The kingdom-building simulation title was the first game published by Raw Fury, and has spawned two sequels including a reworked version of the original and a proper follow-up called Kingdom: Two Crowns.
The series has sold over 4 million copies to date, but after spending the best part of a decade working on the franchise van den Berg is looking to step away and explore new frontiers.
With that in mind, the developer has sold the rights to Raw Fury so the series can continue. It’s a deal that works well for both parties, with Raw Fury co-founder Gordon Van Dyke having played a key role in developing the series, initially helping out with design and balancing, before taking on the mantle of game director and designer on Kingdom: Two Crowns.
“The first pixels of Kingdom I put on digital paper around 2011, it’s been a long and interesting time working on something so dear to me,” commented van den Berg. “But now, I’d like to continue challenging myself and explore different kinds of projects.
“And whereas most Kingdoms don’t last long, the Kingdom series deserves to go on. For that, it’s great that Raw Fury has been so deeply involved in the game for so long, enabling them to take the series somewhere I never could.”
Moving forward, Raw Fury intends to release “updates, expansions, new platforms, and new games,” and already has a detailed roadmap in place.
Former Gearbox VP joins Nintendo to lead developer and publisher relations
Former Gearbox vice president John Vignocchi has joined Nintendo of America to take charge of the company’s developer and publisher relations team.
Vignocchi spent just seven months at Gearbox, having joined the Borderlands developer as an executive producer back in October 2018 to work on a new franchise.
Prior to that, he worked at Disney Interactive studios for seven years, starting out as a development director before being named vice president of production in 2012.
“I plan to help continue the tradition of building memories through Nintendo that will last a lifetime. I certainly have a lifetime of them already and can’t wait to make more,” said Vignocchi. “I’m humbled by this dream opportunity and will work tirelessly to bring you the best that I can.”
We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!
ID@Xbox Game Fest Super Sale Starts Today Thank you for following ID@Xbox Game Fest, hopefully along the way you have had some fun discovering new content, creators, and ways to game. To close out the last week of Game Fest we’re excited to kick off the ID@Xbox Super Sale… Read more
A Tourist Guide to American Fugitive’s Redrock Country Hey, city slickers. If Gordon Gekko is getting you down with absured sales targets, jump on a Greyhound and visit the beautiful Redrock County, winner of 1981’s Most Active Home Defense and Speediest Police Response awards. Aside from being home to the largest… Read more
The Biggest Backward Compatibility Sale Ever Begins Today The Xbox Backward Compatibility Sale is back again this year, and this time we’re celebrating by discounting more games in the catalog than ever. Starting today through May 27, Xbox gamers around the world can take advantage of awesome discounts… Read more
Dauntless Hits Xbox One Today with 10 Tips to Slaying with Style The team here at Phoenix Labs is excited to welcome the Xbox One community into Dauntless, our co-op action RPG launching today! Dauntless is all about teaming up with your friends to take down larger-than-life behemoths, crafting epic gear… Read more
How to Customize Your Car’s Stats in Team Sonic Racing, Available Now on Xbox One Team Sonic Racing is a colorful and competitive style kart racer where racers can go online and compete with players around the world – the competition is going to be fierce on day one. You’ll find that there’s a few ways to victory including improving your driving skills…. Read more
Introducing the New Xbox Game Bar At Xbox, we put gamers at the center of our vision – enabling them to play the games they want, with the people they want, and on the devices they want. As part of our efforts and commitment to improve the gaming experience on Windows 10, we want to bring PC players… Read more
Gaming Must Promote and Protect the Safety of All Today, in an opinion article I published on the Official Microsoft Blog, I shared my views on gaming as one of our society’s great unifying forces. We are a 2.6 billion-person strong community of parents playing with our kids, adventurers exploring worlds together… Read more
Project xCloud: More for Gamers and Developers Last fall, we pulled back the curtain on Project xCloud – our game-streaming technology. Our vision for Xbox is that you can play the games you want, with the people you want, on the devices you want. Project xCloud brings us closer to fully realizing that vision… Read more
Warface Adds Battle Pass and New Themed Content The Blackwood corporation has been quiet as of late… too quiet. In the latest big Warface update, out on Xbox One today, you’ll take the fight to them in our reimagining of Japan and find out exactly what they’re up to! The Sunrise update also introduces the first ever Battle Pass…. Read more
Gears of War 2019 Funko Pop! Collection Available May 23 The next wave of Gears of War Funko Pop! figures are about to hit store shelves this Thursday, May 23! As we announced earlier this month, the mainline collection includes Kait Diaz in her winter gear from last year’s Gears 5 trailer, Marcus Fenix in his classic gear… Read more
Tower Attack Card Game Minion Masters is Now Available on Xbox One It’s been a long journey through development, full of many twists and turns, but we’re super excited to bring Minion Masters to Xbox One. We’ve poured blood, coffee, and countless hours into making (at least what we think is) the best tower attack card game out there… Read more
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 28 to 31 Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One… Read more
They call themselves Hunters. Scouts. Survivors scavenging from races older and nobler—so that their people might rebuild what they’ve lost.
They call themselves Titans. Soldiers. Killers—slaying the enemies of humanity so that their City might live one more day.
They call themselves Warlocks. Martial philosophers. Harbingers of Light. Scholars searching for meaning when all is already lost. Their machine god abandoned them long ago.
They don’t understand yet, but they are, all of them, so much more.
It falls to you, my Loyalists, to show them the way. You’ve met them. You know their conviction.
So I unleash you.
Hinder them. Topple them. Teach them pain.
They will only ask for more. And they will grow stronger for it.
When they are ready, we will open the Menagerie to them. Even the strongest Lights have yet to explore that ancient deck.
I want them to see where our journey out of exile began. Ghaul and his conspirators meant for the Menagerie—for the Leviathan itself!—to be our tomb. But Ghaul could not predict what we would find at the black edge.
He could not foresee that we would grow fat from strength.
I call on that strength, now, one last time, before the black edge claims us.
Five Nights at Freddy?s VR: Help Wanted is a collection of classic and original mini-games set in the Five Nights universe. Survive terrifying encounters with your favorite killer animatronics in a collection of new and classic Five Nights at Freddy?s experiences. ?Where fantasy and fun come to life!?
Joker Takes Center Stage - Experience a thought-provoking story from the perspective of the protagonist from Persona 5 as you along with the other Phantom Thieves meet the S.E.E.S. from Persona 3 and the Investigation Team from Persona 4 in a cinematic world!.
E3 2019: What Halo Infinite Must Do To Get People Excited About Halo Again
It's been almost four years since the release of Halo 5: Guardians in 2015, so Halo fans are understandably eager to learn more about the next entry in the sci-fi shooter series, Halo Infinite. Thankfully, it's expected that Microsoft is going to showcase the Xbox One and PC game during the Xbox E3 2019 briefing on June 10.
Besides Minecraft, Halo is arguably Microsoft's biggest and best-known franchise. It has millions of dedicated fans and it is steeped in history and evolution. But it isn't a stretch to say it's fallen out of prominence and mindshare in the gaming world.
Franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield, along with newcomers Fortnite and Apex Legends, generate consistent buzz. Halo, on the other hand, is currently most prominently represented by Halo: The Master Chief Collection, a game that sputtered at launch and has left a sour taste in the mouths of many. Microsoft's commitment to supporting and improving upon the franchise's "black eye," as 343 has called it, has been impressive to see, but fans are interested in what's next for the series.
Ahead of E3 2019, we're looking back at what we know so far about Halo Infinite and examining what the game must do to reinvigorate the franchise. If there is anything that Halo's campaigns have taught us over the years, it's that you should never bet against Master Chief.
As fans may recall, Halo 5 split up time between Master Chief and a new character named Agent Locke (voiced nicely by Mike Colter). Instead of splintering off to tell the stories of different side characters, re-focusing on Master Chief with Halo Infinite could be what the franchise needs to get back on track. Ross has described Halo Infinite as a "spiritual reboot" of the franchise. That wording suggests Halo Infinite could be akin to 2018's God of War. That game didn't tell an origin story for Kratos but it managed to retain the franchise's core tenets while also going deeper or wider in some brand-new narrative and gameplay areas.
The Halo universe is a sprawling, rich tapestry on which to tell all kinds of different stories, and 343 needs to weave something unique and compelling with Halo Infinite after Halo 5's meandering and incoherent narrative. Microsoft no longer numbers its mainline Halo games, but even so, the company tells fans to think of Halo Infinite as Halo 6. That's important because at one point Microsoft said Halo 4,5, and 6 were part of the Reclaimer Trilogy. It's easier to understand why Halo 5's story was such a letdown because it had the tough task of being a bridge story that was actually good. However, Microsoft later canceled its plans for a strictly defined three-game trilogy. Now, the company wants fans to think of Master Chief's story as an ongoing "saga" that is not limited to any specific number of games. This gives Microsoft the freedom to redeem itself and, ahem, reclaim its former glory with a story that puts the focus back on Master Chief in new and interesting ways.
Surprise Us With New Multiplayer Innovations
Halo 5 pushed the Halo multiplayer scene forward with its ambitious MOBA-style Warzone mode. Halo's multiplayer battlefield had never been so expansive, multi-layered, and engaging. It was a genuinely exciting and fresh take on the familiar Halo multiplayer formula. It felt like a bonafide strong step forward for the series, which has always been renowned for its multiplayer in particular. Microsoft needs to deliver a similarly novel multiplayer experience with Halo Infinite.
There has been much discussion about Halo Infinite mimicing Call of Duty and Battlefield with a battle royale mode of its own, but 343 has said that may not happen (even if the game's engine is technically capable of delivering it). This may be for the best, as it would be more exciting to see Halo Infinite blaze its own trail rather than follow in the footsteps and trace the formula of an already-saturated battle royale market.
Warzone was fantastic, but it always felt to me like more of a foundation or canvas that could support something bigger and more exciting. In addition to whatever advancements Microsoft makes with Halo 5 in terms of a large-scale multiplayer experience, the game would also do well to ensure the hardcore Team Arena fans are satisfied as well.
Halo 5's Team Arena also pushed things forward with a multitude of new abilities and weaponry, while the simple addition of clambering really changed how you could move around the map. The white-knuckle, fast-paced action of Halo Arena is where the series shines the brightest. Halo Infinite needs to keep this trend going and deliver something that pro players (Halo has a big competitive gaming scene) and the average player will enjoy in similar measure.
Show Off What The Slipspace Engine Can Do
The first trailer for Halo Infinite that was released at E3 2018 was actually for the game's engine, Slipspace, not the game itself. Slipspace is Halo's next-generation engine, and it was reportedly developed at no small expense. According to one Microsoft insider, careers will be made or broken based on the success of Halo Infinite due in part to its reported $500 million budget spanning game development and engine costs. For its part, Microsoft declined to comment on the reports of Halo Infinite's budget. Whatever the case, a new game engine can unlock new gameplay opportunities, and it's exciting to think about what a new set of development tools might allow 343 to do in terms of gameplay and Halo Infinite's overall depth and fidelity. The Slipspace engine trailer showed off a sprawling landscape that invites players to imagine what could be possible. At E3, Microsoft needs to answer that question.
Bringing The Game To PC Is A Big Deal
For the first time since 2004's Halo 2, the mainline Halo series is returning to PC with Halo Infinite. This is a big deal because it opens up the Halo franchise to a much wider audience, including those who have never played Halo before (and people who will inevitably double-dip). Fans have been calling on Microsoft to bring Halo back to PC for years now, so it's good to see Microsoft listen to that feedback and take action. Microsoft is already laying the groundwork with Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming to PC beginning this month with Halo: Reach, and it'll have a multitude of PC features like custom frame rates, FOV slider, button-mapping, and more. But Halo Infinite will be the first main series game on PC in more than 15 years, and Microsoft needs to make sure it's a best-in-class, native PC game that doesn't feel like a port.
Showcase Forge's Next Evolution
Halo's Forge mode is a treat, and it's gotten bigger and better with each new Halo game. Already a robust map and mode-making tool, Forge could up the ante further in Halo Infinite with a tool suite and functionality that allows creative people to do even more. Halo 5's Forge mode led to creations developed with a level of sophistication and depth that few could have imagined. I was never creative or capable enough to make the most out of Forge's toolset, but I appreciated the community's creations and I spent my fair share of time playing Halo: Beer Pong and Toilet Bowl Zombies. Forge was never better than it was in Halo 5, but the game doesn't make it exactly easy to find custom game modes and maps, and the matchmaking system for custom games left a lot to be desired. Forge could help Halo Infinite become a truly "infinite" game with endless gameplay opportunities, but it needs better, more user-friendly systems and functionality to truly shine.
Split-Screen Is Back, And That's Good News
It seems like a simple thing, but Halo Infinite bringing back local split-screen is incredibly significant. Split-screen is one of the core pillars of Halo. Some of my fondest childhood memories are playing Halo with my friends and siblings after school. I am not alone in my appreciation for local split-screen; just look at the reaction to Halo 5's decision to drop the feature. Microsoft was roundly criticized. Microsoft's data may have indeed shown that fewer and fewer people play local co-op, but removing the feature entirely from Halo 5 was a bad look all the same.
Split-screen always needed to return in Halo Infinite, and I'm happy it is. It may not be a feature that people make use of as often as they once did, but having the option to play split-screen is essential.
Have A Responsible Microtransaction Plan
Halo Infinite is a big new AAA game, so it comes as no surprise that it will have microtransactions. Microsoft confirmed as much a long time ago. Given that Halo 5's microtransactions proved to be so lucrative, it is no surprise the business practice is coming back for the new game. For Halo Infinite, Microsoft needs to communicate a microtransaction solution that doesn't come across as aggressive or anywhere near what could be considered pay-to-win. Microsoft would have surely seen what happened with Star Wars: Battlefront II and other recent examples of microtransactions gone wrong. Microsoft would do well to get ahead of the discussion and explain clearly and upfront how Halo Infinite will handle microtransactions. Until they do, fans may assume the worst. If Halo Infinite's microtransaction plan edges too close to "icky," fans can and should be encouraged to voice their concerns and leave feedback with Microsoft.
Use Halo Infinite To Show Off The Power Of The Next Xbox
With 2001's Halo: Combat Evolved, Microsoft took a bold risk and demonstrated how well an FPS could work on console. It was a tremendous success. Halo played a pivotal role in getting Microsoft's fledgling Xbox business off the ground, and the Halo series has pushed every new Xbox console since, the latest example being Halo 5's massive-scale MOBA-style Warzone mode. With Microsoft also expected to announce a next-generation console (or two) at E3 this year, Microsoft again has the chance to showcase the next evolution of what Halo can be. With a name like "Infinite," Microsoft needs to deliver something special. To sell a new console, Microsoft needs to demonstrate the hardware's new and impressive capabilities. Combining that announcement with a technical showcase of Halo Infinite could be a jaw-dropper at E3.
GameStop’s Database Lists More Than 20 Unannounced Switch Titles Ahead Of E3
The American video game retailer GameStop has reportedly revealed the number of major releases that will be announced for the Nintendo Switch at this year’s E3.
According to the same leaker, who last weekend shed light on a brand-new Ubisoft IP, GameStop’s internal database has added SKU placeholders for more than 20 Nintendo Switch games. With this year’s electronic entertainment expo less than a week away, these new listings are likely related.
Noticeably, the majority of these titles have a placeholder price of $59.99, while three are $39,99, $49,99 and $89.99, and another is priced at $199.99. The source speculates the last one could be a “premium edition” or perhaps even a bundle.
Underneath this is some information about what the competition has planned. PlayStation 4 supposedly has “over 20” game announcements on the way and Xbox One has slightly less.
What are your thoughts about this? What games are you hoping to see announced at this year’s E3? Tell us down below.
Celeste’s Free DLC Update Will Contain More Than 100 Challenging Levels
The uphill indie platformer Celeste will soon grow in size, with the creator Matt Thorson – on behalf of the team at Matt Makes Games – revealing the free ninth chapter DLC will include more than 100 levels.
The current game already has more than 700 levels in it and the next chapter is expected to ramp up the difficulty yet again. As previously revealed, it won’t include any strawberries and will be more streamlined than previous chapters.
As Thorson explained in his follow-up tweet, the DLC has missed an internal target, so there are no plans to reveal a release date until the team is absolutely positive the game is ready to go.
Have you downloaded Celeste from the eShop yet? Will you be trying out this DLC? Tell us in the comments.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-03-2019, 05:39 PM - Forum: Windows
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Biggest Xbox deals of the year coming June 7 as E3 approaches
The big week is nearly upon us: E3 is almost here and we can’t wait to share a look at the future of Xbox with our fans. We’re also excited because E3 also marks the start of our greatest Xbox deals of the year, when gamers can upgrade their console, accessories, and games at deep discounts.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to buy an Xbox – that moment is now. In addition to great discounts on the Xbox One consoles you know and love, we’re happy to announce that there’s a new bundle joining the family. The new Xbox One S Fortnite Battle Royale Special Edition bundle includes a Special Edition purple 1TB Xbox One S, the Dark Vertex cosmetic set featuring Legendary Outfit, Epic Glider, and Rare Pickaxe (available in free Battle Royale and Creative modes only), 2000 v-bucks, and one month Xbox Live Gold subscription and Xbox Game Pass trial.
Starting on June 7, you’ll find discounts on hundreds of games, accessories, and console bundles. Offers include:
$100 off Xbox One X
$50 off the Xbox One S Fortnite Battle Royale Special Edition Bundle
$50 off Xbox One S bundles and the new Xbox One S All-Digital Edition
Up to 75% off select games including discounts on newly released titles such as Mortal Kombat 11, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
$10 off controllers
And this is just a sample of the savings! Whether you’re shopping in a physical store, online or through your Xbox console, make sure to check xbox.com, Microsoft Store, and participating retailers nationwide for more details on dates, availability, and pricing as deals may vary.
Up to $100 off select Xbox One bundles at Microsoft Store and participating retailers. If you haven’t upgraded to an Xbox One X yet now is the time, with $100 off from June 7 – June 17. Get deals on Xbox One X Enhanced titles like Sea of Thieves, FIFA 18, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Forza Motorsport 7, and immerse yourself in stunning 4K ultra HD gaming with HDR. For the best value in games and entertainment, pickup our new Xbox One S Al- Digital Edition starting at $199 from June 7 – June 17.
Great savings on hundreds of titles. Get amazing deals on hundreds of games including those blockbusters you’ve been meaning to pick up like Mortal Kombat 11, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Forza Horizon 4, World War Z, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, Sea of Thieves, NBA 2K19, Anthem, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Spectre Rising Edition. Full games are starting as low as $19.99, making it easy to add to your collection.
Accessorize with a new controller. Save $10 on black, white, special edition and limited-edition Xbox Wireless Controllers, all featuring a sleek, streamlined design and textured or rubberized grips, custom button-mapping and Windows 10-compatibility. Or, design your own controller by choosing from over a billion color combinations available with Xbox Design Lab, starting at $64.99 for a limited time only.
Upgrade your gaming PC. This year, we’ve also got some exciting sales from a wide range of PC gaming partners, including Asus, Razer, and MSI. You’ll be able to get up to $500 off a new gaming PC or gaming laptop, as well as FreeSync displays. If you’ve already got your gaming setup, we’ve got PC games galore on sale, including Forza Motorsport 7 Ultimate, Gears of War 4, Deep Rock Galactic, and more.
Plus save on officially licensed console and PC accessories from Astro, Seagate, Turtle Beach and Hyperkin.
Level up your look with Xbox Official Gear. Finally, it’s never been a better time to fly your Xbox colors with up to 60% off on Xbox Official Gear. From bomber jackets and hats to t-shirts and patches, there’s something for everyone.
