Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Arrives on Xbox One Backward Compatibility
One of the greatest parts about gaming on the Xbox One is that you get to play games from the previous generation (Xbox 360) all over again, and you don’t have to re-buy the game if you already own it. As we all know, the Call of Duty franchise is one of the most popular this century. Ever since Microsoft announced Xbox Backward Compatibility at E3 2015, fans have been dying for all the COD titles to be added to the ever-expanding list. It has been announced that Modern Warfare 2 will be coming to Xbox One backward compatibility as of today, August 28, 2018. The 2009 title will turn 9 years old this November. You can buy the game digitally here. Will you be playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 this week on Xbox? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=429l13dS6kQ Source
Xbox Games with Gold Revealed for September 2018
The month of August is nearing an end, so that means it is time to get ready for the new promotions across all platforms for September. Today, the September Xbox Games with Gold titles have been announced. As always, all Xbox Live Gold members will receive four games across Xbox One and Xbox 360. Here are the two Xbox One games that you can receive for free: Prison Architect: Xbox One Edition ($29.99 ERP) Livelock ($9.99 ERP) Prison Architect will be free for the entire month of September while Livelock will be free from September 16 up until October 15. Now, here are the two Xbox 360 titles that will be playable on Xbox One via backwards compatibility: LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars ($19.99 ERP) Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World ($9.99 ERP) From September 1 – 15, you’ll be able to claim LEGO: Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, and the next half of the month you’ll be able to get Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World. Keep in mind that these are only free if you are an Xbox Live Gold Member. Source via Major Nelson
Xbox All Access Officially Revealed
Following the previous report from Windows Central, it seems the outlet was correct as Microsoft has revealed Xbox All Access. This new program is a financial plan to help players get their hands on the newest Xbox consoles with their exclusive services on top of that. Those interested will be able to choose between the Xbox One S or Xbox One X and pay a monthly fee for 24 months. Included with 24 months of Xbox Live and 24 months of Xbox Game Pass. Though prices will vary for which unit you prefer. Xbox One S being $21.99 a month and Xbox One X coming to $34.99 a month. What is not included in either payment plans is games. With Game Pass included, players will have a variety of title to choose from as long as they keep up with the subscription. Xbox All Access is available now exclusively in the U.S. for a limited time. Source: Major Nelson
Major Update Arrived For The Master Chief Collection
Since the anthology’s initial release back in late November of 2014, many fans of the franchise were left disappointed with how The Master Chief Collection performed as the game library was still limited during the time. Players even compensated with Halo 3: ODST if they played MCC during launch assuming it’s from rough launch. Now nearly four years after the game’s release and the major update for the game has been shipped out that will ultimately fix any problems players have faced since its release. Good timing as well with The Master Chief Collection being announced for Xbox Game Pass prior to this. This update offers each title in the collection 4K resolution with HDR support as part of being X Enhanced, faster load times, and smoother framerate of 60 fps. Matchmaking has been reworked with offline LAN options and more stable gameplay. Also with this update, players can check the average ping for their region based on the Microsoft’s global data centers. Introduced with the update is Intelligent Delivery, players will have the option to download which game they choose if they’re not interested in certain ones. For this update being roughly around 70 GB, it seems well worth it if you have the space. As projects like this are usually deserted shortly after the problem is discovered, it is impressive 343 chose to stick with fixing this Halo Saga bundle. If you were part of the Halo: MCC Insider program and were wondering what the future of it will hold, make sure to stay in there because there will be more testing in the future. Up to you. Preview will be used to test more stuff as we go before it hits the final release. — Tashi (@Tashi343i) August 28, 2018 The Master Chief Collection is available now for Xbox One and Windows 10. Source: Halo Waypoint
Switch Gets Comic App InkyPen This Fall
The comic subscription app will be making its way to Nintendo’s console for an exclusive launch coming later in November. Similar to Netflix or Hulu (already available on Switch), InkyPen is the same situation when it comes to comics. For $8 a month, subscribers will have a wide variety of options to choose from. As seen in the trailer below, the app will be accessible both in Handheld Mode along with it being docked as well. With this behind Hulu in being a non-game related app coming to the Switch, we can expect more to appear on the platform with the soon arriving Nintendo Online Service.
Xbox One Gets Amnesia: Collection Next Week.
In an unexpected announcement on Next Week on Xbox, Frictional Games’ Amnesia: Collection will be coming to Xbox One next week. Already released on PlayStation 4, this bundle will include Amnesia: The Dark Descent with the game add-on Justine and the sequel Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs. Better late than never for fans on Microsoft’s console who haven’t got a chance to play the classic titles. As it’s stated that the series “kickstarted the Let’s Play revolution.”. Though these games being absent for so long, Frictional Games already has Soma available on Xbox One. Just in time for the Fall season, it will fit well for those who are in need of a good spook. Amnesia: Collection will be available for Xbox One on August 31, 2018. Source: Xbox Wire
Ninja Gaiden Creators Approve Of The Influenced The Messenger
The upcoming 2D ninja platformer The Messenger has been a highly anticipated title since its reveal for its similarity and influence to the cult classic Ninja Gaiden. Publisher Devolver Digital posted a video showing the creators of game’s inspiration trying out the game and showing their reactions to it as well. Both Ninja Gaiden Director Hideo Yoshizawa and Composer Keiji Yamagishi got their hands on Sabotage’s title showing off new gameplay. The two found the game previously when attending BitSummit 2018 and visited the booth to try out the game. In the video, they share their thoughts on the similarities between the two games and how The Messenger expands as its own through the story and gameplay. Along with giving some information some might have known about Ninja Gaiden. Yoshizawa mentioning that Nintendo requested an underwater level for the game back when the game was still in development. Yoshizawa talks highly after playing the demo stating “I feel a lot of respect, but this game has its own world.”. With The Messenger adding humor to the game and creating its own omen really impressed the two. You can check out our coverage on The Messenger at PAX East here. The Messenger will be available on August 30, 2018 for PC and Nintendo Switch.
Switch Version for Soulcalibur VI Might Come After Launch
Since the announcement for one of Bandai Namco’s notorious fighter Soulcalibur VI back in December, many fans were eager to get their hands on the upcoming title on all platforms. But for fans on the Switch, they might have to wait a bit longer for their turn. In an interview with Dualshockers, the outlet spoke with the game’s Producer Motohiro Okubo on if there was a chance of seeing a Switch version coming. Prior to this talk, rumors were surrounding the game that a possible version for the Nintendo Switch was already in development. And coming up to this, Okubo said on the subject: At the moment, there is no development for Switch at all. I understand that the Switch is a very successful hardware, and of course if there is a possibility, then it would be great to do it. The producer along with confirming that the recent rumors were false, also told Dualshockers that they will put the Switch version into consideration following the game’s launch this fall. This doesn’t confirm if we will see the game in the near future, but it does give hope for the possibility of seeing the game on Nintendo’s platform. Another Bandai Namco title, Dragon Ball Fighter Z will be making its way to the Nintendo Switch on September 28, 2018. Soulcalibur VI will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 19, 2018. Source: Dualshockers
Review: Red’s Kingdom
Red’s Kingdom comes to the Nintendo Switch library after spending nearly two years available on mobile and Steam. The cutesy puzzler puts the player in control of the eponymous Red, whose nuts have been stolen and whose father has been kidnapped by Mad King Mac. The whole setup provides a quick chuckle or two before dropping the player smack dab in the middle of a sprawling, isometric puzzle world that, while cute, is immensely tedious. On the Switch, controlling Red turned into an absolute nightmare for me. Despite knowing that full touch controls were available, I stuck to my instincts and used the d-pad for the first half of my romp through Red’s nutty world. I made a terrible mistake, it turned out, because, in this isometric world, the directional buttons only marginally corresponded to the direction I wished to go. “Up” sent me to the top right of the screen while “Down” sent me to the bottom left. This can be rotated, but that only shifts the problem ninety degrees. The slippery mechanics of navigation in Red’s Kingdom only serve to amplify the frustration. Every screen is a puzzle, and even when I solved an area, I often had to circle back and retrace my steps through a puzzle I’d already completed. This is an important note because Red rolls in the chosen direction until he hits an obstacle or falls off the course. This would’ve been forgivable, but the game forces re-exploration and backtracking more than it has any right to, lending only tedium to what would otherwise be a charming, squirrel-themed adventure. The adventure, it turns out, surprises in ways both good and bad. I played all of Red’s Kingdom in just two sittings, and each uniquely struck me as I pondered the adventure. During my first outing with the game (approximately two hours), my jaw dropped at the breadth of Red’s titular kingdom, especially considering the game sells for only $10. But during my second play session (approximately four hours), I began desperately hoping that no more of the world would be revealed. Sure, new navigation and puzzle mechanics trickled into the game, but they never satisfied longer than a few minutes before they felt overused. Stack that on top of the tedious navigation, and Red’s Kingdom quickly turned to boredom. The story evolves much the same way in Red’s Kingdom. First, it’s fun tracking down objects necessary to explore new areas–it takes a page from the Metroidvania genre here–but soon after I asked myself “I have to get two CRESTS now?” and, a few hours later, “Now I have to fetch three golden acorns?!” Simply put, the series of fetch quests wore me down to the point where I was excited for the credits to roll. The game’s one saving grace in this regard was that, toward the end, it sent me to three smaller island worlds that introduced new enemies and more difficult puzzles. That’s where the game succeeds: placing the player in a contained area with truly mind-bending isometric puzzles that require all of the skills acquired up to that point. I can think of two or three instances where the frustration melted into a desire to solve the puzzle at hand. Still, those moments were disappointingly infrequent. Despite most of my disdain for the drawn-out nature of Red’s Kingdom, I feel it’s just not at home on the Switch. Had I discovered it in the App Store and played in short spurts on the bus to work, I think I’d have enjoyed it far more. It begs to be played for a few minutes at a time, so players can soak in a few puzzles, progress the story just a bit, and sign off for the day. In this way, Red’s Kingdom could be great. On the Switch, played in two mini-marathon sessions, it just doesn’t work.
Next Game For Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Teased
Yacht Games, the developer behind the well-known platformer Shovel Knight has teased an upcoming game for the already released title. Posted on the studio’s Twitter, announced that next week them along with outlet IGN will be showcasing the first preview of the unannounced game. Knights assemble! Stay tuned to @IGN next week for the first look at an all new game coming to Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove. We can't wait to throw down the gauntlet and show you what we've been working on! — Yacht Club Games (@YachtClubGames) August 25, 2018 With the base game along with add-ons Specter Of Torment & Plague Of Shadows, Yacht Games is currently working on King Of Cards as well. Based of the mentioned expansions for the game, we could see another story DLC or a new mode for this announcement. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 3 & 4, Playstation Vita, PC, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch.
