If you were hoping someone would make a game that's similar to the famed Castlevania series for the Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4, it looks like you will get your wish. Koji Igarashi, the former and long-time producer of the Castlevania game series at Konami, started a Kickstarter funding campaign today to help launch a spiritual successor, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. The good news? The $500,000 goal to begin production of the game was met and exceeded in just a few hours.

Not only that, but it looks like the funding will also quickly exceed all of the game's current stretch goals sometime later today, which include adding a second playable character, putting in a Nightmare game mode and adding voice actor David Hayter to the cast. But what is Bloodstained going to be about? Like the classic Castlevania games, it will be a fantasy-themed side-scroller action game with RPG and crafting elements. Here's some more of what to expect:

"You are Miriam, an orphan scarred by an alchemist curse which slowly crystallizes your skin. You must battle your way through a demon-filled castle summoned by Gebel, your old friend whose body has become more crystal than flesh."

One interesting thing is people who donate $60 or more will get Bloodstained in a physical disc for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 or PC versions. This is apparently the first time that Kickstarter has authorized a game project that includes physical game copies for the console versions. With 32 days still to go, it will be interesting to see what other strech goals will be added to the Bloodstained campaign.

Source: Kickstarter

Some of the games in the Saints Row open world series, along with Bungie's latest first person shooter, Destiny, are among the titles that have big discounts for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners this week as part of the latest Deals with Gold promotion. The discounts apply just to people who have a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription, with the exception of the price cut to the standard version of Destiny for the Xbox One, which is available for both Gold and free Silver Xbox Live members.

Here's what you can get in this week's sale, which will run until May 18:

Xbox One:

• Saints Row IV: Re-Elected - down to $22.49 - Xbox One Store
• Saints Row IV: Re-Elected & Gat out of Hell - down to $33.16 - Xbox One Store
• Saints Row: Gat out of Hell - down to $13.39 - Xbox One Store
• Destiny: Guardian Edition - down to $60.29 - Xbox One Store
• Destiny - down to $30 - Xbox One Store

Xbox 360:

• Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell - down to $13.39 - Xbox 360 Store
• Saints Row IV - down to $11.54 - Xbox 360 Store
• Saints Row The Third - down to $6.59 - Xbox 360 Store
• Destiny - down to $29.99 - Xbox 360 Store

Which Deals with Gold game or games will you be buying and downloading this week?

Source: Major Nelson

Last month, a pool game called Pool Nation FX launched on Xbox One as a free Games with Gold title. Unfortunately, Pool Nation FX actually turned out to be pretty terrible. The menus are so unwieldy and loading times so long, I'd rather be watching people play pool on TV. To be fair, I haven't played it since the recent patch rolled out. Maybe those blights have improved.

Luckily for pool fans, Xbox One and Windows PC already have a great recreation of the game in Pure Pool from Ripstone and VooFoo Studios. Pure Pool currently offers four pool game types: UCS 8-Ball, 9-Ball, Blackball, and Killer. Soon the popular game of snooker will also be represented, as Ripstone has just announced the impending release of Pure Pool Snooker DLC. Read on for details and the Snooker DLC trailer!

Pure Pool is the best pool

Why would you pay money for a pool game when you might've just gotten one for free through Xbox Live? Because this one doesn't suck; that's why. The menu text is a little small, but you can still navigate menus without much hassle. And the graphics are amazingly lifelike, far better than those of Pool Nation FX.

As a single player game, Pure Pool offers an expansive career mode. Players can earn up to three stars from each match – one simply for beating it, and others for completing side goals such as making specific shots during the game. Challenge games take place between regular tournament matches, requiring different tactics such as speed runs and precision tests.

Pure Pool brings some classy multiplayer features to the pool table. For one, you get head-to-head online play against another player. The experience of chatting with a friend while knocking balls around is very close to the real life pool experience, especially since you're surrounded by a bar filled with patrons within the game. Competition-minded players can even participate in pool leagues, battling it out against a wider variety of competition.

The game also offers asynchronous multiplayer. It builds an AI profile based on your play style, which friends can then match up against it when you're not around. Kind of like the Drivatars in Forza Horizon 2. I understand my AI profile excels at sending the ball flying from the table more often than it makes it into the pocket. I rock at pool, don't you know.

The AI profiles actually make real-time online multiplayer better as well. If an opponent drops out during an online game, the game won't just end. Instead, that jerk's online profile will automatically take his or her place. There's no avoiding the whoopings of your opponents in Pure Pool.

I'm not the biggest pool guy in real life, but I've had a lot of fun playing Pure Pool with friends. If you're into the game of pool, this is the game to get. Perhaps we'll do a weekend Twitch stream for it sometime!

• Pure Pool – Xbox One – 600 MB – $12.99 – Xbox Link
• Pure Pool – Windows PC –$12.99 – Steam Link

About the Snooker DLC

Obviously the main draw of the Snooker DLC is the addition of the snooker game type.

Invented by British soldiers stationed in India during the 19th century, snooker is especially popular in English-speaking countries. The game is played with a cue ball and 21 snooker balls: 15 reds and six differently colored balls. Two players take turns trying to first pocket a red ball, followed by a colored ball. You must hit a red first during every turn.

The Pure Pool Snooker DLC offers the following:

• Snooker Career mode with three difficulty levels: Amateur, pro, and Master
• Two Snooker Challenge modes
• Online snooker leagues
• New Achievements (and Trophies on PlayStation 4)

Ripstone has not announced a release date or price for the Snooker DLC, but I imagine it will be in the five bucks range. They say the DLC is coming soon, so stay tuned.

Do we have any snooker players in the house?

Ubisoft will launch yet another major game in its Assassin's Creed action series on October 23. That's the date for the release of Assassin's Creed: Syndicate for the Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4, which will be set in Victorian-era London in 1868.

The game, developed by Ubisoft's Quebec studio, will be a single-player only game. It will feature two playable characters, twins Jacob and Evie Fry, but at the moment Ubisoft is concentrating its preview efforts to feature just one of them:

"In Assassin's Creed Syndicate you'll play as Jacob Frye, an assassin born and bred poised to take over the criminal underworld of London during the Industrial Revolution. Amidst blossoming conflicts between newly crowned kings of industry and the working class they exploit for all they're worth, Jacob will work in the shadows as he climbs to the top of the criminal underground as the head of one of the city's most notorious street gangs."

IGN reports that famous Victorians such as Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin will appear in the game. It's version of London will be 30% bigger than the Paris setting in 2014's Assassin's Creed: Unity. Players will see more hand-to-hand combat in Assassin's Creed: Syndicate and they will have access to period vehicles like boats, trains and even horse-drawn carriages.

Source: Assassin's Creed, IGN

Ubisoft has once again delayed the release of its highly anticipated open world RPG shooter Tom Clancy's The Division. The game will now be coming out in the first quarter of 2016, rather than sometime in 2015, for the Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4 platforms.

Ubisoft revealed the delay via a statement posted on the game's official website. It didn't go into details about why the launch date was changed, saying only that Ubisoft and its development teams "want to ensure the game not only meets our high expectations but also those of our fans and players alike." The Division was first announced at E3 in June 2013 for a planned release in 2014. Ubisoft later decided to push the release date into 2015 before today's announcement.

Ubisoft also mentioned the new release date for The Division in its quarterly financial statements today, adding that the first quarter of 2016 will also see the launch of a currently unnamed "new triple-A title."

Source: Tom Clancy's The Division, Ubisoft

Xbox One gets a double helping of indie games this week, courtesy of both Stage 2 Studios and Team 17.

Stage 2 Studios is bringing Lifeless Planet to the ID@Xbox party. Lifeless Planet is a third person action adventure game, with an emphasis on mystery and intrigue.

Team 17 has partnered up with Italic Pig to bring Schrödinger's Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark to Xbox One. As the title suggests, Schrödinger's Cat is a puzzle platformer all about quantum mechanics.

Lifeless Planet

Lifeless Planet is an action adventure with puzzle elements. You play as an American astronaut, tasked to charter potentially habitable worlds in a one-way mission. The planet described in the title, reportedly teeming with life, turns out to be a barren waste land - at least for the most part. Littered throughout are Russian settlements, sporting Soviet-era trappings - raising all sorts of questions. Is the mission a hoax? Does light speed travel result in bending reality? All these questions and more await answering in Lifeless Planet, which takes cues from sci-fi classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris.

Key features:

• Explore 20 unique and atmospheric environments on a vast and treacherous planet.
• Follow a mysterious young woman as she guides you past dangerous terrain and deadly life-forms.
• Investigate the startling discovery of an abandoned Russian town.
• Experience an exciting and intriguing story through rich graphics and cinematic cut-scenes.

Buy Lifeless Planet on the Xbox Store (£15.99 / $19.99)

Schrödinger's Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark

Raiders of the Lost Quark is a frenetic puzzle-platformer all about quantum physics, developed by Italic Pig and published by indie outfit Team 17. Schrödinger's Cat has been drafted in to find out what went wrong at the Particle Zoo, a physics theme park that seems like it was more trouble than it was worth. All sorts of sub atomic particles are now run amok, creating all sorts of entropic chaos. Its up to you to battle the wayward quanta, and find out exactly how they escaped.

Key features:

• 7 frustrating environments!
• 9 overly chatty and annoying characters!
• 11 Particle-Based Baddies!
• 14 Quark Combos!
• Nonsensical task-based gameplay!
• A satisfying climax that only clever people will be able to enjoy properly!

Buy Schrödinger's Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark on the Xbox Store (£7.19 / $9.99)

As a fan of old school sci-fi flicks I find Lifeless Planet to be particularly intriguing. Raiders of the Lost Quark should be a good outing for fans of puzzle platformers as well. Perhaps my backlog isn't be so huge in another quantum reality.

Disney's Duck Tales was a hugely popular animated television show in the late eighties and early nineties, spawning a theatrical film and a spin-off series. Based on pulp-style comics from the 1950s, the show revolved around the adventures of the world's richest duck Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

DuckTales' greatest legacy is probably the videogame of the same name. Developed by Capcom using the Mega Man engine and released on the NES and GameBoy, DuckTales remains one of the most beloved 8-bit platformers of its time. In 2013, developer WarForward teamed up with Capcom and Disney Interactive to remake the game on modern consoles and PCs as DuckTales: Remastered.

At last, DuckTales Remastered has made its way to Windows Phone and Windows 8. Does it retain the magic of the Xbox 360 version, let alone the original NES game? Read on to find out!

Bringing DuckTales back to life

The original DuckTales game had a light narrative bought to life through relatively minimal on-screen text. Remastered goes above and beyond the call of duty in updating the story. The entire tale has been rewritten and expanded to the point where it feels like an episode of the show.

A surprising array of series characters show up, including Scrooge's nephews, Mrs. Beakley and her niece Webby, Duckworth the Butler, Launchpad McQuack the pilot, Gyro the inventor, Fenton the annoying guy who turns into Gizmoduck, and Bubba the caveduck. Flinthart Glomgold and Magica De Spell and the Beagle Boys turn up as villains.

All of those characters are fully voiced, with most played by their original actors – including Alan Young as protagonist Scrooge McDuck. Roles belonging to deceased actors were recast, including Mrs. Beakley, Flinthart Glomgold, Gyro, and Fenton. Flinthart's new voice turns in a fantastic performance, whereas Flinton's voice grates a bit.

The story still comes to life via in-game sprites rather than separate cinematic sequences. The characters all animate and emote but, unfortunately their mouths don't move. Hey, at least they have voices!

Story scenes can be skipped. Alternately, the Quick cinematics option skips any previously viewed sequence automatically.

Quest for treasure

DuckTales Remastered opens with an all-new tutorial level that sets Scrooge's adventure in motion. The Beagle Boys (a gang of habitual felons) attack Scrooge's Money Bin, a gigantic vault that protects his riches.

Scrooge takes it upon himself to storm the vault, eject the intruders, and rescue his nephews. In doing so, he discovers a treasure map hidden in the painting the Beagle Boys were after. Looks like we have an adventure on our hands!

Now Scrooge finds himself his Money Bin office, the game's hub area. From here players can select levels, purchase unlockable gallery items, and even go for a swim in the Money Bin!

The five original levels (African Mines, The Amazon, The Himalayas, Transylvania, and the Moon, all revamped and expanded) can be played in any order. Each one functions like a mini-episode of the show. They culminate in some truly exciting boss battles, which again are vastly improved over those of the original.

After knocking out the five levels and collecting their treasures, Remastered has a brand new final level: Mount Vesuvius. Here Scrooge teams up with an old adversary, trading clever barbs while navigating the dangerous lava-filled environment. It's a challenging and thrilled-filled conclusion, far better than the NES game's repeated Transylvania finale.

Unlike the original, DuckTales Remastered has only a single ending. But it will bring a smile to the faces of fans of the show – especially when the lyrical theme song plays during the end credits.

That's a cane, not a shovel

Although it used the Mega Man engine, DuckTales played quite unlike other games of its time. Scrooge McDuck doesn't blast baddies with a gun. Instead, he hops on them with his cane.

The pogo attack is easier to perform than ever in Remastered. Simply jump and tap the cane button to pogo onto enemies' heads, damaging them. Pogoing also happens to allow Scrooge to bounce higher and avoid damage from spikes on the ground, so players will often pogo around all over the place. Recent Xbox One release Shovel Knight borrowed its shovel pogo mechanic from DuckTales.

Hunting for treasure proves just as enjoyable as bouncing around on Scrooge's cane. Each level contains numerous chests filled with valuable gems to collect. Oftentimes, moving past certain areas will cause invisible gems and/or chests to appear as well. The money collected from each level can be spent on items in the Gallery.

Most levels feature unique sequences to break up the platforming. Scrooge gets to ride in mine carts, hang from a rope as Launchpad flies a helicopter, and more. WayForward also added a convenient map screen (accessible via the pause menu) to make navigating the levels easier.

Unlockables

Having beaten the game, players can revisit all seven stages at will. You can also switch the soundtrack to the original 8-bit chiptunes, which still sound fantastic all these years later. Everybody loves the moon level's theme!

As mentioned earlier, money collected from each level can be spent on items in the Gallery. Most are various forms of concept art. But buy enough stuff in the gallery and you'll be able to unlock songs from the game and even concept art from the actual DuckTales TV show. It will take about two playthroughs to afford all the cool stuff.

Windows Phone version

Windows Phone, Windows 8, Steam, and Xbox 360 version differences

DuckTales Remastered is available as a universal purchase for Windows Phone and Windows 8, on Steam, Xbox 360, and other consoles.

• The Windows 8 version runs flawlessly on the original Surface Pro. The Windows Phone version initially suffered from frame rate issues on the Lumia 1520, but I THINK those were fixed with a recent update.
• The Windows Phone and Windows 8 versions both offer surprisingly good touch screen controls. The game is perfectly playable with touch, especially on Easy difficulty.
• Windows 8 and Steam both support Xbox controllers, which is the best way to play.
• The Steam version offers Steam Achievements and cloud saves, which you wouldn't get from the Windows Phone or Windows 8 versions.
• Two Xbox 360 versions exist: a retail release with 1,000 Gamerscore and an XBLA game with 400 Gamerscore.

Overall Impression

DuckTales Remastered easily surpasses the NES game, adding new levels, a fun story with charming voice acting, and plenty of new secrets and extras. It's a pitch-perfect remaster of a platforming classic. Anyone who has ever watched the cartoon or played the original game will be overjoyed with the new game.

Like Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse (another remastered Disney platformer), DuckTales Remastered rings up at $9.99 on Windows Phone and Windows 8. It's a universal purchase, so buying one gets you the other. The price is very fair given the high quality of the game and lack of in-app purchases. Plus it's five bucks less than the Steam and XBLA versions to boot.

• Download DuckTales Remastered for Windows Phone ($9.99)
• Download DuckTales Remastered for Windows 8 and RT ($9.99)

Additional Resources:

• DuckTales Remastered – Windows PC – $14.99 – Steam Link
• DuckTales Remastered – Xbox 360 – $14.99 – Xbox Link– Amazon Link

One of the latest ID@Xbox titles to hit the Xbox One, Lifeless Planet, is a story driven, science fiction-fest that shows just how strong the independent Xbox developer community really is.

While it lacks some of the polish you'd find on a AAA title from a big publisher, Lifeless Planet is a simple yet engaging experience that draws you into its ever developing plot the further into the world you explore.

"While seeking life on a distant planet, an astronaut discovers an abandoned Russian town. He suspects his mission is a hoax until a mysterious young woman saves him from a strange and deadly phenomenon... Lifeless Planet is a third-person action-adventure that features an old-school sci-fi story and spectacular environments in the spirit of classic action-adventures. After a hard landing on the planet, the astronaut discovers the planet that was reported to be rich with life is instead a barren wasteland. When he goes searching for his crew, he makes a more startling discovery: evidence that humans have already been to this planet years ago!"

Without giving away too much of the story (since the story is what'll draw you right in), you begin having crash landed on a seemingly desolate, lifeless, inhospitable world. You were supposed to be landed on a planet teeming with life, but instead you find yourself alone, low on Oxygen and supplies, in a bleak, desert like wilderness. As you begin to explore it doesn't take long to realize that the planet hasn't always been lifeless when you stumble into a town. More so, a town previously inhabited by settlers from the Soviet Union.

As you continue to explore you will discover you're not alone on the planet, drawn to a mysterious woman who leaves green footprints for you to follow her. Except she doesn't want you to follow her, but later on, your life depends on it. Following her eerie green footsteps as closely as you can keeps you safe from some pretty nasty things going on beneath the surface.

The game world is expansive, but the game play is still pretty linear. There's a ton of space for you to explore, but ultimately you're directed to complete certain tasks, in certain places at certain times. Filling up your Oxygen supply, for example. This is one of the first things you need to do, with a replenishment lasting 8 hours. But you only ever begin to run out when you're in the vicinity of another tank to do it all over again. It's not totally straight forward as you still need to find them, but there are some visual clues to help you on your way.

It's a great pick-up-and-play experience with extremely straight forward controls. You can run. You can jump. And you can jump with a little bit of jetpack boost. At first that's pretty much it. As time progresses you pick up new tools, like a robot arm, and enhanced jetpack abilities, but it's very, very simple. There's nothing on the screen, either. Just your little Astronaut and the environment. Nothing distracting, nothing unnecessary.

But the story is possibly the single most exciting part of Lifeless Planet. It's been wonderfully written to the point where each little part of the world you're exploring opens it up a little bit more while raising another series of questions. What is the "Green Fire?" Who is this woman? And what were the Russians doing out here in the first place? And where is here?

For an indie title, Lifeless Planet is very nicely done. I mentioned it lacks some of the polish you'd find from a big developer, and that's true. The graphics can get a little glitchy with items sort of disappearing into the ground and the frame rate can struggle in places. But, given that this is an ID@Xbox title, it generally looks fantastic. An immersive, well designed world.

So, is it worth spending $20 on? Only you can decide that but so far I'm not at all disappointed with the price or the experience. In a world of flashy, online multiplayer focused titles from big publishers, this is a refreshing alternative. A thoughtful, well designed single player game with a truly immersive story. And it shows once again how strong the ID@Xbox stable is becoming.

• Buy Lifeless Planet on the Xbox Store (£15.99 / $19.99)

A re-mastered Gears of War for Xbox One is likely days from announcement, if the following leak turns out to be real.

The attached footage was uploaded to XboxDVR.com and summarily removed, but not before hitting NeoGAF, MEGA cloud storage and then the rest of the internet.

The video was created using Upload Studio, as such it's only running at 720p and 30 fps above. YouTuber EKM Krauser reports that the game runs at 60 fps and enjoys improvements to lighting, blood effects, textures and new smoke effects. I'd hazard a guess that the full game runs above 720p as well.

Examining the footage, the gore effects certainly seem exaggerated over the original, and the lighting bouncing off the damp cobble stones was certainly not present in the original 360 version. The texturing also seems improved even when compared to the PC version on max settings.

The footage certainly seems genuine at a glance. However, it seems like a massive oversight for Microsoft to allow any supposed Gears of War: Ultimate Edition beta to record Upload Studio clips. Developers have the ability to prevent Game DVR from running captures in pre-release games, so it seems odd that the option to block it was overlooked.

This latest leak follows off-screen photographs of a Gears of War beta for Xbox One installed and running, in addition to a listing on the Brazilian video games rating board.

I think it's entirely likely that this footage is real, but as with anything online, take the leak with a pinch of salt until we get official word from Microsoft.

Thanks Ukumio

Update: Zenimax Online Studios have returned to clarify further, stating that their original information was incorrect. ESO will only use the disk for verification, and won't require a key at all.

Original article below:

Zenimax Online Studios have confirmed via the official Elder Scrolls Online forums that disk-based copies of Elder Scrolls Online for Xbox One and PS4 contain a single-use-only serial key that will be required for play.

Elder Scrolls Online will mark a first for Xbox One, requiring users register online using the bundled key before being able to play. Disk-based copies of the game can still be used for installation purposes even when sold, but a new player will have to purchase a serial key separately to play.

Elder Scrolls Online is Zenimax's attempt to take a bit of World of Warcraft's MMO pie, based on the near-unanimously popular Elder Scrolls RPG series. The game had a troubled start on the back of mixed reviews. ESO peaked at around 1 million players before announcing it would devolve into a subscriptionless model, with a version they've jarringly dubbed "Tamriel Unlimited".

A spokesperson from Zenimax Online Studios clarified speculation over serial keys on their official forum:

Hey there folks. To clarify, you will need a unique game registration code in order to play the game, and used copies will not be eligible to receive a key if the code has already been redeemed. It works the same way as the PC version in that the code included in the box is to activate your ESOTU account and the discs are for installation purposes. If you own the disc but don't have a key, you'll be able to install the game and reach the login screen, but you won't be able to log in and access the game without an active ESOTU account.

Despite ESO's side step away from subscriptions, Zenimax Online Studios will want to ensure that the cost of entry and in-game micro-transactions will be enough to fund the game's servers and support staff, akin to MMOs like Guild Wars II. If you were planning on purchasing the game and then then selling if you don't like it, just be aware that the re-sale value probably won't be that great.

The console market remains largely untapped for the MMO genre. The only MMO available for Xbox One - Neverwinter Online - has recently announced an active player base of 1.6 million, making it the number one free to play title currently available for the console. So there's certainly a market!

Have you played Elder Scrolls Online? What's your take on the game? Hit the comments.

Elder Scrolls Online launches for both Xbox One and PS4 on June 9th, 2015.

After launching a closed alpha test earlier this year, developer Hi-Rez Studios has started the closed beta test on the Xbox One for their popular PC fantasy MOBA game SMITE.

Anyone who participated in the closed alpha can also check out the game in closed beta. Everyone else can sign-up to be picked for the beta test at the official SMITE website. While the game is free-to-play, Hi-Rez is offering anyone a way to instantly gain access to the closed beta with the $30 Founders Pack. It also includes access to every god character in the game, plus access to any future gods. The Founders Pack will not be available after SMITE officially launches for the Xbox One, which will happen sometime later in 2015.

Here's a quick rundown of SMITE

• ENTER THE ACTION - Unlike other MOBAs, SMITE takes you directly into the action with a third-person perspective, letting you see the battle from an up-close-and-personal point of view. From blind-side ambushes to eagle-eyed aimed shots, a new universe of strategic possibilities awaits.
• RISE AS A GOD - Thor, Kali, Ra, Zeus, Sun Wukong and many, many more--choose from over 60 playable Gods, and blast your foes with legendary weapons, earth-shattering powers and unique strategies.
• JOIN THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON - With leagues and ladders for every level of play, SMITE's burgeoning eSports community has room for everyone, whether you're new to the game, or competing in front of a global audience at the annual SMITE World Championship.
• TACTICAL GAMEPLAY - Master your godlike abilities to fulfill key roles such as damage dealer, tank, crowd control and support. Explore the map and defeat enemy NPCs for increased gold and buffs that help both you and your allies. Then deny your opponents victory with perfectly executed ambushes and teamwork.
• POWER UP - Within a single match, your God levels from 1 to 20, strengthening your abilities with each step. You can purchase in-game items and consumables to benefit your God and complement your personal play style, buffing your magical power, physical power, defense or utility as you see fit.
• CALCULATED STRIKES Every attack in SMITE is a skill shot that you control. Ranged attacks must be carefully aimed, melee attacks properly positioned and Area of Effect damage targeted precisely. Predict your enemies' movements and hit your mark for maximum impact in fast-paced combat.
• FREE-TO-PLAY - Everything affecting gameplay in SMITE can be earned by simply playing the game. Players have access to an initial set of playable Gods for free, while additional Gods can be unlocked steadily through gameplay time or more quickly through micro-transactions. Cosmetic skins can also be purchased for further customization.

Source: SMITE

Microsoft will be in full hype mode during E3 2015, promoting upcoming games for its Xbox One console, showing off its upcoming HoloLens device, and possibly some surprises. Today, the company revealed some of its plans for E3 2015 in Los Angeles, including a chance for 500 lucky residents to attend a special Microsoft event.

First, Microsoft will hold its annual E3 media briefing in LA on Monday, June 15 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight time (12:30 p.m. Eastern time and 5:30 p.m. GMT). Microsoft will show off new gameplay footage from previously announced Xbox One titles, along with reveals of all-new games for the console, among other events. Microsoft will stream the E3 2015 media briefing on Xbox.com, the Xbox Live Events Player for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone and directly on the Xbox One and Xbox 360 console. The cable TV network Spike will also broadcast the event live in the US.

Microsoft will also stream another show, Xbox Daily: LIVE @ E3, on June 15-17 from 4-5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (7 p.m. Eastern time and Midnight GMT). Microsoft says:

"The one hour show will be hosted by Larry Hryb, Xbox Live's Major Nelson, and Graeme Boyd, Xbox Live's Acey Bongos, and will include guest stars and industry elites, including Head of Xbox Phil Spencer and guests from 343 Industries, Turn 10 Studios, Crystal Dynamics, and others."

Finally, people who happen to be in the LA area during E3 can register to be picked as one of 500 attendees of Microsoft's Xbox FanFest from June 14-16. Here's what those lucky to be selected can expect:

• Entry into the Xbox E3 2015 Briefing at 9:30 a.m. PDT on Monday, June 15, at the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles.
• Invite to the exclusive Xbox FanFest Party on Monday afternoon, June 15, where fans will get to play the best exclusives and biggest blockbuster games this holiday and beyond.
• VIP access to the Xbox esports Celebrity Challenge and Twitch Party sponsored by Xbox.
• Meet-and-greet with some of the industry's top developers, leaders and influencers.
• Even more surprise events during the week.

More information on how to register for Xbox FanFest can be found on the Xbox website. Windows Central will be attending E3 2015 to offer first-hand reports of all of Microsoft's big Xbox One announcements.

Source: Xbox Wire

Ubisoft may have delayed the launch of Tom Clancy's The Division from 2015 to early 2016, but fans of another Clancy-branded game franchise, Rainbow Six, can look forward to playing another installment this fall. Today, Ubisoft revealed that the tactical shooter Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege will be released for the Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4 on October 13.

Developed by Ubisoft's Montreal studio, Rainbow Six Siege will concentrate on close quarters combat as players breach and clear targets with a variety of weapons, tools and tactics. Here's what potential Operators can expect:

• COUNTER TERRORIST UNITS - Counter terrorist operatives are trained to handle extreme situations, such as hostage rescue, with surgical precision. As "short range" specialists, their training is concentrated on indoor environments. Operating in tight formations, they are experts of close quarter combat, demolition, and coordinated assaults.
• THE SIEGE GAMEPLAY - For the first time in Rainbow Six, players will engage in sieges, a brand-new style of assault. Enemies now have the means to transform their environments into strongholds: they can trap, fortify, and create defensive systems to prevent breach by Rainbow teams. To face this challenge, players have a level of freedom unrivaled by any previous Rainbow Six game. Combining tactical maps, observation drones, and a new rappel system, Rainbow teams have more options than ever before to plan, attack, and diffuse these situations.
• PROCEDURAL DESTRUCTION - Destruction is at the heart of the siege gameplay. Leveraging Ubisoft Montreal's proprietary Realblast engine, players now have the unprecedented ability to destroy environments. Walls can be shattered, opening new lines of fire, and ceiling and floors can be breached, creating new access points. Everything in the environment reacts realistically, dynamically, and uniquely based on the size and caliber of bullets you are using or the amount of explosives you have set. In Rainbow Six Siege, destruction is meaningful and mastering it is often the key to victory.

Source: Xbox (YouTube)

Telltale Games scored a big hit with the first two "seasons" of its episodic adventure game series based on the The Walking Dead comic book. The company confirmed last year that a third season is in the works but this week its director of PR Job Stauffer confirmed that it won't be out in 2015.

However, Stauffer added, via his Twitter account, that fans of the Walking Dead game series may be in for a surprise sometime this year. He stated:

"Alright. No more WD teasing on Twitter until E3. Simply put, no S3 this year, but WD fans are still getting something major in 2015."

It's possible that Telltale might release some kind of DLC add-on for The Walking Dead Season 2, similar to how they launched a DLC pack, 400 Days, for Season 1. Telltale is quite busy these days. It is in the middle of releasing two episodic games; one based on Borderlands and the other based on Game of Thrones. It also has a Minecraft game in the works, and a project set in the Marvel superhero universe that will launch in 2017.

Source: Job J. Stauffer (Twitter)

Update: Microsoft sent a statement to GameSpot clairifing that Xbox One consoles can be cut off from Xbox Live but are still useable offline:

""To be clear, if a console is suspended from Xbox Live for a violation of the Terms of Use, it can still be used offline," a Microsoft spokesperson told GameSpot. "Microsoft enforcement action does not result in a console becoming unusable."

Original story: Earlier today, we reported that footage of the still unannounced Xbox One remake of Gears of War found its way to the Internet. Today, it looks like Microsoft is taking a stand against this kind of activity and has temporarily bricked the Xbox One consoles of the people who leaked those videos.

Microsoft hired a third-party QA company called VMC Games to help them test the Gears of War Xbox One remake, and it appears the footage came from two people that VMC hired. Their actions, obviously, broke the company's non-disclosure agreement and they have now been removed from that program. Kotaku received an email sent by VMC to its employees explaining the situation and the punishment they and Microsoft decided to give to the testers that leaked the footage:

"The nature of the leak having had occurred through Xbox One, actually also went against the Microsoft EULA, which is agreed upon when creating an Xbox LIVE account, or any other type of Microsoft account. This being said, as per that agreement with the testers in fault, Microsoft also permanently disabled their Xbox LIVE accounts (as well as other suspected accounts present on their Xbox One kits) and temporarily blocked all of their Xbox One privileges – meaning that for a period of time which Microsoft decides on depending on the severity of the offense, their Xbox One is entirely unusable."

Source: Kotaku

With the latest build of the Windows 10 Insider Preview there are a number of apps we're getting a look at for the first time. One of those is the universal Xbox app, destined to replace the current Smartglass app eventually.

As this is the new universal app there's a lot in common with the desktop version we've already seen. The feature set is a little more stripped back, but ultimately it's the same. Just, well, smaller.

The Xbox One Store isn't present in this build, nor it seems is access to your own Game DVR clips. Microsoft warns (as ever) that it's a very early look, so bear that in mind. There are also some comically large things going on in the OneGuide. To try it yourselves you'll need to download it from the newly added Store (Beta) on your phone.

We'll be taking a closer look at a lot of what's in this latest build soon, but for now check out a screenshot gallery of the new Xbox app below.

Like what you see? Sound off in the comments below!

Microsoft's Xbox One console may be gaining some ground on Sony's PlayStation 4, at least in the US, when it comes to hardware sales. Today, Microsoft confirmed that the Xbox One was the best selling console in the country, according to numbers from the NPD Group, for the month of April 2015.

This is the first time since December 2014 that the Xbox One claimed the top spot in monthly console sales. As usual, the specific unit sales for the console were not revealed. GamesIndustry.biz got a statement from Microsoft's Corporate Vice President for Xbox Marketing Mike Nichols:

"As the best-selling console in the U.S. in April, fans set record April sales and engagement for Xbox One last month. Xbox One console sales in the U.S. increased 63 percent in April 2015 compared to April 2014 and Xbox Live comparisons showed the number of active global users (Xbox One and Xbox 360) grew 24 percent. We are grateful to our fans for their passion and support and are looking forward to sharing more on the best game lineup in Xbox history at E3,"

Sony sent out its own statement on the April 2015 sales numbers, stating that the PlayStation 4 is still the "cumulative sales leader in the US."

Source: Gamesindustry.biz

Spectra is an upcoming ID@Xbox racer from Gateway Interactive that has punished Windows Store users for some time with its demanding retro racing.

Spectra will join Halo: Spartan Assault as one of the only two games available on Xbox One, Windows Phone and Windows 8 simultaneously with synchronous progression. So let's take a look!

Retrotacular and laced with score-chasing challenge

In Spectra, you pilot a rocket powered Nintendo Gameboy (seriously) across procedurally generated race tracks, laden with obstacles. Spectra's race tracks are generated using infectious 8-bit chiptunes composed by Chipzel as a basis. Chipzel became famous for her work on Super Hexagon, another retro hit mobile game. Spectra sports ten tracks in total, each taking place randomly across the length of Chipzel's sound track, each of which are typically 5-7 minutes on average.

For those who didn't pick up the Windows Store versions, the gameplay takes cues from the likes of the classic Sonic special zones, F-Zero and endless runners like Temple Run. On touch devices, you tap left and right to avoid obstacles and by using left and right on the joystick on Xbox One. You can also hook up an Xbox controller to your Surface or similar Windows tablet to enjoy the game.

As you progress through a level, you'll pick up coins and be awarded bonus modifiers for narrowly avoiding obstacles and hitting speed boosts for jumps. You can deposit your built up points by avoiding coins for a couple of seconds, but by doing so you will sacrifice your modifiers. Smashing into obstacles will see you lose any points you haven't deposited, creating a an increasingly tense risk v. reward scenario.

Crashing into obstacles won't kill you, but it can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. The race track in Spectra is a slippery one, particularly when it comes to sharp corners. As levels ramp up in speed and complexity, keeping your racer on the track becomes a tricky business, and falling off it will end the game.

I caught up with Gateway Interactive to discuss future plans, Spectra's origins and their support of the Microsoft ecosystem.

Jez: What made you guys decide to make a game like this? What were your inspirations?

Gateway: There were multiple inspirations that all just sort of fell into place really! Originally Spectra was a Game Jam game. After working heavily on a different project we really needed a break so we booked out a stand at Insomnia and decided that within those two weeks leading up to the event we would create something to show, thus, Spectra was born!

We love games that have a focus on the audio and wanted to do something based off that. We were hugely inspired by F-Zero and Audiosurf (games that we have commonly been compared too) as well as Wipeout and Rainbow Road from Mario Kart.

The core of Spectra is the music. We were super lucky to meet the chiptune artist Chipzel at GDC 2013 and it was just a simple case of asking if we could use her music from her album of the same name.

Jez: Spectra holds a special place among some Windows Central readers (myself included) for its synchronicity between phone and tablet devices - what made you guys opt to add these features? Why target Windows touch devices instead of the other more 'popular' platforms?

Well the simple reason is, why should you need to play the game twice? The fact that you can finish one level on a certain platform and then pick it up again on another is the way forward so as not to regress a player's experience. The game was originally for touch screen devices and what with our great relationship with Microsoft, the Windows Store seemed like the natural progression! We plan on touching other platforms too, as we are currently in the run up to the game's release on Xbox One - which we are super excited for!

Thanks to Gateway Interactive for saying hi!

Spectra: a solid side of maddeningly addictive fun

After 24 hours of UK election mayhem Spectra was a satisfying distraction, particularly if you pretend that you're speeding away from the country into the vast emptiness of space. Spectra is a very simplistic, but delivers big on its core racing premise. Progression synchronicity between devices is a welcome bonus for any Windows touch gamer, but sadly, the Windows app store versions lose out on full Xbox integration. What gives ID@Xbox?!

Regardless, the future looks bright for Gateway Interactive, who are already in the planning stages for a new racer. Be sure to check back in June for the release of the Xbox One version and Windows Phone version. If you can't wait until then, the Windows 8.1 tablet version is still available to download here.

Giveaway!

If you'd like to win an early access code for Spectra on Xbox One, leave a comment below and two lucky winners will be picked at random. We'll close it down at 23:59 Eastern on Sunday, May 17 and get in touch!

Fans of great fantasy role-playing games on the PC will be happy to learn that one of them is making the move to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Developer Larian Studios announced today that Divinity: Original Sin, which was released for the PC and Mac in June 2014, is coming to both consoles in an Enhanced Edition later in 2015.

The console versions will include a new user interface designed to work with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 controllers. It will also have support for co-op and split-screen modes. Here are just some of the other enhancements that will be a part of this new version:

• All characters are now fully voiced by AAA-voice actors
• New quests, new characters, and new content
• Entirely new gameplay modes and character builds
• A heavily rewritten story with a brand new ending
• Massively reworked visuals and sound effects

The good news for the PC and Mac owners of the original game is that they will get their own versions of the Enhanced Edition as a free separate game when it is released.

Source: Larian Studios

Next week, the highly anticipated fantasy action-RPG The Witcher 3 comes out on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC. Few games will release alongside it, with most publishers having the good sense to get out of Witcher 3's way. But one game dares to stand up to the Witcher 3's tyranny. One game has the following, the clout, and the unique selling proposition to take it on: Farming Simulator 15.

With Farming Simulator 15 looming over the gaming landscape like the moon about to blot out the sun, publisher Focus Home Interactive has released a new trailer and details about the game's killer arsenal of licensed farming machinery. In all honesty, I'm quite pumped for Farming Simulator 15. Read on for the trailer and our in-depth preview with exclusive multiplayer details!

Multiplayer farming

Swiss developer Giants Software's Farming Simulator series has long held a cult following on PCs. Last year's game made it to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and even Windows Phone and Windows 8 (YES!). The console and mobile versions certainly have their fans, but until now they have lacked one essential feature of the PC games: online multiplayer.

Thankfully the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Farming Simulator 15 will finally include cooperative online farming. Players can team up and drive tractors, harvesters, and other agricultural machines to their hearts' content. Seeing as how Faming Simulator is a slow-paced game, the ability to socialize with a friend while working on tasks together should make for a fun and relaxing experience. Sort of like Minecraft but without the survival aspects.

How will multiplayer work? Many of the game's activities can be performed more quickly in a team setting. For example, a player driving a tractor with trailer-container can follower another player who drives a combine harvester and pick up the freshly harvested crops straight away, saving both players time. That's teamwork, baby!

We're proud to have first word that the Xbox One version of Farming Simulator 15 will support up to six players simultaneously. Who wants to join my farming team?

Real farming equipment

Don't think Farmville when you think Farming Simulator – this game offers a much more comprehensive and interactive farming experience. The game's primary activity is crop production, and that means driving tractors. If you grew up fascinated by tractors and other huge agricultural vehicles, you'd be impressed by how realistically they've been recreated in Farming Simulator 15. They even acquire dirt and mud as you're driving around.

The game features over 100 vehicles to work in and get dirty. These come from the 40 largest manufacturers of said equipment, including New Holland, Ponsse, Case IH, Deutz-Fahr, Lamborghini, Same, Horsch, Grimme, Amazone and many more. Hey, I recognized one of those brands!

Virtual farmers will put some of those vehicles to use in this year's new activity: woodcutting. If the nearby forest encroaches too much on your farming real estate, just chop it down. Tree harvesters, chainsaws, chippers, and trailers will help you acquire wood that can then be sold at market. Other farming activities include raising livestock (cows, sheep, and chickens), economy management, and sales – the same stuff that real life farmers do.

Get ready to farm

Farming Simulator 15 includes several ways to play. You can farm within a new open world, building the biggest and best farm you can imagine. Or visit specific maps such as America and the Nordic map to see how farming conditions differ across the world. Missions will pop up as you play, challenging you to complete specific goals within a set time to earn rewards. You know, relaxing farm game-y stuff.

Historically, the Farming Simulator games have been fairly low budget compared to AAA titles. After all, the market for farming games isn't quite as large as shooting and military games. We can expect the Xbox One game to look and run a little better than last year's Xbox 360 entry, but don't think it will amaze anyone on a technical level. This series is all about the farming experience, the relaxing setting, and especially the tractors and machinery. I don't know about you guys, but I'm eager to hop online with a friend and drive some tractors.

Farming Simulator 15 will dig up onto Xbox One and 360 and PlayStation 3 and 4 on Tuesday, May 19. The Windows version is already available.

• Farming Simulator 15 – Xbox One – $49.99 – Amazon Link
• Farming Simulator 15 – Xbox 360 – $39.99 – Amazon Link
• Farming Simulator 15 – Windows and Mac – $29.99 – Steam Link– Amazon Link