Xbox Newsbeat 4/3/2016
Xbox and Lamborghini Partner for the Next Chapter of Forza
Xbox and Forza developer Turn 10 Studios are partnering up with Lamborghini!
The 86th annual Geneva International Motor Show kicks off this week in Geneva, Switzerland – and in the spirit of the event, we’ve got some big Forza news to share. Xbox and Forza developer Turn 10 Studios are partnering up with Lamborghini to feature the all-new Lamborghini Centenario super sports car as the cover car of the next chapter in the critically-acclaimed Forza racing series.
We’re not quite ready to unveil the title or any big details on the next Forza game yet – you’ll have to wait for our Xbox media briefing at June 2016’s E3 for that – but the Centenario will be available “First in Forza,” which means that millions of Xbox One owners across the globe get to experience the virtual version of this incomparable car before it makes its debut in the real world. With its V12 architecture, the Centenario’s naturally aspirated engine produces 770 horsepower, powers from 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, and from 0-300 km/h in 23.5 seconds – with a top speed of more than 350 km/h.
What’s more: Starting today, Turn 10 Studios’ Lamborghini Super Trofeo series will create a platform that engages the automotive and gaming communities in a brand-new type of motorsport.
All Forza Motorsport 6 players can participate in the Super Trofeo series; in the first season, players compete in “Rivals” time trial events, as well as ranked multiplayer Leagues using the 2014 Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo. Based on their leaderboard and division performance in “Rivals,” players will be gifted the exclusive 2015 Huracán Super Trofeo – and they will be invited to participate in the series’ second prize-filled season. Check out the official Forza website for more details.
To check out a full run down of the Xbox and Lamborghini Partner, please visit the Xbox Wire
Xbox Showcases Stellar Spring Games Line-up for Xbox One and Windows 10
See below for a bevy of exciting new announcements for both Xbox One and Windows 10
In San Francisco last week, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer reaffirmed Microsoft’s commitment to bringing the biggest Microsoft Studios franchises to both Xbox One and Windows 10, and provided journalists, YouTube personalities and Twitch streamers hands-on time with Xbox’s most-anticipated spring games and platform experiences.
Kicking off with today’s release of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for Windows 10, the Xbox spring games line-up includes a wide array of fan-favourite franchises coming to both Xbox One and Windows 10, including Quantum Break, Forza, Killer Instinct and more.
“At Xbox we believe gamers should be able to play the games they want, with the people they want, on the devices they want,” Spencer said. “Making more of our popular games available for gamers to play on either Xbox One or Windows 10, each powered by Xbox Live, is another important step towards this vision. We are committed to delivering amazing gaming experiences for gamers who play on consoles, PCs or both.”
- Forza Motorsport 6: Apex – Arriving in the Windows Store this spring, Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is a free, curated standalone experience for Windows 10 that provides fans with a diverse tour of what Forza Motorsport 6 has to offer, including trademark innovations iconic to the Forza franchise, such as Drivatar™ opponents and Forzavista™ cars, as well as new ways to play and compete. The experience also takes advantage of DirectX 12, delivering breathtaking visuals at up to 4K resolution, and was playable for the first time at the Xbox Spring Showcase on an Intel Unleashed Custom (additional details).
- Minecraft with Oculus Rift support – Microsoft and Mojang are teaming up with Oculus to provide the first-ever demos of Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition with Oculus Rift support, shown at the Xbox Spring Showcase on Cyberpower Black Crow and Acer Predator G6. You can play Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition in Creative or Survival mode in full 3D while using the familiar Xbox One controller that ships with every Rift sold. Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition with Oculus Rift support will be available through the Windows Store and Oculus Store this spring.
To see all the other exciting announcements from the Xbox Spring showcase, please visit the Xbox Wire
Quantum Break Crosses Time and Platforms
Quantum Break will blow your mind!
Unless you’ve been trapped in a “Groundhog Day”-like time loop, you’re probably aware that Remedy’s upcoming cinematic action game Quantum Break is launching simultaneously – and exclusively – on Xbox One and Windows 10 next month.
This is obviously great news for the mouse-and-keyboard crowd, but according to Remedy’s Communications Director Thomas Puha, releasing the time-twisting blockbuster on PC is also a boon for the developer. “Coming to Windows 10 means we can service our PC fans. We started on the PC. This is our 21st year of making games, so we have a loyal fan-base there. We’re glad to be able to bring it to Windows 10, and hopefully more people will get a chance to play. We put a lot of effort into both versions.”
Of course, bringing the game to both platforms also comes with its share of awesome cross-platform perks. “So, because we are running Windows 10, you have the benefits of Xbox Live,” said Puha. “You have your single profile; you have your Gamerscore; you have Game DVR. What’s really useful, though, is shared saves. So, say you start playing on the Xbox One and you get to Act 2 – you can take a break and then actually continue playing on Windows 10.”
Starting an Xbox One session from the comfort of your couch, then continuing on your work cubicle’s PC can also be cost-effective. Those who digitally pre-order the game on Xbox One get the Windows 10 version at no additional charge. We don’t recommend playing while you’re on the clock, but Quantum Break‘s 20-minute live-action episodes – spliced between its gameplay acts – can easily be consumed during a lunch break.
To find out more details on Remedy’s upcoming cinematic action game Quantum Break, please visit Xbox Wire
Coming to Preview: Buy Xbox 360 Games on Xbox One, 16-Person Party Chat and More
We have transformed the Xbox experience based on your feedback!
This month’s update is all about our continued commitment to listen to all of you and transform the Xbox experience based on your feedback. Today, we’re excited to announce a few features that you’ve been asking for which are coming to Xbox One, the Xbox app, or both. The host of updates include top-voted Xbox Feedback requests such as the ability to purchase Xbox 360 Backward Compatible games on Xbox One and improving social features like Party Chat broadcasting to Twitch. The updates will begin to rollout to the Xbox One Preview audience starting today and to Xbox app (beta) members starting tomorrow.
Here’s what’s coming to Xbox One Preview:
- Purchase Xbox 360 Backward Compatible games on Xbox One: Fans have spent more than 30 million hours playing Xbox 360 games on Xbox One and so it’s natural that being able to purchase Xbox 360 Backward Compatible games on Xbox One ranks as one of your top requests. With this update, you’ll be able to do so! Find and purchase Xbox 360 Backward Compatible games the same way you would Xbox One titles and, once purchased, Xbox 360 Backward Compatible content will automatically download to your Xbox One and be ready to play!
Here’s what’s coming to the Xbox app (beta):
- Gamerscore Leaderboard: In the Xbox app (beta), fans will be able to enjoy the same Gamerscore Leaderboard feature introduced to Xbox One last month. Access the Gamerscore Leaderboard in the Xbox app (beta) by navigating to the Achievements section of your profile. See where you stand relative to your friends by comparing total Gamerscore, as well as the biggest gains over a rolling 30-day period. A Leaderboard for game stats will also be coming to the Xbox app (beta). Visit the Game Hub for a title with hero stats, click on Achievements and see how you stack up against your friends.
Here’s what’s coming to both Xbox One Preview and the Xbox app (beta) this month:
- 16-person Party Chat: Last fall, we expanded Party Chat to enable 12-person Parties on Xbox One and the Xbox app. This feature has been very popular with the community, so now we’re enabling 16-person Parties across both Xbox One Preview and the Xbox app (beta) starting today!
Thank you again for helping us shape the Xbox experience. Please keep voting on Xbox Feedback for features that you want to see added or updated on both Xbox One and the Xbox app!
To see what’s coming to both Xbox One Preview and the Xbox app (beta) this month, please visit the Xbox Wire
Exploring The Division’s Realistic New York Cityscape
Tom Clancy’s The Division’s launches next week on March 8! Nathan Meunier goes hands-on.
Like many people who have been pumped about going hands-on with Tom Clancy’s The Division, I spent a ton of time in the recent closed and open betas gunning down thugs across the plague-decimated streets, hunting for loot in the early solo missions, and venturing deep into the dark zone to square off against other players.
My pursuits in the betas were quite a bit of fun, and the game’s mix of open-world gunplay and role-playing quest elements are really shaping up. This was even more evident during our expanded hands on time with the game’s open beta content at the Xbox Spring Showcase event last week.
Beyond the satisfying thud of bullet damage stats stacking up and the constant loot scavenging, there’s something unexpected about The Division that has held me in its grip above all: the city itself.
A city in crisis
You arrive by helicopter at New York City’s Hudson Pier – the very outskirts of the quarantine zone. In a whirlwind setup, you’re fed the critical details. Terrorists have released a weaponized virus at the height of Black Friday shopping frenzy. Those who haven’t been infected are either struggling to survive or have formed into gangs of gun-toting thugs battling it out for turf. In short: The city is a total mess. Your job? Fix it.
Once you pass through the quarantine barriers, the stretch that follows funnels you into Midtown Manhattan towards your eventual home base of operations. As expected, all of this is very directed, very game-like. I obeyed the pings from the sci-fi HUD and directions spat out over the comm. I settled in and tackled a few missions, one of which sent met battling to the roof of Madison Square garden to take down a crazed machine-gunner and his goon squad. I lost myself in the nerdy thrill of watching the bullet damage stats pile up as I poured lead into my foes.
But then something happened.
To read the rest of Nathan Meunier’s hands-on session with Tom Clancy’s The Division, please visit Xbox Wire
Race Legendary Rides with the Porsche Expansion for Forza Motorsport 6
The Porsche Expansion is available now!
The ultimate Porsche experience arrives today on Xbox One with the release of the Porsche Expansion for Forza Motorsport 6. Players can now explore a collection of the most thrilling cars in Porsche’s history in ways that are only possible in Forza Motorsport 6.
At the heart of the Porsche Expansion is the all-new Campaign, the Porsche Anthology, where players experience 60 years of innovation and performance from the famed manufacturer. Designed and curated to bring more than 20 legendary Porsche models and moments to life, including nine new to Xbox One, the Porsche Anthology lets players dive deep into an amazing line-up. As the voices of the Porsche Anthology Campaign, world-renowned Porsche drivers like Hurley Haywood, Derek Bell and Patrick Long offer their unique insights and expertise on what makes each of the cars in the Porsche Expansion so special.
With Forzavista-enabled Porsche models to collect, customise and race, the Porsche Expansion features a selection of the most fascinating and exciting cars in Porsche history. From ground-breaking early pioneers like the 1957 356A Speedster to bleeding-edge engineering marvels like the 2015 #19 Porsche Team 919 Hybrid, Porsche’s storied past as well as its innovation-driven present is on full display. The Porsche Expansion also introduces a brand new destination for players to master – Virginia International Raceway, which includes seven distinct ribbons, as well as night and wet configurations.
To find out more about the ultimate Porsche experience, please visit Xbox Wire
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