Tag: Xbox blog

Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King is now a reality

Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King is now a reality

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Ever since it was first announced, the stakeholders behind the Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal worth almost $70 billion went through lots of hurdles that include opposition by Sony’s PlayStation division, a trial with America’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a rejection by the United Kingdom’s regulator Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The obstacles are over as the Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal recently closed and already the Activision side of the business has officially started integrating into Microsoft. This deal is many times larger than the Xbox-Bethesda acquisition of a few years ago. Watch the related video by Team Xbox below…

Xbox chief Phil Spencer issued a statement related to the newly closed deal. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from his statement published through Xbox.com. Some parts in boldface…

We love gaming. We play games, create games, and know first-hand how much gaming means to all of us as individuals and collectively, as a community. And today, we officially welcome Activision Blizzard and their teams to Xbox. They are the publishers of some of the most played and most beloved franchises in gaming history across console, PC and mobile. From Pitfall to Call of Duty, World of Warcraft to Overwatch, Candy Crush Saga to Farm Heroes Saga, their studios have pushed the boundaries of gaming for players around the world.

I’ve long admired the work of Activision, Blizzard, and King, and the impact they’ve had on gaming, entertainment, and pop culture. Whether it was late nights spent playing the Diablo IV campaign with friends from start to finish, gathering the entire family in the rec room for our weekly Guitar Hero night, or going on an epic streak in Candy Crush, some of my most memorable gaming moments came from experiences their studios have created. It is incredible to welcome such legendary teams to Xbox.

As one team, we’ll learn, innovate, and continue to deliver on our promise to bring the joy and community of gaming to more people. We’ll do this in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, where all people are welcome, and is centered on our ongoing commitment of Gaming for Everyone. We are intentional about inclusion in everything we do at Xbox – from our team to the products we make and the stories we tell, to the way our players interact and engage as a wider gaming community.

Together, we’ll create new worlds and stories, bring your favorite games to more places so more players can join in, and we’ll engage with and delight players in new, innovative ways in the places they love to play including mobile, cloud streaming and more.

Players have always been at the center of everything we do. And as we grow, we’ll continue to keep players at the heart of it all. We’ll continue to listen to your feedback, build a community where you can be yourself, where developers can do their best work, and continue to make really fun games. As promised, we will also continue to make more games available in more places – and that begins now by enabling cloud streaming providers and players to stream Activision Blizzard games in the European Economic Area, a commitment made to the European Commission. Today we start the work to bring beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms. We’ll share more about when you can expect to play in the coming months. We know you’re excited – and we are too.

For the millions of fans who love Activision, Blizzard, and King games, we want you to know that today is a good day to play. You are the heart and soul of these franchises, and we are honored to have you as part of our community. Whether you play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC or mobile, you are welcome here – and will remain welcome, even if Xbox isn’t where you play your favorite franchise. Because when everyone plays, we all win.

For their part, Activision Blizzard issued its own statement related to the biggest deal in video gaming with Microsoft. They are looking forward to the future of gaming with Team Xbox. Posted below is an excerpt from their statement with some parts in boldface…

It’s a big day for us at Activision Blizzard. For more than four decades, our players have inspired us to push the boundaries of imagination with iconic universes including Call of Duty, Candy Crush Saga, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Overwatch, and Warcraft.

Today we begin a new chapter as we officially become a part of the Microsoft family, uniting with the amazing Xbox team and co-creating the future of gaming together.

In our earliest days we were a modest collective of designers who raided rivers, commanded choppers, and avoided pitfalls. Now as part of Xbox, we will continue our mission to deliver the world’s most epic interactive entertainment experiences to more people, more platforms, and across more worlds than ever before.

All of our history and success leading to this moment is because of you, our incredible gaming community.

Unsurprisingly, the approved Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal made tremendous waves through social media and through YouTube. Watch and learn from the videos below starting with an interview with Activision Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick (note: pay close attention to his words)…

The Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal is not just another multi-billion Dollar business breakthrough…it is a tremendous boost for the credibility of Xbox as a video gaming, PC gaming, cloud gaming and mobile gaming entity.

Not only will Team Xbox have access and control of Activision Blizzard’s multiple game franchises and properties, they will also inherit the many talents and game makers of ABK (Activision-Blizzard-King), inherit the proprietary technologies for making the games, and most notably inherit and do business with the hundreds of millions of Activision Blizzard King customers worldwide!

While it is made clear that Microsoft-controlled ABK will still release games on multiple platforms, the new owners can make the new and upcoming games Xbox-exclusive (meaning released only on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC plus cloud and mobile devices which collectively are more numerous than Nintendo and PlayStation consoles). For insights about potential Xbox-exclusive Activision Blizzard games, watch Colteastwood’s video below…

More on exclusivity that include games, DLC releases and other matters, it is clear that the pre-existing contracts between PlayStation and Activision will never be renewed (read: PlayStation is no longer the home of Call of Duty). PlayStation, whose leader Jim Ryan has been so arrogant and dishonest when opposing the Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal, will have a lot to worry about on the gaming subscription side of business once Activision Blizzard games get added into the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) service some time in 2024. As much as Team Xbox and Microsoft are benefiting from this mega deal, gamers across different platforms will eventually benefit as well in various ways. Expect new customer-oriented choices to be made through the games under Xbox’s banner.

As of this writing, Xbox fans are rejoicing over the closed Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal while PlayStation fanboys cannot help but agonize with anger and jealousy. All you have to do to see the PS fanboys’ anguish is search for them on social media over their collective negative reactions. The “Xbox has no games” zealots are looking and feeling bad nowadays. Indeed, things are working in Team Xbox’s favor and I personally cannot wait to see the benefits of the ABK deal get realized in my gaming experience. Also there is nothing like seeing ABK’s established franchises like Call of Duty, StarCraft, Warcraft and many others listed with Xbox’s own franchises such as Halo, Forza Motorsport, The Elder Scrolls, Starfield, Fallout and others.

Personally, I look forward to playing Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot (a game property that started on PlayStation) other Activision titles on my Xbox Series X console through my Xbox Game Pass subscription in the near future.

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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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 8

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 8

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Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Godzilla videos in preparation for the new Japanese Godzilla movie

In case you missed the news due to the excessive amount of entertainment developments, there is indeed a brand new Japanese-produced movie of Godzilla (Gojira in Japan) titled Godzilla Minus One which will open in cinemas in Japan this November and in America this December. You can check out my post about Godzilla Minus One by clicking here.

With renewed interest in Toho’s Godzilla sparked in moviegoers’ minds, here are some videos that can help you get to know Japan’s iconic giant monster better before the new movie comes out.

#2 Forza Motorsport (2023)

The much awaited big-budget simulation racing game Forza Motorsport (2023) is coming out on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass within a few days from now for its general release. The big-budget Xbox-exclusive racing game is actually available via early access to those who paid extra for the privilege via the Premium Edition. As with tradition, gaming media outlets produced several video previews and updates of the game recently as the release date came closer and here are the videos you must watch on YouTube. Already Forza Motorsport (2023) received acclaim from critics (click here, here, here and here). Take note that this is the first new Forza Motorsport video game since 2017.

#3 Stay away electric vehicles (EVs) as they could kill you

No matter what the Leftists and climate change extremists do, I personally reject electric vehicles (EVs) and the elimination of fossil fuel and the lessening of energy choices for consumers. No matter what flashy publicity and loud talking points were made, I am not convinced that electric vehicles are safe enough to use for daily travel. In fact, many EV makers don’t want you to know that when their vehicles spark into flames, the fire is much harder to put out and often requires a higher amount of water to do so. Why is that EVs spark and become major fire hazards on the street (and even burn down homes) can be realized in the videos below.

#4 Music video of New Life Music’s worship song Testimony

The music team of New Life Philippines released the official music video (note: backstage sessions specifically) of their newest worship song Testimony. Written by Nash Soliven, Camille Cuna, Erican Reyes, Timothy Mena, Charity Patricio, Josiah Patricio and Sam Mokamad, Testimony reflects the meaning of Revelation 19:10 in the Holy Bible and it was made to strengthen people’s faith in the Lord and believe He is still moving no matter how bad things are around us in this very divided world we live in. The song will remind you about having the testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Watch the official music video by New Life Music below.

#5 Visit the Pool of Siloam in Israel

As some of you may have known by now, I went to Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church which was hosted by a very good Israeli strategic partner who ensured everything was in order. Among the many sites we visited in the Holy Land was the Pool of Siloam which was the very place where a blind man (born with blindness) got healed because he followed the instructions of our Lord and Savior Jesus without hesitation. For reference, read John 9:1-11 in the Holy Bible.

You can read my Pool of Siloam feature article by clicking here. I also have several other Israel 2023 articles on this website and I hope they will inspire you to visit the Holy Land in Israel to deepen your faith in the Lord. It is in Israel where the Holy Bible comes to life!

Watch the videos – including my very own video at the place – about the Pool of Siloam below.

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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

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes set for release on April 23, 2024 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP)

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes set for release on April 23, 2024 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP)

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Finally! It was announced that the anticipated Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will officially be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP) on April 23, 2024.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement via the Eiyuden Chronicle website. Some parts in boldface…

Today we proudly announce the April 23, 2024 release date of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes! We are pleased to unveil a new key visual featuring the three main characters Nowa, Seign, and Marisa.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a JRPG from legendary game developers Yoshitaka Murayama’s (Suikoden I & II) and Junko Kawano (Suikoden I & IV) which takes the turn-based strategy game experience to the next level. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes features a finely crafted six-character battle system, meticulously created 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds, a riveting story with over 100 playable characters and engaging gameplay designed to bring players a modern take on classic JRPGs.

“We are thrilled to finally announce the release date of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes,” said Studio Lead Yoshitaka Murayama.

For the newcomers reading this, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is an independently produced JRPG that involved key creators from the Suikoden game franchise which was previously announced for a vague 2023 release. The game developers needed more time to ensure a high quality RPG which explained the delay into 2024. This new JRPG is the 2nd Eiyuden Chronicle title to be released on Xbox. The first one was Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising.

A battle within the game.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a JRPG that I’ve been anticipating for more than two years now. I enjoyed the first two Suikoden RPGs on PlayStation 1 (note: read my Suikoden II retro review) and the upcoming game is very clearly inspired by them. Ironically, the remastered Suikoden and Suikoden II look like they won’t be released this year as Konami itself announced that more time is needed to ensure quality performance.

As I myself am pretty busy enjoying Bethesda’s sci-fi RPG Starfield on my Xbox Series X console, it seems to me that Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes’ April 2024 release schedule feels just right. The more I play Starfield, the more I discovered more quests and activities which really deepened the fun. There is no telling how long I’ll keep on playing the sci-fi RPG. Apart from Starfield, Forza Motorsport (2023) is the other big-time Xbox-exclusive game to play starting October 10.  

Apart from completion and polishing, the publisher of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will have the major challenge of marketing the game to get JRPG fans and other gamers to buy it. The said game is bound for release on Xbox Game Pass which itself also has hundreds of video games – including RPGs – available for subscribers to play. It will take a solid effort to make Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes stand out in XGP.

Watch out for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass on April 23, 2024. For more about the JRPG, visit https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/eiyuden-chronicle

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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

Starfield’s successful launch boosts Xbox Series X|S sales in the UK

Starfield’s successful launch boosts Xbox Series X|S sales in the UK

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Starfield, the epic sci-fi role-playing game (sci-fi RPG) from Bethesda Game Studios (Oblivion, Skyrim and Fallout 4), tremendously boosted the sales of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S (including the newer version) in the United Kingdom (UK) shortly after its very strong launch there, according to a report published by GamesIndustry.biz. Also available on Windows PC and Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass (XGP), it is not surprising to see many gamers making decisions to buy the game brand new which helped it top the UK software sales chart. 

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GamesIndustry.biz report. Some parts in boldface…

The launch of Starfield and a new version of the Xbox Series S significantly boosted sales of Microsoft consoles.

GfK data reveals that Xbox Series S and X sales jumped 76% week-on-week for the seven days ending September 2nd.

GfK games boss Dorian Bloch says that the week is the biggest this year (so far) for Xbox Series S and X hardware sales in the UK. Meanwhile, the week ending September 9th is currently the second best week.

This was partially due to the launch of the new Xbox Series S 1TB edition, which accounted for 24% of all Xbox consoles sold during that week. The new version of Xbox Series S is roughly £50 more expensive than the standard Series S model.

Starfield is filled with a lot of quests, activities, exploration and sci-fi action that really engaged millions of people worldwide as I write this. The scope of the game is very immense.

But the jump in Xbox console sales was also due to the launch of Starfield. The Bethesda game officially launched on September 6th, but it was available on September 1st to those who were willing to pay for the Premium Edition. As a result, the standard Xbox Series X console posted a 46% increase in sales for the week ending September 2nd in the UK.

“It is currently the best week this year for Series X,” Bloch says. “And the following week [ending September 9th] is the fourth best for X. In-between is week one and week six, which were early year blips.”

Bloch says that the Xbox consoles overall had a decent showing for the week ending September 9th, with the new Series S 1TB model accounting for 20% of sales.

As mentioned earlier, Starfield is also a software sales success in the UK which GamesIndustry.biz also reported separately. Check out the excerpt below…

Starfield has topped the UK physical charts this week. GfK’s report showed that the space-action RPG sold more physical copies on Xbox than it did on PC.

Sarah Morgan is one of the key characters in Starfield. Interacting with her added a lot to the gameplay and engagement. Take note that Morgan is just one of the Constellation characters you will interact with.

Starfield’s premium upgrade (a box with a code that provided early access to the digital version) has fallen to No.34 after debuting at No.7 last week. This version experienced a 71% decrease in sales due to the game’s wider release on September 6.

The Xbox exclusive reached over six million players in two days, making it Bethesda’s biggest launch of all time.

As confirmed by the news above, the Xbox-exclusive Starfield succeeded big-time at retail in the UK and as Bethesda’s biggest launch of all-time (on a worldwide scale). Think deeply about those huge achievements that were realized without PlayStation at all. While lots of gamers in the UK spent a lot of money on the sci-fi RPG and Xbox Series consoles, there are also many Starfield players enjoying it on Xbox Game Pass. In fact, a lot of XGP subscribers paid for the early access to the game and that only showed how heavily anticipated Starfield really is as Bethesda’s newest intellectual property (IP). Apart from that, there is still a long way to go before the month of September 2023 ends.

The way the Xbox-exclusive game is succeeding as I write this, it is very likely that Starfield will grow into a franchise of in-depth RPGs in the years to come. Like Halo and the Forza Motorsport, Starfield will be an Xbox-exclusive franchise of games that fans and RPG-loving gamers can look forward to.

Even without PlayStation, Starfield became a massive success at launch in terms of software sales, Xbox Game Pass subscriptions and Xbox hardware sales.

On my part, I have been playing Starfield on my Xbox Series X for more than a week now and the more I played it, the more enjoyable and even intriguing the gameplay experience turned out to be. There is just so much to have fun with this sci-fi RPG and by now, I have gotten myself more oriented with the user interface and the functions laid out.

With regards to the shooting (specifically with on-foot activities), the precision and response here are comparable with those in Fallout 4. Flying spaceships and using the controls for flight and weapons are really good and responsive enough.

While I won’t be spoiling plot details here, I can say that the gameplay experience has been pretty varied when I do the main quests, side quests, activities and when I freely explore the many in-game environments from one planet to another across different star systems. Check out the images and their descriptions below…

There is nothing like spotting Ecliptic mercenaries marching together in the middle of nowhere followed by my character and companion taking them out by surprise. If you encounter a random situation like this, engage with it.
I love the high-level of visual details as well as the impressive physics Bethesda prepared for space battles.
After defeating several armed bad guys and some dangerous turrets at a very discreet location, I got myself a brand new space ship! I now have four space ships as of this writing!
There is nothing like being able to board an enemy space ship, defeating all the bad guys and taking the valuables (including the opportunity to claim the ship as your own if your pilot skill is high enough). Starfield allows such opportunities to happen during space ship battles. Don’t just focus on destroying the enemy ship entirely as you will miss out on the opportunity to board it.

Starfield is very enjoyable and I believe that it still has a lot more to offer. I finished several side quests and activities, and still there is a lot more to discover and engage with! Of all the Xbox-exclusive games released in this current console generation, Starfield is already the most engaging one I have been playing, even more so than Halo Infinite.

If you are eager to acquire a digital copy of Starfield, head on to https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/starfield. By the way, an update is now available. In ending this, posted below are Starfield-related videos for your enjoyment.

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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Starfield is now available and I’m enjoying it on my Xbox Series X!

Starfield is now available and I’m enjoying it on my Xbox Series X!

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Starfield, the epic sci-fi role-playing game (sci-fi RPG) from Bethesda Game Studios (Oblivion, Skyrim and Fallout 4) has finally been released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass (XGP) and this early I am already enjoying it! Even gamers still hanging on with their aging Xbox One consoles could enjoy the game with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service and Xbox Cloud Gaming!

To put things in perspective, Starfield was made available to several gamers who paid for early access as early as September 1. The early access proved to be a big hit among Xbox Game Pass subscribers! This past March, the final release date of September 6, 2023 was announced. Even before that, a vague 2023 release was announced on June 2022 (note: November 2022 was the original release target for the game). In preparing for the game, I replayed Halo: Infinite and Fallout 4 on my Xbox Series X console, and I also watched Interstellar and Star Trek: First Contact on 4K Blu-ray disc format.

There is nothing like being able to fly your spaceship through an asteroid belt in Starfield.

A lot is at stake with Starfield which is the first new intellectual property of Bethesda and the team led by Todd Howard. Take note that Bethesda has been integrated into Team Xbox for more than two years now as a result of Microsoft’s acquisition agreement with parent company ZeniMax.

It is very clear that today, Starfield is the most ambitious Xbox-exclusive game and it was released at a time when the lack of Xbox-exclusive games was felt since early 2022. Apart from the positive reviews it received, Starfield just might motivate more people out there to buy Xbox Series consoles or new gaming PCs, stimulate sales at retail and boost the number of people subscribing to Xbox Game Pass worldwide. Not only that, this game is from the same team that made the much-beloved Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Fallout 3, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. Those four open-world Bethesda games are well known for the very deep engagement and intense fun that gamers enjoyed with a lot of longevity.

Ironically, the brand new RPG from Bethesda became a lightning rod of criticism and creative negativity from the PlayStation fanboys and the “Xbox has no games” zealots (plus other gamers who obsessively hate Xbox) who cannot help but be jealous and frustrated over the Xbox exclusivity. I understand that jealousy really hurts a person deep down inside and what is even worse is hatred towards Xbox combined with obsession caused by certain external forces. I know that there are gaming media writers, bloggers and vloggers who grew up with hatred towards Xbox and some of them even sold their souls to PlayStation in exchange for something. It is bad enough that in this divisive world, there are many so-called journalists who are actually political activists pretending to be journalistic.

Watch out for the character Marika during your first city exploration in the game.
If you are very used to shooting in Fallout 4, you will have to adjust yourselves to become proficient and comfortable with the gunplay in Starfield.

To those of you reading this, you are better off enjoying Starfield for what it is and what it has to offer regardless of what platform you have to play it on. This is, after all, a Bethesda game with the design and production led by Todd Howard and a team with an extensive record of experience, acclaim and success.

The PlayStation culture itself is toxic and I know because I myself used to be a PlayStation fanboy. That being said, I can say that PlayStation leadership today is the worst and I have seen lots of PS executives come and go. If the PlayStation people, their media partners-in-crime (read: IGN is just one of them) and other haters would not stop smearing Starfield and Bethesda itself because of Xbox and Microsoft (now owner of Bethesda), then there definitely is something wrong with those people. As such, you should NOT let them ruin your enjoyment of Starfield. The game is an Xbox-exclusive designed to entertain and engage gamers.

It is fun and intriguing to watch Sarah Morgan (a significant character you will spend time with) interact with another character she personally knows. Pay close attention to what they say to each other.

Going back to the game itself, I managed to find time to start playing it on launch day here in the Philippines. Without spoiling plot details, I can say that it took me three hours of learning and experimenting with Starfield’s gameplay and functions. Getting myself oriented with the new game proved tricky as I just finished replaying Fallout 4 on my Xbox Series X. For comparisons, I got myself oriented with the gameplay and functions of Oblivion, Skyrim and Fallout 4 within two hours of initial play respectively.

By the time I reached the 4th hour of my 6-hour launch day session, I finally got myself oriented (this includes lots of on-foot exploration, space flights and misadventures before taking on the main quest) and Starfield became much more engaging as more quests, more characters and more locations emerged. By the time I stopped playing to get some much-needed rest, my enjoyment of the game really intensified complete with a growing sense of wonder about what awaits me in the huge galaxy Bethesda prepared. That being said, I went back to playing Starfield yesterday and I found myself enjoying it even more as I proceeded with the main quest while finding time to do side-quests. I have gotten more proficient with the way the game functions.

Right now, I am really eager to keep on playing Starfield during my free time, discover more within the game and have more fun along the way. Literally, I am only scratching the surface with Bethesda’s sci-fi RPG and as I played it, there were moments when I noticed the game had some similarities with Obsidian Entertainment’s own sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds.

My character and the first-ever spaceship I got.

If you are eager to acquire a digital copy of Starfield, head on to https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/starfield

To get yourselves oriented early, check out Team Xbox’s Starfield guides by clicking here, here and here.

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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Konami admits 2023 release of Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is uncertain as more time is needed to ensure quality performance

Konami admits 2023 release of Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is uncertain as more time is needed to ensure quality performance

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Not so long after the confirmed delay of release of the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (now set for 2024), Xbox fans, JRPG enthusiasts and Suikoden fans (including those who own different game consoles) will have to adjust themselves for the potential delay of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars as Konami admitted online that a 2023 release is uncertain as more time is needed in order to ensure quality and enjoyment.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official update from Konami. Some parts in boldface…

Regarding the planned release of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars, we have reached the conclusion that despite the very best efforts of our dedicated development staff to release the Remasters in 2023, additional time is needed to ensure the quality performance and gameplay experience our users deserve.

The entire Suikoden team is renewing our efforts to bring Suikoden I & II HD Remaster to release as soon as is possible. We will share further release information as soon as it becomes available, on our official social media accounts and official homepage.

There you have it! Konami is struggling to keep its promise of a 2023 release of the remastered Suikoden and Suikoden II (read my retro review). If a delay does happen, there is no telling if the release will still happen within this year or in 2024 (the worst case scenario). Konami made clear it wants to release Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars as soon as possible and they know very well that there are many Suikoden fans within the Xbox community, the PlayStation community, Nintendo community and PC gamers who play via Steam. Konami also knows that there is a huge market of gamers worldwide who enjoy Japanese RPGs but never got to play the early Suikoden games.

I played the original Suikoden on PlayStation way back in 1996 and I would love replay it on my Xbox Series X console.
Suikoden II is one of the best Japanese RPGs not made by Square Enix that I have ever played. This I really look forward to replaying on my Xbox Series X.

While the uncertainty of a 2023 release of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is suggestive of a delay just waiting to happen, in my experience the wait won’t be too painful as Starfield and Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released soon and those Xbox-exclusives will keep many gamers occupied. Take note that Sea of Stars has just been released and already it gathered many positive reviews and more people on the Xbox ecosystem (including those subscribing on Xbox Game Pass) are playing it. Right now, we can only hope that Konami and its team can ensure that the remastered Suikoden and Suikoden II will come out with top-notch quality and with a lot fun whether a delay is happening or note.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Konami will delay Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars for release in 2024?

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, 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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes release delayed to 2024

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes release delayed to 2024

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If you are an Xbox gamer who loves playing Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) who missed the news, better brace yourselves for enduring another long wait as the release of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (bound for Xbox Game Pass) has officially been delayed to 2024. The game being made by Rabbit & Bear was previously announced for a 2023 release. The video below ended with “Coming 2023.”

To put things into perspective about the delay, posted below is the excerpt from the game developer’s recent update at Kickstarter.com. Some parts in boldface…

In order to deliver a game that many fans have supported, we announce a revised release date of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, with the game now due during Calendar Year Q2 of 2024. The decision was made in order to ensure the best possible story, and to reward the legion of backer with the best game experience possible.

Ever since Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was first announced, I got excited for it knowing it was the spiritual successor to Suikoden RPGs and its development team Rabbit & Bear had Suikoden creators involved. The JRPG (along with the spin-off 2D adventure game Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising) was the most pleasant surprise I saw during the 2021 Xbox Bethesda Games Showcase and the confirmation of it coming to Xbox Game Pass added to my excitement. Take a look at the 2021 video below.

I was really looking forward to playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on my Xbox Series X this year because I wanted a different kind of Japanese RPG to play (note: I played and finished the remastered Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch on my Xbox months ago and I am still playing Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Collection) and also I wanted a gameplay experience inspired by the first two Suikoden RPGs of the 1990s (note: Konami has yet to release the remastered games this year) which I really enjoyed (note: read my Suikoden II retro review).

While it is a little discouraging to wait until the 2nd quarter of 2024 to play Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, I say let’s just leave it up to the game developers to finish their work and make it the best possible JRPG it could be. Besides, there is the massive sci-fi Bethesda RPG Starfield and Turn 10’s Forza Motorsport (2023) to enjoy before the year ends and those two are the hottest Xbox-exclusive games to look forward to. Antstream Arcade is already entertaining Xbox fans with over a thousand retro games made available and for more future releases, watch out for announcements at Gamescom 2023 where Team Xbox will have a huge presence. By mid-2024, the number of Xbox Game Pass subscribers worldwide should get higher. That being said, the delay of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is not too painful in my view.

Let’s hope that developer Rabbit & Bear will ensure Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes to be a great JRPG to play once its 2024 release happens.

In ending this piece, posted below are recent Xbox-related videos for your enjoyment.

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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

Huge Xbox presence at Gamescom 2023

Huge Xbox presence at Gamescom 2023

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As far as Team Xbox is concerned, the road ahead is crucial and they announced that they will have a huge presence at Gamescom (also referred to as gamescom) this month in Germany. A huge presence in the sense that they will showcase first-party games as well as games from their strategic partners. The two major Xbox-exclusive games Starfield and Forza Motorsport (2023) will each have theatrical showcases there in Germany.

To find out more, posted below are selected excerpts from the Xbox.com announcement. Some parts in boldface…

Xbox Booth – We’ll have over 30 titles in the booth awaiting eager players, spread across over 150 gaming stations, amazing photo ops and experiences, and a specially constructed 300-seater theatre. 

Attendees will be able to check out exclusive theatre presentations from Bethesda Game Studios’ highly anticipated Starfield, as well as upcoming Xbox Game Studios releases Forza Motorsport from the developers at Turn 10 Studios, and Ara: History Untold from the team at Oxide Games. Towerborne, the newest adventure from the developers at Stoic and unveiled at the Xbox Showcase, will be hands-on for the first time and we’ll have the latest content coming to The Elder Scrolls Online and Microsoft Flight Simulator. 

Over 25 titles from our third-party partners and ID@Xbox friends will be playable on the booth. This includes the world debuts of GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2, Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios’ Payday 3, DontNod’s recently announced Jusant, FromSoftware’s ARMORED CORE VI: Fires of Rubicon, Recreate Games’ Party Animals, CD PROJEKT RED’s Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Spotlight by Quantic Dream’s Under the Waves, Sega Atlus‘ Persona 5 Tactica and many more. 

Attendees can also come and help us celebrate 10 years of ID@Xbox and experience a diverse range of ID@Xbox titles for hands-on, including Paradox’s Lamplighter’s League, Thunderful’s SteamWorld Build, Amplifier’s Lightyear Frontier, and lots more. Whatever you’re into, the Xbox booth will have something for you. For the full list of titles playable on the Xbox booth visit here.

And make sure you don’t miss out on the PC Game Pass Challenge! This adventure offers participants a fun opportunity to win thousands of exciting prizes including PC Game Pass memberships, OMEN gaming laptops, HyperX headsets, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW Ultimate memberships. Get ready to discover your next favorite PC games with PC Game Pass and reach new possibilities to game however, wherever you want.

Xbox remains committed to the belief that gaming should be safe, inclusive, and accessible for all. We’re ensuring that all areas of the booth are wheelchair accessible and Xbox Adaptive Controllers will be available on request, as well as select demo stations with adjustable height desks. We will also have multiple American Sign Language (ASL) and German Sign Language (DGS) interpreters and “Here to Help” staff to assist players of all abilities. Additionally, we’ll have sensory aids and a quiet room for anyone who needs them. 

You will be able to find us at Hall 8 of the Koelnmesse, North entrance. See below for the consumer show opening times:  

  • Thursday, August 24 – 10:00am – 8:00pm CEST  
  • Friday, August 25 – 10:00am – 8:00pm CEST  
  • Saturday, August 26 – 9:00am – 8:00 pm CEST  
  • Sunday, August 27 – 9:00am – 8:00pm CEST 

Xbox @ gamescom 2023: Live From The Showfloor – No matter where you are in the world, we will bring gamescom 2023 to you, with three days of approx. 3 hour live streams direct from the Xbox booth.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, join Team Xbox and friends for a series of streams taking a deeper dive into some of the highly-anticipated games at gamescom 2023, with gameplay, developer chats and community segments to give you a flavour of the show.

Whether you join us for every stream, or just dip in for the latest on your most anticipated titles, we’re looking forward to connecting with fans across the globe and showing off some of the amazing games coming to Xbox.

Keep an eye on Xbox Social channels for the full content schedule in the days leading up to gamescom.

The live English-language broadcast from Xbox’s gamescom booth will be available in German, Castilian Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish and Latin America Spanish along with ASL and English Audio Descriptions. You can catch the Xbox Booth @gamescom Live Stream on regional Xbox channels on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and elsewhere.

Xbox Social Media Coverage – For all the latest updates on Xbox at gamescom this year, stay tuned to the @Xbox X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube social channels, and the @XboxDACH Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube social channels. We’re using #Xboxgamescom as our event hashtag. 

To those who have been anticipating Starfield‘s worldwide release on September 6, 2023, expect to see a wave of videos and promos for the sci-fi epic RPG happen immediately with Gamescom no matter how the theatrical showcase of it will turn out. While Forza Motorsport (2023) will have its own increase of pre-release promotions and gameplay emphasis heading towards its October 10 launch, the Gamescom theatrical presentations could create new and exciting buzz for Xbox-exclusive games Ara: History Untold and Towerborne.

Xbox-exclusive Starfield is set for September 6, 2023 worlwide release.
Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released on October 10 exclusively on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC.

As for the other games part of Xbox at the convention, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl could surprise and delight gamers with its latest updates and, hopefully, a release date. The game is bound for Xbox Game Pass (XGP) and here is hoping it will deliver the exciting stuff for gamers who have been anticipating it.

ARMORED CORE VI: Fires of Rubicon, Jusant and Persona 5 Tactica could each attract their own audiences at the convention.

Watch out for Xbox at Gamescom this month.

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

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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. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Team Xbox and Square Enix renew business relationship as Final Fantasy XIV Online gets set for Xbox Series X|S launch in 2024

Team Xbox and Square Enix renew business relationship as Final Fantasy XIV Online gets set for Xbox Series X|S launch in 2024

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Things have been turning out positively for Team Xbox and its millions of fans worldwide in recent times. Not so long after the big breakthrough for the Xbox-Activision-Blizzard deal and the launch of Antstream Arcade on Xbox, Team Xbox and Square Enix officially renewed their business relationship and symbolically it has been confirmed that Final Fantasy XIV Online got set for launch on Xbox Series X|S in 2024.

For the newcomers reading this, over the past years a notable number of Square Enix games were released without versions on Xbox consoles. It is already out in the open that Sony had been signing deals with game publishers and developers to exclude Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass so that the PlayStation platforms will gain the competitive edge (click here and here). This seems evident in Square Enix’s announcement of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection coming to multiple platforms except Xbox.

Going to what happened this past weekend, almost out of nowhere Xbox chief Phil Spencer appeared alongside Square Enix CEO Takashi Kiryu and Square Enix video game producer Naoki Yoshida (AKA Yoshi-P) on stage during a Las Vegas event and symbolically confirmed the renewal of their business relationship. Adding credibility to the renewal was the announcement of Final Fantasy XIV for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the Tweet from Xbox chief Phil Spencer himself…

Posted below is the excerpt about the big development from Windows Central Gaming’s report. Some parts in boldface…

Out of nowhere, today, Square Enix was joined on stage by Microsoft Gaming CEO and Xbox lead Phil Spencer to reveal that Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn is finally coming to Xbox consoles in 2024.

Final Fantasy 14 is one of the best MMORPGs on the market, and one of the only credible alternatives to World of Warcraft, an MMO that Microsoft is poised to soon own with the Activision-Blizzard deal likely going through. FF14 has brought some serious competition to WoW in recent years, forcing Blizzard to up its game. It seems Square Enix isn’t taking that lying down either, announcing its own fresh expansion coming next summer, dubbed Dawntrail.

Additionally, incoming Square Enix CEO Takashi Kiryu had some warm things to say about Xbox that fans will no doubt be eager to hear (via Nova_Crystallis). Kiryu praised Phil Spencer for his “support” in bringing Final Fantasy 14 to Xbox. I believe Microsoft had to revert some of its long-standing Windows store policies around third-party content delivery networks in order to help get FF14 onto Xbox, and Spencer was naturally likely instrumental in getting that policy change through. Surprisingly, Kiryu also said that “with today’s announcement, and wherever possible, we are planning to bring our games to Xbox.”

“First off, I have thank you Phil-san for making the Xbox version of FF14 a reality. This is a project that would not have been possible without Spencer’s support. Please give him the biggest round of applause. As CEO of Square Enix, we want to continue to deliver fabulous games to fans across the globe. We want to welcome the Xbox community as well. Starting with today’s announcement and whenever possible we are planning to bring our games to Xbox for players to enjoy. Final Fantasy XIV is only going to get bigger and better. So I hope Xbox players give it a try.” – Takashi Kiryu, Square Enix CEO

Xbox lead Phil Spencer also emphasized that he looks forward to “building” on the relationship that brought Final Fantasy 14 to Xbox, and wants to partner with Square Enix on future games as well.

Indeed the renewal of ties between Xbox and Square Enix is a very positive breakthrough that will benefit not only the many millions of Xbox gamers (including those using Windows PC) worldwide but for video gaming as a whole. While Square Enix still has contracts signed with PlayStation still in effect, they and Team Xbox can collaborate on other available games for Xbox release. Whatever feelings you have towards the company behind the Final Fantasy games, this development opens the possibilities of releasing Legend of Mana games and a potential remaster of Xenogears on Xbox platforms. There is also the potential that Team Xbox can sign new deals with the Japanese titan to release more of its games on Xbox Game Pass (XGP).

While Final Fantasy XIV Online’s Xbox launch is still some time away, Xbox gamers have a lot to enjoy along the way with exclusives such as Starfield and Forza Motorsport (2023). Looking at the Xbox ecosystem as a whole, the renewed Xbox-Square Enix ties means more games from the Japanese titan will be released in the near future. Square Enix’s RPGs – both modern and classic – will add weight to Xbox as the ecosystem for RPG fans. That being said, I encourage you Xbox gamers to watch out for SE’s future releases. Also you might want to try the existing Square Enix RPGs still available on the Xbox store such as Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition.

Final Fantasy XIV Online on Xbox

To gain a deeper understanding of the Final Fantasy XIV Online announcement, posted below is the excerpt from the Xbox.com article. Some parts in boldface…

After much anticipation, it’s finally confirmed – critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online is officially coming to Xbox Series X|S.

First announced at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest 2023 in Las Vegas by FFXIV Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida and CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer, let’s break down the announcement and reveal and what it means for Xbox gamers now that one of gaming’s most welcoming communities is set to get even bigger!

What is Final Fantasy XIV Online? – Firstly, if you’re not familiar with Final Fantasy XIV Online, as the name would suggest, it’s the fourteenth mainline game in the highly esteemed Final Fantasy series. As with all mainline numbered Final Fantasy games however, each entry is a standalone game that doesn’t require any previous experience with the franchise. If you’ve never played a Final Fantasy game before, FFXIV is the perfect place to jump in!

FFXIV takes place in the world of Hydaelyn – a vibrant planet blessed by the Light of the Crystal. Amid azure seas, encompassing the westernmost of the Three Great Continents, there lies a realm embraced by gods and forged by heroes. Her name — Eorzea. It is here that your tale begins to unfold. Beckoned by the Mothercrystal — the source of all life — you must embark upon a quest to deliver the land from an eternity of Darkness.

As an online massively multiplayer role-playing game, FFXIV offers a realm where you and 27 million adventurers worldwide can embark on epic quests together. Filled with bustling cities, towering forests, and deadly deserts, FFXIV’s constantly updated, and ever-engaging world takes you to the far reaches of the land and beyond, with a captivating and ongoing story. But it isn’t just about defeating massive monsters with your personalized Warrior of Light. You can also gather materials and craft items, enjoy series staples including Chocobos, Moogles, and Airships, enjoy a day of mini-games and mahjong at the Gold Saucer, and even buy a house.

Your adventure, played your way! – If all this sounds a bit overwhelming, never fear! Though initially designed to be played online with others, FFXIV includes a feature called the Duty Support system that enables tackling content with a party of NPC allies as opposed to other players. In fact, by the time the open beta launches it’ll be possible to complete all the main story dungeons from A Realm Reborn through Endwalker solo, enabling you to comfortably experience the stories of Eorzea on their own.

When can I play it…and what have I heard about a Free Trial? – Final Fantasy XIV Online is set to launch in open beta on Xbox Series X|S as part of the Patch 6.5x series, which means you can expect it very soon indeed! Alongside 4K support on Xbox Series X, both consoles will enjoy fast loading times, making sure your time in Eorzea looks and plays great.

Additionally, you may have seen some copypasta lurking around the internet pertaining to a certain free trial… well, rest assured, the Final Fantasy XIV Online Expanded Free Trial will indeed be coming to Xbox Series X|S, meaning you too will be able to enjoy the entirety of A Realm Reborn as well as the award-winning Heavensward and Stormblood expansions up to level 70 with no restrictions on playtime!

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

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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. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Play over 1,000 retro games on Xbox with Antstream Arcade!

Play over 1,000 retro games on Xbox with Antstream Arcade!

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If you are long-time gamer who misses the many fun games from them past, then you will delighted to know that you can play over one thousand retro games on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One with the Antstream Arcade service which is now available for $29.99 annual subscription and $79.99 lifetime pass.

For the newcomers reading this, Antstream Arcade is the grand gaming arcade with over 1,300 classic games from the 1980s to the 2000s that were released across varied platforms such as the video arcade, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the PlayStation One to name a few. Antstream Arcade on Xbox platforms just made the global Xbox ecosystem even more exciting to those who love playing multiple types of games. Posted below is the official Xbox launch trailer of Antstream Arcade!

To gain a deeper understanding of Antstream Arcade on Xbox, posted below is an excerpt from the Xbox.com article. Some parts in boldface…

We’re excited to share that Antstream Arcade, a cross-platform streaming platform focusing on retro games, is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, bringing its current library of over 1,300 retro games to Xbox consoles. Jump in today and play classics like Mortal Kombat, Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Earthworm Jim from your couch. Experience classic PS1 and Nintendo games such as Loaded, Indiana Jones Greatest Adventures, and Super Star Wars with your Xbox controller in hand. With Antstream Arcade you can experience these games today, fully optimized, and ready to go at the push of a button. Simply create an account, sign in, and start playing!

The Importance of Game Curation to Antstream – When the company was formed in 2013, one of the key motivations behind the product was preservation. There are decades of incredible games which are no longer available legally. Sure, many of these titles can be downloaded and played with emulators and ROMs but that experience is uncomfortable. The configuration of Emulators and ROMs is a technological barrier for many gamers.

Antstream’s easy ‘pick up and play’ mechanic makes these games accessible to everyone. In my position as Customer Support manager, I’ve had emails from six-year-old kids telling me that they’ve had a blast playing Double Dragon. Another recent email was from a 72-year-old who needed help completing Dizzy. Antstream is incredibly easy to use.

“Many of us grew up playing these games, so the ability to stream them on Xbox consoles and share these experiences with our friends and family is incredible,” said Sarah Bond, CVP of game creator experience and ecosystem at Microsoft. “We’re pleased that with Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub’s technology benefits and Azure cloud services we can help enable Antstream to reach more players.”

Coming back to the preservation aspect. It’s painful to see games lost to time. Antstream is a fantastic platform for people to experience games that they have never played before. Also, to find and discover games that were cancelled or not released. We are crafting a catalogue of titles which raise awareness of gaming history and keep the spirit of their creators alive.

This has been recognized by TIGA, Antstream has won an award for games curation.

New’ Retro Games on the Platform –  A unique aspect to Antstream’s approach to game curation is how we support independent developers who are continuing to release games on retro platforms. For example, Turbo Tomato is an Amiga game released last year. It has become hugely popular thanks to Antstream. We also include these in our challenges and tournaments.

Challenges and Tournaments – Antstream is also creating longer lasting appeal with classic games with our unique challenge system. These titles are back-engineered to create a competitive system which allows you to experience these well-loved titles in new ways. These are ‘game modes’ such as ‘one-life challenges’ that extend the life of these titles and create new interest in the community.

In the past 12 months, we have introduced a new mode called Giant Slayer. This is centered around our growing community. One person sets up a challenge and then is presented to the community. They must try and beat the challenger for kudos and precious gems. Giant Slayer challenges are created by the players for other players. This keeps our community constantly engaged and involved in the product in a greater way than other streaming services.

We also feature tournaments. Here you can pit your high scores and feats against others in games like Dig Dug, Marble Madness, Double Dragon and Mortal Kombat. Scoring highly in these contests payout gems that you can spend on other games or for entering future tournaments.

The ‘power’ of Antstream – Speaking to Microsoft Game Dev Blog about how Azure powered Antstream, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Antstream Arcade Steve Cottam shared, “Microsoft was the right technical ally for us because it has a high density of servers globally, which was how we knew we could scale our service. By connecting gameplay to a nearby Azure virtual machine, we make sure that the time between a player pressing a controller button and something appearing on their screen is less than 50 milliseconds.”

In addition, there is this very in-depth video that answers a lot of questions about Antstream Arcade posted below for you all…

Having Antstream Arcade on Xbox is very appealing to me personally. I still have some fondness of games I played long ago on the arcades such as Elevator Action Returns, Star Wars, Defender, Robotron: 2084, BurgerTime, Cloak & Dagger, Fighter’s History, Double Dragon, Space Invaders and Asteroids plus so many others I cannot just write down here. Not only that, Antstream Arcade is also an opportunity for me to play many, many other games I never got to play such as Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures (SNES), Metal Dragon (MSX), and more.

As mentioned in the Xbox.com article, it was indeed a great move for Microsoft to be the definitive technical ally for the Antstream Arcade developers not only because of the established global servers available but also because the retro gaming service fits right in with the Xbox ecosystem of games and the global userbase of millions.

The Cloak & Dagger arcade game that had a severely limited release decades ago has gotten more available for millions of users via Antstream Arcade on Xbox.
The arcade hit Elevator Action Returns.
The Super NES version of Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
Star Wars arcade game.
Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures on SNES.

One of these days, I will avail of Antstream Arcade to make the gaming experience on my Xbox Series X even more in-depth. It will be a matter of timing, cost, the number of games updated and how the Antstream Arcade developers will be able to fix whatever bugs they will encounter as the service has just launched. If you are already availing of the retro games service and you encountered technical glitches, you better report to the developers online.

To see what games to expect to Antstream Arcade, check out Pure Xbox’s very long list by clicking here.

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

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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. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.