Xbox

Leaked on Friday and now confirmed by Microsoft through IGN, these are the first original Xbox games that will be available through Xbox One backwards compatibility on October 24. Not pictured but also due tomorrow is Black, bringing the total to 13. Which games do you want to see added to the list? 

The Evil Within 2: The Kotaku Review

When we meet Sebastian Castellanos at the beginning of The Evil Within 2, he’s a broken man. The mind-bending events of the previous installment fractured his psyche. He blames himself for not being able to save his daughter Lily from a house fire, and his wife left him. He’s been booted from the police force…

‘Cupsonas’ Are A Thing Now

Cuphead’s difficult but cute. The game’s cartoony art-style brings everything to life with bouncy charm. Some fans have embraced the game’s visuals and created their own cupheaded characters. Riffing on the term “fursona,” referring to a personalized animal avatar, fans are calling their creations “cupsonas.” Some characters are teacups, others are frothing cappuccinos, and more…

Remember Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and how it just didn’t work? Microsoft is starting all over in 2018, giving the game “enhancements for Xbox One X” with stuff like “fixes, improvements and upgrades”.

Someone Beat Spider-Man 2 Without Any Web Swings

2004’s Spider-Man 2 is fondly remembered for being a pretty good movie tie-in game with some amazing web swinging. New York is a blast to zip through, but one speedrunner decided to see how fast they could complete the game without using its most exciting feature. Slyfincleton decided to speedrun their way through Spider-Man 2…

The Division‘s Second Global Event Is Live Now And Mostly Good

The Division’s relatively quiet second year continues to see small, smart tweaks made to the co-op cover-based game. Until next Tuesday, the game is running with modified rules as part of its second “global event,” this one changing how much damage players do to computer-controlled enemies (and vice versa) depending on their distance from each…

This Is Either The Best Or Worst Thing In Shadow Of War

Forget the nemesis system, loot boxes, or the well of charisma that is Talion of Middle-Earth, the element of the new Shadow of War game that I’m currently most torn on is its ancient poetry mini-game. In the midst of this game full of bloody orc combat, in between moments of interrogating and decapitating your…

Forza 7 Turns The Series’ VIP Upgrade Into Something Not Worth Paying For [Update]

Forza Motorsport 6‘s $20 VIP upgrade gave players exclusive cars, special online events and, best of all, double credit earnings for races. Forza 7‘s $20 VIP upgrade swaps the always-on double credit bonus for five limited-use “mod cards.” Boo. Update: Big changes coming in response to player feedback. The double racing credit bonus has been…

Cuphead Player Beats Bosses Without Taking A Single Hit 

Cuphead is a difficult gauntlet through a ton of bosses, from evil clowns to bossy queen bees. Surviving can be difficult, but some players are blasting through the game with breakneck speedruns or dangerous “no hit” challenges. Death is to be expected in Cuphead; there are tons of projectiles to dodge and enemies to avoid.…

Xbox Live’s Indie Games channel officially shuts down tomorrow. If you’re interested in cool games off the beaten path, dive in and check it out before it’s too late.

Here’s October’s Xbox Live Games With Gold Lineup

If you haven’t played Gone Home yet, or at least haven’t played it on your couch, you can have the teenage feels in October’s Xbox Live Games with Gold. As always, these games are only “free” if you have an active Xbox Live Games with Gold subscription. October’s Games with Gold are: Xbox One Gone…

The upcoming Xbox fall lineup is a bit lackluster but it does have some gems like Cuphead Here’s a quick video full of blast, shoot-y, and cartoony gameplay.

Xbox’s Upcoming Line-Up Is Disappointing But Has Some Bright Spots

Microsoft showed off its Xbox holiday line-up at a showcase in Manhattan last week. They spotlit several games and the new, more powerful Xbox One X version of the console. While the games were fun, a lack of flagship titles left me wondering how strong the new console’s launch will be. There’s no denying the…

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite‘s Collector’s Edition Is Disappointing

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite releases tomorrow and has a sizable collector’s edition. The package includes a number of goodies, including statues and replicas, but some fans are rethinking the $200 price point after seeing early images of its questionable Infinity Stones. In addition to a copy of the game, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite’s Collector Edition…

Meanwhile, In Destiny 1…

The video game industrial complex wants you to play Destiny 2 right now, but spare a moment for the first Destiny. It’s on its way to becoming a ghost town. I got into the first game 11 months late in the summer of 2015. It was lively then, and my timing was good. Myriad patches…

New South Park Game Gets Harder If You Play A Black Character

South Park: The Fractured But Wholes’ difficulty slider will change players’ skin color. As reported by Eurogamer, the game’s character creator will have an effect on gameplay, altering how NPCs respond and affecting how much money characters will make. Gameplay captured at a preview event shows that creating a South Park character with lighter skin…

Ark Is Going Full-On Sci-fi In Aberration, Its Next Major Expansion [UPDATE]

Ark: Survival Evolved hasn’t even been out a week in its official Version 1.0 form but that hasn’t stopped developer Wildcard from unveiling the game’s second major expansion. Following last year’s controversial, desert-based Scorched Earth paid-DLC, which was released before the game even hit 1.0, Ark’s newest expansion is called Aberration. It’s set for release…

50 Weeks Later, Major Update Improves Flawed Xbox Exclusive ReCore

It’s been a summer of major updates to disappointing games from last year. No Man’s Sky is finally delivering on its promises to PC and PlayStation players a year since it came out. Over on Xbox, ReCore has done penance for its flawed launch with a six gigabyte update that makes the game better, though…

Here’s September’s Xbox Live Games With Gold Lineup

If you like moody teenagers having mysterious adventures, you’ll be pretty excited by Oxenfree’s inclusion in Games with Gold this month. There’s also Forza 5 and Battlefield 3 if you’ve had enough of thinking about childhood. As always, these games are only “free” if you have an active Xbox Live Games with Gold subscription. September’s…

Microsoft Again Stretches Definition Of ‘Exclusive’

One of the most annoying trends in video games is the word “exclusive,” which perhaps once meant “limited” or “restricted” but now, thanks to Microsoft and Sony, means absolutely nothing. Today’s big exclusive is PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Which probably isn’t an exclusive. At the Xbox showcase during E3 in June, Microsoft announced that the popular battle…