our newest Specialist that’s scripted for disruption…

New Specialist: Zero

Meet Leni Vogel, callsign “Zero.” She’s a self-taught electronic security expert with a penchant for countermeasures and an arsenal of technology-crippling hacks. Zero’s Special Issue Equipment, the Disruptor, does a number on enemy tech: this tactical EMP grenade zeroes out equipment and disrupts the enemy’s heads-up display.

Blackout Updates

Drop into Blackout’s newest destination: Hijacked. This Black Ops II luxury yacht is anchored just off the coast, ready to board. While exploring what’s on deck, clear the craft of enemies and gear up for the final circle. Navigate this upscale locale from bow to stern for loot, nostalgia and maybe a few surprises as well.

There’s a new vehicle you can pick up and drive in Blackout – the ARAV. Armored and equipped with a turret-mounted machine gun for maximum suppression, this lethal hunk of mobile devastation can plow through stoutly defended enemy positions and take a good amount of damage in the process. Find Blackout’s newest vehicle and motor through the map with armored confidence.

Winter has come to Blackout for a limited time and left behind a dusting of snow in the mountains and seasonal décor across the landscape so you can loot with cheer. This holiday upgrade isn’t purely decorative. You’ll find piles of snowballs throughout Blackout that you’re free to pick up and throw at unsuspecting foes with abandon. Each snowball deals a small amount of damage that makes for a festive, freezing final blow to a downed opponent. Look out for these updates on December 20.

New Black Market Gear

Operation Absolute Zero revamps the Black Market with tons of new items available for all players to unlock throughout the season, including new weapons, Blackout characters, epic outfits, Mastercraft camos, and more. Plus, a limited-time holiday Special Event stream kicks off on December 20, offering festive customization items to don on your character. ‘Tis the season!

A few new weapons join the Black Ops 4 lineup: the SWAT RFT is a well-rounded assault rifle that deals reliable damage and never lets you down in a fight, and the Daemon 3XB is a fast burst-firing SMG to take down enemies in quick succession. You can also take a festive stab at the opposition with the Secret Santa melee weapon. If you’re looking for new Blackout characters, you can’t go wrong dropping into those zombie-infested hot spots with the Original slayers of the undead, Ultimis Nikolai and Dempsey.

Step into battle ready to freeze out the competition with new weapons, characters, Mastercraft guns, epic outfits and more.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Operation Absolute Zero is live now on Xbox One, and it’s a festive Winter celebration to close out 2018 and carry us into the new year. Bundle up and dive into the cool, digitized warfare of Operation Absolute Zero.