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.
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 Starfieldand 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.
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 Starfieldand 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.
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…
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.
Among the many games shown, Team Xbox formally announced an improved version of the Xbox Series S console – a carbon black Xbox Series S loaded with 1 Terabyte SSD all set for commercial release on September 1, 2023 with a price tag of $349.99. This machine is also referred to as Xbox Series S – 1TB.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official Xbox.com announcement. Some parts in boldface…
Meet the new Carbon Black Series S with 1TB of storage. Whether you’re looking to upgrade from your current console or are new to Xbox, the Xbox Series S – 1TB offers you another option within the Xbox family of devices. The bold Carbon Black color is the same sleek, modern matte finish as Xbox Series X and the Xbox Wireless Controller. This console features the same next-gen speed and performance of our 512GB Series S, now with double the storage so you can download even more of your favorite games to your console where they’ll be ready to play when you are. Plus, you’ll make the most of every gaming minute with features like Quick Resume, lightning-fast load times, and gameplay of up to 120 FPS – all powered by Xbox Velocity Architecture.
Better Together – Xbox Series S pairs seamlessly with all our fan-favorite Xbox accessories. You can also add an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription (membership sold separately) so you can play new games built natively for Xbox Series S and X like Starfield and Forza Motorsport on day one. Plus with games added all the time, there’s always something new to play.
Available Worldwide September 1 – Launching September 1 (just in time for Starfield), pre-orders for Xbox Series S – 1TB start today at xbox.com or microsoftstore.com for $349.99 ERP. We’ll be adding more retailers and regions in the weeks to come.
Now watch the official Team Xbox YouTube video below…
If you ask me, I don’t intend to buy the Xbox Series S – 1TB as I already own an Xbox Series X console which is the more expensive machine as it is a premium product. Still, there is no denying that the Xbox Series S – 1TB and its older (soon to be phased out) predecessor strongly appeal to gamers who have limited amounts of money to buy new game consoles, as well as gamers who don’t care much about 4K resolution gaming and movie viewing at home.
Xbox Series S – 1TB release on September 1 is very strategic as the epic Bethesda-developed Xbox-exclusive sci-fi RPG Starfield will be released just days after. A little over a month later, the Xbox-exclusive Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released. Sometime in 2024, the Obsidian-developed Xbox-exclusive fantasy RPG Avowedwill be released. I would not be surprised to see the Xbox Series S – 1TB sell a lot (note: first-time gamers as well as owners of the old Xbox One consoles and even those with Xbox Series S consoles will be more likely customers) before those Xbox exclusives get released and eventually more new subscribers to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) (note: I encourage you to subscribe) will be realized. There will also be a lot of other new games, game compilations and remastered games that will be released in the 4th quarter this year.
Watch out for Xbox Series S – 1TB on September 1, 2023.
Recently as Team Xbox announced the July 2023 lineup of games added on the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) subscription service, the inclusion of the massive best-selling open-world game Grand Theft Auto V (GTAV) turned out to be the biggest surprise of them all.
Franklin traveling on waves. This entire sequence ran smoothly at 60FPS with ray tracing enabled.
To be very clear, this is not GTAV’s first time to be in XGP. In fact, it was made available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers in limited time periods in 2020 and 2021. In my case, since I bought my Xbox Series X console and subscribed to XGP in late-2021, this is my first time to play GTAV on the service and the first time in years for me to replay the game since the Xbox One version. Oh yes, I first played GTAV on Xbox 360 way back in 2013.
What makes GTAV’s newest return to the service significant is that it includes the most updated versions of the game optimized specifically for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. This means that the next-generation console graphical enhancements include the Fidelity Mode, the Performance Mode and the Performance RT Mode, and only the Xbox Series X is capable of those three. Refer to the details below sourced from GINX.TV
GTA 5 Fidelity Mode – The highest visual quality possible and targets 30 fps. PS5 and Xbox Series X supports native 4k resolution in this mode with Ray Tracing enabled. Xbox Series S supports upscaled 4K resolution.
GTA 5 Performance Mode – Performance Mode in targets 60 fps for the most responsive, smoothest gameplay experience yet on PS5 and Xbox Series X, with an upscaled 4K resolution. Xbox Series S, on the other hand, supports a resolution of 1080p in Performance Mode targetting 60 fps.
GTA 5 Performance RT Mode – The Performance Ray Tracing Mode is only available for PS5 and Xbox Series X, and is not supported on the Series S console. This is a hybrid between the Performance and Fidelity modes. It targets 60 fps with Ray Tracing enabled, with an upscaled 4K resolution to boot.
This huge crash happened during one of the scores in the game. Captured on Performance RT Mode.
That being said, I started playing Grand Theft Auto V on my Xbox Series X via XGP with the Performance Mode setting for the graphics followed many hours later with the Performance RT (ray tracing) Mode.
As such, I am enjoying replaying the game with super smooth 60 frames-per-second (60FPS) and I can say it made the single-player gameplay experience more fun and engaging to do. Since I enjoy the 60FPS frame rate a lot, I will play the game with the Fidelity Mode some time later.
With Starfieldand Forza Motorsport (2023) launching on Xbox Game Pass this September and October respectively, playing GTAV on the service with the Xbox Series X console is strongly recommended. That being said, there is no telling how long with Rockstar’s game remain on XGP. If you are already an XGP subscriber with an Xbox Series X console and you love open-world games, then you should avail of Grand Theft Auto V while it is still available. Xbox Series S-owning XGP subscribers can still enjoy 60FPS gaming with the Rockstar game.
Go and play Grand Theft Auto V on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console while it is still available on XGP.
In concluding this post, posted below are Xbox-related videos for your enjoyment.
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.
If you are feeling nostalgic about the Indiana Jones franchise and want to revisit the very first movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, then you are not alone. The new movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (made by the woke Disney company and handled by the unpopular Kathleen Kennedy with James Mangold as director) turned off a lot of long-time fans and this incidentally created renewed interest about the very first movie from 1981. For the newcomers reading this, Indiana Jones is the joint creation of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and they eventually collaborated together in making four Indy movies from 1981 to 2008. To learn more about Raiders of the Lost Ark and how the movie came to be, watch the videos below…
#2 Starfield is approaching and you can prepare yourselves for it
Starfield, the epic sci-fi role-playing game (RPG) from Bethesda (Skyrim, Fallout 4), is coming out on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass with an official release date of September 6, 2023. For those of you who missed out on the recent Xbox Games Showcase, you can still catch up and learn more about the Xbox-exclusive Starfield by watching the videos below…
Recently, Planetshakers released online the music video of their worship song Worthy is the Lamb (note: Words by Noah Walker and Andy Harrison, Music by Joth Hunt). The said song is indeed holy, beautiful and will help you move closer to the Lord. Just take note that this Planetshakers worship song is not to be confused with Hillsong Worship’s song with the same title. Watch the official Planetshakers music video of Worthy is the Lamb and the story video below…
#4 Get ready for Forza Motorsport (2023) this October
It took Team Xbox and Turn 10 a long time but they finally revealed that their much-anticipated Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released on October 10, 2023 only on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. In relation to the announced release date, Turn 10 released a new trailer as well as an in-depth examination of the game. Watch the following videos of Forza Motorsport (2023) below…
#5 A look back at Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures
For those of you who are still feeling nostalgic or still craving for more Indiana Jones-related content, be aware that way back in the mid-1990s, there was an official video game of the cinematic icon – Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures. While I myself played the Super Star Wars games on the Super NES back in those days, I never got to play Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures which itself was an official adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and made with side-scrolling adventuring in mind with a few Mode 7 sections set up to prevent the game from being too repetitive. Check out the following videos below…
Finally, the much-anticipated Xbox-exclusive simulation racing game Forza Motorsport (2023) is set for a global release on October 10, 2023 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC with availability on Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass and Steam. This was announced during the recent Xbox Games Showcase 2023/Starfield Directdouble feature.
To begin with, watch the official game trailer below…
To put things in perspective about what gamers can expect from Forza Motorsport (2023), posted below are selected excerpts from the official Xbox.com article written by Turn 10 Studios’ Creative Director Chris Esaki. Some parts in boldface…
Experience Over 500 Cars at Launch – As we mentioned in January, Forza Motorsport launches with 20 completely rebuilt tracks from around the world with multiple layouts, including 5 never-before-seen tracks in a Motorsport game. Each feature fully dynamic time-of-day with weather, living crowds, and tracks that rubber in and react to temperature changes.
As for the cars you’ll be racing on these tracks, Forza Motorsport starts with over 500 cars at release including modern race cars.
See all the cars you want here?
Wield Specialized Track Competitors in the Builders Cup Career Mode – Out-build the competition by earning over 800 performance upgrades and race our most advanced AI opponents yet in an all-new, fun and rewarding single-player campaign, the Builders Cup Career Mode.
Race the World Alongside Your Friends – Compete for the podium in Featured Multiplayer events with a race weekend inspired structure or create the racing you and your friends desire in Free Play.
A sneak peek at the car customization.
Online racing is safer, more fun, and more competitive with AI-powered Forza Race Regulations, tire and fuel strategy, and new driver and safety ratings.
Pre-order Forza Motorsport to Receive Early Access – Pre-order the Forza Motorsport Premium Edition and be first on the starting line with 5 days of early access beginning October 5, 2023. Xbox Game Pass members, as well as Forza Motorsport Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition players, can upgrade to the Premium Add-Ons Bundle to receive early access and all other add-on content included in the Premium Edition.
Steam players, add Forza Motorsport to your wish list starting today to be notified when pre-orders are available and follow the game to receive the latest news and announcements delivered to your Steam library.
That’s not all! A short time after the Xbox Games Showcase, Turn 10 organized a walkthrough with actual gameplay of Forza Motorsport (2023) (running on Xbox Series X at 4K resolution and 60FPS) which emphasized what gamers can expect and enjoy. You can watch it in the video below and I encourage you to watch it entirely.
I have been anticipating Forza Motorsport (2023) for a really long time now and I really am looking forward to its October 10 release. I am eager to experience Turn 10’s new approach on the career mode (level-build-dominate according to Chris Esaki) as well as enduring the thrill and suspense of simulation racing with next-generation technologies implemented complete with time-of-day changes, in-game weather effects, tire traction on varied surfaces and more.
I am looking forward to other gameplay features such as online racing, car customization, the new car mastery system, acquiring/collecting cars, racing against the promised more advanced AI, experiencing the benefits of the revamped physics and much more.
In-game night driving as shown in the most recent trailer.
As seen in the above Forza Motorsport (2023) gameplay presentation, Chris Esaki emphasized the relationship between the player and the car as the core concept of the single-player experience. In my view, this is a daring change compared to the typical single-player approach of racing to win in-game money to be able to customize cars and buy new cars as you make your way through. How the new approach by Turn 10 will impact simulation racing games as we know it remains to be seen.
Watch out for Forza Motorsport (2023) on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC with availability on Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass and Steam on October 10, 2023. Those who have money to afford for the premium edition of the game can enjoy early access starting October 5.
In concluding this post, posted below are Forza Motorsport (2023) and Xbox-related videos for your enjoyment.
inXile Entertainment, the Xbox studio behind Wasteland 3, is back with their brand new Xbox-exclusive game Clockwork Revolution which turned out to be one of the biggest reveals of the Xbox Games Showcase 2023/Starfield Directdouble feature. While no release date has been set, the game will be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC with availability on Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass and Steam.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the official Xbox.com article describing Clockwork Revolution. Some parts in boldface…
This is a fantastical, first-person action RPG, with dynamic time-bending combat, deep interconnected roleplaying systems, and the ability to create your own unique character from the ground up. The project is led by Game Director Chad Moore and Principal Designer Jason Anderson, who just happen to have created one of the greatest steampunk RPGs of all time—Arcanum.
Setting and Story – Clockwork Revolution takes place in the vibrant Victorian-era metropolis of Avalon, where steam trains fly overhead, wealthy industrialists replace their limbs with ornate clockwork prosthetics, and mechanical servants fulfill their masters’ every whim.
A vibrant steampunk society with a legacy waiting to be discovered in Clockwork Revolution.
But this new age of wonders holds a dark secret—it’s been carefully constructed by the ruthless Lady Ironwood. Through use of a time travel device, she’s changed key moments in Avalon’s history, keeping the working class struggling in the slums and factories, while bringing herself immense wealth and power. That’s where you come in…
Time Travel and The Chronometer – Discovering Ironwood’s scheme, you’ll use a wondrous device known as the Chronometer to travel back in time, choose how to influence the past, and then return to the present to experience the effects of your decisions. Through unprecedented and complex visual and narrative depth, the choices you make on your trips into the past will change the people, the stories, and the city of Avalon itself in extraordinary and (very often) unexpected ways. In Clockwork Revolutionwe’re pushing roleplaying reactivity to new heights, infused with the unique texture and personality that you’ve come to expect from our games.
Looks like a huge boss you will have to fight.
This is an exciting project for us at inXile. Not only is Clockwork Revolution our first fully-fledged Xbox Game Studios release, but from start to finish we’re utilizing the resources and support of Microsoft and Xbox to create our studio’s first AAA first-person action RPG.
What inXile is doing with Clockwork Revolution is very ambitious. What they showed during the Xbox Games Showcase made lots of gamers online make quick comparisons with BioShock Infinite as they are both first-person games that involve shooting, exploration, intense action and interaction with fantasy settings that are eerily similar between them. While it is not clear how far inXile has gone with the progress of game development, the Clockwork Revolution unveiling last week showed signs of high production values here and there, and it is clear that the developers have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and bring to players in due time.
Always make sure your weapons are fully loaded before going on a mission.
Right now, I am excited for Clockwork Revolution and I can only hope that the high production values inXile showed during the showcase will be maintained until they finish making the game. I really want to explore the game’s world, see how the time-traveling feature will deepen the gameplay and experience how much fun the Xbox-exclusive game will turn out. Not only that, I want to see how inXile will implement role-playing and what they could do with the steampunk concept in relation to the storytelling and gameplay.
Clockwork Revolution is most likely a few years away from release. We can only hope that inXile won’t be hampered during the development. Right now they have a lot of resources and a long development process ahead of them.
In concluding this post, posted below are Xbox-related videos for your enjoyment.
Following the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Directdouble feature, excitement is high for Xbox-exclusive games as well as other games coming into the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) subscription service plus the others that the 3rd party game publishers will be releasing.
During the showcase, I was very delighted to see the gameplay trailer of Avowed, the brand-new fantasy role-playing game (RPG) from genre specialists Obsidian Entertainment (an Xbox game studio) for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC with availability on Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass and Steam. The Xbox-exclusive RPG should be released sometime in 2024.
Avowed’s recent showing is significant not only because it is the first major update in three years but also because Team Xbox and the developers showed a trailer that ran on in-game graphics and featured the first-ever gameplay clips. To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Xbox.com article written by Obsidian’s studio head Feargus Urquhart. Some parts in boldface…
Expanding the universe that we created for the original Pillars of Eternity games, Avowed brings a new perspective, a new way to fight, and a new land to explore in the world of Eora. The Pillars games are near and dear to us and we can’t wait to share Avowed with everyone next year.
In Avowed, you’ll explore the Living Lands, a plagued, wild island set in the world of Eora. The Living Lands are full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choice and consequences.
What comes to your mind with this view from Avowed’s fantasy world?
Unique to the world of Eora, the Living Lands is home to bustling port towns and rolling hills adorned with weird and fantastical plant life. Every part of the Living Lands is home to its own ecosystem. Around every corner there are creatures, sentient mushrooms, or tribes of lizard-like Xaurips looking to make you their next meal…
As with all our past RPGs, the companions in Avowed play a major role in your adventure. The first companion you will find is Kai, the narrator of this gameplay trailer. Kai is a Coastal Aumaua currently residing in the Living Lands and is one of the only friendly faces you’ll find here. He is a former soldier, and his idealistic and pragmatic temperament will help guide you as you venture out into this wild frontier.
First-person combat has been a huge focus for us. We’ve incorporated a host of ways for players to fight the flora and fauna of the Living Lands. You will have swords, shields, pistols, magical spells, and more at your disposal, including the ability to dual wield, creating a vast number of combinations to choose from.
A look at the first-person combat in the game.
With combat so full of possibility, diversity in choice will be needed as you explore the treacherous Living Lands. Home to the Xuarips, plagued undead, and dangerous flora, this island is full of unique enemies to encounter.
We’re looking forward to sharing much, much more with everyone as we get closer to the release of Avowed next year.
I have reasons to be very excited for Avowed which happens to be one of the main reasons I bought an Xbox Series X and subscribed to Xbox Game Pass. In my experience as a gamer, I played past RPGs that Obsidian Entertainment made such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II on the original Xbox console, Fallout: New Vegas on the Xbox One and The Outer Worlds on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X. Whatever concept or type of gameplay they came up with, Obsidian delivered on gameplay that is fun and engaging, supporting characters that are worth remembering, and making role-playing really work.
On face value, Avowed looks inspired by Bethesda’s juggernaut RPG Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Like the old game, Obsidian’s new RPG has a first-person view and a lively fantasy setting filled with lots of characters and monsters. However, Avowed is distinct as it has the Pillars of Eternity as a fantasy foundation and the gameplay trailer shows how stylish and functional battles are. Definitely this is not a blatant rip-off of Skyrim.
While the Skyrim comparisons are raging in many gamers’ minds, it should be noted that Avowed won’t be having the open-world design for exploration. Rather, the upcoming game will have inter-connected open zones and the size of the in-game world will be comparable with those of The Outer Worlds and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II as stated by game director Carrie Patel. Her interview is included in the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 Extend video below…
While it could be disappointing to others that Avowed is looking like it will have the huge and separate maps for exploration instead of the massive open-world design, I don’t see this as a mistake since I myself have played The Outer Worlds which had separate maps that were not only huge but also dense and filled with side-quests, exploration opportunities and memorable discoveries. Take note that using the open-world format to present the in-game fantasy world would have definitely extend the development process of Avowed by at least a few more years not to mention costing a lot more money.
Now that Obsidian gave us a glimpse of the fantasy world, the conflict and moments of gameplay of Avowed during the recent Xbox Games Showcase, they will have to show us next time (note: Xbox Games Showcase 2024) more gameplay and demonstrate other aspects such as selective dialogue sequences, their approach to side quests, the tinkering and customization of weapons and equipment, and perhaps building up villages or taking over the castles occupied by enemy forces.
Imagine yourself facing many armed and armored people responding to your presence.
Right now, I am excited for Avowed. Here is hoping that Obsidian will be able to complete and polish the game for 2024 release. At this moment, Xbox is gradually becoming the haven for gamers who love not only fantasy RPGs but RPGs of different kinds.
In concluding this post, posted below are YouTube videos related to Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox for you to enjoy.
With their combined might, Team Xbox, Bethesda and their strategic partners successfully pulled off a great Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Directdouble 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!
Author Carlo Carrasco 