After first testing the feature in its beta apps, Microsoft today rolled out party chat to its public Android and iOS Xbox mobile apps. The feature allows Xbox Live users to communicate with their gaming pals via both voice and text when they’re out of the house and away from the console. That heightens the community feel of party chat and brings it more in line with something like Discord, as Tom Warren pointed out when Microsoft first announced this was coming. It’s also an option if, for whatever reason, you just don’t feel like putting on a headset during multiplayer sessions. I can’t speak to what the sound quality would be like if you tried to communicate with your PUBG teammates from a phone sitting next to you on the couch. Probably not great! But it’s a thing you can do. The important thing is to use a mic in that game no matter what. Or at least mark where you’re going. Please, people. Teamwork. Can you tell I’m disappointed I … [Read more...] about Microsoft launches party chat for Xbox app on Android and iOS
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Sea of Thieves is huge, fun, and just what the Xbox One needs
I’ve spent hours pretending to be a pirate, eating bananas in a peculiar fashion, smiling until I cried, and getting drunk to the point of dizziness — all with the help of an Xbox controller. British video game developer Rare, creator of classics like Battletoads, GoldenEye 007, and Banjo-Kazooie, has moved in a new direction with the upcoming pirate game Sea of Thieves. The studio has been stuck making Kinect games for Microsoft’s discontinued Xbox accessory in recent years, and Sea of Thieves is an impressive return to form. It’s been teased for years, and it sets sail next month as Microsoft’s big new Xbox One and PC exclusive where console players can battle PC gamers for buried treasure. Sea of Thieves is a refreshingly ambitious game, aiming to tempt players into a big, open world multiplayer environment where you can get attacked by rival pirate ships, fired upon by skeletons from islands you’re passing by, or be snatched from your … [Read more...] about Sea of Thieves is huge, fun, and just what the Xbox One needs
The best Xbox One deals and bundles in February 2018
Xbox One deals and bundles are our kinda thing all year round, so you're in the best place to find a bargain. We regularly find those retailers that smash huge amounts off the console and bundle it in with the latest games.We're seeing bundles starting from as low as £200 and some super new games are getting involved too. So if you're after an Xbox One deal for the likes of Assassin's Creed: Origins, Shadow of War and more, then you're in luck.It looks like Microsoft is going all out to put pressure on its rivals as the Xbox One is now the cheapest of the current generation of gaming consoles on a regular basis. We're happy to let the discounts roll in too as nowadays we're used to seeing deals including a brand new Xbox One S with games for well under £220.Retailers are stocking some super cheap Xbox One deals as standalone purchases and value-packed bundles with extra games. Some bundles often cost less than the standalone consoles too, so be sure to check out our … [Read more...] about The best Xbox One deals and bundles in February 2018
‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ on Xbox is ecstasy, except when it’s agony
It’s finally time. After months and months of hearing about the magic of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Xbox One players can experience the phenomenon now that a beta version of the game has launched on the Xbox One Game Preview program, Microsoft’s answer to Steam Early Access. In case you aren’t among the 20 million players who’ve picked up the game since it launched on Steam Early Access in March, here’s the quick pitch. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is a highly competitive first- or third-person shooter that focuses exclusively on a single game mode, “Battle Royale.” Each PUBG match opens with 100 unarmed players jumping out of a plane onto a large, open map. Once they land, it’s up to them to find weapons and take everybody else out. The last person standing gets the win, or as the game likes to say, “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!” Let’s just get this out of the way. The Xbox One port of … [Read more...] about ‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ on Xbox is ecstasy, except when it’s agony
Xbox One and PlayStation 4: Beyond gaming (The Next Big Thing, Episode 4)
Now Playing: Watch this: Xbox One and PlayStation 4: Beyond gaming (The Next Big... 11:51 Awaiting you in this episode: Game consoles almost need to shed the word 'game.' Plasma televisions are our favorite. Too bad they appear to be dying.go snap one up!) 3D printing is in a hype cycle. E-mail me your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks for watching The Next Big Thing. … [Read more...] about Xbox One and PlayStation 4: Beyond gaming (The Next Big Thing, Episode 4)