Category: Microsoft News

All news pertaining to Microsoft’s family of consoles, including the Xbox One X and Xbox One S.

Apex Legends Revealed, Free to Play Battle Royale Now Available On PS4, Xbox One, and PC

Respawn Entertainment, the makers of Titanfall, have announced a new free to play battle royale game in the futuristic FPS franchise called Apex Legends.

Meshing the hero shooter style found in games such as Overwatch with the battle royale genre, Apex Legends will adopt the free to play method, bring the unique take on the widely popular genre.

Rumors began hitting the forums and messages boards late last week, with Kotaku’s Jason Schreier breaking news that the game’s initial reveal would be take place later that weekend, with a possible soft launch on Monday, February 4th. Last night, many content creators and streamers took to social media to confirm the existence of the game, along with Respawn themselves, promoting their reveal stream today.

While a mainline Titanfall sequel was confirmed to be in development by Respawn, it is unknown if that project had morphed into Apex Legends or if the original project is still in the works. Respawn, who EA purchased in December 2017, is also scheduled to release an upcoming Star Wars game later this year, titled Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Apex Legends is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Origin). For more information, tune into Respawn Entertainment’s deep-dive stream on the game starting at 3 PM EST/12 PM PST.

For updates on Apex Legends, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.

Telltale’s The Walking Dead: The Final Season To Get Physical Release March 26th

Skybound Games has announced that the final season of the now defunct Telltale Game’s The Walking Dead will be seeing a physical release starting March 26th, 2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

In a blog post from the publishing arm of Skybound, the company announced that the physical release of the game would accompany the release of the game’s final episode, Take Us Back, to complete not only the season, but the entirety of Telltale’s vision of the story.

“We’re excited to announce that when Episode 4, Take Us Back, launches on March 26th, we’ll be releasing a physical boxed edition that includes the entire Final Season for Xbox One, PS4, and Switch” Sally Jack of Skybound stated. “This version will be available at all major retailers, including right here in the Skybound Shop. So, for fans looking for a great gift to give, or to actually hold the final chapters of Clem’s story in your hands, well, you’ll soon have that chance!”

Skybound Games officially took over development of the final season of Telltale’s The Walking Dead series, in October 2018, after the latter studio announced a major closure less than a month earlier. While it is unclear what the studio’s plans are with The Walking Dead IP once the final episode is released, there seems to be optimism surrounding the future of the series in some capacity within the new developer/publisher.

For updates on The Walking Dead’s final season, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.

Blizzard Announces New Overwatch Map, Paris

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that their hit hero shooter Overwatch will be receiving a new map soon that is set in Paris, France, and it is currently live on the game’s Public Test Region for PC players.

Announced through the game’s newest set of patch notes along with a tweet from Overwatch‘s official Twitter account, the new map themed around the famous European city is an Assault map, which pits teams against each other by capturing and defending a pair of points throughout the map. ‘Begin your journey at the Cabaret Luna, where the velvety alto voice of preeminent diva Luna charms movie stars, revolutionaries, locals, and tourists alike” described Tom Powers, Community Manage of Overwatch within the patch notes. “After the encore, step outside to see the sights and seize victory. Artisanal shops line the streets as you approach the first point, so duck in to sample a macaron or escape enemy fire. Battle through alleys and corridors before clashing with your foes on the banks of the Seine. Once you establish dominance over your adversaries, make your way to Maison Marat and deliver the coup-de-grâce.”

Paris will be the first map to hit Overwatch since the addition of Busan in September 2018, along with the first Assault map since June 2017’s Horizon Lunar Colony.

While Blizzard has not released a specific date on which the map will go live from PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One players, normally the test period lasts a few weeks before integrating them into the game’s main map rotation. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the map go live by the end of February (if not earlier).

For updates on Overwatch, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.

Option To Turn off Xbox One/PC Cross Play Coming to Sea of Thieves

In a weekly Developer Update video released on the game’s official YouTube account, Executive Producer of Sea of Thieves Joe Neate announced that an option to turn off cross play between Xbox One and PC players was coming to the game.


While touching on a number of topics surrounding the game and its community, Neate stated that listening to the feedback from players, especially concerning the new Arena on the horizon, and that their focus as a developer was to make sure everyone was given a level playing field. “We’ve been discussing this in length internally and we’ve arrived at a solution that we are starting working on implementation.” Neate reiterates that this option will not be coming right away, but players should be made aware that measures are being taken into effect in the near future.

Sea of Thieves is one of many Xbox One first party titles that is receiving mouse and keyboard support on the console version of the game, which has since caused a bit of worry in certain sects of the game’s player base. Given the game’s first person perspective, many players believe that given the mouse and keyboard option will provide a competitive advantage heading into the new PvP mode that is due out within the next few months. Providing more detailed matchmaking and cross play options to the upcoming mode would help balance the competitive nature of it.

The Arena, which was announced at Microsoft’s XO18 event in Mexico City last November, is a free content update that is slated to release in the first half of 2019.

For updates on Sea of Thieves, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.

Capcom Announces Release Date For Resident Evil 2 Free Update ‘The Ghost Stories’, February 15th

Capcom has finally confirmed a release date for The Ghost Survivors, a free content update for Resident Evil 2, coming on February 15th, 2019.

Announced last week, the free content update delves deeper into the fateful events that took place in Raccoon City during Resident Evil 2, centering around three characters that don’t receive a brighter spotlight within the game’s narrative: the gunshop owner, the mayor’s daughter, and the solider. The titles of the specific scenarios have been released as well: No Time to Mourn, Runaway, and Forgotten Soldier.

The remake to the original survival horror classic released last Friday, January 25th, to massive critical acclaim, and it appears to also be finding commercial success as well. Eurogamer is reporting the re-imagining of the classic title has topped the UK sales charts for the last week, and is the best selling Resident Evil entry since Resident Evil 7 in 2017 (though RE2‘s sales are currently 18% less than that of RE7 during the same time frame). US sales numbers have yet to be released, but we will provide an update when they are.

Resident Evil 2 is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

UPDATE 1/28/19 12:25 PM EST: Capcom has also announced that two character skins resembling the 1998 aesthetic of the original for Leon and Claire will be coming to Resident Evil 2 for free on February 15th, 2019.

For updates on Resident Evil 2, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.

Anthem Will Have Matchmaking For Every Activity In The Game

BioWare’s newest IP Anthem is shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of 2019, with fans itching to jump into the world the EA owned developer has created. While excitement is high for the upcoming multiplayer Sci-Fi experience, a common concern amongst fans is the issue of gaining the full experience intended within the game when other players aren’t available to play. Now, a lead producer on the project is confirming details that will help players ease themselves, knowing that there will always be players to group up with.

Responding to a question on Twitter yesterday, lead producer on Anthem Ben Irving confirmed that “there is matchmaking for every activity in the game.” While the statement does comes off a bit vague, Strongholds, free roaming, missions and much of the core gameplay seems to be a given at this point. Players will likely find this feature to be most useful when attempting to tackle Strongholds, which require four players to enter. Traditionally, matchmaking in experiences like Anthem and Destiny (open, shared world shooters) has proved to be a bit problematic. The latter of the two listed in destiny saw multiple revisions to its matchmaking system over its two entries. While the confirmation of matchmaking within the game does ease many players’ minds, Irving went on to clarify that matchmaking is an optional feature that you can opt out of.

Anthem, which was officially shown and announced at Microsoft’s E3 2017 press conference, sets players in the role of a Freelancer who sets out to leave their civilization to explore the surrounding landscapes. Controlling exosuits called Javelins, players will fight and explore their way through a vast world in hopes of finding a better tomorrow. In traditional BioWare fashion, the game will also feature a heavy emphasis on single player content, through their trademarked storytelling excellence.

Anthem is set to release on February 22, 2019 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

For updates on Anthem, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.

The Walking Dead Final Season Episode 4 Set to Release on March 26th


The end to the final season of the former Telltale Game’s the Walking Dead series is right around the corner, with a now confirmed release date of its fourth and final episode on March 26th, 2019.

As first reported by DualShockers, the episode titled “Take Us Back” now lists a specific release date of March 26th, 2019 on the game’s episode selection page. While Skybound Games, who officially took over production of the final episodes in the series following Telltale’s closure, has yet to officially announce the game themselves. Yet, it doesn’t look like fans will have to wait long to experience not only the end of the season, but the conclusion to Clementine’s overall story as well.

The original season of Telltale’s the Walking Dead first released in April 2012 to critical acclaim and commercial success, claiming multiple Game of the Year nominations and awards in the process. Many could argue that the success of Telltale’s the Walking Dead helped catapult the graphic adventure genre into mainstream popularity, with many studios following the formula after. Due to the unfortunate financial events last September, Telltale Studios was forced to suffer a major studio closure after their last investor pulled out of funding the studio. Over 250 employees were let go from the studio, with only 25 remaining to finish previous obligations including a port of Minecraft: Story Mode to Netflix.

The first three chapters of the Walking Dead’s Final Season are available now on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Bungie Announces Split With Activision, Retain Rights to Destiny IP

With an announcement of astronomical proportions, developer Bungie has announced their departure from their publishing partnership with Activision. In doing so, Bungie has also announced that they will retain publishing rights to the Destiny IP.

In a release by Bungie, the developer detailed the process moving forward, which has already entered the processes of completing the transition. “When we first launched our partnership with Activision in 2010, the gaming industry was in a pretty different place” the developer stated. “As an independent studio setting out to build a brand new experience, we wanted a partner willing to take a big leap of faith with us. We have enjoyed a successful eight-year run and would like to thank Activision for their partnership on Destiny. Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce plans for Activision to transfer publishing rights for Destiny to Bungie. With our remarkable Destiny community, we are ready to publish on our own, while Activision will increase their focus on owned IP projects.”

For a few months now, rumors have began to appear leaning towards tensions between the Destiny developer and publisher Activision, with Jason Schreier mentioning the rift dating back before the first title even shipped. Earlier today, Schreier reported that he had gained knowledge that Bungie was scheduled to have a team meeting, saying “the buzz around the studio is that it’s “good news” for them.” He declined to share more details at the time, but broke the story as soon as the word was official. Schreier also stated that at the meeting today, the staff cheered loudly for the announcement, expressing their excitement to fully own the Destiny IP and to no longer feel weighed down by Activision’s restrictive annualized schedule.

“With Forsaken, we’ve learned, and listened, and leaned in to what we believe our players want from a great Destiny experience” the team continued in the release. “Rest assured there is more of that on the way. We’ll continue to deliver on the existing Destiny roadmap, and we’re looking forward to releasing more seasonal experiences in the coming months, as well as surprising our community with some exciting announcements about what lies beyond.”

Following their split from Microsoft in 2007 to become an independently owned studio, Bungie continued to develop exclusively for Microsoft’s then-current console, Xbox 360. In 2010, they then signed a 10 year publishing agreement with Activision. Schreier also points out that the developer showed the same excitement when leaving Microsoft at the time.

We will continue to provide updates on the situation as more information becomes known.

For more breaking coverage on Bungie’s departure their Activision publishing partnership, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Just Cause 3 Available Now on Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass continues to become one of the best values in gaming to date, and the on-demand gaming subscription service has just added two more titles to its lineup.

In a tweet released by Xbox Game Pass’s official Twitter account, the service surprised fans by announcing the addition of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Just Cause 3 to their ever growing lineup of games. This comes as a surprise to many, as both games were not previously schedule to appear on the program. The addition of the two games now brings the total number of games up to 209 titles currently available, spanning all three generations of Xbox hardware.

Released in December 2016 as a timed exclusive on the PlayStation 4 followed by a Xbox One and PC release the following March, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is everything fans loved about the games originally release in 2011 but packed to the brim with content. The ultimate version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 comes fully loaded, including all previous DLC, Marvel vs. Capcom: Official Complete Works, and boasting full HD 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second.

Just Cause 3, from Avalanche Studios, sets players in the Mediterranean republic of Medici, where citizens are suffering under the brutal control of Dictator General Di Ravello. Enter Rico Rodriguez, a man on a mission to destroy the General’s hold on power. With over 400 square miles of complete freedom from sky to seabed and a huge arsenal of weaponry, gadgets and vehicles, prepare to unleash chaos in the most creative and explosive ways you can imagine. First released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in December 2015, Just Cause 3 is sure to scratch that thrill seeking itch you just can’t seem to reach.

For updates on all games coming to Xbox Game Pass, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.

Activision Blizzard Appoints New Presidents for Activision and King

Activision Blizzard’s previous few months have been rocky to say the least. With multiple high ranking professional within Blizzard moving on from the company, both entities look to find stability in the construction of their company. It seems as though now they are both taking the first steps in that direction.

In a press release by Activision Blizzard this morning, the company announced Call of Duty General Manager Rob Kostich has been named President of parent company Activision. The release also states that Humam Sakhnini has been named President of King Digital Entertainment, along with Dennis Durkin assuming an expanded role as President of Emerging Business.

CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, provided the following statement on filling the leadership roles:

“Rob, Humam, Dennis and J. exemplify our deep bench of operational and commercial leadership. These capable and seasoned executives have shown unwavering commitment to our company, our employees, and our beloved community of fans around the world. With these proven, principled leaders at the helm, we will continue to invest in the strategic growth drivers of our business; our talented people, and creating the world’s best video games, live services, mobile experiences, and new and growing franchise engagement models.”

Kostich, who has been with Activision for nearly 15 years, has made quite the mark on the industry by leading one of gaming’s most iconic franchises Call of Duty for the past decade. The statement also boasts that under his supervision, Call of Duty has now generated more revenue than the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the box office, and double that of the cumulative box office of Star Wars.

Sakhnini will oversee all operational management in partnership with King CEO Riccardo Zacconi, as President of King. He has been with Activision for over six years, previously holding the title of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer for King. Durking, in the role of President of Emerging Businesses, will oversee operational management of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues, Activision Blizzard Studios and Activision Blizzard Consumer Products Group.

The new appointments come on the heels of former Blizzard CFO Amrita Ahuja leaving the company to join Square, Inc., and online financial service. An additional statement notes that founding member and former CEO & president Mike Morhaime, who resigned in October will be providing strategic advice for the company in an advisory role until this coming April.

For more updates on Activision Blizzard, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and keep it locked in at Bonus Accessory.