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- Interactive Thriller Twelve Minutes is Available Today with Xbox Game Pass
- Catching Frostbite with NHL 22
- Free Play Days – The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, Hood: Outlaws and Legends, and I Am Bread
- Plug in and Game on with the New Xbox Stereo Headset
- ’90s Arcade-Inspired Beat ’em up Mayhem Brawler Launches August 19
- 10 Minutes with the Creator of Twelve Minutes
| Interactive Thriller Twelve Minutes is Available Today with Xbox Game Pass Posted: 19 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT Summary
My name is Luis Antonio, I'm the creator of Twelve Minutes and for the past several years I've been working with Annapurna Interactive to share this story with you that has been kicking around in my head for a while. You might've heard this before, but Twelve Minutes is an interactive thriller about a man trapped in a time loop.  You take the role of the husband, on what should be a romantic evening with your wife. This night turns into a nightmare when a police detective breaks into your home, accuses your wife of murder, and beats you to death. Only for you to find yourself immediately returned to the exact moment you opened the front door, stuck in a 12-minute time loop, doomed to relive the same terror again and again…  Unless you can find a way to use the knowledge of what's coming to change the outcome and break the loop. The whole experience happens inside an apartment and features the voice talent of James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe, whose work really helped to bring this story to life.  Inspired by classic point-and-click games, Twelve Minutes is a game about knowledge, how we accumulate it, and how we can apply it to change an outcome or solve a puzzle. Whether it's by listening, reacting, making mistakes, or failing, valuable knowledge will always be obtained that can help you progress through the narrative. Sometimes, doing nothing is as valid as doing something. Twelve Minutes launches today on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and with Xbox Game Pass, and I hope you enjoy the experience.   Twelve MinutesAnnapurna Interactive $24.99 TWELVE MINUTES is a real-time top-down interactive thriller with an accessible click and drag interface. Featuring James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe. What should be a romantic evening with your wife turns into a nightmare when a police detective breaks into your home, accuses your wife of murder and beats you to death… Only for you to find yourself immediately returned to the exact moment you opened the front door, stuck in a TWELVE-MINUTE time loop, doomed to relive the same terror again and again… Unless you can find a way to use the knowledge of what's coming to change the outcome and break the loop. TWELVE MINUTES blends the dream-like tension of THE SHINING with the claustrophobia of REAR WINDOW and the fragmented structure of MEMENTO. ’90s Arcade-Inspired Beat ’em up Mayhem Brawler Launches August 19 10 Minutes with the Creator of Twelve Minutes Greak: Memories of Azur Available Now for Xbox Series X|S  |
| Catching Frostbite with NHL 22 Posted: 19 Aug 2021 08:30 AM PDT Summary
Hockey is (almost) back! After two shortened seasons, it's looking like the league will be returning to its regular start time this October, giving us a full season of glorious NHL action along with the exciting debut of the Seattle Kraken. Hot on the heels with the start of the season will be the newest entry in the acclaimed EA Sports series with NHL 22, bringing with it a new Frostbite-powered engine. We recently got our first look at these exciting features, like the debut of Superstar X-Factors and the return of one of the game's premiere stars on its cover, but it's the next-gen treatment we're really excited for. The Move to Frostbite As a long-time fan of the series, it was grueling to have to see the other EA Sports titles get the Frostbite engine upgrade for next-gen. Now that time is finally here, I think we're all in for a real treat. Features like differed lighting, rebuilt (and relit) stadiums, and improved shadows and reflections make NHL 22 look that much closer to real-life hockey than ever before. Oh, and the ice looks slick as heck, with reflecting light sources giving it that smooth glossy look instead of a cloudy layer of ice. I'm looking forward to seeing how it transforms throughout the course of the game, from a freshly Zamboni-polished coat to the chipped and skate-worn ice at the end of each period. Also, the player models look significantly improved, with skin and eye shading and dynamic lighting ensuring appropriate depth for all characters. This goes all the way through to the stiches on player uniforms along with appropriate cloth movement that will make this look even closer to a true-to-life NHL game. I can't wait. There will also be the debut of a new in-game presentation featuring AR-like affects that give up-to-date stats on the ice throughout the course of the game.  And while many of these features will shine through on Xbox Series X|S, the new Frostbite engine is being applied to the Xbox One version of NHL 22 as well, so players on both generations of consoles will enjoy this new gameplay engine. Playing with Superstars One of the big new features for NHL 22 this season will be Superstar X-Factors. This new gameplay mechanic will elevate NHL superstars and put a greater emphasis upon their on-ice abilities. Traits like Shock & Awe, which gives a power exception and accuracy to shooting shortly after you perform a deke. Or Tape to Tape, which gives greater power and accuracy to passes.  Superstar X-Factors are not just limited to shooters. Goalies can have these abilities as well, giving such benefits as exceptional save range or quick recovery as a few examples. These "superhero" abilities are limited to the top 100 players in the game, and while this sounds intriguing, we'll have to wait and see how this all translates to the moment-to-moment gameplay the series has been known for. Matthews Part Deux Despite a disastrous first-round exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season at the hands of the Montreal Canadians, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still considered one of the premiere NHL teams coming into the year. That's thanks in large part to the talents of Auston Matthews. As one of the league's biggest stars, it's no surprise he gets another crack at cover athlete stardom in NHL 22.  While we don't (necessarily) adhere to superstitions, the last time Matthews appeared on the cover it was for NHL 20. That season, the Maples Leafs were handed an unexpected exit in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Of course, they've been bounced in the first round for five straight years, even without Matthews on the cover, so our logic here is suspect. Still, will this season be any different for Matthews and the Leafs? Can he end Toronto's nearly six-decade long Stanley Cup drought? We'll have to wait and see how the season unfolds. But thanks to NHL 22, Leafs fans, along with other tormented fan bases like the San Jose Sharks (from personal experience) and Vancouver Canucks, can live out their fantasies through the game's expansive Franchise, Be a Pro, and Playoff modes, letting us hoist Lord Stanley's Cup over our virtual heads.  All kidding aside, we're extremely excited for both the upcoming NHL season (bring on the Kraken!) and NHL 22. Look to hit the ice with NHL 22 on October 15 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. EA Play members – If you're interested in getting some time on the ice before you buy, don't forget your 10-hour trial before the game launches! Then, use your membership discount to get up to 10% off your pre-order of NHL 22! We'll have more to share about additional NHL 22 gameplay features in the weeks leading up to its October 15 launch. For all the latest Xbox gaming news, keep it locked right here to Xbox Wire. Related:Don’t Miss Out on an Exclusive Kimble “Irish” Graves Skin in Battlefield 2042 Check Out All the New Features for Madden NFL 22 and Start Playing Today with EA Play Play the Odds with Lost in Random, Coming to Xbox September 10  |
| Posted: 19 Aug 2021 07:00 AM PDT Begin an epic adventure, take part in intense PvPvE multiplayer heists, or experience life as your favorite carbohydrate. Hood: Outlaws and Legends and I Am Bread are both available for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members from Thursday, August 19 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, August 22 at 11:59 p.m. PDT, and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited is available now for an extended period from Tuesday June 17 at 7:00 a.m. PDT until Monday, August 30 at 7:00 a.m. PDT. How to Start Playing Find and install the games here on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One. Keep the Fun Going Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discount percentage may vary by region. Game Details
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited Hood: Outlaws and Legends I Am Bread Don't miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news. Related:Free Play Days – Battlefield 4, Neon Abyss, and AO Tennis 2 Free Play Days – Far Cry 5, Unturned, and Bee Simulator Free Play Days – Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues, Battlefield 1, and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game  |
| Plug in and Game on with the New Xbox Stereo Headset Posted: 19 Aug 2021 06:00 AM PDT I think we can all agree audio is fundamental to our gaming experiences. Personally, I cannot get my game on without my favorite gaming headset! At Xbox, we have made some big strides over the last year to offer you some of the best gaming headsets out there. From our Xbox Wireless Headset to our partnership with the legendary audio makers at Bang & Olufsen and the many other headsets we offer through our Designed for Xbox program, we are confident you'll find the headset to meet your gaming needs. Today, you can add one more option to the list. We are pleased to announce our Xbox Stereo Headset, available for pre-order today. With the new Xbox Stereo Headset, we are bringing everything you expect from Xbox products like performance, stand-out features, quality, and accessibility to deliver immersive experiences across console, PC, and mobile devices. We also wanted to bring you more value to the entry-level headset category, including clear microphone performance, high-quality ear cushions, and a volume control dial on the right earcup. The Xbox Stereo Headset features many of the design elements found the Xbox Wireless Headset. The flexible, lightweight design with an adjustable headband utilizes plush cushioning to spread pressure more evenly around the top of the head. Ultra-soft large earcups will keep you comfy during those "extended" play sessions, and easily accessible on-ear controls for volume and mute will make this a staple in your gaming arsenal. Connect directly to the Xbox Wireless Controller or other devices through the 3.5mm audio jack, no batteries required.  To generate the best possible experience across gaming, team chat, music, and movies, the team tuned the headset to replicate the intended audio recording source that the creators wanted you to experience. The result of this is hearing the audio as close as possible to how it was recorded, by ensuring clean mid & high frequency performance with strong bass. And to take your audio one step further, the Xbox Stereo Headset supports high-fidelity spatial sound technologies including Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone: X (may require additional purchases or app downloads).  As someone who owns and uses three different headsets for gaming, let me share how this became one of my daily drivers and why you'll love it too:
The Xbox Stereo Headset is available for pre-order today from Microsoft Store and other select retailers for $59.99 USD worldwide. Check xbox.com for more information. Related:Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass: Psychonauts 2, Humankind, Twelve Minutes, and More Hack and Slash Your Way Out of Hell in Hades Starting August 13 with Xbox Game Pass Humankind Launching Day One with Xbox Game Pass for PC  |
| ’90s Arcade-Inspired Beat ’em up Mayhem Brawler Launches August 19 Posted: 18 Aug 2021 04:00 PM PDT Would you like to read an urban-fantasy-themed and deeply narrated comic book while playing video games in the meantime? If your answer is Yes, I am happy to tell you; Mayhem Brawler is here for those who crave some first-class nostalgia! Nostalgia homecoming Mayhem Brawler is an urban fantasy-themed beat 'em up that brings back the ’90s arcade vibe to your home. With comic book art style and its unique storytelling, it will be a riveting journey, as you beat up bullies and read the issues of Mayhem Brawler. You will be in control with Trouble, Star, and Dolphin, the three front-runner metahuman officers of super-powered law enforcement agency Stronghold.  As you go on patrols to investigate Mayhem City's darkest corners, a sequence of events will alter the fate of your odyssey. "In the day of a super-powered law enforcer" was the core idea when we started developing Mayhem Brawler. Unlike the classic beat 'em ups where you "save the girl, be the hero of the day,” you will be working with heart and soul in the name of protecting the Mayhem City. The notion of saving the whole neighborhood is more fitting for a True Superhero! Sinister Thirty Another refreshing addition that makes Mayhem Brawler stand out is the enemy variety. Since our creative director formed an urban fantasy-themed universe, everything was fair game. Sharp-toothed and clawed lycanthropes, rich and fearsome vampires, firearm and knife conjuring wizards the list goes on! We even have "Mejins" who came from another dimension and possess spectral powers. Our minions have individual looks to make them feel unique as well. Each opponent has specialized traits, abilities, and attack patterns for you to be careful with. For instance, Mejins can hurl Spectral Blasts from the other side of the screen. You better arrest them before they zone you from the other side of the streets.  Destiny is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice Minions of Mayhem Brawler are not the only subject matter when it comes to originality. Thanks to the gigantic lore written for this project, we created a "choices matter" progression system and levels entirely different from one another. Arcs will be represented as comic books, making you choose your wanted issue after you clear the stage, and experience your own story. Every level has its distinct themes, stories, opponents, and Bosses who are related to your choices and the story as well. Out of twelve stages, you will go on seven patrols in one playthrough. Our officers will face three different endings and unearth the dark mysteries of the story depending on your choices throughout your patrols. We hope that this execution will raise the replayability and make the journey feel unique to players. It sure is amusing to talk about what sort of adventure you've experienced with your friends and theorize about the future of that story. The game will offer couch co-op multiplayer as well. You can tag along for the patrols with your colleagues and help them out as you uncover the mysteries together. One thing to note is that there will be an option to activate "Friendly Fire" in the character select screen. Yes, you can throw barrels at your colleagues. Perfect for ruining friendships!  It’s super effective! Speaking of throwing barrels, our combat mechanics might feel pretty familiar to the veteran players. We have our bread-and-butter jabs, distinctive to every officer. Special Defensive and Offensive abilities to spice up your combos. Dash, Dash Strike, and Dash Jump Strike for a more mobile engagement. And utilizable weapons. Currently, these are all known mechanics from the classic beat 'em ups that inspired us. But implementing the RPG-Like "Condition Effects" was our fresh take on the genre. Specific moves, abilities, and weapons will leave the target with particular condition effects such as Dazed (suppresses the countering capabilities of your enemies) and Bleed (your target takes additional damage from attacks) to give you advantages in combat. Using these effects will help you achieve better damage potential and faster stage completion, meaning that you will get higher scores upon beating the game. The bigger the better right? End of transmission It was a long two years from the moment we've started to give life to this project. Hero Concept has always been a big fan of comic books that told unforgettable stories and timeless classics of arcade games. Fusing two subjects we love together was a dream come true moment for us. We hope that you enjoy the Mayhem Brawler's dark yet amusing story filled with pop culture references, as you beat up bullies to a pulp. The game releases tomorrow on August 19 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with. You can be a hero!  Mayhem BrawlerHero Concept $19.99 Mayhem Brawler is an urban fantasy themed beat 'em up that brings back the 90s arcade vibe to present day. With comic book style art and kick-ass soundtracks, it offers a unique experience that you can tackle solo or as co-op with friends while defining the next step in the story with your choices. TO PROTECT AND SERVE While answering a routine call on a patrol, Dolphin, Star, and Trouble -the most popular officers of the super-powered law enforcement agency, Stronghold- find themselves in a sequence of events that will alter the fate of the entire city. EXCESSIVE FORCE Let's get one thing straight; if you ever think that a day in the life of a super-powered law enforcer is easy, you couldn't be more wrong, as there are greater threats than street gangs in urban fantasy themed Mayhem Brawler. Using your arsenal of combos and special abilities, you and your co-op teammates should make life miserable for those super-powered criminals, fend yourself from the fury of werewolves, resist the hexes of street wizards and confront the megacorp led by vampire houses that enforce their goons to do their dirty deeds. THE MAYHEM UNIVERSE Comic book inspired hand-drawn backgrounds and frame-by-frame animations coupled with a kick-ass soundtrack will deliver a jolt of adrenaline to your controller. With the choices you make, you will shape the flow of the story and finally reach one of the three different endings in Mayhem Brawler universe, where each corner has a story to tell. Interactive Thriller Twelve Minutes is Available Today with Xbox Game Pass 10 Minutes with the Creator of Twelve Minutes Greak: Memories of Azur Available Now for Xbox Series X|S  |
| 10 Minutes with the Creator of Twelve Minutes Posted: 18 Aug 2021 02:00 PM PDT Recently, the team at Xbox Wire France had a chance to sit down with Twelve Minutes Creator Luis Antonio. Now on the eve of the game's release for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with Xbox Game Pass on August 19, Antonio shared details on the influences of the game, why this medium is perfect for the story he wanted to tell, and how he hopes this game may attract and be accessible for people who don't normally play games. Q: How would you describe Twelve Minutes to somebody who has never heard of it? The premise is that you come home from work and are having an evening with your wife, then a cop shows up at the door and accuses your wife of murdering her father years ago. You try to intervene only to get knocked out and suddenly waking up back at the start of the evening. From there, you must use the knowledge of what you know is going to happen to try to change the outcome and break the loop. Q: What are the influences behind the game? On the side of movies, I was inspired by how some directors can use all the tools at their disposal to tell a story, from the camera, set design, lighting, music, etc. A good example would be Hitchcock, in "Rear Window," and how he framed the whole experience from the balcony, forcing you to interpret what is happening from the same point of view as the protagonist. Another one would be Christoper Nolan in "Memento"changing the timeline in which we see the story to convey the main character's memory problems.  Q: Your story could have been told with a movie for instance, why did you choose the game medium to bring it to life, how is it different from other media? In a film or a book, the timeline of events is always going to be the same, you are unraveling the information in your head, but you can't change any of it based on what is happening. Q: The time loop is always tricky to handle, what does it imply for you in terms of storytelling? Games by nature are time loops – every time you make something the game considers a 'mistake' or incorrect, you are usually sent back to the start of the level and must repeat it. And here that can be naturally incorporated as part of the narrative. The way games penalize you for your mistakes ends up being as valid as what is usually seen as a progression, you're accumulating knowledge that will help you later. The repetition element becomes in a way liberating and reinforces the aspect of experimentation and being rewarded to do so.  Q: You said that you wanted to attract people who do not usually play video games, how do you do that? Do you also want to appeal to core gamers and if so, is it difficult to make a game targeting multiple audiences? The goal was to make something that is accessible in the way you interact with it but without compromising the experience, puzzles, or gameplay. Everything you expect in terms of challenges and complexity is still there, but just more accessible, removing struggles like dealing with a first-person camera or having a complex set of controls to interact with the game environment. Q: Why did you choose the top-down view for the game? How do you manage to convey emotions through this perspective? As the game developed, I never found a reason to change the camera angle. It makes it easier to navigate, I don't have to deal with detailed facial expressions that consume a lot of development time, and the tech isn't quite there yet especially for narrative-heavy games. Eventually, it became a signature for this title. You can tell immediately when a screenshot is from Twelve Minutes. On top of that, it fits with the themes I'm going for, creating a claustrophobic and voyeuristic perception of the events as you play the game.  As for the emotional aspect of it, we realized that by only having body movement and voice acting, you end up imagining how they must be feeling as they interact, making the whole thing more personal. Q: The voiceover is done by a star-studded cast, was that important in your opinion? Q: What do you think about Xbox Game Pass as a gamer and as a developer? And Xbox Game Pass is the same way, you can browse such a varied catalog and risk leaving your comfort zone and hopefully find some gems you would have missed otherwise. As a developer, I'm glad that we have this larger audience that will be able to experience the game. Q: How excited are you to have fans finally experience Twelve Minutes when it launches on August 19? Twelve Minutes will be available Thursday, August 19 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and with Xbox Game Pass. Twelve MinutesAnnapurna Interactive $24.99 TWELVE MINUTES is a real-time top-down interactive thriller with an accessible click and drag interface. Featuring James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe. What should be a romantic evening with your wife turns into a nightmare when a police detective breaks into your home, accuses your wife of murder and beats you to death… Only for you to find yourself immediately returned to the exact moment you opened the front door, stuck in a TWELVE-MINUTE time loop, doomed to relive the same terror again and again… Unless you can find a way to use the knowledge of what's coming to change the outcome and break the loop. TWELVE MINUTES blends the dream-like tension of THE SHINING with the claustrophobia of REAR WINDOW and the fragmented structure of MEMENTO. Interactive Thriller Twelve Minutes is Available Today with Xbox Game Pass ’90s Arcade-Inspired Beat ’em up Mayhem Brawler Launches August 19 Greak: Memories of Azur Available Now for Xbox Series X|S  |
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