Tag: xbox

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The next big Microsoft Flight Simulator update is all about Canada

The next big update to Microsoft Flight Simulator is focused entirely on Canada.

Launching September 29th, the appropriately named World Update XI: Canada brings a bunch of Canadian destinations and missions to the acclaimed flight simulator. In total, 12 urban regions and 89 hand-crafted points of interest are featured.

Altogether, World Update XI features:

  • Five hand-crafted airports, including B.C.’s Castlegar/West Kootenay Regional Airport, Victoria International Airport and Vancouver Island
  • Three bush trips (Vancouver Island, Newfoundland and the Canadian Rockies)
  • Three landing challenges (Castlegar, Barkerville and Calgary)
  • Three discovery flights (Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto)

As with all previous World Updates, the Canadian expansion is available for free to all Microsoft Flight Simulator players, whether you own the game or play via Xbox Game Pass. Earlier this year, the game added a big crossover with Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick, and a free 40th Anniversary Edition adding aircraft from older games is set to arrive in November.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available on Xbox Series X/S and PC (plus Game Pass), as well as Xbox One and mobile devices via Game Pass’ Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming service.

Image credit: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox unveils ‘Mineral Camo Special Edition’ controller

A new camo-themed Xbox Wireless Controller has been announced.

The gamepad, dubbed the ‘Xbox Wireless Controller – Mineral Camo Special Edition,’ is Xbox’s fourth in its ‘Camo’ lineup, after ‘Night Ops Camo,’ ‘Arctic Camo’ and ‘Daystrike Camo.’

The Mineral Camo blends mineral blue, bright and dark purple and aqua into a camouflage pattern. Xbox says its unique ocean-themed tones were inspired by geode crystals.

Like all other modern Xbox controllers, the Mineral Camo can be used on Xbox consoles, PC and mobile devices. It’s available now via the Microsoft Store for $79.99 CAD. Razer is also selling a matching charging stand for $49.99 USD (about $68.50 CAD).

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox September update adds library revamp, home button colour customization

Xbox has started rolling out its September system update.

To start, the update adds the ability to customize the colour of the Xbox button on your controller. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of hues that mix red, blue and green LEDs. To change colours, visit the Xbox Accessories app on your Xbox console or Windows PC while your controller is connected.

Next up is a revamp of the games library. Now, the ‘Full library view’ in ‘My games and apps’ has been streamlined to give you access to all games you can install and play. This means that all games you own, as well as any you have access to with subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass, will be displayed here.

Meanwhile, you can now select different default installation locations for games and apps. For example, you can choose to store sizeable Xbox Series X/S Optimized games on your expansion card and backwards compatible titles on your external hard drive. Alternatively, the ‘Let Xbox decide’ option will have the console automatically choose where to install content for the fastest drive with available space.

As previously announced, this month’s update also adds noise suppression for party chat.

A more detailed breakdown of the September system update can be found on the Xbox blog.

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Mobile Syrup

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

Every month, Xbox brings new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Normally, these come in two waves and now, the company has revealed what’s hitting Game Pass in the second half of September.

The highlight of this batch is Deathloop, the once-PS5-console-exclusive shooter from Bethesda’s Arkane Studios. See below for the full list:

  • Deathloop (Cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC) — September 20th
  • Hardspace: Shipbreaker (Xbox Series X/S and PC) — September 20th
  • SpiderHeck (Console and PC) — September 22nd
  • Beacon Pines (Cloud, Console and PC) — September 22nd
  • Slime Rancher 2 (Game Preview) (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S) — September 22nd
  • Moonscars (Cloud, Console and PC) — September 27th
  • Grounded – Full Release (Cloud, Console and PC) – September 27th
  • Let’s Build A Zoo (Cloud, Console and PC) — September 29th
  • Valheim (Game Preview) (PC) — September 29th
  • PAW Patrol Grand Prix (Cloud, Console and PC) — September 30th

Additionally, here are the Cloud games getting mobile-friendly Touch Controls:

  • Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition
  • Grounded — Full Release (September 27th)
  • Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
  • Road 96
  • Shadowrun Returns
  • Shadowrun: Dragonfall
  • Shadowrun: Hong Kong
  • This War of Mine
  • Torment: Tides of Numenera

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

  • AI: The Somnium Files (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Astria Ascending (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Dandy Ace (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Dirt 4 (PC) EA Play
  • Dirt Rally (PC) EA Play
  • Going Under (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Lemnis Gate (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Slime Rancher (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Subnautica: Below Zero (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • The Procession to Calvary (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Unsighted (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Visage (Cloud, Console and PC)

As always, Game Pass subscribers can take advantage of an exclusive 20 percent discount to purchase any game in the catalogue and keep playing even after it leaves Game Pass.

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/month.

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

Image credit: Bethesda

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox has removed DRM checks for Xbox One discs on Series X

Xbox has confirmed that it’s removed a DRM hurdle on the Xbox Series X that relates to playing original Xbox One games.

DRM, or digital rights management, refers to the online process of verifying that you actually own a license to the content you’re attempting to access. On Series X, this means that the console will no longer need to run a DRM check if you’re playing a disc version of an Xbox One game. Xbox engineering lead Eden Marie confirmed the quiet rollout of the feature on Twitter.

This is a notable change, as Microsoft has been criticized for aggressively enforcing DRM on consoles, as it requires an online connection to play many games. Naturally, this would render them unplayable in the event of, say, an internet outage.

On Twitter, Marie explained that Microsoft determined that the online compatibility check “isn’t needed in the vast majority of cases for Xbox One discs.” However, she added that “some games may still need to be updated online after install to ensure the best experience.”

Of course, none of this applies to the Xbox Series S, which is a digital-only console. It remains to be seen whether Xbox will lift some of the other DRM-related restrictions in the months to come.

Via: Eurogamer

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Deathloop comes to Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Game Pass on September 20

Bethesda’s critically-acclaimed Deathloop will officially launch on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Game Pass on September 20th.

The first-person shooter first debuted on PlayStation 5 and PC on September 14th. PlayStation had one-year timed exclusivity on the game, which is why we’re only now getting a formal announcement of an Xbox version.

One benefit of Xbox gamers getting Deathloop later, though, is that all post-release updates are ready from the start, including photo mode and accessibility options. Further, all Deathloop owners will get a free ‘Golden Loop’ update on September 20th, which adds a new weapon, new upgrades, new enemy types, cross-platform player-vs-player multiplayer and, most notably, an extended ending. Although Deathloop garnered much acclaim last year, many did criticize it for an anticlimactic conclusion. It’s unclear exactly what this new ending will add, but it sounds promising on paper.

In any case, it’s fitting that Deathloop is finally on Xbox, given that Bethesda and subsidiary developer Arkane are both owned by Xbox. Despite this, Xbox was legally required to release the game on PlayStation first as part of an agreement signed prior to its acquisition of Bethesda. This was the same case with Bethesda’s Ghostwire: Tokyo, which was released exclusively on PS5 and PC in March. As with Deathloop, Ghostwire is expected to come to Xbox one year after its PlayStation launch — presumably, some time in late March 2023.

Image credit: Bethesda

Source: Xbox

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Xbox PC app’s September update adds improved performance, HowLongToBeat

Microsoft has begun rolling out its September update for the Xbox app on PC.

While the list of changes is relatively smaller, it does add a few pretty neat things.

To start, the update allows the Xbox PC app to launch 15 percent faster, on top of other areas of improved performance. Xbox says this includes the rate of crash-free sessions reaching 99.9 percent and the reports of failed downloads or installs dropping by nearly half. Further, Xbox says its improved relevance for search results to bring them up 20 percent faster.

Additionally, Xbox has added HowLongToBeat (HLTB) integration into its PC app. For the uninitiated, HLTB is a community-driven website that provides estimates on how long it will take to complete a game. Users submit their completion times and HLTB will provide an average accordingly. HLTB has specific metrics for the main story, the main story with some side quests/collectibles, completionist (doing everything in the game) and combined (all playstyles considered).

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox confirms several new Game Pass titles during ID@Xbox Fall Showcase

Xbox’s latest indie game-focused stream, the /twitchgaming: ID@Xbox Fall Showcase, has come to a close.

Over the course of the show, a variety of titles were featured, with several of them confirmed to be coming to Xbox Game Pass. See below for a round-up of all of the featured games. It’s important to note that some of the titles don’t yet have release dates; those that do are marked accordingly.

  • Amazing Cultivation Simulator (Gamera Game/GSQ Games) — Available now with Game Pass
  • The Big Con (Skybound Games) — Coming to Game Pass
  • Born of Bread (WildArts Studio)
  • Call of the Wild: The Angler (Avalanche Studios) — Available now
  • Cities Skylines: Plazas & Promenades (Paradox Interactive) – Available now
  • Eville (Versus Evil) — Coming to Game Pass
  • Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed (IllFonic, Inc.) — Pre-order available now
  • Homestead Arcana (Skybound Games) — Coming to Game Pass
  • Let’s Cook Together 2 (Yellow Dot)
  • Metal: Hellsinger (Funcom) — Available now, coming to Game Pass on September 15th
  • Moonscars (Humble Games) — Coming to Game Pass on September 27th, 2022
  • Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan (Skybound Games) — Coming to Game Pass
  • Shoulders of Giants (Moving Pieces Interactive)
  • Song of Iron 2 (Resting Relic)
  • Spiderheck (tinyBuild)
  • Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (Graffiti Games) — Coming to Game Pass
  • Valheim (Coffee Stain Publishing) — Coming to Game Pass
  • The Walking Dead: The Final Season (Skybound Games) — Coming to Game Pass
  • Ynglet (Triple Topping) — Available now
  • You Suck at Parking (Happy Volcano) — Available now with Game Pass

It’s worth noting that The Big Con was developed by Toronto’s Mighty Yell, while Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Levithan was made by Montreal’s Manavoid Entertainment.

Image credit: Illfonic

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Vancouver’s The Coalition pledges 1 percent of all Gears of War revenue for suicide prevention

Vancouver-based The Coalition has pledged to donate one percent of net revenue from all Gears of War games and merchandise to suicide prevention.

To coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, the Xbox-owned developer says it’s launching this multi-year ‘Never Fight Alone’ initiative, starting with Crisis Text Line. The New York-based global non-profit provides free, 24/7 text-based mental health support and crisis intervention in Canada, the U.S., U.K. and Ireland using trained volunteers.

The Coalition says it aims to partner with additional mental health advocacy groups in the future. In the meantime, the studio is also inviting people to share their stories and words of support via the official Gears of War Twitter channel and/or using the hashtag #NeverFightAlone. You can also purchase a special ‘Never Fight Alone’ t-shirt from the Xbox Gear Store, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to Crisis Text Line.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, there are a number of organizations in Canada that offer 24/7 support, including Talk Suicide Canada (1-833-456-4566), Kids Help Phone, the Hope for Wellness Help Line, and, for Quebec residents, 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553).

Source: Xbox

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Xbox Series X/S get noise suppression feature

Xbox’s September system update adds a welcome feature: noise suppression for parties.

With it, you’ll be able to filter out unwanted sounds during voice chats, including button clicks, breathing and other background noise. The feature can be toggled by going to ‘Parties & chats’ and selecting ‘Options.’

Another neat new feature is the ability to jump into a game from your friends’ shared captures. This feature leverages Xbox Cloud Gaming to let you instantly boot up a game on mobile or PC.

Finally, the update addresses a variety of issues, including one that desynced players’ controllers from their consoles and another where games failed to launch after using some streaming apps.

The full list of Xbox’s September 2022 system update changes can be found here.

Source: Xbox