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Microsoft’s Biggest Game, Minecraft, Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass
As part of March 12’s Inside Xbox broadcast, Microsoft announced the next Xbox Game Pass title–and it is a very big one. Microsoft’s open-ended sandbox game, Minecraft, will be added into the Xbox Game Pass library on Xbox One starting on April 4.
The game has 91 million monthly players, making it bigger than Fortnite, and one of Microsoft’s biggest games ever. Launching on Xbox Game Pass means Minecraft will reach even more people, as anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription can play at no extra cost. Microsoft also mentioned that Minecraft’s release into the Xbox Game Pass catalog expands the lineup of family-friendly games further.
Microsoft acquired the Minecraft franchise and developer Mojang in 2014 for $2.5 billion. The game is available on Microsoft’s console and mobile platforms, as well as systems from competing companies like PlayStation and Nintendo.
While Microsoft has no plans to make Minecraft 2, the franchise expands in 2019 with a new game called Minecraft Dungeons, which doesn’t have the franchise’s trademark building mechanics. Outside of games, a Minecraft movie is in the works.
Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s subscription service for Xbox One. For $10 USD/month, subscribers get access to a growing library of Xbox One games and backwards-compatible Xbox 360 titles. In addition to legacy titles, all of Microsoft’s first-party exclusives are included with Xbox Game Pass, meaning members can get this year’s Gears 5 and Halo Infinite whenever it comes out at no extra cost.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsofts-biggest-game-minecraft-is-coming-to-xbo/1100-6465508/
Red Dead 2 Online: How The New Clothing Catalogue Works
Red Dead Redemption 2 has gotten updated once again with new additions to the ongoing Red Dead Online multiplayer mode. This week it added a new item catalogue, which will roll out new items on a regular basis and rotate them in and out of stock.
The Wheeler, Rawson & Co Catalogue is a new way to purchase cosmetics. Some items will be marked Coming Soon before they’re released, and then when they become available they’ll be marked as Limited Stock. That will be your notice that they’re only available for a limited time. Once those items go out of rotation, they’ll be listed as Out of Stock, but don’t worry. Items will come back into stock from time to time. Rockstar also committed to improving the catalogue organization itself as time goes on.
To kick off the new cosmetics, the catalogue has debuted with several pieces of rare clothing, listed below.
- The Tasman Outfit (Male only)
- The Danube Outfit (Female only)
- Tied Pants
- Hitched Skirt (Female only)
- Winter Shotgun Coat
- Gardenia Hat
- Squat Stovepipe Top Hat
Meanwhile, the update launched a new multiplayer mode. Spoils of War is a capture style multiplayer mode, pitting two 16-player teams against each other to defend their own stockpile while raiding the other’s. Take more of the other team’s loot by the time the mode ends to win. You can find this in the Featured Series playlist.
You can get a 20% XP boost in any Showdown Mode this week, and winning a Spoils of War match will get you a bonus 8x Dynamite Arrows. Once you’ve earned them you can retrieve them from your Post Office or Camp Lockbox.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/red-dead-2-online-how-the-new-clothing-catalogue-w/1100-6465526/
Fortnite Makes Important Cross-Play Changes In New Patch
Fortnite‘s 8.10 update is now live on all platforms. Along with introducing the new Baller vehicle, this week’s patch makes some pretty notable changes to the game below its surface, particularly with regard to cross-play.
Following the 8.10 update, PS4 and Xbox One players will now by default be grouped in the same matchmaking pool in Battle Royale. Nintendo Switch players, who were previously part of the same matchmaking pool as those on other consoles, will now be grouped with mobile players to ensure an “on-average better per-game experience.”
When Sony first enabled cross-play between the PS4 version of Fortnite and other consoles last fall, players had to manually opt-in to the feature. That is still the case after this week’s patch, but players who choose to opt out will be limited to Fortnite’s Creative and Playgrounds modes, meaning cross-play between these two sets of platforms is now the default option for the game’s standard modes.
According to Epic, the reason behind these cross-play changes is optimization. “[The] motivating factor is unlocking optimization potential allowing us to run more playlists during more hours of the day while supporting more data center locations,” the developer wrote in its patch notes. Epic also invited fans to leave feedback on their cross-play experience.
In addition to the aforementioned Baller, a new hamster ball-like vehicle equipped with a Grappler for high mobility, update 8.10 makes some changes to how Vending Machines work; now players will no longer need to exchange materials, and the machines will self-destruct after one use. Epic has also brought back the heist-themed Getaway Limited-Time Mode.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-makes-important-cross-play-changes-in-new/1100-6465527/
