This weekend, the Xbox community came together to take part in X018, a global celebration of all things Xbox filled with news, first looks, and plenty of surprises. More than 10,000 fans joined us at the fourth-annual Xbox FanFest: Mexico City to get a closer look at the future of Xbox through hands-on events and panels featuring members of Team Xbox, streamed live on Inside Xbox.

The big news of the day was the announcement that two game development studios with storied histories will join Microsoft Studios to create exclusive games for Xbox fans. Coupled with the five new studio partners we announced at E3, the future of Xbox exclusives is looking bright.

X018 showcased a lineup of upcoming titles with something for every gamer, including a first-look at Crackdown 3’s multiplayer mode, and new content from Just Cause 4, Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2, and many more. What’s more, we’ve now got over 327 titles enhanced for Xbox One X, the world’s most powerful console. From exclusive blockbusters like Forza Horizon 4 to holiday standouts like Fallout 76, there’s no denying the biggest games of the holiday season play best on Xbox One.

Xbox also revealed deep console and game discounts for the holidays, as well as access to more than 100 games for one low monthly price through Xbox Game Pass – the best value in gaming. The team announced a number of awesome new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass soon, including hits like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).

So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at today’s big news:

Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment Join Microsoft Studios

As part of our commitment to bringing a steady stream of new, exclusive games to our fans, Matt Booty announced Microsoft’s intent to acquire two game development studios – Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment. The teams at Obsidian and inXile share a distinguished reputation for creating deep, engaging role-playing games. As part of Microsoft Studios, Obsidian and inXile will have the support and freedom to fully realize creative ambitions on both existing franchises and new projects. These two creative teams will continue to operate autonomously and bring their unique talents, IP and expertise to Microsoft Studios as they build new RPG experiences for our players and fans. You can learn more about Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment in our full announcement post here. 

Crackdown 3 Announces Xbox Game Pass Launch on February 15 with Explosive Debut of Wrecking Zone Multiplayer

X018 provided a first look at the over-the-top antics and explosive gameplay of Crackdown 3’s Wrecking Zone, an all-new multiplayer mode where environmental destruction is your secret weapon to take down your enemies. Developed by Microsoft Studios in collaboration with Sumo Digital and Elbow Rocket, Crackdown 3 will bring super-powered Agents to New Providence, an action-packed open-world, to take down a criminal corporation using an explosive set of weapons and abilities. Step up your boom in the campaign on your own or with a friend to unleash cooperative mayhem when Crackdown 3 launches on February 15, 2019. Crackdown 3 is available at launch with Xbox Game Pass and globally on Xbox One and Windows 10.

As a special thanks to our fans, and to celebrate our X018 announcements, we will be offering the original Crackdown to all fans free of charge from now until November 30th. Experience the original now with Xbox One X enhancements. Head to the Microsoft Store now to get your copy!

The Hits Keep on Coming with Xbox Game Pass

Today, Microsoft announced the general availability of the Xbox Game Pass app on iOS and Android, enabling you to seamlessly browse and download new games to your home console via your mobile device, so you can quickly jump into gameplay the next time you turn on your Xbox One. We are also excited to continue to expand and diversify the Xbox Game Pass catalog by making the popular blockbuster title PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) available to all members beginning on November 12. In addition, Thief of Thieves is officially available on Xbox One and in Xbox Game Pass starting today and we’re bringing Agents of Mayhem, MXGP3 and Thomas Was Alone to you starting on November 22.

We are also excited to bring unique gaming experiences like Ori and the Blind Forest, Kingdom Two Crowns and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice to Xbox Game Pass this December and we announced additional new games from independent developers launching through the ID@Xbox program that will come to Xbox Game Pass the day they debut on Xbox One. Starting this holiday, this list includes Aftercharge, Supermarket Shriek, Mutant Year Zero, Pathologic 2, The Good Life, Void Bastards, and Secret Neighbor. Furthermore, we confirmed Ori and the Will of the Wisps will be available in Xbox Game Pass timed to its global release on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC in 2019.

And if all that isn’t enough to whet your Xbox Game Pass appetite, we also have an exciting offer you don’t want to miss. Starting today through January 3, you can sign up for Xbox Game Pass and receive your first full month for just $1. With a growing catalog of over 100 great games and new titles added every month, now has never been a better time to become an Xbox Game Pass member. Check out our full Xbox Game Pass post for complete details!

Xbox Delivers Its Biggest Black Friday Deals Ever

The holidays are almost here, and this year shoppers around the world will be able to give more as Xbox is back with our biggest Black Friday sale ever. Xbox is offering deep discounts up to $100 off select Xbox One consoles, bringing Xbox One X down to its lowest price ever starting at $399.99. But the savings don’t stop there. Can’t decide what gift to give to the gamer in your life this holiday? Give the gift of more than 100 titles, including access to Xbox exclusives the same day they launch, for one monthly price at an even better value with deals on Xbox Game Pass.

Score your first month of Xbox Game Pass for just $1. Because gaming is better together, we’re also offering a big discount on Xbox Live Gold that lets you get one month for just $1. And of course, it wouldn’t be Black Friday without discounts on your favorite Xbox games, so we’re offering savings on titles such as Forza Horizon 4, Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2 and more. Check out the full Black Friday post for more details.

The Biggest Blockbuster Games Play Best on Xbox One

During today’s show, we shared looks at a number of new games coming to Xbox One, as well as updates on some fan favorites:

Take a Trip to Fortune Island in Forza Horizon 4

Ben Thaker-Fell, Chief Designer of the Forza Horizon series, announced the first expansion for Forza Horizon 4, “Fortune Island”, which will release on Dec. 13 on Xbox and Windows 10 PCs. “Fortune Island” takes players on an all-new adventure in the remote northern reaches of the British Isles, where they will encounter extreme conditions including fierce lightning storms, perilous cliffside dirt roads, and sweeping paved mountain switchbacks under the mystical glow of the aurora borealis in search of hidden treasure.

Forza Horizon 4 players will also be able to drive all five of Ken Block’s high-powered, custom-built Ford vehicles from the upcoming GymkhanaTEN, the 10th installment of the award-winning, Gymkhana viral video franchise. These rides began rolling out in Forza Horizon 4 earlier this month for Car Pass members with the release of the 1977 Ford GymkhanaTEN, F-150 Hoonitruck and the 1993 Ford Escort Cosworth Group A. Coming in November for all players are the 1965 Ford Hoonicorn Mustang V2 and the 2017 Ford Fiesta RS and arriving in December is the 2016 Ford GymkhanaTEN Focus RS RX.

Forza Horizon 4 “Fortune Island” will be available as part of the Forza Horizon 4 Expansions Bundle which provides players with two game expansions at a reduced cost of $34.99 . Owners of Forza Horizon 4 Ultimate Edition and  Forza Horizon 4 Ultimate Add-Ons Bundle  will receive Fortune Island at no additional cost. Xbox Game Pass subscribers, who do not already own one of the bundles, are eligible for 10% off a bundle or 10% off an individual purchase of Fortune Island.

Minecraft Marketplace Gets Bigger and Better

Helen Chiang, Head of Minecraft, dropped in to talk about Minecraft’s record-breaking year – a new game announcement, releasing major vanilla game updates, and surpassing 91 million monthly players. On top of all of this, Helen shared insight into the ever-expanding Minecraft Marketplace, bringing Marketplace partner PixelHeads along with her. PixelHeads, one of the most popular official Minecraft partner teams, stopped by to talk about their creations and how they got their start in game development and the Marketplace. During the show, the Minecraft team was proud to announce that the Marketplace has reached 77 partners who have driven more than 13 million purchases for their creations since it launched last June! Viewers also got a very special look at the history behind Cats and Pandas in Minecraft, which will release next month.

Battle Rival Crews in The Arena in Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves is changing in a big way with its fifth free content update since launch, ‘The Arena.’ Releasing in early 2019, ‘The Arena’ is an all-new competitive game mode that allows players to test their pirating skills in fast-paced matches against rival crews. Each match is a fun, frenetic and action-packed race to find treasure that brings together all the most exciting elements of Sea of Thieves – on demand. ‘The Arena’ also includes a new-tavern area together with a new Trading Company – the Sea Dogs – which will offer new goals, rewards and opportunities to progress to Pirate Legend. Sea of Thieves is available on Xbox One, Windows 10 and Xbox Game Pass as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.

Unveiling the Zedhunter Pack in State of Decay 2

Today, we got a first look at the next content pack for State of Decay 2 launching November 16^th, the Zedhunter Pack. This new pack adds the powerful and silent crossbow as a new zombie-slaying weapon along with additional melee weapons, facilities, blood plague consumables, and gameplay updates like the ability to respect your skills all into the main game. As part of our continued commitment to supporting the four million players in the State of Decay 2 community, Zedhunter will be free for all players – owners of either Standard or Ultimate Edition along with Xbox Game Pass members. Looking forward, we also announced that we are working on a more challenging player experience coming in 2019. Stay tuned for additional details on this difficulty setting and more.

Shoot Your Way to Safety in Void Bastards

Premiered during Inside Xbox and inspired by BioShock and System Shock 2, Void Bastards is a revolutionary new strategy-shooter that will test your wits as well as exercise your aim coming to Xbox as a console launch exclusive. Can you lead the misfit prisoners of the Void Ark through the derelict spaceships and myriad dangers of the Sargasso Nebula? Will you make the right choices about what to do, where to go and when to fight? Master combat, manage ship controls, scavenge supplies, craft improvised tools and much more! Void Bastards will also come to Xbox Game Pass coinciding with its launch on Xbox One.

Battlefield V

A trailer was debuted highlighting the Xbox One X enhancements for the highly-anticipated title, “Battlefield V,” coming from Electronic Arts and DICE. Featuring 4K Ultra HD and HDR support on Xbox One X, leading to enhanced visuals allowing you to lead your squad to victory in the highest fidelity Battlefield title ever. It’s the best looking console experience launching worldwide on November 20, but EA Access members can jump in to the Battlefield V Play First Trial beginning November 9.

Our First Look at Devil May Cry 5’s ‘Void Mode’

Devil May Cry 5 producer Matt Walker joined director Hideaki Itsuno from Capcom’s head office in the vibrant city of Osaka to show off the rich culture of the city and share how the team draws from their surroundings. Itsuno provided insight into how Capcom’s action games are influenced by the Osaka area, before giving Inside Xbox a first look at the comprehensive training mode he’s created for Devil May Cry 5 – dubbed ‘The Void’. As a first for Xbox fans, Itsuno gave a personal tour of Nero’s Devil Breakers, including the bonus Devil Breakers available in the Deluxe Edition content of Devil May Cry 5.

Two Highly Anticipated Fighters Join the Jump Force Roster

Bandai Namco gives Inside Xbox an exclusive first look at some never-before seen special moves of two of the most anticipated characters slated to appear in Jump Force. Bandai Namco Entertainment America’s LATAM Community Manager Diego Paramio will give us a play-by-play to accompany the world debut of the Awakening Transformations of two legendary Dragon Ball characters that will be playable in Jump Force: SSGSS Vegeta and Golden Frieza! This is the first time fans will be able to see these two highly anticipated characters going into their respective super-powered modes and showing off their mightiest special moves!

As another special treat, Bandai Namco also premiered the first footage of SSGSS Goku in action in Jump Force! You won’t want to miss it!

Just Cause 4 Brings the Thunder

The new Just Cause 4 CGI cinematic trailer sums up the blockbuster action Just Cause 4 delivers. Rico Rodriguez faces his biggest challenge yet in Solís, leading the Army of Chaos against the ruthless Gabriela Morales.  Just Cause 4 is the biggest, most varied and creative Just Cause ever. Everything you love about the series is back and beefed up: insane physics, unmatched levels of destruction and the player’s trademark parachute, wingsuit and grapple. This December, Just Cause 4 brings the thunder on Xbox One and Xbox One X.

A Familiar Face Comes to Kingdom Hearts III

KINGDOM HEARTS III revealed the return of Winnie the Pooh in a brand new trailer at the Microsoft Fan Fest in Mexico City! The trailer also revealed ominous hints of Master Xehanort and Organization XIII’s nefarious activities. Sora, Donald, Goofy as well as many other Disney and Pixar heroes (like from Big Hero 6, Tangled, and Pirates of the Caribbean and more) will need to stand strong together and fight to save the light from the impending darkness. Attendees were able to play a demo that featured segments from the Hercules and Toy Story worlds. KINGDOM HEARTS III comes out January 29, 2019.

A Closer Look at The Forge in Shadow of the Tomb Raider

You may have already experienced Lara Croft’s defining moment, but Shadow of the Tomb Raider continues with The Forge – the first of seven, monthly DLC adventures. Join Narrative Director Jason Dozois and Senior Associate Producer Jo Dahan as they take Lara and her newfound friend, Abi on a co-op journey through the fiery tower of The Forge on Inside Xbox.

The Xbox One Backward Compatibility Catalog Continues to Grow

Today, we shared that on November 13, four, new Backward Compatible titles will be getting enhanced for Xbox One X. Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII-2 and LIGHTNING RETURNS: Final Fantasy XIII will be entirely new to the Back Compat catalog, while Civilization Revolution will be receiving an (Xbox One X Enhanced) update to take advantage of the world’s most powerful console. To date, gamers have enjoyed playing well over 1 billion hours of Backward Compatible games and we look forward to continuing to grow the collection including more than 500 Xbox 360 games, 25 Xbox One X Enhanced Xbox 360 titles, and 32 Original Xbox classics.

Play Your Way with Mouse and Keyboard Support

Support for mouse and keyboard input on Xbox One will arrive next week, with select titles enabled at launch for Insiders and even more coming. On today’s IX episode, Epic detailed how Fortnite will be one of the first titles to offer mouse and keyboard input alongside previously announced Warframe in today’s update, with Bomber Crew, Deep Rock Galactic, Strange Brigade, Vermintide 2, War Thunder and X-Morph Defense adding support in November, and Children of Morta, DayZ, Minion Master, Moonlighter, Vigor, Warface, and Wargroove adding support in the future. When the update launches next week, all developers will have the tools they need to create tailored mouse and keyboard experiences for their games as they see fit to ensure a fair and fun experience for fans.

Additionally, we shared that the best mouse and keyboard experience on Xbox One will be available through Designed for Xbox mice and keyboards. These are created for living room or desktop scenarios, come equipped with a dedicated Xbox key, and support the new Xbox Dynamic Lighting feature – enabling immersive in-game lighting effects. Razer will be the exclusive partner to ship a Designed for Xbox mouse and keyboard and will formally introduce the product at CES in January.

The Xbox Adaptive Controller Launches Worldwide

We’re very proud to announce that the Xbox Adaptive Controller is launching in 17 new markets in 2019, including Mexico. New countries to offer the acclaimed controller include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Slovakia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey and UAE. We’ll be bringing you more details on the worldwide launch of the Xbox Adaptive Controller soon.

#givewithXbox

We also announced #givewithXbox, a holiday-timed campaign from Xbox that aims to bring the joy of gaming to everyone. Beginning today and ending December 9, Xbox will donate $5 USD of Xbox products, up to $1 million, for every photo shared on social media about what gaming together means using the hashtag #givewithXbox. The donations will be split amongst four inspirational charities who help bring gaming to everyone: Child’s Play, Gamers Outreach, SpecialEffect and Operation Supply Drop. Xbox is committed more than ever to gaming for everyone and making Xbox a place where everyone has fun. So, jump in with Xbox to help even more people play this holiday season.

‘Winter of Arcade’ Returns this December

Last but not least, we’re thrilled to announce ‘Winter of Arcade’, where from December 6th to December 21st we will providing special incentives on select ID@Xbox titles to help you fill out your library. Tune into The Game Awards on December 6 live on Mixer for more info.

Warframe – Fortuna is Now Available on Steam!

Welcome to Fortuna – Warframe’s biggest update ever. Explore the frigid landscape of Venus populated with new Corpus threats, subterranean mysteries and an ecosystem on the brink of destruction.
#LiftTogether

Activision Blizzard today released its financials for its third quarter ended September 30, stating that its results were better than predicted despite showing a decrease in total revenue and overall player engagement. 

The company’s total revenues decreased roughly 7 percent to $1.51 billion, while net income was up 38 percent year-over-year to $260 million. It’s a bit of a slowdown for the company, which has reported robust earnings for the past two quarters.

The decline in total revenues can be attributed in part to Destiny 2: Forsaken​, which debuted in early September. The company’s revenues from console games and services dropped 34 percent year-over-year to $347 million, with the company adding that the recently-released Destiny 2 expansion isn’t performing as well as anticipated. 

Activision Blizzard’s mobile revenue was also down 11 percent to $523 million, but balanced out partially by a 21 percent boost in PC revenues to $482 million.

The growth in Blizzard’s PC game earnings is driven largely by the launch of World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth back in August, which sold 3.4 million copies during its first day on shelves — a record for the franchise, the company noted. 

All of us here on Team Xbox are tremendous fans of the talent involved in the creation of games, especially those that come into the ID@Xbox program. From cartoon platformers to adventure games to strategy simulators, there’s a robust catalog of titles that deliver countless memories from those gaming worlds. It’s almost unfair that we can only share a few of those with you too, but we’ve taken some of our most memorable moments and captured them here in this feature. Enjoy.

Chris Charla – Senior Director of ID@Xbox

Having been part of ID@Xbox since the beginning, it’s extremely hard to pick one moment from the thousands of great moments and games and people involved with this program on both the Xbox and developer side. But if you made me pick just one, it would be E3 2015, when I was onstage, in the dark, watching Chad and Jared Moldenhauer introduce Cuphead. I knew how hard they were working, and I knew that after the teaser the year before, people were expecting a lot. I also know how much that trailer was going to blow everyone away. That moment when the StudioMDHR logo came up on stage, I got goosebumps like I never have before, and I just could not get the silly grin off my face watching that game own the stage at E3. There have been tons and tons and tons of other fantastic moments and games over the last five years, but that moment will always stay with me!

Phil Spencer – Head of Xbox

The game that comes to mind for me is Brothers. I have such a vivid memory of the first time I completed the game as there’s a key moment at the end in which the game mechanic is designed to reinforce the emotion I felt as a player. If you haven’t played it, Brothers is a cooperative, puzzle-based game where each thumbstick controls one of the two brothers on screen simultaneously. In the game, the brothers’ mother has died and their dad is sick and in need of medicine. The game is about the brothers’ quest to get medicine and by the end of the game, the older brother dies as well. As the story draws to a close, the younger brother is alone, trying to get back to his dad and to do so, he must swim across a stream. We learn early in the game that the younger brother does not swim. Until this moment in the game, he’s only crossed water on the back of his older brother.

So there I was, trying to finish the game, pausing and working to solve the puzzle of how to get the younger brother across the water without his older brother. And then the answer just came to me and when I tried it and it worked – it was spine tingling. I felt the loneliness and sadness of the young brother. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a gameplay mechanic that evoked emotion in the way Brothers did for me and so many other players.

Ashley McKissick – Head of Xbox Game Pass

Four years ago, when my son was six-years-old, we spent our winter vacation playing Never Alone and exploring the Iñupiat culture together.  It was the perfect game to play with my little one. The co-op nature meant that we had to work together, and the controls were so intuitive and well-crafted. The fact that, while playing through the adventure, we also got to learn about this special Alaskan Native community, made it even more special. I also just absolutely loved the art style in Never Alone, especially the environments, and I am so glad that ID@Xbox enabled us to discover this game. Playing this little gem will remain a fond holiday memory for my son and I.

Craig Duncan – Studio Head, Rare Games

I’ve enjoyed many incredible ID@Xbox games over the years but my favorite moment is quite a recent one while browsing the what’s new in Xbox Game Pass section there was a game called Manual Samuel. I hadn’t heard of it but was drawn to the art of a cartoon death holding a puppet and then spent the next few hours being pulled out of my gaming comfort zone doing what appeared to be normal everyday tasks; without spoiling the plot which everyone should experience spoiler free it made me smile throughout and laugh at some of the dialog and the crazy moments that poor Samuel had to navigate with appropriate well deserved achievements awarded throughout including probably the craziest driving achievement I have ever earned ? A really funny, enjoyable and unique little adventure.

Katie Stone Perez – Principal Program Manager, Mixer

The timer ends, you see the results, and my daughters jump up and cheer “We did it!” We have come together as a family and defeated the unbread. That’s my favorite ID@Xbox moment. My family loves playing games together and Overcooked 2 provides a great level of challenge but when we work together we can always be successful. Each level starts with us coming up with a plan and then the chaos ensues. The game has become an almost nightly ritual for us before bed and I love that we can have that moment of success that unites us as a family.

Jeff Rubenstein – Xbox Comms and Inside Xbox Host

I may not recall my daughter’s first word, or exactly when she took her first steps. Should we have saved a lock of hair from her first haircut? Yet I vividly remember her first Minecraft world, I showed her how to record her first PotG in Overwatch, and was sitting right next to her during her first Fortnite Victory Royale – the culmination of a carefully laid game education curriculum that began with… Chariot. Yes, Frima Games’ platformer has players dragging a king’s coffin to a more luxurious burial site to placate his demanding spirit (who berates you on your journey), but it’s colorful, kid-friendly, and teaches the mechanics of platforming and cooperative play. More importantly, it sparked a love of gaming and a father-daughter bonding activity that continues to this day. And that’s better than a pair of bronzed baby shoes any day.

Graeme Boyd – Xbox Live’s AceyBongos and Inside Xbox Host

The day I got married is one of the greatest days of my life. I am, of course, talking about Stardew Valley. My real wedding was pretty good too, I guess. But in Stardew Valley, getting married felt like the culmination of months of hard work and careful relationship building as I carved out my new life on the farm. It felt like acceptance.

That’s the funny thing about Stardew Valley – it starts out like a nice mash-up of Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, and even Minecraft. But soon enough the rhythms of it – tending your crops, selling your goods, making new friends, exploring the town, the seasons rolling in and out – they get inside you. You feel part of something special. And for me, that experience was one of the most relaxing and fulfilling I’ve ever had in a video game. Stardew Valley became my happy place (I still have a map of the town next to my desk at work and I gaze longingly at it during stressful conference calls). Getting married made it even happier.

Oh, yeah. I got married to Leah. Obviously.

Will Tuttle – Editor in Chief of Xbox Wire

I’m a sucker for a great narrative and ID@Xbox has no shortage of amazing narrative-driven games, from the haunting family drama of the excellent What Remains of Edith Finch to the sci-fi horror of Soma. The best of these combine a compelling narrative with unique simple-but-complex gameplay. One of my favorite games of this generation, Thomas Was Alone by Bithell Games, is a pitch-perfect example of that intoxicating blend. At first glance, the game looks like a straightforward, minimalistic platformer starring a group of quadrilateral shapes, but it quickly becomes clear that it’s much more.

Thanks to top-notch writing and some truly wonderful narration by British humorist Danny Wallace (who won a BAFTA for his performance), those little blocks become Thomas, Claire, Chris, John, and Laura. By combining those beautifully humanized shapes with some good old-fashioned puzzle platforming, Thomas Was Alone helped to push the medium forward in unexpectedly new ways.

Larry Hryb – Xbox Live’s Major Nelson and Inside Xbox Host

As a fan of film, music and obviously video games, I’ve long had an appreciation for content created and produced by independent studios. So, when I heard the ID@Xbox team was celebrating the release of their 1,000th indie title, I naturally considered some of my favorites and it was impossible not to think about Cuphead.

Cuphead is an absolute gem, featuring beautifully crafted visuals reminiscent of sound cartoons from the golden age of animation. The soundtrack is easily some of the best music you will hear in a video game, composed using live musicians playing jazz, early big band, and ragtime music, a favorite genre of mine. But Cuphead doesn’t just look and sound great, it plays great too. My colleagues may heckle me a bit as I praise Cuphead’s gameplay since I am admittedly “challenged” by some of the levels, but the game is just so much fun to play.

As great as Cuphead is though, the real magic of the game is with the number of subtle references (some might even call them Easter Eggs) seamlessly interwoven into the game. I heard mention of a Street Fighter reference when you battle the frogs Ribby and Croaks, and when I encountered that particular scene, it indeed appeared to be a clear tribute to Street Fighter.

Sure, there are the more obvious ones, like a building in the background named after the developers or the name of their studio appearing in different places. But when you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover a seemingly unending link to other cartoon characters, video games and real people including actors, musicians, artists, and cartoonists. It’s fascinating as you play the game when you recognize one of these subtle links and even more fascinating to think of all the hidden connections yet to be discovered.

Nintendo’s recent investor’s Q&A document is now live in English, and a few little pieces of info that weren’t covered in the translation of the Japanese version have now come to light – one of which involves the company’s plans to expand into China.

Nintendo has recently made deals with firms like Nvidia to allow certain key Nintendo titles to be ported to the Shield TV system – which shares the same basic architecture as the Switch – but outside of this, the company appears to be rather cautious when it comes to cracking this huge market.

When pressed on the topic, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said:

I cannot say anything new at this time about our plans to start our business in China with Nintendo Switch or smart-device applications. We are continuing to look into a business opportunity in China, but the reality is that there are a variety of issues that give us the impression that it will not be easy to do. And although the market for games in China is incredibly huge, the market for dedicated platforms is small, so even if we were to enter into China, the challenges we would face there certainly would not be simple ones. Even so, I would very much like to try and see how receptive the Chinese market would be to Nintendo IP.

The amazing potential of the Chinese market is something the entire games industry seems focused on tapping these days, but as Furukawa says, there are notable roadblocks which have to be overcome before the company can truly capitalise on this massive – and game-crazy – audience. The 14-year ban on games console was lifted in 2015, but the focus in the region remains on smartphone and PC-based online games, and consoles have yet to make the same impact they have in other parts of the world.

The Armistice Steam Sale fundraiser is back, promoting peaceful gameplay in support of children still affected by war today. This year marks 100 years since the armistice that ended the First World War, so War Child has pulled together a bunch of the best-selling games to mark the occasion that are either non-violent or have been modified as part of this year’s Armistice campaign (Dick Wilde & Prison Architect).

Each game that is part of the sale is donating a % of developer proceeds to War Child UK & its US partner Children in Conflict to raise vital funds for children whose lives have been torn apart by war.

• ABZÛ (505 Games) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 50%
• Broken Sword 5 (Revolution Games) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 25%
• Democracy 3 (Positech) – Donating 100% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 25%
• Dick Wilde (PlayStack) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 50%
• Machinarium (Amanita Design) – Donating 60% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 60%
• Mini Metro (Dinosaur Polo Club) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 50%
• Prison Architect (Introversion Software) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 75%
• Scanner Sombre (Introversion Software) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 75%
• RiME (Six Foot) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 50%
• The Talos Principle (Devolver Digital) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 75%
• The Room (Fireproof Games) – Donating 100% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 75%

This is eerie. So sad for the history lost. Amazed the church is still standing. #surreal https://t.co/6Xa7cRIWYP

— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) November 9, 2018

Sad for fans of @WestworldHBO and shows like Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, the Paramount Ranch western town movie set has burned to the ground in the Woolsey Fire @CBSLA #westworld #Woolseyfire pic.twitter.com/DhZWaGbr6g

— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) November 9, 2018

Ok, so maybe the Weekender will stick around a bit longer. I’ve been able to make enough time to take care of it myself (more or less), and this is definitely a worthwhile thing that we enjoy doing. I guess it depends if we should come up with a new name to note the changing of the guard.

Something to ponder over the weekend, perhaps…

What We’re Up To

So… how about that Diablo Immortal announcement, huh? That proved… divisive. The backlash seems reminiscent of the one that followed in the wake of C&C Rival’s announcement, only magnified because this was Blizzcon and everyone wanted Diablo 4 instead.

This week also saw some great announcements – Rome: Total War for Android, as well as Carrier Battles hopefully making it over to Android, assuming the Kickstarter gets funded. We also reviewed the digital port of Love Letter, and RTS newcomer Element.

What’s on the horizon?

• That C&C Rivals article is still coming, it’s just been delayed to next week.
• We’ll also have more to say on Diablo: Immortal
• Not as many reviews – Royal Advisor seems likely, but the rest are due later in the month.
• More guide updates – definitely more than this week, as there’s been a few games that have earned themselves top spots.

Meanwhile, In mobile games…

Out Now

There aren’t really many high-profile releases this week, especially on Android, but a couple of interesting titles caught our eye:

Cat Lady – The Card Game (iOS Universal & Android)

I actually managed to get some play-time in with this one. Cat Lady is a digital port of a card game of the same name that sees you collecting cards from a 3×3 grid. You need to acquire cats to fill your ‘cattery’, but you also need to collect food for them to eat (so you can earn the points they’re worth), costumes for them to wear, as well as toys. There are plenty of other bonus and special cards as well to offer a variety of tactical choices and routes to victory.

This is a set collection game, and there’s a single, central deck. Once that runs out the game ends you total up the points – person with the most wins. The app itself is very slick and nicely animated, without going overboard. There’s a good tutorial, challenges and a challenge mode, and you can play against up to four AI or four local cat owners in pass-and-play. This is a fun quick game for all ages.

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Alphaputt (iOS Universal)

Ok, so it’s crazy golf, but the courses are in the shape of letters. What’s not to love? Local pass-and-play for up to four people, with 26 levels and several different game modes made this an intriguing pick for this week. We especially like the fact that you can type out words which then form the courses you will be playing, adding a touch of personalisation to proceedings. The trailer is a bit much though…

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Pangolin’s Puzzle (iOS Universal)

There have been a few puzzle releases this week, but this one caught our eye the most. It’s got a great, painted-effect art style, is mainly based around logic-puzzles (an excellent type of puzzle), and seems to have a very rich visual identity.

It’s although worth noting that developer Hero Factor are donating half of their profits from any IAPs to charities and organisations that look after real-life Pangolins (a type of Anteater). This is a premium game, but we’ve been unable to determine if there are any IAPS currently present, or what they may be. It’s possible they won’t come till later, but the developer says they won’t charge more than $6 for an unlock. Gameplay is estimated at 3 – 6 hours, with bonus unlocks and GameCenter achievements.

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Honourable Mention: Persephone (iOS/Android) (Puzzle), Teslagrad (iOS/Android) (Puzzle/Platformer)

Updates

There’s only one update of note this week, but it’s a good’un:

Galaxy of Pen & Paper (iOS Universal & Android) (Review)

The sci-fi spin-off of the charming Knights of Pen & Paper, Galaxy was a fun new take on developer Behold’s premise, but it fell a bit short of expectations. Now, nearly a year after release (and plenty of updates in the interim), there’s a new free content job called the “+1” update.

There’s a lot here for fans of the game, including six new classes, new planets and biomes, lots of new quests, skills, items etc… and a better event system, to name just a few things. If you haven’t played this in a while, might be worth giving it another look.

Sales

Quite a few sales that might interest you this week, although mainly on iOS. Asmodee Digital, Klei Entertainment and the Trese Brothers all offer discounts on some of their games:

Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked (Review) (iOS Universal & Android) – $0.99 on iOS
Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition (Review) (iOS Universal & Android) – $0.99 on iOS

Klei have slashed the price on both the original and the Shipwrecked version of their iconic survival/sim Don’t Starve. Both are equally as good, although the variations in Shipwrecked are potentially lost if you haven’t played the original. Bear in mind this can be a frustrating and gruelling experience at times as well. The last time the games were at this price was back in February, so while there’s a chance there may be a Christmas sale, I wouldn’t dally if you’ve yet to try this out.

Templar Battleforce Elite (Review) (iOS Universal & Android) – $4.99 on iOS

Last week the Trese Brothers discounted Heroes of Steel, this week it’s the premium version of Templar Battleforce (there is a free version, if you want to try it out). The Trese Brothers have been a dependable staple in premium mobile games, so their work is always worth checking out. This represents a 50% discount and it’s never been cheaper – that being said, the Brothers seem to run this discount fairly regularly so you can always wait for the next instance.

Twilight Struggle (Review) (iOS Universal & Android) – $4.99 
Splendor: The Board Game (Review) (iOS Universal & Android) – $4.99
Jaipur: The Board Game (Review) (iOS Universal & Android) – $2.99

Asmodee Digital have discounted a few of their boardgames this week – Jaipur & Splendor by a buck, with Twilight Struggle getting a discount of a couple of dollars. All of these games pretty much speak for themselves – especially Twilight Struggle – but do check out our review for more information. It’s also worth nothing that all of these games have been cheaper in 2018, so this isn’t the best discount – might be worth seeing if they go cheaper for Black Friday or at Christmas.

Also Spotted: The Quest & The Quest: Fire & Ice is 50% off on Android.

That’s all for this week’s update – seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!