Today, we welcome Forza Motorsport 7 to the Xbox Game Pass library. Xbox Game Pass members can now experience the thrill of motorsport at the limit with the most comprehensive, beautiful, and authentic racing game ever made.
Forza Motorsport 7 is where racers, drifters, drag racers, tuners, and creators come together in a community devoted to everything automotive. Drive the cars of your dreams, with more than 700 amazing vehicles to choose from including the largest collection of Ferraris, Porsches, and Lamborghinis ever. Challenge yourself across 30 famous destinations and 200 ribbons, where race conditions change every time you return to the track.
With Xbox Game Pass, players on Xbox One X and Windows 10 PC can now experience all this in gorgeous 60fps and native 4K resolution in HDR. And with the upcoming launch of Xbox Series X|S, Forza Motorsport 7 is completely transformed by fast loading via the Xbox Velocity Architecture. Moving from race-to-race will feel almost instantaneous – there’s barely enough time to catch your breath as you traverse the globe.
Through cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, members have even more choice in how they play, and can discover the freedom and flexibility the cloud brings while playing Forza Motorsport 7. Because your Xbox profile resides in the cloud, you can easily continue the racing career that you began on your living-room Xbox console on your Android phone or tablet. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members playing on Android can also race with (or against) players on PC and console. If you’re not an Xbox Game Pass member but are intrigued to join and play Forza Motorsport 7 and a library of over 100 high-quality games, new members canjoin Xbox Game Pass Ultimate today for $1 for the first month, then $14.99 per month after that.
Stay tuned to Xbox Wire for more on the Forza franchise.
Forza Motorsport 7 Standard Edition
Microsoft Studios
☆☆☆☆☆96985
★★★★★
Xbox One X Enhanced
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Experience the thrill of motorsport at the limit with the most comprehensive, beautiful and authentic racing game ever made. Forza Motorsport 7 is where Racers, Drifters, Drag Racers, Tuners, and Creators come together in a community devoted to everything automotive. Drive the cars of your dreams, with more than 700 amazing vehicles to choose from including the largest collection of Ferraris, Porsches, and Lamborghinis ever. Challenge yourself across 30 famous destinations and 200 Tracks, where race conditions change every time you return to the Track. Experience it all in gorgeous 60fps and native 4K resolution in HDR! New features include:
• Improved Drift, Drag, & Time Attack
• New modes: Tag, Virus & Pass the IT
• Improved Lighting, Graphics & Shadows
• Drift Steering Angle Upgrade and Scoring
• New Race Shop
• Upgraded Multiplayer
• Improved Force Feedback
• New Multiplayer Meetups
• New Track Limits Xbox Play Anywhere requires digital purchase. Features may vary between Xbox One and Windows 10 versions of game. Xbox One game disc for use only with Xbox One systems. Xbox Live Gold membership (sold separately) required for online multiplayer on Xbox One. Cross-device play only in Xbox Live-supported countries; see http://www.xbox.com/live/countries. Some music features may not be available in some countries. Visit http://forzamotorsport.net for additional information. PHOTOSENSITIVITY SEIZURE WARNING: A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games. Visit Xbox.com for more information.
Just six weeks from today, we continue our journey with the launch of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Jumping into the next generation of gaming with you – the player – at the center, we are working with creators around the globe to empower everyone to play the games they want, with the friends they want, when and where they want. With both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, you will be able to play thousands of titles spanning four generations of gaming, from the most creative and innovative teams across the industry. And it’s thanks to those ambitious game creators that there are thousands more to come.
This will be a massive moment for gamers and we’re excited to bring it to life with Xbox Game Pass and the amazing franchises from Xbox Game Studios and our industry partners, on day one. Xbox Game Pass connects people with a library of over 100 great games across consoles, PCs and now Android devices. As we announced last week, we now have more than 15 million Xbox Game Pass members from 41 countries. While we’ll continue to update the library with new games and provide great new perks for our Ultimate members, there are a couple of additions coming that I’m really excited about.
EA Play Coming This Holiday
Earlier this month we announced that we’ve teamed up with Electronic Arts to provide Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC members an EA Play membership at no additional cost. Today I’m announcing that starting November 10, EA Play will be available on Xbox consoles, including Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and beginning in December, members with an Ultimate or PC subscription will be able to download and play games from the EA Play library on Windows 10 PCs.* That means we will have a whole new collection of games coming your way on console and PC, and that some of the best EA Play games will also be available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play on Android devices via the cloud.
Bringing Bethesda Games to Xbox Game Pass
As we shared, Bethesda were early supporters of Xbox Game Pass, and we will be adding Bethesda’s iconic franchises to Xbox Game Pass for console and PC. One of the things that has me most excited is seeing the roadmap with Bethesda’s future games, coming to Xbox console and PC including Starfield, the highly anticipated, new space epic currently in development by Bethesda Game Studios and Doom Eternal, which is coming to Xbox Game Pass on October 1 and for PC later in 2020.
We have been waiting for this moment for a long time and now it’s finally here. We are entering the next generation of gaming – and it looks and feels unlike any before it. With cross-play connecting people across platforms, Xbox Game Pass continually bringing new experiences to discover, and cloud gaming making it possible to play anywhere, there have never been more ways to play with Xbox.
*Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details
At Xbox, we believe that gaming is a source of joy, inspiration, and social connection with friends and family – and this is true now more than ever before. With COVID-19 continuing to have impact our daily lives, gaming has helped people stay connected while social distancing. Gaming is a great way to unify and bring people together, but we also believe that gaming should be part of a balanced life as well as safe and welcoming for all, and we know this is especially important to families.
Today, just in time for the new school year, we are launching the Xbox Family Settings app, which is available for free to download for iOS and Android. The app is an important next step in our journey to provide families with the tools they need to help create the right balance of gaming in their lives. Right from their phone, parents and caregivers can easily create child accounts, update screen time limits, respond to notifications, and much more. It’s an easy and simple way to set guardrails on children’s gaming on Xbox One and, come November 10, on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S!
The app has been in preview for the last few months, which has provided valuable customer feedback to help us to refine the experience that is available today. We are also thrilled to unveil three new app features that parents and caregivers can manage right from their fingertips:
Accept or decline friends your child wants to add
View and manage your child’s friends list
Proactively grant your child more screen time – this was a common suggestion from our users during preview. Thank you for the feedback!
How to Use the Xbox Family Settings app
An important first step to using the app is to ensure that each child has their own child or teen account. And setting up a child account is quick and easy through the app and on average, takes just minutes.
Once a child account has been set up, parents and caregivers can customize access to gaming for each child:
Screen time limits – set limits for each day of the week; for example, you can allow for more game time on the weekends or reduce it during the school week. And a new feature available today allows parents to proactive grant additional screen time – a great option if they did well on a test or completed their homework!
Content filters – set filters based on the age of each child; for example, an 8-year-old can only access games that are rated E and will be blocked from accessing titles that are intended for more mature players
Play and communication settings – choose the option to block all access to play and communication with other players, limit access to “friends only” or grant permission for older children to play and chat with “everyone”
Friends list – new with the app is the ability to approve or decline friend requests your child has made to add friends; parents can also view their friends list
Activity reports – view daily and weekly activity reports for each child to understand how they are spending their time on Xbox
The app also includes a feature to easily enable access and multiplayer capability for Minecraft, which is rated E10+. Sometimes parents of younger children want to provide access to Minecraft and possibly enable online play with their friends, and a convenient toggle in the app unlocks those specific capabilities quickly. We received positive feedback on this feature from users and we may include similar functionality for other games in the future.
We know that one-size does not fit all and it’s so important that as parents, you have the flexibility to decide and customize what the right access to gaming looks like for your child. With the app, you can also respond to notifications in real time, such as requests from your child to extend the console screen time limit for the day.
Looking Towards the Future
Parents and caregivers know best what content is right for their child. By bringing key family settings features right to your phone, we hope that families feel empowered to have important conversations about how to balance gaming with other responsibilities like school and time with friends. We will also release additional new features in the future for the Xbox Family Settings app to provide families with the tools and support they need for safer and fun for everyone.
Download the Xbox Family Settings app today for free for iOS and Android to jump in and easily manage gaming for your family!
For more information about the Xbox Family Settings app, visit Xbox.com/family-app.
Microsoft is committed to empowering families to set boundaries and encourage responsible technology use by offering choices on the tools that are right for each family’s unique needs – learn morehere.
For Xbox players, backwards compatibility and Xbox Game Pass have made it possible for us all to have libraries of games at our fingertips at the beginning of the new console generation. One of the promises of Xbox Series X|S is the ability to play four generations of games: favorites, those we’ve yet to discover, the next generation games we can’t wait to play and those we can’t yet imagine are possible.
Therefore, decisions relative to storage, both internal and expansion, were a critical element of the design of Series X|S. Our teams focused on three storage priorities: performance, choice and accessibility.
The Xbox Velocity Architecture is at the core of our next generation consoles. In addition to providing a massive leap in performance and reduction in load times, the Xbox Velocity Architecture provides the foundation for new levels of innovation and transformative game design and experiences. At the heart of the Xbox Velocity Architecture is our custom NVME SSD to store and play all your games at their best.
We also wanted to make it seamless to bring the large libraries of Xbox games you’ve already downloaded forward. The USB 3.1 storage you use today will be plug and play compatible with Xbox Series X|S. Support for high speed USB 3.1 storage was important to make the storage and transition of large game libraries easy and accessible to everyone.
You can also use USB 3.1 storage to store next generation games, optimized to take full advantage of the Xbox Velocity Architecture, for quick transfer and play on Series X|S.
Many of you have had questions about storage for Xbox Series X|S so we sat down with Jason Ronald, Director of Program Management, to dive deeper into the technology and options:
Xbox Wire: Let’s start with the size of games and how that relates to Xbox Series X|S?
Jason Ronald: A significant portion of the overall size of a game is comprised of texture data. As Xbox Series S was designed with a performance target of 1440p at 60 FPS with support for up to 120 FPS, many games will not require their highest level of 4K textures resulting in smaller game sizes overall, often up to 30% smaller on average.
Xbox Wire: Is my existing USB-based HDD/SSD with my library of games compatible with Series X|S?
Jason Ronald: Yes! It is easy as unplugging your existing external USB 3.1 HDD or SSD from your Xbox One and connecting it to your Xbox Series X | S and all your games are instantly available. You can continue to play your favorite Xbox One games, including backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, directly from the external hard drive.
Xbox Wire: How will the Storage Expansion Card work with Xbox Series X|S?
Jason Ronald: It’s pretty simple: just plug the Storage Expansion Card into the Storage Expansion port on the back of your Xbox Series X|S and you can use it just as you would with any external storage solution. You can choose to install games to the expansion card by default, play games directly from it, move or copy games between local and external storage, or do anything you already do today with an external hard drive. The only difference is that the expansion card is designed to match the exact performance of the internal storage of the Xbox Series X|S .
Xbox Wire: How does the Storage Expansion Card enable the use of Xbox Velocity Architecture?
Jason Ronald: The foundation of the Xbox Velocity Architecture is our custom, internal SSD delivering 2.4 GB/s of raw I/O throughput, more than 40x the throughput of Xbox One. The Seagate Expandable Storage Card was designed using the Xbox Velocity Architecture API to deliver the exact same consistent, sustained performance of our internal SSD ensuring you have the exact same gameplay experience regardless of where the game resides.
Xbox Wire: Will you be able to play games right from the Storage Expansion Card or do they need to be copied to the internal storage?
Jason Ronald: You can play directly from the Storage Expansion Card and you will have the exact same experience and performance as if the game was running from the internal SSD. Not only does this apply to games optimized for Xbox Series X|S, but also your favorite backwards compatible Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. When backwards compatible games are played directly from either the internal SSD or the Storage Expansion Card you will see significant improvements in load times due to the next generation performance of Xbox Series X|S.
USB 3.1 HDD
Seagate Expansion Card
Stores any Xbox game
Yes
Yes
Plays Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Original Xbox games
Yes
Yes
Plays games optimized for Xbox Series X|S
No
Yes
Replicates speed and performance of internal SSD
No
Yes
Xbox Wire: Why did you decide to create a custom solution rather than enabling users to install off-the-shelf SSDs?
Jason Ronald: The Xbox Velocity Architecture delivers over 40x the performance of a standard hard drive, unlocking a new level of speed and performance that will virtually eliminate load times and enable new levels of innovation. To make this simple for both gamers and developers, we partnered closely with our friends at Seagate to deliver the very first 1 TB expandable storage solution that matches the exact performance of our internal SSD. This means that you can be confident you will receive the exact same next generation experience regardless of whether or not you are playing your games from the internal SSD or the Seagate Storage Expansion Card. Working with Seagate also enabled us to have a custom storage solution that is super compact, plug & play, and available at the launch of Xbox Series X|S .
Xbox Wire: Will all Storage Expansion Cards come from Seagate or could we see them from other companies as well?
Jason Ronald: Seagate, with a storied history as a critical innovator in the storage industry, was our first choice to collaborate with to provide expandable storage solutions for the Xbox Velocity Architecture. Xbox is continuing to invest in the Expandable Storage category on Xbox Series X|S with goal of offering choice for Xbox fans, including additional capacities and implementations in the future.
Xbox Wire: Can I connect the Storage Expansion Card to any Series X|S?
Jason Ronald: Yes! Both Xbox Series X and S provide the same Storage Expansion Ports for the expansion card and the exact same card will work in both consoles. Simply plug it in and you’re ready to play! No setup required. The Storage Expansion Card is also a great way to bring your game library with you, to a friend’s house or wherever you choose to play on your next generation Xbox console.
Xbox Wire: How will the Storage Expansion Card work if I have games on discs versus digital format?
Jason Ronald: It works the same as it does on Xbox One today. When you insert a game disc, the game data is installed to the internal SSD or expandable storage. When you play the game, the game runs directly from local storage, but you must still have the disc inserted as the disc provides the license for the game.
Xbox Wire: Does Quick Resume work with the Storage Expansion Card?
Jason Ronald: Quick Resume is powered by the Xbox Velocity Architecture and game state data is persisted on the internal SSD so Quick Resume will work regardless of whether you are playing a game from the internal SSD, the Seagate Storage Expansion Card or an external USB 3.1 HDD or SSD drive.
Xbox Wire: Where can I get/pre-order the Storage Expansion Card?
Jason Ronald: The Seagate Storage Expansion Card will launch for $219.99 USD alongside Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on November 10 and will be available in all Xbox markets, worldwide. You can also pre-order now at Microsoft Store or select retailers in select markets worldwide. Check your local retailer for product and pre-order availability.
Xbox Wire: Why does the 1TB Storage Expansion Card cost $219.99?
Jason Ronald: The Xbox Velocity Architecture is a key innovation of our next generation consoles, delivering unprecedented speed and performance enabling transformative gaming experiences never before possible on console. This level of consistent, sustained performance requires advanced components which comes at a higher cost than traditional hard drives or SSDs often found in PCs. By partnering with an industry leader in Seagate, we worked together to deliver an expandable storage solution which delivers identical performance at the lowest cost possible and available this holiday.
Stay tuned to Xbox Wire for more details on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S as we get closer to the launch of both consoles on November 10.
Last month Chris Novak, Head of Xbox Research and Design, shared our vision of a unified Xbox experience across devices that puts gamers at the center, enabling them to stay connected to their games, friends and communities, which will come to fruition with the release of Xbox Series X|S this November. As part of this vision, the Xbox team has been hard at work continuing to iterate on new experiences based on your feedback. Today, we’re excited to share another update laddering up to our vision of delivering you a unified Xbox experience – an all new Xbox app (Beta) on mobile is now available on Android phones and tablets.
The new Xbox app (Beta) has been rewritten from the ground up making it easier for all gamers to stay connected to your friends, games and fun at home or on the go, no matter what device they prefer to play on. Your friends and parties can stay with you via voice and text chat, even if they’re on console or PC. A new, unified notification inbox means you will now receive and be able to clear your notifications for new party invites, messages, and more right on your phone. The new share feature makes it easier to share game clips and screenshots from your console to your favorite gaming and social networks. Lastly, we’re unlocking Xbox remote play, formally known as Xbox Console Streaming (Preview) for all gamers in the new Xbox app (Beta)—you no longer need to be an Xbox Insider to play games installed to your console on your phone. The free Xbox app (beta) is available for you to check out today and keeps in you the game—wherever you like to play.
Notifications for instant updates
With the new Xbox app (Beta), you can receive notifications for parties, chats, new friends and followers, captures that are ready to share, and more. Once you clear your notifications on any device, your Xbox notifications will be updated across your Xbox accounts, no matter where you play next.
Xbox Party & Chat on the go
With the new Xbox app (Beta), your gaming friends are just a tap away while at home or on-the-go. Use the onscreen keyboard from your phone or tablet to send a quick message, or you can setup or join an Xbox party on your phone. Party up with your friends, no matter which device they have. Chat with friends on Xbox Series X|S at launch this November, or on Xbox One, and Windows 10 PCs. Built-in voice chat couldn’t be easier when using your favorite Bluetooth headset that you’ve already paired with your phone. With the new Xbox app (Beta), it’s easier to stay connected to your friends no matter where you are.
Not only does the new Xbox Wireless Controller have a share button built in so you can capture your best gaming moment with the press of a button, we’ve also built a new sharing experience to make it easier than ever to share your game clips and screenshots with friends from your mobile phone.
Use the Xbox Wireless Controller to capture your best gaming moments. Press once for a screenshot, hold to record a game clip, or double tap to open your capture library. With the Xbox Accessories app on console, you have the option to swap how the Share button maps to capturing screen shot, game clips, and opening the media library. Then, share via your console, or with the new Xbox app (Beta).
The Xbox app (Beta) will let you know when you capture is done uploading and ready to share, and your favorite gaming moments will automatically be compiled in a library with the option to save directly to your phone. Use the new Xbox app (beta) to share quickly and easily. The new Xbox app (beta) is already setup for sharing to popular social media networks like Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and more. It also gives the option to share directly with one or a small group of friends via messages.
Profile highlights
Showcase your best gaming moments and awesome screenshots directly on your Profile. Game clips and screenshots shared to the Xbox community will be showcased in the new Highlights section designed for a mobile-first experience.
Check out what your friends are playing through their profile by sending a message or inviting to a party. Profiles are where you showcase your Xbox identity and allows you to quickly engage with anyone.
Stay connected to your console
This holiday, the console experience starts with the new Xbox app (Beta). You’ll use the Xbox app to get your new Xbox Series X or Series S set up for the first time. Use the mobile app to log in and select your settings while your console updates. Using your phone to setup your console and account will save valuable time and get you ready to play faster than ever before. Once you’re set up, use the app to install any game to your console, manage your game library to free up space, or as a remote control.
Xbox remote play
If you love playing games, the new Xbox app (beta) is more useful than ever. We’re replacing the Console Streaming (Preview) with Xbox remote play in the new Xbox app (Beta). We’ve removed the requirement of being an Xbox Insider so starting today all Xbox gamers can play games downloaded to their consoles straight to their phones or tablets. With Xbox remote play, you can connect to your console and have access to Xbox One games already downloaded to your console including Xbox Game Pass titles.
In addition to remote play, changes to how you login go live for everyone today. You are now able to sign in on as many Xbox consoles or Xbox Apps as you want, all at the same time. Now you can use your Xbox console as much as you want for watching movies, using apps, chatting with friends, and more. When it comes to games, you’ll be able to play on one device at a time so all your progress, achievements, and saves stay up to date and synced whichever device you choose to play on. Access to your library has never been easier.
Search
The new Xbox app (Beta) makes searching for games and people easier than ever. Search results have been unified in one easy-to-find location, making the app the go-to place to find what you’re looking for on Xbox. Quickly type a game title or gamertag and see search results in real time – plus, search for ‘Set up a console’ to easily start the setup process for your new console.
Download today
The new Xbox app (beta) is coming to all Xbox supported markets, and gamers are invited to download and check it out beginning today. You can download the app from the Google Play Store. Please send us your feedback and let us know what you think.
Check out Xbox Live’s Major Nelson’s Video Podcast for even more details on the Xbox app (Beta) and new Share feature.
Today, I’m pleased to share the initial launch line-up of more than 150 games that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can play via the cloudin 22 countries starting September 15 at no additional cost. You will find a fantastic, curated selection of games available in the Xbox Game Pass library, including popular Xbox Game Studios titles such as Tell Me Why, Grounded, Forza Horizon 4, and Battletoads, along with favorites from our content partners like Spiritfarer, Untitled Goose Game, and Destiny 2. Similar to Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC, you can expect the library to evolve over time based on members’ feedback, with new games added all the time.
As Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, you can discover the freedom and flexibility the cloud brings to your gaming experience. One of the key benefits of cloud gaming is that it gives you more choices in how to play. Because your Xbox profile resides in the cloud, you can easily continue your Wasteland 3 play through that you began on your living-room Xbox console on your Android phone or tablet. It’s perfect for those times when you want to get in a gaming session while away from home or when your shared TV or console is occupied. With the cloud, a game like Sea of Thieves can transform into a great couch co-op experience with multiple people playing across console, PC, and mobile devices in the same room.
Additionally, cloud gaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now opens up the world of Xbox to those who may not own a console at all. With an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, gamers need only an Android phone or tablet and a supported controller to join in on the fun of Xbox gaming while enjoying the full benefits of the Xbox ecosystem. This includes friends, achievements, parties and voice chat, cloud saves and the ability to enjoy multiplayer with other gamers, irrespective of whether they are playing on console or via the cloud. You can also play with PC players in games where cross-play with Xbox One consoles is supported, such as Forza Horizon 4, Gears 5 and more.
Finally, cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate makes it easier than ever before to play games with your friends. Because members have access to a common library, members immediately have dozens of multiplayer games at their disposal that they can play together. And best of all, if you’re all playing together via the cloud, the games are all ready to go, so you and your friends can all jump in and start playing in seconds. Whether you’re playing with friends on an Xbox One, or if you’re playing with someone experiencing Xbox for the first time through cloud gaming on a mobile device, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate brings you together and makes for the best gaming experience.
New members can join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate today for $1 for the first month, then $14.99 per month after that, which is a great way to ensure you’re ready to take advantage of cloud gaming next week. To play games on your phone or tablet, download the Xbox Game Pass app from the Samsung Galaxy Store (which includes a complete, full-featured experience with in-app purchase capabilities), or the Google Play Store. And if you want to enhance your cloud gaming experience, you can order a new Samsung Galaxy device and select the Gaming Bundle at purchase, which includes three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and the all-new Power A MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller with an attachable phone clip. We’ll launch cloud gaming in beta for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in 22 countries to ensure stability as we scale the feature to millions of gamers globally. And this holiday, some of the best EA Play games will be available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play on Android devices via the cloud at no additional charge.
This is a pivotal step on our journey to put the player at the center of their experience and empower gamers to play the games they want, with the people they want, anywhere they want. What you’ll see on day one is just the beginning. Over time we’ll continue to innovate and add more games that you want. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire and @XboxGamePass on Twitter for more cloud gaming updates.
It’s that time! For the fourth year in a row, Xbox and Taco Bell are teaming up to offer fans a spectacular giveaway. However, this year is extra special as Xbox and Taco Bell fans in the United States will have the exclusive opportunity to win our fastest, most powerful and compatible console ever – the Xbox Series X – before it launches on November 10.
Beginning September 24, fans who purchase any medium or large drink via the Taco Bell app or in-person will receive a code on the cup for a chance to win a new Xbox Series X bundle. You can play up to three times per day – and did we mention there will be a winner every 15 minutes throughout the promotion?
The Xbox Series X bundle contains an Xbox Series X console, a new Xbox Wireless Controller and a six-month membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold and access to over 100 high-quality games on console and PC. Play new Xbox Game Studios titles such as Halo Infinite (coming 2021) the same day they release and enjoy exclusive member discounts and free Perks. Additionally, starting September 15, Ultimate members in 22 markets across North America, Europe and in South Korea will be able to play more than 100 games from the cloud on their Android phones and tablets.
To get your hands on a free taco and gain even earlier access to win an Xbox Series X bundle, make sure you sign up for Taco Bell’s all-new rewards program. All you need to do is download the Taco Bell app and join the Taco Bell Rewards Beta program by September 13. Those that have opted-in to receive emails will be able to register and gain exclusive access to be included in daily drawings from September 15 to September 21.
Xbox and Taco Bell partnered in 2001 to launch the original Xbox, so it’s only fitting that the two reunite to bring fans the brand-new Xbox Series X almost two decades later.
For complete details, head to the promotion’s official page.
Now more than ever, gaming plays an important role in our lives. As one of the greatest forms of creative expression, gaming sparks in our imagination and connects us to new worlds, stories, and our friends.
On November 10, a new generation of console gaming begins. That’s when our vision becomes reality with the most performant, immersive and compatible next-generation console gaming experiences, and the freedom to play your games with your friends, anytime, anywhere.
To empower you more than ever to jump into the next generation of gaming, today we confirmed:
Xbox Series X, our most powerful console ever made, and Xbox Series S, next-generation performance in our smallest console ever built at a more affordable price, launch globally November 10, pre-orders start September 22.
The expansion of Xbox All Access to 12 countries, offering you a next generation Xbox and 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate starting at $24.99 a month, with no upfront costs.
EA Play Comes to Xbox Game Pass at no additional cost.
Bringing the Next Generation of Gaming to Everyone on Day One
We believe that access to the next generation should be available to everyone. And we know that price is an important factor for many of our fans. To complement Xbox Series X and invite more players into the next generation sooner, we built Xbox Series S—an all-digital, next-gen console designed to deliver everything that is core to next-generation gaming – faster load times, higher frame rates, and richer, more dynamic worlds – in our smallest, sleekest Xbox ever. Developing two consoles in parallel from the beginning enables us to deliver the most powerful console ever in Xbox Series X and make next-gen gaming available and affordable to more players on day one with Xbox Series S.
Empowering you with freedom and choice is core to everything we do at Xbox. In addition to the traditional option of purchasing the new generation of Xbox Series X and S at $499 (Estimated Retail Price) and $299 (Estimated Retail Price) respectively, we’re expanding our Xbox All Access program to 12 countries this holiday, with more to come in 2021.
Whether you’re upgrading to the newest consoles or joining the Xbox family for the first time, Xbox All Access is the easiest way to get the best of Xbox. Xbox All Access provides an Xbox Series X, or Series S, along with 24 months of the full Xbox Game Pass Ultimate experience. In total, that means you get access to:
The next-generation Xbox console of your choice
Over 100 high-quality games to play on console, including next-gen Optimized games
Over 100 high-quality games to play on PC
An EA Play membership to play more than 60 of EA’s biggest and best console and PC games
That’s all with no upfront costs and a low monthly price. Xbox Series S will be available starting from $24.99 a month for 24 months and Xbox Series X will be available starting from $34.99 a month for 24 months.
The Ultimate Gaming Membership Goes Beyond the Console and Keeps Getting Better
With the Xbox Game Pass community now over 10 million players, we know how critical it is that your friends can easily access and play the same games you can. And you’ve pushed us to make Xbox Game Pass the only membership with access to more than 100 games on your console, PC, and mobile.
To provide even more value, we are teaming up with Electronic Arts to provide Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC members with an EA Play membership at no additional cost starting this holiday. This means Ultimate members can enjoy EA Play on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Windows 10 PCs, and Xbox Game Pass for PC members get EA Play on Windows 10. In addition to the 100+ games in the Xbox Game Pass library today, Ultimate and PC members will be able to play more than 60 of EA’s biggest and best console and PC games like FIFA 20, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat, as well as titles from some of EA’s most popular franchises like Battlefield, Mass Effect, Skate, and TheSims. Some of the best EA Play games will also be available for Ultimate members to play on Android devices from the cloud at no additional cost.
And we’re continuing to add great games and experiences to Xbox Game Pass for PC. Game Pass for PC and the Xbox App will become generally available on September 17.
The Best Place to Play the Biggest Games
When Xbox Series X and Series S launches this November, it will herald a new generation of game experiences. Optimized games for Xbox Series X and Series S coming this year are built to take full advantage of our fastest consoles ever. On day one you will be the first to enjoy next-gen versions of the most anticipated games of the year such as Gears Tactics, Tetris Effect: Connected and Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion. Ubisoft is known for leveraging new technologies and the power of new hardware to deliver groundbreaking games, and we think you’ll be blown away by the experience you’ll have playing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion on Xbox.
Xbox Series S is designed around the same technology that will make these games and so many others look and feel incredible. In speaking to game developers, we identified the areas that are most difficult to scale effectively, including the CPU and I/O, and made it easy to include Xbox Series S for developers who are targeting their experiences for Xbox Series X.
Powered by the Xbox Velocity Architecture, you can expect the same benefits from Xbox Series S such as faster load times and Quick Resume. Xbox Series S also supports all the same next gen features including HDMI 2.1, frame rates up to 120fps, DirectX Raytracing and Variable Rate Shading. It will also support Spatial Sound, including Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision via streaming media apps like Disney+, Vudu and Netflix at launch. Plus: Dolby Vision support for gaming will come first to our next-gen Xbox consoles in 2021.
And the new Xbox consoles are also the only next-generation, backward-compatible consoles that allow you to play thousands of games from four generations better than ever before, and empower you to play with friends wherever you want across your console, PC, and mobile device.
The Best Generation of Gaming Yet
Gaming has evolved in the last decade to make it easier, simpler and more affordable for any player to make that first connection with a new world, a new story, or a new friend. With a family of next-gen Xbox consoles, even greater variety and value with Xbox Game Pass, and an expansion to Xbox All Access, we invite everyone to join us for this next generation of gaming.
To provide additional insight into the world of Everwild, its characters and its inspirations, Rare has today released a special Directors’ Commentary version of the most recent trailer for its next big project, Everwild. The ‘Eternals’ trailer, first shown at the Xbox Games Showcase in July, showcased some of the fantastical scenes that players can expect to find in Everwild – and at the time fans everywhere couldn’t help but speculate on what they saw.
In this Directors’ Commentary video, Everwild Executive Producer Louise O’Connor and Art Director Ryan Stevenson confirm some of the theories spun up by eagle-eyed viewers in reaction to the original trailer, talking through each scene in detail and shining a light on some of the characters, creatures and how they’re connected. For the scoop on what awaits players in this natural and magical world, check out the full Directors’ Commentary video:
As you’ll discover, the video also makes an early reference to the various biomes of Everwild, with Art Director Ryan Stevenson confirming that there will be a number of different environments to experience and explore throughout a player’s Everwild journey.
The team go on to discuss some of the more supernatural aspects to the trailer, uncovering meaning behind the Eternals’ rituals and alluding to some of the power held by the mysterious spirits of the world over its inhabitants.
To explore the Everwild community for yourself and be a part of the speculation and buzz, join the Verified Discord server for all your theorising and animal-naming needs!
The August 2020 Xbox One Update is here with improvements to Guide.
It’s even easier to connect with your friends (messages, parties, volume sliders).
The new Xbox look and feel starts rolling out to Xbox Insiders today, along with changes to profiles and sign-in.
Last week Chris Novak, Head of Xbox Research and Design, shared our vision of a unified Xbox Experience that puts gamers at the center, enabling them to stay connected to their games, friends and communities. It’s a vision we have been building toward for over a year, culminating with the release of Xbox Series X this November.
The August Xbox 2020 Update is the next step on that journey and is rolling out soon to all customers. It includes a variety of improvements, including bigger changes like a new landing page for the Xbox Guide, to smaller, more subtle improvements like individual volume sliders for party members.
Today also marks the first time that some of you will be able to experience the new Xbox experience yourselves with some of the features Chris talked about last week becoming available for Xbox Insiders. Let’s dig in!
Guide
We took the first steps to update the Xbox Guide in May, simplifying the layout to make it easier for gamers to use. Since then, we’ve been refining it based on your feedback, and implemented the following:
Improved Landing Page
The new Guide landing page is designed to be cleaner and easier to read at-a-glance. The layout makes it easier to navigate between the most recent things you were doing, the Dashboard, and My Games and Apps. For those of you who want to customize the Guide, you’ll have the option to change the order of the tabs that show up. We’ve also added buttons to the bottom of the page for important utilities like notifications, search, and audio settings, making it easier to access them from wherever you are.
Connect with your friends
Speaking of notifications, the August update includes a new notifications inbox, easily accessed by clicking the notification bell on the bottom of the Guide. This inbox combines all your alerts, game invites and message notifications into a single feed. Best of all, the inbox includes notifications from across all Xbox apps, including the new Xbox mobile app that we’ll introduce into beta soon. Acting on a notification in one place clears it everywhere, meaning you’ll always be up to date!
Parties and Chats made easy
In June Parties and Chat were combined into a single tab, making it easier to communicate with your friends and fellow gamers. We’ve continued to improve this experience to make it more useful, with the addition of a preview of the text in your new messages. We’ve also added a frequently requested feature – individual volume controls for each party member!
More tips and tricks for new Xbox gamers
Finally, we also aimed to improve the Guide experience for first-time gamers. Guide pages are now easier to read and understand, and shortcuts and button commands are more consistent. We’ve added hints tailored for new customers, helping them understand the purpose of each page, and how to get started using it.
New Activity Feed look
With the new Xbox experience we also set out to rethink how community and game developers’ content is displayed on Xbox. We want the focus to be on the content being shared and highlight the awesome screenshots, videoclips and posts players create.
You will notice all posts shared on Xbox are now the same size: no more guessing on how they will show up in the Community or Club pages. We have made improvements in the Game, People and Community Content Blocks on Home, videoclips auto-play, reduction of metadata over posts and display of engagement counts. We have also introduced shortcuts for easier engagement with the post and for easier discovery of players and games the post relates to.
Coming Soon for Xbox Insiders
We wouldn’t have been able to deliver the features above without the help of our Xbox Insiders. The feedback, suggestions and bug reports ensure we’re always delivering the best possible product for everyone. Not only is the August update live this week for everyone, but this month our Xbox Insiders are also getting the first chance to play with some upcoming new features that you’ll see below.
A fresh look and feel
All the ways you use Xbox should feel inviting and familiar, whether you are on the couch relaxing or streaming your favorite game on the go. We’ve been updating the visual look of our apps across phone and PC for the past year, and now it is console’s turn.
Starting this week Insiders will be receiving a visual update to their Xbox One consoles to better match our other experiences on the PC and mobile devices. This includes some changes to our tile shape, fonts, and focus indicator across the experience. However, the overall layout of most of the pages will not be drastically changing, so you don’t have to learn a whole new UI when Xbox Series X launches.
Express yourself with Profile Themes
User Profiles on Xbox are an important part of our community experience: they are one of the top destinations on console, and your profile should be a space for you to express yourself through customization.
You will be able to select from several different Themes for your profile when we start flighting this feature, including some game Themes from Xbox Game Studios – and more will be added more over time!
Profile Themes are also available in the Xbox App on PC and through Game Bar.
Sign in on multiple devices
Earlier this month, we announced that cloud gaming was coming to the Game Pass app on Android, and the fan response has been amazing. Thousands of gamers have played titles like Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 4 on their phones. Gamers with an Xbox have enjoyed their saved games seamlessly roaming between the cloud and their console, picking up where they left off no matter where they choose to play.
To make that experience even more seamless, we are making some changes to the way you sign in on Xbox. You will be able to sign in on as many Xboxes or Xbox Apps as you want, all at the same time. Now you can use your Xbox console as much as you want for other watching movies, using apps, chatting with friends, and more. When it comes to games, you’ll be able to play on one device at a time so all your progress, achievements and saves stay up to date and synced whichever device you choose to play on.
Want to use your console upstairs while your roommate uses the Xbox in the living room to watch TV? Maybe try out the latest cloud gaming game while watching a movie with the family? We want you to have the freedom to choose.
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If you want a closer look at all of these updates, the team walked through them on Major Nelson’s video podcast – check out the video above and here.
More to come
We’re looking forward to your feedback as we continue to roll out the new, unified experience on Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles. All the updates to the Xbox ecosystem are built to keep the gamer at the center of the entire experience – stay tuned for more.
