H1Z1: Battle Royale has left Early Access on Steam!

Play the new game mode AUTO ROYALE Drive into battle as part of a 4-player vehicle of mayhem. Fight for power-ups to equip your squad and upgrade your ride. Outdrive, outshoot, and outlast the competition to BE THE LAST TEAM DRIVING!

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is Now Available for Pre-Purchase on Steam and is 10% off!*

Pre-Purchase Warhammer: Vermintide 2 now and receive immediate access to the beta.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Vermintide. The time has arrived to revisit the fierce first-person co-op slaughter-fest featuring visceral and ground breaking melee action, set in the apocalyptic End Times of the war-ravaged Warhammer Fantasy Battles world .

*Offer ends March 8th at 10AM Pacific Time

Hey there, Xbox Insiders!  As valuable members of the Xbox Insider Community, we get a lot of feedback from you while you’re helping us preview games, apps and upcoming system updates, but did you know there are some issues we’re already aware of during the preview window? We imagine you already knew this, but in the event that you didn’t (or else need a quick refresher), we’ve got you covered. We’ve already written about the value of using the “Report a problem” tool to report unexpected behavior, but you can also add feedback for a known issue without completing a brand new feedback form.

To do this, simply open the “Report a problem” tool, where you’ll see any known issues listed on the first screen. All you need to do to let us know you’ve encountered one of the known issues listed is select it and then choose the “+1 option.” It’s that easy!

Before selecting “+1,” we’d ask that you make sure the behavior you’re seeing is the same as what’s described in the title and description of the known issue. While some things might seem similar, it’s important that we’re getting as much feedback as possible from users experiencing the behavior as described. If your issue is different, please make sure to select the “Add new problem” option instead and fill out the form normally.

So get out there and file feedback; we look forward to all your input!

Kirby Star Allies is the biggest release of this month on the Switch, and with just two weeks left until the game launches, excitement has never been higher. To capitalize on this, and perhaps to sway those who are on the fence, Nintendo has put out a short demo to give fans a taste of what’s to come.

The demo still isn’t live on the North American eShop, but you can download it from the EU eShop if you have an account set up for it. There’s two levels included—called “Grassland” and “Caves and Castles”—and the game’s much touted co-op gameplay is here, as well. Obviously, it won’t take very long to see everything here, but it should give you a decent idea of what’s to come.

What do you think? Will you be getting Kirby: Star Allies? What’s your favorite copy ability? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

There’s no getting around it, Stardew Valley remains a huge hit on Nintendo Switch and continues to perform well in the eShops, and Chucklefish – the publisher behind the game – is hoping to replicate that success with its next game. A wizard school simulator with added exploration and a splash of dating. Cast your eyes on Spellbound.

The British publisher is also a developer, and it’s hoping Spellbound could potentially replicate the success of ConcernedApe’s indie darling on PC and consoles. Talking of formats, there’s also the potential for the game to magic up a port on Switch. In a recent interview with Red Bull, founder Finn Brice hinted that Nintendo’s handheld could well see a version of the game in future: “We’re all massive fans of the Switch at Chucklefish,” he says. “And would ideally see all of our major projects hitting the platform in the future.”

What do you guys make of Spellbound? The developer cites Harry Potter and Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld as inspirations, so would you enroll in a few classes of transfiguration? Let us know below…

Play Call of Duty®: WWII Multiplayer for free this weekend until Sunday at 1pm Pacific. Get the full game 35% off or the Digital Deluxe for 25% off!*

Call of Duty® returns to its roots with Call of Duty®: WWII – a breathtaking experience that redefines World War II for a new gaming generation. Land in Normandy on D-Day and battle across Europe through iconic locations in history’s most monumental war. Experience classic Call of Duty combat, the bonds of camaraderie, and the unforgiving nature of war against a global power throwing the world into tyranny.

*Discount offers end February 28th at 10AM Pacific Time

Minecraft News

• The first Update Aquatic snapshot, 18W07A, was released this week, bringing with it our experience of Turtles, Phantoms, Tridents, a new swimming ability and much more.
• That’s not all though! Dinnerbone tweets, “p.s. this isn’t everything aquatic. There’s at least one or two more things to come in future snapshots. Maybe three.”.
• The Minecraft: Java Edition development team give a behind the scenes look into the Update Aquatic. Learn about turtle behaviour and the dangers of The Phantom — “[…] Jens stresses just how dangerous a risk that is. “They are really nasty to fight, really hard to hit – they fly up and then swoop down again. They sound really scary too. Samuel Åberg did some really scary sound effects for them”.
• Minecraft (Bedrock) is coming to the Nintendo Switch, and this week Mojang shared a preview of the game on their livestream. You can catch up on that livestream below!

Watch Terrific Tuesdays: Bedrock on Switch SNEAK PEEK! from Minecraft on www.twitch.tv

If you follow the conversation about Bungie closely, you might have heard the one about the new Community Manager we were looking to hire. Whenever Bungie seeks a player to lead the community they call home, it sparks obvious curiosity. Conspiracy theories immediately pointed to my imminent departure, but the rumors of my pending death have been greatly exaggerated. This was a bid for reinforcement, not replacement.

After an extensive search and many conversations, we realized that what we were looking for was right under our noses the whole time – and he was already kicking ass. It is my pleasure to introduce Dylan Gafner as the newest addition to the community team. This may be confusing, since he has been doing the job for months. Today, we’re making it official. This is no longer a temporary title. He’s partners with Cozmo, now.

The idea of a “Community Manager” means many things to many people. They can be equal parts court jester, combat correspondent, best friend, first responder, security guard, detective, nation builder, case worker, and air traffic controller. Each person who accepts the mission weaves those strands together to create their own unique specialty. In Dylan, we see a problem solver who tackles player reports and works with his peers to drive toward solutions. He’s been a tireless translator on the border between players and developers.

Here are some words from the man himself about what this new gig means to him.

Dylan: Hey, all. This isn’t the first time I’ve introduced myself, but I’d like to say hello again.

Since joining Bungie.net in 2004, this has been a career that I’ve dreamed about. It’s fun to think that my path here began with a simple desire to earn a cool emblem in a Bungie game by creating an account on the website. From there, I joined my first Clan (The WorkPLace) and attended my first of many PAX events in 2011. Eventually, I threw all of my stuff into a ’97 Ford Explorer to drive from San Diego to Seattle to start a job on the Destiny Player Support team in 2015. Since then, I’ve kept my nose to the grindstone in communicating known issues, preparing support documentation for Destiny releases, and volunteering my thumbs for various Twitch reveals.

I’m extremely grateful that this new opportunity as Community Manager is a chance for me to give back to a community that I’ve known through fourteen years of gameplay, friendship, laughter, and ridiculous fun. We’ve recently promised an increase in communication surrounding Destiny 2, our future plans, and even issues that we’re tracking. My goal in joining the community team is to give a pulse to the status of development, investigations in process, or setting expectations for upcoming features. We have a roadmap to follow, and I’m excited to keep you informed along the way.

With that said, let’s get down to business. You can find me responding to threads on the Bungie.net forums, jumping into conversations as @a_dmg04 on Twitter, and providing content for the Bungie Blog. I will continue to work with the Destiny Player Support team in communicating about known issues or upcoming maintenance windows, which can be found on Help.bungie.net, and @BungieHelp on Twitter.

Thanks for playing, and thank you for your passion. It’s truly an inspiration each day.

Cheers,

-dmg04

A group of developers from Eugen Systems are on strike after citing labor law violations. Known for the Wargame franchise, the French studio has confirmed that 21 out of its 44 employees walked out yesterday in protest over management. 

In an open letter published to Le Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo (Union of Video Game Workers), the post alleges how Eugen neglected to compensate developers for overtime, refused to acknowledge contracts with some of its employees, and has ignored minimum wage laws. 

“It has now been nearly fifteen months since we have been discussing with management serious violations of our rights,” the letter explains. “In front of the wall that was opposed to us during the first six months of negotiations, we were forced to call on a lawyer to remind the law of our employer.” 

Eugen Systems came out with a statement acknowledging an issue with its recent payslips going out late, but attributed them to a delay in complications caused by legislative reforms.

The strike comes a day after Eugen Systems released Back to Hell, an expansion of Steel Divison: Normandy 44.

Bayonetta blasts onto the Nintendo Switch system with two stylish games

Time to check your style and hone your reflexes. Both the original Bayonetta™ and the Bayonetta 2™ games are now available for the Nintendo Switch™ system. The deadly witch is back and ready to dispatch her enemies in creatively devastating ways.

Bayonetta
See how the saga started! Bayonetta has lost her memory after being asleep at the bottom of a lake for 500 years. The Umbran Witch must now summon Infernal Demons, dodge enemy attacks to slow down time, and defend against the armies of Paradiso as she uncovers the truth of her long-lost past. Deftly change weapons to take out your foes in the most stylish way possible!

Bayonetta 2
Bayonetta sets on a quest to save her friend’s soul, and it will take all the pistols, whips, hammers, flamethrowers, and poison bows at her disposal to do it. This sequel takes the original game’s stylized action and massive scale and amplifies them to ridiculous levels. You’ll also be able to team up with other Umbra Witches in a two-player cooperative mode that can be played via local wireless* or online.**

Purchasing Info:
There are a few ways to purchase both games for one low price. Buying the retail version of the Bayonetta 2 game will also grant you a download code for the original Bayonetta game. Or, if you decide to buy digitally, buying the digital version of one game will automatically grant you a discount on the other game.

Please visit the official site (http://bayonetta2.nintendo.com ) for more details!

*Additional games and systems required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately

** Nintendo Account required. Online services and features, including online gameplay, are free until the paid Nintendo Switch Online Service launches in September 2018.

Game Rated:

Blood and Gore
Intense Violence
Partial Nudity
Strong Language
Suggestive Themes