Microsoft has just revealed the full list of Xbox One launch titles at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. The FULL launch title list is:
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Battlefield 4
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Crimson Dragon
Dead Rising 3
FIFA 14
Fighter Within
Forza Motorsport 5
Just Dance 2014
Killer Instinct
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Lococycle
Madden NFL 25
NBA Live ’14
NBA 2K14
Need For Speed: Rivals
Peggle 2
Powerstar Golf
Ryse: Son of Rome
Skylanders: Swap Force
Watch Dogs
Zoo Tycoon
Zumba Fitness: World Party
Keep in mind, there is is still no confirmed release date for the Xbox One, but it is scheduled for release in November for $500 USD. The PS4 just announced their release date of November 15th in North America and we could expect a release date for the Xbox One in very close proximity.
Back on July 18th, 2013 343 Industries announced the release of their Windows 8 Platform game “Halo: Spartan Assault”. It was made available to Windows 8 PC’s, tablets, and phones but there was a catch. Halo: Spartan Assault was made exclusive to Verizon Wireless customers who lived in the US and had a Windows 8 Phones. This has now been lifted and is available to all Windows 8 Phone carriers as of today – August 19th, 3 days later than the reported date when the exclusivity was announced.
For all Spartans who want to venture into 343 Industries’ first mobile “Halo” title, “Halo: Spartan Assault” is now available to all Windows Phone 8 users in the U.S., regardless of carrier.
Available now for $6.991 only on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, “Halo: Spartan Assault” is a new chapter of the award-winning “Halo” universe that explores the first missions of the Spartan Ops program and dives deeper into the backstory of the Human-Covenant War. Play through the eyes of either Commander Sarah Palmer or Spartan Davis, while stationed aboard the UNSC Infinity, as they fight never-before-seen battles against Covenant forces.
1 Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 versions sold separately.
The Halo 4 Champions Bundle is coming Tuesday! That’s tomorrow! This bundle is packed with tons of brand new content like armor and weapon skins, new armors, and two maps, including the return of The Pit, remade for Halo 4 as Pitfall. The Champions Bundle will also introduce Ricochet, a new gravball game type. And there’s more! Watch the launch trailer to see it all in action.
343 Industries has released a Title Update and along with it 2 new armor mods called: Recharge and Survivor. They are both Support Upgrades and FREE for everyone. Don’t forget that if you order the Champions Bundle (Released on August 20th for 800 MSP) you also get to try out the new Resistor Tactical Package armor mod early (no time frame for public release).
Recharge: New Support Upgrade available to all players
Recharge decreases the time it takes for your shields to recharge.
Survivor: New Support Upgrade available to all players
Survivor ejects you out of a vehicle if it’s about to explode.
Microsoft pulls another 180! The Xbox One Kinect is not required, but will still come bundled with the console. This first broke over on an article from IGN full of other interesting facts from their Q&A with Marc Whitten, Chief Xbox One Platform Architect.
The breaking news comes from this statement from Marc Whitten “…like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in, although you won’t be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor”. This comes as great news because back in May Microsoft said that you’ll need have the motion-sensing Kinect plugged in at all times in order for your Xbox One to function. But, just like the DRM policies, the Kinect requirement for the Xbox One has been reversed.
Whitten went on to add “You have the ability to completely turn the sensor off in your settings. When in this mode, the sensor is not collecting any information… You can turn the sensor back on at any time through settings, and if you enter into a required Kinect experience (like Kinect Sports Rivals for instance), you’ll get a message asking if you want to turn the sensor back on in order to continue.”
To answer the big question that everyone has right now Microsoft has said they have no intentions of selling an Xbox One without Kinect. Please keep in mind it would appear that the requirement of the Kinect is up to the hands of each video game developer. However, Microsoft has changed their minds once or twice before.
The Xbox One will cost $500, Microsoft has said. That’s with the Kinect. For comparison, the PS4 will be $400. The Wii U premium package costs $350.
Here’s Microsoft senior executive Albert Penello posting on NeoGAF in response to the news.
Amazon updated their product listing for the next Halo game set to release in 2014. The title is still a mystery many people already calling it “Halo 5” while 343 Industries references it by “Halo on Xbox One” for the time being – until they announce the title at a later date.
The box art that Amazon updated the listing with looks very detailed even for just a place holder image. Although, they have 2 different angles of the box art and already have a typical placeholder image on the same listing.
Many people believe that it is just a placeholder because 1) HaloWaypoint/343 Industries hasn’t officially announced a title yet, 2) The title on the box only says Halo and has no number, and 3) No familiar character is on the cover – all Halo games either have Master Chief, an ODST, or Spartans on the cover
So what do you guy’s think: is this detailed box art the real thing or just a placeholder?
Today, via Major Nelson’s blog, Microsoft released the official unboxing video for the Xbox One Day One Edition. The Day One Edition is for those lucky people who pre-ordered the console immediately as many retailers had a very limited supply. The Day One Edition comes with some exclusive DLC and a unique Day One controller.
Major Nelson walks us through each item that will be included with all versions of the Xbox One, INCLUDING a headset! The headset was previously thought to be sold separately which would have left multiplayer lobbies filled with users talking via the Kinect and whatever extra room sounds it picked up. It’s nice that they included a cheap boom style mic to allow for a more personal chat experience online.
It seems that the Xbox One may be in it’s manufacturing phase so now would be the proper time to get EXCITED!
Xbox has released a brief look at some of the accessories for the Xbox One. The wireless controller, the play & charge kit, and the improved chat headset. Personally, I will definitely be purchasing the play & charge kit. As for the headset, I’ll wait for an adapter to allow for Xbox 360 gaming headsets to work with the newly designed USB port on the Xbox One controller.
Experience the action like never before with the Xbox One Wireless Controller. New Impulse Triggers deliver fingertip vibration feedback, so you can feel every jolt and crash in high definition.Redesigned thumbsticks and an all new D-pad provide greater precision. And the entire controller fits more comfortably in your hands. With over 40 innovations, it’s simply the best controller Xbox has ever made.
Keep the action going with the Xbox One Play & Charge Kit. Recharge while you play or afterwards, even when your Xbox is in standby. The long-lasting rechargeable battery fully charges in under 4 hours. Say goodbye to disposable batteries and having to swap them out in the middle of a game.
Keep your in-game communications crisp with the Xbox One Chat Headset. Hear friends and foes in crystal-clear digital audio. The Chat Headset is designed for comfort during long gaming sessions. Plus, you can adjust the mute and volume settings without taking your hands off the controller.
Hi there, back again with another thought provoking commentary discussing the sprint game mechanic in Halo 4.
The community is quite divided on the issue; with many calling for the complete removal of sprint. For those who don’t know sprint did not exist in Halo CE, Halo 2, and Halo 3. It was first introduced in Halo Reach as an armor ability, so you had to make a choice to select sprint and opt out of other armor abilities. Sprint then changed from an armor ability to a core gameplay mechanic in Halo 4, granting everyone the ability to sprint. A core ability that as of right now, cannot be turned off, even in custom games which has the competitive community upset.
Halo: Reach Loadouts featuring set weapons and armor abilities
This was a pretty big change. People caught between wanting the “original Halo experience” and wanting to see the IP continue to evolve.
Where do you stand? I’ve offered my thoughts and opinions in this video. Some people want it completely removed, others would like it returned as an armor ability like Halo Reach, some like sprint the way it is in Halo 4, and others would like changes but keep it as a core gameplay mechanic.
This is a unique time for the Halo community, so many people are so passionate in regards to the sprint issue – which baffles me that this feature/change is stirring up more commotion than the addition/removal of duel wielding (existed Halo 2 to Halo 3), or equipment (Halo 3), or the addition of armor abilities and loadouts (Halo: Reach). Reminder, Bungie did create Halo CE, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo Reach whilst Halo 4 is 343 Industries “first” Halo title; granted that many 343 employees were part of Bungie so it would appear that Bungie was already on a similar path in evolving their IP and we could very well have seen Halo 4 exactly as it is right now if Bungie continued with the series.
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