Tag: SEGA-Xbox

My views about Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Direct

My views about Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Direct

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With their combined might, Team Xbox, Bethesda and their strategic partners successfully pulled off a great Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Direct double feature! Great in the sense that they collectively premiered a wide variety of games including several Xbox-exclusive titles (both the announced and the brand new ones) that gamers can look forward to on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC and via cloud gaming. What was shown was clearly a lot of fun to watch and there several bouts of surprises that I experienced along the way.

To be clear, 27 games were showcased. 21 games are coming to Game Pass (Xbox Game Pass and/or PC Game Pass). 13 of the games were from Xbox game studios. There were also several 3rd party games from different publishers including Capcom, SEGA, Atlus and Ubisoft.

1st Party Games from Xbox Game Studios matter a lot – The Xbox Games Showcase 2023 started with the reveal of the new Xbox-exclusive Fable role-playing game (RPG) from Playground Games which utilized in-game graphics for a cinematic style of presentation emphasizing the British approach on fantasy, comedic tone and style of play the game franchise is known for. There were a few moments of action shown but it is hard to determine if those will indeed be implemented in gameplay form. As I anticipated, Fable was shown without a release date nor an estimated year for release. All we can do now is wait for the developers to complete and polish it.

Also shown early during the showcase was the much-needed update on Avowed, the first-person fantasy RPG from RPG specialists Obsidian Entertainment (The Outer Worlds, Fallout: New Vegas). Compared to Fable, Avowed has progressed so much with its development, actual gameplay footage was shown with some storytelling cutscenes included. Set in the world of Eora (the same setting as established in the Pillars of Eternity series), gamers will play the envoy of Aedyr who is tasked to investigate rumors of a spreading plague with a secret that threatens to destroy everything. While it looks inspired by Bethesda’s Skyrim, Avowed clearly has its own flavor and style to its first-person battles and movement. This game is set for release sometime in 2024 exclusively on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC with Xbox Game Pass inclusion. I am really looking forward to this game.

Still in the realm of fantasy but with a different approach on game design, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was shown during the showcase with an appearance by Melina Juergens (Senua) preceding it. Compared to the previous pre-release showing of the game, the newest video focuses more on the aspect of Psychosis and how Senua deals with it. Based on what was shown so far, it seems to me that the game has progressed far enough with its development and the it could be in the polishing stage right now. The Xbox-exclusive Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II handled by Ninja Theory will be released sometime in 2024.

Next are three Xbox-exclusive games that really surprised me during the showcase: Clockwork Revolution from InXile, South of Midnight from Compulsion Games and Towerborne from Stoic Studio. I was surprised in the sense that there were no pre-showcase insider reports and the rumor mills did not have anything to anticipate what the above mentioned games would be.

Clockwork Revolution is time-traveling first-person game with a strong steampunk flavor and game design that emphasizes role-playing reactivity. Its visual style reminds me of BioShock Infinite. South of Midnight is a new third-person action-adventure set in a magic realist version of the American South. Towerborne, the product of the partnership between Team Xbox and developer Stoic Studio, is a new adventure game that promises a brand-new take on action RPGs and it will be released sometime in 2024.

At long last, developer Turn 10 announced that Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released worldwide on October 10, 2023 and it will come with more than 500 cars, 20 completely rebuilt international race tracks with multiple layouts and the promised full dynamic time-of-day with weather, living crowds and interactive tracks. For this year, the car customization and tune-ups of Forza Motorsport (2023) was emphasized more. I will definitely play this upcoming racing game on my Xbox Series X this October.

The juggernaut of all Xbox-exclusive games – Starfield – was so huge and detailed, a standalone showcase of it was efficiently done by Todd Howard and his teammates at Bethesda. I will be writing a separate post for Starfield soon but I want to remind you all that the game will be released on September 6, 2023 and it will have a ton of gameplay features! Check out the latest Starfield trailer below plus those from other Xbox exclusives such as Sea of Thieves:  The Legend of Monkey Island and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

The 3rd party games at the showcase that got my attention – When it comes to games from other game publishers, Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) in the form of Persona 3 Reload (early 2024), Persona 5 Tactica (scheduled for November 17, 2023) and Metaphor: ReFantazio (2024) from Atlus and SEGA made quite a splash during the showcase in relation to the curious absence of the Xbox Game Pass-bound JRPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. It seems to me that Team Xbox made serious efforts to reach out to its Japanese partners to secure more JRPGs which will strengthen the Xbox ecosystem as the premiere place for RPGs. With that being said, Team Xbox pulled off the right moves and the Persona games franchise has a dedicated following worldwide.

While my dream scenario of Capcom unveiling a big-budget remake of Dino Crisis at the showcase did not come true at all, the Japanese publisher actually made it and went on to unveil the game Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. The game has a fantasy setting with strong Japanese aesthetics and action-adventure gameplay. It is will have a Day 1 launch on Xbox Game Pass as well.

Dungeons of Hinterberg looks really fascinating with its game design and play style complete with having a very unique artistic approach for its visuals. It will be released in 2024 with Xbox Game Pass included. Also coming to XGP but within 2023 is Jusant, the new game from French developer Don’t Nod that emphasizes exploration by means of climbing and puzzle solving.

Conclusion – I can say it out loud that the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 – Starfield Direct double feature is not only great on its own but it is also a notable improvement over the previous Xbox showcases of the past two years. The Xbox-exclusives are indeed coming in the 2023-2024 period, and that includes having Starfield and Forza Motorsport (2023) scheduled for release in  September-October this year. 2024 at this stage is looking great as well not only with the Xbox-exclusives but also with the 3rd party games. Xbox Game Pass subscribers also have new games to look forward to in the near future.

As game development can be tricky, unpredictable and complicated, delays of game releases are always possible. As such, we gamers can only hope that the game developers won’t encounter anymore problems with their respective games so that they will be completed, polished and get released as planned.

In ending this piece, posted below is the entire Xbox Games Showcase 2023 – Starfield Direct video from the YouTube channel of Xbox. I highly recommend watching it all in 4K. Enjoy!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature all set this Sunday (Monday in Asia)

Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature all set this Sunday (Monday in Asia)

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It is that time again for Xbox fans and gamers to get excited as the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature will happen this Sunday June 11 (Monday June 12 in Asia) and viewers will get to watch it on multiple channels.

To begin with, Team Xbox announced that the two showcases will be streamed live via the online channels below…

Not only that, those who want to watch the streams in 4K resolution at 60FPS should head on to YouTube.com/Xbox and YouTube.com/Bethesda. There will also be multi-language support in the forms of subtitles.

What to expect? Based on the recent tweets by Xbox Games Marketing executive Aaron Greenberg, the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct will combine for roughly two hours non-stop games and it will all be about games. There won’t be any movie trailers to disrupt the double feature. Look at the tweets below…

Already, it has been confirmed that there will be no CGI-trailers about Team Xbox’s games at the two showcases. Personally, I prefer to see gameplay footage showing how the upcoming games function and how they could turn out fun. When it comes to showing story cutscenes, using gameplay graphics is more preferrable to me.

What video games to expect from Team Xbox? While it is inevitable to me that they will show the promised 2023 exclusives Forza Motorsport (2023) and Bethesda’s highly anticipated Starfield, I can only speculate that Phil Spencer and his team will give fans big updates (note: to be showcased visually, not just mere announcements) about other Xbox-exclusives such as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (read my article), the new Fable role-playing game (RPG), the fantasy RPG Avowed from Obsidian Entertainment (read my last article of Avowed), and possibly State of Decay 3 from Undead Labs. While it is possible that the troubled Xbox-exclusives Everwild and the Perfect Dark reboot could also be shown, I’m not confident about them. I also do not expect anything to be shown about Hideo Kojima’s Xbox project nor the other exclusive game Contraband.

I am anticipating that a final release date for Forza Motorsport (2023) will be announced, and the same should happen with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (possibly late-2023 or early 2024). Avowed, if its development has progressed a lot since the first announcement, could be announced for 2024 and it should help satiate gamers’ demand for the epic open-world fantasy RPG experience of the Elder Scrolls game franchise. In my view, the Elder Scrolls VI is still years away from getting released. As for Fable, it could be shown but without a release date.

Starfield will have its very own showcase immediately after that of Xbox. That being said, I am anticipating a very in-depth gameplay demonstration of the game, some more bits about its story and core concept, and hopefully there will be options for gamers to play the game in 30FPS and 60FPS with varying resolutions. I personally want to play Starfield on my Xbox Series X console in 60FPS. I hope they will show more space battles which I think will add more variety to the gameplay as a whole. We will find out soon from Bethesda and Todd Howard on Starfield Direct.

When it comes to the Gears of War franchise, I’m not really anticipating a new Gears sequel. What would be more doable, in my opinion, is Team Xbox revealing a Gears Tactics sequel which should delight fans of the 2020 game as well as gamers who love playing turn-based tactics games. For me, the time is right to announce a new Gears Tactics game!

In my view, the time is right for a Gears Tactics sequel to be unveiled while gamers worldwide endure the long wait for the next Gears of War game.

As for games from other companies that could be part of the Xbox Games Showcase, I am anticipating an appearance and updates about Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes in terms of new gameplay and hopefully a final release date within 2023 (note: this Japanese RPG will also launch on Xbox Game Pass). Very recently, Japan-based developer Rabbit & Bear Studios posted updates about the game on social media which just might mean there will be a possible appearance on the showcase. Take note that Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes’ inclusion on Xbox Game Pass is significant and this weekend’s online event is the best opportunity to promote it and make both XGP subscribers and JRPG fans excited.

There is the possibility that Konami could show Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars and announce a firm release date for 2023. The showcase is also a great opportunity for Konami to promote the classic games to a worldwide audience and finally start executing their marketing plans that should excite Suikoden fans as well as gamers who love JRPGs.

When it comes to dream scenarios (note: the unlikely) that could really make waves if they ever happen at the Xbox showcase, that would be Capcom showing a big-budget remake of Dino Crisis (comparable to what they did with Resident Evil 2, 3 and 4) as well as announcing remastered versions of Breath of Fire RPGs for release on modern consoles plus Xbox Game Pass. I understand Capcom has its very own games showcase scheduled for the next day but the Xbox showcase is still a great opportunity to make waves with gamers worldwide. More wild scenarios? That would SEGA announcing the next Virtua Fighter game or a fully remastered Shining Force III (with all three chapters together), 2K Games revealing XCOM 3 (note: it’s been seven years since XCOM 2) plus Square Enix actually announcing a remastered version of Xenogears (note: this year marks the 25th anniversary of the game).

At this stage, we can only wait and see what will happen next. Team Xbox should show more games related to the latest Xbox Game Studios Publishing developments and other deals they made with developers – both the big and the smaller independent ones – so far. Not only that, there has to be something new and ready to be revealed from Team Xbox’s game studios such as Compulsion Games, inXile Entertainment and others. The excitement and suspense are building up!

Watch out for the games, the exciting stuff and big announcements at the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature this weekend!

In concluding this article, posted below for your enjoyment are Xbox-related videos.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Persona games coming to Xbox consoles, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP) at last!

Persona games coming to Xbox consoles, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP) at last!

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Anyone who owns an Xbox console or a Windows PC who loves Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) should be delighted to know that the popular Persona game franchise will have three of its established games released for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC with availability through Xbox Game Pass (XGP) soon as confirmed in the recent Xbox-Bethesda games showcase! For clarity, Persona 5 Royal is slated for an October 21, 2022 release.

For starters, watch the official video below…

To understand the Persona games better, posted below is an excerpt from the official article published at Xbox.com written by SEGA Communications Manager Stacy Lee. Some parts in boldface…

Cheers to 25 years of Persona! In this very special anniversary year, we are bringing the worldwide hits Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and with Xbox Game Pass. Starting this fall, fans will get to experience this beloved RPG series.

To kick things off, on October 21, don the mask of Joker and join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts when Persona 5 Royal arrives with Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC. We’ll have more to share on the release of Persona 4 Golden and Persona 3 Portable so be sure to stay tuned here to Xbox Wire.

For those who missed out on these games originally, or are excited to play Persona on Xbox and Windows PC, the 25th Anniversary is a great time to join in the celebration. Here’s a quick refresher on each game:

Persona 3 Portable – If I say there’s an hour “hidden” between one day and the next… would you believe me? This unknown time is the “Dark Hour.” Unfamiliar stillness swallows the city, people turn into eerie coffins, and otherworldly monsters called Shadows swarm. One night, the protagonist is attacked by these Shadows. When all hope seems lost, the power of the heart, their Persona, is awakened.

Persona 4 Golden – They say your soulmate will appear if you stare into a television set on a rainy night… This strange rumor slowly spreads through the rural town of Inaba, the protagonist’s new home, just as a chain of mysterious murders begin. As the protagonist and his teammates chase after the truth, they find themselves opening the door to another world.

Persona 5 Royal – Forced to transfer to a high school in Tokyo, the protagonist has a strange dream. “You truly are a prisoner of fate. In the near future, ruin awaits you.” With the goal of “rehabilitation” looming overhead, he must save others from distorted desires by donning the mask of a Phantom Thief.

In my personal experience, the one and only Persona video game I ever played was Revelations: Persona on the original Sony PlayStation way back in 1996. I never finished that game but I spent many hours playing it and that includes the loading times and the not-so-efficient pacing of the gameplay.

Image from Persona 5 Royal.

The upcoming release of the recent Persona RPGs on Xbox and Windows PC with access through Xbox Game Pass (XGP) should help the franchise reach even more gamers worldwide. As far as Japanese gaming goes on Xbox right now, I enjoyed finishing Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising on my Xbox Series X and I’m looking forward to the Suikoden-inspired Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes RPG which will be released sometime next year. Square Enix has Star Ocean: The Divine Force and The Diofeld Chronicle coming to Xbox this year but no release dates have been announced as of this writing. Most recently, Square Enix announced that Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion will be released on Xbox consoles although no release date has been announced.

Combined with those mentioned Japanese games or JRPGs to be exact, the addition of Persona games is indeed a welcome addition to the Xbox ecosystem which has lots of gamers craving for such games. It’s nice to see that Team Xbox head Phil Spencer has been working hard negotiating with Japanese game companies and makers to release their games into the Xbox ecosystem. In fact, during the Xbox-Bethesda showcase, a special Xbox project with Hideo Kojima’s company was confirmed to be real and there was also the announcement of an Xbox release of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty developed by Team Ninja.

Let me end this piece by ask you readers: Are you happy that the Persona game franchise is coming to Xbox with the mentioned three games? Do you think that more Japanese RPGs and other kinds of games made by Japanese game developers will continue to be released on Xbox? What other past JRPGs do you want to see released on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass? Do you think that all the JRPGs already announced coming to Xbox and mix in with Western RPGs (examples: Starfield, Fable reboot, The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed to name a few) will result a wide variety of games for those who love playing role-playing games? Do you see Xbox as the definitive ecosystem for RPGs right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Two Point Campus’ release on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows PC via Game Pass delayed to August 9, 2022

Two Point Campus’ release on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows PC via Game Pass delayed to August 9, 2022

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If you have been anticipating for SEGA’s Two Point Campus to be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP), you will have to wait more as the game’s release has officially been delayed to August 9, 2022, as announced via Xbox.com. The game was previously scheduled for May 17, 2022.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt of the Xbox.com announcement written by SEGA Europe Junior PR Manager Joseph Knoop. Some parts in boldface…

Watch out for Two Point Campus on Xbox consoles and Windows PC via Xbox Game Pass this August.

Like a freshman dreading their 8 a.m. class, Two Point Campus needs just a little more time. Two Point Campus’ release date has been pushed back from May 17 to August 9. As always, we appreciate the patience of our wonderful community and all your support throughout development.

In better news, you can check out the first hands-on media impressions of Two Point Campus at some of your favorite gaming outlets today. We’re excited to hear what everyone thinks of the game thus far and what you’re anticipating most. While the decision has been made to delay the release of Two Point Campus by a few months, the vision for the game has remained the same.

Two Point Campus lets you build the university of your dreams (or nightmares, we don’t judge), shepherd students from freshman year to graduation, and let them run wild with outlandish classes like Knight School, fossil-digging archaeology, or even baking giant pizzas in Gastronomy and much more. In Two Point Hospital, players couldn’t spend much time with patients, considering they either healed up and went on their merry way or, you know, died. Two Point Campus lets you really dig into each student’s life, and guide them on their social and academic journey. You can offer them a wealth of life-enriching experiences, be it clubs, social events, or more Cheesy Gubbins vending machines.

You’ll do it all on a campus designed by your very own hand, down to the very last desk and tree, offering way more customization than ever before. Maybe you’ll build a jousting arena for your gallant Knight School students and a tower to practice dragon-slaying from – or maybe you want something a little more cutting edge, and your campus will be a haven for budding mad scientists and building giant robots.

If that all sounds like a good time to you, you can pre-order Two Point Campus now and get some exclusive in-game items for both Two Point Campus and Two Point Hospital.

To order Two Point Campus online, click here. For the Two Point Collection Early Adopter Bonus, click here.

In closing this piece, posted below are Xbox-related videos for your viewing pleasure.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Two Point Campus will be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows PC via Game Pass (both Xbox and PC) on May 17, 2022

Two Point Campus will be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows PC via Game Pass (both Xbox and PC) on May 17, 2022

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If you are the kind of gamer who enjoys simulation gaming as well as managing digital communities on your Xbox console or your PC, then you have something to look forward to on as SEGA will release Two Point Campus for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows PC via Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on May 17, 2022. The new game is the follow-up to the successful 2018 game Two Point Hospital (available via Xbox Game Pass as of this writing), and you can order it in advance now.

To begin with, watch this official trailer of Two Point Campus.

Developed by Two Point Studios, Two Point Campus has a school setting and players will be challenge to establish and manage a university campus complete with setting up its many parts (like classrooms and laboratories to name a few), hiring a staff of good quality educators, and managing how the students will behave in and around campus. As it is a piece of fantasy, the game has a cartoony vibe on its art and expressions.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the official announcement on Xbox.com written by Two Point Studios Creative Director Gary Carr.

Build your university and manage everything within it.

In Two Point Hospital there is very little time to really get to know your little people, because patients come in for their treatment, you cure them (or they die…oops) and then they leave your hospital. In Two Point Campus this process is very different. Your students will be with you for much longer during their campus experience, giving you the chance to help them on their academic journey to success, or in some cases failure. You’ll have to figure out what’s going on. Are they happy? Are they enjoying their courses? Are they making enough friends? You’ll need to take the time to get to know them, nurture them and pull them through this process. Each student has their own unique character traits, so you’ll have to cater to all their needs to develop them into well-rounded individuals who will do the legacy of your university proud.

We just really want you to care more about your little people, so in Two Point Campus we’re giving you the tools to create an incredible university experience for your students. Keep them entertained with extracurricular activities, such as socials, gigs, clubs and even ‘CheeseBall’ – the highly entertaining sports activity in Two Point Campus. However, too much of the fun stuff will result in students falling asleep during class, which impacts their grades and eventually your overall Campus prestige. It’s the perfect balancing act, to on one hand give your students the adventure of a lifetime, and on the other hand, run a successful Campus environment.

The students in classroom.

Anyone that’s familiar with Two Point Hospital will know that we like to give our games a humorous twist. That’s no different in Two Point Campus. Rather than the typical academic fare, students in Two Point County will experience some very unusual courses. They can learn how to cook giant pizzas in the Gastronomy course or attend Robotics and get into the techy stuff where they build huge robots. We really enjoyed brainstorming about all the different courses in Two Point Campus. It usually starts by thinking of theme or a pun, and from there we think of how we can build it into a course. We love thinking of big and absurd machines or items that the students interact with during their courses, so players are wondering “what on earth going on there??” 

Like Two Point Hospital, Two Point Campus is a charming, accessible, and deep management sim, but for the first time, you will be able to build your Campus from the ground up, from the buildings to the grounds they sit in. You can design stylish dormitories for your students, lay down ornamental pathways or pimp up your Campus with super cool items, such as Cheesy Gubbins vending machines. One of the things we enjoyed most at Two Point Studios when Two Point Hospital launched, was watching people play our game and get super creative with the design of their rooms and hospitals. In Two Point Campus we take this a step further, where players can go all out and design absolute masterpieces, or total trash if they wish… However, there will still be plenty of options for people who don’t like that total freedom when it comes to building. We’re keen to cater to all the different playstyles.

The above description really sounds interesting. I wonder if the game will allow players to fire socialists/Communists/Marxists among the university’s educators to prevent the radicalization of students which has been going on for a long time in North America in real life. If I were to establish the campus of my dreams, there definitely will be no Leftism and no elements of the Satanic Left. The focus will be strictly on education, no political ideologies. No socialism, no Marxism and no Communism at all!

Coming soon to Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass!

As mentioned earlier, if you are convinced to buy yourself a copy of Two Point Campus for your Xbox console or Windows PC ahead of time, you can do it online and you will get some bonus items in return. However, if you are already subscribing via Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass, you only need to wait for the May 17, 2022 launch to download it and play it without extra charge. I myself am an XGP subscriber and I will be playing Two Point Campus on my Xbox Series X this May, and only then I’ll find out how good the game will turn out.

In closing this piece, posted below are Xbox-related videos plus a Two Point Campus video for your viewing pleasure.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/

Pay close attention to Xbox Game Studios Publishing and the exclusive games being made by their partners

Pay close attention to Xbox Game Studios Publishing and the exclusive games being made by their partners

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Nothing changes the fact that Team Xbox and its 23 game studios are hard at work producing exclusive games that will provide years’ worth of fun-filled content to Xbox console gamers, PC gamers and the many millions who subscribed to Xbox Game Pass (XGP).

Were you able to read my recent article about Stoic (The Banner Saga) and its current work on an exclusive game with Team Xbox? For those who missed out on it, Team Xbox is actively working with varied game studios (examples: Avalanche Studios on Contraband, and IO Interactive on Project Dragon) on producing even more Xbox-exclusive games and the said studios are still free being independent entities.

Very recently, Miles Dompier of Windows Central Gaming wrote an in-depth article about the moves and projects of Xbox Game Studios Publishing in cooperation with the independent game makers. To start with, watch this WCG video of WCG and Miles Dompier…

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Dompier’s article. Some parts in boldface…

In addition to a staggering first-party future including titles like Hellblade 2, Fable, Everwild, Starfield, and many more, we also know of roughly 10 Xbox Game Studios Publishing titles potentially in the works. Xbox understands that strategic partnerships on games published through Xbox may make more sense than outright acquisitions when it comes to building meaningful relationships with developers. And who knows? Maybe some of these teams will love their experience working with Xbox, which could lead to more permanent relationships.

For now, we’ll be recapping all the Xbox Game Studios Publishing projects we currently know about as well as revealing one brand new codename. Here are several reasons why we should all be very excited about the future of Xbox Game Studios Publishing.

Xbox Game Studios Publishing codenames

As Dusk Falls is still in production.

Let’s start with the small list of Xbox Game Studios Publishing titles that have officially been announced so far. First up, we have the interactive drama As Dusk Falls. This stylized game from Interior/Night promises an engaging narrative with player choice driving the story. As it stands, there’s no release date or window for this project.

Next, we have the upcoming co-op heist title Contraband from open-world experts Avalanche Studios. Set in the 1970s, this seemingly ambitious open-world game allows players to execute the perfect heist with unique vehicles and gadgets. While there’s no official release date yet, we’ll likely get more details on the project sometime in 2022.

Now we’ll touch on some Xbox projects we’ve previously covered or teased in the past. The infamous Project Dragon from IO Interactive has been in the rumor mill for quite some time now. This action RPG aims to deliver a vast and ongoing multiplayer fantasy experience. A release or even reveal may be a ways off here, but it’s still exciting to think about the possibilities.

Project Belfry is another exciting potential Xbox exclusive. According to Jeff Grubb and his luscious mane, this side-scrolling brawler from The Banner Saga developers Stoic Studios is comparable to the PlayStation exclusive Dragon’s Crown in terms of gameplay, but will feature the painted art style this team is known for.

An Xbox Game Studios Publishing title that has me particularly interested is Project Shaolin. Reportedly in development by BrassLion Entertainment, this action RPG will reportedly feature an anime aesthetic and focus on the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. With four-player co-op and a seasonal loot system, this project sounds right up my alley.

Fans of 4X strategy titles like Civilization should be interested in the upcoming Project Indus from developer Oxide Games. With turn-based strategic elements, city building, empire advancement, espionage, diplomacy, and warfare, this should scratch a specific itch for fans of the genre.

As you can see in Dompier’s article above, the Xbox-exclusive projects made by independent game makers are in production and will fill the gaps on the Xbox portfolio to not only provide content for console, PC and Xbox Game Pass gamers but also to meet the varied tastes or interests of gamers. Action-oriented role-playing? Project Shaolin! Interactive drama? Watch out for As Dusk Falls!

The years-old belief that “Xbox has no games” is idiotic and totally untrue by today’s standards. I know there are lots of Xbox-haters and console fanboys out there who just keep bashing Xbox by lying and ranting, disregarding the many upcoming Xbox-exclusive games and even dismissing the growing business partnerships Team Xbox made with independent game companies and even the Microsoft-SEGA strategic alliance. Whatever the Xbox-hating mob does, nothing changes the trend that gaming on the Xbox ecosystem will only grow bigger, offer gamers lots of choices and become a lot more fun than ever before. Speaking of growing excitement, watch out for the Xbox 20th Anniversary Event online today (November 15), the universal acclaim of Forza Horizon 5, the December 8 release of Halo Infinite, and the December 16 release of the Xbox-exclusive The Gunk!

For the complete details about Xbox Game Studios Publishing and the future Xbox-exclusives, I encourage you all to read Miles Dompier’s article at https://www.windowscentral.com/xbox-game-studios-publishing-secret-weapon-new-exclusives

In closing this piece, posted below are Xbox-related videos for your viewing pleasure.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  HavenorFantasy@twitter.com and also on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/

SEGA and Microsoft in a Strategic Alliance to create New Strategic Titles for SEGA and establish a Next-Generation Development Environment

SEGA and Microsoft in a Strategic Alliance to create New Strategic Titles for SEGA and establish a Next-Generation Development Environment

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Even as the whole world continues to struggle to move on during this global COVID-19 crisis, Japanese video game business icon SEGA remained bullish and it made its biggest business announcement in a long time yesterday by declaring that it has agreed with Microsoft to engage in a strategic alliance related to game development and cloud gaming with the whole world in mind.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official press release SEGA published on its website. Some parts in boldface…

SEGA Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “SEGA”) and Microsoft Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “Microsoft”) have agreed in principal, a strategic alliance that explores ways for SEGA to produce large-scale, global games in a next-generation development environment built on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. The alliance would form a key part of SEGA’s mid to long-term strategy, allowing the business to move forward with “Super Game”, a new initiative for developing new and innovative titles where the key focuses are “Global”, “Online”, “Community” and “IP utilization”.

With the world now more connected than ever following the widespread deployment of 5G and cloud services in recent years, consumers can more easily enjoy high-quality entertainment content at any time. Within this highly connected environment, the ecosystem surrounding the games industry continues to evolve and expand as more sophisticated tools and technologies become available. As such, video games continue to grow as a major medium for gamers globally, with access to a vast range of gaming experiences and communities becoming more diverse and attainable. This proposed alliance represents SEGA looking ahead, and by working with Microsoft to anticipate such trends as they accelerate further in future, the goal is to optimise development processes and continue to bring high-quality experiences to players using Azure cloud technologies.

Microsoft and SEGA have agreed upon the foundation for this alliance and through mutual cooperation, will look to build further technological evolutions with areas such as the network infrastructure and communication tools required for global online services being a key priority. Additionally, by shifting to a next-generation development platform, SEGA can effectively adapt to diversfying work styles and potential infrastructural changes.

Wow! The press release can be a bit challenging to understand in just one reading. To say the least, this is SEGA’s way of expressing that is modernizing itself to keep up with the times and ensure they can be flexible not only with developing their games and projects but also to be able to reach as many customers they can worldwide with the help of Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.

While SEGA today is no longer the aggressive arcade, console, handheld and game maker it used to be, it has no intention of fading away. As a business entity, they may not be cash-rich anymore but they are rich in terms of intellectual properties that include famed game franchises like Virtua Fighter, Daytona USA, Sonic the Hedgehog and more. They can still do something new and productive with those.

While the press release does not specifically state anything about Xbox, it still confirms SEGA’s business partnership with Microsoft goes to a much higher level with the future in mind. Even without any mention of Xbox and its related services in SEGA’s press release, I would not be surprised to see SEGA release more games – both classic and new – on the Xbox platforms as well as on Xbox Game Pass (XGP) over the next few years. Also it is nice to see the Japanese corporation confirming next-generation development of games!

Take note of the big significance of SEGA releasing Phantasy Star Online 2 (PSO2) on Xbox One in 2020. PSO2 on Xbox One marked the first time the game got released outside of Japan starting with North America in April 2020 and with Europe in August 2020. Through the Xbox One and the Windows PC platform (August 2020), PSO2 further reached even more gamers worldwide.

By now, SEGA realized that to grow as a business, they will need to reach out to the many consumers worldwide who are willing to pay for their games and online services. In order to achieve that, SEGA partnered with Microsoft whose cloud computing infrastructure and cloud gaming models are so advanced, even competitor Sony partnered with the American corporation.

Think about that! Two of Japan’s major corporations partnered with Microsoft whose Xbox consoles did not sell much in Japan. Rivalries in video gaming were set aside for something much better between the corporations – business partnerships driven by advanced technologies that can help the partners achieve growth and breakthroughs with the whole world in mind. In the case of Microsoft, the new business partnership with SEGA is an opportunity for them to build up trust with other Japanese businesses who share similar interests with the company of Sonic and the company of PlayStation, as well sharing their objectives of achieving business growth and reaching out to consumers around the world.  

Going back to the SEGA-issued press release, posted below is an excerpt from comments made by SEGA Corporation President and COO Yukio Sugino. Some parts in boldface…

We are very pleased to announce today that we are considering a strategic alliance with Microsoft to help develop SEGA’s new “Super Game” initiative as well as build a next-generation game development environment. By considering a strategic partnership with Microsoft, we seek to further advance our game development so that our titles can be enjoyed by fans all over the world; in this regard, we aim to build an alliance that utilizes both SEGA’s powerful game development capabilities and Microsoft’s cutting-edge technology and development environment.

In closing this piece, posted below are Xbox-related videos for your viewing pleasure.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com