Month: December 2019

Microsoft is bringing back the Xbox Onesie, the wacky article of clothing that helps you stay warm and cozy while playing games. The new version of the Onesie, which is officially called the “Xbox Hooded Union Suit,” is now in green as opposed to the white version of the original.

The new Onesie will be available from the Xbox Gear Store beginning on December 5. Stock will be “limited” so if you’re interested you may want to act quickly. Pricing was not announced.

The Xbox Onesie was created by Xbox Australia in 2016 as a unique marketing ploy that ended up gathering a lot of traction and interest among fans. Microsoft updated the design in 2017 to promote the release of Forza Motorsport 7. Up until now, the only way to get the Onesie was to win a contest, but the launch in the Xbox Gear Store this week will open it up to a wider audience.

The Xbox Onesie features enlarged pockets to fit Xbox controllers and other remotes. It also has a pouch for your phone, and leg and arm sleeves that roll up for a better fit. The hood is oversized to leave space for a headset.

In other Xbox news, Phil Spencer is already using the next-generation Xbox Scarlett console at home. On top of that, rumours have re-emerged that Microsoft is working on a cheaper, less powerful, and disc-free Scarlett console under the codename Lockhart.

Microsoft’s new Xbox console, codenamed Project Scarlett, is set to launch to the public in Holiday 2020. Some people inside Xbox are already using the console at home, however.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer said on Twitter that he brought his Project Scarlett console home this week. “It’s become my primary console, playing my games, connecting with the community, and yes, using my Elite Series 2 controller, having a blast,” he said. “2020 is going to be an incredible year.”

Project Scarlett is due to launch next holiday but Microsoft has yet to announce key details like price, release date, launch lineup, and final specs. The console will be more powerful than the Xbox One X, and it will feature a solid-state drive that should help games load faster.

In other news, The Verge, Brad Sams, and Kotaku all reported this week that Microsoft is working on a second Project Scarlett console that will be less powerful and less expensive.

Project Scarlett is said to be the overarching name for Microsoft’s next-generation console strategy. Anaconda is reportedly the name of the more powerful next-generation console, with Lockhart serving as the less-power next-generation console. In essence, it’s believed that Anaconda is the successor to the Xbox One X with Lockhart standing as the next Xbox One S.

A Microsoft representative said, “We do not comment on rumors or speculation.”

Plans can change, so it’s possible that even if Microsoft is indeed considering a less powerful, cheaper Xbox Scarlett, the company won’t actually release it. Or it will. For now, all that is completely official is that at least one next-generation console from Microsoft is coming next year.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Apple is paying top dollar for a new documentary about singer Billie Eilish to air on the technology giant’s nascent streaming service, Apple TV+. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Apple has bought the documentary for a gasp-inducing $25 million USD.

The documentary has already been filmed, and it’s directed by RJ Cutler. Interscope Records, the label that publishes Eilish’s music, is also involved in the production. The budget of the movie was estimated to be between $1-$2 million.

Cutler previously directed the documentary The September Issue, which chronicles how Anna Wintour and her staff put together the important issue of the fashion magazine. He also directed the feature film If I Stay starring Chloe Grace Moretz.

Eilish, who is only 17, is one of the world’s most popular artists on the planet right now so it’s not hard to see why Apple is paying big for the documentary. The price tag is massive, but it’s also worth pointing out that Apple has more than $200 billion in its cash reserves.

The documentary will chronicle Eilish’s rise to prominence as a musician, in the lead-up to the release of his gargantuan hit album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? in March. The documentary will apparently include some of “Eilish’s private moments with family and behind-the-scenes of her public appearances.”

The untitled Billie Eilish documentary is expected to debut in 2020. It’s just the latest project that Apple has snapped up in a bid to get people to sign up to Apple+. The streaming service also has The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, the Jason Momoa show See, and the creepy M. Night Shyamalan show Servant.

Nintendo Switch Online is expanding its selection of NES and SNES games this month, with the addition of six new games on December 12. These include four SNES titles and two from the NES, expanding the system’s offering out to 50 NES titles and 24 SNES titles. The new games are a mix of familiar SNES titles and perhaps lesser-known NES games, including one SNES game that only received an official release two years ago as part of the SNES Classic Mini—Star Fox 2.

The three other new SNES titles coming are Super Punch Out!!, Kirby Super Star, and Breath of Fire II. Of these titles, Breath of Fire II is the only one not also available on the SNES Classic Mini, and both SNES Breath of Fire titles are now available to subscribers on Nintendo Switch. Star Fox 2 is likely the highlight for many, though–the game was completed in the 90s but was never released. Although it only earned a 5/10 in our review, it’s an interesting curio.

The NES titles added are Crystalis, an action-RPG set in a ruined civilization, and Journey to Silius, a run-and-gun shooter. While both titles are less well-known than your Metroids and Super Mario Bros., they’re interesting additions to the service. From December 5, Nintendo will also be discounting its NES controller bundle by 50%, if you want the authentic experience.

This is the first set of new games to appear on Nintendo Switch Online since September, when the first 20 SNES games all dropped at once. Nintendo has said that updates will happen less often from now on, so don’t necessarily expect more games in January. Nintendo Switch Online users also have access to games like Tetris 99 and Super Kirby Clash.

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