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The phrase “rapturous applause” is often misused when describing audience reactions to E3 Announcements, but today at E3, one announcement by Microsoft got the crowd so hyped that even describing the applause as “rapturous” could be an understatement.
That’s because Microsoft just announced a new feature to the XBox One console that long-term XBox fans have been asking for from pretty much day one of the console’s release. That’s right folks – backwards compatibility is here!
Microsoft has revealed during Day 0 of E3 today that the XBox One is receiving software to allow as many XBox 360 games as possible to be played on the XBox One. Initially only 200 games will be immediately compatible with the new hardware, but the company intends to increase this number over time.
The compatible XBox 360 games will get their own listing in the XBox Live Store, where fans will be able to download the games to their XBox One whenever they like. However, if you own the CD for an XBox 360 title, you can simply insert the disk to the XBox One and you will be offered to download the title immediately to the One once the compatibility is available. What’s more, Microsoft have promised that you will not need to pay again for any of your existing XBox 360 titles to bring them to XBox One – meaning that you’ll potentially be able to bring over your whole library of Xbox 360 games to the One at no cost to you.
The games will play exactly like they did on the 360; and games that include online features will be playable with players still on their 360s using XBox Live. However, you’ll also get to use the XBox One’s native features with the game, such as being able to take in-action screenshots or side-load an app to show alongside the game. Take a look at the video below for the full low-down; meanwhile, we’ll leave the final words to Microsoft:
“If you’ve been holding off from upgrading from your XBox 360, now is definitely the time!”
As of this year, once beloved British developers Rare Ltd celebrate their 30th Anniversary. For the first 16 years of its life, Rare gained a cult following for its creation of several original franchises that each managed to captivate audiences with their quirky characters, fun gameplay and often cheeky sense of humour, whether it would be fun for all ages like Banjo-Kazooie; or for adults only like Conker’s Bad Fur Day. So popular was this company that they became Nintendo’s official second-party developer from 1994 right up until 2002, when they were bought by Microsoft. Since the buyout, the company moved from mainly developing for Nintendo consoles to developing solely for the XBox; and it’s been safe to say the results have been mostly lacklustre.
Today at E3, Microsoft announced a special love-letter project to Rare’s long-term fans to celebrate the developer’s 30th year – and give modern gamers the opportunity to experience the golden era of Rare’s creative nous. Coming this August exclusive to XBox One, Rare and Microsoft will be releasing ‘Rare Replay’, a unique collection of 30 of Rare’s classic titles ported to XBox One. Both of the titles mentioned earlier feature, along with other classic hits such as Battletoads, Jet Force Gemini, Perfect Dark; and even some of the XBox-era hits such as Viva Piñata and Grabbed by the Ghoulies.
As well as being able to play all these classic games in one collection on your XBox, the games will feature Acheivements to demonstrate your progress through each title, with Rare proudly boasting that it is possible to earn “up to 10,000 Gamerscore” from the entire collection. Watch the video below for the Announcement Trailer and to see more of the games on offer:
To emphasis the 30-year Anniversary aspect, Rare announced that the compendium will contain “30 games for $30 – that’s $1 a game!” Sure enough, the game’s retail price has been pitched at $29.99, which for us in the UK translates to £19.99 – which is a pretty sweet deal. Rare Replay is set for release on 4 August 2015/
MMOs are finding a home on console, and Neverwinter is seeing success over on the Xbox.
The MMO world is currently in a bit of a lull, but Neverwinter is reporting quite a bit of success following its launch on Xbox One.
According to the official site, over 1.6 million players have downloaded the game, creating some 2.3 million characters, and slaying over 1 billion enemies. They even put together an infographic to show it all off.
Parents have been told by headteachers that they will be reported to police and social services for neglect if they allow their children to play over 18 computer games, according to the Sunday Times.
The newspaper reported that a warning was issued by primary and secondary schools who found children had been watching or playing games like Call of Duty and Gears of War or Grand Theft Auto.
The group wrote to parents, saying sexual content and violence and sexual content in the games are inappropriate and could lead to “early sexualised behaviour” and leave children “vulnerable to grooming for sexual exploitation or extreme violence”.
It goes on to say:
If your child is allowed to have inappropriate access to any game, or associated product, that is designated 18+ we are advised to contact the police and children’s social care as this is deemed neglectful.”
– Letter to parents
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister said social workers, councillors and teachers could be jailed for up to five years if they failed to speak up when they suspected or received allegations that children were being ill-treated, abused or wilfully neglected.
“We are trying to help parents to keep their children as safe as possible in this digital era. It is so easy for children to end up in the wrong place and parents find it helpful to have some very clear guidelines.”
– Mary Hennessy Jones, the head who drafted the letter
Nantwich Education Partnership, made up of 16 schools in Cheshire, sent the letter. Safeguarding guidance from the local authority told schools that if the behaviour of a pupil, or concerns about them, arouse suspicion the school should consult the children’s service “if in any doubt”.
Parents’ groups have responded by saying reporting families for allowing children to play unsuitable computer games was a step too far.
