Most Recent: Xbox One

Content Crash #1: The Eve of E3 2017

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Dan Hartnack

What better way to start a new podcast than the eve of E3? I mean, it’s in a couple of days. I’m recording this on Thursday, and I’ll probably put this up for your consumption on Friday, but the actual convention begin on Monday. Well, the conferences start on Sunday, but Monday will be the start of the whole event. But I’m so looking forward to it. It’s… It’s something I always take the time to watch all the conferences that I can… or as many conferences as I can and this year I finally have time to watch almost all of them barring Microsoft and possibly Nintendo.

Microsoft starts on Sunday at 5:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, and they really have to set off this show right…

Other press conferences I’ll preview include Bethesda Softworks, the PC Gaming Show, Ubisoft, Sony, and Nintendo, as well as a brief roundup about what we can expect from the rest of the show.

You can subscribe to the Content Crash podcast on YouTube or SoundCloud.

Posted in PC, Podcast, PS4, Switch, Top Story, Xbox One | Tagged

Xbox Store Today: Kholat, King of the Monsters, Jump Stars, A Hole New World

Posted on June 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

The last Xbox Games Store update before the start of the 2017 E3 Expo is here, and here’s what you can download on your Xbox One beginning today…

Kholat is an exploration adventure game where players attempt to discover the truth behind the the real-life Dyatlov Pass incident. Nine hikers died under mysterious circumstances in the Ural Mountains, but the horror starts to raump up as you try to figure out what really happened.

Three other titles are also available to download today, including King of the Monsters, a monster-battling game originally released by SNK for the NeoGeo in 1991. Xbox One owners will also be able to download Jump Stars, a “bonkers” multiplayer party game set within a violent game show, and A Hole New World, a retro-themed platformer that looks like it would have fit right in on the NES.

You can learn more about all of these games after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

EA will announce at least two never-before-seen games during their 2017 E3 event

Posted on June 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

The 2017 E3 Expo will unofficially begin this weekend, when Electronic Arts opens the doors to “EA Play 2017,” their E3 Press Conference. EA Play 2017 will feature eight new titles, and it can be viewed online at EA.com or Twitch beginning on Saturday, June 10, at 3:00 PM (Eastern Time).

So what will EA talk about during their 90 minutes in the spotlight? In addition to a closer look at six previously-announced blockbusters, the publisher plans to unveil “more surprises,” including at least two never-before-seen projects. The six games currently confirmed for EA Play 2017 are:

EA Play 2017 Lineup

  • Star Wars: Battlefront II – Featuring all Star Wars eras, a single player campaign and epic scale multiplayer battles, Star Wars: Battlefront II presents the most robust Star Wars game to date. The game is developed in partnership with three powerhouse studios: DICE, Motive Studios and Criterion Games, each with a rich background of creating award-winning games.
  • FIFA 18 – Powered by Frostbite, FIFA 18 blurs the line between the virtual and real worlds, bringing to life the heroes, teams, and atmospheres of the world’s game.
  • Madden NFL 18 – With Frostbite, the spectacle of NFL gameday comes alive delivering photorealistic players, crowds and stadiums, and introduces an all-new mode to the Madden NFL franchise.
  • NBA Live 18 – Delivering gameplay innovations and a brand-new way to play with “The One,” NBA Live returns with an experience completely centered around a player’s individual journey.
  • Need For Speed Payback – This explosive adventure is filled with intense heist missions, high stakes car battles, epic cop pursuits and jaw dropping set pieces. It’s blockbuster gameplay never before seen from the series, fueled by a gripping story of betrayal and revenge. With Need for Speed Payback, it’s about building the perfect ride, getting behind the wheel and playing out an action driving fantasy.
  • Battlefield 1 – It’s a Summer of Battlefield including the entry of the Russian Army and the biggest front of WW1 in Battlefield 1: In the Name of the Tsar. Partake in the skirmishes of the Albion assault in a freezing archipelago and fight in the snow-covered ravines of the treacherous Lupkow Pass.

EA Play 2017 will be followed by a second livestream that includes further details about the all-new “Nivelle Nights” map in Battlefield 1 Need For Speed Payback, Madden NFL 18, FIFA 18, and Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.

If you’re going to be in Los Angeles for this weekend, you can attend the EA Play FanFest at the Hollywood Palladium to play any (or all) of games. More than 150 demo stations will be available, and tickets are free (but limited). You can learn more about how to attend the EA Play FanFest at the event’s official website.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Tagged , , , , , ,

God of War 4, Insomniac’s Spider-Man, new Assassin’s Creed, multiple unannounced titles, more to be unveiled during E3 Coliseum

Posted on June 8, 2017 by John Scalzo

The full lineup of panels for Geoff Keighley’s inaugural E3 Coliseum has been announced, and it looks like the series will give fans a closer look at God of War 4, Assassin’s Creed 2017, Insomniac’s Spider-Man, and several other upcoming titles. Keighley will also offer a showcase to a few games yet-to-be-announced from Bethesda Softworks, Square Enix, and Epic Games.

If you won’t be attending this year’s E3 Expo, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to tune in as most E3 Coliseum panels will be broadcast through Facebook Live, Twitch, Mixer, and YouTube.

You can find the complete E3 Coliseum schedule after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Injustice 2 players who own Fighter Pack 1 will get to download Red Hood on June 13

Posted on June 8, 2017 by John Scalzo

The latest of Watchtower, NetherRealm’s streaming series devoted to Injustice 2, turned its watchful eye on the first post-launch downloadable character… Red Hood. In addition to showcasing Jason Todd’s penchant for gunplay, the developers confirmed when players will get to download the character.

Injustice 2 owners who also own Fighter Pack 1 will be able to download Red Hood on June 13. Anyone who wants to purchase the character on a standalone basis will have to wait until June 20.

Fighter Pack 1 is included with the Digital Deluxe and Ultimate Editions of Injustice 2, and its also available to buy through the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Games Store. In addition to the Red Hood, the add-on pack will include access to Sub-Zero and Starfire later this Summer.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Xbox Store Today: Elder Scrolls Online Morrowind, Perception, Guardians of the Galaxy Episode 2, more

Posted on June 7, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s Wednesday and another big day is in store for Microsoft’s Xbox Games Store…

First up, Bethesda is relaunching The Elder Scrolls Online with its latest expansion, The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind. Players will return to the island of Vvardenfell on the Xbox One to save it from a “deadly Daedric threat” and battle other players in the Ashlands in a 4v4v4 arena-style environment.

Also available to download today for the Xbox One is Perception from The Deep End Games. Perception is a narrative-driven adventure game where players take control of Cassie, a blind woman with a supernatural connection to a haunted mansion. After the nightmares become too much, Cassie goes to the mansion to discover what mysteries live within its walls.

Elsewhere on the Xbox Games Store, Telltale Games has continued their Guardians of the Galaxy series with Episode 2: Under Pressure. Xbox One owners will be able to explore Rocket’s past while also receiving help from “dubious old friends and unwilling new allies.”

Finally today, Codemasters will release Dirt 4 for the Xbox One, and off-road racing fans will get to tackle new rally, rallycross, and landrush events.

You can learn more about all of these games (and the rest of today’s new releases) after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged , , ,

Telltale will launch Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 on July 11

Posted on June 7, 2017 by John Scalzo

Telltale Games has announced they’ll return to the world of Minecraft next month with the opening chapter of Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2. Jesse and the gang saved the world… so naturally it’s time for more shenanigans:

Now that Jesse and the gang have vanquished the Wither Storm, saved the world, and become totally super famous heroes, life has gotten a bit more…complicated. With more responsibilities and less time for adventure, old friendships have started to fade — at least until Jesse’s hand gets stuck in a creepy gauntlet that belongs to an ancient underwater temple. Together with old pals and new comrades alike, Jesse embarks on a brand new journey filled with tough choices, good times, and at least one temperamental llama.

Patton Oswalt (Male Jesse), Catherine Taber (Female Jesse), Ashley Johnson (Petra), and Scott Porter (Lukas) have all signed on to once again lend their voices to the episodic adventure series, and Telltale will also add their popular Crowd Play feature to Season 2 for players who want to share their decision-making with others. And speaking of decisions, choices from Minecraft: Story Mode will carry over into Season 2, but new players will be able to jump right into the story.

Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 – Episode 1: Hero in Residence will be available to download for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices on July 11. A retail version will also be available this Fall.

Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Gears of War 4’s “Rise of the Horde” update adds new Skills, Achievements, Inconceivable difficulty, and more

Posted on June 6, 2017 by John Scalzo

Rise of the Horde, the biggest update yet for Gears of War 4, is now available to download for free. The update features a massive update to Horde Mode, along with new difficulty modes, maps, and Achievements. But before you jump in, the Xbox Wire has a complete rundown of what’s included in Rise of the Horde:

Horde is getting a massive shakeup with the arrival of Rise of the Horde, with 15 brand new Horde Skills (three per Class) to collect, Level 6 skills, Loot Drops, tuning changes and new difficulty levels!

Microsoft will also add an “Inconceivable” difficulty level to Horde Mode and the Campaign, as well as an Ironman option for players that want to complete Gears of War 4 without dying. Once again, Xbox Wire delivered the details:

In Horde, Inconceivable is a direct step up from Insane – you’ll be even weaker, and your enemies will be even stronger. Level up your skills to their new Level 6 peak and maximize the bonuses of your classes if you want to get through all 50 Waves of Inconceivable.

In Campaign, Inconceivable takes a more Survival based twist, giving you less health than Insane difficulty but also less health to your enemies. That’s because surviving on Inconceivable is all about effectiveness – weapons and crates drop significantly less ammunition, so you’ll have to make every shot count with whatever pickups you can find on the battlefield.

The Rise of the Horde update also includes remakes of two classic Gears maps (“Avalanche” from Gears of War 2 and “Rust Lung” from Gears of War 3), along with 30 new Achievements worth 500 Gamerscore.

Finally, if you haven’t had a chance to play Gears of War 4 yet, Microsoft also announced plans to offer a free demo of the game through the Xbox Games Store between June 9th and June 15th.

Posted in News, PC, Xbox One | Tagged