Microsoft announced a large batch of new Xbox Game Pass games at its X019 event in London, including some that are available to download and play right now. We also got word on some exciting future additions, including those from the Final Fantasy and Yakuza franchises. Beyond that, the company announced that Game Pass subscribers will get free trial subscriptions of a handful of other services like EA Access and Spotify.To start, several games are available for the Game Pass service starting today, including Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition for PC, Lego: The Ninjago Movie Video Game, Rage 2, and The Talos Principle. Several more games are coming through holiday and throughout 2020, including Darksiders 3, several Final Fantasy games, Streets of Rage 4, and The Witcher 3. You can check out the full listing below.Microsoft also reiterated that Xbox Game Studios games will be included with Game Pass at launch. Age of Empires is one example, and you can now start pre-loading Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC. Others coming next year will include Bleeding Edge, Grounded, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Minecraft Dungeons, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Tell Me Why, and Wasteland 3.Finally, Microsoft announced a limited-time promotion in which your Game Pass Ultimate membership will get you some other subscriber benefits as well. Those include 1 month of EA Access, 3 months of Discord Nitro, and 6 months of Spotify Premium. You can find those perks in the membership section. These go for all Ultimate subscribers, not just new subscriptions.Xbox Game Pass - Available NowAge of Empires II: Definitive Edition (PC)Age of Wonders: Planetfall (Console, coming soon to PC)Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet Edition (PC)LEGO: The Ninjago Movie Videogame (Console)RAGE 2 (Console, coming soon to PC)Remnant: From the Ashes (Console)The Talos Principle (Console & PC)Tracks: The Train Set Game (Console & PC)Xbox Game Pass -- Holiday and 2020 GamesCarrion (Console & PC) – ID@XboxCris Tales (Console & PC) – ID@XboxCyber Shadow (Console & PC)Darksiders III (Console & PC)Double Kick Heroes (Console & PC) – ID@XboxEdge of Eternity (Console & PC) – ID@XboxFinal Fantasy franchise (Console & PC) Final Fantasy VIIFinal Fantasy VIII: RemasteredFinal Fantasy IXFinal Fantasy X: HD RemasteredFinal Fantasy X-2: HD RemasteredFinal Fantasy XII: The Zodiac AgeFinal Fantasy XIIIFinal Fantasy XIII-2Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIIFinal Fantasy XVForager (Console & PC) – ID@XboxHaven (Console & PC) – ID@XboxIt Lurks Below (Console & PC) – ID@XboxLevelhead (Console & PC) – ID@XboxLife Is Strange 2: Episodes 4 & 5 (Console)My Friend Pedro (Console/PC)PHOGS (Console & PC) – ID@XboxShe Dreams Elsewhere (Console & PC) – ID@XboxSkateBIRD (Console & PC) – ID@XboxStreets of Rage 4 (Console & PC) – ID@XboxScourge Bringer (Console & PC) – ID@XboxSupraland (Console) – ID@XboxTekken 7 (Console)Touhou Luna Nights (Console & PC) – ID@XboxThe Escapists 2 (Console)The Red Lantern (Console) – ID@XboxThe Red Strings Club (PC)The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Console)Vambrace: Cold Soul (Console & PC)West of Dead (Console & PC)Yakuza 0Yakuza KiwamiYakuza Kiwami 2 X019 News X019 Inside Xbox News: Halo Reach Coming To MCC, New Obsidian Game, And More Lots Of Final Fantasy Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass; Kingdom Hearts Heads To Xbox One Xbox Scarlett Won't Be "Out Of Position" On Power Or Price, Says Xbox Boss Rare Announces New IP, Everwild Halo: Reach Coming To Xbox Game Pass And PC Soon Yakuza Series Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Obsidian's Grounded Is Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Meets Rust Life Is Strange Dev Reveals New Game, Tell Me Why Outer Worlds Dev's Next Game Is As Far From Space As You Can Get DmC and Hellblade Dev's Next Game, Bleeding Edge, Release Date Leaked Info from Gamespot.com

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, developed by Forgotten Empires, is now available for PC (Windows 10, Steam, and Xbox Game Pass for PC), Microsoft announced during its X019 Inside Xbox livestream. We also got our first look at Age of Empires 4.This Age of Empires 2 remaster includes updated 4K visuals, retooled orchestral soundtracks, and various other balance tweaks and improvements. Alongside these changes, Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition comes with a brand-new "The Last Khans" content, which adds three additional campaigns and four more civilizations. Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition also features cross-play between Windows 10 and Steam.Microsoft unveiled the remaster of Age of Empires 2 during a livestream in 2017, alongside the announcement of an Age of Empires 3 remaster. The company provided more information on Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, as well as a gameplay trailer, during E3 2019.Also during E3 2019, Microsoft announced the acquisition of a few studios--such as Brutal Legend developer Double Fine--as well as the creation of a brand-new studio solely focused on Age of Empires development. This studio will not develop another Age of Empires entry but will, instead, oversee the production of other teams working on Age of Empires projects. The studio is led by former Xbox Game Studios general manager Shannon Loftis, and during X019, its name was confirmed as World's Edge. X019 News X019 Inside Xbox News: Halo Reach Coming To MCC, New Obsidian Game, And More Lots Of Final Fantasy Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass; Kingdom Hearts Heads To Xbox One Xbox Scarlett Won't Be "Out Of Position" On Power Or Price, Says Xbox Boss Rare Announces New IP, Everwild Halo: Reach Coming To Xbox Game Pass And PC Soon Yakuza Series Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Obsidian's Grounded Is Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Meets Rust Life Is Strange Dev Reveals New Game, Tell Me Why Outer Worlds Dev's Next Game Is As Far From Space As You Can Get DmC and Hellblade Dev's Next Game, Bleeding Edge, Release Date Leaked Info from Gamespot.com

Week 6 of Fortnite Chapter 2 has arrived, which means there's another set of challenges to complete in the hit battle royale game. This week's batch is called Hide and Seek, and as usual, clearing eight of the tasks will unlock a special loading screen that features a hidden letter you'll need to find for a later challenge. This time, you're asked to search the hidden I. If you're not sure where it is, we've put together the map and guide below to help you out.Where Is The Hidden I Location?As previously mentioned, the location of the letter I is hidden in the Hide and Seek loading screen that you'll unlock after completing eight of this week's challenges. The screen depicts a pair of characters hiding out inside a barn, with the I tucked away on a raised walkway near an open window.The barn is the big giveaway, as it confirms the I is hidden at Frenzy Farm, one of the new named locations on Fortnite Chapter 2's map. Since it's such a prominent area, you can find Frenzy Farm easily just by looking at a map, but if you need a bit more direction, we've marked the barn's location below. How To Complete The ChallengeNow that you know the letter I is hidden at Frenzy Farm, make your way to the area and find the barn depicted in the Hide and Seek loading screen--it's located in the northern part of the area. Head inside and make your way up to the third floor--the I will appear near the open window, just as in the loading screen. Interact with the letter when prompted to collect it and complete the challenge.This is the sixth hidden letter of the season thus far, with only two more remaining until you can spell out the word "FORTNITE" and unlock this season's special skin. If you need help finding any of the previous letters, you can find all of our maps and guides in our ongoing Fortnite Chapter 2 challenges roundup. Fortnite News Fortnite Landmark Locations: How To Visit 5 Landmarks In A Single Match Fortnite Hidden N Location: Where To Search Hidden N In Lowdown Loading Screen Fortnite EGO Locations: Where To Visit Different EGO Outposts For Lowdown Challenge Fortnite Hidden T Location: Where To Search T Hidden In Dockyard Deals Loading Screen Fortnite Hidden "R" Location: Where To Search Letter R In Forged In Slurp Loading Screen Info from Gamespot.com

It's been a while since we've heard anything about the Shazam spin-off movie Black Adam. Today, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson posted a release date on Instagram for the upcoming movie, which is more than a year away.Coming to theaters on December 22, 2021, Johnson showed off some concept art as well. The art--which depicts Johnson as the villainous Black Adam--was created by legendary artist Jim Lee and Boss Logic. You can check it out below. View this post on InstagramThe Man in Black ⚡️ Like most kids growing up, I dreamed about being a superhero. Having cool superpowers, fighting for what’s right and always protecting the people. It all changed for me, when I was 10yrs old and was first introduced to the greatest superhero of all time - SUPERMAN. As a kid, Superman was the hero I always wanted to be. But, a few years into my fantasy, I realized that Superman was the hero, I could never be. I was too rebellious. Too rambunctious. Too resistant to convention and authority. Despite my troubles, I was still a good kid with a good heart - I just liked to do things my way. Now, years later as a man, with the same DNA I had as a kid - my superhero dreams have come true. I’m honored to join the iconic #DCUniverse and it’s a true pleasure to become, BLACK ADAM. BLACK ADAM is blessed by magic with the powers equal to SUPERMAN, but the difference is he doesn’t toe the mark or walk the line. He’s a rebellious, one of a kind superhero, who’ll always do what’s right for the people - but he does it his way. Truth and justice - the BLACK ADAM way. This role is unlike any other I’ve ever played in my career and I’m grateful to the bone we’ll all go on this journey together. BLACK ADAM 12.22.21 ⚡️ Huge thank you to my friends, @jimlee and @bosslogic for this first time ever bad ass collaboration.A post shared by therock (@therock) on Nov 14, 2019 at 9:06am PST The photo is accompanied by a long note from Johnson, proclaiming how excited he is to play the role. Originally, it was announced in 2014 that Black Adam was going to be the villain in the Shazam movie starring Zachary Levi--which came out earlier this year. For whatever reason, that never came to fruition, and in August of 2018, it was announced Johnson would be starring in a solo Black Adam movie.The comic book villain made his first appearance back in 1945 in the Fawcett Comics' series The Marvel Family. Years later, Black Adam, and the rest of the Marvel Family, arrived at DC Comics as the main antagonist of Shazam. In recent years, Black Adam has become more of a complex anti-hero rather than straight-up villain.In DC continuity, the wizard Shazam gave Teth-Adam his powers thousands of years before Billy Batson got his. Teth-Adam began as a hero but slowly, he used his super-abilities for evil, letting his power corrupt him. Becoming Black Adam, the character was feared in his homeland. In recent years, he actions aren't always evil. He does things for the greater good, trying to lead humanity to a new era. However, some of his actions come with dire consequences.Black Adam comes to theaters on December 22, 2021.Info from Gamespot.com

Another fighter for Mortal Kombat 11 is koming, and she's a real hair-raising pick. Sindel, the Queen of Outworld, has been showcased in a new gameplay trailer. She'll be joining the fray on November 26 as early access to owners of the Kombat Pack.Sindel is most known for using her flowing mane as a weapon and for her sonic scream, and both of those are showcased in this trailer. Her hair grows and grapples to smack and grab opponents, and it's a part of her Fatal Blows as well. The coup de grace comes from her Fatality, wherein she holds an opponent with her silver locks while screaming at them. And if that doesn't sound so bad, you haven't seen her scream.Sindel is the fourth of six DLC fighters included in the Kombat Pack, which was formally announced this summer. She'll join Shang Tsung and Nightwolf as the three representatives of classic MK characters. The other three, inspired by movies and comic books, include the already-released T-800 Terminator, The Joker, and Spawn. Those final two will release in January and March, respectively.Mortal Kombat 11 is available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, but NetherRealm is preparing to add one more platform to that list. It's one of only 12 launch games for Google Stadia, which Google says were "carefully chosen." Given that the list also includes Samurai Shodown and rhythm games Thumper and Just Dance 2020, it seems likely Google chose games it felt could address concerns of latency in its streaming platform.Info from Gamespot.com

It's a big week for game releases, with both Pokemon Sword and Shield and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order hitting stores this Friday, November 15. If you're interested in the latest Star Wars adventure from Respawn, you can save a little extra money on Jedi Fallen Order for all platforms.EA Access members get 10% off digital games, which drops the price on Jedi Fallen Order to $54 from $60. If you have EA Access, you can take advantage of that discount in the PlayStation Store, where Jedi Fallen Order is available on PS4 for $54.If you don't have EA Access, you're still in luck when it comes to Xbox One. The Microsoft Store has also slashed the price on Jedi Fallen Order to $54--but EA Access doesn't appear to be necessary to claim the discount. Multiple people on our team were able to make it to checkout without EA Access and were still presented with $54 as the final price.And if you're looking to buy Jedi Fallen Order on PC, things get even better. Both Walmart and Amazon are offering the standard edition of Jedi Fallen Order on PC for just $49.94. The digital code you receive can be redeemed on Origin.Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order dealsXbox One $54 at Xbox Store PS4 $54 at PlayStation Store (EA Access only) PC $49.94 at Walmart $49.94 at Amazon Jedi Fallen Order will be available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC this Friday, November 15. Unlike other big EA game launches, Jedi Fallen Order has not had an early access trial period for subscribers in order to avoid spoilers (unfortunately, copies still appeared early in the wild). However, pre-loading for the game has already begun. Jedi Fallen Order will reportedly unlock at midnight local time on Friday morning. PC gamers can also get Jedi Fallen Order on Steam, the first EA game to be available on the platform in years.There's also still time to claim the game's pre-order bonuses--be sure to check out our Jedi Fallen Order pre-order guide for all the details on its bonuses and editions. Black Friday 2019 Deals & News Black Friday 2019 Start Times, Store Hours: GameStop, Best Buy, Target, And More Black Friday 2019: The Best Xbox One Deals So Far Black Friday 2019: The Best PS4 Deals So Far Best Buy Black Friday 2019 Ad: Best Gaming, Tech, And Entertainment Deals Black Friday 2019: When Does It Start, Deals To Expect, And More Target Black Friday 2019 Ad: Best Gaming, Tech, And Entertainment Deals At Target Info from Gamespot.com

Another weekend means another set of Xbox One games to play for free as part of Microsoft's Free Play Days. This crop of titles is geared towards adrenaline junkies with Contra: Rogue Corps and Nascar Heat 4 both being available for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.Xbox's director of programming, Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, announced on Twitter that the two games are available from today, November 14, to Sunday, November 17. All you need is an active Xbox Live Gold or Game Pass Ultimate membership to download and play them for free.Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, play NASCAR Heat 4 and Contra: Rogue Corps for free until 17 November with this weekend's Free Play Days event, plus both titles are on sale https://t.co/of4wCxiJuH pic.twitter.com/S4rvA43S4N — Larry Hryb #X019 is now (@majornelson) November 14, 2019Additionally, Contra: Rogue Corps and Nascar Heat 4 are on sale alongside their Free Play Days offering. Both the Standard and Gold Editions of Nascar Heat 4 are on sale for 20 percent off, while Contra: Rogue Corps gets its priced slashed by 25 percent.Buy Contra: Rogue CorpsBuy Nascar Heat 4 Gold EditionBuy Nascar Heat 4 Standard EditionNascar Heat 4 is the latest entry in the simulation racing franchise based on the 2019 Nascar circuit. The game was developed by Monster Games and launched on September 13 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Nascar Heat 4 has garnered a fairly lukewarm reception and received generally middling reviews since its release.Contra: Rogue Corps also launched in September and is the latest entry in Konami's mainline Contra series since 2007's Contra 4. The game made its way to Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on September 24. Rogue Corps has been pretty divisive since launch and received relatively negative reviews across all platforms.Info from Gamespot.com

The hit cop comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been renewed for an eighth season. Having been extremely close to never getting past Season 5, following Fox's cancellation in May 2018, the show has found a new lease on life at NBC. The Season 8 renewal comes ahead of the Season 7 premiere next February.The early renewal was revealed in a video tweeted by the official Brooklyn Nine-Nine account. In the video, an NBC exec tells the cast and crew of the show that she wants to dispel "crazy rumors about the next season," and that NBC "wants you to come back." The room then erupts with cheers--check it out below.Good things come to those who w8. The #Brooklyn99 squad will be coming back for Season 8 on NBC! pic.twitter.com/bQsGYA4oG9 — Brooklyn Nine-Nine (@nbcbrooklyn99) November 14, 2019Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 7 premieres on February 6, 2020, so don't expect to see Season 8 until the following year. But this is great news for fans, as it was only 18 months ago that the show was cancelled by Fox after failing to find a substantial audience. Shortly after, it was picked up by NBC, which made sense given the show is produced by Universal Television, a branch of NBC itself. As The Hollywood Reporter states, the show has proved popular for NBC, especially on digital platforms, where it is network's most-watched series.Brooklyn Nine-Nine stars Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, Dirk Blocker, and Joel McKinnon Miller. It was created by Michael Schur and Dan Goor and first premiered in September 2013.Info from Gamespot.com

Mehmood "Moody" Askar had his back up against a wall. He and the rest of the Canadian PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds team were sitting on the outside of the circle, fighting tooth and nail to get inside the zone against a Vietnamese squad hunkered down inside a compound within the safe zone.A sudden explosion sent Askar's squadmate Luke "Meluke" Laing to the great beyond, as Team Vietnam lobbed grenades toward their position. Askar knew he had to act. He started strafing out into the brush of the adjacent field, thinking he could even the odds if he got a clear line of sight on the enemy. Team Vietnam was none the wiser as Moody made his approach.Just as he reached a vantage point with sufficient visibility of Vietnam's position, a third team decided to crash the party. Russia's Arsenii "ceh9" Ivanychev, through trees, brush, and buildings, let his trigger finger go, putting Askar into the ground. The Russian sniper stopped the Canadian dead in his tracks--and no one saw it coming."It's always meant to be a surprise, moments like that," says PUBG commentator and analyst Lauren Scott. "That one shot was perfect."That was a scene from the third match in the inaugural PUBG Nations Cup, a tournament between 16 teams composed of players representing their home countries held at the Jangchung Arena in Seoul, South Korea. It was one of the greatest examples of how the arbitrary, scattered, and action-packed nature of battle royales is captured on camera for an audience of millions to enjoy.The battle royale genre, including games like PUBG, Apex Legends, and Fortnite, is a unique beast when it comes to spectating. All three games have fostered competitive scenes where thousands, sometimes millions, tune in to watch tournaments. Players are spread out across a huge map after parachuting from battle buses and airships, with gunfights erupting in multiple places once they land. It's difficult to capture the best bits of the action for viewers, even when a fight between two teams unfolds right in front of the camera."You had a defensive team holding their position, you had a team encroaching on that, and then you had a potential third party," Scott, who commentated on the shootout between Canada and Vietnam, told me between matches in Seoul. "It's difficult though. You can't expect the third party to get involved because new angles become apparent once the smoke fades, you can't expect ceh9 to hit that one shot."Except this time, he did, and the production crew behind the camera was able to cut to ceh9 right after Askar fell, beautifully capturing an exciting moment. So how do broadcast crews capture moments like these in these sprawling competitions?Since the breakout success of the battle royale genre in 2017, and the respective growth of each games' competitive community, storylines have shaped how broadcasters have captured the excitement of dozens of players parachuting onto a dangerous island. In-game improvements, including features like spectating systems that allow the camera to flow freely around the map, have made streams more approachable and dynamic, making every story told more compelling."My goal as a commentator is highlighting the players," Scott said. "We want to connect the general audience with the game but for me, on a more personal level, we want to build narratives around the players and why they do what they do. We want to give the players the credit they deserve, putting all this time and effort in. It's an overarching storyline."A different scene unfolded nearly five thousand miles away at Alvernia Planet, the surreal movie studio turned esports arena, situated just outside Kraków, Poland. The Apex Legends Preseason Invitational was in full swing as 80 teams from more than a dozen countries gathered to compete in Respawn's fast-paced, first-person battle royale.In a match where a victory could have made him a champion, Team SoloMid player Phillip "ImperialHal" Dosen hunkered behind a crate, bruised after taking out three enemies and losing his two teammates. There were only two players left in the late-night grand finals match, but Dosen was pinned down.Romain "wSerious" Dittmann, of French team GamerOrigins, was looking down at him from a higher platform. Dosen and Dittmann exchanged potshots, dancing back and forth while unable to deal a lethal blow. Dosen knew that wouldn't be enough and tried to run up and flank Dittman by approaching him from the side. But as soon as Dosen left cover, Dittmann unloaded a clip into the TeamSoloMid star's back.It was an exciting situation that's comparable to Team Russia's long-range kill at the PUBG Nations Cup, but it didn't feel nearly as impactful. We experienced the entire interaction from Dosen's viewpoint, which was mostly him waiting for the right moment to jump out from behind cover. We didn't see anything from Dittman's viewpoint or anything from a third angle.That's because competitive Apex Legends doesn't have an in-game spectator mode yet and production teams don't have the experience needed to anticipate these types of situations. The game launched earlier this year and there have only been two actual Apex tournaments. Most players, commentators, and fans, who have experience in other games, said that things would get better for spectators. PUBG went through this phase too--check out the Gamescom 2017 tournament to see Tyler "Ninja" Blevins compete on a similarly lackluster broadcast."Apex Legends desperately needs an observer mode. As a commentator, it would help me actually show the audience what's happening," Apex Legends commentator Dan Gaskin told me between matches in Kraków. "At the moment it's just guesswork, where the circle is going. Right now we can only see the map when a player opens the map. It's getting there as a viewing experience and the game is exciting enough to attract viewership, but it needs an observer mode if it wants to become a large esport.""You build a story in-game, one that you build in each map."If Apex Legends had a spectator mode, we would have been able to see the odds that Dosen had stacked against him, being on the lower ground surrounded by open space. It would have made his loss more compelling and a potential win all the more gratifying."You build a story in-game, one that you build in each map," Gaskin said, before talking about TSM, the team that took first place in the overall tournament and was often the focus of the broadcast. "We certainly wanted to keep talking about TSM as the team to beat at this tournament, as they were the best coming in. They still are the best now that everyone from around the world met at this tournament."Another underdog situation, similar to what Dosen faced, played out when Thailand's Katanyu "DUCKMANZ" Chinsorranan faced off against three Brazilian players in the final circle during the second day of the PUBG Nations Cup. Everyone thought Chinsorranan would lose. No matter how skilled he was, the odds weren't in his favor.Yet the camera stayed with Chinsorranan as the final seconds ticked away. It felt like a millisecond-long pseudo-stalemate as Team Brazil slowly crept towards him. Instead of sticking with his team, Ricardo "Rdnx" Queiroz decided to get creative, hopping into a truck to rush Chinsorranan. It was a bold move, but Queiroz's gambit failed, and he was gunned down and perished outside the circle.Using that bit of momentum, Chinsorranan turned around and took out the two remaining Brazilians, winning the match for his fallen squad."We obviously thought that Brazil would win because it was three versus one," producing director Sun Kim, who helped lead the production at the PUBG Nations Cup, told me through a translator. "But the Thai player was performing incredibly well throughout the tournament, so we decided to focus on him."Kim and her crew stuck with Chinsorranan, while also giving various angles from free-floating cameras, as he consistently dominated other players, ultimately racking up 23 kills throughout three days of competition. They also opted to focus on him in case he won, giving the audience the best viewpoint for the comeback.There are a lot of moving pieces behind situations like this, as multiple members of the production crew have to be on the same page about what they plan to show spectators. You have the commentators who provide context for what's on-screen, the production crew who manages which shots go live when, and multiple observers that control free-floating cameras. Every crew is different, but most teams confer before and several times during tournaments to line up a game plan. They need to be in sync in order to give viewers a clear, unconfused look at a match--and they need to anticipate where to put the cameras to catch the best action."We use basic data to evaluate how players perform in previous matches and then use that to decide what we want to capture in the broadcast," Kim said. "We have conversations among our team and then the observers use that to help guide what they capture."That basic data boils down to kills and placements, the two most important elements in battle royale. It's what pushed the production teams to focus on Russia and South Korea, the two frontrunners in the entire PUBG tournament, during the final few matches of competition. No other team had the chance to win it all, so it only made sense to put the focus on them. It's also what put the spotlight on Apex Legends Team 789, an unsigned squad of Russians who came out of nowhere to dominate other Apex Legends teams in Poland. They climbed to the top of the rankings on the second day of competition and got more time on stream as a result.Those unique threads help broadcasters make battle royales compelling. A narrative approach to production helps teams decide who gets more screen time early on and who gets more focus in a gripping grand final showdown. Those storylines aren't always confined to what's happening within the game, either. Sometimes they're all about the people playing.It was one of the final matches of ESL Katowice Royale, a Fortnite tournament that took place less than an hour's drive from the Apex Legends Invitational, and duo partners Will "Zayt" Aubin and Rocco "Saf" Morales were on top of the world, and on top of the ranks. They had dominated in earlier matches, landing multiple wins that helped build a huge gap between them and the next runner up. The tournament was already won and it wasn't even over.Instead of playing out the final match with his head down, Aubin built a platform next to a tower the duo had built within the circle, with plenty of other players in range. He walked out on it and danced in front of everyone to flaunt his performance. "The audience knew they put themselves more than 100 points ahead [of the next team] in the last game...they ended up L dancing in the open on the highest spot of the map where everyone could see them," Fortnite commentator and analyst Arten "Ballatw" Esa told me. "That was a great story."The broadcast could have stayed on a different team who was caught in an active gunfight, since some were happening close to the winning duo, but it didn't. Most of the attention was on the two that would go on to win it all. The stream stuck with the two winners during the short dance as the moment transcended the game itself. It was all about the story.Stories are a driving force in more than just battle royales. They're the reason why the Dragon Ball Fighterz EVO matchups between Dominique "SonicFox" McLean and Goichi "GO1" Kishida, two incredibly talented competitors with a deep history of fights, are so intense. They're the explanation for why Overwatch League games between the Dallas Fuel and Houston Outlaws, both teams owned by organizations with a legacy of head-to-head face-offs, are more heated than other League matches. There is a history, a friendly rivalry even, that gets viewers invested."I would argue that stories drive every esport. That's what keeps you hooked. A crazy shot or fight is so much better with a developed story leading up to it. What went into that shot, why did it mean so much," Esa said. "The issue in battle royales that makes this difficult is that there are so many stories within one game. Even in trios, there are 33 storylines that all go their separate ways and converge unpredictably.""I would argue that stories drive every esport. That's what keeps you hooked."It's still early on in the life of battle royale tournament spectating, and spectating esports in general, so it's difficult to say how it'll evolve moving forward. Most casters and production crew members I spoke to believe that game-specific improvements, like the ability to expand and show a player's loadout in PUBG, will improve the viewing quality of each match. We'll have to wait and see which larger developments unfold across the genre.While spectating in the fighting game community and Overwatch may not be as complicated as battle royales (although it's still quite complicated), the same emphasis on telling stories exists in all esports. There will always be viewers who love watching the game itself play out, just like hardcore fans of the NFL or NBA, but the key to getting more people involved is to get them hooked."I just want to convey the amazing story, tension, and skill it takes to win these tournaments," Esa said. "I want to get people watching and invested in the entire server, not just the players they are interested in. We've got to make it exciting, we've got to get people invested, we've got to make fandom a real thing." Info from Gamespot.com

Rare, the esteemed British developer owned by Microsoft, has announced a brand-new IP. During Microsoft's X019 event in London, the studio announced a new game called Everwild.Details are hard to come by at this stage, but Microsoft says the team at Rare is making "something truly original and incredibly special." Rare's Louise O'Connor is the executive producer of the game.Everwild is still early in development, but Microsoft did share some intriguing initial details about the project. "The Everwild team is focused on building an experience that allows for new ways to play in a natural and magical world," reads a line from its announcement, and continued, "Everwild will give you memorable, engaging and meaningful experiences for players everywhere to share."That's all Microsoft had to say on the matter at this point. Everwild will presumably be coming to Xbox and PC platforms, and Game Pass subscribers should get it for no extra cost, as is the case with all first-party Xbox games.Everwild is at least the third ongoing project at Rare. The studio continues to support its pirate game Sea of Thieves, while it's also working with DLaLa Studios on the new Battletoads game.Rare also used its appearance at X019 to announce the next free update for Sea of Thieves. Called The Seabound Soul, the free update is scheduled to launch on November 20.It features a new story mission following Captain Pendragon and his journey to find out what happened to the mysterious Ashen Dragon ship while learning more about a "sinister new threat." The update also adds a new item, firebombs, which can be fired from cannons. There are also new cosmetic items to buy with microtransactions in the new update.Rare said it remains committed to supporting Sea of Thieves despite having Everwild and Battletoads also in development simultaneously. X019 News X019 Inside Xbox News: Halo Reach Coming To MCC, New Obsidian Game, And More Lots Of Final Fantasy Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass; Kingdom Hearts Heads To Xbox One Xbox Scarlett Won't Be "Out Of Position" On Power Or Price, Says Xbox Boss Rare Announces New IP, Everwild Halo: Reach Coming To Xbox Game Pass And PC Soon Yakuza Series Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Obsidian's Grounded Is Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Meets Rust Life Is Strange Dev Reveals New Game, Tell Me Why Outer Worlds Dev's Next Game Is As Far From Space As You Can Get DmC and Hellblade Dev's Next Game, Bleeding Edge, Release Date Leaked Info from Gamespot.com

During the Inside Xbox X019 livestream, the company announced a wide variety of games for Xbox One, including the acclaimed theme park game Planet Coaster. We've since learned that this version of the game, Planet Coaster: Console Edition, is also coming to PS4.Planet Coaster is a roller coaster management simulation and builder, where you construct your own amusement parks to satisfy the many denizens of the game's world. Microsoft announced that the game is headed to Xbox One in Summer 2020.The news at X019 was followed up soon after with word of Tell Me Why, the newest game from Dontnod Entertainment, the studio behind the Life is Strange series. The game is another narrative-focused experience that follows twins in a small Alaskan town. Similar to Planet Coaster, Tell Me Why is aiming for a Summer 2020 release on Xbox One.Another new announcement was The Artful Escape, a colorful platformer from prolific indie game publisher Annapurna Interactive. The game is expected to launch on Apple Arcade, PC, and Xbox One sometime in 2020.Microsoft confirmed that every game revealed launches day and date on Xbox Game Pass. The X019 livestream has wrapped up, and the company has divulged a bevy of information, including some release dates, new game announcements, closed and open beta opportunities, and more. X019 News X019 Inside Xbox News: Halo Reach Coming To MCC, New Obsidian Game, And More Lots Of Final Fantasy Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass; Kingdom Hearts Heads To Xbox One Xbox Scarlett Won't Be "Out Of Position" On Power Or Price, Says Xbox Boss Rare Announces New IP, Everwild Halo: Reach Coming To Xbox Game Pass And PC Soon Yakuza Series Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Obsidian's Grounded Is Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Meets Rust Life Is Strange Dev Reveals New Game, Tell Me Why Outer Worlds Dev's Next Game Is As Far From Space As You Can Get DmC and Hellblade Dev's Next Game, Bleeding Edge, Release Date Leaked Info from Gamespot.com

The next game from developer Raw Fury (known for the Kingdom series) was revealed during Microsoft's X019 event. It's called West Of Dead and it's playable now through an open beta on Xbox One. It also features the sultry tones of actor Ron Perlman who's the game's narrator and main character named William Mason.West Of Dead has a distinct painterly art style and it appears as an isometric action game that plays like a fast-paced twin-stick shooter. It's a procedurally generated game where you gun through enemies in a series of hunting grounds in which you have dodge attacks and use cover. The game takes place in Purgatory, Wyoming in the year 1888 and taps into some classic western themes. You can check out in-game screenshots below.The Microsoft store page describes Purgatory as, "A place of gun smoke and darkness, sin and damnation, wendigos and witches. A shifting, chaotic world that takes its form from the memories, culture or beliefs of the souls who pass through." It continues to outline the premise with, "When a dead man awakens with only the memory of a figure in black, he sets into motion a chain of events that have truly mythic consequences."You can check out more about West Of Dead on the Microsoft Store page. For more on the news coming out of X019, check out our stories below: X019 News X019 Inside Xbox News: Halo Reach Coming To MCC, New Obsidian Game, And More Lots Of Final Fantasy Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass; Kingdom Hearts Heads To Xbox One Xbox Scarlett Won't Be "Out Of Position" On Power Or Price, Says Xbox Boss Rare Announces New IP, Everwild Halo: Reach Coming To Xbox Game Pass And PC Soon Yakuza Series Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Obsidian's Grounded Is Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Meets Rust Life Is Strange Dev Reveals New Game, Tell Me Why Outer Worlds Dev's Next Game Is As Far From Space As You Can Get DmC and Hellblade Dev's Next Game, Bleeding Edge, Release Date Leaked Info from Gamespot.com

Life Is Strange studio Dontnod has announced its next game as part of Xbox's X019 event. Tell Me Why is another narrative-focused title from the French studio that claims to be the first-ever video game from a major studio featuring a playable character who is transgender.Tell Me Why takes place in small-town Alaska and follows the "true-to-life" story of twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan as they learn more about their difficult childhood."Over the course of the story, players will explore the identical twins' different memories of key events and choose which memory to believe," game director Florent Guillaume said. "Ultimately, the choices players make determine the strength of the twins' bond--and the future course of their lives." Tyler and Alyson are both playable and are "equal heroes" in the campaign."We are especially grateful to Microsoft for its full support, openness, and help regarding Tyler's identity and character, as a transgender man," Guillaume said.Dontnod said it worked alongside LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD to make Tyler an "authentic representation of the trans experience." Microsoft says Tyler is the "first playable videogame hero from a major studio and publisher who is also transgender."GLAAD's Nick Adams said in a statement that Microsoft and Dontnod worked hard to construct Tyler as a character "with a real commitment to authenticity.""Tyler is a fully-realized, endearing character, whose story is not reduced to simplistic trans tropes," Adams said. "Creating a playable lead trans character--and taking such care to get it right--raises the bar for future LGBTQ inclusion in gaming."Tell Me Why's story unfolds across three chapters that will be released on a "clear and predictable schedule," according to Microsoft. What this means in practice is that all three chapters will be released in one period of time--Summer 2020.The game will be on Xbox Game Pass, while people can also purchase it outright on Xbox One and PC (including Steam). There is no word on if the game is also coming to PlayStation. X019 News X019 Inside Xbox News: Halo Reach Coming To MCC, New Obsidian Game, And More Lots Of Final Fantasy Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass; Kingdom Hearts Heads To Xbox One Xbox Scarlett Won't Be "Out Of Position" On Power Or Price, Says Xbox Boss Rare Announces New IP, Everwild Halo: Reach Coming To Xbox Game Pass And PC Soon Yakuza Series Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Obsidian's Grounded Is Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Meets Rust Life Is Strange Dev Reveals New Game, Tell Me Why Outer Worlds Dev's Next Game Is As Far From Space As You Can Get DmC and Hellblade Dev's Next Game, Bleeding Edge, Release Date Leaked Info from Gamespot.com

During its Xbox fan event in London, X019, Microsoft shared more details on its game-streaming service, Project xCloud. One of the biggest new reveals is that Microsoft is adding numerous more games to the service along with support for new controllers, including Sony PlayStation's DualShock 4.xCloud already supports Xbox One controllers, but the company said it plans to expand to the DualShock 4 from Sony's PS4 and other game pads from peripheral company Razer. It's not exactly clear how DualShock 4 support would work given the button names are completely different.Microsoft also announced that, in 2020, it plans to add support for xCloud on Windows 10 PCs, as well as devices made by a "broad set of partners." Currently, xCloud only works on Android phones. Another big piece of news is that Microsoft is expanding the network of public testers to, so if you didn't receive an invite to the initial beta, check your email again now. The current xCloud public trial continues to be exclusive to the US, UK, and Korea, however.Another big piece of xCloud news is that game streaming is also coming to Xbox Game Pass, so subscribers can play games in that catalogue via the cloud on compatible devices.In 2020, the xCloud preview program will expand to Canada, Japan, India, and Western Europe, though there is no word on support for Australia or other major areas around the globe. Microsoft has said it wants xCloud to eventually reach 2 billion gamers across the world, and it appears it will take a while for that dream to become a reality.Microsoft also announced it's adding more than 50 additional games to the xCloud preview. These include Madden NFL 20, Tekken 7, Hitman, Just Cause 4, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, and Darksiders 3, among many others. X019 News X019 Inside Xbox News: Halo Reach Coming To MCC, New Obsidian Game, And More Lots Of Final Fantasy Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass; Kingdom Hearts Heads To Xbox One Xbox Scarlett Won't Be "Out Of Position" On Power Or Price, Says Xbox Boss Rare Announces New IP, Everwild Halo: Reach Coming To Xbox Game Pass And PC Soon Yakuza Series Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Obsidian's Grounded Is Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Meets Rust Life Is Strange Dev Reveals New Game, Tell Me Why Outer Worlds Dev's Next Game Is As Far From Space As You Can Get DmC and Hellblade Dev's Next Game, Bleeding Edge, Release Date Leaked Info from Gamespot.com

Many announcements have been made during X019, the big Microsoft event to celebrate and show the future of Xbox. And one of the most pleasant surprises was that the Xbox platform will be getting Yakuza games, marking the first time the traditionally Sony-exclusive franchise appears on a Microsoft console. Next year, through Game Pass, subscribers can play Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2. These are the first three entries in the series' in-game chronology.Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio started Yakuza back on the PS2 and have made seven mainline games and a number of spinoffs thus far. Last year, the franchise came to PC for the first time, and now its expanding further with Xbox One versions. For those unfamiliar, the Yakuza series blends open-world and 3D beat-em-up style gameplay, and strikes a balance between gripping melodrama and comedic absurdity that all comes together wonderfully.You follow the story of Kazuma Kiryu, a man with a heart of gold trying to navigate the Japanese underworld while doing right by those around him. Other great characters come into the mix, like Goro Majima, and add an extra dynamic to the fascinating drama of being in a Japanese gang. Mini-games and side-stories play a huge role in fleshing out Yakuza's depiction of certain cities in Japan.These three Yakuza games come to Xbox One in early 2020 through Game Pass, though you can play them on PS4 and PC now. The series is still going with brand-new entry launching in Japan early next year and sometime afterward in the West, and you can read our breakdown of Yakuza: Like A Dragon to catch up. For more on all the announcements coming out of Xbox's X019 event, be sure to check out all our coverage below: X019 News X019 Inside Xbox News: Halo Reach Coming To MCC, New Obsidian Game, And More Lots Of Final Fantasy Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass; Kingdom Hearts Heads To Xbox One Xbox Scarlett Won't Be "Out Of Position" On Power Or Price, Says Xbox Boss Rare Announces New IP, Everwild Halo: Reach Coming To Xbox Game Pass And PC Soon Yakuza Series Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Obsidian's Grounded Is Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Meets Rust Life Is Strange Dev Reveals New Game, Tell Me Why Outer Worlds Dev's Next Game Is As Far From Space As You Can Get DmC and Hellblade Dev's Next Game, Bleeding Edge, Release Date Leaked Info from Gamespot.com