It’s official: the Xbox One will launch around the world on November 22, Microsoft has announced. The console will be available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, UK, and USA. Xbox One will ship in more markets next year.
You can still pre-order the Xbox One over at Amazon or the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft has just revealed the full list of Xbox One launch titles at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. The FULL launch title list is:
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.
– Chief
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.
– Chief
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?
– Chief
Source: 1
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!
– Chief
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.
– Chief
As the title says, Microsoft made headlines when they announced the change or reversal of their Xbox One DRM policies. In this video I discuss the news and what it means for some innovative Xbox One features that unfortunately won’t exist because of these changes.
– Chief Landless
Geronimo!
So unless you’ve been living under a rock, the #XboxReveal event took place today at 10am PST and the next generation console from Microsoft was revealed to be the Xbox One.
They showed off the actual console, unlike Sony did for PS4 back in February this year, and went over some of the hardware, OS’s (yes, multiple, 3 in fact), features, and a few games including the World Premiere of Call of Duty: Ghosts from Infinity Ward.
The conference was only an hour long so I expected to see a condensed line up of video game developers and have the focus directed on the console itself. Microsoft is really making this console your “one” solution for your every entertainment room needs.
In the video I break down the things that mattered to me from today’s events (homage to the great Philly D) including my thoughts on the design, on features that stood out for me, and the major articles published after the press conference concerning the Xbox One’s capability and features; such as backwards compatibility, which won’t be available for the Xbox One, and a Used game/pre-owned fee that will exist as each game is tied to a gamertag.
Not everything was bad news though. The Xbox Friends List will be upgrading to a capacity of 1000, gamer score and gamertags will transfer over, and since each game is tied to a gamertag there is no need for discs after the first usage. In other words, our dreams of a Xbox multi-disc changer are gone and every game will be playable off the hard drive after it has been install (which will be a requirement)
I hope you find the video informative. Leave your thoughts!
– Chief Landless
Geronimo!
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