Microsoft Partners With Razer & XSplit To Bring Supported Widgets To Xbox Game Bar
It has almost been a year already since Microsoft introduced the Xbox Game Bar – a helpful tool for users on PC to assist with exterior applications and other settings while preserving the momentum of the respected game you’re playing. Since then, Microsoft has pledged to listen to those who utilize the feature to better the overall experience. One issue many that used Xbox Game Bar have addressed is the clunky efforts to adjust the way applications work through the Alt+Tab command. Now, Microsoft has teamed up with both Razer alongside xSplit to bring dedicated widgets to Xbox Game Bar. Going into effect today, players will be given the ability to install widgets and managed said prompts with ease by simply pressing the Win+G command. Replacing the ‘Overlay’ menu, you simply click the icon and can find the Widget Store on the bottom. The first featured widget comes from Razer with the titular Cortex Beta Widget: instead of closing your game to access the features within Razer Cortex, players can access it via Xbox Game Bar and suspend processors from operating to boost your performance when in game. The widget also allows you to view the Paid to Play games in return for Razer Silver which is collecting enough can help you redeem branded gear and games right through the widget. Following with the XSplit widget, it plays similar as you will not have to close what you’re playing to adjust your setting for streaming. Instead you simply prompt the Xbox Game Bar and you’ll have access to start/stop recording, check chat, view stats to grow viewership, and operate encoding settings for the most optimized stream quality. The widget is said to be fully customizable and pre-built if you download the Gamecaster app. Microsoft in the latter of the blog post announced to be launching a beta for developers to create their own widgets as well. “In addition to these great partner widgets, we’re also releasing the Game Bar SDK (Beta) today. Any developer can now build custom widgets for Game Bar.” The company goes on to reaffirm that feedback is still appreciated to continue making the Xbox Game Tab more enjoyable for users. This is not the first partnership that Microsoft has conjured with gaming gear manufacturer Razer. It was back in 2018 that the two were reported to be collaboration on introducing Keyboard & mouse support to Xbox with specified support for the Razer Turret and Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you an avid user of Xbox Game Tab and plan to take advantage of the newly established widgets? Source: Xbox Wire
Here’s 5 awesome things about Gears Tactics
Gears Tactics is a strategy RPG developed by folks with an insatiable love for the genre, and a single player story looking to expand on the world of Gears of War. Here’s 5 new things we learned about it during Xbox Inside. 1) Tactics was built from the ground up for PC, and despite being turn based, the fast paced action of Gears lives on in this side game. There are plenty of enemies in each map, and there is a three-action system where you can perform three actions per unit in a given turn. 2) The player character is Gabe Diaz, a “reluctant leader” who gets thrust into the motor pool with no control over the situation and must take control when monsters emerge from the underground to attack him. He is the father of Cade Diaz, the protagonist of last year’s Gears 5. 3) Gabe is on the hunt for an evil monster creating geneticist named Ukon. All of the monsters and bosses you see across the Gears of War series are the the product of Ukon’s experimentation. 4) The iconic series feature of executions now goes from a simple visual marvel to a bona fide gameplay mechanic in its own right. Executions grant bonus actions to your entire squad when performed, a clever way of keeping the flow of gameplay going. Think One Mores from the Persona series, but gory on a grand scale. 5) Gears Tactics is all about customization. You have 5 classes with over 30 unlockable skills each, a primary weapon for each class, and 5 mod slots for each weapon. Each soldier also has 3 slots for pure cosmetic customization. And the best part? There will also be no loot boxes or microtransactions- everything in the game can be earned with your skills alone. And that’s 5 awesome things about Gears Tactics that we learned from the Inside Xbox showing. Gears Tactics launches for PC and Xbox this year!
Microsoft Adds Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Sims 4, And Unravel 2 To Project xCloud
It was just this morning that Microsoft unveiled that Project xCloud will support a close dozen of European nations. Countries like France, Norway, and Sweden will now be able to indulge in some of the most anticipating titles playable on Xbox One via their mobile device. Now in a separate announcement later today, Microsoft disclosed the next three additions to the roster of games. During the just breaking Inside Xbox livestreamed presentation, Microsoft announced a collaboration to bring three games from Electronic Arts to Project xCloud. The new titles are: Dragon Age: Inquisition The Sims 4 Unravel 2 Additionally, the three games listed will be joining the plethora of titles that were added earlier this year. Those titles include Destiny 2, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Superhot, The Surge, and Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut. Elsewhere, Microsoft announced that Forza Street fans can also expect to play the game on Android (Google Play Store & Galaxy Store) and iOS starting on May 5th next month. You can read up on the full report by heading here. What game do you think you’ll kick off with first on Project xCloud. Project xCloud is in Preview currently for Android and iOS. Source: Microsoft
Forza Street Launch For Android & iOS Scheduled To Arrive The First Week Of May
Back in February, Samsung disclosed a new partnership with Microsoft to establish upcoming plans between Samsung smart devices and Project xCloud. In the midst of the reveal, it was also disclosed that Forza Street, initially unique to PC, will now be coming to mobile first on the Galaxy Store. Now the remaining fans sitting on the Android platform will be able to indulge on the Electronic Square title alongside iOS users as well. Fans interested to be first picking up the game on either the App Store or Google Play can pre-register for Forza Street to guarantee their slot for next month when the game officially arrives. In celebration of the game’s scheduled release for the first week of May, Microsoft revealed that players who tune in for the first month will receive a special gift. Starting from May 5 to June 5 the month following, players will receive the Founders Pack which will offers the 2017 Ford GT and a good chunk of in-game credits & gold when visiting the game’s message center. Those interested to pre-register for Android can do so right now for by heading to the Google Play Store or Galaxy Store respectively: pre-registration for iOS has yet to be released as of reporting. Are you excited to get your hands on Forza Street for mobile next month? Forza Street will be arriving to Android, iOS, and Galaxy devices on May 5, 2020; available now for Windows 10. Source: Xbox Wire
Announcing Rectify Direct Relief Stream April 11-12
Today, We at Rectify Gaming are announcing a Direct Relief Stream to support those who have been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Starting Saturday April 11th until April 12th we will be live doing a marathon stream for 24 hours starting at 10 AM. There will be a variety of Rectify Stream Team members on through the day. Our current goal is set to raise $2,000, but of course we want to smash that goal! Below you can see our schedule of streamers and with exact times in EST. You can donate here and we will be live on our Twitch channel. We plan on having giveaways during this event as well but exactly what’s being given away is To Be Determined. We hope to see you there and please stay safe out there.
Sea of Thieves gets its next monthly update on April 22nd, here’s a rundown
Batten down the hatches, because it’s time again for the monthly content update for Rare’s Sea of Thieves on Xbox One. Entitled “Ships of Fortune,” this article is going to cover every new addition that this expansion brings to the table. The trading companies of the world need teams of pirates to help them by becoming an Emissary. By doing so, you’ll be rewarded with brand new cosmetic items and progression in the expanded Reputation system. There are 5 companies to join, including the new Reaper’s Bones, a gang of bloodthirsty pirates who just want to see you make a massacre out of any emissary that crosses your path. The arena has also been improved for a deeper and more ruthless experience than ever before. Treasure maps have been cut entirely and replaced by one chest, marked by a beacon and assigned only one cash in point. Each game can now last between 15 to 24 minutes, making for plenty of time to compete for that chest. And now, if you should fall in battle, your crew has a short time to revive you so you can get straight back to plundering and pillaging. At the Pirate’s Emporium, there are new emotes, a brand new Sabre Wolf set for your ship, and the most important addition to any game, pet cats! They’ll follow you to the ends of the Earth so long as they can take some well-deserved naps along the way. The Ships of Fortune expansion for Sea of Thieves launches on April 22nd!
Journey To The Savage Planet And Others Revealed Enroute For Xbox Game Pass
Revealed just now at the scheduled Inside Xbox online presentation, Microsoft announced a new slew of anticipating additions to Xbox Game Pass. Paired with the announcement made today, Microsoft shares that PlatinumGames’ NieR:Automata is available now for Xbox Game Pass on console. Additionally, it was also revealed that the comical Totally Reliable Delivery Service has also shipped to Xbox Game Pass on console while Overcooked! 2 arrived to PC as well. Here is the full lineup including both console and PC versions of Xbox Game Pass: Console Avastia Chronicles – April 9 Journey to the Savage Planet – April 9 PC Alvastia Chronicles – Coming Soon Football Manager 2020 – Coming Soon Mistover – Coming Soon Stranger Things 3: The Game – Coming Soon For those unfamiliar with Journey to the Savage Planet, Rectify gaming actually featured the game back during PAX West last September. Gregory Dawes tells the game “really delivers on is the whole co-op experience. Too many games feel as though co-op is added as an afterthought, whereas here it feels like it was designed in mind with co-op.”You can read the full coverage for the game by heading here. What game are you most excited to see arrive to Xbox Game Pass? Source: Xbox Wire
“Grounded” lands on Xbox Game Pass and Steam Early Access this July, details single player experience
Obsidian Entertainment’s new survival adventure game Grounded is making its way to Xbox One and Steam in the form of Early Access. This bugged-out new adventure also got a brand new trailer focusing on the single player experience of the game, which follows a bite-sized player in a suburban backyard. Spurred on by the voice of a robot named BURG.L., you’re tasked with taking on a rogue’s gallery of everyday pests by crafting, building, and scavenging with nothing but what mother nature provides you with. Grounded heads to Xbox Game Preview via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Steam Early Access on July 28th!
Sony Unveils The DualSense, The Controller For PlayStation 5
Stepping back a few weeks ago, the technological architecture for the PlayStation 5 was revealed and not showing much differences in contrast to the competing Xbox Series X. And despite the hardware even lacking in certain specifications alongside backward compatibility, the system’s SSD actually topped the custom built component for Microsoft’s console. However, unlike the Xbox Series X, we still do not know what the PlayStation 5 looks like or even the controller. That was until this afternoon as Sony introduced the DualSense, the upcoming gamepad made specifically for PlayStation 5. Although Microsoft has introduced additional tweaks to the Series X controller like USB-C support, matte finishing, and a new D-Pad, the design does not break the sound barrier like Sony’s. After thoughtful consideration, we decided to keep much of what gamers love about DualShock 4 intact, while also adding new functionality and refining the design. Based on our discussions with developers, we concluded that the sense of touch within gameplay, much like audio, hasn’t been a big focus for many games. Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation Senior Vice President for Platform Planning & Management The most evident change in comparison to the DuslShock 4 from the DualSense is the color scheme: using a white layout for the top and handles of the gamepad while the under grip and analog sticks hone a black finish below. And while we are accustomed to the location of the current controller’s light bar on the front, Sony now has relocated the light bar to both sides of the touch pad on the surface. Moving onto the interior of the controller itself, Sony disclosed that both Design & Engineering departments worked on the architecture of the gamepad. One new addition is Adaptive Triggers which unlike the DualShock 4 will allow players to “truly feel the tension of your actions.” What that means exactly is that the triggers have a sort of vibration mechanism inside for more intuitive effect on the player; similar to rumble triggers on the Xbox One controller. Other additional features implemented into the DualSense is the Create button to replace the already familiar share button and a built-in microphone array has been added to the new controller as well. Sony tells that more on the matters for the Create button will be disclosed closer to the console’s release. The structure of the controller is said to be more compact and awkward, but the teams behind the final product managed to not compromise the design aside from the adjusted angle of the handles for more comfortable positioning for your hands. The rechargeable battery also received an upgrade with a more efficient lifespan and the overall weight is lighter in contrast to its predecessor. Reflecting on the leaked patent for the controller does correspond with what was revealed today such as smaller triggers and explains what exactly happened to the light bar. While not a carbon copy of the discovery from last year, Sony did share that the controller has went through several changes to the final product that we see before us. One concern that players deciding to pick up PlayStation 5 might be worried about is the lack of support for the DualShock 4 alike the Xbox Series X is confirmed to implement at launch for Xbox One controllers. Regardless, the controller surely is an exciting addition to the new PlayStation and grows excitement for more to be revealed later in 2020. Noted, the design/coloring for the gamepad could foreshadow what we might expect for the retail unit for the PlayStation 5. Sony Interactive Entertainment President & CEO Jim Ryan also reaffirmed the previously made suggestion by Sony that the PlayStation 5 will in fact be arriving at the end of the year. “To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. Source: PlayStation Blog
Developer ZA/UM Confirms Switch Version For Disco Elysium Is In Development
To refresh from this past October, developer ZA/UM launched top-down RPG Disco Elysium and the title swiftly took the video game community by storm as the game was fast to grow in popularity. Not too long that following December, the month old game became a recipient for Fresh Indie Game, Best Independent Game, Best Narrative, and Best Role-Playing Game at the 2019 Game Awards. And while the game swiftly picked up traction to being one of the most influential titles in such a short amount of time, it was suspected that different version for the game would follow suit later in the coming future. And it looks that time is already upon us as the developer disclosed a port for Nintendo Switch is on the way. In an interview on the BBC 5live’s “Game On” Podcast, the game’s Art Director Alexander Rostov share that the team is working on the game for the Switch. This interview is, at this very moment, interrupting me from writing up design documentation for the user interface and input systems for the Switch port. Rostov while joking about his time away from work slips the fact that a Nintendo Switch version Disco Elysium is in development. Prior to the interview, the RPG was confirmed a respected version for both Xbox One alongside PlayStation 4 with an unspecified release aimed sometime in 2020. As for Nintendo Switch, that has yet to be let out of the bag until just recently. Regarding further detail on the arrival on the Nintendo Switch version, no other information was spared on the topic. Even more, there still is no word regarding the remaining console versions for Disco Elysium either even after the interview on the BBC-hosted podcast. Fans anticipating to play on remaining consoles will have to sit patiently until the versions are properly announced. Have you played Disco Elysium or do you plan to later when it arrives to consoles? Disco Elysium is out now for PC; listed to arrive for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on 2020. Source: GamesRadar+
