If you haven’t already seen the broadcast from Inside Xbox at gamescom 2018, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered with a rundown of everything that’s worth knowing about; from shiny new console bundles to additional information about upcoming games like Forza Horizon 4 and the Ori sequel.
It feels like we should begin with the announcement of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (finally) graduating from Xbox Game Preview at the start of next month. As big PUBG fans, that’s music to our ears, especially as the Xbox One launch on 4th September will see the inclusion of the Southeast Asian inspired compact map of Sanhok and the arrival of War Mode, a deathmatch-style battle royale gaming experience where players hunt each other in a static zone. Teams earn points by getting kills and reviving teammates, and the team that reaches a certain points total wins the battle.
Moving onto the aforementioned Forza Horizon 4 and more details were revealed about Team Adventure, the new competitive multiplayer mode that allows players to team up and take on the world in races, games and even frantic Freeroam Rushes. With brand new Leagues available to rise through, unique rewards to be won and prestigious Grandmaster titles to aim for, start picking your teammates now and be ready to claim glory when the first four-week series begins at launch on 2nd October – as part of Xbox Game Pass, in case you’d forgotten.
Speaking of Xbox Game Pass, members can expect to see Halo: The Master Chief Collection arriving as part of the service on 1st September to bolster the ever-growing library of over 100 games. It was also announce that the Xbox Game Pass app is now available in beta form on iOS and Android for select Xbox Insiders. You can browse any of the games in the Xbox Game Pass catalog, discover new titles and download them straight to your console when you’re on your mobile device. That way, they’ll be ready to get stuck into next time you turn on your Xbox One and settle down for a gaming session.
If you haven’t tried Xbox Game Pass yet, there’s a special offer for new members starting today until August 31, where you can get one month of Xbox Game Pass for just $2 (or equivalent local currency) and receive a second month for free.
Should you be interested in the highly anticipated sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps, there was a focus on the new Spirit Trials feature. These fast paced, highly repayable race sequences spread throughout the game will allow Ori players to compete asynchronously with other members of the community for in-game rewards and that all important placement as high up as possible on the Spirit Trials leaderboards.
Zombie enthusiasts will be pleased to hear about the upcoming Daybreak Pack for State of Decay 2 as it looks to provide multiplayer action at no extra cost to those who own the game on 12th September. The Daybreak Pack add-on content consists of an all-new siege defense game mode that gives players the ability to fight zombies, complete missions and earn rewards as a respawning Red Talon soldier, alongside up to three of your friends.
Still sailing the seas in Sea of Thieves? Well, Inside Xbox gave us a look at the third free major content update, The Forsaken Shores. Players will venture to The Devil’s Roar, where they’ll encounter brand new environmental perils with volcanoes, geysers and earthquakes added to the game. The Forsaken Shores launches on 19 September and is also available to those within Xbox Game Pass scheme.
Last, but certainly not least, are the eight new bundles and three new controller designs unveiled, including the first ever Xbox One X Special Edition console bundle—the Xbox One X Gold Rush Special Edition Battlefield V Bundle. In terms of accessories, there’s the Xbox Wireless Controller – PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Limited Edition as well as the new camo and shadow options for Xbox Design Lab. See below for a list of the other console bundles on the horizon:
- Xbox One X 1TB Console – Shadow of the Tomb Raider Bundle
- Xbox One S 1TB Console – Shadow of the Tomb Raider Bundle
- Xbox One X 1TB Console – Forza Horizon 4 Bundle
- Xbox One S 1TB Console – Forza Horizon 4 Bundle
- Xbox One X 1TB Console – Fallout 76 Bundle
- Xbox One S 1TB Console – Battlefield V Bundle
We know that’s a lot to take in, but do leave us a message on our social media platforms or in the comments below and fill us in on what’s got you excited, if anything, about these reveals at Gamescom!
