!.07-Xbox Wire

Microsoft Flight Simulator Available Today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass
Suggestive Gaming Breaks Down “What You Need to Know” About Psychonauts 2
From a Living Desert to a Volcano’s Peak: Exploring Forza Horizon 5’s Biomes and Seasons

Microsoft Flight Simulator Available Today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass

Posted: 27 Jul 2021 07:59 AM PDT

In a pivotal moment for the flight simmer community, today we are bringing Microsoft Flight Simulator to Xbox Series X|S giving aspiring pilots the chance to take flight for the first time on a console.

From light planes to wide-body jets, you'll test your piloting skills against the challenges of real-time weather including accurate wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain, and lightning – all in a dynamic and living world. With the power of satellite data from Bing Maps and cloud-based AI using Azure, you'll travel the entire planet in amazing detail with over 37 thousand airports, 2 million cities, 1.5 billion buildings, real mountain ranges, roads, trees, rivers, animals, traffic, and more. Simmers can expect the same level of depth as the PC version, with the most authentic and realistic flight simulator we have ever created and available to the widest audience ever.

Optimized to harness the power of Xbox Series X|S, Microsoft Flight Simulator brings realism, accuracy, and authenticity of flying. Even if you're a new pilot, you can jump right in to experience the thrill of flight. Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X|S adds new features to make the experience highly accessible:

Discovery Flights: Newcomers can easily enter the world of Microsoft Flight Simulator and experience some of the most impressive wonders of our planet, including awe-inspiring locations like the Great Pyramid of Giza and Mount Everest, or vibrant cities like Naples and Rio de Janeiro. Start in the air and off you go.

World Exploration Improvements: Many users love to explore the planet in Microsoft Flight Simulator, and we've further enhanced that experience. The world map now features satellite imagery, map labels, and main Point of Interest (POI) names to make exploring the world (and even finding your house) as easy as possible. We extended this capability into the flight experience itself and users can now activate the POI labels during a flight, so they can get a sense for the spatial relationships between cities, mountains, and other landmarks.

Flight Training: We significantly improved our flight training to ensure a smoother learning curve and make them more snack-sized and by adding a new performance evaluation system. We now have 22 training flights that teach users the fundamentals of flying starting with basic handling, to landing and takeoff, VFR navigation and learning how to fly an airliner like the Airbus 320neo. We also added more contextual voiceovers to help explain elements and provide feedback.

Flight Assistance: We are introducing an extremely useful new tool called the Flight Assistant that provides AI help during flight:

You can select nearby POIs or airports and set them as your destination to get direction.
You can use it to let the AI auto land your plane.
You can use it for auto-trimming and anti-stall.

Land Anywhere: In most flight simulators, take off and landing at an airport can be complex and intimidating for newcomers. 71% of our planet is water, so we added water landing options. We revamped several of our planes and incorporated optional floaters, skis and a "large tires" feature so you can land almost anywhere.

Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X|S is the most accessible entry to date with the addition of Screen Narrator and new features such as Discovery Flights, all new scored training flights, enhanced landing gear and more so new pilots can jump right into experiencing the thrill of flight!

Launching Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC last year was only the beginning of our journey to make the best simulation possible. As we continue adding to the experience with free World Updates (Japan, US, France, Benelux, UK & Ireland and the Nordics so far with many more to come), free simulation updates, themed DLC bundles, and true-to-life aircraft, Xbox Series X|S simmers will enjoy these updates on console as well. The sky is calling!

Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available on Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Game Pass, Windows 10 with Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Steam.

For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on Twitter.

Suggestive Gaming Breaks Down “What You Need to Know” About Psychonauts 2

Posted: 26 Jul 2021 03:20 PM PDT

On August 25, Psychonauts 2 will be unleashed upon the world via Xbox consoles, PC, and Xbox Game Pass, continuing the tale of Razputin "Raz" Aquato, a former circus performer who's left the big top behind to pursue his dream career of being a Psychonaut. If you didn't play the first game, now would be the absolute perfect time to check it out for free with Xbox Game Pass. Don't have time? Well then, you might want to take a look at the latest video (embedded above!) breaking down the story so far, courtesy of our friends over at Suggestive Gaming. Once you're done getting caught up, be sure to enjoy our Q&A with the Suggestive Gaming team below, in which they share some of their process.

Q: Could you run us through the typical process of putting together a 'What You need to Know' timeline video?

A: First, I’ll play through every relevant game in the series I’m covering, capturing all of the footage along the way; sometimes this is easier than others, depending on the availability of the titles. After I’ve got all the footage, I go into research mode and start looking into any supplemental material (such as novels, comic books, movies, etc) and start taking notes on those. With all my notes in place, I watch back through my footage and write my script to summarize the games, while filling in any blanks with the supplemental material. Then, it’s just a matter of recording my script and editing it all together into the final video everybody sees on YouTube.

Q: Outside of just providing a synopsis of the core narrative, is there anything specific you look for when creating a 'What You need to Know' timeline video?

A: Generally, I’ll try to pick up on things I think will make an appearance in or become an important point of a new installment and focus on those things so the viewer can have a better context if/when those threads get tied up when they play the new game. Other things I like to include are fan-favorite moments, even if they’re not super important to the story. The Milkman’s catchphrase is a perfect example of something I knew I’d have to include in this video in particular.

Q: Do you try to strike a balance between using cutscenes versus in-game moments?

A: This usually depends on the series. Some games keep almost all of the story in cutscenes, while others have you play through the events that transpire. While I usually aim to keep my gameplay footage as presentable as possible, sometimes I’m not happy with certain shots because the movement of the gameplay can be hard to follow with how short the clips I use are. Because of this, I like to keep to using cutscenes whenever I can, but sometimes gameplay moments are just too great to leave out.

Q: Was there anything in particular that stood out to you when you were putting together the Psychonauts 2 'What You need to Know' timeline video?

A: The easy answer here is the “Milkman Conspiracy” level. There’s a clear reason that section of the game is so beloved by the gaming community. The level design, quirky non-player characters, and hilarious writing create one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever had in gaming. Aside from that, I loved deep-diving into the background of the Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp and learning about all of its history in-universe.

Q: Are there any narrative threads that you hope will continue in Psychonauts 2?

A: Strangely enough, I’m most excited about Dr. Loboto. Learning his history in the Rhombus of Ruin gives an almost sympathetic quality to his story. Given that we’ve most likely not seen the end of him, I’m very interested to see how he fits into the new game’s story, as well as the true nature behind his actions in the Rhombus of Ruin.

Q: What was it like playing through Psychonauts again? How was your experience playing Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin for the first time?

A: I can still remember returning home from the video store with the first Psychonauts. I was immediately in love with the world and the characters, but unfortunately didn’t get to complete it before my rental was due. It’s really a shame it took me this long to return to it, because I had an absolute blast, and it’s easily the most fun I’ve had playing through a game for the show. As a lover of all things VR, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin was a super cool experience. I loved seeing all of the characters up close and 3-dimensional in all their high polygon glory, and as I mentioned before, I adore what it added to the story.

From a Living Desert to a Volcano’s Peak: Exploring Forza Horizon 5’s Biomes and Seasons

Posted: 26 Jul 2021 10:46 AM PDT

While there's no denying that flashy supercars and built-for-fun off-road vehicles are the stars of the show in the Forza Horizon series, it's the widely varied, based-on-real-life environments that really make the games shine. Whether it's kicking up dust while blasting across the Australian Outback in Forza Horizon 3 or leaving a swirling trail of leaves through the English countryside on a crisp autumn day in Forza Horizon 4, we've all got great memories of exploring the vibrant worlds created by the developers at Playground Games. With Forza Horizon 5, the team has their sights set on the most diverse locale yet: Mexico.

"We knew from the beginning that we wanted this to be the biggest Forza Horizon yet. However, if we wanted to be the biggest, then we felt we also needed to offer the most diversity and contrast as well," says Mike Brown, Creative Director of Forza Horizon at Playground Games. "Mexico is almost like the whole world in one country: snowy peaks, tropical jungles, epic canyons, beautiful beaches, ancient architecture, and modern cities. When you add on Mexico's incredible culture – the music, the art, the history, the people – there is no more exciting location for the Horizon Festival."

The Playground Games team has broken down Forza Horizon 5's Mexico into 11 distinct and unique biomes, each of which was painstakingly researched and recreated by the team. "Our team collects reference from the location and creates concept images that highlight the beauty and unique detail for each biome. We employ techniques such as photogrammetry to recreate the environment with precision accuracy," says Don Arceta, Art Director for Forza Horizon 5 at Playground Games. "And we bring the beauty of the world in, through the sights and sounds you'll find throughout every area. The goal of the artistic process is to make it feel like you're really there."

Seasons will also be returning to Forza Horizon 5, adding a new layer of diversity and complexity to the experience than previous Forza Horizon games. What's more, each of the 11 unique biomes will transition though the seasons differently. As an example, spring means the rainy season in the jungles and farmland of Mexico, while summer could bring intense tropical thunderstorms along the coasts. Forza Horizon 5 seasons ensure Mexico is constantly evolving, encouraging players to explore the world in full each time the seasons change.

But what about the biomes themselves? Spread out over a map that's about one-and-a-half times the size of Forza Horizon 4's, the 11 biomes represent the most diverse map a Forza Horizon game has ever delivered. Let's take a closer look:

Canyon

You might recognize this as the biome that was shown in the Forza Horizon 5 reveal trailer in June. It's filled with rock formations patterned with unique striations, many of which erode into hoodoos that are only found in the canyon. Fun fact: each of the biomes have unique audio and the canyon has more echoes than any of the others.

Tropical Coast

This might be what you think of when you imagine a tropical Mexican vacation. Filled with palm trees, seagulls, white sand beaches and calm waters, it feels a lot like a postcard come to life. At least that's the case until you reach storm season, which completely changes how you need to navigate it. Watch out for flying palm trees!

Farmland

Unlike the flatter or drier farmland found in some of the previous Forza Horizon games, these rolling hills are filled with lush vegetation, fruit-bearing trees, and wide, shallow rivers. You'll have plenty of fences to smash through and picturesque homesteads to explore while you're cruising through here.

Arid Hills

As you might suspect given the name, this biome is full of dry grasses on rolling hills and plains, providing plenty of open spaces to drive across if you feel like off-roading. One of the coolest features in this biome is a lake that actually dries up in the winter season, opening up shortcuts via fast passages and secret areas.

Jungle

Filled with lush, dense vegetation and towering trees that let beautiful rays of sun through the canopy, this biome also sports some impressive waterfalls and winding rivers. There are also a number of hidden temples in this area, all of which are based on real locations in Mexico.

Living Desert

In a first for the Forza Horizon series, Forza Horizon 5 features a cactus desert that's full of towering saguaros. There are also a number of rock formations and rock piles that are unique to the area. As the name implies, it's full of life and features plenty of flowers and wildlife.

Rocky Coast

While the tropical coast features lots of trees and vegetation, this one has a completely different vibe. Since there aren't many trees, you'll get a full view of the ocean and some excellent views of the sun setting at the end of the day. As a bonus to all you golfers out there, you can even take a spin around (read: through) a golf course.

Sand Desert

Full of towering sand dunes, this biome is perfect for cruising around in a buggy and carving into the sand. If you don't feel like getting sand between your toes, many of the roads in this area feature long straightaways so there are plenty of opportunities to see how fast your favorite ride really goes.

Swamp

Although a swamp might not sound like the best place for a race, this biome's shallow waters are a great place for it. The swamp also features a lot of mangrove trees that sport very thick, interconnected roots. You can actually smash through these during races, changing the route depending on whether or not your car can handle it.

Urban City of Guanajuato

Like a number of cities in Mexico, there's a good deal of amazing architecture and vibrant colors everywhere you look. Unlike a lot of cities, however, it features a lot of rolling hills and tunnels, making for some really fun race routes. As with the Canyon, you'll hear plenty of echoes bouncing around the city's tight roadways.

Volcano

In another first for the Forza Horizon series, this massive mountain is situated right next to the Living Desert. It's a very high-altitude volcano, so driving to the top is a unique experience that rewards players by seeing way off into the horizon. This is also the only place in the game that you'll encounter snow, so be sure to pack an extra jacket.

We hope you enjoyed this in-depth look at the diverse biomes you'll encounter in Forza Horizon 5. This is the largest, most diverse open world ever in a Forza Horizon game, with a vibrant, ever-evolving landscape and limitless driving action in hundreds of the world's greatest cars.

You can explore Mexico beginning on November 9, when Forza Horizon 5 releases for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC on Windows and Steam, and Xbox Game Pass including console, PC and Cloud Gaming (Beta).

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