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Indiana Jones And The Great Circle will not release on PlayStation

Xbox and Bethesda officially revealed Indiana Jones And The Great Circle which has been a highly anticipated project from MachineGames. During the Developer_Direct, we received an official gameplay trailer and more insight from the developers into what to expect. We learned that The Great Circle is set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade.  Will Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Come To PlayStation? Indiana Jones And The Great Circle is set to release in 2024 for Xbox Series XlS, PC, and it will be available on Xbox Game Pass. The new Indiana Jones game will not see a release on PlayStation 5 anytime in the near future at the moment.  Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a first-person, single-player adventure that will take you all over the world, uncovering clues and solving an ancient mystery. Become the adventurer in a race against sinister forces.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will only be available digitally

The Xbox_Developer Direct has taken place and one of the titles featured during the show was Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. Once the direct finished, Ninja Theory studio head Dom Matthews made a shocking announcement that Hellblade II would not get a physical release and it will cost $49.99 USD if you choose not to go the Game Pass route. “Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will be a game crafted from the heart – a game similar in length to the first Hellblade, with a focused narrative, and sold digital-only at a price of $49.99 USD.” “And you can once again expect to join Senua in understanding her world through perception puzzles led by her experiences of psychosis, in brutal and visceral combat and in traversal gameplay, this time across the harsh but beautiful landscapes of 10th Century Iceland.Crucially, all these elements are intertwined in a unique visual and audio experience, where everything is in service of Senua’s story. So, you can expect more of the same, but this time with the support to push our ambitions for immersion, fidelity and richness far further than before.” This may not come as a huge shock to some as Remedy Entertainment chose to release Alan Wake II as a digital-only game as well. Doing this may give the development team more time to polish Hellblade 2 before its release. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will release on Xbox Series XlS, PC, and Xbox Game Pass on May 21, 2024 Source: VGC

The Elder Scrolls Online Heads To Skingrad In New Expansion ‘Gold Road’, Coming This June

Over at Zenimax Online Studios, much of its attention is aimed towards The Elder Scrolls Online. But, fans are curious what else it could be cooking up. One report indicated the developer is also fixing up a new AAA project. Even more, a recent discovery shared that the game studio acquired a new division in Hungary which could be for this new effort. As of late, Zenimax Online Studios offered its latest major expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online with ‘Necrom’ earlier in June 2023. Of course, that means that the developer is due for a new reveal coming January. Of course, there just so happens to be a presentation taking place this month as well which follows directly after the Xbox Developer_Direct this Thursday. During the showcase, Zenimax Online Studios revealed its next major expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online with ‘Gold Road’. You can watch the cinematic trailer in the video below: In ESO’s upcoming Gold Road you can explore and quest within the West Weald zone, which introduces brand-new locations, characters, challenges, rewards, and stories. If you’re already familiar with southeast Cyrodiil, this Chapter allows you to explore this bountiful part of Tamriel for the first time since 2006’s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,” the synopsis for Gold Road reads. “Recently, strange happenings have thrown the region into turmoil, changing the landscape in bizarre ways and introducing new threats you’ll have to contend with. In the southeast lies the Gold Road, a temperate environment similar to that found on the Gold Coast. It’s home to the region’s capital city, Skingrad, the bustling center of the zone and lynchpin for the Colovian Imperials who call the province home.” How excited are you for The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road? The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road launches on June 3, 2024 for PC; June 18, 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. Source: Zenimax Online Studios

Ara: History Untold Receives Fall 2024 Launch Window, Coming To PC Game Pass

This week, it was no secret that Microsoft would be hosting its annual Xbox Developer_Direct. At the showcase, it revealed some major titles including the likes of Avowed. After awaiting four years, its launch is aimed for this fall. Additionally, a game with an even longer wait time – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – is also coming this year later in May. Elsewhere, Square Enix made a surprise appearance showcasing the first gameplay look for Visions of Mana. It marks the first entry in the series to hit the platform and the publisher’s continued effort to support the Microsoft console. And, MachineGames closed the show with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle which is planned to release in 2024 as well. Part of the presentation, Oxide Games made an appearance showcasing Ara: History Untold. You can watch the segment in the video below: “Build a nation and lead your citizens across the span of history to the pinnacle of human achievement as you explore new lands, develop arts and culture, conduct diplomacy, and go head-to-head with your rivals to prove you are the greatest ruler ever known,” the description for Ara: History Untold reads from its Steam page. “Featuring both familiar and innovative gameplay mechanics, Ara: History Untold delivers an evolution in historical grand strategy with no pre-set paths to victory, leading to endless possibilities. The choices you make will define the world you create, your experience and your legacy. It’s Your World Now.” What has you excited for Ara: History Untold? Ara: History Untold is coming to PC in fall 2024. Source: Xbox Wire

Visions Of Mana Receives New Gameplay Trailer

What felt like neglect for towards Xbox was suddenly turned around last year as Square Enix stood alongside Microsoft to share that its titles will be facing extended support for Xbox moving forward. This was illustrated with the announcement that Final Fantasy XIV Online would be coming to Xbox later on in 2024. Additionally, this was also shaped together with the reveal for Octopath Traveller II also being ported to Xbox console later on in 2024. Not only that, but what else could be on the horizon? Well, Square Enix is finishing up on the long-awaited sequel, Visions of Mana which was revealed for a 2024 launch at The Game Awards. And at its Xbox Developer_Direct, Square Enix made a surprise appearance showcasing gameplay for Visions of Mana. You can watch the segment in the video below: “Series producer Masaru Oyamada presented a sneak peek at the gorgeous new RPG, sharing gameplay and behind the scenes footage before its launch in Summer 2024. Koichi Ishii – father of the Mana series and creator of many of its iconic monsters – discussed the implementation and design of the enemies in Visions of Mana, and introduced the adorable new animal companions, ‘pikuls’ and explained the design process behind them. “Oyamada then shared some details regarding the game’s score and revealed that the tracklist for Visions of Mana contains 100 songs in total, including works from musical talent who worked on previous Mana games. Oyamada also shared details of the adaptive music system that allows seamless transition from map exploration to battles, demonstrating a snippet of the background music changing as you enter or leave combat.” The Xbox Wire overview continues, “Oyamada also revealed that in Visions of Mana, The Elementals will assist the player in battle in the form of specialized items, which will each have a different effect in combat. Combined with aerial combat that allows for weapons and magic to be used in mid-air, the combat is fast-paced and flexible.” Are you planning to play Visions of Mana on Xbox? Visions of Mana is set to launch in 2024 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. Source: Xbox Wire

Avowed Receives Fall 2024 Release Window With New Trailer

Alongside the likes of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, being a long-awaited, promised release, Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed is another example of this. Revealed predating back to summer 2020, many players were interested to hear that the developer for Fallout: New Vegas is conjuring up its own take on fantasy RPGs with its Pillars of Eternity franchise. But, it would be discovered its release was years away. Since then, it would not be until 2023 where Obsidian Entertainment would properly showcase the new title. And even more, it is aimed to launch later in 2024. Additionally, players were left underwhelmed by the visuals for the game which did disappoint viewers. It was addressed that would be resolved closer to release. And, a separate report also noted considering multiplayer, but, Obsidian Entertainment ultimately decided against it. At the Xbox Developer_Direct, Obsidian Entertainment shared a new trailer with a fall 2024 release window. You can watch the gameplay trailer in the video below: “Avowed Game Director Carrie Patel gave us a first deep-dive into the gameplay in Obsidian’s upcoming fantasy action RPG, from its dynamic combat, to its thoughtful reactivity, to its ‘colorful, vibrant, strange’ world set in the Living Lands. Avowed continues Obsidian’s signature style of creating games with deep themes and player choice at the forefront,” the Xbox Wire overview reads. “Not only will you make narrative decisions that can impact changes in the game down the line, but Avowed is also looking to offer choice in combat. Gameplay Director Gabe Paramo discussed not only how varied your weaponry will be – with melee weapons, ranged guns and bows, and magic-based wands (even dual-wielded wands!) to name a few – but how flexible combat can be, allowing you to quickly change loadouts for enemy encounters. “Swappable loadouts mean you can approach combat however feels right to you. Art Director Matt Hansen then explained how the Living Lands is a mysterious island made up of wildly varied regions offering visually diverse backdrops and intriguing settings to explore. With secrets hidden throughout the regions, you’ll take in barren deserts, verdant forests, blighted wastes, volcanic biomes, and more.” What has you most interested about Avowed from the latest trailer? Avowed is listed for release in fall 2024 for Xbox Series X|S & PC. Source: Xbox Wire

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Officially Launches In May 2024

What felt like forever was a very early promise by Xbox that a sequel to Hellbalde: Senua’s Sacrifice would be on the way. A few years after the firm’s acquisition by Microsoft, it was revealed alongside the Xbox Series X announcement that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II would be coming to the platform. Of course, it was anticipated that the sequel would be an exclusive release as well for Xbox’s sake. One of the biggest sells for the follow-up happens to be Ninja Theory embracing Unreal Engine 5. And evidently, it happens to be one of the best looking titles thus far to hit consoles since 2020. After years of waiting, it was confirmed that the sequel would be coming later in 2024. And ahead of the announcement, it was reported that May is when players can expect to play this new installment. And at the Xbox Developer_Direct, Ninja Theory revealed that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is launching this spring. You can watch the segment of the show in the video below: “In the video we learned more about Senua’s new journey, which leads her to Iceland, a harsh and brutal land ravaged by myth and tyranny. We were given a new look at Senua’s experiences of the world, seen through her eyes as someone who experiences psychosis, and saw some of Senua’s visceral and violent battles with the Draugar,” the overview on Xbox Wire reads. “We also heard more detail on what players can expect from the game’s story and how binaural and spatial audio will sink player’s deep into the world of Hellblade. With a studio mission of crafting life-changing art with game-changing tech, Ninja Theory are pushing the boundaries of fidelity, richness and immersion.” What has you most excited for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II? Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II launches on Xbox Series X|S & PC on May 21, 2024. Source: Xbox Wire

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Receives Xbox, PC Release Coming In 2024

For roughly half a decade, Xbox players were aware of a new Indiana Jones game coming from Wolfenstein developer MachineGames. The bigger question, even in post-Bethesda acquisition, was if it would be exclusive to Xbox. With such a major property being unique to Xbox would be a major sell for the platform, many did not believe it to be the case. Even at one point insiders told it was to ship on different systems. However, things began to reshape with internal documents saying otherwise for the Indiana Jones title. Even more, it was also aimed to launch this year, one report says. As for the game itself, players were also eager to see what MachineGames had in-store for its take on the classic Lucasfilm property. In a separate leak, the title was revealed to be ‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’ which did fall in line with the series. At the Xbox-hosted Developer_Direct, MachineGames offered the first gameplay trailer and shared that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming later in 2024. You can watch the trailer in the video below: “Set between ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘The Last Crusade’, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a first-person, single-player adventure that will take you all over the world, uncovering clues and solving an ancient mystery. Become the adventurer in a race against sinister forces. Your journeys will take you from the hallowed halls of the Vatican and the arid deserts of Egypt to the lush and sunken temples of Sukhothai and the frigid peaks of the Himalayas.” The description from MachineGames reads. “From their approach to crafting unique and believable stories and characters, to their over-the-top and unforgettable set pieces, MachineGames is the perfect studio to bring Indiana Jones to modern gaming.” The biggest game changer is the decision to split the perspective of the game with both first & third-person segments when engaging in the world. “Since we are doing this mostly in first-person, you have the chance to truly become Indy. First-person makes you part of this world – allowing you to explore and experience things more intimately,” design director Jens Andersson says. “What will you do when you’re dropped into this adventure with your wits and your whip? The world of Indiana Jones is a world with mysteries around every corner, where you’re racing against the clock and outsmarting your enemies as you hunt down artifacts.” What has you most excited for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle? Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches in 2024 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Source: Bethesda

Eight Years Later, Harmonix To Put A Cap On Rock Band 4 DLC Later This Month

More than a decade ago, the era of rhythmic games were all the craze as Guitar Hero and later Rock Band took the industry. But as time continued, and the fallout of Guitar Hero, the drive for similar titles did quell quite a bit. Despite that, Harmonix continued to support its last major release – Rock Band 4. Since then, the team did face a major buyout from Epic Games back in 2021. Additionally, Harmonix was at one point working on a new project aimed for Google Stadia: that was before the internal developer Stadia Games & Entertainment shuttered following the platform altogether. But, its not to say it hasn’t been busy. This past December, Harmonix did launch Fortnite Festival for the battle royale with similar rhythmic gameplay the team is known for. And, instrument support is promised to be on the way. But now eight years following the arrival of Rock Band 4, it is putting post-launch support to rest officially. In a update this week, Harmonix confirms its last batch of DLCs is arriving this month. After over 8 years of weekly Rock Band 4 DLC releases, we’re here to let you know that January 25 will be the last DLC release of the RB4 era. All other live services will continue as normal, including Rivals seasons, online play, and everything else.  Working in support of the Rock Band community has been a high point in my professional life – wading through the thousands of song requests we get, working through what songs to pursue and release, it’s all hard work but also really satisfying.  Taking a longer look back, I see the Rock Band DLC catalog as a huge achievement in persistence and commitment – over the years we’ve cleared, authored and released nearly 3,000 songs as DLC and well over 3,000 if you include all the game soundtracks. That’s wild. Many of you reading this own a good chunk of this content and we remain committed to protecting that investment – to be very clear, you can play the songs you own within Rock Band 4 for as long as you like.  Daniel Sussman, Harmonix Product Manager “Looking ahead, the Harmonix team has been hard at work over the last two years to develop Fortnite Festival, which brings rhythm action gaming (and more) to the Fortnite ecosystem. It’s free to play, we have a rotating selection of songs that you can play (for free) anytime. If you are a fan of the rhythm game category, Fortnite Festival is the place to be; and with support for RB4 instruments coming, this is not the time to hang up your guitars just yet…” Regarding other Harmonix projects shuttering, the developer did also dismantle its most recent release Fuser hardly two years since its arrival. You can read the full report by heading here. What was most memorable Rock Band 4 memory? Rock Band 4 is available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Source: Harmonix

What Does Microsoft Mean When It Says “Being A Good Publisher” For Multiple Platforms?

When it comes to the hierarchy of gaming, it is no question which platform holders lead the industry. As for Microsoft, being the outlier of the three, it looks to innovating & pioneering new approaches to keep up with competition. Lately, its approach has also been to acquire talent outright for its platform. And part of the Activision Blizzard King deal, it was admitted that its lost to both PlayStation & Nintendo in the console race. But despite the outpacing of its Japanese opponents, it is still pushing to deliver content for users in its ecosystem. Previously, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reassured that the firm is “All-in” on gaming at the start of the Xbox Series lifecycle. Additionally, Nadella addressed that Xbox is to “double-down” on game development with the $70 billion acquisition behind now. Lately though, many fans are concerned whether Microsoft is to pull a Sega and go full multiplatform moving forward. Reports tell that the firm is ramping up a Hi-Fi Rush announcement for Nintendo Switch with lingering rumors for Sea of Thieves on PlayStation too. Speaking to Bloomberg Business, Nadella phrases Microsoft is in a good position to be a publisher. You can watch the segment in the video below: “We love gaming. In fact, Flight Simulator was created before even Windows, but we were number three, number four,” Nadella comments. “And now with Activision, I think we have a chance of being a good publisher, quite frankly, on Sony and Nintendo and PCs and Xbox. And so, yeah, we are excited about that acquisition closing. I’m glad we got it through, but I think each category by category is the view.” This statement leads to suggest that Microsoft is embracing the idea of becoming a publisher. And well, it already has been. Select Xbox Game Studios titles have already went to other hardware like Cuphead, Ori and the Blind Forest, and even As Dusk Falls most recently it was announced. But for the context of his remark, that referred to Activision Blizzard King. Namely with Nintendo being a key component moving forward as previously promised. In terms of its in-house titles as reported previously, that window remains opaque for the time being. But it could be on the horizon. According to a prior statement from Nadella, he addressed his disliking of exclusive releases and to do away with the concept. You can read the full report by heading here. What is your thoughts on the recent statement from the Microsoft CEO?