A brand new Xbox One system update is coming later this spring–and it sounds like a big one. Xbox engineering lead Mike Ybarra said on Twitter that this update, the Windows 10 Anniversary Update announced at Microsoft’s Build conference, should arrive for Preview Program members at the end of May or early June.
Speaking at Build, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said Microsoft will announce even more new Anniversary update features for Xbox One at E3 2016 this summer. The show is held in June and Microsoft just recently announced exactly when its briefing will be held.
The Xbox One is a Windows 10 device, as November 2015’s New Xbox One Experience update introduced Windows 10 as the underlying operating system for the console. The Anniversary update is also coming to PC, introducing features and tweaks such as improved support for stylus pens and a biometric sign-in option for the Edge browser. It also adds support for Microsoft’s Hololens augmented reality headset.
All eyes have been on Sony’s response regarding Microsogs recent announcement meant that Xbox One vs PS4 multiplayer could one day become a reality, just like it has for Xbox One and Windows 10.
But Sony would have to be on board for anything like this to happen, and considering the success of the PS4, the Japanese gaming giant would seemingly have little to gain. A Sony spokesperson said that the company would be happy to talk to any publishers or developers about such an arrangement.
“PlayStation has been supporting cross-platform play between PC on several software titles starting with Final Fantasy 11 on PS2 and PC back in 2002. We would be happy to have the conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross-platform play.”
There’s no mention of Microsoft or Xbox One in all that, but they clearly haven’t ruled anything out.
Need for Speed is finally releasing on PC, May 15th, many months after its original release date on PS4 and Xbox One.
The home computer version will see minor tweaks and upgrades over the original release, with Need for Speed on PC capable of running at 4K on compatible monitors (if your set-up is correct).
There’s also the opportunity to use manual transmission (which is coming to the console versions at some point) and compatibility with a number of different steering wheels. And then there are all the updates already released for PS4 and Xbox One as well.
All this releases on March 15, though if you’re a member of EA Origin Access you get the chance to start playing on March 10.
There might be myriad things that games do poorly, but there are some things that they do exceptionally well, and some that they excel at beyond any other medium. One of those areas is visually, games excel at realising beautiful and imaginative worlds with intricate and precise details. Ori and the Blind Forest is one such game. While it is not a game that strives for photo realism like many others do, Ori and the Blind Forest instead opts for a two dimensional look, one that is realised in an extremely beautiful watercolour world.
The game itself is a metroidvania; that is it comprises elements from both the Catlevania and Metroid series. Predominantly they place you in an enormous world with several areas blocked off to you from the beginning. As you progress you unlock abilities that allow you to access those previously sealed areas. The game is both beautiful and a joy to play, one of the finest of the year so far.