Xbox Cloud Gaming Is Now Available on PC and Apple devices
Xbox has confirmed that Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on PC and Apple devices via web browser for all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
Announced via the Xbox Wire, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in 22 countries can now access the service by going to Xbox.com/play on the compatible browsers that include Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Chrome with a connected controller. Then you'll be able to access the library of cloud-compatible games like Yakuza Like A Dragon, Minecraft Dungeons, and much more.
Lastly, the company has also confirmed it’s made improvements to the Xbox Cloud Gaming servers which are now powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware. Sadly due to bandwidth constraints, streaming-only goes up to 1080p and 60FPS. However, Xbox promise “going forward we’ll continue to innovate and add more features to enhance your cloud gaming experience.”
I've yet to use the service but plan to in the near future when it's possible to travel, I spend a lot of time at home as of late and i own an Xbox Series X. So it's not something I currently use but it'll definitely will bea service i'll use eventually.
Knockout City Is Free At Launch But Only For 10 Days
EA has announced that Knockout City will be going free for ten days from launch as a free trial their calling the Block Party.
the full game will be available on all formats for ten days starting from May 21, allowing players to check out all four of the game's launch modes that include Team KO, Diamond Dash, Party Team KO, and Face-Off. Additionally, every map will be playable and players will be able to start unlocking cosmetics for their character.
if you decide to purchase the game during the Block Party event, you'll get some bonus content and keep everything you've unlocked over the course of the event.
Knockout City Season 1 will launch on May 25, with the theme of "Welcome to Knockout City". It'll add a new location to the game, and a ton of Contracts for both Crew and Weekly Crew list. A new Playlists and League Play will also be unlocked where you can raise your Street Rank and unlock even more cosmetics.
Knockout City will be free for ten days from launch on May 21 until May 30 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC.
The Division: Heartland Announced By Ubisoft
Ubisoft has announced a new free-to-play game set in The Division universe called The Division: Heartland.
Red Storm Entertainment who developed the original Division game will be heading up development but the game will be standalone from the main series. The Division: Heartland is currently planned to release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC in the 2021-2022 release window.
Sadly details are on the slim side but Ubisoft did say that it will be an "all-new perspective on the universe in a new setting", though.
There are some details on more future projects set in the Tom Clancy The Division universe though, a roadmap of what's to come is located in the below image.
Halo Infinite confirms multiplayer cross-play
Xbox has announced that the upcoming Halo Infinite will have multiplayer cross-play and cross-progression on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
in a post on the Xbox Wire which is titled 'Continuing Our PC Gaming in 2021 and Beyond', they announced that cross-progression will allow players to have access to their unlocks/customization regardless if you're playing on a console or on the PC. The PC version of Halo Infinite will also include support for ultrawide and super ultrawide screens, triple keyboards, a "wide variety of advanced graphics options" and more.
Later on in the post, Xbox's Matt Booty also confirmed that the company plans to bring several Xbox Series X|S enhancements to the PC, including DirectStorage technology which means games can load faster, and even the console's Auto HDR feature which has given developers the ability to bring graphical upgrades that weren't possible for "1000s" of older DirectX based titles.
Lastly, Microsoft announced it will be making changes to the developer revenue share for games sold in the Microsoft Store, and from August 1, the net revenue developers will earn from sales will increase from 70% to 88%.
Resident Evil Re:Verse Won't Be Available At Launch of Resident Evil Village
Capcom has confirmed that the multiplayer mode for Resident Evil: Village called Resident Evil Re:Verse won't be coming to the game until later in the summer.
No launch window for the mode was confirmed so players assumed it would be launching alongside the game in May similar to Resident Evil 3 remake multiplayer mode called Resident Evil: Resistance.
However, it currently states on the official website that Resident Evil Re:Verse is scheduled for launch in "Summer 2021" although those who purchase Resident Evil: Village will still get the game for free when it eventually goes live.
Knockout City coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate And EA Play
EA has confirmed that the upcoming dodgeball game Knockout City will be available via EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at launch in May.
in a post where EA celebrates the beta hitting one million downloads for the recent open beta weekend. They confirmed the game will be coming to EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier subscription, this also means it'll be available for players on PlayStation and PC via a standard EA Play membership as well.
I played the recent demo and I came away from it lukewarm, I enjoyed aspects of the game but I also found the matchmaking overly frustrating. Every match I played over the course of the beta weekend had one team with fewer players than the other which made it extremely one-sided.
Knockout City will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC on May 21.
Additionally, the game will have access to cross-play across all platforms.
Xbox Cloud Gaming for PC and iOS begins limited beta testing for Some Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Members
Xbox has announced that it will be finally be holding a limited beta for Xbox Cloud Gaming on PC and Apple devices.
Announced via a post on the Xbox News Wire, a number of subscribers of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will be invited to help test the service for Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets via web browsers. Those invited players will get access to a new website where they'll be able to play "over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles" through web browsers including Edge, Google Chrome, or Safari.
you'll need a Bluetooth or USB-connected controller to play a majority of games but some also have Custom Touch Controls enabled like Viva Pinata.
Additional invites will continue to be sent out as the test progresses, with players from across 22 supported countries invited to test and give feedback, which will be evaluated by Xbox to continue to improve the service.
Temtem Is Adding A New Island In The Form Of The Cipanku Island
Temtem developer Crema has announced that temtem will be getting a brand new update tomorrow that'll bring an entirely new region to the game in the form of Cipanku Island.
the island is said to be Electric/Digital themed with digital Temtem that will be different to the main game Temtem by having a weakness to the same type but also are weak against Water and Electric. They'll be strong against Mental and Melee types and resistant to the Toxic type of Temtem's.
The update will also add Temtem's first Mythical Temtem, which only will be reachable through the new Lairs activity.
you'll all have to progress through your own paths, with all resources shared between your party. It's also recommended your team of Temtem themselves is leveled up to at least 50.
The Cipanku Island update drops on April 13 in Temtem which is available via Early Access on PC and PlayStation 5.
Xbox Game Pass Additions for February 2021
Xbox has announced a batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass for the first half of February.
It's looking like a pretty great start to the month for Xbox Game Pass subscribers and I've personally still not gotten to the games from January. Fingers crossed, I'll magically find some time to play all these video games or you know maybe get some sleep. There's not a ton of that lying around The Ghostly household, especially with a newborn and a toddler.
Anyway here's the list of the announced games coming to Xbox Game Pass in February:
Ghost of a Tale (PC) ID@Xbox – February 4
Project Winter (Android, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – February 4
The Falconeer (Android, Console, and PC) – February 4
Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age (Console and PC) – February 11
Jurassic World Evolution (Android and Console) – February 11
Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones (Android and Console) ID@Xbox – February 11
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (Android) – February 11
Mass Effect Legendary Edition New Release Date is May 14
EA has announced that Mass Effect Legendary Edition will be launch on May 14 in a newly released trailer showing off some of the upgrades.
The collection will include all three games from the original trilogy, alongside 40 pieces of DLC content including weapons, armors, and packs which have all been remastered and "optimised" for 4K. The game will feature improved visual effects such as enhanced models, shaders, FX, lighting, and depth of field. There'll also be "targeted enhancements" for the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 that include full HDR across the trilogy and options for "Favor Quality" and "Favour Framerate" modes to boost resolution or FPS.
They also have added New customization options for your Shepard that include improved hair, makeup, eye colour, and skin tones. the character creator is confirmed to also allow all options across all three games in the trilogy. Lastly, there are also plans to make some gameplay enhancements specifically for the first game which is said to include "improved aiming and weapons balance, SFX, input/controls, squad behaviour, cover behaviour, and gameplay cameras."
Mass Effect Legendary Edition will be available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC from May 14, 2021.
Second Batch Of Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass In January
Xbox has announced the next wave of games being added to Xbox Game Pass for the second half of January.
Here's the list of all the upcoming games coming to Xbox Game Pass in the coming weeks:
Control (PC) – January 21
Desperados III (Console, PC, and Android) – January 21
Donut County (Console, PC, and Android) ID@Xbox – January 21
Outer Wilds (Android) ID@Xbox – January 21
Cyber Shadow (Console, PC, and Android) ID@Xbox – January 26
The Medium (Xbox Series X|S and PC) ID@Xbox – January 28
Yakuza 3 Remastered (Console, PC, and Android) – January 28
Yakuza 4 Remastered (Console, PC, and Android) – January 28
Yakuza 5 Remastered (Console, PC, and Android) – January 28
It's looking like a pretty fantastic month of games on Xbox and I'm extremely excited to play some more Yakuza, I write this as I'm currently playing through Yakuza Like A Dragon.
Xbox also announced the games that will be leaving the service on January 29th, so here's that list of games:
Death Squared (Console)
Death’s Gambit (PC)
Final Fantasy XV (Console and PC)
Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour (Console and PC)
Gris (PC)
Indivisible (Console and PC)
Reigns: Game of Thrones (PC)
Sea Salt (Console and PC)
