Quantcast
Channel: Games
Viewing all 16760 articles
Browse latest View live

Burnout Paradise Remastered launches on Xbox One in March

0
0

Fans have been requesting a Burnout Paradise remaster for years now and it's finally happening!

Today, Criterion Games announced that Burnout Paradise Remastered should launch on March 16, 2018 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. According to the studio, players will be transported back into the world of Paradise City to tear it up in the ultimate driving playground, from hectic downtown avenues to the wild mountain roads. The goal is to pull off insane stunts and create crazy car destruction in one of the best arcade games ever made.

Burnout Paradise Remastered includes the original game and eight add-ons. The title also features a range of technical enhancements for greater visual quality such as high-resolution textures in 4K 60 FPS on Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro.

Matt Webster, General Manager at Criterion Games, issued the following statement alongside news of Burnout Paradise Remastered.

When people think of Criterion Games, they often remember the Burnout franchise and for good reason. What we created ten years ago, we feel is still fun and unique to this day in the gaming industry. Burnout Paradise is an arcade racer built to provide players the thrill of racing with their friends, in a free form way that was both seamless and immersive, but also a little crazy with all the different stunts and crashes players could pull off. With the release of this remaster, we're able to share this action-packed ride with a whole new generation of players.

The game is currently up for preorder on the Microsoft Store for $39.99. EA Access members receive an additional discount and can play it early on March 9. Hopefully the title will hold up well after all these years.

See at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!


Path of Exile's Bestiary expansion lets you hunt dangerous prey on Xbox One and PC

0
0

Grinding Gear Games is introducing even more content to Path of Exile next month.

Path of Exile is a Diablo-like free-to-play game which relies purely on cosmetic microtransactions to sustain development. Today, Grinding Gear Games announced that a new content update, called Bestiary, will hit PC on March 2, 2018. An Xbox One release will follow roughly a week later.

Path of Exile: Bestiary adds the Bestiary Challenge League, in which players compete to hunt and capture hundreds of the most dangerous animals that populate the world. That's not all though, gamers can choose to sacrifice their prey to create potent items. There are around 250 regular beasts and 40 legendary beasts to capture. Performing the ritual of "Sacrifice by Combat at the Blood Altar" grants you even more powerful gear through dozens of powerful recipes.

Aside from even greater challenges, the expansion adds new gems which behave somewhat like active and passive skills. Changing existing ones and finding new combinations radically alters your attacks. While other role-playing games require you to swap out skills, Path of Exile requires you to swap out gems.

Aggressive post-launch support is the main reason why Path of Exile is so popular even to this day. According to the developer, successful launches on Xbox One and in China have more than doubled the player community since August 2017. Over 3.5 million players having experienced the game's The Fall of Oriath expansion.

If you haven't played Path of Exile, be sure to give it a go. It even supports native 4K 60 FPS visuals on Xbox One X.

See at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Cities: Skylines mods now available on Xbox One

0
0

Cities: Skylines getting user-created mods on Xbox One this week

Get ready to add everything from swimming pools to giant hamsters to your city.

Updated February 20, 2018: A number of free mods are now available for Cities: Skylines on Xbox One. Console players can now get their hands on a curated collection of new buildings and items, and there's more to come.

Paradox Interactive is bringing a little more customization love to its city builder, Cities: Skylines, on Xbox One this week. The developer has announced that Xbox One players will finally be able to get their hands on user-created mods starting on February 20.

User-created mods have been available for the PC version of Cities: Skylines for some time, so their move to the Xbox One version should be welcome. "If you've ever wanted to give your community a fancy clock tower, or put in some swimming pools, or even turn the planes at your local airport into futuristic spacecraft, your fellow Cities fans have been hard at work to let you do just that," Paradox says.

Modders won't be able to push their creations to Xbox One at any point. Rather, it looks as if Paradox will be curating a testing specific mods before rolling them out to Xbox One users. The first batch of curated mods is set to drop on February 20 as part of a free update.

Cities: Skylines for Xbox One review — The best management game money can buy

Following the launch of user-created mods, Paradox says it also has a new content pack coming soon for Season pass owners. Called the Content Creator Pack, the DLC will let you add some Art Deco and technological flair "created by some of Cities: Skylines' most talented community artists and modelers" to your city. Additionally, a free content update landing on March 6 will add the ability for your city to host a sports team.

See at MicrosoftSee at Amazon

Elite Dangerous Beyond: Chapter One expansion launches this month

0
0

Elite: Dangerous is a surprisingly popular space simulator given its complexity and learning curve.

Today, Frontier Developments announced that Elite: Dangerous' latest expansion, Beyond: Chapter One, will launch on February 27, 2018. The finished Chapter One will be available for free to all Elite: Dangerous players on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. The game supports Xbox One X so it should look even better on Microsoft's new console with the upcoming changes. If you love space simulators in which you can practically do anything you want, then be sure to give this one a go. Elite: Dangerous is supremely rewarding even though it takes dozens of hours to master.

Chapter One advances the ongoing player-driven narrative and introduces a variety of gameplay enhancements, upgrading the experience whether players prefer to trade, fight or explore in Elite: Dangerous' massively multiplayer galaxy. Going beyond the Thargoid alien attack of last season, Chapter One enhances the existing gameplay experience by bringing a host of new content for commanders to enjoy while they cruise the galaxy.

Aside from changes to the engineering mechanics, mission rewards, and the crime system, the game's visuals are also getting an upgrade. The developer has reworked the planet rendering technology in its game engine. This should result in more realistic and beautiful graphics especially when it comes to approaching planets. In Chapter One, vibrant surface colors better reflect planetary geological properties. Hopefully these enhancements will be noticeable even to the untrained eye.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at Amazon

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

XCOM 2 gets unexpected Xbox One X upgrade (updated)

0
0

No one was expecting it but XCOM 2 is suddenly Xbox One X Enhanced.

Xbox One X gamers woke up to a rather surprising find this morning. XCOM 2, the beloved strategy game, is now Xbox One X Enhanced. While it's unclear what the exact upgrades are, during our testing we found the frame rate to be more stable and the visuals to be crisper on Microsoft's new console.

XCOM 2 suffers from a series of problems on a standard Xbox One. The game runs poorly and exhibits an unstable frame rate even after numerous patches. All of the issues appear to have been resolved with the latest Xbox One X patch on the new device.

The Earth has changed and is now under alien rule. Facing impossible odds, you must rebuild the XCOM division and ignite a global resistance to reclaim the planet and save humanity. However, this time around the aliens are more challenging and dangerous than ever.

XCOM 2 is a turn-based strategy game, where you fight aliens by moving your squad and shooting when the time is right. The mechanics are mostly based on strategic positioning and probability, so you have to place your fighters in optimum positions for the clearest shots. Throughout the game, you'll also have to upgrade your characters and base, alongside researching new technologies.

XCOM 2 is one of the deepest turn-based games on the market, and making sure that your favorite fighters survive is a top priority.

Update 2/20/18: XCOM 2 features 1440p resolution on Xbox One X with screen space reflections, better depth of field, and better anti-aliasing.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at Amazon

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Xbox marketing chief confirms more 360 games will be upgraded for Xbox One X

0
0

More Xbox 360 games should look crisp on an Xbox One X in the future.

When the Xbox One X launched, Microsoft surprised consumers by announcing that certain Xbox 360 games would be enhanced for the console. Experiences like Fallout 3 and Halo 3 look absolutely stunning on a 4K display due to the increase in resolution. However, many thought that the company wouldn't upgrade other Xbox 360 games because it was only used to market the console at launch.

Luckily, that doesn't appear to be the case at all. Albert Penello, the head of Marketing for Xbox Consoles, confirmed that more Xbox One X Enhanced Xbox 360 games are coming soon. It's unclear which titles will make the cut or when customers should expect them.

The added power of the Xbox One X allows the company to render more pixels even when it comes to older games. The device launched on November 7, 2017 and is the most powerful console ever made. The Xbox One X features 6 teraflops of processing power and 12 GB of memory. In addition to that, the console contains a 4K Blu-ray player and offers a faster hard drive for improved load times. For those looking to make the most of their gaming experience — no matter if it's the desire for higher resolutions or more stable frame rates — the console may be the device for you.

See Xbox One X at Microsoft StoreSee Xbox One X at Amazon

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Steel Division: Normandy 44 for PC review — A great, but overwhelming strategy game

0
0

Steel Division: Normandy 44 is a real-time strategy game that introduces a new way to play the genre, but the lightning fast pace of the game is a little too much.

Eugen Systems' real-time strategy (RTS) game Steel Division: Normandy 44 is a great experience that introduces new ideas to the genre, while simultaneously giving the player a sense of the true scale of a World War II battlefield. Mechanically, it plays excellent, but the gameplay is marred by the fact that some things happen faster then you can keep up with.

See on Steam

Gameplay: Show the Nazis who's boss

Most World War II games are shooters that give you a view of the war from the perspective of a soldier. Steel Division shows you humanity's bloodiest conflict through a rarer perspective: the eyes of a battlefield commanding officer. Infantry, tanks, fighters, and more are at your disposal; your forces are as varied as they are plentiful. However, they're only as effective as you command them, which you do by telling them where to go, who to shoot, when to fall back, etc.

Unlike most other real-time strategy titles, building and maintaining an economy isn't in Steel Division. Instead, your resources are replenished over time at intervals, and you have to use what you're given to create a fighting force over the course of three phases. In phase A you can only spawn minimal forces, such as light tanks, rifleman squads, or recon spies. However, it's imperative that you use these to their full potential, as the ground they take becomes vital later.

After 10 minutes, phases advance. Phase B sees the arrival of more powerful units, and by the time phase C rolls around, the battlefield is engulfed in large-scale war. After phase C ends, the player (or team in team modes) that controls more of the map wins. I love this system, but the gameplay feels way too fast, even for a fairly experienced RTS player like myself. Units are demanding my attention before I can even finish getting new ones, and that's when I'm winning. It's even worse when you're losing.

In the end, though, it's a blast to try out the variety of ways you can manipulate your army to get an edge over the other side. Machine gun squads become devastatingly effective when placed in defensive positions, for example. Another good strategy is to destroy supply trucks as this can cause enemy infantry to run out of bullets, making them easy targets. Of course, these are only the beginning of the possibilities, and it's ten times better when you do these things cooperatively with a friend in multiplayer.

The DLC for the game is solid as well, bringing over 50 new units, seven singleplayer missions, and more extra content to the game. The missions are challenging and fun, and the units are cool too.

Presentation: Surprisingly impressive

RTS games often look rather average due to the amount of things being rendered on the screen at once, but Steel Battalion is unexpectedly excellent looking for an RTS. The texture work and detail for every soldier, vehicle, and airplane looks like something from a so-so first person view game on PC. By real-time strategy standards, though, that's an achievement.

Sound design is great too, and between artillery shells, automatic rifles, and shouts of men to one another, the sounds of thick warfare are convincing, heavy, and intense. Unfortunately, the music is rather bland and repetitive, but thankfully you can shut it off.

Steel Division: Normandy 44 for PC conclusion

While the gameplay can feel rushed sometimes, Steel Division nevertheless is a great game that authentically recreates the World War II conflict and brings some new ideas to the RTS genre.

Pros:

  • Well crafted gameplay.
  • Deep mechanics.
  • Surprisingly good graphics.

Cons:

  • Pacing was often too fast.
  • Sub-par music.

Great

4/5

Steel Division is available now for $39.99 on Steam.

See on Steam

This review was conducted on a PC, using a copy provided by the publisher.

New $450,000 annual scholarship fund set to bring young talent into esports

0
0

Esports

Kickstarting new careers in esports.

Find Your Grind (FYG), an organization set on helping young folk explore careers they may not have considered, has announced a $450,000 annual esports scholarship fund, in partnership with esport infrastructure company ReKTGlobal. The fund not only targets highly-skilled players looking to break into the professional scene but also teenagers with a passion and interest in esports. The goal is to connect young applicants with opportunities in the fast-growing sporting scene.

Esports continues to attract attention from all areas and a new scholarship fund is the next logical step. "As we've hosted our live events with high school students around the nation, one topic that always comes up with them is their passion for esports and gaming," said Nick Gross, Founder of Find Your Grind. "It is such an exciting industry with huge opportunity for growth among youth, so we wanted to create programs that show students that if they are passionate about gaming, they can pursue it as a viable lifestyle."

With access to the FYG platform and curriculum, it's hoped that the two companies can work to show a younger audience that esports is a viable lifestyle, even if you're not great at playing video games. Bringing ReKTGlobal onboard should prove useful in connecting successful applicants with names and brands in the industry.

Apply for the FYG esport scholarship


Sea of Thieves buyer's guide: Release date, editions, preorder bonuses and more

0
0

Everything you need to know about Sea of Thieves for Xbox One and Windows 10, including editions, preorder bonuses, collectibles, and more.

Sea of Thieves is sailing on the horizon, with less than a month remaining until the game's release. Microsoft's upcoming adventure game is showing promise as the ultimate pirate experience, sending players on adventures to uncover the most coveted loot. We've rounded up the top Sea of Thieves items available so far, ahead of its debut.

Sea of Thieves release date

Sea of Thieves is expected to launch for Xbox One and Windows 10 on March 20, 2018. Unlike many recent Microsoft Studios titles where a premium edition provides early access, there is only one edition of Sea of Thieves and it has a universal release date worldwide. The game will also offer its Xbox One X enhancements, including 4K resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, on launch day.

Sea of Thieves preorder bonuses

Games often see a range of store-specific preorder bonuses, although Microsoft is keeping it simple for Sea of Thieves. Players will receive a code for the "Black Dog Pack" from major retailers, including the Microsoft Store, Amazon, GameStop, and Best Buy. Once redeemed, your character will receive a range of cosmetic items, including a black jacket, hat, peg leg, boots and gloves. A matching cutlass, hurdy-gurdy, and concertina are also included.

Preorders from Best Buy will also receive a physical 3-inch metal coin branded with Sea of Thieves logos and icons, while stocks last.

Sea of Thieves (Physical disc)

Set sail onto the Sea of Thieves with the game's standard edition – currently the only way to experience the game on Xbox One. By purchasing this version, you'll be getting all content available at launch, aside from a few cosmetic bonuses.

The standard version of Sea of Thieves costs $59.99, with additional bonus content dependent on the retailer. This version should be stocked by all video game retailers worldwide.

Sea of Thieves (Digital)

A digital version of Sea of Thieves is also available for $59.99, sold as a pre-paid code to be redeemed via Xbox Live. Most retailers that stock codes will distribute them ahead of launch, to give players the chance to preorder and pre-load the title. Like digital copies purchased directly from the Microsoft Store, these copies of the game will unlock at 12:01 in your time zone.

Codes are valid for both Xbox One and Windows 10, with cross-platform purchasing, saves and multiplayer between the two platforms under the "Play Anywhere" program.

Xbox Game Pass

Although for many, Sea of Thieves will be purchased outright, Microsoft is also set to release the game on its Xbox Game Pass subscription service on March 20. As recently unveiled, future Microsoft Studios-published titles will hit the Netflix-style service and remain playable with an active subscription. Xbox Game Pass subscriptions also entitle players to an additional library of over 100 existing games on Xbox One. Xbox Game Pass subscriptions are priced at $9.99 digitally or $10.99 as gifts, making this a great way to save on your first trip to the seas.

Sea of Thieves Limited Edition Xbox One controller

Accompanying the launch of Sea of Thieves, this special edition controller is one of Xbox One's hottest accessories this year. With a nautical translucent purple casing etched in barnacles and a light copper rust, the controller looks freshly plucked from the depths. Other highlights include a gold trigger resembling a pirate's tooth, a glow in a dark skull symbol, and various other markings, fully capturing the pirate aesthetic. Buyers are also rewarded with the exclusive "Ferryman" clothing set in-game.

As a third-generation revision of the Xbox One controller, integrated Bluetooth support also makes for a perfect PC companion. The Sea of Thieves controller stock continues to rise and fall at $74.99, so make sure to check various retailers regularly to secure one for yourself.

Sea of Thieves Seagate 2TB Game Drive for Xbox One

Xbox One games continue to grow in size, especially when handling 4K upgrades on the Xbox One X. The Sea of Thieves special edition of the Seagate Game Drive adds an additional 2TB of external storage, tripling your capacity of standard Xbox One X consoles. Styled with a similar purple and cyan color combination, this is the great companion to the Sea of Thieves controller. Buyers of this drive will also receive a redeemable code for an exclusive in-game weapon, the "Midnight Blunderbuss."

The Sea of Thieves Seagate Game Drive is slated to hit store shelves on April 1, 2018, shortly after the game's launch. Preorders for the accessory are already live at some retailers, priced at $89.99.

Sea of Thieves Xbox One controller stand

If you're getting a Sea of Thieves controller, why not find a perfect place to store it? The Sea of Thieves limited edition controller stand from Controller Gear solves this, using a refreshed design officially licensed from Microsoft. Designed with materials identical to the Sea of Thieves controller, you won't find a better companion than this. A charging variant of this stand is also on the way to top up your charge while not sailing the seas.

The standard Sea of Thieves controller stand is set to release for $14.99, while the charging variant will cost $49.99. Both models are on track for an April 5 release, ahead of the game's launch.

Tales From The Sea of Thieves

"Tales From The Sea of Thieves" might serve as a perfect primer for the game, diving into its world from the perspective of three pirates. Exploring adventures on the seas, the book promises to expand on the game's towns and islands, while uncovering its mythical krakens and mermaids. Packed with illustrations and sketches from the Rare team, Tales From The Sea of Thieves should deliver for lovers of lore and art.

Tales from the Sea of Thieves is currently available for pre-order at Amazon for $26.96, ahead of its March 20 release.

See at Amazon

The Art of Sea of Thieves

Interested in the creative process behind Sea of Thieves? This might be the book for you. Featuring over 200 pages of concept art, sketches, and other behind-the-scenes content, The Art of Sea of Thieves is a visual trip through the game's development. Expanding on the design of its world, the book also houses exclusive commentary, and breakdowns from the developer's art team.

The Art of Sea of Thieves will be available on March 20 for $35.99 on Amazon, and various other book stores.

See at Amazon

Stellaris: Apocalypse DLC packs quality changes that are well worth the price

0
0

Stellaris: Apocalypse

Instead of simply waging war with a faction that refuses to bow down to you, why not take a colossal ship for a spin and destroy a few planets?

Paradox Interactive has released Apocalypse, the latest optional DLC for the popular 4X strategy game Stellaris. The developer also rolled out a free update that bumps the game up to version 2.0, implementing a bunch of improvements. With or without Apocalypse, the game has been completely reworked with new challenges, features and balance alterations.

Even after numerous patches and expansions, Stellaris still had a few nagging issues. It was only viable to pour all your fleet into a single "doomstack" to match what the computer would do, and there was a rather strange war system in place with no real way of playing a defensive civilization without a few hiccups. The development team finally got around to addressing these more pressing issues, but they required some radical changes.

See at Steam

Read our Stellaris review

The BIG Apocalypse

Apocalypse itself is a large piece of DLC, adding some new features. The bulk of the content and improvements come with the free patch, but it's an expansion that's still worth checking out — especially if you find that current ship classes are simply too small. First up, empire leaders now have two new classes of ship to play around with. The Titan is a huge ship that serves as the flagship of a fleet, packing special abilities and more, while the Colossus is a behemoth with planet-killer weaponry.

Yes, you read that correctly; planet-killing weapons. No Alderaan is safe in Stellaris.

A new challenge perk allows you to colonize only one planet.

New ships wouldn't be anything without some countermeasures and the ion cannon is just that. It can be installed on an existing station as a defensive platform. There are also some new ascension perks, which can prevent warring factions from reverse-engineering debris and allow for the abduction of the population while bombarding planets.

Stellaris: Apocalypse

And a civilization can be kitted out with some neat traits, including the ability to have a size 25 Gaia homeworld, but with the inability to colonize any other planet, raiding and abducting populations like true pirates, or even become a post-apocalyptic species that can call other tomb worlds "home." The new perks come with unity ambitions, three excellent tracks by Andreas Waldetoft, and a new non-playable faction: marauders.

Free improvements

Stellaris: Apocalypse

I love it when developers not only release DLC expansion packs, but also free updates alongside them for everyone to enjoy. Paradox has remained true to this by publishing version 2.0 of the base game. This latest update to Stellaris completely changes the way you approach the galaxy. Borders now mean something, and travel is initially restricted to hyper lanes, both allowing for defensive play, which was rather difficult with multiple modes of travel.

The Faster Than Light (FTL) system has been completely reworked, removing both wormhole (my personal favorite) and warp travel from the beginning of a game. While they can be unlocked as you progress through the technology tree, both means of movement have been altered, so you'll need to use wormholes and existing gateways. Finally, jump drives allow for fleets to make instantaneous jumps that have long cooldowns and repercussions.

The way you go about moving around the map has changed, but so too has the way you control stars. The border system has also been reworked. No longer does your border naturally expand. System ownership is determined by who builds (or controls) the starbase. A system must be fully surveyed before you're allowed to build a starbase. This new system makes expansion more meaningful, and more expensive.

These new starbases can be upgraded to citidels. Each level (up to five) allows for more modules to be installed. For example, the starbase you begin a game with has a shipyard module to allow for the building of ships. No longer do you build spaceports above individual planets. Finally, these floating bases can be equipped with powerful defensive platforms to ward off approaching hostiles. Here's a tip when you fire up the game: you build civilian ships from the planet interface and military vessels from the spaceport interface.

Doomstacks have also been dealt with ... sort of.

How Paradox has attempted to deal with doomstacking a fleet — throwing all ships into one fleet — is by putting a limit on how many ships can be in a single fleet. This restricts how many ships can take advantage of a single admiral's bonuses and makes it a little easier for a defending civilization to take on multiple attacking foes. Armies have also been reworked, removing attachments that were rather useless and rolling them into technologies. Defensive armies are no longer created but are generated by defensive buildings.

Stellaris: Apocalypse

Individual ships and armies can now gain experience from combat and rank up, allowing for the formation of powerful fleets with veteran units. This is something I wanted from the beginning, which made sense if a ship you owned had survived multiple conflicts. And conflicts they will endure as pirates will now spawn in unowned systems and attack empire stations. All these new features take advantage of a tweaked UI with new elements to help make managing a bustling empire a little less stressful.

More details of the 2.0 patch can be found on the official Stellaris community forum. Version 2.0 is a substantial update and one that makes some killer changes to the game.

Go big or go home

Stellaris: Apocalypse

The massive free update is an excellent release for Stellaris, but is Apocalypse worth the price? As a long-time Stellaris fan, I say yes. The expansion adds new classes of ships, new weaponry, technologies, music, and a non-playable faction you can interact with throughout a playthrough. It's a nice complement to version 2.0 and is well worth picking up for anyone looking for a little more from their strategic experience.

This review was conducted using a copy provided by the publisher on a Windows 10 PC with an Intel Core i5-6600K, GTX 1070, with 16GB of RAM.

See at Steam

All hardcore RPGs should strive to mimic Kingdom Come: Deliverance's design

0
0

Warhorse Studios' new hit role-playing game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, is arguably one of the deepest and complex games in the genre. Here's why its design should serve as something other games aim to achieve.

It's rare for games to never hold your hand throughout your time with them. Most flood you with hints about how to succeed, and almost all of them give you a detailed step-by-step guide to everything at the beginning of the game. However, this is not the case with Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

Aside from a very brief prologue that nudges you in the right direction about things, Kingdom Come lets you figure things out on your own. While that makes the game more difficult, it also makes it a much more interactive and immersive experience. Pair that with the realistic mechanics, and I believe Warhorse Studios struck gold with the formula. Here's why future role-playing games (RPGs) should follow in the company's footsteps.

See at Microsoft Store

Figuring it out yourself

When games make things easy by constantly showing the player what to do and how, it tends to feel boring and unsatisfying. You never feel like you're learning anything as you level up. Tather you're just gaining more health or stamina. This typically makes the progression system feel lackluster and can make the gameplay repetitive.

However, Kingdom Come gives you only a general idea of what to do. The rest is up to you to figure out, and that makes it feel all the more satisfying when you get the hang of things. Instead of feeling like a linear checklist of things to cross off, it ends up becoming more of an open and free experience. You can get used to everything at your own pace, and you're able to learn from your mistakes, not the hint screen.

Realism goes a long way

Mechanics are more engaging when you have to figure them out yourself, but making them realistic further adds to the experience's depth because it makes things more punishing and rewarding. For example, in Skyrim, every character can fight in the same way; the only differences are in the statistics like health or damage. However, in Kingdom Come, having poor skills in sword fighting makes your character clumsy and awkward in battle.

In Skyrim, this often doesn't impede your chances at success because you fight the same way an enemy does. But in Kingdom Come, having a low skill means that you'll be outclassed in every way by someone better at that skill then you, with things like speed and steadiness of the blade included. This punishes you for trying to take on stronger opponents, and that's a good thing. If this isn't present, then the fact the enemy is better then you is redundant.

This may sound too punishing to the player, but I see it as an incentive for you to learn those skills and master them. This is where the realistic type mechanics begin to feel more rewarding. When you train hard, improve your abilities, and come back to the same scenario described above, you will be the one kicking ass, because you put in the time to learn how to do so and learned how to manipulate the sword in combat. If this was Skyrim, you would simply just do more damage per hit.

Realism also makes everything more immersive. The more real the in-game world feels and operates, the more you actually feel like you're in it. It makes it easier to put yourself into your character's shoes.

Your thoughts

Do you think Kingdom Come: Deliverance's design style should be seen in future RPGs? Let us know.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is available now on Xbox One for $59.99.

See at Microsoft Store

Kingdom Hearts III for Xbox One: Everything we know so far

0
0

Want to know what's going on with Kingdom Hearts III for Xbox One? Here's what we know so far

In the early years of gaming, there were quite a few swings taken at the creation of a game utilizing Disney properties. Most of those games ranged anywhere from unplayable to mediocre in quality.

Then in 2002, Square released Kingdom Hearts on PlayStation 2. Disney fans and gamers rejoiced as they finally had a significant video game with Disney characters. Thus far, there have been a total of nine Kingdom Hearts games but not until 2018 has there been a new title offered on Xbox.

We have been hearing rumblings about Kingdom Hearts III for years, but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for fans of the series. As it stands now, we should see a release toward the end of 2018. However, what do we know about Kingdom Hearts III? Let's take a look.

See at Amazon

A whole new world

Since its inception, an important element of the Kingdom Hearts games has been the setting. Part of the joy of these games is the opportunity to explore familiar Disney worlds in a way that is not possible when you're watching a film. Some of the worlds that have been tapped for inclusion in Kingdom Hearts III include Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Tangled, and even San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6.

With Disney owning just about every existing IP under the sun, there doesn't seem to be many worlds left that are not within their reach. However, everything indicates that all the worlds tapped for inclusion will remain those who lie directly under the Disney Umbrella.

Characters welcome

Another critical element of the Kingdom Hearts series has, of course, been characters. There is something undeniably exciting about running into some of your favorite Disney denizens while you progress through a Kingdom Hearts game.

While your main characters will remain steadfast there are, as to be expected, some additions. With the inclusion of the aforementioned worlds, it should come as no surprise that we will end up crossing paths with their related character inhabitants.

Kingdom Hearts III for Xbox One gameplay

Everything we have seen thus far indicates that we will see similar gameplay elements as developed in previous Kingdom Hearts entries. That being said, director Tetsuya Nomura is incredibly skilled at taking existing mechanics and adding new things to bring increased depth to the gaming experience.

We have to imagine that we will see a hack-and-slash base to the combat like previous entries. Trailers seem to indicate that Sora has been practicing parkour and we should see new traversal methods available. In addition, we should be seeing some pretty epic team-up attacks between main characters.

When can you play?

As it stands, it's still a bit far away from release for us to start holding our collective breath. Everything is subject to change but at this very moment, Amazon has the release date set for December 31, 2018. If you want to get in line early, you can always head over and preorder a copy for $60.

See at Amazon

In its long and storied history, Kingdom Hearts has done a stellar job of taking the elements that work and adding new ones. Like a fine wine, Kingdom Hearts has (mostly) gotten better with age. At this point, we don't know everything about what is in store for us, but as the year progresses we will undoubtedly see more new pieces of the puzzle unveiled. I think Square knows that part of the magic and joy in these games is the surprise of running into unexpected characters. I have no doubt that they are holding a few cards close to their chests for the time being, but I can't wait to find out what those cards are.

What do you want to see in Kingdom Hearts III?

Astroneer gets new base building system in 'biggest update to date'

0
0

Astroneer gets new systems, art, and more in 'biggest update to date'

The latest update to hit Astroneer brings new base building and power systems, along with much more.

Astroneer has continually evolved since launching in Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview, but its latest update is its biggest yet. The planetary exploration game is adding some major new systems, along with a slew of smaller tweaks and bug fixes, all as part of what developer System Era calls its "biggest update to date."

The highlight of today's update is the rollout of a completely new base building system. Players will now be able to create bases however they wish with a set of movable platforms. Each platform can be placed and rotated on its own, allowing more granular customization in terms of platform configuration. Platforms can be locked into place by connecting them to power. Disconnecting the power will allow you to move them again.

In addition, this update introduces Fabricators, which are described as "portable printers that allow you to make printers." The small fabricator lets you create medium platforms and medium fabricators from your backpack. Medium fabricators can be used to print large platforms and base modules.

Players can also check out a new power system in this update. Essentially, power can now be pulled from all power generators on a single connected network. "All Modules, Rovers, and crashed solar arrays have been migrated to use this new power system," System Era explains. You can check a network's status by looks at the new power indicator on platforms.

Aside from the major system changes, System Era has rolled out a slew of other, smaller updates, including new interaction options and optimizations. Here's a look at some of the highlights:

  • A new interaction verb "Use" has been added to the game. Holding Use (by default E on keyboard and X on the Gamepad) triggers using an object. It is also used to get in and out of vehicles and the Habitat.
  • A new interaction verb "Examine" has been added to the game. Holding Examine (by default Q on keyboard and Y on the Gamepad) triggers examining an object or its control panel.
  • Holding Q on keyboard or Y on Gamepad will now open the Catalog whether or not the Backpack is open. This is a change from the double-Q / double-Y interaction from previous releases.
  • Shoulder buttons can now toggle items in the Backpack Auxiliary slots on and off.
  • Interactions that need to be held rather than tapped, like Use and Examine, now have a visual indicator ring around them.
  • Platforms and Modules can be rotated using Z / X keyboard and RB / LB on Gamepad by default.
  • When standing close enough to power slots, Gamepad users will auto-select slots that can pull connections.
  • The Backpack printer can now be used with the directional pad and A button, rather than having to use the Gamepad cursor.
  • Small Generators now auto-pull nearby Organic resources when actively generating power.
  • Small Generators will now automatically turn on when an Organic resource is added.
  • Firework rocket has been added to the Catalog as an unlockable object. Happy Lunar New Year!
  • Control Panel buttons, including the Research Platform, have been updated to change color and icon depending on whether pressing it will start, stop, or cancel a process, or if there is insufficient power.
  • Tutorial help menu carousel has been updated to include Basebuilding, Power, and Interaction changes.
  • Informational widgets that appear at the bottom of the screen have received updated visuals.
  • Optimized rendering of hovering info text that appears over holograms, along with other minor framerate optimizations.
  • Made several changes to the gravity system to improve stability of Rovers.
  • Medium Generators now provide about 30% more power

Moving forward, System Era says it plans to introduce weather and hazard, as well as a new terrain system and dedicated servers later in 2018. Further improvements will also be made to the base building and research systems as development continues. For now, you can pick up these latest updates with Astroneer version 0.6.0.0 now. And if you're new to Astroneer, the game can be picked up in early access for $19.99 on Steam or Xbox One and Windows 10 with Xbox Play Anywhere.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at Steam

Astroneer beginner's guide: how to play, crafting lists and more!

Xbox and PC adventure 'Past Cure' gets mind-bending launch trailer

0
0

Past Cure looks like a cross between D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die and Quantum Break.

Today, developer Phantom 8 released the launch trailer for Past Cure and it's quite exhilarating. The game is a supernatural story-driven experience set to launch on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4 on February 23, 2018.

Past Cure places you in the shoes of Ian, a former special operations soldier unsure of his surroundings, and desperate to make sense of the last few years. After being the victim of experimentation and torture in prison, Ian's mind is fractured. His captors leave him scarred with unrelenting nightmares, visions, and new unstable and largely unexplainable powers such as time manipulation and telekinesis. According to the developer, drifting between reality and hallucinogenic states, Ian must make sense of the world around him as he sets out on a path of revenge and discovery, uncertain of what awaits around the next turn.

Simon Gerdesmann, Phantom 8's Managing Director, issued the following statement alongside the launch trailer.

We've been delighted with the positive response to Past Cure from gamers around the world, and we're excited to finally see people playing what has been our passion to create for the last two years. To achieve what we have as a small, eight-person first-time development studio makes us immensely proud. And, we're not finished yet; there's more to come from the Past Cure universe, as we'll announce soon.

Past Cure features supernatural elements, stealth gameplay, and numerous abilities you don't see outside of games like Quantum Break. Hopefully the game will live up to expectations when it launches in a day.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at Amazon

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Call of Duty: WWII 'Resistance' DLC launches on Xbox One and PC in March

0
0

Xbox One and PC owners don't have to wait much longer for Call of Duty: WWII's latest content.

The Call of Duty games have serious and bizarre sides, all at the same time. Call of Duty: WWII features a gritty campaign which takes you across various battles and zones, but it also features a "Zombies" mode which includes an over-the-top story. Today, Activision announced that "The Resistance", the first add-on pack for the game, is coming to Xbox One and PC on March 1, 2018.

The Resistance adds new multiplayer maps which task players with fighting in iconic World War II locations, from Paris to Prague, all centered around historic uprisings. However, the pack also features "The Darkest Shore", the terrifying new chapter in the twisted Zombies saga. Unlike normal zombies, the undead you encounter in Call of Duty: WWII are Nazis.

Call of Duty returns to its roots with Call of Duty: WWII. According to Activision, the game is a breathtaking experience that redefines World War II for a new gaming generation. You step into the shoes of a young soldier who lands in Normandy on D-Day and must battle across Europe through iconic locations in history's most monumental war. Players experience classic Call of Duty combat, the bonds of friendship, and the unforgiving nature of war in this game.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at AmazonSee at Steam

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!


Sea of Thieves' new video details the game's rich Skeleton Forts

0
0

Follow that cloud and loot that treasure.

Sea of Thieves features a lot of randomly-generated world events, but some of the most significant have to be Skeleton Forts. Skeleton Forts are lairs that appears throughout the world, where players can find challenging combat and treasure. If you see a massive skull-shaped cloud on the horizon, follow it and it will eventually lead to a Skeleton Fort. These areas are swarming with foes, so don't expect to take them all on your own if you wish to succeed.

There is much more loot found in the Treasure Room of the Skeleton Fort than you can carry. This means that after you've destroyed all enemies, you might have to contend with other players for the best items. The threat doesn't end with killing the Skeleton Captain.

Sea of Thieves is an upcoming exploration-based pirate game from Rare. The developer is known for many famous franchises including Banjo-Kazooie, Conker, and GoldenEye. However, in recent years, the team focused on developing Kinect games for Xbox One and Xbox 360. This was a curious decision so when Phil Spencer became Head of Xbox in 2014, he assigned Rare a new project. Sea of Thieves is a shift for the developer and a concept the team hasn't tackled before.

The game has been delayed a few times but we finally have a concrete release date. As announced at The Game Awards 2017, Sea of Thieves is now scheduled to launch on March 20, 2018, across Xbox One and Windows 10. The game will also support Xbox Play Anywhere and native 4K resolution on Xbox One X.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at Amazon

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Cuphead secures three wins at 2018 DICE Awards

0
0

The D.I.C.E. Awards recently came to a close, with several awards to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Cuphead, and Horizon Zero Dawn.

The twenty-first annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony recently wrapped up in Las Vegas, following input from over 33,000 members of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS). Spanning 24 distinct award categories, the awards aim to highlight talent across the industry, with nominees spanning various platforms, genres, and backgrounds.

Several games won big this year, taking home multiple awards in their respective categories. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild took home four awards, including Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction and Outstanding Achievement in Game Design – making for the most bestowed game of the night. StudioMDHR's Cuphead also saw similar success following its Xbox One and PC debut, securing awards for art direction, animation, and musical composition. Other highlights of the night included last year's smash hit, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Horizon Zero Dawn and Lone Echo/Echo Arena, each securing two DICE awards.

A full list of winners across their respective categories has been shared by the AIAS, which are as follows. Winners in each category are highlighted in bold, among fellow nominees.

Game of the Year

  • Cuphead
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
  • Super Mario Odyssey
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

  • Gorogoa
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  • Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
  • What Remains of Edith Finch

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

  • Gorogoa
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
  • Super Mario Odyssey
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

  • Lone Echo/Echo Arena
  • Robo Recall
  • Star Trek Bridge Crew
  • The Invisible Hours
  • Wilson's Heart

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

  • Lone Echo/Echo Arena
  • Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin
  • Robo Recall
  • Space Pirate Trainer
  • Wilson's Heart

Mobile Game of the Year

  • Cat Quest
  • Fire Emblem Heroes
  • Gorogoa
  • Monument Valley 2
  • Splitter Critters

Handheld Game of the Year

  • Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
  • Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth
  • Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
  • Metroid: Samus Returns
  • Monster Hunter Stories

D.I.C.E. Sprite Award

  • Everything
  • Gorogoa
  • Night in the Woods
  • Pyre
  • Snipperclips

Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay

  • Call of Duty: WWII
  • Destiny 2
  • Fortnite
  • PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
  • Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

  • Endless Space 2
  • Halo Wars 2
  • Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
  • Total War: Warhammer II
  • XCOM 2: War of the Chosen

Sports Game of the Year

  • Everybody's Golf
  • FIFA 18
  • Golf Clash
  • Madden NFL 18
  • MLB The Show 17

Role-Playing Game of the Year

  • Divinity: Original Sin 2
  • Middle-earth: Shadow of War
  • NieR: Automata
  • Persona 5
  • Torment: Tides of Numenera

Racing Game of the Year

  • DiRT 4
  • Forza Motorsport 7
  • Gran Turismo Sport
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  • Project CARS 2

Fighting Game of the Year

  • ARMS
  • Injustice 2
  • Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
  • Nidhogg 2
  • Tekken 7

Family Game of the Year

  • DropMix
  • GNOG
  • Just Dance 2018
  • SingStar Celebration
  • Snipperclips

Adventure Game of the Year

  • Assassin's Creed Origins
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • Super Mario Odyssey
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  • Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Action Game of the Year

  • Call of Duty: WWII
  • Cuphead
  • Destiny 2
  • PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
  • Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Outstanding Technical Achievement

  • Assassin's Creed Origins
  • Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • Lone Echo/Echo Arena
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Outstanding Achievement in Story

  • Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • Night in the Woods
  • What Remains of Edith Finch
  • Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design

  • Destiny 2
  • Injustice 2
  • Star Wars Battlefront II
  • Super Mario Odyssey
  • Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

  • Call of Duty: WWII
  • Cuphead
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • RiME
  • Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Outstanding Achievement in Character

  • Assassin's Creed Origins - Bayek
  • Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - Senua
  • Horizon Zero Dawn - Aloy
  • Star Wars Battlefront II - Iden Versio
  • Uncharted: The Lost Legacy - Chloe Fraiser

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

  • Cuphead
  • Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • Little Nightmares
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

  • Cuphead
  • For Honor
  • Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

What do you think of this year's winners? Make sure to drop your thoughts in the comments section below.

Rainbow Six Siege Operation Chimera: Everything you need to know

0
0

Hold back the infection in Rainbow Six Siege's new "Operation Chimera" expansion, adding a new Outbreak zombies mode, two Operators and more.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege has grown to be one of Ubisoft's biggest successes of the generation, delivering a shooter experience that while competitive, delivers unrivaled tension and atmosphere. Despite its rocky beginnings in 2015, the game has grown to be one of the biggest titles of today – now entering its third year of post-launch content.

Kicking off 2018, Rainbow Six Siege is on track to receive its ninth major content drop, "Operation Chimera." Deviating from the formula of previous expansions, Chimera brings significant shift in tone, with a new biohazard setting.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at Amazon

New mode: Outbreak

The centerpiece of Operator Chimera is an all-new game mode, known as "Outbreak." Diverging from the game's competitive roots, Outbreak will be a three-player cooperative experience, with similarities to the existing "Terrorist Hunt" mode. Ubisoft has stressed this is fantasy take on the Rainbow Six formula centered around player-versus-environment (PvE) encounters, with a "new flavor" compared to previous expansions.

In line with the name of the expansion and the mission itself, Outbreak will pit players against a biohazard threat, once a dangerous pathogen kickstarts a widespread pandemic. After a USSR space capsule containing an alien parasite crashes in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, a quarantine is established to contain the epidemic. Team Rainbow is deployed to push into the hot zone and help with the containment of the virus, establishing the premise for the Outbreak missions.

The Outbreak virus triggers crystalline structures to protrude from the body, causing the infected to shift into one of five infected forms. Each of these infected types has their own gameplay mechanics, adding variety to Outbreak combat. With five distinct classes, players will need to formulate strategies to counter their differing traits. Here's a breakdown of the five infected types and how they may play out in combat.

  • Standard "Grunts" are lower-level enemies that fight in hordes and are among the easiest foes to fight. While they'll need to get close to attack, don't underestimate them in groups.
  • Delivering an explosive flair to combat, "Breachers" are equipped with proximity bombs that trigger when close to foes. These are very agile creatures and can deliver heavy damage upon detonation.
  • Rooters are a little more of a nuisance to handle, drilling crystalline spikes through the ground to injure enemies. To combat these, players will need to keep on the move and be wary of their surroundings.
  • Unrelenting, brute force comes with the "Smashers"– towering beasts reinforced with a thick hide. Absorbing all bullets in their path, you'll need to stick together to take these creatures down.
  • The Apex leads infected hordes towards targets, sending projectiles and lower-level enemies into combat. Hunting down an Apex will alleviate incoming attacks, but it won't be easy.

Outbreak missions will take place across three new maps designed exclusively for cooperative play – Resort, Hospital, and Junkyard. Throughout these missions, players will be instructed to complete various objectives while overcoming the infected threat. Retaining the unique nature of Rainbow Six Siege, each of these levels still rewards precise gunplay and taking advantage of destructible environments.

Ubisoft will be limiting Outbreak to 11 Operators, to ensure the best balance of abilities that fit the mode. Among these are new Operators, Lion and Finka, alongside Ying, Buck, Ash, and Glaz. Existing defenders will also be playable, including Smoke, Kapkan, Doc, Tachanka, and the default Recruit. This will make for a unique synergy between attacking and defending roles for the first time in the game's history.

Outbreak will be an event rather than a permanent mode, meaning its inclusion in the game will be limited (for now.) The mode is expected to be available to the public on March 6 and run for four weeks, before concluding on April 3. This will follow an early access PC release for those on the Technical Test Server (TTS), which begun deploying on February 20. Outbreak will be available to all owners of Rainbow Six Siege as a free update upon release.

New Operators: Finka, Lion

Like previous seasons, Operation Chimera will also debut two new playable Operators for the new cooperative mode and competitive multiplayer. Tying into the theme established with Outbreak, both operators will be experts in biohazard threats and containment under the fictional "Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Threat Unit." This season strays from the previous trend of one attacker and one defender in competitive multiplayer, instead adding two new attackers.

For those with Rainbow Six Siege's Year 3 Pass, all three Operators should be available at no additional cost, on March 6. Seven days after the update goes live, on March 13, these Operators will be available to the public using Renown or R6 Credits.

Lera 'Finka' Melnikova

One of this season's attacking Operators, "Finka" hails from Russia, following extensive work with self-dissolving nanites under her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. After joining the army, her work was invested into military programs, helping Spetsnaz operators handle hazardous materials. This established the groundwork for her "Adrenal Surge" ability, used in-game.

While playing as Finka, all allies are given a nanobot shot, which lays dormant throughout the match. By pressing "RB," Finka will activate an Adrenal Surge signal, disintegrating the nanobots and delivering drugs directly into their bloodstreams. This provides all teammates with a temporary boost, with increased health, a bump in speed and reduced recoil. When activated, Operators in a down-but-not-out state will also be revived.

On top of Finka's ability to buff teammates, the Operator comes with a new Spear .308 rifle, SASG-12 shotgun, and a 6P41 light machine gun. The PMM pistol and GSH-18 make a return from previous Spetnaz Operators too.

There are side effects to consider while activating the Adrenal Surge, linked to the increased heart rate triggered by the dosage. Pulse's heartbeat sensor will easily pick up boosted teammates, while in inhalation of Smoke's toxic gas will lead to increased damage. If using Finka, communication with teammates is key to get the most out of the ability.

Olivier 'Lion' Flament

"Lion" is the second of this season's new Operators, joining CBRN after specializing in biohazard threats with the French counterterrorism unit. After a troubled upbringing, Lion now remains motivated to complete his duties, maintaining and holding quarantine perimeters. In-game, players will have the opportunity to take advantage of his EE-One-D drone to lock down locations and track enemy activity.

Upon activating his EE-One-D drone, all players on the enemy team will be notified. Following a three-second timer, the entire map will be surveyed, tagging and tracking moving hostiles in real time for allies. To prevent this, defending Operators must stand still for the duration of the scan, though can freely look around, lean, aim or shoot. Mute's jammers also counter this effect, allowing players to freely move within their radius. Lion can activate this ability three times per round, with a brief cooldown period between activations.

Alongside Lion's EE-One-D drone, the Operator will use the new V308 submachine gun, that while like the existing Vector .45 ACP, uses .308 rounds. The 417 Marksman rifle and SG-CQB also make a return for primary weapons and the P9 pistol and LFP586 are offered as secondaries.

New cosmetics: Outbreak Packs, Elite set, weapon skins

The release of Operation Chimera will also be paired with new cosmetic content, tying into in the expansion's zombie theme. The biggest addition is a new randomized reward system, "Outbreak Packs," with similar mechanics to the existing Alpha Packs. These are randomized drops containing a collection of 50 cosmetics, available exclusively over the four-week period Outbreak is live. For those who log during the Outbreak event, four packs will also be awarded for free.

Outbreak Packs do sport some major differences to Alpha Packs – the biggest of these being ties to real-world money. Unlike Alpha Packs, which are earned through in-game "Renown," Outbreak Packs are only sold via the game's premium currency, for 300 R6 credits. For a full breakdown of Outbreak Packs, including details on availability and a full list of contents, check out our in-depth guide.

Rainbow Six Siege Outbreak Packs: Pricing, skins list, contents and more

Cosmetic content will be available outside of Outbreak Packs, including a new "Sidewinder" Elite set for Ash. Among its contents is the Sierra Serpent weapon skin for her weapons, a Sidewinder uniform, Elite Ash chibi charm, and an "Ain't Got Time for You" victory animation. Following a brief outrage over the paid nature of Outbreak Packs, the Ash Elite skin will be provided for all existing players of Rainbow Six Siege on March 6. New players will have the opportunity to purchase this skin with real-world cash.

Additionally, the new seasonal "Rusty Trigger" and "Ancestral Southwest" skins will debut for players through R6 Credits or Renown. Previous seasonal content will be shifted into the Alpha Pack content pool, joining the existing range of cosmetic content.

Rainbow Six Siege: Operation Chimera should be available from March 6, 2018. New Operators will be tied to the Year 3 Season Pass for one week, ahead of a March 13 public release. Outbreak should be available from March 6, until the event concludes on April 3. For a deeper breakdown of all Operation Chimera changes, including tweaks to existing Operators and bug fixes, head over to the official Ubisoft changelog.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at Amazon

Updated, February 22, 2018: Updated this guide with all the details so far, following the Six Invitational unveiling.

Cult classics 'Turok' and 'Turok 2: Seeds of Evil' up for preorder on Xbox One

0
0

The first two Turok shooters will be available on Xbox One in a week.

The Turok games are iconic first-person shooters which continue to influence many modern titles even to this day. Despite releasing roughly twenty years ago, they remain enjoyable experiences due to their great shooting mechanics.

A few years ago, Nightdive Studios announced that it was planning on remastering the titles for Xbox One. Since then, their release dates were shrouded in mystery but today both games — Turok and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil — went up for preorder on the console. Luckily, they're launching together on March 2, 2018 so the wait isn't that long.

Turok

Turok takes place in a world where time has no meaning, and evil knows no bounds. Torn from a world long gone, the time traveling warrior Turok finds himself thrust into a savage land rife with conflict. An evil overlord known as "The Campaigner" seeks to shred the fabric of time and rule the universe using an ancient artifact known as "The Chronoscepter". The Chronoscepter was shattered thousands of years ago in an effort to keep it from falling into evil hands. Turok vows to find the eight pieces spread throughout the Lost Land and put an end to The Campaigner's scheme.

See at Microsoft Store

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil continues right after the events of the first game. After having defeated The Campaigner, Turok throws The Chronocepter into a waiting volcano to destroy it. Unfortunately, the blast awakens an even deadlier force known as "The Primagen". Once again a Turok is tasked with restoring peace to the land and stopping The Primagen from merging Earth with the Nether World.

See at Microsoft Store

Hopefully Turok and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil will be great experiences and run smoothly even on Xbox One upon release.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Assassin's Creed Origins' next expansion features undead pharaohs, detailed here on video

0
0

Assassin's Creed Origins takes you to the Egyptian Underworld with The Curse of the Pharaohs expansion.

The Assassin's Creed Origins: The Curse of the Pharaohs expansion adds the long-awaited supernatural twist to gameplay. Challenging undead rulers appear randomly and you have to take them down. This not only gives you new missions, but it also results in even better rewards.

According to Ubisoft, The Curse of the Pharaohs offers gamers a completely new quest to delve into as they travel to Thebes to investigate an ancient curse that is plaguing the land. The expansion focuses on Egyptian mythology, pitting players against famous pharaohs and Egyptian beasts, as they uncover the cause of the curse that has brought certain dead rulers back to life. Each expansion increases the level cap and this one is no different. The Hidden Ones first raised the cap to 45 while The Curse of the Pharaohs increases it to 55. This means that you can keep on leveling up and finding better gear. The publisher says that the second expansion will launch on March 13, 2018.

Assassin's Creed Origins takes place in Ancient Egypt, a land of majesty and intrigue, but one which is disappearing in a ruthless fight for power. You play as a Bayek, the first Assassin, who must unveil dark secrets and forgotten myths as you go back to the one founding moment: the origins of the Assassin's Brotherhood.

Assassin's Creed Origins launched on October 27, 2017 on Xbox One, Windows PC, and PlayStation 4. Be sure to check it out at retailers if you like third-person adventures. The game supports 4K resolution on Xbox One X and looks incredible due to its upgraded textures.

See at Microsoft StoreSee at AmazonSee at Steam

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Viewing all 16760 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images