Blog Archives

The Fastest and Easiest to Use Xbox One Experience Ever is Rolling Out to Preview Now

18/9/2015

Today, the Xbox team detailed the new and upgraded features rolling out to select Xbox One Preview Programme members beginning this weekend, in the lead up to the New Xbox One Experience.

The new experience will launch this November for all Xbox One owners, incorporating fan feedback and the integration of Windows 10 to elevate the gaming experience and provide the fastest and most social Xbox One experience ever – please see below for an overview of features highlighted or visit Xbox Wire for the full list. Xbox Wire also includes a walk-through video from Major Nelson and Richard Irving, from the engineering team, that shows the new experience in action. A few new features include…

·         A redesigned Home with vertical scrolling

·         An updated and easily accessible guide with messages, notifications, settings and more

·         Quick access to games and apps by using the triggers on your controller

·         Easy and fast access to your favourite films, TV shows and streaming video apps in an updated OneGuide

·         A new and improved Store with vertical gallery view

This first preview wave is one of many between now and November as we work with our fans in the Xbox One Preview Programme to improve the experience. More information about this preview wave and the rate at which updates will roll out can be found in last week’s Xbox Wire post here. Stay tuned for more information.

The Birth of a Legendary Game Series Is Revealed in Master of Orion Dev Diary #2

12/9/2015

Key members of the original development team discuss the game’s inception

Every legend has a beginning. Over 20 years ago, the title that would eventually grow to be Master of Orion was being conceived. In the second installment of WG Labs’ series of Master of Orion Dev Diaries, members of the original team relate the days of Master of Orion’s early inception and the humble origins of the game that would both create and define the 4X gameplay genre.

In this installment, the key players in the series recount the tale of how Master of Orion was initially developed. Learn how this inspired team of producers, designers, and composers first came together and united for a single purpose. From the early days of working out of their living rooms, this lean team with a limited budget nurtured Master of Orion to create what would become one of the most definitive PC games in history.

Blood Bowl 2: Beta launched, and new gameplay video starring the Bretonnian knights!

11/9/2015

The beta of Blood Bowl 2, the sequel to the video game adaptation of Games Workshop's famous board game that combines American football with the fantasy world of Warhammer, has launched! Players who have pre-ordered the game on Steam (official release on September 22) may already start playing and test their strategies in multiplayer, as well as against AI in one-off matches.

Join the many players already playing, and create your teams from the races currently available in this beta: Humans, Orcs, Skaven, and Dwarfs. All customised multiplayer leagues as well as teams created during the beta will be preserved... so you may start leveling up your favourite team without any regret! When the game officially launches on September 22, the other races will be made available, including the Bretonnians, who are showing-off their jousting talent in today's gameplay video!

Bretonnian teams are geared toward fighting. They benefit from very skilled Blitzer players and dirt cheap linemen boasting respectable characteristics and the Fend skill. Blitzers are their key players, and any action undertaken by Bretonnian teams will revolve around them. While Blitzers are indisputably fantastic Blood Bowl players, they are also very expensive. They are necessary for any action carried out by their team, with other players mostly there to provide them with support. Strong yet still rather fragile compared to more bashy teams, Bretonnian team also lack agility, impeding their passing and running game.

Matching their skillset, their hiring fee is also exceptionally high, and they will only ever join your team for a single match. However, if you can spare the Gold to afford hiring one (or even two!) of them, they will be worth the hiring cost, as they might very well turn the tide of the match, all by themselves.

Blood Bowl 2 is currently available for pre-order, with, as a bonus, one of two additional races (the Wood Elves or the Lizardmen). Players who pre-order the game on Steam also receive immediate access to the Multiplayer Beta of the game, currently running! Click here for more info.

Blood Bowl 2 will release on PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 22

World of Warships Official Launch Date Announced

3/9/2015

Get ready for giant naval battles on the high seas on September 17

Wargaming today announced World of Warships will officially launch on September 17. After dominating new ground with World of Tanks, and conquering the skies with World of Warplanes, World of Warships arrives, bringing thrilling naval warfare to players everywhere. The highly anticipated game of strategic naval combat will set sail with four classes of ships, a vast selection of historic vessels and endless strategic approaches to winning the fight for the high seas.

“Based on our Open Beta success with World of Warships, Wargaming is poised to launch our next big game,” stated Fred Menou, Head of Global Publishing, Wargaming. “With 2 million participants and the average player spending 3 hours a day in game we have an armada of sea captains ready to take the helm of the ultimate naval combat game.”

On September 17th, players will have four distinct classes of warships to command, featuring some of history’s most iconic vessels including legendary battleship Yamato and aircraft carrier Midway. Two full Tech Trees from the U.S. and Japan are available at launch, and several vessels from the U.K, Germany, and the U.S.S.R, including Warspite, Tirpitz, and Aurora also enter the fight. In total, there are currently over 80 historical vessels available, with more nations on their way this year.

The wait is over. Set course and take control of colossal vessels in epic World of Warships battles. Action Stations!

For the latest information, visit the official World of Warships website:

http://worldofwarships.com (North America)
http://worldofwarships.eu (Europe)
http://worldofwarships.asia (Asia)

World of Tanks Update 9.10 Brings Reinforcements for the Japanese Nation

2/9/2015

Wargaming today announced that update 9.10 for World of Tanks is now live globally, bringing nine new Japanese vehicles and the next exciting stage in Domination event: Rampage.

This new branch of Japanese tanks sees Tiers 2 through 10 get some serious backup in a series of heavy-hitting vehicles, featuring medium and heavy tanks. Notable vehicles include the Type 91, a Tier 3, which is the first Japanese heavy tank in the game, with a high damage-per-minute output. Tanks from Tiers 6–9, featuring the Tier 6 O-I, Tier 7 O-Ni, Tier 8 O-Ho, and Tier 9 Type 4 Heavy, boast tough armor and powerful weaponry. Finally, the Type 5 Heavy at Tier 10 has thick armor and a devastating 140 mm gun.

What makes this new tank line even more special is that Japanese company FineMolds provided World of Tanks with a 3D tank models based on the O-I. The blueprints were assumed destroyed, but by working together, FineMolds and World of Tanks were able to bring these vehicles to life in-game. The models helped designers construct the O-I-Experimental and continue Wargaming’s mission of historical accuracy in their titles. This collaboration continues with a series of World of Tanks plastic models for sale, starting with the Type 1 Chi-He, Type 4 Chi-To, and the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tanks.

Update 9.10 also brings Rampage event, containing Steel Hunt and Domination. Players can rent one of the three tanks to engage in the event: the AMX 50 B (D), the Object 140 (D) and the Т110Е5 (D), as well as use their vehicles that comply with the rules. In Steel Hunt, players can command Tier 10 vehicles exclusively, with the ability to respawn in their battle to capture flags, earning the most Victory Points. In Domination, players can use their Tier 8–10 vehicles in furious 10 minute battles to destroy enemy tanks and transport captured flags to select zones to score Victory Points.

Map availability has also been introduced. Now players will be able to battle across more maps as they work up the Tech Tree, unlocking more tiers. A new garage tutorial also makes it easier than ever for players, from veterans to new recruits, to familiarize themselves with game’s basics and discover useful tips. There is also the addition of a smaller game client, which lets players roll out in a more streamlined version of World of Tanks.

For more information on update 9.10, visit the official World of Tanks website:

http://worldoftanks.eu (Europe)
http://worldoftanks.com (North America)
http://worldoftanks.asia (Asia)
http://worldoftanks.kr (Republic of Korea)

The tough Dwarfs face the blazing-fast Skaven in new gameplay video‏

1/9/2015

Two diametrically opposed teams face-off against each other in the latest gameplay video of Blood Bowl 2, the sequel to the video game adaptation of Games Workshop’s famous board game that combines American football with the fantasy world of Warhammer. To sum up: the slow and tough Dwarfs, versus the fast and scrawny Skaven!

Albeit slow, Dwarfs make great Blood Bowl players. They're compact, tough, well-armoured, and have a stubborn knack of refusing to die! Most successful Dwarf teams work to the principle that if they can massacre all the other team's best players and wear down the rest, then there won't be anybody left to stop them scoring touchdowns! Their Deathroller, a real mobile siege engine, helps greatly with this tactic, as it is able to crush any enemy regardless of its size. However, the use of such a machine is strictly forbidden, and the referee will always end up sending the player (and his ride) off.

Skaven, on the other hand, show just the opposite traits. Save for their Rat Ogre, they're not so tough, frail, but rather agile and extremely fast. Many an opponent has been left in the starting blocks as fast-moving Skaven players scamper through a gap in the line and run in for a lightning fast touchdown. Make sure your Skaven players keep away from the opponent though – especially if they're hard-hitting players such as the Dwarfs – or you'll be likely to end up the match with much less players than you started it…

Blood Bowl 2 is currently available for pre-order, with, as a bonus, one of two additional races (the Wood Elves or the Lizardmen). Players who pre-order the game on Steam will also receive access to the Multiplayer Beta of the game, which will start next week! Click here for more info.

Blood Bowl 2 will release on PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 22