May 31 2019
0

Xbox Games Pass Expanding to PC with Over 100 Games

Posted by | News, PC, Xbox One | No Comments

Two years ago Microsoft launched Xbox Game Pass as a Netflix-like subscription service for Xbox One. Now that service is being expanded onto Windows PC. The service is still called Xbox Game Pass, and will include a large library of digital games through multiple PC stores including the Microsoft Store and Steam, as well as discounts on purchases.

“As the creators of Windows, we have a unique responsibility to ensure we’re investing in experiences that benefit players everywhere, while respecting the PC community’s preference for an open, highly customizable platform,” writes Phil Spencer, head of Xbox. “Xbox Game Pass for PC will give players unlimited access to a curated library of over 100 high-quality PC games on Windows 10, from well-known PC game developers and publishers such as Bethesda, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Paradox Interactive, SEGA, and more.”

Over 75 developers and publishers will bring their games to Xbox Game Pass for PC, including recent studios acquired by Microsoft like Obsidian and InXile.

The most interesting news is that these games won’t be limited to Microsoft’s own Microsoft Store, often considered one of the weakest digital stores on PC. Spencer confirms more than 20 Xbox Game Studios games will launch on Steam, including Gears 5. No mention of other PC stores like GOG or Epic Games Store, but Spencer teases “other stores on PC” they are working with. Microsoft will continue to support cross-platform play between Xbox One and select Windows 10 PC games.

More details on Microsoft’s growing PC support and Xbox Game Pass will be announced at the Xbox E3 2019 press conference on Sunday, June 9. Spencer has recently confirmed 14 Xbox Game Studios games will be shown.

May 22 2019
0

Save on Last Gen Games with the Xbox Backward Compatibility Sale

Posted by | News, Xbox One | No Comments

The Xbox Backward Compatibility Sale returns this year with even more discounts on original Xbox and Xbox 360 games. Over 200 games from previous Microsoft consoles have been steeply discounted up to 75% on the Microsoft and Xbox digital stores.

Every game on the sale can be played on the Xbox One via the Backwards Compatibility Program. If you’re using the same account, you’ll even keep your old game saves, achievements, and Gamerscore.

The sale includes many high profile games and series, including the first Red Dead Redemption, the Gears of War series, Halo series, the Fable series, the BioShock series, and several LEGO and Call of Duty games.

If you have an Xbox One but haven’t looked into the Xbox 360’s impressively deep library, this sale is a great place to start. We’ve highlighted some notable games below:

  • Dragon Age: Origins ($3.74)
  • Fable 3 ($9.99)
  • Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning ($4.99)
  • Mass Effect 2 ($5.99)
  • Mass Effect 3 ($5.99)
  • Red Dead Redemption ($9.89)
  • Shadow Complex ($7.49)
  • Spec Ops: The Line ($5.99)
  • XCOM: Enemy Within ($7.99)

Note that many games in the sale have since been remastered and released for modern consoles, such as the BioShock series with BioShock: The Collection, the Halo sereis with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and the Borderlands series with Borderlands: The Handsome Collection and Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition.

Several last gen games have been enhanced when playing on Xbox One X, such as Red Dead Redemption and Splinter Cell Blacklist. The enhancement expands color, pixel count, and resolution.

The Xbox Compatibility Sale ends May 27.

May 21 2019
1
Microsoft

Head of Xbox on Fighting Online Toxicity: “Gaming Is for Everyone”

Posted by | News, Xbox One | No Comments

Executive VP of Gaming at Microsoft and Head of Xbox Phil Spencer published a blog on promoting inclusivity and online safety in gaming. These are areas which gaming has notoriously struggled as its emerged into the realm of a billion dollar mainstream media empire. The blog, titled “Video games: A unifying force for the world,” details commitments made by the Microsoft team to combating toxic behavior and supporting safety features.

“This widespread embrace of gaming and its global communities have turned video games into the world’s leading cultural industry, bigger than movies or music,” writes Spencer. “But it also comes at a time when digital life includes a growing toxic stew of hate speech, bigotry and misogyny.”

To that end, Spencer outlines three areas Microsoft is focusing on:

  1. Proactive and vigilant in regards to online harassment. “We will identify potentials for abuse and misuse on our platform and will fix problems quickly. We are also intent on expanding the composition of our safety team so wide-ranging perspectives can help us identify future safety problems and solutions.”
  2. Content moderation and safeguards. “We will make it easier for parents and guardians new to console and PC gaming to discover and create Child or Teen accounts. This year, Microsoft Stores rolled out a series of family workshops to help parents understand the tools available to them on console and PC, and this summer we are launching Gaming Summer Camps offering young gamers new ways to explore life skills and practice healthy habits that can be used in gaming and everyday life.”
  3. Work with other companies to improve online safety. “Multiple teams working in areas like moderation, user research, data science, and others are already aligning with industry partners to share insights, and best practices in areas of safety, security and privacy.”

Spencer encourages other companies to join in establishing a proactive stance in making gaming a more accessible and inclusive community.