Tag: Xbox

Rumored Division Open Beta Is True, Coming February 18th


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Last week’s rumors of an open beta coming for The Division have proven true, as Ubisoft has announced that gamers on Xbox, PC, and PS3 will be able to get in and play in just about a week and a half. Xbox One players will have a one day bonus, gaining access on February 18th with PC and Playstation receiving access the next day. The beta for all three systems runs until February 21st, barring the moderate possibility that technical issues delay the beta past a reasonable point, as seems to happen every now and then.

In addition to the beta news, Ubisoft notes that most of the cheating issues that plagued the PC closed beta have been fixed and will be ready to roll out for launch. Anyone who plays the open beta will also receive a unique item that will carry over to launch on March 8th.

(Source: The Division)

PWE Announces Next Neverwinter Module, The Maze Engine


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Perfect World Entertainment has announced The Maze Engine, the next big update for Neverwinter, will be hitting home computers this Spring with Xbox to follow. The Maze Engine is set to introduce a number of much anticipated updates, including the long awaited return of dungeons. Four fan favorites are set to return with new graphics, a new design, with Castle Never returning as a high level dungeon.

Also available for level 60 players is a new single player campaign set after the events of Underdark.

Neverwinter: The Maze Engine continues the story of demons escaping from the Abyss that was started in Neverwinter: Underdark. I don’t want to give anything away just yet, so be sure to look for an upcoming blog where we’ll go over the story-thus-far, and give you a peak into what you can look forward to as overwhelming madness permeates the… /sigh right… no spoiling. I’ll just say for now that a lot of your favorite characters are making return appearances and ready for adventure!

The announcement details upcoming blogs covering a new mount system, queue improvements, famous faces, and more.

(Source: Neverwinter)

Daybreak Game Company Branching Into Xbox One


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(Update: Clarified that DC Universe is the first game to be released)

When Daybreak Game Company spun off of its Sony corporate overlords, most of us assumed and hoped that this would lead to their titles eventually being released on the Xbox. That speculation has come to fruition with the announcement that DC Universe Online will be hitting Xbox One later this spring. The console release will include the full game and all 20 currently released episodes. According to Game Informer, the release will also come with updates for all systems tying in the game with the Legends of Tomorrow television show.

A number of quality of life updates are coming as well, including account-wide unlocks for gear and styles, as well as cross-platform play between PC and Playstation with Xbox players on their own servers.

Hopefully this means more of Daybreak’s games coming to Xbox such as Planetside 2 and Everquest Next.

(Source: Game Informer)

Perfect World Drops Neverwinter Expansions Onto Xbox One


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Xbox One players have officially closed the gap in content with the latest addition to Neverwinter on the new generation console. Today marks the launch of four expansions, including the latest module Elemental Evil, bringing the total number of expansions to six. Players will enjoy an increased level cap, the Oathbound Paladin class, new adventure zones, as well as four end-game campaigns, and more.

Executive producer Rob Overmeyer praised the update for the amount of free content added to the game.

“With six expansions’ worth of free content released since launch, our team continues to support Neverwinter and its players with all new locations along and outside of the Sword Coast filled with challenging dungeons to crawl and wicked monsters to battle. We’re excited to continue our support with the Strongholds expansion in 2015.”

(Source: Perfect World press release)

Neverwinter Tearing Up Xbox One


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Neverwinter is now available on the Xbox One in 33 regions across North America, South America, and Europe. Available in its standard free to play form (Xbox Live required), Neverwinter includes the base PC game plus the Scourge Warlock class and Tyranny of Dragons update. Perfect World CEO Bryan Huang had the following to say on the release:

“Neverwinter represents Perfect World Entertainment and Cryptic’s entrance and dedication to the console market. Our development team has worked relentlessly to ensure that the Neverwinter experience lives up to console player’s expectations for a high-quality free-to-play MMORPG. We’re excited to welcome players to the Forgotten Realms and continue to build on their experience as we release updates throughout the year.”

Through April 2nd, Neverwinter will be available to all Xbox Live silver members.

Update: Microsoft To Blame For Warface Shuttering


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Following up on the announcement that Warface would be shutting down its Xbox 360 services, Crytek has come forward to finger Microsoft as the culprit. A representative of Crytek told Game Informer in a statement that the decision to shut the servers down was made by Microsoft, acting publisher of Warface on the Xbox.

“With Microsoft acting as publisher for Warface on Xbox 360, we are bound by their decision to phase out the game on their console.”

The Warface server officially shuts down in February. The PC service remains unaffected.

(Source: Game Informer)

Not Massive: Sony Won't Ban You For Early Playing


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If my childhood is anything to go off of, Sony’s consistent public contradiction of Microsoft is going to net them a belt buckle to the head, you know once the two are out of the public view. Take Two and Rockstar Games have been going insane with shutting down any outlet for pre-release Grand Theft Auto V goodies, going as far as apparently threatening legal action against some publications. Look around and you’ll find a pile of now banned accounts on Livestream, Youtube, and more.

Microsoft has continued their policy of working in tandem with the publisher and handing out console bans to anyone caught leaking pre-release gameplay, IE: Anyone caught streaming or posting screenshots/captures of their gameplay online. It is important to the conversation to point out that the bans are related to the leaking of game footage before the official street date, and not the mere act of playing the game.

Enter Sony, a company whose past few months of public relations can be whittled down to “the opposite of what Microsoft just said.” Sony is not banning anyone with a legitimate copy of GTA V who post footage of their game online before Tuesday’s launch, a move that will likely net them brownie points with the gaming community if at the expense of Rockstar’s goodwill.

If you do manage to get ahold of a copy, you’re pretty safe as long as you don’t start streaming or leaking footage.

Not Massive: Sony Won’t Ban You For Early Playing


GTA_V_59100

If my childhood is anything to go off of, Sony’s consistent public contradiction of Microsoft is going to net them a belt buckle to the head, you know once the two are out of the public view. Take Two and Rockstar Games have been going insane with shutting down any outlet for pre-release Grand Theft Auto V goodies, going as far as apparently threatening legal action against some publications. Look around and you’ll find a pile of now banned accounts on Livestream, Youtube, and more.

Microsoft has continued their policy of working in tandem with the publisher and handing out console bans to anyone caught leaking pre-release gameplay, IE: Anyone caught streaming or posting screenshots/captures of their gameplay online. It is important to the conversation to point out that the bans are related to the leaking of game footage before the official street date, and not the mere act of playing the game.

Enter Sony, a company whose past few months of public relations can be whittled down to “the opposite of what Microsoft just said.” Sony is not banning anyone with a legitimate copy of GTA V who post footage of their game online before Tuesday’s launch, a move that will likely net them brownie points with the gaming community if at the expense of Rockstar’s goodwill.

If you do manage to get ahold of a copy, you’re pretty safe as long as you don’t start streaming or leaking footage.

Microsoft Retires Microsoft Points


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Good news, friends on Xbox. If you own an Xbox360, you probably already knew about this update, but Microsoft has officially retired the Microsoft Point. Instead, players will be happy to see that their local currency will be displayed and used when adding to your account coffers and when determining prices of items on the Xbox Live store.

When you initiate a purchase or redeem a Points card or code with your Microsoft account after the next Xbox 360 system update, we’ll add to your account an amount of currency equal to or greater than the Marketplace value of your Microsoft Points, and your Microsoft Points will be retired. The currency we add to your account at the time of the transition will expire on June 1, 2015. However, the currency you purchase and add to your account after the transition will not expire.

One important piece to note is that apparently Microsoft Point cards (not the new cards) will expire one year after redemption, and the website only guarantees that Microsoft points will be redeemable “until further notice.”

Microsoft Points cards and codes that you purchased and redeem after the transition will expire one year from the date the Points are redeemed.

(Source: Xbox Live FAQ)