Don Mattrick, President of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft responded to the negativity surrounding Xbox One’s online requirements. Speaking to GameTrailers in an interview just prior to their E3 presentation Mattrick explained,
“When we designed the box we paid attention to what it means to connect to the internet. The average internet connection is working the majority of the day. People are imagining that it isn’t, but I don’t feel that’s the world we live in”.
The fallout comes from recent news that while the new console will not required a persistent internet connection, the Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend. Gamers can play offline for up to 24 hours on their primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library, but offline gaming will not be possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection.
“We appreciate the passion,” Mattrick said. “It’s important that people share their ideas, but people are imagining outcomes that we believe are worse than what it’s going to be like in the real world.”
For those who are unable to take their console online, Mattrick recommends sticking with the Xbox 360.
“If you have zero access to the internet then that [Xbox 360] is an offline device,” he said. “Seriously, when I read the blogs and thought about who would be the most impacted it was a person who said, ‘hey, I’m on a nuclear sub.’ I don’t even know what it means to be on a nuclear sub, but I’ve got to imagine it won’t be easy to get an internet connection. I can empathize… I would be disappointed.”
Sources: Game Trailers via Game Industry International, Xbox Wire
Undead Labs have announced that their recently released open-world zombie survival game, State of Decay, is now the second-fastest-selling XBLA title of all time. The game sold more than a quarter million copies in its first two days smashing all kinds of records. The only game that ever sold more on XBLA this fast was Minecraft.
Whilst there may be some apocalyptic style celebrations going on over at the Seattle-based development studio, Undead Labs have promised not to rest up just yet. Title Update 1 has already been submitted for certification and should be available for download in the next week or so. Check out the full details below:
State of Decay was released on XBLA June 5 for 1600 MSP. Keep your zombie eyes peeled for an XBLAFans review coming soon.
Source: Undead Labs
Today is National Doughnut Day in America and to celebrate The Behemoth are giving away free Donuts to BattleBlock Theater players for a week! The special prisoner, Donuts, was previously available as a limited time only Furbottom Features unlock. To get all the Donuts you want and none of the calories, players need to sign in to Xbox LIVE, open up the full version of the game and watch as this special prisoner pops out of the vault. For those not in the know, National Doughnut Day is on the first Friday of June each year, succeeding the Doughnut Day event created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I. BattleBlock Theater ‘Donuts’ will be available from June 7th, noon PDT, until June 13th.
Action-RPG brawler Charlie Murder got it’s official Xbox Marketplace listing this week and to celebrate, Ska Studios have released a brand new trailer. The game from the developers behind The Dishwasher series will see players teaming up to lead punk rock band Charlie Murder in their quest to save the world from rival death metallers Gore Quaffer and their legions of evil. No specific release date has been given but we’d haver a guess that the game must be a contender for this year’s Summer of Arcade promotion (it’s still happening!). Ska Studio have so far only confirmed a “summer” launch date.
Source: Ska Studios via Destructiod
CastleStorm, the medieval 2D physics-based destruction game from Zen Studios, will be launching on XLBA tomorrow. Built on the fond childhood memory of building and destroying Lego castles, CastleStorm is said to mix destruction with tower defense and a comical story. Along with a 12 level single player campaign, multiple co-op and multiplayer modes, CastleStorm also features a dynamic castle editor allowing players to construct their own castles which can be used in game. CastleStorm will set you back 800 MSP when it releases May 29.
Those hoping the Xbox One will provide a more open platform for independent games studios, such as the teams behind XBLA hits like Fez, Super Meat Boy and Limbo, may be disappointed to hear that indie developers will still need to find a publisher in order to release their games onto Microsoft’s next gen console. Instead, they must get a publishing deal either with Microsoft Game Studios or with a third-party partner. In contrast, Sony has already promised indie developers that they will be able to self-publish on the PS4. The news also follows on from recent revelations that there will be no XBLA or Indie sections on the new Xbox One dashboard, instead all releases will be grouped under a simple Games tab. All eyes will be on Microsoft’s E3 conference to see what this means for the future of XBLA and Xbox Indie Games.
Source: Shack News via Kotaku
The new Xbox One was unveiled earlier this week but there’s still plenty happening on good ole XBLA. A mix of old and new XBLA favorites are on sale this week, check out this week’s Deal of the Week offerings below:
Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury 400 MSP (50% off)
Jeremy McGrath 400 MSP (50% off)
Karateka 400 MSP (50% off)
Mad Tracks 400 MSP (50% off)
Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond 400 MSP (50% off)
Pid 400 MSP (50% off)
Puzzle Quest 2 400 MSP (50% off)
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords 400 MSP (50% off)
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix 600 MSP (50% off)
RocketBowl 200 MSP (50% off)
Texas Cheat’em 400 MSP (50% off)
As always the Deal of the Week sale is for those with a Gold Membership only. Two more games are also on sale this week but these offers are available to all members. Firstly the Kinect controlled Mini Ninjas Adventures is down to 320 MSP this week and finally Alan Wake’s: American Nightmare can be picked up for the low, low price of 320 MSP,
It was revealed back in March that Payday 2, the sequel to the popular PC and PSN co-operative heist shooter Payday: The Heist, would be heading to XBLA too this time around. However publishers 505 Games along with developers Overkill Software have today announced that the game will also be released globally at retail for both consoles alongside the downloadable versions. The game’s director David Goldfarb said in a press release:
“We have a bit of a problem here at Overkill – there are just too many great ideas and none that we were really happy to throw out – so PAYDAY 2 has become just too big to reserve release on Xbox Live and PlayStationNetwork alone.”
Head of Global Brand at 505 Games, Tim Woodley added
“It’s an incredible position to be in, having a game that just keeps growing and getting better all the time. We wanted to do everything we could to make a game that truly fits the vision of the team at Overkill but most importantly delivers an exciting, rewarding experience for the player – be they a long-time fan or new to the series. We’re expecting great things from PAYDAY 2 and are really looking forward to working with our retail partners all over the world to make it the huge success it deserves to be.”
Whether this means the game will now be sold within the Games on Demand section of the Xbox Marketplace rather than XBLA remains unclear but it won’t be too long before we find out, Payday 2 is set to launch this August. Check out the game’s debut trailer here.
*Update*
505 Games have tweeted that the game will be retail only for consoles:
@lifelower Retail only with the exception of Steam/PC. Too much awesomeness to contain within the console digital max size requirement.
— 505 Games (@505_Games) May 14, 2013
Thanks @lifelower
A new supposedly ‘leaked’ image suggests that the next Xbox will be named the Xbox Infinity. The image appeared on Reddit with The International Business Times claiming the console name is confirmed
“sources have now revealed the console will be named Infinity and that development kits are already in the hands of studios.”
It wasn’t long ago that the rumor mill was reporting that the new console would be named Xbox Fusion and Fusible, who specialize in reporting on domain acquisitions, discovered a number of domains registered by Microsoft suggesting Fusion may be more likely:
However with just over a week until the official console reveal, it won’t be long till we know for sure.
God Mode released onto XBLA yesterday for 800 MSP. The game which is being described as a third-person shooter with RPG elements, is said to combine non-linear gameplay, fast and frantic shooting, hordes of on-screen enemies, customizable characters, and online multiplayer and co-op modes for up to four players. God Mode was developed by Old School Games and published by Atlus.
