Tag: Xbox

To celebrate the highly anticipated release of “Wonder Woman 1984“, Xbox is giving movie buffs and gamers alike the chance to own a piece of Wonder Woman lore. Inspired by the iconic armor and outfits worn by the powerful female leads of the movie comes three custom consoles like you’ve never seen them before.

Matching the stunning suit of armor worn by Wonder Woman in the film, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind Wonder Woman Golden Armor Xbox One X Console* with 24-carat gold leaves. This console was made entirely by hand features a sophisticated golden eagle crest and 3D printed Wonder Woman 1984 logo resting above it. The best part? This gold console will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to Together for Her, an initiative launched by the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, leading humanitarian organization CARE, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to stand in solidarity with women and girls around the world deploying funds and supporting the global response against domestic violence during the time of COVID-19. Stay tuned for additional details.

What’s more, you could win your very own Lasso of Truth with this custom Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth Xbox One X Console*. Inspired by the one wielded by Wonder Woman herself in the movie, this braided lasso lays perfectly across the top of the console and encircles a beautiful 3D printed Wonder Woman logo bursting with the vibrant colors of the 1980s.

For those who can’t resist an evil villain, you may find yourself interested in the Barbara Minerva Xbox One X Console*. Inspired by the punk rock look of Wonder Woman’s archenemy, this custom console boasts an intricate snakeskin pattern and faux leopard fur for a truly wild appearance. The silver spikes on the top and front of the console and gold “Wonder Woman 1984” logo were 3D printed to exactly match the size of the console.

From August 25 through September 17, fans will have the chance to win* the Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth Xbox One X Console by simply liking or retweeting the Xbox sweepstakes tweet.

The fun doesn’t stop there. You can also explore an all-new, immersive experience on Roblox for Xbox One, where you can journey to Themyscira and unlock an epic collection of avatar items featuring some of Diana’s most quintessential gear, outfits, accessories and more!

We can’t wait for “Wonder Woman 1984”, Warner Bros. Pictures’ follow up to the DC Super Hero’s first outing, 2017’s record-breaking “Wonder Woman”.  Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah. Set to open in theaters in 2D and 3D in select theaters and IMAX, it will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is rated PG-13.  To learn more about the upcoming film, visit wonderwomanfilm.com.

*Please note, that all the Xbox is for display ONLY, not gameplay. Prize and the successful bidder will also get a standard Xbox One X.

We’re reaching a fascinating point in the world of indie games. We have amazing new creators coming on to the scene now for whom the start of the indie game movement is actually history, not a lived experience. So as we’re getting ready to make the leap to the next generation of consoles with Xbox Series X, it seems like a good time to take a look back at the birth of the modern indie game – especially Microsoft’s role in helping shape that scene and how the ID@Xbox Program has grown since.

With the launch of Swimsanity from our friends at Decoy Games last week, we’ve seen more than 2,000 games from independent developers launch on Xbox One and PC! Since the start of the ID@Xbox program, we’ve also paid out more than $1.5 billion in royalties to independent developers. It took independent developers only two years to reach this new milestone for the program, almost half the time it took for 1,000 games to be launched via ID@Xbox! From MMOs like Black Desertto fast action multiplayer games like Warframe to cozy slime-ranching games like Slime Rancher to amazing puzzlers like Human Fall Flat, or next-level platformers like Celeste –  sometimes it seems like the only thing these games have in common is their diversity, but there’s another hook too. They represent amazing clarity of vision and the fruits of creative freedom that only independent games can deliver.

There have always been indie games – heck, they pre-date non-indie games! The tales of lone creators making games for the Apple ][, the Commodore 64, the Sinclair and many other 8-bit micros are legendary. These games would be “packaged” in ziplock bags with mimeographed instructions (sometimes!) and sold at the local computer shops. As the shift to a digitalized world continued to come into its own, Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) made one of the first major steps to bringing these independent games to a major publishing platform in the waning days of the OG Xbox and ultimately taking off on Xbox 360.

The original founders of XBLA really saw it as an arcade – a place to play vintage arcade games and casual games on a core gamer system. A funny thing happened though. Some of those independent developers who were still making games on PC – folks like Jonathan Blow and the team at The Behemoth – saw those downloadable games and started to get some ideas. And pretty soon, with the encouragement and excitement of the folks at Microsoft at the time, new games, original games, games from independent developers started to appear on XBLA. Digital distribution freed console developers from having to make “disc-sized” games and freed them to explore any game type imaginable. 

These were games that might never pass muster to get a disc release from a traditional publisher. They were smaller (the original maximum file size for XBLA games was 40MB!), they used genres – like 2D platformers – that hadn’t been in the mainstream for years. And yet… they were magical. Without needing to chase a full disc, or a list of bullet points on the back of a box, these pioneering developers were able to simply chase their creative visions and deliver games, like Castle Crashers, Limbo, and Super Meat Boy that we’re still talking about and that still feel fresh today, 10 and 12 years after they came out. 

Flash forward and as we moved into the Xbox One generation, we saw incredible growth in the independent scene, as devs were creating ever more ambitious and innovative projects. And soon the world was seeing them too, with indie games taking center stage at the Xbox Media Briefing – games like Inside and We Happy Few(before Compulsion Games joined Xbox Game Studios) burst onto the scene at E3, and Cuphead, conceived and created by a family with no previous game dev experience, made its debut at E3 back in 2014.  

Today, these games have become so woven into the fabric of videogames that it’s impossible to conceive of our world of play without them. Traditional publishers are still here, of course, making unbelievable epic games, but independent creators stand shoulder to shoulder with them. An Xbox show wouldn’t be an Xbox show without getting to see the latest new independent games, and our bespoke indie events like Game Fest have become destination events for players. And every day, millions of players are exposed to some of the most amazing games ever created thanks to independent developers’ robust support and participation with Xbox Game Pass.

So, what’s next? Well, first, and crucially, thousands of the games players enjoy on Xbox One today are coming with them to Xbox Series X, thanks to our day one backward compatibility features. This means we get to take our games with us to the next generation, where they will play best, and developers get to have a huge audience to reach with their games.

And of course, independent developers will be an essential part of the mix on Xbox Series X with over 2,000 games already in the process of being optimized or developed for our next generation console. Hundreds of developers have their Xbox Series X dev kits, and we send more out every day. Given the creativity we’ve seen so far, we’re sure there are things in development that we can’t even imagine. We’ve had a few glimpses, and we hope to show you some hints soon!

A few words from some of our friends:

“For Cuphead, the ID@Xbox program was quite literally a game changer. Whether it was the excitement and passion they showed us when the game was in its earliest stages, the support and guidance they offered as we grew the team, their expertise helping us navigate our first-ever launch, or the continued passion they have for Cuphead today, they’ve been there every step the way on our journey. The team at ID is filled with people that truly love video games, and care deeply about bringing memorable experiences to players everywhere. If you’re just starting out on your own development journey, I’d be hard pressed to think of a better group of people to have in your corner.” – Maja Moldenhauer, Studio MDHR

“Night School has been a part of the ID@Xbox family since our inception, when we launched Oxenfree in 2016. I think the most freeing, supportive part about working with the ID team has been the total support of our creative vision. When we were making a game about possessed teenagers, the feedback was basically just, “keep doing what you do, and let us know how we can help.” When we made Afterparty, a game about dead friends in Hell out-drinking Satan, the feedback was refreshingly the same. The ID team understands what makes a development team tick creatively, and just wants to amplify and help bring that vision to the broadest audience. It doesn’t hurt that they’re all just nice, cool peeps. Happy 2,000!” – Sean Krankel, Night School Studios

“Working with ID@Xbox has been an amazing experience. It is really refreshing to know you have a full team of individuals working together with the sole purpose of supporting indies. There have been several occasions during gaming events where members of the ID@Xbox team would come by and greet us just to check on how the team is doing, and for a start up indie that means everything. We are excited to continue the partnership!” – Khalil Abdullah, Decoy Games

It’s humbling to see so many developers making videogame history on Xbox, and we’re happy at Xbox and ID@Xbox to have been a small part of the evolution of the industry, and so many developers’ journey to success. We can’t wait to see where they take us next.

Today, we announced updates to Halo Infinite’s launch timing. Our vision at Xbox and 343 Industries has always been to deliver the most ambitious Halo game ever for our fans, while also balancing the team’s well-being.  To do that, we will need some more time to finish the critical work necessary to launch Halo Infinite, which will come in 2021.

We have plenty to keep you busy until Chief arrives: There will be thousands of games to play, spanning four generations, when Xbox Series X launches globally this November and over 100 optimized for Xbox Series X titles, built to take full advantage of our most powerful console, are planned for this year. And with brand new console features like hardware-accelerated Direct X raytracing, framerates up to 120 frames per second, faster loading times, and Quick Resume for multiple games, playing will look and feel better, no matter which games you choose to play on day one.

A shared library of great games through Xbox Game Pass

Hundreds of developers are at work on new games for Xbox Series X that will raise the bar for fidelity, speed and immersion; and the best way to discover new games will be with Xbox Game Pass. Game Pass delivers a curated library of content across console and PC, including all games from Xbox Game Studios the day they launch, for one low monthly price. Beginning September 15^th, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will also be able to play more than 100 games from the cloud on their Android phone or tablet, enabling them to take their console gaming on the go.  Experiences you expect on Xbox consoles such as your friends list, achievements, controller settings and saved game progress all come with you when you play on mobile. 

Play thousands of games across four generations of content

Playing your favorite games and franchises across four generations of Xbox was a key tenet for us in the next generation of console gaming. This commitment means that you will have access to thousands of titles across four generations of content – from Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Our back compat team continues to develop new innovations that can be applied to a curated list of titles that will enhance them even further than was possible when they were originally created.  These optimizations include the ability to render titles with increased resolutions up to 4K, delivering new HDR reconstruction techniques to games that were developed years before HDR came into existence, applying anisotropic filtering to improve image quality, and creating ways to increase or double the frame rate of certain titles.

Whether you’ve played for years or have just recently picked up a controller, we can’t wait for you to see and feel the first big step into gaming’s next generation with Xbox Series X this November.

Our vision for Project xCloud, Microsoft’s cloud gaming technology, is to give you the opportunity to play the games you want, with the people you want, anywhere you want. Since launching the public preview across North America, Europe and in South Korea, you’ve shared stories about the unique ways you’ve played from the cloud while providing invaluable feedback that’s helped us improve the experience.

Cloud gaming as part of Xbox Game Pass is the next major step in our ongoing vision to put you at the center of the experience, to give you more value from your games and membership, and to remove the barriers from play. Last month we laid out our commitment to you and announced cloud gaming, powered by Project xCloud, will be part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at no additional cost.

Today we’re excited to share more about what you can expect. Beginning September 15, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can play more than 100 games from the cloud on their Android phone or tablet. Cloud gaming will launch in beta for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in 22 markets to ensure stability as we scale the feature to millions of gamers.  

When cloud gaming launches as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, players will have access to more than 100 high-quality games playable from the cloud, including Minecraft Dungeons, Destiny 2, Tell Me Why, Gears 5, Yakuza Kiwami 2, and more. And as we’ve committed to providing day-one access to new titles from Xbox Game Studios as part of Xbox Game Pass, it’s our intent to make those same games available in the cloud from the day they release. We’ll have more to share about the full catalog of games as we approach launch.

As the world around us changes and entertainment is readily available no matter the device, it’s our vision to make games accessible in a variety of scenarios. All the experiences you expect on Xbox and your gaming profile travel with you on mobile, including your friends list, achievements, controller settings, and saved game progress. You can continue your Gears 5 campaign while traveling away from your home console, or if a sibling or roommate is using the TV you can still complete strikes with friends in Destiny 2.

Cloud gaming also unlocks new couch co-op experiences with traditional online games. Sail off to adventure in Sea of Thieves on your tablet while a friend plays alongside you on console, right in the same room. Cloud gaming removes the need to wait until you can access your console in order to play your favorite games: Just pick up your phone or tablet and play the games you want, any time you want.  

Since its inception in 2017, Xbox Game Pass has been about providing members with the freedom to discover and play games from a curated, constantly updated library. With this in mind, making cloud gaming available as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate was a natural next step. More than 10 million Xbox Game Pass members are already discovering and playing great games on console and PC – and with the addition of cloud gaming, members can discover and try out new games on Android phones and tablets. And Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members have a shared library of games, so no matter whether your friends prefer to play across Xbox One, mobile or PC, it’s never been easier for Xbox Game Pass members to play the same games together. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can dive right into the latest library addition’s campaign within seconds, and a spontaneous Minecraft Dungeons co-op session really is just an invite away.

You can join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate today for $1 for the first month, then $14.99 per month after that. In addition to cloud gaming, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes access to more than 100 high-quality games for console and PC; exclusive member discounts, deals, perks, and Xbox Live Gold. To play games on your phone or tablet, download the Xbox Game Pass app from the Samsung Galaxy Store or the ONE Store (both of which include a complete, full-featured experience with in-app purchase capabilities), or the Google Play Store.

Cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will be available on Android devices in 22 markets at launch, including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

To enhance the mobile gaming experience, we’re partnering with Razer, PowerA, 8BitDo, and Nacon to create all-new accessories specifically designed for cloud gaming. These include different types of phone clips that adapt to a wide range of devices, travel controllers that fit in any bag, and exclusive Xbox-branded controllers that split apart and attach to the side of your phone. You can also play with your Xbox One Bluetooth Wireless and PlayStation DualShock 4 controllers.

This is an exciting time as we enter a new era of gaming. For those who’ve participated in the Project xCloud preview, we thank you – you’ve helped us shape the way we play games moving forward. The preview will continue to be available until September 11. We’ll also continue to listen to our community and add new features, games and perks to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate over time, including news at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event tomorrow (August 5). We look forward to continuing this journey and enabling you and your friends to seamlessly play the games you want anywhere you want. For more information, please visit www.xbox.com/gamepass.

Our unique vision for the next generation of gaming starts with players at the center, immersing you in riveting, fun, and mind-blowing experiences—on any device. We know what matters the most to you: unforgettable games. Games that deeply connect you with fascinating characters, vast worlds and great friends wherever you are. And with a new era of gaming upon us, the world’s greatest developers are imagining new worlds and ideas to entertain you for years to come.  

Just months from the launch of Xbox Series X, in today’s Xbox Games Showcase, we debuted the largest, most creatively diverse games lineup in console history, led by Halo Infinite – and all in Xbox Game Pass day one. Halo Infinite is the biggest and most-ambitious Halo ever, and today we provided the first glimpse of its stunning campaign gameplay, giving you a taste of what to expect this holiday season. From expansive new worlds in Fable, Avowed, and Everwild to unprecedented realism with Forza Motorsport, we took you back to some familiar universes and introduced a few you’ve yet to traverse.

Partner support for Xbox has never been stronger, and their creativity was on full display with world premieres of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, and much more all launching exclusively on Xbox consoles. We also announced an incredible partnership between Xbox and Bungie, bringing Destiny 2 to Xbox Game Pass this fall with access to previous expansions and the upcoming Destiny 2: Beyond Light, at no additional cost. Bungie is also releasing Destiny 2 Optimized for Xbox Series X with 4K resolution running at 60 frames per second.

Bungie is one of many developers bringing their titles to Xbox Game Pass. In fact, Xbox Game Pass members will be able to play every game in our Xbox Games Showcase, as part of their membership or free-to-play, when they launch.

Below, we’ve summarized everything revealed today, inclusive of 10 world premieres, 22 games being built to launch exclusively on Xbox consoles, projects from nine of our 15 Xbox Game Studios, and several of our partners. The games you saw today also take full advantage of the world’s most powerful console—Xbox Series X—to deliver unprecedented fidelity, performance, precision and immersion.

• Halo Infinite (Xbox Game Studios – 343 Industries – Holiday 2020).  Halo Infinite is the biggest and most ambitious Halo game ever created. Fans of the Master Chief around the world got a first-ever look at Halo Infinite’s campaign, featuring new gameplay mechanics, bigger battles, epic vistas and more complex visual effects than ever before, utilizing the full power of Xbox Series X. With a flawless 60 frames per second locked for campaign gameplay, and the freedom to explore a Halo ring that is several times larger than the last two Halo games combined, Halo Infinite will immerse players in the next chapter of the Master Chief’s journey. For more details, read our full Halo Infinite blog post.

World Premieres

• As Dusk Falls (Xbox Game Studios – INTERIOR/NIGHT). As Dusk Falls is an original interactive drama from INTERIOR/NIGHT, a new studio comprised of a mix of award-winning industry veterans and emerging new talent. Headed by Caroline Marchal, former lead game designer at Quantic Dream, the studio is focused on creating ambitious and innovative interactive narratives. As Dusk Falls is a multi-generational story set in the American Southwest about resilience, sacrifice and how the mistakes of the older generation transmit to the younger. What begins as a focused tale of two families trapped in a hostage situation, becomes a sprawling epic about how people grow and change over decades. To learn more, check out our full As Dusk Falls blog post.

• Avowed (Xbox Game Studios – Obsidian). Obsidian Entertainment’s next epic, first-person RPG set in the fantasy world of Eora.

• Fable (Xbox Game Studios – Playground Games). A new beginning for the legendary franchise. Explore a land of fantastical creatures and wondrous places. Developed by Playground Games for Xbox Series X, and Windows 10 and coming to Xbox Game Pass.

• Forza Motorsport (Xbox Game Studios – Turn 10 Studios). The Xbox Series X is about speed and immersion, connecting players to the Forza universe, and to one another, like never before. Currently early in development, Forza Motorsport will run at 4K, 60 frames per second with scenes connected and dynamic. Ray tracing is coming to ForzaTech, creating a dynamic world where everything is connected – from surfaces of cars reflecting off each other, brilliant red paint reflected off of detailed track surfaces and light and shadow interplay. Developed by Turn 10 Studios, Forza Motorsport will be available on Xbox Series X, Windows 10 and on Xbox Game Pass. For more info, read our full Forza on Xbox Series X blog post.

• The Gunk (Thunderful Publishing). From the creators of the SteamWorld franchise – the action series that tells the tales of steam-driven robot adventures and that has garnered more than 100 awards and nominations – comes a completely new game, The Gunk. Embark on an all-new adventure in a vast and exotic world where you’ll encounter terrifying enemies and challenging puzzles on your quest to unravel the mystery of a forgotten planet, while saving it in the process. To learn more, take a look at our full blog post on The Gunk.

• Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (SEGA Corporation – 2021). Online action RPG Phantasy Star Online 2, well known for its unparalleled character customization and battle action which captivated the world. Today, we are announcing latest entry to the Phantasy Star Online 2 universe called Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis. For more details, read our full Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis blog post.

• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 (GSC Game World). The award-winning PC franchise loved by millions of players is making a true next-gen console debut with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 on Xbox Series X. Experience a unique blend of first-person shooter, immersive sim and horror. To hear more from the developer, take a look at our full S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 blog post.

• State of Decay 3 (Xbox Game Studios – Undead Labs). The next evolution in State of Decay is currently in development, bringing fans the new ultimate in zombie survival simulation.

• Tetris Effect: Connected (Enhance – Holiday 2020). Tetris​ Effect: Connected​​ is the original game with all-new co-op and competitive online and local multiplayer modes! This is ​Tetris​ like you’ve never seen it, or heard it, or felt it before—an incredibly addictive, unique, and breathtakingly gorgeous reinvention of one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. For more info, check out our full Tetris Effect: Connected blog post.

• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (Fatshark – 2021). From the developers of the multi-million award-winning co-op franchise Vermintide, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a new 4-player co-op game set in hive Tertium. Fight together with your friends against hordes of enemies in this new Warhammer: 40,000 adventure.

Updates on highly anticipated games

• CrossfireX (Microsoft – Smilegate Entertainment – 2020). A legendary PC franchise comes to console in a fast-paced first-person shooter offering a variety of exhilarating multiplayer experiences and a cinematic campaign that explores the global conflict between the world’s two most formidable private military factions.

• Destiny 2: Beyond Light (Bungie – November 10, 2020). Bungie presents Destiny 2: Beyond Light – the next chapter of the critically acclaimed action sci-fi epic universe of Destiny 2. Join your fellow Guardians and bring down the empire at any cost – even if it means wielding the Darkness itself. Destiny 2 will also come to Xbox Game Pass in September, providing members access to all current Destiny 2 standard edition expansions (seasonal content sold separately), including the standard edition of the upcoming Beyond Light when it releases this November.

• Everwild (Xbox Game Studios – Rare). Inspired by the beauty of the natural world around us, Everwild is a brand-new game in development from Rare where unique and unforgettable experiences await in a natural and magical world. Play as an Eternal as you explore and build bonds with the world around you. Everwild will be available on Xbox Series X, Windows 10 PC and Xbox Game Pass.

• Grounded (Xbox Game Studios – Obsidian Entertainment – July 28, 2020). Get ready take part in the development of your next favorite game. Grounded, the co-op survival adventure game with a narrative-led hook is ready to bring the backyard to you. Combining elements from the RPG world with the best elements of survival games, you and up to 3 other players explore the backyard from the perspective of an ant to piece together how to return back to normal life size. Along the way you’ll run into both peaceful and very, very hostile insects; all fighting to survive right behind the house. Gather, craft and build bases with everyday objects you find in the yard, or just feed your friends to the spiders.

• The Medium (Bloober Team – Holiday 2020). Discover a dark mystery only a medium can solve. Travel to an old communist resort and use your unique psychic abilities to uncover its disturbing secrets, solve dual-reality puzzles, survive encounters with sinister spirits, and explore two realities at the same time.

• The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon (Private Division – Obsidian Entertainment – September 9, 2020). The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon adds a substantial amount of content to The Outer Worlds‘ darkly humorous universe. Play a brand-new noir-tinged adventure that takes players to the Gorgon Asteroid to investigate the mysterious origin of Adrena-Time. While there, you’ll find new weapons and armor, perks, flaws, along with the same freedom to solve problems that made the original game so rewarding. And those who played The Outer Worlds with Xbox Game Pass, you’ll be able to grab this and future adventures, or the expansion pass packaging both adventures for an extra 10% off.

• Psychonauts 2 (Xbox Game Studios – Double Fine). Psychonauts 2 is a mind-bending trip through the strange worlds hiding inside our brains. Freshly-minted special agent and acrobat extraordinaire Razputin “Raz” Aquato returns to unpack emotional baggage and expand mental horizons. Along the way he’ll help new friends, like this magical mote of light voiced (and sung) by Jack Black. Raz must use his powers to unravel dark mysteries about the Psychonauts team and his own family origins.

• Tell Me Why (Xbox Game Studios – Dontnod Entertainment – August 27). Tell Me Why is a new Xbox Game Studios exclusive game from Dontnod Entertainment, the studio who created the beloved and award-winning franchise Life is Strange. In this intimate mystery, you play as twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan, exploring the memories of their joyful but troubled childhood in beautiful small-town Alaska. Using the supernatural bond that allows the twins to interact with memories of past, choose memory paths to determine the outcome and uncover their personal story across three chapters beginning this August 27.

Summer Game Fest Reveals

• Balan Wonderworld (Square Enix). Welcome to a wonderous all-action show, the likes of which has never been seen before! Balan Wonderworld is a wondrous action platformer game themed around the Balan Theatre. Led by the enigmatic maestro named Balan, the stars of the show Emma and Leo will use special abilities from a multitude of characterful costumes as they adventure in the bizarre and imaginary land of Wonderworld. Here memories and vistas from the real-world mix with the things that people hold dear. Twelve different tales await our stars in the Wonderworld, each with their own unique quirks. They will explore all corners of these labyrinthine stages, filled with a myriad of tricks and traps, to get to the heart of each story.

• Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition (Square Enix – Dec. 4, 2020). The Legend is Reborn in this all-new grand adventure as the revered Dragon Quest series makes its debut on Xbox with Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition follows the perilous journey of a Hero who must uncover the mystery of his fate and save the kingdom from a menacing darkness with the aid of a charismatic cast of supporting characters.

• Echo Generation (Cococucumber – 2021) Echo Generation is a turn-based adventure game about a gang of kids investigating supernatural occurrences in their small town. Complete quests, battle monsters and level up your party to save your hometown from danger in a heroic tale of childhood adventures.

• ExoMecha (TwistedRed – 2021) ExoMecha is a brand new free-to-play online competitive first-person shooter that takes place in OMECHA, a new and untouched planet with exotic environments. ExoMecha offers you breathtaking gaming experience with its flexible playing style, mechs, unique gadgets and abilities, and boss battles. ExoMecha is an immersive experience with team-based large-scale battles, a unique battle royale game mode, and an objective-based game mode.

• Hello Neighbor 2 (tinyBuild Games – Eerie Guest). Hello Neighbor 2 is a Stealth Horror Game where you’re being stalked by a mysterious creature as you try to track down Mr. Peterson (The Neighbor) who has disappeared after the events of the first game. Play against an advanced, self-learning AI that tracks and adapts to your every move.

• Watch Dogs: Legion (Ubisoft). Watch Dogs: Legion delivers a never-before-seen gameplay innovation that allows you to recruit and play as anyone you see in the iconic city of London. Every single character in the open world is playable, and everyone has a backstory, personality, and skillset that will help you personalize your own unique team. Recruit your friends and join the fight in online multiplayer to take back London in four-player co-op missions, end-game challenges, special game modes and events. Welcome to the Resistance!

Iconic Xbox Game Studios titles Newly Optimized for Xbox Series X 

We want all games to shine on Xbox Series X, whether they are brand new or current favorites. More of the games that you already love will be optimized for Xbox Series X and like all of our Xbox Game Studios titles, the upgraded versions will be available through Xbox Game Pass and Smart Delivery when the launch this year.

• Forza Horizon 4 Optimized for Xbox Series X(Xbox Game Studios – Playground Games – Holiday 2020). Now optimized for the Xbox Series X, experience higher fidelity graphics and faster performance in Forza Horizon 4. Explore beautiful, historic Britain and drive hundreds of the world’s greatest cars in native 4K Ultra HD, now at 60 frames per second. Get behind the wheel faster than ever with Quick Resume and dramatically improved load times.

• Gears 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X (Xbox Game Studios – The Coalition – Holiday 2020). Gears 5’s lauded campaign and multiplayer have been upgraded to take advantage of Xbox Series X, including: reduced load times, instant resume and 4K HDR visuals using Ultra settings.

• Gears Tactics Optimized for Xbox Series X (Xbox Game Studios – The Coalition – Holiday 2020).  The critically-acclaimed, fast-paced, turn-based strategy game is coming to Xbox consoles later this year, running in 4K Ultra HD at 60 frames per second on Xbox Series X. Outnumbered and fighting for survival, recruit and command your squad to hunt down an evil mastermind who makes monsters.

• Ori and the Will of the Wisps Optimized for Xbox Series X (Xbox Game Studios – Moon Studios – Holiday 2020). Now optimized for the Xbox Series X, explore the Forest of Niwen in Ori and the Will of the Wisps as you seek to uncover Ori’s true destiny with higher fidelity graphics and faster performance. At 120 FPS in beautiful 4K HDR and 120hz, the silky-smooth feel, low input latency and crisp imagery come together to create an unprecedented precision platforming experience.

• Sea of Thieves Optimized for Xbox Series X (Rare – Holiday 2020). Sea of Thieves, the award winning and best-selling new IP from Rare, is a shared-world multiplayer game that provides freedom, adventure and excitement, and is the quintessential pirate experience. Sea of Thieves will launch alongside Xbox Series X, taking advantage of its advanced hardware, supports Smart Delivery, and is available day-and-date with Xbox Game Pass.

Previously Announced Xbox Series X Optimized Games

The games showcased today add to the growing list of titles announced that are being developed to take full advantage of the world’s most powerful console. Read on for more about some of the hundreds of games in development for Xbox Series X including many confirmed (noted below with an asterisk) to take advantage of Smart Delivery, ensuring you’ll only have to buy that game once knowing you’ll get the best version of that game for whichever Xbox console you’re playing on:

• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla* (Ubisoft – Holiday 2020. Launching on Xbox One Nov. 17 with Smart Delivery): In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, become Eivor, a legendary Viking raider on a quest for glory. Explore a dynamic and beautiful open world set against the brutal backdrop of England’s Dark Ages in 4k resolution with HDR enhancements.
• Bright Memory Infinite (Playism): Bright Memory: Infinite is an all-new lightning-fast, 60 frames per second in 4K Ultra HD resolution, fusion of the FPS and action genres, created by FYQD-Studio.
• Call of the Sea* (Raw Fury): Call of the Sea is a first-person adventure puzzle game set in the 1930s beautifully brought to life in 4K resolution with DirectX Raytracing at 60 frames per second
• Chorus* (Deep Silver): Discover Chorus, an immersive single-player experience that tells a mature and dark tale of redemption. Experience fast-paced, frenetic action that evolves the spirit of classic space shooters, and fight to unite resistance forces against the Circle and their ominous leader, the Great Prophet. Outgun, outwit, and outmaneuver hordes of enemy starfighters, titanic battleships and unknown Void entities in 4K Ultra HD on Xbox Series X.
• DiRT 5* (Codemasters): Ushering in the next generation of racing, DiRT 5 writes a new chapter in the legacy of DiRT – bolder and braver than ever before at 4K resolution and smooth responsive gameplay at up to 120 frames per second.
• Madden NFL 21 (Electronic Arts – Holiday 2020. Launching on Xbox One August 25): EA Sports’ Madden NFL 21, which will make fans feel next level on Xbox Series X. Visit ea.com/nextlevel for more information.
• Scarlet Nexus* (Bandai Namco Entertainment): Take on the role of Yuito Sumeragi, a new recruit to the OSF aiming to become an elite psionic like the one who saved him as a child. Armed with a talent in psycho-kinesis, explore the futuristic city of New Himuka in 4K Ultra HD and uncover the mysteries of a Brain Punk future caught between technology and psychic abilities in Scarlet Nexus.
• Scorn (Ebb): Scorn is a 60 frame per second atmospheric first-person horror adventure game set in a nightmarish universe of odd forms and somber tapestry brought to life in 4K Ultra HD resolution on Xbox Series X.
• Second Extinction* (Systemic Reaction): Second Extinction is an intense 3 player cooperative shooter, where your goal is to wipe out the mutated dinosaurs that have taken over the planet.
• The Ascent* (Neon Giant / Curve Digital): The Ascent is a solo and co-op action RPG set in a cyberpunk world realized in 4K resolution with HDR enhancement with responsive action gameplay at 60 frame per second.
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2* (Paradox Interactive): Experience Seattle – a city full of alluring, dangerous characters and factions. In this sequel to the cult classic, your choices, plots and schemes will change the balance of power.
• Watch Dogs: Legion* (Ubisoft – Holiday 2020. Launching on Xbox One Oct. 29 with Smart Delivery) Watch Dogs: Legion takes full advantage of DirectX Raytracing to create an immersive near-future London facing its downfall. Recruit your resistance from anyone in the city and fight back.
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon* (SEGA): Yakuza: Like a Dragon, an explosive new entry point in the acclaimed Yakuza series, will be releasing as a launch title on Xbox Series X.

Independent Console Launch Exclusives for Xbox Series X

ID@Xbox is proud to present incredible games from talented independent developers. In addition to the news from our ID program partners like Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Tetris Effect: Connected, The Gunk and more, we also had an ID program montage featuring 15 games, including 12 Minutes by Annapurna Interactive, The Ascent by Curve Digital and Sable by Raw Fury / Shedworks – all coming first to console on Xbox, and coming to Xbox Series X. For more on the ID@Xbox games we’ve got coming to Xbox Series X, head over to the Xbox Games Showcase ID@Xbox blog post.

We hope you enjoyed the Xbox Games Showcase and are as excited as we are about the diverse lineup of games coming to Xbox Series X at launch and in the years to come. The games you saw today will deliver unprecedented fidelity, performance, precision and immersion, each of which is designed to put you, the player, at the center of the action. You can be sure that we’ll be sharing more on the future of Xbox in the coming in months, so stay tuned to Xbox Wire for all of the latest Xbox news.

The day you’ve been waiting for is nearly here: On Thursday, July 23 at 9 a.m. PT, we’ll be giving you a closer look at the future of gaming with the Xbox Games Showcase, including world premieres and updated looks at some of the games we’ve already revealed. And yes, that includes your first-ever look at campaign gameplay from Halo Infinite.

Xbox Game Studios is pushing the industry forward with a huge variety of games, all of which support services and features that put the player first, including Xbox Game Pass and Smart Delivery.

What’s more, our celebration of all things Xbox games will start with a Summer Game Fest pre-show beginning at 8 a.m. PT. Tune in for reveals, predictions, insights from YouTube creators, and more on some already-announced titles coming to Xbox. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the Xbox Games Showcase pre-show will air on YouTube Gaming.

You’ll be able to watch the Xbox Games Showcase in a variety of ways. You can tune-in on:

On the Xbox YouTube channel, live language support for the Xbox Games Showcase will include Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Castilian Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Arabic translations.

If you’re a content creator interested in hosting a watch-along or co-stream of the Xbox Games Showcase, or posting a reaction or recap after the show, know that Xbox is appreciative!

If you’ve never co-streamed before, be sure to follow your platform’s terms and guidelines, and look for tips on your stream setup. For example, Twitch has put together some top-line tips for content creators to get you started here. Keep an eye out for the new Master Chief emotes!

We hope you’ll join us as we take a closer look at the future of Xbox on Thursday, July 23 at 9 a.m. PT. If you can’t make it, don’t worry: you can check out highlights immediately following the show or view the whole Xbox Game Showcase on-demand soon after it airs.

We’ll see you next week!

When we set out to design the Xbox Series X, we aspired to build our most powerful console ever powered by next generation innovation and delivering consistent, sustained performance never before seen in a console with no compromises. To achieve this goal, we knew we needed to analyze each component of the system, to push beyond the limitations in traditional console performance and design. It was critical in the design of the Xbox Series X to ensure we had a superior balance of power, speed and performance while ensuring no component would constrain the creative ambition of the world’s best creators, empowering them to deliver truly transformative next gen gaming experiences not possible in prior console generations.

At the heart of the Xbox Series X is our custom processor leveraging the latest RDNA 2 and Zen 2 architectures from our partners at AMD to deliver a best in class next generation processor delivering more than 12 TFLOPs of GPU power and more than 4 times the CPU processing power of the Xbox One X. Xbox Series X includes the highest memory bandwidth of any next generation console with 16GB of GDDR6 memory, including 10GB of GPU optimized memory at 560 GB/s to keep the processor fed with no bottlenecks. As we analyzed the storage subsystem, it became clear that we had reached the upper limits of traditional hard drive technology and to deliver on our design aspirations, we would need to radically rethink and revolutionize our approach with the Xbox Series X.

Empowering Next Generation Game Design and Creative Vision

Modern games require a significant amount of data to create the realistic worlds and universes that gamers experience. To enable the processor to work at its optimum performance, all of this data must be loaded from storage into memory. The explosion of massive, dynamic open-world environments and living, persistent worlds with increased density and variety has only increased the amount of data required. From environmental mesh data, high polygon character models, high resolution textures, animation data, audio and video source files and more all combine together to deliver the most immersive game play environment for the player.

Despite the ability for modern game engines and middleware to stream game assets into memory off of local storage, level designers are still often required to create narrow pathways, hallways, or elevators to work around the limitations of a traditional hard drive and I/O pipeline. These in-game elements are often used to mask the need to unload the prior zone’s assets from memory while loading in new assets for the next play space. As we discussed developers’ aspirations for their next generation titles and the limitations of current generation technology, this challenge would continue to increase exponentially and further constrain the ambition for truly transformative games. This feedback influenced the design and development of the Xbox Velocity Architecture.

Introducing the Xbox Velocity Architecture

The Xbox Velocity Architecture was designed as the ultimate solution for game asset streaming in the next generation. This radical reinvention of the traditional I/O subsystem directly influenced all aspects of the Xbox Series X design. If our custom designed processor is at the heart of the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Velocity Architecture is the soul. Through a deep integration of hardware and software innovation, the Xbox Velocity Architecture will power next-gen gaming experiences unlike anything you have seen before.

The Xbox Velocity Architecture comprises four major components: our custom NVME SSD, hardware accelerated decompression blocks, a brand new DirectStorage API layer and Sampler Feedback Streaming (SFS).

Let’s dive deep into each component:

• Custom NVME SSD: The foundation of the Xbox Velocity Architecture is our custom, 1TB NVME SSD, delivering 2.4 GB/s of raw I/O throughput, more than 40x the throughput of Xbox One. Traditional SSDs used in PCs often reduce performance as thermals increase or while performing drive maintenance. The custom NVME SSD in Xbox Series X is designed for consistent, sustained performance as opposed to peak performance. Developers have a guaranteed level of I/O performance at all times and they can reliably design and optimize their games removing the barriers and constraints they have to work around today. This same level of consistent, sustained performance also applies to the Seagate Expandable Storage Card ensuring you have the exact same gameplay experience regardless of where the game resides.
• Hardware Accelerated Decompression: Game packages and assets are compressed to minimize download times and the amount of storage required for each individual game. With hardware accelerated support for both the industry standard LZ decompressor as well as a brand new, proprietary algorithm specifically designed for texture data named BCPack, Xbox Series X provides the best of both worlds for developers to achieve massive savings with no loss in quality or performance. As texture data comprises a significant portion of the total overall size of a game, having a purpose built algorithm optimized for texture data in addition to the general purpose LZ decompressor, both can be used in parallel to reduce the overall size of a game package. Assuming a 2:1 compression ratio, Xbox Series X delivers an effective 4.8 GB/s in I/O performance to the title, approximately 100x the I/O performance in current generation consoles. To deliver similar levels of decompression performance in software would require more than 4 Zen 2 CPU cores.
• New DirectStorage API: Standard File I/O APIs were developed more than 30 years ago and are virtually unchanged while storage technology has made significant advancements since then. As we analyzed game data access patterns as well as the latest hardware advancements with SSD technology, we knew we needed to advance the state of the art to put more control in the hands of developers. We added a brand new DirectStorage API to the DirectX family, providing developers with fine grain control of their I/O operations empowering them to establish multiple I/O queues, prioritization and minimizing I/O latency. These direct, low level access APIs ensure developers will be able to take full advantage of the raw I/O performance afforded by the hardware, resulting in virtually eliminating load times or fast travel systems that are just that . . . fast.
• Sampler Feedback Streaming (SFS): Sampler Feedback Streaming is a brand-new innovation built on top of all the other advancements of the Xbox Velocity Architecture. Game textures are optimized at differing levels of detail and resolution, called mipmaps, and can be used during rendering based on how close or far away an object is from the player. As an object moves closer to the player, the resolution of the texture must increase to provide the crisp detail and visuals that gamers expect. However, these larger mipmaps require a significant amount of memory compared to the lower resolution mips that can be used if the object is further away in the scene. Today, developers must load an entire mip level in memory even in cases where they may only sample a very small portion of the overall texture. Through specialized hardware added to the Xbox One X, we were able to analyze texture memory usage by the GPU and we discovered that the GPU often accesses less than 1/3 of the texture data required to be loaded in memory. A single scene often includes thousands of different textures resulting in a significant loss in effective memory and I/O bandwidth utilization due to inefficient usage. With this insight, we were able to create and add new capabilities to the Xbox Series X GPU which enables it to only load the sub portions of a mip level into memory, on demand, just in time for when the GPU requires the data. This innovation results in approximately 2.5x the effective I/O throughput and memory usage above and beyond the raw hardware capabilities on average. SFS provides an effective multiplier on available system memory and I/O bandwidth, resulting in significantly more memory and I/O throughput available to make your game richer and more immersive.

Through the massive increase in I/O throughput, hardware accelerated decompression, DirectStorage, and the significant increases in efficiency provided by Sampler Feedback Streaming, the Xbox Velocity Architecture enables the Xbox Series X to deliver effective performance well beyond the raw hardware specs, providing direct, instant, low level access to more than 100GB of game data stored on the SSD just in time for when the game requires it. These innovations will unlock new gameplay experiences and a level of depth and immersion unlike anything you have previously experienced in gaming.

Unlocking Next Generation Experiences

What does this all mean for you as a gamer? As the industry’s most creative developers and middleware companies have begun to explore these new capabilities, we expect significant innovation throughout the next generation as this revolutionary new architecture enables entirely new scenarios never before considered possible in gaming.  The Xbox Velocity Architecture provides a new level of performance and capabilities well beyond the raw specifications of the hardware itself. The Xbox Velocity Architecture fundamentally rethinks how a developer can take advantage of the hardware provided by the Xbox Series X. From entirely new rendering techniques to the virtual elimination of loading times, to larger,  more dynamic living worlds where, as a gamer, you can choose how you want to explore, we can’t be more excited by the early results we are already seeing. In addition, the Xbox Velocity Architecture has opened even more opportunities and enabled new innovations at the platform level, such as Quick Resume which enables you to instantly resume where you left off across multiple games, improving the overall gaming experience for all gamers on Xbox Series X.

We can’t wait for gamers around the world to get to experience these new, next generation gaming experiences on Xbox Series X this holiday and beyond. For more information on the Xbox Velocity Architecture, check out the video above.

When it launches this holiday, Xbox Series X will be the most powerful console the world has ever seen.

One of the biggest benefits of all that power is giving developers the ability to make games that are Xbox Series X Optimized. This means that they’ve taken full advantage of the unique capabilities of Xbox Series X, both for new titles built natively using the Xbox Series X development environment as well as previously released titles that have been rebuilt specifically for the console. In our Inside Xbox Series X Optimized series, these creators will share the behind-the-scenes accounts of how they’re optimizing their titles for Xbox Series X and what that means for the future of gaming. Today, we’ll be chatting with Jacek Zięba, Producer at Bloober Team about optimizing The Medium for Xbox Series X.

Q: “What excites you most about developing and bringing The Medium to life on next-generation hardware?”

A: The simple answer is that thanks to the next-generation hardware, we can realize our vision for The Medium at all. Of course, theoretically, you could rescope any game idea, but in our case it would mean completely changing the core game features.

Thanks to the power of Xbox Series X, we can develop the game the way we have always envisioned it. I’m not talking only about graphics, although certainly it helps create an immersive and disturbing atmosphere, but also about gameplay.

Q: In addition to benefiting from the power and performance of Xbox Series X for quicker load times etc. what Xbox Series X features were you most excited to explore leveraging in the development of The Medium?

A: The SSD and how it allows for no noticeable loading times is certainly a big deal for us. Thanks to it, you can create a more cinematic and atmospheric experience, and keep the player immersed in the game – with no immersion-breaking loading screens.

Also, the sheer power of the CPU and GPU lets you go a bit crazy with your gameplay ideas, and we believe the new hardware will quickly change how games are being designed.

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Q: How will these enhancements impact a player’s experience with The Medium?

A: We’re putting a lot of effort into creating a heavy, disturbing atmosphere in the game. We’re using a variety of means to immerse the player into both our worlds, including music and environment, and thanks to no loading screens these methods are so much more effective. Before, it was a bit of an uphill battle to keep the game immersive and cinematic despite obvious breaks, and now the next generation simply makes that problem go away.

Q: Why did your development team choose to focus on 4K resolution and DirectX Raytracing as enhancement areas for The Medium?

A: These are the features that fits our game and its genre the best. The 4K resolution helps us showcase the art style and environment of the real and the spirit world, while Ray-tracing will add to the atmosphere of the game. In other words, these features make the game’s strengths shine even brighter.

Q: How do you expect fans of The Medium will respond to playing it on Xbox Series X with these enhancements?

A: I hope they will love it 🙂 Unlike many cross-gen titles revealed so far, The Medium is a next-gen only game. We don’t have any porting plans for current-gen consoles, so the Xbox Series X will offer the experience we always meant for the game.

Q: What is it like developing on Xbox Series X?

A: It’s really exciting to be one of the first studios developing for Xbox Series X. This is truly a great piece of hardware, one that enables us to realize our vision of the game without compromises. I can’t wait for the fans to see what the console is really capable of.

Q: Which enhancement were you most excited about to explore leveraging for The Medium on Xbox Series X?

A: We’re heavily using the CPU and GPU for the interactions between the real world and the spirit world. We have still much to reveal about The Medium, including one of our core gameplay features. The marketing team will kill me if I say too much too soon, but we’re using the extra power to really push what’s possible gameplay-wise on the next generation, and I simply can’t wait for players’ reactions.

Q: What does Xbox Series X/next-generation development enable in current or future projects that you could not have achieved with the current generation of consoles?

A: As in the example with loading times, the next generation removes obstacles that until now consumed development time and resources. Now developers can devote more attention to creative gameplay. I also strongly believe that as we see more games developed specifically for the new generation, genuine breakthroughs and innovations will shortly follow.