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The sun sets on Xbox's 'Project Spark' game creation tool
Starting today, Project Spark, Microsoft's quirky game creation game, is no longer for sale. And come August 12th, the servers will be shut down, Thomas Gratz of developer Team Dakota writes. As a consolation, anyone who bought the retail version "starter kit" will get a credit to their Microsoft account. If you redeemed the code inside after October 5th of last year (when the game went free-to-play) and prior to today, you'll get a credit to use in the Xbox or Windows stores. Gratz says that the credits will be automatically applied for eligible customers.
Xbox One backward compatibility supports multi-disc games
Xbox has rolled out backward compatibility support for games that span multiple discs, starting with Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut. This means players can look forward to even more classic Xbox 360 games hitting the Xbox One via backward compatibility (Mass Effect 2 and 3, anyone?).
Long-delayed 'Mighty No. 9' arrives June 21st
No, your eyes aren't deceiving you -- after more than a few delays, Comcept has announced that Mighty No. 9 is finished. Keiji Inafune's spiritual sequel to Mega Man will arrive in Asia and North America on June 21st, and the rest of the world on June 24th. The initial release is limited to console and computer players (albeit on virtually every platform), but versions for both the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita are due "at a later point." Just be sure to think carefully about your choice of media format: while downloads are more convenient, a retail copy includes the Ray add-on.
The Xbox One revisited: Microsoft's console has gotten better with age
Engadget is re-reviewing the current generation of game consoles, starting with the Xbox One.
Microsoft stops making the Xbox 360
It's the end of a gaming era: Microsoft has stopped making the Xbox 360, a little over 10 years after the console first reached shelves. As the company explains, the problems of making a decade-old product are "starting to creep up" -- it's just not worth the effort to keep the venerable system around. Microsoft will continue to sell consoles and games while supplies last, and Xbox Live support (including perks like Games With Gold) will carry on for the foreseeable future. However, it's reasonable to say that it's almost exclusively about the Xbox One from here on out.
'Destiny' trailer shows what's new in the big April update
Bungie has seemingly been teasing Destiny: The Taken King's April update for ages, but it's finally (almost) here -- and the studio has seen fit to release one last trailer that explains what all the fuss is about. The clip gives you a whirlwind tour of virtually everything that's new, including new quests, strikes and story missions, the increased Light level and new gear ranging from chroma trim (basically, shiny lighting) to Taken-themed armor.
Xbox One grabs 360 games 'Halo Wars' and 'Soul Calibur 2 HD'
The Xbox One is beefing up its library via backwards compatibility, allowing players to boot up some of their favorite games from the Xbox 360. This week, Xbox One users get Halo Wars, Soul Calibur 2 HD Online and The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match. It's a fighting game fiasco with a side of real-time alien-shooting strategy.
Take a look at the April update for 'Destiny'
Developer Bungie held a livestream today adding further details to what you can expect from Destiny's next update. First up is an increase to Light level (the rating that denotes your defensive and offensive power, based on the gear you have equipped) to 335 from expansion pack The Taken King's 310. New loot and difficulty settings are coming to the Prison of Elders, Court of Oryx, heroic strikes, Nightfall strikes and the King's Fall raid in addition to Iron Banner and Trials of Osiris events, as well.
'Destiny' spring update arrives on April 12th
Bungie hasn't been shy about teasing Destiny updates in between The Taken King and its sequel, but what are those going to look like, exactly, and when is it arriving? The studio isn't spilling all the beans just yet, but it's now offering a few clues. As part of a multi-post preview, Bungie has revealed that Destiny's first big post-TTK update (aka version 2.2) will launch on April 12th with at least a few sweet offerings. There's a new quest that revolves around the mysterious Blighted Chalice strike, as well as additional player-versus-environment challenges. Also, you can anticipate a smattering of new and updated gear, Crucible updates and an increased maximum Light level with rewards to match.
Xbox One update boosts Party Chat and lets you buy Xbox 360 games
For Microsoft and Sony, the start of a new month means it's time to share new software updates. Sony's already had its turn, announcing that Remote Play will soon make its way to PC and Mac, and now Microsoft has confirmed it's deploying a patch with a number of frequently requested features. One of the most notable additions is improved access to Xbox 360 games. Microsoft has allowed Xbox One gamers to play older titles on their console for a few months now, but finding and launching them can be a pain. With the new update, older-generation games will be listed in a similar way to digital Xbox One titles, making them easier to buy and download to your console.
Play 'Gears of War: Ultimate Edition' in 4K on your PC today
You have to hand it to Microsoft for trying surprise announcement/availability on for size for its latest release a la Adele, Drake or Kanye West. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition hits PC today. If you'll remember, the PC port was announced back at E3 last year. But following its console-based counterpart's release last August, Redmond's been mostly radio silent on the topic.
The 'Resident Evil' 20th anniversary means more re-releases
Ready to re-buy Resident Evil 4 again? This time for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One? Well, you'll be able to do that this year, but not before developer/publisher Capcom drops gussied-up versions of Resident Evil 6's hot garbage and the divisive Resident Evil 5 first. Come March 29th, the absolute mess that's better known as RE6 will hit the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live stores for $20, with RE 5's African adventure starting sometime this summer and the series' modern highpoint, RE 4, releasing this fall.
'Grand Theft Auto 5' outsold almost every game in January
Rockstar Games is reaping the rewards of keeping GTA Online fresh with things like heist missions and holiday-themed events for these past few years. Grand Theft Auto 5 was the number two selling game last month amid slowing console hardware sales, a bizarre fact considering it debuted almost two-and-a-half years ago. September 2013, to be exact. Of course, that evergreen gateway to GTA Online's multiplayer has also benefitted from a staggered release starting on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, later coming to PC and then PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Regardless, how crazy this is wasn't lost on the NPD Group's David Riley:
'Metal Gear Online' adds a bit of sabotage next month
Despite what you might think, Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima's unceremonious departure from publisher Konami won't affect how Metal Gear Online plays out. To wit, the company's bolstering the amount of post-release add-ons for the adversarial multiplayer suite next month as part of a "commitment" to the game's fans. A trio of new maps and a playable version of the eye-rollingly-designed sniper Quiet will be available in March for $4 in the "Cloaked in Silence" pack, while a quartet of emote packs will sell for $2 each.
'Red Dead Redemption' pays a brief visit to the Xbox One
Ever since Microsoft announced backwards compatibility for the Xbox One, gamers have campaigned for the inclusion of Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption. The open-world western is yet to grace Microsoft's 100+ strong list of available games, but the probability of it making an appearance was given a massive boost after it briefly appeared on the Xbox One marketplace for a few hours over the weekend.
Platinum is making a 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' game
It's been a bit since we had a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game and an even longer time since we had a good one. But that could soon change when Platinum Games unleashes TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan this summer on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Yeah, that's right: the rumors that swirled around last month are true. Over on the PlayStation Blog, Platinum's Robert Cooper says that if you've played any of the studio's previous action games that you shouldn't have a lot of trouble getting comfortable in the solo and co-op campaign here.
Xbox One adds backwards compatibility for 'Witcher 2' and more
Microsoft is keen to make its Xbox One Backward Compatibility as robust as possible. The feature, which lets users play Xbox 360 titles on Microsoft's latest console, continues to grow thanks to help from developers. A testament to this is a slew of new backwards-compatible games arriving today, including Soulcalibur, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (free until February 5th) and Counter-Strike: GO, plus a few others. What's most interesting here, though, is that Microsoft says it will now start releasing titles as they become available, instead of setting a launch date for them every month. That's a good move, if you ask us -- the sooner we can reminisce over old games, the better.
'Prison Architect' is coming to consoles this spring
Incarceration simulator Prison Architect is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Xbox 360. The game, developed by Introversion Software, was independently crowdfunded a few years back and has been a hit on PC, selling over 1.5 million copies to date. The console version is being handled by Double 11, which previously ported Limbo, Goat Simulator and several Pixel Junk titles.
Supreme Court will hear Microsoft's appeal in Xbox 360 case
Proving that the console wars are never truly over, today the Supreme Court of the United States announced (PDF) it would hear an argument relating to Microsoft's Xbox 360. At issue is whether or not Microsoft will have to face a class-action lawsuit brought by Xbox 360 owners over the console's tendency to scratch discs. In 2012 a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit claiming there weren't enough complaints for a class action, but in March 2015 that ruling was overturned.
'Halo: Reach' runs poorly on the Xbox One
The Xbox One's backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games has largely worked as promised, but there's now one glaring exception. Microsoft has confirmed reports that Halo: Reach (aka one of the 360's biggest titles) runs much slower than you'd expect. While talk of it being "unplayable" is extreme, Bungie's shooter fell from a largely steady 30 frames per second on the original hardware to the mid-teens -- enough to throw you off during intense action scenes. Others report audio glitches, too.