01-05-2019, 09:05 AM
This Week on Xbox: December 21, 2018
<div><div class="media_block"><img src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/08242018-hero-4-hero-2.jpg" class="media_thumbnail"></div>
<p><em>We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!</em></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/343-industries-bonnie-ross-inducted-into-aias-hall-of-fame/">343 Industries’ Bonnie Ross to be Inducted Into the AIAS Hall of Fame</a><br /></strong>Today, we are happy to share that the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced its 23rd Hall of Fame recipient: Bonnie Ross, Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Head of 343 Industries. Ross has been integral… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/343-industries-bonnie-ross-inducted-into-aias-hall-of-fame/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/xbox-year-in-review-2018/">Xbox Celebrates Your Year in Gaming</a><br /></strong>This is our favorite time of year when we can all come together and celebrate community shenanigans. We marvel at how one million of you managed to reach the top 10 in a battle royale without panning anyone, just as much as we relish… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/xbox-year-in-review-2018/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107827" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/4-UP_16x9-12.18-hero.png" alt="January 2019 Games with Gold" width="1920" height="1080" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107827" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/4-UP_16x9-12.18-hero.png" alt="January 2019 Games with Gold" width="1920" height="1080" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/games-with-gold-january-2019/">New Games with Gold for January 2019</a><br /></strong>Welcome to another Games with Gold reveal for Xbox One and Xbox 360! In January on Xbox One, play the highly acclaimed platformer Celeste, then show off your mud-driving skills in WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship. On Xbox 360 and… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/games-with-gold-january-2019/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/xbox-live-sessions-todd-gurley/">NFL Running Back Todd Gurley to Play Madden NFL 19 on Next Xbox Live Sessions</a><br /></strong>Have you ever wanted to see the Los Angeles Rams’ running back Todd Gurley play as himself in the newest Madden? If so, you are in luck! Todd will join the next episode of Xbox Live Sessions on Friday, December 21 at 4 p.m. PST to play Madden NFL 19… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/xbox-live-sessions-todd-gurley/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107817" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/MyXbox_HERO-hero.jpg" alt="MyXbox Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107817" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/MyXbox_HERO-hero.jpg" alt="MyXbox Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/myxbox-holiday-event/">Celebrating Gaming, Community and What #MyXbox Can Mean for You</a><br /></strong>Xbox recently hosted a celebration of gaming with a #MyXbox holiday event at the Flagship Microsoft Store in New York City. I’m on the Xbox Community Team and had the pleasure of serving as event emcee and helped lead this gathering that… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/myxbox-holiday-event/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/operation-absolute-zero-call-of-duty-black-ops-4/">Operation Absolute Zero Brings a New Kind of Cold War to Black Ops 4</a><br /></strong>Hello, Xbox fans! Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s Operation Absolute Zero starts December 18. This second free season of content introduces a new Specialist to the line-up, along with tons of gameplay and customization items. In Blackout, winter has arrived… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/operation-absolute-zero-call-of-duty-black-ops-4/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107786" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/rival_megagun_keyart-hero.jpg" alt="Rival Megagun Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107786" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/rival_megagun_keyart-hero.jpg" alt="Rival Megagun Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/behind-shooter-rival-megagun-xbox-one/">Insight from the Developer of the Action Shooter Rival Megagun, Available Now on Xbox One</a><br /></strong>I’ve been passionate about game development since childhood. I started with software like level and map editors, Klik & Play, Multimedia Fusion, and Flash. This led me to discover my love for programming. In 2013 I finished a computer systems degree… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/behind-shooter-rival-megagun-xbox-one/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/new-reserve-parque-fernando-available-now-thehunter/">New Reserve Parque Fernando Available Now for theHunter: Call of the Wild on Xbox One</a><br /></strong>There are few things quite as exciting for a development team as releasing new content. Months or years of hard work finally bear fruit, and the creators behind it can finally step back to listen to the reactions and feedback from players… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/new-reserve-parque-fernando-available-now-thehunter/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107700" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/hellblade_crop-hero-hero-hero.jpg" alt="Hellblade Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107700" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/hellblade_crop-hero-hero-hero.jpg" alt="Hellblade Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/10-things-hellblade-xbox-one/">10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice</a><br /></strong>Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is the journey of a broken Celtic warrior on a vision quest to save the soul of her dead lover from Viking Hell. Hellblade was developed and published independently by a small team with a limited budget. As such, our developers… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/10-things-hellblade-xbox-one/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/what-is-hellfront-honeymoon-xbox/">What’s Hellfront: Honeymoon and How to Be Really, Really Good at It</a><br /></strong>Now that Hellfront: Honeymoon has launched on Xbox One, it’s time to ask yourself: What is it, and more importantly, how do you get better at it than your friends? No worries! The developers of SkyGoblin are here to help answer these profoundly important questions… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/what-is-hellfront-honeymoon-xbox/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107665" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/key_art_1920x1080-hero.jpg" alt="39 Days to Mars Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107665" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/key_art_1920x1080-hero.jpg" alt="39 Days to Mars Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/39-days-to-mars-coming-soon-to-xbox-one/">39 Days to Mars Coming Soon to Xbox One</a><br /></strong>I’m excited to announce that 39 Days to Mars will be coming to Xbox One in 2019! 39 Days to Mars is a co-operative steampunk puzzle-adventure game, that’s been designed from the very start to support two people playing together. You step into the shoes… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/39-days-to-mars-coming-soon-to-xbox-one/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/the-first-tree-available-now-xbox-one/">Journey to Find The First Tree, Available Now on Xbox One</a><br /></strong>I never thought I’d say this, but after all the blood, sweat, and tears, The First Tree is available today on Xbox One. Why is that unbelievable? I started this project as a simple way to tell a story and deal with the ideas of death, loss, and hope, and I didn’t think… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/the-first-tree-available-now-xbox-one/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107609" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/SoD-2-Variety-hero.jpg" alt="" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107609" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/SoD-2-Variety-hero.jpg" alt="" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/state-of-decay-2-vinyl-soundtrack/">State of Decay 2 Soundtrack Available on Vinyl Today</a><br /></strong>As 4 million players have been writing their own survival story in State of Decay 2, they’ve been enjoying BAFTA award-winning and Billboard / MTV VMA nominated Danish composer’s Jesper Kyd soundtrack, which is available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/state-of-decay-2-vinyl-soundtrack/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/hellblade-available-with-xbox-game-pass/">Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Now Available with Xbox Game Pass</a><br /></strong>As if you needed any more reason to pick up Xbox Game Pass – Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is now available for Xbox Game Pass members! With its release into the catalog today, Xbox Game Pass members will have the chance to join Senua… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/hellblade-available-with-xbox-game-pass/">Read more</a></p>
</div>
<div><div class="media_block"><img src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/08242018-hero-4-hero-2.jpg" class="media_thumbnail"></div>
<p><em>We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!</em></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/343-industries-bonnie-ross-inducted-into-aias-hall-of-fame/">343 Industries’ Bonnie Ross to be Inducted Into the AIAS Hall of Fame</a><br /></strong>Today, we are happy to share that the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced its 23rd Hall of Fame recipient: Bonnie Ross, Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Head of 343 Industries. Ross has been integral… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/343-industries-bonnie-ross-inducted-into-aias-hall-of-fame/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/xbox-year-in-review-2018/">Xbox Celebrates Your Year in Gaming</a><br /></strong>This is our favorite time of year when we can all come together and celebrate community shenanigans. We marvel at how one million of you managed to reach the top 10 in a battle royale without panning anyone, just as much as we relish… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/xbox-year-in-review-2018/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107827" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/4-UP_16x9-12.18-hero.png" alt="January 2019 Games with Gold" width="1920" height="1080" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107827" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/4-UP_16x9-12.18-hero.png" alt="January 2019 Games with Gold" width="1920" height="1080" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/games-with-gold-january-2019/">New Games with Gold for January 2019</a><br /></strong>Welcome to another Games with Gold reveal for Xbox One and Xbox 360! In January on Xbox One, play the highly acclaimed platformer Celeste, then show off your mud-driving skills in WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship. On Xbox 360 and… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/games-with-gold-january-2019/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/xbox-live-sessions-todd-gurley/">NFL Running Back Todd Gurley to Play Madden NFL 19 on Next Xbox Live Sessions</a><br /></strong>Have you ever wanted to see the Los Angeles Rams’ running back Todd Gurley play as himself in the newest Madden? If so, you are in luck! Todd will join the next episode of Xbox Live Sessions on Friday, December 21 at 4 p.m. PST to play Madden NFL 19… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/xbox-live-sessions-todd-gurley/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107817" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/MyXbox_HERO-hero.jpg" alt="MyXbox Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107817" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/MyXbox_HERO-hero.jpg" alt="MyXbox Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/myxbox-holiday-event/">Celebrating Gaming, Community and What #MyXbox Can Mean for You</a><br /></strong>Xbox recently hosted a celebration of gaming with a #MyXbox holiday event at the Flagship Microsoft Store in New York City. I’m on the Xbox Community Team and had the pleasure of serving as event emcee and helped lead this gathering that… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/20/myxbox-holiday-event/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/operation-absolute-zero-call-of-duty-black-ops-4/">Operation Absolute Zero Brings a New Kind of Cold War to Black Ops 4</a><br /></strong>Hello, Xbox fans! Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s Operation Absolute Zero starts December 18. This second free season of content introduces a new Specialist to the line-up, along with tons of gameplay and customization items. In Blackout, winter has arrived… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/operation-absolute-zero-call-of-duty-black-ops-4/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107786" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/rival_megagun_keyart-hero.jpg" alt="Rival Megagun Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107786" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/rival_megagun_keyart-hero.jpg" alt="Rival Megagun Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/behind-shooter-rival-megagun-xbox-one/">Insight from the Developer of the Action Shooter Rival Megagun, Available Now on Xbox One</a><br /></strong>I’ve been passionate about game development since childhood. I started with software like level and map editors, Klik & Play, Multimedia Fusion, and Flash. This led me to discover my love for programming. In 2013 I finished a computer systems degree… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/behind-shooter-rival-megagun-xbox-one/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/new-reserve-parque-fernando-available-now-thehunter/">New Reserve Parque Fernando Available Now for theHunter: Call of the Wild on Xbox One</a><br /></strong>There are few things quite as exciting for a development team as releasing new content. Months or years of hard work finally bear fruit, and the creators behind it can finally step back to listen to the reactions and feedback from players… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/new-reserve-parque-fernando-available-now-thehunter/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107700" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/hellblade_crop-hero-hero-hero.jpg" alt="Hellblade Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107700" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/hellblade_crop-hero-hero-hero.jpg" alt="Hellblade Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/10-things-hellblade-xbox-one/">10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice</a><br /></strong>Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is the journey of a broken Celtic warrior on a vision quest to save the soul of her dead lover from Viking Hell. Hellblade was developed and published independently by a small team with a limited budget. As such, our developers… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/10-things-hellblade-xbox-one/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/what-is-hellfront-honeymoon-xbox/">What’s Hellfront: Honeymoon and How to Be Really, Really Good at It</a><br /></strong>Now that Hellfront: Honeymoon has launched on Xbox One, it’s time to ask yourself: What is it, and more importantly, how do you get better at it than your friends? No worries! The developers of SkyGoblin are here to help answer these profoundly important questions… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/19/what-is-hellfront-honeymoon-xbox/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107665" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/key_art_1920x1080-hero.jpg" alt="39 Days to Mars Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107665" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/key_art_1920x1080-hero.jpg" alt="39 Days to Mars Hero Image" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/39-days-to-mars-coming-soon-to-xbox-one/">39 Days to Mars Coming Soon to Xbox One</a><br /></strong>I’m excited to announce that 39 Days to Mars will be coming to Xbox One in 2019! 39 Days to Mars is a co-operative steampunk puzzle-adventure game, that’s been designed from the very start to support two people playing together. You step into the shoes… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/39-days-to-mars-coming-soon-to-xbox-one/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/the-first-tree-available-now-xbox-one/">Journey to Find The First Tree, Available Now on Xbox One</a><br /></strong>I never thought I’d say this, but after all the blood, sweat, and tears, The First Tree is available today on Xbox One. Why is that unbelievable? I started this project as a simple way to tell a story and deal with the ideas of death, loss, and hope, and I didn’t think… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/the-first-tree-available-now-xbox-one/">Read more</a></p>
<p><img class="lazyload alignnone size-full wp-image-107609" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/SoD-2-Variety-hero.jpg" alt="" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107609" src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/SoD-2-Variety-hero.jpg" alt="" width="940" height="528" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/state-of-decay-2-vinyl-soundtrack/">State of Decay 2 Soundtrack Available on Vinyl Today</a><br /></strong>As 4 million players have been writing their own survival story in State of Decay 2, they’ve been enjoying BAFTA award-winning and Billboard / MTV VMA nominated Danish composer’s Jesper Kyd soundtrack, which is available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/18/state-of-decay-2-vinyl-soundtrack/">Read more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/hellblade-available-with-xbox-game-pass/">Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Now Available with Xbox Game Pass</a><br /></strong>As if you needed any more reason to pick up Xbox Game Pass – Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is now available for Xbox Game Pass members! With its release into the catalog today, Xbox Game Pass members will have the chance to join Senua… <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/12/17/hellblade-available-with-xbox-game-pass/">Read more</a></p>
</div>