keyword: Xbox One

xbox-series-x-/-s:-the-launch-in-the-live-stream-from-5-pm.

Xbox Series X / S: The launch in the live stream from 5 p.m.

After unpacking the new Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X, players are likely to be allowed to wait. Waiting for games to be installed or waiting for games to be patched.

Xbox Series X – Launch-Stream (Games, OS, possibilities, your questions)

We already have this arduous process behind us and now want to go live on day 1 in the life of the new series generation from Xbox report to the operating system. What are the options? What does Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla look like and how fast does it load? Does quick resume work?

Michael Wieczorek asks himself such and many other user questions in the live stream. Feel free to bring a lot of questions or suggest games here in the comment area that you would like to see in the live stream. The waiting time until the live stream can be spent, for example, with our test talk about the new Xbox.

The Xbox Series S & X in the test talk Two Xbox, one Playstation Microsoft is bringing two new consoles onto the market: The Series X is the main model that is in direct competition with the PS5 from Sony . It costs 500 euros. 200 The Series S costs euros less, but it also has to get by with weaker hardware. Both consoles support the same video games.

In the comparison between Xbox Series X / S and Playstation 5, the two Microsoft consoles make the somewhat more solid impression: They are quieter and appear more robust than the Playstation. But if you really want to play demanding games in the Microsoft ecosystem, you should get the faster Xbox Series X. The Series S, on the other hand, is a successful entry-level console in itself, but embodies the generation leap since the Xbox One X only to a limited extent. The Playstation 5 comes in Germany on 19. November in the trade.

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sony-playstation-5-–-interface,-multimedia-applications-and-uhd-drive

Sony PlayStation 5 – interface, multimedia applications and UHD drive

A few days ago we published a review of the hardware part of the Sony PlayStation 5 console. We mainly praised the low temperatures under load (except for the bottom of the device noticeably warms up) and a very good work culture of the equipment. This one is incomparably better compared to PlayStation 4 and (especially) PlayStation 4 Pro. On the eve of the official premiere at, among others American and Japanese market, we discuss in detail issues related to the new console UI interface, support for multimedia applications and issues related to the built-in Ultra HD Blu-ray drive. I was particularly interested in the quality of popular VOD applications, as well as the culture of the optical drive. It is good in this respect, but it could be even better.

In today’s material, we take a detailed look at the system interface, the most interesting functionalities, multimedia applications and the Ultra HD Blu disc player. ray.

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Sony PlayStation 5 review and games Spider-Man: Miles Morales

This time, however, I will start with the Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, which is new to the PlayStation 5. Both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 had Blu-ray drives that could read discs up to 43 GB In the case of the new console, support has been extended to Ultra HD Blu-ray media: BD – 66 and BD – 100. I was curious how he would do and the drive in the PS5, the more so since consoles have not yet had a great work culture while watching movies. Fortunately, the PlayStation 5 actually has an extremely quiet drive, but only from the moment all the content is loaded. For the heaviest BDs – 66 need about 10 minutes from the moment the CD is placed in the reader for the software to run through the entire material. You have to prepare for it and be aware of it if you want to watch movies from such CDs. In the first minutes, the reader volume reaches close 43 decibels and this is the only time the console is noticeably louder. After this time, the drive becomes inaudible and the volume drops to about 31 decibels (a constantly running fan is heard).

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We are already testing the Sony PlayStation console 5! Our first impressions

We can control the player using the DualSense controller, but I wouldn’t say that the pad is a perfect replacement for a traditional remote. It’s not bad, but it takes a while to get your bearings. which buttons are responsible for what. A much better solution will be to obtain a dedicated accessory in the form of a multimedia remote control, with which we will be much easier to maneuver around the options in the UHD Blu-ray player. I also confirm that PlayStation 5 supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS: X in Blu-ra movies y and Ultra HD Blu-ray. However, there is a small detail. In the default setting, spatial audio is disabled. The fastest way to change it is from the settings in the player. After entering the Audio Format section, you will notice that Linear PCM is enabled by default. To activate Dolby Atmos and / or DTS: X, change the format to Bitstream. Regarding the video aspects, unfortunately the PlayStation 5 player does not support Dolby Vision or HDR +. For 4K movies, therefore, only the base HDR remains . At the moment, there is no information about a potential software update that would add functionality. However, I evaluate the drive itself positively, mainly thanks to the great work culture after loading all the data from the disc. In this respect, it beats the Xbox One X console. Finally, we can enjoy support for 4K Blu-ray discs with a capacity of up to 100 GB, so the PS5 could become quite Nice alternative to standalone Ultra HD Blu-ray disc players.

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DualSense controller – Test crashes on the example of Astro’s Playroom

The above-mentioned remote control has dedicated buttons corresponding to Disney +, Netflix, Spotify and YouTube. Currently Disney + is not still available in Poland, so the corresponding application on the console is also not available But we will find Amazon Prime Video, Twitch or Apple TV. I am very pleased with the presence of the latter application in particular. The introduction of Apple TV to the new generation consoles will make it much more common. It is worth getting to know it better, if only because of the very rich movie store. in 4K quality – often these are productions that we have never seen on physical media, especially with the Polish language version. Low prices for films are another advantage, and in addition, various types of promotions are often held in the store. Apple TV also includes Apple TV + with original series and movies. Support for 4K and HDR resolutions is available 10. Again, however, we will experience neither Dolby Vision nor Dolby Atmos. Sony obviously has a problem with Dolby technologies, because Atmos will not be found in any VOD application. It is not offered on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, and it will also not be available on Disney + when the service finally hits the Polish market. We have to be content with the usual Dolby Digital 5.1 format with bandwidth 640 KB / sec.

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The very appearance of the interface with applications is very nice for Here you will find tiles with the appropriate programs, which we need to download first to be able to run them later. The applications themselves inside do not differ from what we know from, for example, Smart TVs or dedicated TV adapters. In the case of Netflix, Prime Video or YouTube, we can count on support for 4K and HDR resolutions Dolby Vision, just like Dolby Atmos, however, is nowhere to be found.

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I will also pause for the console interface for a moment. At first glance, it looks like a more refined version of the UI, already known from PlayStation 4. It is aesthetically pleasing, but at times I get the impression that it is a bit too overcomplicated. In the case of PS5, we have to press the “PS” button on the DualSense controller each time and only then the same options will appear at the bottom of the screen. We can check the latest notifications, game download status, friends list, sound settings sound and microphone or quick shutdown of the console. Of course, we can get used to it quickly, but I must admit that the number of these hidden options at first seems overwhelming. A big advantage, however, is the very fast interface work. Moving between options is extremely smooth. Nothing gets stuck or muddy.

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An additional advantage of the new interface is its coupling with the PlayStation Store. In its predecessor, the store was a separate part and each time entering it took a bit of time to load. The store interface itself was also not the most transparent. In the case of PlayStation 5, the store is an integral part of the system. This makes the store basically like another application. Launching is incredibly fast. and the refreshed interface is definitely eye-catching general sections, e.g. news or promotions. There is a separate category for subscriptions, where we can learn everything about the PlayStation Plus service and PlayStation Plus Collection (access to the most popular PS4 games as part of the PS Plus subscription).

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In our photo gallery we present more news from the Sony PlayStation 5 console system. An option that fell to me to your liking it is a quick transfer of data from PS4 to PS5. We do not need a flash drive for this, but a network connection of both consoles on the same WiFi network is enough. After connecting PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 and entering the appropriate setting, we can quickly transfer both save from PS4 games as well as all multimedia materials (screenshots, video clips). Another feature that I liked is general settings for all games. We can choose the level of difficulty, limitations in revealing spoilers from games or the overall image quality (the choice between better fluidity and greater detail of the graphics). This option is very nice especially for people who would like to set individual game elements once and have them saved for all upcoming titles. There is also support for the mouse and keyboard, although here a lot also depends on the game developers whether they want to implement the possibility of using these peripherals. The console also allows you to change the default settings for the DualSense controller. We can decide, for example, on a lower vibration intensity or the effect of adaptive triggers. The lower the degree, the less we will feel them during games. The DualSense will then lose much of its unique experience, but will also be able to run longer on battery power.

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There is also one change that I did not like: the ability to copy game save files on the PS5 console. In the case of PS4, we could have them easily keep them even on a flash drive. In the new device we can only store them in the cloud, there will be no other method of access to them. By default, of course, they are saved in a given console, but we will not transfer them locally. In turn, to be able to store them in the cloud, it is necessary PlayStation Plus subscription Officially, the manufacturer retains the line of defense that it is related to increasing data security. In my opinion, however, this looks like another limitation to what we had seamless access to on PlayStation 4.

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Of the other disadvantages of PlayStation 5 that we have encountered so far, there is the issue of incomplete support for HDMI 2.1 and screens with resolution 1440 p. We do not know how it will be Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency Mode look like Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency Mode In the case of monitors, Sony is currently investigating the issue and if user interest is high enough, there is a chance that native resolution support will be positive 1440 p. It is a pity that Sony once again closes on solutions that have been available from competitors for a long time. After these few weeks of testing, PlayStation 5 appears to be a good successor to its predecessor. Keep in mind, however, that in several places the equipment appears to be artificially limited again. No support for Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos in VOD applications and games, initially blocked M.2 connector for an additional disk, no support for 1440 p or the mentioned HDMI 2.1 functions are the most serious complaints I have today to the console. Most of this will certainly be fixed in the next system updates, but some disgust at the premiere remains.

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Source: PurePC

playstation-5-–-futuristic-look-with-next-gen-controller

PlayStation 5 – Futuristic look with next-gen controller

PlayStation 5 Broadly speaking, the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X discussed by us are not inferior to each other, which makes it quite predictable that after the Series X the PS5 also wins an Excellent award. The PlayStation 5 is also a beautiful device that clearly gives console gamers a step up without having to buy a much more expensive gaming PC. Although there are few games that already show the added value of the hardware well, the first impressions are fine. However, it is mainly the DualSense controller that leaves a lasting impression, thanks to the adaptive triggers and the haptic feedback. It is a pity that there is no support for variable refresh rate, Dolby Vision and a 1440 p resolution, but apart from that there is little to criticize on this console that PlayStation gamers should provide thousands of hours of gaming and media enjoyment for gamers over the next few years.

Last week we published the review of the Xbox Series X which, together with the Xbox Series S, has appeared on the market. With that, the next generation of game consoles has officially arrived. Sony will also release its new console, the PlayStation 5, this week, but not yet in Europe. Just like the countries around us, the Netherlands and Belgium have to wait until 19 November before the PlayStation 5 arrives. However, Tweakers already received its review copy from Sony at the end of October. This allowed us to work extensively with the futuristic-looking machine and subject it to the necessary tests, just as we did a little earlier with the Xbox Series X. Partly because there are still few optimized games for both consoles, it is still far too early to identify a ‘winner’. Instead, in both reviews we specifically looked at what both ruffs have and offer on board. For the PlayStation 5, that means: a renewed user interface, waiting for next-gen updates for games, an excellent – strongly renewed – controller and a striking look. With the latter we kick off.

Futuristic design A spaceship. The Tower of Doom. The Eye of Sauron. A student collar. It may be clear that the appearance of the PlayStation 5 has been quite stirring since its unveiling. Indeed, there is plenty to say about the exterior of Sony’s new device. Where Microsoft opted for a safe, perhaps even somewhat modest design, Sony chooses a more daring path with which it can potentially also count on more negative reactions. The console not only has a striking design, but also striking dimensions. At 39 inches, this is the longest console you’ll ever own. Even the first Xbox One, which was compared to a VCR, was shorter. Partly because of that considerable length, the PS5 looks fairly slim. What you think of the design will be a matter of personal taste. One person thinks the futuristic look is cool, another thinks it hideous. Fortunately, a ‘console war’ is not decided on looks, although aversion to appearance may be a reason for some not to put a device in the living room. For a game console, the latter is of course a problem.

The appearance of the PlayStation 5 is characterized by the shiny chest on the front, flanked by two white panels that protrude slightly. . The blue-ray drive can be found on one of those white sides, unless you have the Digital Edition of the console. Unlike Microsoft, Sony doesn’t release two very different machines. While the Xbox Series X and S are very different devices with different capacities, the PlayStation 5 versions only differ in terms of the physical carrier, so: a disc drive or not? The version without a Blu-ray drive is cheaper, of course, but limits gamers to one store. It goes without saying that the price development of games will develop in the coming years, but at the moment games – regardless of offers and promotions – are rarely cheaper in the PlayStation Store than if you were to buy them from another store. That’s an important detail should you consider purchasing the PS5 Digital Edition.

The PlayStation 5 comes with cabling, one DualSense controller – more on that on a later page more – and a foot. Sony recommends that you always mount the base, regardless of whether you place your console vertically or horizontally. Assembly is quite simple, by hooking the base to the grille at the back and then screwing it on with the supplied screw. Of course, all this ensures that your console becomes a little higher, but also that it is more stable, especially in a vertical position, while in a horizontal position you mainly prevent scratches on one of the sides. Those scratches are also a problem on the high-gloss black part of the console. After two weeks of use, there are already some small scratches on the console at the Tweakers editors, while of course you can also see all (oily) fingers very well.

On the front you will find In addition to the aforementioned disk, an on / off button and a USB port, which can be used, among other things, to charge the DualSense with the supplied cable. In particular, the rear takes up a lot of space for the grille that dissipates heat, but there is of course also a connection for power, along with an HDMI port, Ethernet adapter and two additional USB ports.

Nice foot You would almost miss it, but the mentioned foot is a very nice detail to the design of the PS5. When using the console vertically, the base is therefore absolutely recommended, but even if you want to use it horizontally, the base is almost indispensable. The great thing is that the base has a compartment where you can store the screw that you use to screw it to the narrow bottom so that it can stand upright. If you want to put the console down, you don’t need the screw and to avoid losing it, there is that box. The nice thing is that you can rotate the two parts that make up the foot. This ensures that a small cover slides over the cavity for the screw, so that it cannot fall out.

Due to the sloping side of the PS5, it is actually not so suitable to be placed horizontally. But Sony has thought of that. If you close the slider in the base, it immediately causes the base to rise slightly on one side, precisely compensating for the sloping shape of the PS5. Then you click the foot on the side of the console and you can use it lying down. The white side panel indicates where you need to click the foot. No matter how beautiful the idea is, it doesn’t work completely flawlessly. We call it clicking here, but the foot is not firmly attached. Especially if you want to move the console a bit, the foot comes off very easily. Or it shifts slightly so that the console is no longer straight. Moreover, the wide console is a bit shaky on the then suddenly somewhat narrow base. So placing it vertically is better, but it remains a nice detail.

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Xbox Series X / S launch: Xbox Live overwhelmed with logins

At the start of the new Xbox Series X and Series S game consoles, Microsoft’s Xbox Live network was temporarily unavailable. On the evening of 10. In November, several users could not log into their account on their Xbox. The functionality of the consoles was severely restricted because, for example, no games could be downloaded.

Xbox Series S & X tested by heise online On the website allestören.de, mainly from 19 to 20 clock in numerous user messages – that is, at German prime time. At 22 there were problems again. Meanwhile, the Xbox Live problems seem to have been resolved according to the portal.

The official support account of Microsoft’s Xbox departments confirmed the Xbox Live problems against 19 Watch on Twitter. At 11 o’clock the success message followed: All errors had been fixed, the login was now possible again without any problems.

Sold out game consoles Xbox Series X and its little sister Xbox Series S have been available since yesterday. Especially the big Xbox Series X for 500 euros has been practically completely sold out since pre-orders were opened. The 300 Euro more expensive Series S can still be ordered.

The problems with Xbox Live did not affect them only the owners of the new consoles: The network is also used on the devices of the Xbox One generation. Owners of an Xbox One or One X were also affected when the new consoles were launched.

In the USA it says at the 12. November already the launch of the Playstation 5 is ahead. In Germany, however, buyers still have to register until 19. November be patient. As with the Series X, it is not easy to order a Playstation at the moment: the PS5 has also been consistently sold out since pre-orders opened. Sony has also decided not to offer consoles in retail stores due to the corona pandemic.

(dahe)

xbox-live-struggles-with-logins-on-xbox-series-launch-day

Xbox Live struggles with logins on Xbox Series launch day

Xbox Live users are struggling to log into the service today, amid the launch of both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Xbox Support tweeted at 2:33PM that its teams were “closing in on a fix for this issue.” However, some users were still struggling to sign in across multiple platforms as of 4:40PM. A resolution is still pending.

Microsoft’s next-gen consoles arrive today (though it might be tricky to find a console, thanks to the challenges of high demand in a pandemic). In addition to launch titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the console also allows for backwards compatibility for Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games playable on existing Xbox One hardware.

Online services are already important for players to download new games, updates, and more for their consoles. For the Xbox Series S, however, a working connection is a must-have to play anything at all. The system is an all-digital one that does not use use disc gaming.

yakuza:-like-a-dragon-is-a-fresh-next-gen-start-for-the-series

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a fresh next-gen start for the series

A graphically pedestrian Japanese roleplaying game is perhaps not what many Xbox Series X owners were hoping for as their premier next-generation-exclusive launch title, but here we are with Yakuza: Like a Dragon. While it might not be much of a technical workout for Microsoft’s most powerful console, it’s a revolution for the series and, by some distance, the most substantial console exclusive in the Series X and S launch lineup.

This is the eighth mainline Yakuza game, with Sega presumably ditching the series numbering in an attempt to gain a wider audience. (It’s still called Ryu ga Gotoku 7 in Japan, “Like a Dragon” being a direct translation of the Yakuza series’s Japanese name.) This game is a canonical sequel, with occasional recurring characters and references that fans will appreciate, but I wouldn’t worry about playing the previous seven if you don’t have the time.

That’s because Like a Dragon has an all-new cast, a different setting, and a radically altered gameplay style to its predecessors. 2018’s excellent Yakuza 6 served as a farewell to original protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, one of the most iconoclastic characters ever to grace a video game, and as promised, Like a Dragon replaces him with a new lead.

Where Kiryu was stoic and brooding, Ichiban Kasuga is wild and extroverted. He’ll perform pranks, tell dad jokes, and barge into situations with the subtlety of a puppy. But both men share a history of tragedy and sacrifice and are bound by a strong sense of integrity. I found Kasuga to be a hugely likable main character in my time with the game, and in some ways, he feels like a better fit for Yakuza’s oddball mix of goofball humor and sincerity.

Much of the supporting cast is less agreeable but no less entertaining. Like a Dragon spins a typical Yakuza story of wrongful imprisonment and betrayal, with Kasuga finding himself homeless in Yokohama after spending 18 years behind bars to take the hit for a colleague. Things have changed in the yakuza world since he was away, and he’s forced to ally with various characters from Yokohama’s underbelly in an attempt to not only survive, but become a “hero.”

That last objective is because Kasuga turns out to be a huge RPG nerd, frequently referencing Dragon Quest as an inspiration. That’s a theme carried over to the core action of Like a Dragon itself, which moves from real-time brawler combat to turn-based JRPG-style battles where you select commands from a menu.

This isn’t as huge a change as you might think. The Yakuza games have always essentially been JRPGs with a more hands-on approach to combat, and there isn’t much structurally different about Like a Dragon. You’re still exploring a fairly small but densely detailed area, moving from quest to cutscene to quest at your leisure. In fact, the biggest change is that Like a Dragon’s take on Yokohama is far bigger than previous series locations, so you’re spending a lot more time on foot. That gives you all the more opportunity to get distracted by an arcade and step in for a few rounds of Virtua Fighter 2 or OutRun.

The actual combat system isn’t particularly deep, though you could say the same for most other Yakuza games. The shift to turn-based action does enable some truly outlandish moves, especially when you start experimenting with the game’s job system. Kasuga’s homeless drifter buddy Nanba, for example, starts out being able to attack enemies with pigeons by throwing seeds at them. But now that I’ve given him a job as a musician, he has a devastating attack involving “physically releasing” a CD in his opponents’ direction.

But there isn’t much gained in terms of tactical scope. While your characters all move around the battlefield automatically, positioning only really comes into play when you try to attack a far-off enemy and another one gets in the way first. Characters often get themselves stuck behind scenery, which can be frustrating when you want to target a specific opponent but have no obvious way to do so. You can use environmental attacks when they’re in range — attacking enemies with a bicycle is a time-honored Yakuza tradition — but it’s not as easy to do so as in the past.

I don’t really have an inherent preference for real-time or turn-based combat, and Like a Dragon switching to the latter doesn’t change the game up too much in the end. I wouldn’t call it a clear improvement, but it’s not a regression either. Overall, I appreciate the attempt to provide a more novel spin on the classic Yakuza experience.

It’s fair to say that Like a Dragon is not a technical showcase. It came out on the PS4 in Japan almost a year ago, and it’s only now making its way to the West. That means even if you’re playing it on the Series X today, it’s firmly rooted in the prior generation — even more so than cross-gen games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or Watch Dogs: Legion that are also available at launch. (That’s not uncommon for the series: Yakuza 0 was a Japan-only PS3 game before a PS4 version found success in the West nearly two years later.) The Yakuza series still has great facial animation and acting performances, the in-engine cutscenes are well-directed, and the cities are rendered in often-impressive detail. But this is not the place to come for next-generation graphical technology.

Like a Dragon does, however, benefit greatly from its status as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. I started playing it on my Xbox One X last week, installed it on my PC a few days later (TL;DR review: it supports ultrawide resolutions and has a splash screen saying “REAL YAKUZA USE A GAMEPAD”), and now it’s on the Series X that got delivered to me this morning.

The Series X version has the option for a 4K / 30fps mode, but by default, it runs at 1440p / 60fps, which I think is the best option. While it looks essentially identical to what I was playing on the One X, it runs twice as smooth, which is a welcome upgrade. The game also has a lot of interstitial loading screens on the One X, which the Series X speeds up to the point where they’re insignificant.

Like a Dragon might not be what you’d expect from a next-generation launch title, but then the Xbox Series X isn’t always what you’d expect from a next-generation console. While the hardware power isn’t in doubt, at this point, it serves more as a performance boost than a paradigm shift. From that point of view, Like a Dragon is a great game to have available on day one. It’s a fresh take on the Yakuza series, it’ll keep you occupied for a long time, and it runs better than ever before.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is out today on Xbox, Windows, Steam, and PS4. A PS5 version will be available on March 2nd, 2021.

best-xbox-external-hdd-2020:-get-ready-for-xbox-series-s-and-x-or-expand-your-xbox-one

Best Xbox external HDD 2020: Get ready for Xbox Series S and X or expand your Xbox One

(Pocket-lint) – What’s more annoying than having to delete a game before you wanted to? It’s becoming all too common in this day and age for gamers to be forced into hard-drive clearance on their console when a new game comes out.

  • Looking for faster storage? Best SSD for Xbox Series X and Series S: Expand your game collection freely

Frankly, with the outlandish patch sizes deployed in recent times by the likes of Call of Duty: Warzone, you might just be updating a game, not even getting a new one, and still run out of space. An external hard drive can be a superb answer to that problem, letting you store potentially hundreds more games without needing to re-download them if you want to play.

Now we also know that the Xbox Series S arrives with just 500GB of space on its SSD, so even in the next generation you’ll still be wanting some more storage, for our money. 

We’ve gathered some of the very best on the market, right here, for you to choose from if you’re looking for a bit more space. 

Our pick of the best Xbox hard drives to buy today

Pocket-lint

Seagate 2TB Xbox Game Drive

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While a single terabyte might seem like a rational amount of storage (and it is!), we think 2TB is an amount that will serve most people perfectly, letting them completely forget about the risk of it filling up. 

Seagate’s drive is solidly priced and we like its bold colour scheme, which makes it hard to lose. It’s also nice and fast, and really easy to use, a winning combination. 

WD

WD_Black 5TB P10

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Western Digital had a bit of a boring brand reputation before cannily rebranding its gaming wing as WD_Black, and there’s a reason this is the first of three drives it’s got on our list.

If 2TB seems like it’ll still leave you wanting on the storage side, why not opt for this huge 5TB drive? It’s still impressively small and really nice and quick, plus we love how it looks. 

WD

WD_Black 1 TB P50 NVMe SSD

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Here’s the thing, though – there’s a reason that the next-gen Xbox Series X and Series S moved to a solid-state drive (SSD) for their storage.

The transfer speeds you get from these drives is simply game-changing, so making your external storage SSD-based is a really sensible move.

The only downside is that the cost goes up pretty significantly, as shown by this nonetheless great drive from WD.

Toshiba

Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB

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Storage doesn’t have to break the bank, though, and if you think that on balance 1TB of space is all you need, Toshiba’s got a really solid drive here.

It’s by far the most affordable option on this list, and while it won’t let you keep a limitless number of games, it’s still a serious improvement over the default storage you get. 

WD

WD_Black 8 TB D10

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Returning to the other end of the spectrum, though, this is a drive for those who just can’t bear to delete anything at all. 

This mammoth 8TB drive means that you really don’t have to get rid of any data unless you truly don’t want it. The drive has a great stand that makes it easy to arrange next to your console and keeps itself cool with its own system, so it’s a great addition to any setup.

Writing by Max Freeman-Mills.

best-upcoming-games-for-xbox-series-x-and-series-s:-the-top-next-gen-games-for-2020-and-beyond

Best upcoming games for Xbox Series X and Series S: The top next-gen games for 2020 and beyond

(Pocket-lint) – The next generation of console gaming is finally upon us, with the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S out at last. Of course, no console is much without games – not even the “most powerful” in the world.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of the games that have either been confirmed already or hinted at coming to the Xbox Series X and S in the coming year or so.

Some will also be part of the monthly Xbox Game Pass membership scheme, which will save you a stack of money. And some will also be part of Xbox’s Smart Delivery programme, meaning that if you buy them for Xbox One you’ll get them on Series X or Series S for free. 

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So here are the best upcoming games for Xbox Series X and Series S we’ve heard about so far. Enjoy.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

  • Release date: 13 November 2020
  • PS5 exclusive: No, also on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and PC
  • Publisher: Activision

The latest Call of Duty is right around the corner, returning to pastures old by resurrecting the old-school setting of earlier Black Ops games. This one’ll be primarily set in the 1980s and feature more vintage weaponry and stripped-back gunplay.

The campaign looks like great fun, with more apparent freedom to tackle objectives how you like than in recent games, while multiplayer also looks a blast. 

Cyberpunk 2077

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  • Publisher: CD Projekt Red
  • Release date: 10 December 2020
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10

What can be said about Cyberpunk 2077 that hasn’t been said before? CD Projekt Red’s long-awaited sci-fi role-player always looked like a next-gen game in waiting and so it will prove to be. However, like Halo Infinite, it is also coming out for the current generation consoles and features Smart Delivery, so you will be able to buy the Xbox One version and update for free once you own an Xbox Series X. Very nice indeed.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release date: 3 December 2020
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10

Ubisoft’s new game series – from the in-house studio behind Assassin’s Creed – was one of the games delayed in a recent purge. However, it has now been confirmed for next-gen machines as well as existing consoles, and looks like a bundle of fun.

Bright Memory: Infinite

  • Publisher: FYQD-Studio
  • Release date: Holiday 2020
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4 and Windows 10

Developed by Chinese studio FYQD, Bright Memory: Infinite will be an expanded, enhanced version of first-person shooter Bright Memory, currently available on Steam for PC.

It’s a near-future shooter, with melee combat elements as well as hardcore gunplay. And, looking at the trailer, will likely make great use of the Series X’s ray tracing abilities.

The Ascent

  • Publisher: Curve Digital
  • Release date: Holiday 2020
  • Exclusive? Yes

Xbox-exclusive The Ascent is an action RPG based in a cyberpunk futuristic world, something that seems to be on trend this year – what with Cyberpunk 2077 also coming up.

The Medium

  • Publisher: Blooper Team
  • Release date: 28 January 2021
  • Exclusive? No, also on Windows 10

Blooper Team’s second game for Xbox Series X will continue its tradition of dabbling in psychological horror, but The Medium also features a soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka – the composer behind the eerie musical scores of Silent Hill.

Second Extinction

  • Publisher: Systemic Reaction
  • Release date: Late 2020
  • Exclusive? No, also on Windows 10

Systemic Extinction is a three-player online co-op shooter where mankind must survive in a land now ruled by mutated dinosaurs. Queue fast-paced velocirator chases galore.

Scarlet Nexus

  • Publisher: Bandai Namco
  • Release date: Late 2020
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and Windows 10

A new JRPG series from Bandai Namco is always welcome and the anime overtones of Scarlet Nexus make it stand out among the other ray traced games here. It is set in the far future and features some “explosive action”. Hopefully we’ll see more on it soon.

Outriders

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  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Release date: December 2020
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10

Developed by People Can Fly (Bulletstorm, Gears of War: Judgment), Outriders is an all-new intellectual property that could prove to be an early hit on the platform. It is a third-person online shooter in the style of Destiny, but with a far darker tone. At least, that’s what we’ve taken from the early reveals so far.

Psychonauts 2

  • Publisher: Double Fine
  • Release date: Late 2020
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows PC

The mind-bending franchise is returning, and we’ve got a glimpse of Jack Black’s vocal chords in action for it. The above trailer looks like a great big slice of fun, with visual variety the name of the game. 

Halo Infinite

  • Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
  • Release date: 2021
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows 10

Halo Infinite was scheduled to be one of the launch games for Xbox Series X, but it has slipped and will now be available in 2021. As with a few games on this list, it will be part of Xbox’s Smart Delivery initiative, whereby you can buy the game on Xbox One and get the Series X version for free as a download when you upgrade to the new machine.

As for the game itself, Infinite will see the return of Master Chief after a five-year hiatus and is being called a “spiritual reboot”, with bigger maps and freedom to tackle objectives in your own order. 

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

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  • Publisher: Paradox Interactive
  • Release date: 2021
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10

A new, superb trailer has got us even more excited for this long-awaited RPG sequel. We also saw previous footage running with ray-tracing at an Nvidia event during Gamescom 2019, so have a great idea what to expect on Xbox Series X with its similarly capable graphics.

Chorus

  • Publisher: Deep Silver
  • Release date: 2021
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10, Google Stadia

An all-new IP for Deep Silver, Chorus is a space-flight combat shooter featuring Nara and her sentient starfighter Forsaken. There will be plenty of space dogfights, but we’re hoping there’ll also be open world (universe) play and a deep storyline, although it’s hard to tell from the trailer right now.

Forza Motorsport

  • Publisher: Turn10
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One

The next Forza game is looking absolutely jaw-dropping in terms of fidelity, and while we know it’s not going to drop anytime soon, it’s clear that this will end up being one of the best-looking racing games ever made. We can’t wait to dive in. 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

  • Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows 10

Ninja Theory’s first Senua game – Hallblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – not only wowed with its almost photorealistic graphics, but the clever, well informed grasp on mental health issues was much lauded. The sequel looks even more stunning, based on a trailer made entirely using the in-game engine. The action-adventure will be available on the current generation Xbox, but we suspect it’ll be the Series X version everyone will be talking about.

Fable

  • Publisher: Playground Games
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on Windows 10

A beloved franchise is returning with the as yet simply-titled Fable, bringing players back to Albion and its topsy-turvy world of moral extremes. The teaser we got gives us almost nothing to go on, but we’re sure it’ll promise much more witty humour and fantasy tropes. 

State of Decay 3

  • Publisher: Undead Labs
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows 10

The State of Decay franchise lives on, and will drop a third iteration on Xbox Series X – the first trailer looks absolutely amazing, even if it’s got no gameplay to share. It looks like animals are getting infected, though, which could be a game-changer when it comes to making your way around. Hopefully we’ll learn more soon. 

Scorn

  • Publisher: Ebb Software
  • Release date: 2021
  • Exclusive? Yes

When we first saw the trailer, we thought someone was making a game of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus – or the abandoned ship section of Alien. Scorn, from debut studio Ebb, is about as HR Giger-esque as it comes, with first-person horror overtones and creepy audio. Definitely one to watch.

Call of the Sea

  • Publisher: Out of the Blue
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows 10

A first-person adventure/puzzle game set in the 1930s, Call of the Sea promises 4K graphics at 60fps minimum. It’ll also be Smart Delivery ready, so you can play it on Xbox One and upgrade for free to the Series X version when you get the console.

Dying Light 2

  • Publisher: Techland
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4, Xbox One and PC

Although Techland is yet to officially confirm Dying Light 2 is coming for next-gen machines, its release delay and sheer scope suggest that it is a shoo-in for the new consoles. The game is a sequel to the amazing first-person parkour zombie-a-thon we’re still playing to this day, but it takes the concept to an all-new level. Every action and decision you make in the game will affect the entire gameworld – with different factions growing and fading depending on your choices.

Rainbow Six Siege

  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10

Ubisoft has announced that several of its existing and forthcoming games will be available on Xbox Series X – we just don’t know exactly when. Still, putting Rainbow Six Siege on the platformer is a no-brainer to us. The multiplayer online shooter has an enormous following and it is that kind of hardcore gaming market that will likely be formed of early adopters.

Gothic

  • Publisher: THQ Nordic
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on PS5, Windows 10

After releasing a playable teaser for PC on Steam, which was very well received, THQ Nordic decided to greenlight a fully remastered, remade version of RPG Gothic. It also announced that it will be coming to the next-generation consoles too.

Rainbow Six Quarantine

  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release date: 2021
  • Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10

Another Ubisoft game with no fixed release date as yet, Rainbow Six Quarantine caused quite a stir during the company’s E3 2019 presentation. It dispenses with the real-world combat-style themes of Siege – instead shifting to survival horror, with three-player teams battle an infected population.

The Lord of the Rings – Gollum

  • Publisher: Daedelic Entertainment
  • Release date: 2021
  • Exclusive? No, also on PS5, Windows 10 (rumoured)

There is no trailer for Gollum as yet and it is unlikely to see the light of day for a while yet, but we do know that the game with be a story-driven action-adventure and from a studio well-versed in such things. We also know it’s coming to next-gen consoles.

The Elder Scrolls 6

  • Publisher: Bethesda
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on PS5, Windows 10 (rumoured)

We’ve not heard a peep about The Elder Scrolls 6 since its tease at E3 2018. However, after the massive news of Bethesda being bought entirely by Microsoft, we know that when it does eventually appear, it’ll be on Game Pass from day one, and could even be an Xbox exclusive. 

Starfield

  • Publisher: Bethesda
  • Release date: TBC
  • Exclusive? No, also on PS5, Windows 10 (rumoured)

Like The Elder Scrolls 6, little is known about Starfield right now. It is thought to be a sci-fi RPG though and something of a departure from the Fallout franchise – and, again, will be straight onto Game Pass when it releases. 

Writing by Rik Henderson and Max Freeman-Mills.

rockstar-confirms:-gta-v-and-red-dead-redemption-2-backward-compatible-with-ps5-and-xbox-series-x

Rockstar confirms: GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 backward compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X

Among the main features offered by the consoles next-gen there is also backward compatibility support. Most of the games on PS4 and Xbox One can also be played on PS5 and Xbox Series X | S: among these we also find the titles of Rockstar Games, including GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.

by Pasquale Fusco published , at 20: 01 in the Videogames channel

Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto

In a few days we will welcome the new generation of consoles, with Xbox Series X and Series S (10 November) and PlayStation 5 (19 November). The big publishers are preparing for the debut of the next-gen and, in the case of Rockstar Games, update their catalog for backward compatibility support.

So here’s what blockbuster like Grand Theft Auto V and Read Dead Redemption 2 will also land on the new consoles, where they will be playable in their ‘old-gen’ versions.

Rockstar Games games embrace the next-gen: all the details

The confirmation comes from Rockstar itself with an article published on its official website. In addition to the two open worlds just mentioned, also the most recent versions of LA Noire – together with LA Noire: The VR Case Files, for PlayStation VR – will be available on next-gen platforms.

The software house also illustrated the operation of backwards compatible games, both in terms of format physical than that digital : “If you have a physical copy of a backward compatible game, you can safely insert the disc into the new PlayStation 5 or the new Xbox Series X (excluding PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S). Digital copy owners will have instant access to compatible Rockstar titles linked to their PlayStation Network or Xbox Live accounts “.

Rockstar Games reminds us that we can also reuse saves on PS4 and Xbox One, transferring files using a LAN cable, wireless connection or a USB device. Cloud transfer is even more convenient: after enabling the function on PS4 or Xbox One, we will be able to download the saves linked to our account (PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live) and install them on the new consoles.

The list of all Rockstar Games games backward compatible with next-gen platforms has also been released. Among the classics landed on Xbox One, here are those that will also run on Xbox Series X | S :

  • Bully: Scholarship Edition
  • Grand Theft Auto IV
  • Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City
  • Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
  • Midnight Club: Los Angeles
  • Red Dead Redemption
  • Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis

These will instead be the titles from the PS2 catalog available for PlayStation 4 – and, therefore, backwards compatible with the new PlayStation 5 :

  • Bully
  • Grand Theft Auto III
  • Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
  • Grand Theft Car: Vice City
  • Manhunt
  • Max Payne
  • Red Dead Revolver
  • The Warriors