All The Xbox Game Pass Titles Coming Soon And Leaving

As part of the April Inside Xbox briefing, Microsoft announced the next batch of titles coming to Xbox Game Pass and also confirmed which games are headed out of the subscription service.

Starting with the newcomers on Xbox One, the retro-style RPG Alvastia Chronicles is headed to the program on April 9. Also debuting that day is Journey to the Savage Planet from Assassin’s Creed III and Far Cry 4 creative director Alex Hutchinson’s Typhoon Studios. Yakuza Kiwami was also said to be coming soon.

Xbox Game Pass for PC is also getting new titles, including Football Manager 2020, Alvastia Chronicles, and Mistover on April 9. Additionally, the program is adding the officially licensed Stranger Things 3: The Game on that day for subscribers.

Microsoft also announced all the titles that are leaving Xbox Game Pass in April. On April 15, The Book of Unwritten Tales 2, Guacamelee Super Turbo Championship Edition, MX vs ATV Reflex, Prey, and Samurai Showdown II are leaving. On PC, Fez, Into the Breach, Prey, and Valkyria Chronicles are exiting the catalog on that day.

Xbox Game Pass New Additions For April

Xbox One (April 9)

  • Alvastia Chronicles
  • Journey to the Savage Planet

PC

  • Football Manager 2020
  • Mistover
  • Alvastia Chronicles
  • Stranger Things 3: The Game

Xbox Game Pass Titles Leaving In April

Xbox One (April 15)

  • The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
  • Guacamelee Super Turbo Championship Edition
  • MX vs ATV Reflex
  • Prey
  • Samurai Showdown II

PC (April 15)

  • Fez
  • Into the Breach
  • Prey
  • Valkyria Chronicles

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The Outer Worlds Dev’s Next Game, Grounded, Gets A Release Date

Grounded, the next game from Obisidian–the developer of The Outer Worlds and Fallout: New Vegas–is basically Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets Rust, and it’s set to launch quite soon. During the April Inside Xbox briefing, Microsoft announced that Grounded will launch on Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access on July 28.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers on Xbox One and PC can get the game for no extra cost. As with other Early Access releases, Grounded will launch as an in-development game, with gameplay bugs and other oddities to be expected. A release date for the full game has not been announced.

A new trailer for Grounded was also released during the livestream, featuring game director Adam Brennecke and social media manager Shyla Schofield sharing new insights on what to expect from the game where you play as a person the size of an ant.

“You wake up in a suburban backyard, shrunk to the size of an ant. You hear the voice of a mysterious robot named BURG.L. He seems to know what’s going on and lets you know that the machine to turn you back to normal size is currently out of order,” Microsoft said.

Everything in the yard is trying to kill you, not unlike the Rick Moranis movie, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. “The backyard is rife with different kinds of ants, flying insects, and spiders. You must gather, craft, and build bases from scavenged items found in the backyard, searching for life-saving resources such as the dew off grass to quench your thirst or transforming an acorn shell into body armor to defend against a host of unpredictable creatures,” Microsoft said about the game.

Grounded features solo play or multiplayer with up to three others.

GameSpot got to see an early build of Grounded back in 2019. Editor Phil Hornshaw noted that Grounded appears to be a “confident step in a new direction, and we’ll need to wait to see whether the things people like about the studio’s games, like storytelling, character development, and player choice, are compatible with the survival genre.”

Developer Obsidian is owned by Microsoft.

Now Playing: Grounded – Reveal Trailer | X019

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Obsidian Survival Game Grounded Will Hit Early Access in July

Grounded, the survival adventure game from Obsidian, will enter Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access on July 28.

Announced during today’s Inside Xbox broadcast, the game will be available as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Grounded is a survival game with a Honey I Shrunk the Kids set-up – you (and up to three others) play as teenagers shrunken to less than the size of ants. You’ll need to harvest materials and craft weapons and defenses, while fighting off waves of marauding bugs. It’s primary difference form other survival games of its ilk is that it will weave an evolving story into the game as you play.

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When IGN saw an early demo last year, we said, “There’s a lot of potential in its tiny world – it’s a unique take on a popular genre, and the world they’ve built is engaging and genuinely pretty.”

Made by only a small team of around 14, Grounded is the first Obsidian game since the traditionally RPG-focused developer was acquired by Microsoft (although it was already work on the project before the acquisition).

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Joe Skrebels is the executive news editor at IGN.

PS5 DualSense Controller Replaces Share Button With “Create” Button

Sony has pulled back the curtain on PS5‘s controller, the DualSense. The new gamepad differs from PS4’s DualShock 4 controller in some notable ways, but one of the biggest differences is that it replaces the Share button with a new “Create” one.

“For the buttons, you’ll notice there is no longer a ‘Share’ button as we had with DualShock 4. Don’t worry–it’s not going away,” Sony wrote on the PlayStation Blog. “In fact, we’ve built upon the success of our industry-first Share button to bring you a new ‘Create’ button feature. With Create, we’re once again pioneering new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world, or just to enjoy for themselves.”

Sony didn’t share any other information about the new Create button beyond that, but it promises that more details will be revealed “as we get closer to launch.”

PS5 controller
PS5 controller

That isn’t the only big change Sony has made to PS5’s controller. The gamepad also features a built-in mic as well as haptic feedback, and its form factor has been tweaked to accommodate these new components. In contrast to Xbox Series X’s controller, which still uses AA batteries, Sony confirmed the DualSense boasts a rechargeable battery.

The PS5 is slated to launch in Holiday 2020. Sony has been gradually sharing more details about the system in the lead up to its release. Last month, system architect Mark Cerny revealed PS5’s specs and confirmed the system supports backwards compatibility with PS4. For more on the upcoming console, be sure to check out our roundup of everything we know about PS5.

PS5’s DualSense Controller Includes A Built-In Microphone

Sony has revealed the official design for the DualSense, the new controller for its next-gen console, PlayStation 5. The PS5’s new controller alters the design of PS4’s Dualshock 4 in a few ways–most notably, changing the overall shape to more closely resemble an Xbox One controller or Switch Pro controller–including the implementation of a built-in microphone.

“DualSense also adds a built-in microphone array, which will enable players to easily chat with friends without a headset–ideal for jumping into a quick conversation,” Sony senior vice president of platform planning and management Hideaki Nishino wrote in a blog post. “But of course, if you are planning to chat for a longer period, it’s good to have that headset handy.”

The DualSense makes plenty of other changes too. It ditches the Dualshock 4’s Share button for a new Create button, goes for a two-toned color design as opposed to a single shade, moves the light bar to now encircle the touchpad, and adjusts the angles of the triggers. Some features do remain the same though–for example, the DualSense will include a rechargeable battery like the DualShock 4, as opposed to supporting AA batteries like the Xbox Series X’s controller.

“DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5,” Sony president and CEO Jim Ryan wrote. “The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games–continuing our mission at PlayStation to push the boundaries of play, now and in the future. To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months.”

Now Playing: The Road to PS5

Latest Steam Bundle Has 4 Stellar Games, Benefits COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Things can feel a little dire these days, but even if you’re stuck at home, you can help with COVID-19 relief efforts. Steam has put together a new bundle of games that you can play while staying inside and is giving 20% of each sale to Action Against Hunger’s COVID-19 relief fund. The bundle includes four games: Subnautica, Celeste, The Escapists 2, and one of GameSpot’s best games of 2018, Dead Cells.

The “Go Play Inside!” bundle currently costs $51.17, which means roughly $10.23 will go to the COVID-19 relief fund. Thankfully, if you already own any of these games, you can still buy the bundle at a cheaper price. You’ll only pay for the games you don’t have, and the money will still go toward Action Against Hunger’s efforts. If you want to help contribute, make sure you buy the games in this bundle, as individual sales of each game won’t go toward the relief fund.

Each game in this bundle is challenging, ensuring that you’ll be spending a lot of time honing your skills and meticulously planning your next steps. Whether you’re learning how to best your enemies in combat within the labyrinthine levels of Dead Cells; exploring the dangerous ocean depths of Subnautica; painstakingly timing your jumps in the harrowing, yet beautiful platformer Celeste; or planning your escape from a high-security prison in The Escapists 2, you’re bound to have a lot of fun beating the odds from the comfort of your home.

Dead Cells, Subnautica, and Celeste all received 9/10 reviews from GameSpot. Our Dead Cells review praised its “satisfying action that focuses on developing skill,” our Subnautica review was impressed by its “huge world loaded with adventure and mystery,” and our Celeste review glowed over its “powerful story” and “enjoyable platforming.” Celeste was also one of GameSpot’s choices for the best Switch games of 2018. The Escapists 2, on the other hand, hasn’t been reviewed by GameSpot, though it holds a “Very Positive” user rating on Steam.

Many other companies have been making special offers in the effort to help people stay at home. You can check out all of the free games available to claim right now as well as the best games, movies, and TV for quarantining at home.

Now Playing: Dead Cells – Best Games of 2018

PS5 DualSense Controller Will Use Rechargeable Batteries

Sony has revealed its next-gen controller, the DualSense. While the name and design is a bit of a departure from previous years, one thing remains the same between the PlayStation 4’s DualShock 4 and the PlayStation 5‘s DualSense: rechargeable batteries.

The company confirmed on the PlayStation Blog that the PS5’s DualSense will, in fact, use rechargeable batteries just as prior DualShock controllers did. Sony said that it “took thoughtful consideration into ways to maintain a strong battery life for DualSense’s rechargeable battery.” It’s difficult to tell in the gallery below, but it also looks like the new controller may charge via USB-C and might not feature a microphone jack as it includes a built-in mic.

Gallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3

This is a stark difference from Microsoft’s next-gen console, the Xbox Series X. While the console features a bunch of new tech and the controller has been slightly redesigned, the company is still putting AA batteries inside of its newer controllers. Xbox partner director Jason Ronald said this decision was because “there is a strong camp that really want AAs” and the team wanted to give players the option.

Sony recently revealed some detailed tech specs for the PS5, which is expected to arrive this holiday season. The company said that despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the launch of the next-generation system should not be affected.

New PS5 DualSense Controller Revealed

The new PlayStation 5 controller has been revealed: it’s called the DualSense, and it sports not just brand new functionality and a host of fresh features, but a brand-new look to match.

A post on the PlayStation Blog details the new DualSense controller. Sony says it kept most of PS4’s DualShock 4 functionality intact, while adding new features and a new form factor. The DualSense will use the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, as Sony had previously announced. To fit the new features inside a design that doesn’t feel awkward, the designers made some slight changes to the triggers and grip. The DualSense also includes a rechargeable battery and a built-in mic to chat with friends without requiring a headset.

The Share button has been replaced with a new “Create” button, though Sony declined to share more details on how the new button is differentiated from the Share functionality. It simply says, “we’re once again pioneering new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world, or just to enjoy for themselves.” More detail on that is said to be coming closer to launch.

The most noticeable change is to its colors, which is a striking two-tone design. The light bar will also sit on both sides of the touch pad.

The PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller
The PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller
Gallery image 1Gallery image 2

“DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5,” said CEO Jim Ryan. “The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games – continuing our mission at PlayStation to push the boundaries of play, now and in the future. To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months.”

We rounded up the visual history of PlayStation controllers so you can see how the shiny new DualSense fits into Sony’s legacy. For more, check out our guide to the PS5’s technical specs and what we know about the PS5 so far.

Now Playing: The Road to PS5

Win A Nintendo Switch With A Digital Version Of Animal Crossing: New Horizons*

This is your chance to take home Animal Crossing: New Horizons completely free! The grand prize of our latest giveaway includes a Nintendo Switch and a digital code to download the game. Four first-prize winners will take home the digital version of the latest iteration of the Animal Crossing series.

To sign up for a chance to win you have to be a legal resident of the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada (excluding Quebec); read the official rules, accept the terms and conditions, and fill out the form below. If you have trouble viewing the form, please make sure your ad blocker is disabled first.

You can also increase your chances of winning by completing some of the additional actions like subscribing to our YouTube channel or following us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

Let us know in the comments what’s your favorite craft or activity in Animal Crossing. Good luck, everyone!

Now Playing: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Review

14 Disgusting Body Horror Movies To Watch Right Now On Netflix, Prime Video, And More

14 Disgusting Body Horror Movies To Watch Right Now On Netflix, Prime Video, And More – GameSpot

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