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What’s new on Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and mobile in late January 2022

Every month, Xbox adds new games to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Typically, new games are rolled out in two waves, and now, Xbox has revealed January’s second batch of Game Pass catalogue additions.

As previously confirmed, Canadian games Rainbow Six: Extraction (Ubisoft Montreal) and Nobody Saves the World (Toronto’s DrinkBox) are coming to the service on day one. However, there are several other titles hitting Game Pass in the final weeks on January:

  • Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 18th
  • Nobody Saves the World (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 18th
  • Death’s Door (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Hitman Trilogy (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Pupperazzi (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege: Deluxe Edition (PC) — January 20th
  • Windjammers 2 (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master (Console and PC) — January 27th

Meanwhile, the following nine games have received touch controls on mobile:

  • Anvil (Game Preview)
  • Archvale
  • Exo One
  • The Forgotten City
  • Nobody Saves the World
  • One Piece Pirate Warriors 4
  • Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator
  • Stardew Valley
  • Unpacking
  • Death’s Door (when the game releases on January 20th)

Finally, these four titles are leaving Game Pass on January 31st:

  • Cyber Shadow (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Nowhere Prophet (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Prison Architect (PC)
  • Xeno Crisis (Cloud, Console and PC)

Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Android and iOS in beta. Game Pass for Console and PC Game Pass each cost $11.99 CAD/month.

Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $16.99/month and is required for streaming (which Xbox refers to as ‘Cloud’) to mobile devices and browsers. On top of that, this tier includes Game Pass for both Console and PC, as well as subscriptions to Xbox Live Gold and EA Play.

Find out what came to Game Pass earlier this month here.

Image credit: IO Interactive

Source: Xbox

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What’s new on Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and mobile in early January 2022

Every month, Xbox adds new games to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Typically, new games are rolled out in two waves, and now, Xbox has revealed January’s first batch of Game Pass catalogue additions.

Notably, BioWare Edmonton’s Mass Effect: Legendary Edition leads the early January Game Pass lineup.

  • Gorogoa (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 4th
  • Olija (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 4th
  • Embr (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 6th
  • Mass Effect Legendary Edition (Console and PC) — January 6th
  • Outer Wilds (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 6th
  • Spelunky 2 (Console and PC) — January 13th
  • The Anacrusis (Game Preview) (Console and PC) — January 13th

Additionally, here’s what’s leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 15th:

  • Desperados III (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Ghost of a Tale (PC)
  • Kingdom Hearts III (Console)
  • Mount & Blade: Warband (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Pandemic (Console and PC)
  • Yiik: A Postmodern RPG (PC)

It’s also worth noting that PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds will be removed from Game Pass on January 10th, but it’s then going free-to-play for everyone on January 12th.

Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Android and iOS in beta. Game Pass for Console and PC Game Pass each cost $11.99 CAD/month.

Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $16.99/month and is required for streaming (which Xbox refers to as ‘Cloud’) to mobile devices and browsers. On top of that, this tier includes Game Pass for both Console and PC, as well as subscriptions to Xbox Live Gold and EA Play.

Find out what came to Game Pass in December here.

Image credit: EA

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How to reset your Windows 11 computer

Sometimes, you need to reset your Windows PC. There are a ton of reasons for it — maybe something isn’t working properly, so you want to reset and try to fix it. Or perhaps you need to return a work or school PC and you want to clear your data off it. Or, maybe you want to start fresh and clear out years of digital clutter in one fell swoop.

Whatever the reason, Windows has a somewhat approachable reset tool. Before we get into how to use the reset tool, I want to note that this article will focus on Windows 11 since it’s the newest (and current) version of Windows. Most of these steps should apply to previous versions of Windows (very little, if anything at all, has changed here since Windows 10), but some things may look a little different.

With that said, let’s get into it.

How to reset Windows

First things first, you need to open Settings then scroll down and click ‘Recovery.’ There are a few troubleshooting tools here you can play with, but for the purpose of this article, we’re going to go straight for ‘Reset this PC.’ Click the ‘Reset PC’ button to open the reset tool.

If for some reason you can’t access the settings app, you can boot your PC into the Windows Recovery Environment by holding the Shift key and clicking restart. Then click Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to get to the reset tool.

Once you open the reset tool, you’ll just need to click through and select a few options. Don’t worry, I’ll explain them as we go.

The first choice is between ‘Keep my files’ and ‘Remove everything.’ If you’re just looking to try and fix and Windows issue and don’t want to lose anything, the first option for you. Anyone wanting to clean house — for example, on a work laptop you’re giving back to IT — you’ll want option two.

Next up, the reset tool will ask how you want to reinstall Windows. You can choose to reinstall from the cloud via an internet connection or use a local reinstall from files stored on-device.

I almost exclusively use the local restore to avoid waiting for a download (although the estimated 4GB size Microsoft lists isn’t huge). As someone who regularly resets review units to return them once I’ve finished testing, I’ve also never had an issue with using local reinstall. That said, there may be instances where cloud reinstall is the way to go, so make the selection based on your needs.

Next up is the ‘Additional settings’ screen, which lists out the current reset options you’ve selected. However, there are almost always more options worth looking at if you click ‘Change settings’ at the bottom of the list.

For example, if you’re doing a reset and keeping your files, clicking ‘Change settings’ will give you a toggle to restore preinstalled apps and settings that came with your device.

When doing a full reset, on the other hand, this section includes an option to ‘Clean data.’ It takes longer, but it fully removes your files from the drives. I highly recommend cleaning your drive if you’re doing this before giving away that device as it should help prevent someone from recovering any of your personal files down the line.

Finally, the last screen in the reset tool will give a summary of what will happen when you reset. This should include all the options you’ve selected so far. Review the list and, if everything looks good, click ‘Reset’ to start the process. Depending on your device, the size of your drives and other factors, the reset can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more. If you’re resetting a laptop, you should plug it in and leave it plugged in throughout the process.

That should be it. You’ll need to wait while Windows runs through the reset process. When it’s done, you’ll either be able to go back to using your computer (if you kept your files) or run through the whole initial set-up process again, as if you just bought a new computer.

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What’s new on Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and mobile in late November 2021

Every month, Xbox adds new games to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Typically, new titles are rolled out in two waves and now, Xbox has unveiled November’s second batch of new Game Pass games:

  • Dead Space (Cloud) — November 16th [EA Play]
  • Dragon Age: Origins (Cloud) — November 16th [EA Play]
  • Next Space Rebels (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 17th
  • Exo One (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 18th
  • Fae Tactics (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 18th
  • My Friend Pedro (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 18th
  • Undungeon (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 18th
  • Deeeer Simulator (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 23th
  • Mortal Shell (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 23th
  • Evil Genius 2 (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 30th

It’s also worth noting that a free three-month trial for YouTube Premium is now available as an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perk.

Meanwhile, the following 17 Game Pass titles on mobile have received touch controls:

  • Aragami 2
  • The Artful Escape
  • Dandy Ace
  • Echo Generation
  • Flynn: Son of Crimson
  • Football Manager 2022: Xbox Edition
  • Frostpunk
  • The Good Life
  • Lost Words: Beyond the Page
  • Moonglow Bay
  • Phoenix Point
  • The Procession to Calvary
  • Skatebird
  • Superliminal
  • Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
  • Yakuza 5 Remastered

Finally, here’s what’s leaving Game Pass on November 30th:

  • Call of the Sea (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • FIFA 19 (Console and PC, EA Play)
  • Football Manager 2021 (PC)
  • Football Manager 2021 Xbox Edition (Console and PC)
  • Haven (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Hello Neighbor (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Morkredd (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Va-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action (PC)

It’s also worth noting that Destiny 2: Beyond Light (Cloud and Console) is leaving Game Pass on December 8th. As always, members can purchase these or any other Game Pass titles with an exclusive 20 percent discount to keep playing them even after they exit the catalogue.

Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Android and iOS in beta. Game Pass for Console and Game Pass for PC each cost $11.99 CAD/month.

Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $16.99/month and is required for streaming (which Xbox refers to as ‘Cloud’). On top of that, this tier includes Game Pass for both Console and PC, as well as an Xbox Live Gold subscription and access to EA Play.

Find out what came to Game Pass earlier this month here.

Image credit: Playstack

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

What’s new on Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and mobile in late November 2021

Every month, Xbox adds new games to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Typically, new titles are rolled out in two waves and now, Xbox has unveiled November’s second batch of new Game Pass games:

  • Dead Space (Cloud) — November 16th [EA Play]
  • Dragon Age: Origins (Cloud) — November 16th [EA Play]
  • Next Space Rebels (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 17th
  • Exo One (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 18th
  • Fae Tactics (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 18th
  • My Friend Pedro (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 18th
  • Undungeon (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 18th
  • Deeeer Simulator (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 23th
  • Mortal Shell (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 23th
  • Evil Genius 2 (Cloud, Console and PC) — November 30th

It’s also worth noting that a free three-month trial for YouTube Premium is now available as an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perk.

Meanwhile, the following 17 Game Pass titles on mobile have received touch controls:

  • Aragami 2
  • The Artful Escape
  • Dandy Ace
  • Echo Generation
  • Flynn: Son of Crimson
  • Football Manager 2022: Xbox Edition
  • Frostpunk
  • The Good Life
  • Lost Words: Beyond the Page
  • Moonglow Bay
  • Phoenix Point
  • The Procession to Calvary
  • Skatebird
  • Superliminal
  • Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
  • Yakuza 5 Remastered

Finally, here’s what’s leaving Game Pass on November 30th:

  • Call of the Sea (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • FIFA 19 (Console and PC, EA Play)
  • Football Manager 2021 (PC)
  • Football Manager 2021 Xbox Edition (Console and PC)
  • Haven (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Hello Neighbor (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Morkredd (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Va-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action (PC)

It’s also worth noting that Destiny 2: Beyond Light (Cloud and Console) is leaving Game Pass on December 8th. As always, members can purchase these or any other Game Pass titles with an exclusive 20 percent discount to keep playing them even after they exit the catalogue.

Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Android and iOS in beta. Game Pass for Console and Game Pass for PC each cost $11.99 CAD/month.

Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $16.99/month and is required for streaming (which Xbox refers to as ‘Cloud’). On top of that, this tier includes Game Pass for both Console and PC, as well as an Xbox Live Gold subscription and access to EA Play.

Find out what came to Game Pass earlier this month here.

Image credit: Playstack

Source: Xbox

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Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode is available now

In a surprise move, Halo Infinite‘s free-to-play multiplayer mode is available now, several weeks ahead of the full game’s December 8th release date.

Last week, rumours started circulating regarding Halo Infinite‘s multiplayer mode dropping during Microsoft’s 20th anniversary Xbox live stream. Halo: Combat Evolved was originally released alongside the Xbox on November 15th, 2021, so in a way, this surprise release of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode isn’t that much of a shock.

While some people are reporting being able to download and play Halo Infinite multiplayer on Xbox and PC, others are encountering a blue screen when they try to launch the game. According to @HaloSupport, the beta build is still releasing and should be available to all players soon.

It’s worth noting that the full game’s December 8th release won’t include ‘Forge mode’ or the ability to play the game’s campaign cooperatively.

Infinite was originally scheduled to be an Xbox Series X/S launch title last year, but following a mixed reception to its initial reveal trailer, the game’s release was pushed back to 2021. For more on Infinite‘s multiplayer mode, check out my story focused on one of game’s early test flights.

Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC. The game is also part of Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service.

Image credit: 343 Industries 

Source: @HaloSupport

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Microsoft offering three months of Xbox Game Pass for PC for $1

Microsoft has kicked off a new promotion that provides three months of Xbox Game Pass for PC for only $1.

Normally, the company offers one month of the service for $1.

This deal is intended for new Game Pass subscribers. That said, it’s important to note that your mileage may vary on this. Some RedFlagDeals users report that they’ve been able to cancel their membership and successfully claim the three-month, $1 offer. Others, meanwhile, say they had no such luck.

If you are able to take advantage of it, though, it’s worth mentioning that this promotion comes amid a period of several major Xbox games coming back-to-back to Game Pass for PC, including the recently released Age of Empires IV and the upcoming Forza Horizon 5 (November 9th) and Halo Infinite (December 8th).

Altogether, there are more than 200 games available on Game Pass for PC.

For more on Game Pass, click here to find out what’s coming to the service later this month.

Via: RedFlagDeals

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God of War PC port being handled by Vancouver-based Jetpack Interactive

Vancouver-based video game studio Jetpack Interactive is working on PlayStation’s recently announced PC port of God of War (2018).

PlayStation confirmed the news to ArsTechnica after the outlet reached out to determine which developer was working on it. Jetpack’s previous titles include the PC version of Dark Souls for Bandai Namco, general engineering support for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare II for EA the PS4 port of Orcs Must Die! Unchained for PlayStation.

The PC version of God of War will release on January 14th, 2022 and offer a variety of technical improvements, including 4K resolution with an unlocked frame rate, support for Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) standard and 21:9 widescreen monitor support.

California-based Sony Santa Monica originally developed God of War for PS4 and is currently working on its sequel, God of War: Ragnarok, ahead of its release sometime next year.

Image credit: PlayStation

Source: Ars Technica

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Steam games can now be played on Xbox via GeForce Now

Xbox owners can now play Steam PC games on their consoles through Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service.

This has been made possible through Microsoft’s Edge browser. With it, Xbox gamers have access to GeForce Now’s entire catalogue, which consists of more than 1,000 games. In particular, this gives Xbox gamers a way to play titles that aren’t otherwise available on consoles, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or League of Legends. 

As The Verge notes, PC games on Xbox isn’t completely new, as the Parsec cloud service also offers this functionality. However, it still requires you to have a PC that can run these games, which is much more limiting than GeForce Now simply running straight out of your console’s Edge browser. GeForce Now also supports mouse and keyboard, although the input lag from streaming means it might not be ideal.

It’s worth noting that GeForce Now games can be streamed for free in one-hour sessions. Otherwise, the service costs $64.99 CAD/six months for 1080p/60fps, six-hour streams or $129.99/six months for 1440p/120fps, eight-hour streams.

For now, this is just a solid workaround to playing PC games on Xbox before an official solution becomes available. Earlier this year, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said the company’s intention is to use its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to bring PC titles to consoles. He said this will come after Xbox game streaming arrives on consoles this holiday.

Via: The Verge

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Alienware celebrates 25th anniversary by showing off new Aurora gaming PC

Today marks Alienware’s 25th birth anniversary, and since its inception back in 1996, the company has led the industry in high-performance gaming PCs and peripherals.

To commemorate the occasion, Alienware is making its beloved Aurora gaming PC “Bigger, Better and Cooler,” with beefier specs and, for the first time, an optional, scratch-resistant, and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) protected transparent side panel.

The new Alienware Aurora features an open-air design with reorganized internal components for better ventilation, less noise, cleaner cable management and ease of accessibility, allowing users to easily swap out or upgrade internal components like the memory, hard drive, graphics card (GPU), etc.

According to the company, the open-air design clears 50 percent extra chassis space, resulting in more efficient airflow and less noise, “all while providing a 5 percent increase in graphics performance.” It’s worth noting that the five percent increase is in comparison to the Aurora R12, with both desktops running Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3090 GPU.

Further, every (new) Aurora PC will ship with two 120mm fans, one for front air intake and one for rear exhaust. However, if you want to spend big bucks, higher-end configurations of the PC will ship with a third and fourth pre-installed fan, taking advantage of the ’50 percent extra chassis space.’

According to Alienware, the new Aurora is up to nine percent quieter than its predecessor during CPU-intensive workloads, and CPU temperatures have been measured as being up to three percent lower.

The new Aurora PC also brings several external changes, including a curvy aesthetic case, which will be available in ‘Lunar Light’ and ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ colour options, along with a transparent left-side panel that lets you see inside the gaming PC. AlienFX’s configurable lighting capabilities have more than doubled. The old Aurora R12 desktop could only have four externally facing lighting zones, while the new Aurora will offer up to 8 lighting zones and different internal ambient lighting features.

The case also features tool-less entry from all sides, further making the machine a highly accessible one.

Alienware says the new Aurora’s pricing, configurations and availability will be announced later this fall. The company is also hosting an ‘Alienware Live Stream Event‘ today at 3pm ET/12pm PT, where it will detail the new Aurora PCs.