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Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Coming to Xbox Series X

A creepy new trailer for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has been revealed today alongside news that, alongside the previously announced platforms of the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, that the game will be coming to the Xbox Series X as well later this year and will be part of Xbox Smart Delivery with cross-save support.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is set in a dark version of Seattle where players will be made to feel like a monster hiding among humans as they meet fascinating characters, competing factions, and who to side with all while growing in power but always remembering to keep up the “Masquerade” to avoid drawing the eyes of humanity to the dangers around them.

Scorn Announced for Xbox Series X

For more than a few years now the eerie and incredibly creepy looking horror game Scorn has been in development for PC with no set release date but now not only do those looking forward to the game have a narrower release window, they also will have another platform to play it on. Ebb Software has announced that they will be releasing Scorn on PC as well as for the Xbox Series X “during the Xbox Series X launch period” and have released an updated trailer showing off some creepy scenes that you can find below.

Scorn is described as a game where players will be “thrown into the world” and feel isolated and lost inside of a dream-like world with different interconnected regions in a non-linear fashion where the unsettling environment is a character itself.

Chorus Takes Flight in 2021

A new spaceship dogfighting game has been revealed by Deep Silver by the name of Chorus. Developed by Deep Silver Fishlabs the game will be releasing sometime in 2021 for the Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, and the Stadia. Chorus places players into the role of Nara, who was once the Circle’s deadliest warrior and is now their most wanted fugitive, on a quest to destroy the dark cult that created her.

Chorus will offer powerful and distinct weapon and combat upgrades as player master their ship’s unique drift mechanics and deadly psychic abilities such as extra-sensory perception, teleportation, and telekinesis as Nara battles against swarms of enemy ships and even larger battleships. A trailer showing a bit of gameplay and what to expect from the game’s single player storyline can be found below.

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2020 Cancelled to Take Place Physically to Prevent COVID-19 Spread but Planned to Be Held Online

Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA)

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2020(TGS2020), scheduled to be held from September 24 (Thu.) to 27 (Sun.), 2020, is now planned to take place online. TGS2020, which is usually held at Makuhari Messe, is cancelled. TGS2020 is organized by the Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA,
Chairman: Hideki Hayakawa) and co-organized by Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. (President & CEO: Naoto Yoshida) and Dentsu Inc. (Representative Director: Hiroshi Igarashi) Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on a global scale and the situation remains
unpredictable in Japan as well, the organizer and the co-organizers have reached this decision after a long consideration to place the utmost priority on the health and safety of visitors, exhibitors and stakeholders. We ask for your kind understanding and cooperation.

More information will be announced as needed on the official website (https://tgs.cesa.or.jp/en/ ) and press releases from late May.

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2020 Exhibition Outline

Event Title: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2020
Organizer: Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA)
Co-Organizer: Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. / DENTSU INC.
Sponsor: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (TBC)
Dates & Times: September 24 (Thu.) – 27 (Sun.) , 2020

Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for Console: Red Dead Redemption 2, Day Z, Final Fantasy IX, and More

Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for Console: Red Dead Redemption 2, Day Z, Final Fantasy IX, and More

by Megan Spurr, Community Manager, Xbox Game Pass

Howdy! Okay, I don’t really say howdy that often, but you might be adding it to your lexicon shortly after playing one of these games. We have a great refresh to your gaming priority list, so let’s jump in.

Coming Soon

DayZ (ID@Xbox) – May 7

An unforgiving, authentic, open world game where each one of 60 players on a server follows a single goal: Survive as long as they can, by any means necessary. There are no superficial tips, waypoints, or help given to you. Every decision matters with no saves and no extra lives where mistakes can be lethal. Your choices and decisions will create a gameplay experience that’s completely unique.

Red Dead Redemption 2 – May 7

America, 1899. Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are outlaws on the run. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal, and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. Includes access to Red Dead Online (Xbox Live Gold required).

Final Fantasy IX – May 14

Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe have kidnapped Princess Garnet, the heir of Alexandria. To their surprise, however, the princess herself yearned to escape the castle. Through a series of unusual circumstances, she and her personal guard, Steiner, fall in with Zidane and set out on an incredible journey in this classic entry in the heralded Final Fantasy series.

Fractured Minds (ID@Xbox) – May 19

Fractured Minds is an immersive artistic short game, exploring anxiety and mental health issues. Embark on a journey through the human psyche to experience the everyday challenges associated with these conditions.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Your new Perks are here!

This month, Ultimate members in the United States can play their favourite tracks offline, anywhere, ad-free with Spotify Premium for 6 months. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate Members in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Mexico and Brazil can enjoy Spotify Premium for 3 months. Only new Spotify Premium members are eligible for this Perk.

Plus, Phantasy Star Online 2 is back with a monthly bonus including rare drop boosts and more! Plus for those who haven’t grabbed them yet, you can still get an Ori-inspired hull, flag, sail, and figurehead in Sea of Thieves, 5,000 MyTeam points and 30 skill boosts from NBA 2K20, a Warframe Xbox Starter Bundle and other great perks!

In Case You Missed It

We’ve had a few surprise games arrive since we last spoke, so here’s a few that available for you to play right now!

Moving Out

As a newly qualified Furniture Arrangement and Relocation Technician, you’ll take on moving jobs across the busy town of Packmore. Smooth Moves may not be the biggest moving company, but there’s no task too dangerous or bizarre for this busy team of go-getters. Move through sleepy suburbs, frenzied farms, haunted houses, virtual reality, and lands beyond. Grow your business to brave new heights, recruit colourful customisable characters and save Packmore from furniture peril.

Streets of Rage 4

The first entry to the core series in 25 years with Axel, Blaze, Adam and new characters reunited to clean up the streets. With lush, hand-drawn animations, new combat abilities, and fresh tracks from an amazing team of composers, Streets of Rage 4 is a masterful tribute and revitalization of the classic action game fans adore.

DLC / Game Updates

Human: Fall Flat – Thermal DLC

It’s a gold prospector’s dream come true in the frozen mountains of Thermal, thebrand-new gold-filled free level for Human: Fall Flat. You and up to seven online friends can interact with massive mining machines and manipulate rising air thermals to traverse giant caves. Or you may find the soft glow of the campfire too comforting to leave behind.

Journey to the Savage Planet – Hot Garbage DLC

The planet of DL-C1 has it all! Tropical beaches, lovely views, toxic waste, and killer robots. There’s only one person who can handle a job this dangerous and that’s the person sitting on the closest planet…you! So, pack your bags and get ready for a beach vacation! Use your Xbox Game Pass membership to get up to 10% off this new DLC for Journey to the Savage Planet.

Leaving Soon

If you want to give these games a proper send off, now is the time to get in some play time! However, if you’re not ready to say goodbye quite yet, you can use your membership discount to get any of these games for up to 20% off while they are still in our library.

May 7

  • Grand Theft Auto V

May 15

  • Black Desert
  • Doom
  • Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game
  • Mega Man Legacy Collection 2
  • Metal Gear Survive
  • The Banner Saga
  • Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

If you or any friends haven’t checked out Xbox Game Pass Ultimate yet, there’s no better time than now – the first month is only $1, granting you access to all of these games and Perks! If you’re familiar with what we’re doing here, you already know where to stay up to date: Twitter and Instagram.

Borderlands SciencePlayers Completed 36 Million Puzzles In First Month

Borderlands SciencePlayers Completed 36 Million Puzzles In First Month

More than 700,000 players from the Borderlands 3 community are helping map the human gut biome by completing an average of 1.2 million puzzles per day

Borderlands Science – a mini-game within Gearbox Software and 2K’s best-selling, critically acclaimed video game Borderlands 3that contributes to real world biomedical studies has seen players solve 36 million puzzles, with more than 700,000 individual players from the larger Borderlands 3 community solving an average of 1.2 million puzzles per day since the program launched on April 7. Borderlands Science continues to grow, with nearly a quarter of a million new players joining within the last two weeks.

“Video game players are now contributing to real world science,” said Gearbox Software co-founder Randy Pitchford. “Borderlands 3 players have demonstrated the power of gamers to solve complex problems useful to medical progress and have fun doing it. The dream that through playing a video game a scientific advancement can be made is now closer to becoming a reality.”

Borderlands Science encodes the DNA of gut microbes as strings of bricks composed of four different shapes and colors. Players connect those colored shapes to help scientists estimate the degree of similarity between each microbe. The more puzzles players solve, the more they help decode the human gut microbiome, all while earning rewards that can be used in Borderlands 3. A brief video featuring Dr. Mayim Bialik explaining Borderlands Science can be found here.

Since launch, Borderlands Science has reached the following significant milestones:

  • Players solved more than 36 million puzzles;
  • On average, players completed 1.2 million puzzles per day;
  • Participation from more than 700,000 players from the larger Borderlands 3 player base;
  • Borderlands Science continues to grow with nearly 250,000 new players in the last two weeks;
  • Overall, players dedicated more than 86 total years of playtime to mapping the human gut microbiome.

This major initiative is the result of international partnerships with researchers and scientists at McGill University, Massively Multiplayer Online Science (MMOS), and The Microsetta Initiative at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

“Thank you to the Borderlands community for advancing scientific research,” said Massively Multiplayer Online Science CEO and co-founder Attila Szantner. “We had a huge player base during these first weeks, and we hope that this success will entice additional AAA titles to include citizen science projects in their games.”

“Most players are curious how they are helping science while they are having such an enjoyable experience with the mini-game,” said McGill University professor Jérôme Waldispühl. “By completing such simple tasks, players are actually helping us more proficiently train artificial intelligence algorithms to align sequences based on what seems right to most humans. This sounds simple, but it requires a lot of data, and could not be completed at this scale until a AAA game developer like Gearbox embraced such a project.”

To learn more about the Borderlands Science project, visit Borderlands Science online or dnapuzzles.org.

2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

About Gearbox Software

Gearbox Software is a Frisco, Texas-based award-winning, independent developer of interactive entertainment. It was founded in 1999 by game industry veterans, and its first release was Half-Life: Opposing Force. Since then, the company has become known for successful game franchises including Borderlands, Brothers in Arms, and Battleborn, as well as acquired properties Duke Nukem and Homeworld. For more information, visit www.gearboxsoftware.com.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe.  We develop and publish products through our labels Rockstar Games, 2K, and Private Division, as well as Social Point, a leading developer of mobile games.  Our products are designed for console systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services.  The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO.  For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes global interactive entertainment for console and handheld gaming systems, personal computers and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, 31st Union and Cloud Chamber. 2K’s portfolio currently includes the renowned BioShock®, Borderlands™, Mafia and XCOM® franchises; NBA® 2K, the global phenomenon and highest rated* annual sports title for the current console generation; the critically acclaimed Sid Meier’s Civilization® series; the popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, as well as emerging properties NBA® 2K Playgrounds 2, Carnival Games and more. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at 2k.com.

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada’s top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

About MMOS

MMOS (Massively Multiplayer Online Science) is a Swiss start-up focusing on bringing citizen science activities to AAA videogames; setting up collaborations and providing the necessary infrastructure to connect these two worlds. MMOS together with CCP, the Human Protein Atlas and the University of Geneva created Project Discovery, the citizen science minigame inside EVE Online acclaimed by an extensive worldwide press coverage and winning several awards. For more information visit www.mmos.ch

About The Microsetta Initiative

Established in 2018 as a global extension of UC San Diego’s American Gut Project, The Microsetta Initiative (TMI) aims to allow anyone in the world to participate in microbiome citizen science. To date, the collective projects of TMI have DNA sequenced over 25,000 samples from more than 20,000 participants, and is the largest open-access human microbiome reference database. The de-identified data generated so far have been used in over 100 peer reviewed publications, helping researchers to better understand migraines, depression, how fermented foods modify your gut, and have even provided a backdrop to predict age from poop.

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YAKUZA: LIKE A DRAGON LAUNCHES DAY 1 ON XBOX SERIES X!

YAKUZA: LIKE A DRAGON LAUNCHES DAY 1 ON XBOX SERIES X!

Rise like a Dragon and take on the world from rock bottom in an RPG like none you’ve ever seen before.

Sydney, Australia – 8th May 2020 – Just announced at Inside Xbox, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, an explosive new entry point in the acclaimed Yakuza series, will be releasing as a launch title on the next-gen Xbox Series X*. Yakuza: Like a Dragon will also be available as simultaneous release on the Xbox family of devices, including Xbox One X*and PlayStation 4. Yakuza: Like a Dragon Day One Edition physical pre-orders are available now at Australian retailers, with details to be revealed at a later date.

Check out the Cinematic Trailer here to get a first look at just what to expect in this groundbreaking new entry in the Yakuza series.

We are also excited to announce that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will support Xbox Series X Smart Delivery immediately on release, ensuring players only have to buy the game once and will be able to play it on either Xbox One or Xbox Series X when both the console and that version of the game are available. Cross-save functionality between Xbox One and Xbox Series X is also supported, so no matter when players decide to upgrade, they never have to start over from rock bottom.

The Story Begins…

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is, at its core, an underdog story about fighting for what you believe in, even when you’re at rock bottom. Our new main protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family, takes the fall for a crime he didn’t commit in order to protect his patriarch and father-figure, Masumi Arakawa. After serving an 18-year prison sentence, he returns to society to discover that the clan he once belonged to has been destroyed, its few remaining members are being hunted in the streets and learns that his former patriarch may be the man responsible for it all. Facing an unimaginable sense of betrayal, loss, and confusion, he sets out to discover the truth. This is where Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s story begins.

A Truly Outrageous RPG Like You’ve Never Seen Before

Along with the all-new cast and setting, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces a new dynamic RPG combat system that takes the genre somewhere it’s never been before – present-day Japan. Ichiban is a diehard RPG fan, so to help him stay focused in fights, he imagines the battlefield as if he was living in one of his favourite games. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, players will level up 19 different ‘Jobs’ far from traditional RPG fare – not Warriors or Mages, but Bodyguards and Musicians, with completely unique strengths and skills. Get ready to step into Ichiban’s shoes and crack some skulls in style!

Welcome to the Underworld Playground

Even with so many changes, Yakuza: Like a Dragon still retains the core Yakuza experience and a large part of that is the seemingly endless supply of hilarious minigames and substories spread throughout the city. Over 50 substories and a collection of never-before-seen minigames, as well as the return of fan-favourites like Karaoke and SEGA Arcades will ensure players enjoy their time in Yokohama to the fullest.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is everything that fans know and love about the series, with several over the top twists for the next generation. Featuring an entirely new cast of characters and taking place in the brand new and beautifully-realized setting of Yokohama, players can jump right into the drama, action, and hilarity Yakuza is known for.

Stay tuned in the coming months for more information about the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, including more gameplay details, classes, skills, recruitable party members, and more players will encounter on their journey through Yakuza: Like a Dragon!

*The Xbox Series X and Xbox One X of Yakuza: Like a Dragon will release simultaneously in Western territories only. Details on the Asian region Xbox Series X and Xbox One X releases of Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be announced at a later date.

About the Yakuza / Ryu Ga Gotoku Series

With over 12 million units sold worldwide since its creation in 2005, the Yakuza / Ryu Ga Gotoku series was created with the core concept of “Entertainment geared towards mature audiences” in mind, this series portrays the life of relatable people living in Japan’s red-light districts. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio excels at bringing players into a true-to-life realization of modern Japan while exploring themes of love, humanity, and betrayal, creating an experience unlike any other in digital entertainment.   

About SEGA® of America, Inc.:

SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment. SEGA of America’s website is located at www.sega.com.

© SEGA. All rights reserved. SEGA is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SEGA, the SEGA logo, YAKUZA and LIKE A DRAGON are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA CORPORATION. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

Inside Xbox May 2020 Episode Recap

Inside Xbox May 2020 Episode Recap

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief

Everyone here at Xbox is excited to share more about the games and experiences coming in the next generation. Earlier this week, we shared our plans for Xbox 20/20, our new reoccurring series that will be rolling out over the course of the year. We kicked it off today with an episode of Inside Xbox that included a very special First Look at Xbox Series X Gameplay event which highlighted 13 new titles coming to Xbox Series X in the launch window from a variety of our development partners from across the globe. Many of these titles are brand-new properties that are being shown for the very first time, kicking off the new generation in a very exciting way.

We’ve always made a point to showcase great work from developers large and small from around the world, and this is just the beginning. Hundreds of titles are already in development for Xbox Series X thanks to our amazing partner community. We’ll be sharing a lot more in the coming months in our Xbox 20/20 series, not only from those partners but from Xbox Game Studios as well.

We’re also happy to share that all of the games included in today’s show will be Xbox Series X Optimised, meaning they are built to take advantage of the powerful Xbox Series X features that make games look and feel incredible, including 4K resolution at up to 120 frames per second, DirectStoragehardware-accelerated DirectX raytracing, super-fast load times and much more. Putting the power of the console in the hands of developers to decide what’s best for their games is one of our core beliefs and we’re excited for this first look at how they are choosing to leverage the Xbox Series X.

You’ll also probably note that some of the titles below have asterisks next to their names. This means that these games are confirmed to take advantage of Smart Delivery, ensuring you’ll only have to buy that game once knowing you’ll get the best version of that game for whichever Xbox console you’re playing on. Today, we confirmed 9 more titles leveraging this tech for a great customer experience adding to the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and all Xbox Game Studios titles.

For a full recap of what was shown, read on below or watch the replay of Inside Xbox episode above when the VOD is available.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla* (Ubisoft): In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, become Eivor, a legendary Viking raider on a quest for glory. Explore a dynamic and beautiful open world set against the brutal backdrop of England’s Dark Ages. Raid your enemies, grow your settlement, and build your political power in the quest to earn a place among the gods in Valhalla.

Bright Memory Infinite (Playism): Bright Memory: Infinite is an all-new lightning-fast fusion of the FPS and action genres, created by FYQD-Studio. Combine a wide variety of skills and abilities to unleash dazzling combo attacks. Bright Memory: Infinite is set in a sprawling, futuristic metropolis in the year 2036. A strange phenomenon for which scientists can find no explanation has occurred in the skies around the world. The Supernatural Science Research Organisation (SRO) has sent agents out to various regions to investigate this phenomenon. It is soon discovered that these strange occurrences are connected to an archaic mystery – an as-of-yet unknown history of two worlds, about to come to light…

Call of the Sea* (Raw Fury): Call of the Sea is a first-person adventure puzzle game set in the 1930s that tells the story of Norah, a woman on the trail of her missing husband’s expedition. The search takes place on a strange but beautiful island in the South Pacific, filled with secrets waiting to be unearthed. It is an otherworldly tale of mystery, adventure, and self-discovery.

Chorus* (Deep Silver): Discover Chorus, an immersive single-player experience that tells a mature and dark tale of redemption. Take control of Nara, an ace pilot with a haunted past and Forsaken, her sentient starfighter, as they embark on a personal, redemptive journey to challenge a relentless foe and take down the dark cult that made her. This is a true evolution of the space combat shooter.

DiRT 5* (Codemasters): Ushering in the next generation of racing, DiRT 5 writes a new chapter in the legacy of DiRT – bolder and braver than ever before. New features, new innovations and a fresh approach make DiRT 5 a hub of amplified off-road racing, style and culture, where no two races are ever the same.

Madden NFL 21 (Electronic Arts): EA Sports’ Madden NFL is the defining experience for simulated NFL action, enabling fans to play out their NFL fantasy on the virtual gridiron. For more than three decades, since the original release of John Madden Football in 1988, Madden NFL has continued to evolve and innovate to deliver an even more authentic and fun experience for players. The storied franchise continues with Madden NFL 21, which will make fans feel next level on Xbox Series X. Visit ea.com/nextlevel for more information.

Scarlet Nexus* (Bandai Namco Entertainment): Take on the role of Yuito Sumeragi, a new recruit to the OSF aiming to become an elite psionic like the one who saved him as a child. Armed with a talent in psycho-kinesis, explore the futuristic city of New Himuka and uncover the mysteries of a Brain Punk future caught between technology and psychic abilities in Scarlet Nexus.

Scorn (Ebb): Scorn is an atmospheric first-person horror adventure game set in a nightmarish universe of odd forms and somber tapestry. It is designed around the idea of “being thrown into the world”. Isolated and lost inside this dream-like world, you will explore different interconnected regions in a non-linear fashion. The unsettling environment is a character itself. Every location contains its own theme (story), puzzles and characters that are integral in creating a cohesive world. Throughout the game you will open up new areas, acquire different skill sets, weapons, various items and try to comprehend the sights presented to you.

Second Extinction* (Systemic Reaction)Second Extinction is an intense 3 player cooperative shooter, where your goal is to wipe out the mutated dinosaurs that have taken over the planet. Teamwork is vital as you adopt the role of one of the survivors, using a unique combination of weapons, abilities and skills to take on the vast number of enemies. Fight through a maelstrom of bullets, bombs, teeth, claws and gore, it’s up to you to reclaim Earth!

The Ascent* (Neon Giant / Curve Digital)The Ascent is a solo and co-op action RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Confusion and chaos ensue, security and order are in disarray, and without protection, everyone is left to fend for themselves. Stop gangs and hostile corporations from taking over and discover what really happened in this explosive sci-fi shooter.

The Medium (Bloober Team)The Medium is a next-gen psychological horror game from Bloober Team, the makers of Blair Witch, Observer, and Layers of Fear. You play as Marianne, a medium living in two worlds: the real and the spirit one. Haunted by a vision of a child’s murder, you travel to an abandoned hotel resort, which many years ago became the stage of an unthinkable tragedy. There you begin your search for difficult answers. The Medium’s soundtrack is a collaboration between two composers – Bloober Team’s Arkadiusz Reikowski and Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill fame – reflecting the game’s most important theme: duality.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2* (Paradox Interactive): What Monster Will You Be? Enter the World of Darkness and rise through vampire society. Experience Seattle – a city full of alluring, dangerous characters and factions. In this sequel to the cult classic, your choices, plots and schemes will change the balance of power.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon* (SEGA): Just announced today, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, an explosive new entry point in the acclaimed Yakuza series, will be releasing as a launch title on Xbox Series X. We are also excited to announce that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will support Xbox Series X Smart Delivery immediately on release. This means that players who purchase the Xbox One version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be entitled to a free upgrade to the Xbox Series X version. Cross-save functionality between Xbox One and Xbox Series X is also supported, so no matter when players decide to upgrade, they never have to start over from rock bottom.

And if a first look at next-gen gameplay, trailers and sneak peeks from this wide variety of partners across the globe and industry wasn’t enough, we heard from Ubisoft, Deep Silver, Bloober Team, and more about what they’re doing with their games on Xbox Series X.  

We hope you enjoyed the show, and we’ll be sharing more about the next entry in the Xbox 20/20 series soon!

Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla First Look at Gameplay Trailer Released During the Inside Xbox May Episode

Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla First Look at Gameplay Trailer Released  During the Inside Xbox May Episode

Sydney, Australia — May 8, 2020 — Today, Ubisoft announced during the Inside Xbox May Episode that Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla, the next installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, will take full advantage of the enhancements offered by the next generation of consoles, including Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. Players can also take a first look at Assassin’s Creed Valhalla gameplay in a trailer that released today.

“As developers, we’re always excited to work with new hardware because it gives us a greater ability to express our creative vision. Assassin’s Creed has always been committed to exploring new technologies and leveraging new consoles abilities to deliver the most immersive experience possible. We are excited to be collaborating closely with Microsoft to bring Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to the Xbox Series X” said Ashraf Ismail, Creative Director of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

With the Xbox Series X, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will take full advantage of its enhanced graphics, giving players the opportunity to experience the open world of Norway and England down to the very last detail. In addition, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will benefit from faster loading times.

Finally, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will leverage Smart Delivery technology, allowing players to buy the game once and play it on either Xbox One or Xbox Series X when both the consoles and the game are available. 

Developed by the team behind Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag®  and Assassin’s Creed® Origins at Ubisoft Montreal*, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla invites players to live the saga of Eivor, a fierce Viking raider raised on tales of battle and glory. Offering a captivating Viking experience, the game brings players to a dynamic and beautiful open world set against the brutal backdrop of England’s Dark Ages. In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players can take advantage of new features including raids, growing their settlement, building their power and expanding their influence.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will release worldwide Holiday 2020 on Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Stadia, and for Windows PC exclusively on both the Epic Games Store and the Ubisoft Store. The game will also be available on UPLAY+**, Ubisoft’s subscription service.

Fans who pre-order*** Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will receive at launch an additional mission The Way of the Berserker, in which players will join a legendary Norse Berserker on his quest for revenge.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed, please visit: assassinscreed.com

For the latest news on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit: news.ubisoft.com

*Associate studios are Ubisoft Sofia, Ubisoft Singapore, Ubisoft Montpellier Ubisoft Barcelona, Ubisoft Kyiv, Ubisoft Bordeaux, Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Philippines, Ubisoft Quebec, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Pune, with additional help from external partner Sperasoft.

** $19.95 AUD per month. Cancel anytime. The Gold and Ultimate Editions will be available as part of a UPLAY+ subscription.  More information at uplayplus.com.

*** Pre-order currently available digitally for PC on the Epic Games Store and Uplay, and in retail for Xbox One and PlayStation®4.

About Assassin’s Creed

Since it first launched in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series has sold more than 140 million games worldwide. The franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series in video game history. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into numerous other entertainment media.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, For Honor, Just Dance, Watch Dogs, Tom Clancy’s video game series including Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six and The Division. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2018-19 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €2,029 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com/.

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Retro Action Platformer Infinite – Beyond the Mind Jumps to PC, Consoles Today

Retro Action Platformer Infinite – Beyond the Mind Jumps to PC, Consoles Today

SYDNEY – 8 May 2020 – Infinite – Beyond the Mind, the futuristic retro action platformer from developer Emilie Coyo and publisher Blowfish Studios, delivers high-flying, explosive combat to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam for Windows PC today.

Take on the forces of the Beljantaur Kingdom and its vile Queen Evangelyn as a pair of young women raised on the battlefields in a world devastated by war. Rush into the fray and eviscerate enemy battalions and war machines across 16 genre-blending levels to topple the evil empire.

Harness Tanya and Olga’s superpowers to bound across warzones with acrobatic maneuvers and unleash lightning-fast onslaughts against enemy soldiers. Annihilate heavy artillery by commandeering mounted gun emplacements, take to the skies and blow away waves of gunships in shoot-‘em-up sequences, and summon a robotic companion with an arsenal of long-ranged weapons to turn the tide against any foes that would stand in our heroes’ way.

Enlist the help of a partner with drop-in, drop-out co-op play to double your firepower, or turn up the challenge by racing against the clock, seeking high scores, and mastering a range of difficulty settings. Experience a story of friendship, conflict, and revenge brought to life with colorful chibi pixel art and a pulsing chiptune soundtrack inspired the 16-bit era.

Infinite – Beyond the Mind is a love letter to the classic action games and platformers I adored growing up,” said developer Emilie Coyo. “Back then, I could have only dreamed I would be able to create an experience of my own that pays homage to my childhood favorites, so today is a special day for me and I’m delighted to share the game with everyone on PC and consoles.”   

Infinite – Beyond the Mind is out now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam for $9.99 USD / €8.99 / £7.99. It features support for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese language options.

For more information on Infinite – Beyond the Mind, please visit the official website.

About Blowfish Studios

Blowfish Studios is an award-winning independent game developer and publisher based in Sydney, Australia. We strive to release original multi-platform games, while also collaborating with developers from around the world. As developers first, we bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to any partnership. Our team provides development services to get the game release ready, porting to all major platforms, platform approval, marketing and promotion to the world.

To learn more about Blowfish Studios, please visit the team’s website.

About Emilie Coyo

Emilie Coyo is an independent video game developer based in Occitanie, France who aims to create genre-bending experiences with distinct and varied playstyles.