‘Halo Wars 2’ exists, hits Xbox One and Windows 10 in 2016
Halo Wars 2 is the sequel to 2009’s troubled yet generally beloved real-time strategy game, and it’s on its way to Xbox One and Windows 10 in fall 2016. Microsoft presented Halo Wars 2 as the cherry on top of its Xbox Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany, today, offering us a short and sweet cinematic. Halo Wars 2 comes from current Halo developer 343 Industries and Alien: Isolation studio Creative Assembly.
The original Halo Wars ended up being the last game for developer Ensemble Studios. After the studio’s closing, founder Tony Goodman said that the original Halo developer, Bungie, was never into the idea of an RTS. In 2014, we heard rumblings that Microsoft was hiring for “an established and well-loved strategy franchise,” which sounded a lot like Halo Wars 2, at least from the players’ point of view.
It’s really here – #HaloWars2 from @cagames is coming to #XboxOne #Windows10 Fall 2016! #xboxgamescom pic.twitter.com/Q7GLYfZ49V
— Xbox (@Xbox) August 4, 2015
Filed under:
Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Tags: 343Industries, creativeassembly, gamescom2015, HaloWars, halowars2, hdpostcross, microsoft
Xbox One will be a ‘full-featured’ DVR for TV
We’d heard rumblings for some time, but today at Gamescom, Microsoft announced that Xbox One would get its own DVR. The new functionality works from the OneGuide and streams over-the-air TV recordings to any Windows 10 device with the Xbox app or SmartGlass on iOS and Android. And you’ll also be able to watch offline, too. With those two apps, you’ll be able to schedule shows to record when you’re away from OneGuide in your living room. Recorded content stored on an external DVR was viewable on the Xbox One’s TV option, but now, the console itself will pull double duty. The console also has the ability to stream over-the-air television channels thanks to a pair of digital TV tuners, so adding in the recorder offers a complete package for game and TV viewing. Xbox One’s DVR will arrive in 2016 and won’t command any additional fees. Slideshow-309054
Microsoft’s blog detailing the feature says that you’ll need to use an external USB hard drive to store shows. The company says by using this setup, you won’t have to worry about any issues with gameplay or running out of space on the console itself. This also means that the amount of content you can record is only limited by the size of the hard drive that you plug into the Xbox One. We’ll have to wait until next year to give it a shot, but today’s news is certainly a welcome addition.
Filed under:
Gaming, Home Entertainment, Microsoft
Source:
Xbox Wire
Tags: dvr, gamescom, gamescom2015, gaming, microsoft, xbox, xboxone
New Xbox dashboard and backwards compatibility come in November
At E3, Microsoft unveiled a revamped dashboard for the Xbox One that put an emphasis on speed and community. It’s now here at Gamescom when the company has revealed when exactly this revamped user interface will be filtering down onto your console: this November. The biggest additional feature is backwards compatibility, which means that around 100 Xbox 360 titles will be available to play on the hardware. Of course, if you’ve already paid for these games for the older console, you won’t be charged again for the privilege.
In addition, the company’s Mike Ybarra has revealed that all future Games with Gold that are available on the Xbox 360 will also be accessible on the Xbox One. At the same time, he also announced that DVR functionality — which is also free — will come to the console in time for the holidays.
The rest of the dashboard’s features were outlined at E3, the most notable being the integration of Cortana, Microsoft’s digital voice assistant. She can be used to perform minor tasks — like recording and sharing in-game footage — without you having to stop your epic career mode run on Fifa 16. The revamped UI also offers a new quick-launch menu that pops up when you double-tap the Xbox button on your controller.
We’re live all week from Cologne, Germany for Gamescom 2015. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Filed under:
Gaming, Microsoft
Source:
Xbox
Tags: BackwardsCompatibility, Dashboard, FallUpdate, Gamescom2015, GamesWithGold, Microsoft, Xbox, XboxOne
The Chatpad returns on Xbox One this November
Remember that Chatpad you used to trash-talk your Xbox 360 rivals? It’s back in an Xbox One version with a few new twists. The keyboard add-on still clips to the bottom of your gamepad and makes it easy to type just about anywhere on either the Xbox One or a Windows 10 PC, but it now has a pair of programmable keys to automate common input (for example, asking for help from your friends in a tough match). Microsoft won’t ship the peripheral until November, alas, but pre-orders will start today — we’ll get you pricing as soon as we can.
Filed under:
Gaming, Peripherals, Microsoft
Tags: chatpad, gamescom2015, keyboard, microsoft, peripherals, videogames, xbox, xboxone
Microsoft says ‘Quantum Break’ coming April 5th, 2016
Microsoft first announced Quantum Break as an Xbox One exclusive quite a while ago, and it has finally revealed the launch date: April 5th, 2016. At Gamescom 2015, the company also showed off brand new gameplay from the title (below), which comes from the developer that created Max Payne, Remedy. Suffice to say, it looks beautiful and features a strong time travel component. The studio originally promised that it would have an in-game live action show, and Remedy’s Sam Lake confirmed that’s still the case.
Stars attached to the show include Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), Dominic Monaghan (Charlie from Lost), Lance Reddick (Fringe) and Amelia Rose Blaire (True Blood). The show and game actually bear a slight resemblance to Lost, with mysterious events and people jumping around in time and space. Microsoft said that “your in-game choices will affect the outcome of the fast-paced fusion between game and show,” adding that you’ll “play the game to understand the heroes… and watch the in-game show to discern the villains.” We’re still psyched despite the long buildup and hype, so hopefully things will go smoother than they did for the Halo TV show.
Filed under:
Gaming, Microsoft
Tags: exclusive, Gamescom, Gamescom2015, microsoft, Quantum Break, QuantumBreak, release date, Xbox one, XboxOne
‘Crackdown 3’ hits Xbox One in 2016
Crackdown is back and as boom-tastic as ever. The first gameplay video for Crackdown 3 shows off a futuristic, neon-tipped city that acts as a sprawling sandbox once players dive in. The game features online co-op and competitive play — that’s up to four players for co-op. Crackdown 3 hits the Xbox One, and only the Xbox One, in summer 2016.
“Crackdown 3 is bringing you a 4-person co-operative campaign enhanced with a new dynamic story, cutting-edge weapons and vehicles, enemies you’ll love to hate — and of course, tons of orbs to collect!” Microsoft writes. “Crackdown 3 will also deliver a groundbreaking competitive multiplayer mode, where everything is physical thanks to the Microsoft Cloud. Harness 20 times the power of your Xbox One to unleash 100 percent destructible environments for the first time ever in gaming and create your own explosive stories in the process.”
Crackdown 3 comes from series creator David Jones and his studio, Reagant Games, and it was first revealed at E3 2014.
Filed under:
Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Tags: Crackdown, crackdown3, gamescom2015, hdpostcross, microsoft, XboxOne
Mojang’s next game is ‘Cobalt,’ a 2D platformer due in October
Mojang isn’t just focused on shipping endless variations of Minecraft — it can publish other games, too. As proof, the Microsoft-owned team has unveiled Cobalt, an Oxeye-developed 2D platform game for Mac, PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One that has you employing hacks and stealth to learn why a human colony vanished on an alien world. The title is big on multiplayer, with cooperative play, six competitive multiplayer modes and 30 dedicated maps. Cobalt doesn’t hit consoles until October, but you can try pre-release Mac and Windows versions today.
Filed under:
Gaming, Microsoft
Source:
Xbox Wire
Tags: cobalt, gamescom2015, gaming, mac, microsoft, mojang, oxeye, video, videogames, windows, xbox360, xboxone
The ‘Halo 5’ 1TB Xbox One is up for pre-order right now
Among the bullet storms and massive explosions of today’s Xbox conference, Microsoft unveiled a limited edition, Halo 5-branded 1TB Xbox One bundle, and it’s so, so shiny. The bundle is available for pre-order today and it drops on October 20th. Microsoft launched the standard 1TB console back in June, complete with a new controller. That console isn’t so shiny — because it’s matte.
Pre-order the #XboxOne Limited Edition #Halo5 Guardians Bundle. Arriving Oct 20th #xboxgamescom pic.twitter.com/DZoNbkCZET
— Xbox (@Xbox) August 4, 2015
Filed under:
Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Tags: 1tb, gamescom2015, halo5, hdpostcross, microsoft, XboxOne
ICYMI: Keurig-like cocktails, handmade holograms and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: We break down the lazy man’s cocktail machine, filling your bellies with machine-crafted designer drinks for your boozehound friends. An Australian stunt rider rigged a dirtbike to surf the ocean and the video is pretty astounding. And while you wait for Microsoft’s HoloLens, you can make a DIY hologram display with little more than a CD jewel case. Doesn’t everyone have about 20 of them in the corners of cabinets, no matter how many you swear you’ve recycled?
And our saddest update of all is that hitchBOT, the chatty robot hitchhiking across the U.S., was decapitated in Philadelphia. The Canadians that run him say his trip is done. He’d been on his way to San Francisco, where yours truly was hoping for a City by the Bay frolic, so this comes as particularly sad news. Not cool Philly!
If you come across any interesting videos, we’d love to see them. Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag @engadget or @mskerryd.
Filed under:
Misc, Home Entertainment, Meta, Peripherals, Robots, Tablets, Transportation, Internet, Microsoft
Tags: 3D hologram, alcohol, Bartesian, booze, cocktail machine, cocktail maker, dirtbike, DIY, DIY hologram, engadget daily show, engadget video, HitchBot, hologram, icymi, In Case You Missed It, microsoft, motorbike, Robbie, robots, Soylent, Tupac, video, wave running motorbike
We’re live from Microsoft’s Gamescom event!
Gamescom doesn’t even officially start until tomorrow, but Microsoft is in Cologne early to show off everything Xbox and Windows 10. Chances are we’ll see a lot of footage from upcoming exclusives like Quantum Break, and perhaps some new software tricks for the Xbox One like the oft-rumored DVR function. Other than that, your guess is as good as ours — will we get pricing and a release date for HoloLens? What t-shirt will Phil Spencer wear under his lovely blazer? Will someone talk way too long about a car slowly descending from the ceiling? Tune in at 4PM CEST (10AM ET / 7AM PT) to find out.
Filed under:
Gaming, Microsoft
Tags: liveblog, microsoft
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