S.O.P.H.I.A.
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Persona 3 Reload is finally here, and fans of the series have welcomed it with open arms, happily becoming reacquainted with the high schoolers who get magical powers from a shot to the head. Speaking of which, Persona 3 Reload has shot to the head of Atlus's ranking of fastest-selling games. shipping over a million copies worldwide in its first week.
Persona 3 Reload sold 1,000,000 copies worldwide within its first week, becoming the fastest selling game in ATLUS history!
â Official ATLUS West (@Atlus_West) February 8, 2024
A huge thank you to our community for your incredible support! We look forward to breaking more records with you.
pic.twitter.com/C2abDAwCDsOriginally released on the PlayStation 2, Persona 3 was the first game in its series to define its modern formula, combining social responsibilities with dungeon crawling and a lengthy, emotional story. It's been re-released multiple times and even got ported to modern consoles last year, but even the upgraded versions don't hold a candle to the mind-bending masterpiece that is Persona 5 Royal. Persona 3 Reload closes that gap, introducing overhauled visuals and mechanics to bring the game that started it all up to the level of quality fans of the series have come to expect. If the sales numbers and our glowing review are any indication, the upgrade has been well worth the wait.
To put these numbers in context, here are some other games that have recently reached significant milestones: Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth shipped 1 million copies as of Feb 1, Nintendo's quarterly report revealed Tears of the Kingdom has sold 20 million copies, and viral hit Palworld continues to smash record after record.
Have you checked out Persona 3 Reload yet? Let us know in the comments!
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Plenty to play and explore this weekend with Free Play Days! NBA 2K24 and Two Point Campus are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday February 8 at 12:01 am PDT until Sunday, February 11 at 11:59 pm PDT. Additionally,âŻCall of Duty Modern Warfare III (Multiplayer/Zombies Only) is free for all Xbox members Thursday February 8 at 10 am PDT until Sunday, February 11 at 10 am PDT.Â
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page onâŻXbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
Call of DutyÂź: Modern WarfareÂź III â Cross-Gen Bundle
Activision Publishing Inc.
$69.99 $48.99Call of Duty Modern Warfare III (Multiplayer/Zombies Only)Â
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Jump into Multiplayer of Call of DutyÂź: Modern WarfareÂź III and enjoy the brand-new 6v6 map Stash House and the brand-new mode Team Gun Game. This free access offering features nine 6v6 maps including fan favorites like Rust, Shipment, Terminal, and Highrise â playable across five thrilling modes. Plus, the offering includes the riveting Modern WarfareÂź Zombies. So no matter your preferred playstyle, there are many ways to survive and dominate in Season 2.Â
NBA 2K24 for Xbox Series X|S
2K
$69.99 $20.99Free TrialNBA 2K24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Hit the court with NBA 2K24 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One to experience a collection of competitive game modes and immerse yourself in a sports simulation unlike any other. The latest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise welcomes groundbreaking ProPLAY technology on Xbox Series X|S, delivering a generational leap in animations, movements, and authenticity. This new technology directly translates NBA footage into NBA 2K24 gameplay, making every step of your MyCAREER journey feel more realistic than ever before. Delve into endless lineup combinations in MyTEAM and assemble your dream team or put on your General Manager cap and build a dynasty in MyNBA Eras. NBA 2K24 boasts a variety of exciting game modes, which you can enjoy during Xbox Free Play Days. Â
Two Point Campus
SEGA Europe Ltd
$29.99 $10.49Two Point Campus
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Two Point Campus is a single player business management sim where you can build the University of your dreams and manage the unrulyâŻenthusiastic students, guiding them through their courses, life choices and love. All while trying to keep the staff sane and the Campus clean⊠Good luck. Enjoy our Valentine themed UI and in-game items during this season of love.Â
Donât miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members!âŻLearn more about Free Play Days hereâŻand stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
The post Free Play Days â Call of Duty Modern Warfare III (Multiplayer/Zombies Only), NBA 2K24, and Two Point Campus appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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Sailing the high seas in Skull and Bones is something that's simply more enjoyable with a group of friends via traditional online multiplayer and cross-play. Skull and Bones features both solo and multiplayer elements, but Ubisoft has stressed the new pirate title is designed to be a multiplayer-first game. While you're free to participate in multiplayer with players on your own server, you can also invite friends to your lobby, regardless of what system they're using.
Skull and Bones features full cross-play functionality in addition to cross-saves, so you can access your saves on any system you own the game on. The way cross-play and multiplayer work in Skull and Bones is slightly confusing, though, so check out the guide below for a full rundown of the features.
How crossplay works in Skull and Bones
For starters, you need to enable crossplay in Skull and Bones to take advantage of it. This is done by following the steps below:
- Open Skull and Bones and navigate to Settings
- Go to the Accessibility tab within Settings
- Scroll down until you see the Cross-play section
- Set Cross-play to "On" by checking the box and then leave the Settings
The crossplay setting in Skull and Bones Once you have crossplay enabled, you can start inviting friends on any platform to your lobby. The server you play on will also be full of players on different platforms.
How to add and invite friends in Skull and Bones
With cross-play enabled, you now can invite any player to join you on the open seas. However, getting them into your lobby can be a slight challenge, as there are multiple ways to go about doing so.
First, you can simply go to the "Social" tab in-game (Y on PC/Xbox, Triangle on PS5) and start inviting players you already have added on your friends list. This will mostly consist of players on the same platform as you. In the Social tab, you can also go to the "World" tab to see all of the players you've recently met on a server. Here, you can select the name of a player you want to add, and, once they accept your request, you can invite them to your game. You can also see all of your pending requests in the "Requests" tab of the Social menu.
The social settings in Skull and Bones If you want to add a player not on the same platform as you, you'll have to add them via their Ubisoft account. Obviously, you'll also need to have a Ubisoft account to add and accept friend requests. There's currently no way for you to search for a player's username in Skull and Bones itself, so searching through Ubisoft Connect (either the app or website) is currently the only way to add players who aren't already on your friends list or on your server. So, if you want to add a friend who's on PS5 while you're on PC, you both have to make an Ubisoft account, add each other through there, and then invite them to your lobby once they're on your friends list.
However, if you want the option for anyone to join your lobby at any time, you can change your Privacy Options in the Social menu. In the "Group and Friends" tab, you can set your privacy to "Open," "Friends Only," or "Invite Only." If you want any player from your server to join your game, have this on Open. But leaving it on the other two options ensures only friends can join your lobby.
Speaking of which, Skull and Bones currently only allows lobbies of up to three to form. This means you and two other players can be in your party at the same time. As for the servers themselves, 20 players are allowed on a single server at once.
Once you have your lobby, you can enter Skull and Bones and your entire party will be able to sail the seas together. You're able to split up and do individual tasks or take on the game together.
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Apex Legends Season 20: Breakout launches next week, and today, Respawn gave players a taste of what the future holds via a new gameplay trailer that shows off Apex's surprising new shield system.
Although it will bring 100 new Legend-exclusive perks to the game, Apex's new Legend Upgrades system will also see EVO Shields entirely removed from the loot pool. As of Season 20, EVO Shields will be replaced with Shield Cores, which only spawn in deathboxes, and may only provide players with temporary protection.
Previously, EVO Shields spawned on the floor and in Supply Bins, and getting your hands on high-tier body protection was somewhat random. With the launch of Breakout, body shields will be tied to each player's "Legend Level," which increases as they do damage and perform certain class-exclusive actions, like scanning Survey Beacons and ring Consoles.
When a player's shield levels up from white to blue, they'll be faced with a choice between two buffs that are unique to the Legend they're playing and last until the end of the match. A choice between two more unique perks is presented when a Legend's shield levels up from blue to purple, giving players a bit more flexibility when it comes to customizing their gameplay experience. The trailer featured a clip of Lifeline choosing a perk that allows her to revive herself after being downed.
The trailer also confirmed that another long-awaited feature will be hitting the game when Breakout goes live: a 120 FPS performance mode for console players.
Apex Legends Season 20: Breakout launches Tuesday, February 13. For more information on the new season, take a look at our behind-the-scenes chat with Apex Legends lead writer Ashley Reed.
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After nearly a decade, the sequel to Helldivers is officially here. Helldivers 2 is quite different from its predecessor, however, as it's no longer a top-down shooter. Instead, it pulls you in close to the action with a third-person perspective. It's still fast-paced and requires careful planning to succeed, and it definitely looks like an interesting. Best of all, the game is already on sale for PC, with Fanatical offering Helldivers 2 for just $33.19 (down from $40) when using promo code FANATICAL17 at checkout.
Snagging the game for this low price is simple. On the Helldivers 2 Fanatical page, you'll see a button that automatically applies the code to your cart. After clicking the button, add Helldivers 2 to your cart, and you'll see the discount right away. Alternatively, you can manually input the code at checkout. Since you're spending over $12 during the Lunar New Year Sale, you'll get a freebie with your purchase: either a bonus game or a coupon to save some cash on your next Fanatical purchase.
The same deal is available at Green Man Gaming, but you'll instead use promo code FEB17. The deal also applies to GMG XP members. You won't get a bonus freebie at GMG, though.
Want a few extra digital goodies with your purchase? Then check out the Super Citizen edition, which is just $49.79 (down from $60) when using the above promo codes. Here's what the bundle includes:
- âDP-53 Savior of the Freeâ Armor Set.
- âWill of the Peopleâ Cape.
- âMP-98 Knightâ Weapon.
- Super Citizen Status.
- Stratagem Hero Ship Game.
- âSteeled Veteransâ Premium Warbond
Helldivers 2 thrusts you into squads of four as you attempt to capture enemy planets and bring freedom back to the galaxy. Along with an arsenal of guns, you'll be able to call in airdrops such as resupply stations to help hold the line against hordes of enemies.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.
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Funimation and Crunchyroll, two competing anime streaming services, merged in 2021 and announced in 2022 that all of the content would eventually combine under the Crunchyroll banner. That event officially has a date and it's April 2.
For Funimation subscribers, you will have to go through the process of merging your account before the April 2 date and, frustratingly, any shows that were outright purchased through Funimation, will not transfer to Crunchyroll. Just another reminder that when you purchase digital content, true ownership does not technically exist and you will always be at the mercy of the platform holders when it comes to access.
Crunchyroll subscribers do not need to make any changes, but the price of the subscription will be raising to $100 a year soon. The merger officially going through does mean Crunchyroll will feature more content, but a price increase will always be frustrating.
Alongside this merger finally completing, Crunchyroll is also entering the video game space as a publisher. It remains to be seen what kind of video tames the anime company will help produce, but you can check out this package it sent over on Game Informer's TikTok account.
As a subscriber to both services who somehow has managed to continue to have a need for both (Outlaw Star is curiously currently only available on Funimation) the merger is bittersweet. I embrace the simplicity of one anime streaming service, but don't look forward to paying more, and will forever be wary of mergers being a good thing.
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Turn 10 Studios has released an initial outline of the changes it's making to car progression in Forza Motorsport.
The progression system has been heavily criticised by players since Forza Motorsport released in October 2023, and has been a frequent topic of discussion on the Forza Forums suggestions board.
The new changes are "thanks to your feedback", Turn 10 said in its Forza Motorsport car progression update announcement.
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The Knuckles TV show from Paramount finally has a full trailer and release date.
The six-episode series will debut in one swing on Paramount Plus on 26th April for the US, with additional territories following the next day. Idris Elba returns in the title role after his turn in the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 film.
You can check out the trailer below, including the reveal of a new villain played by Game of Thrones actor Rory McCann.
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The Sonic the Hedgehog Movie spinoff series, Knuckles, is premiering April 26, and ahead of its streaming debut, Paramount has released a trailer. The series officially takes place between the second and third movie and will apparently follow Knuckles (Idris Elba) has he helps Wade (Adam Pally), Tom Wachowski's (James Marsden) bumbling police partner, become a true warrior. The trailer also reveals the antagonist will be played by Rory McCann, who is best known for playing Sandor 'The Hound' Clegane in Game of Thrones, and features a two-thirds Human Giant reunion cameo with Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer. Curiously, they're sitting at an ESPN8 The Ocho desk, a gag born from the 2004 film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story that eventually became a real thing.
Other interesting details from the trailer? Jim Carrey does not appear, nor does James Marsden, but both Sonic and Tails appear and are played by film voice actors, Ben Schwarz and Colleen O'Shaughnessey.
The series, simply titled Knuckles, will be six episodes and begins streaming on April 26 on Paramount+. For more on the Sonic the Hedgehog Movie universe, you can read our review of the second film here.
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A re-release of the 90s point-and-click Discworld game "may happen", designer Gregg Barnett has teased. However, the developer said because of the way intellectual property rights work in the UK, 50 percent of the game currently belongs to the crown, which complicates matters a tad.
Discworld was originally released in 1995, having been created with input from Discworld novels author Terry Pratchett. On its launch, the game was well-received, with many complimenting its humour. It became a classic of its time, and a source of many fond memories. I can still recall the voice of Eric Idle's Rincewind perfectly.
A sequel then followed in the form of Discworld 2: Missing Presumed...!? in 1996, before Discworld Noir arrived in 1999.
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Artisan Studios has announced a new hand-painted RPG, with visuals and music from Final Fantasy veterans.
Lost Hellden is a new Japanese RPG that appears to be taking quite a traditional approach.
Hitoshi Sakimoto (who composed the scores for Final Fantasy 12, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Tactics Ogre among others) is providing music and audio direction, while Takeshi Oga (Gravity Rush, Siren, Final Fantasy 11 and 14) is providing illustrations.
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Donald Glover is working on a Star Wars movie focused on Lando Calrissian. He said in a recent interview that he agreed to the project in part because of the level of control he has been given. He said this level of control allows him to have a "singular" vision for the project.
"I feel like I have enough control. And maybe you get painted as a control freak, but it's like, yeah, control allows for the vision to be singular," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "And if the vision is singular, people want it more. The less it's singular, the less people want it because they feel like they could've made it. Look, we live in a time where anybody can f**king make anything. You go on TikTok, there's literally every type of thing. There's documentaries, there's puppetry, there's yarn stop-motion. So why would you want to see something you feel like you could have made?"
Another reason Glover signed on for the Lando project is because his children love Star Wars and he himself enjoys the characters in Star Wars, he said.
The Lando movie began as a TV series and has now morphed into a movie. Glover is writing the movie with his brother, Stephen Glover. Donald Glover first played Lando in the 2018 movie Solo, and now he's coming back to play the smuggler once again in the upcoming film.
The last we heard, the project was on hold due to the Hollywood strikes, but now that the writer and actor strikes are over, the film may be able to move ahead. No one should expect it to be released anytime soon, however. The next Star Wars movie release is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters in 2026.
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FromSoftware owner Kadokawa Corporation has acquired Octopath Traveler developer Acquire for an undisclosed sum.
The studio, founded in 1994, has previously worked with Kadokawa subsidiaries on Tenchu (FromSoftware) and Way of the Samurai (Spike Chunsoft), with the Octopath Traveler games published by Square Enix.
"To strengthen the ability to create IP in games as part of our game business strategy, we have made Acquire Corp. into a wholly owned subsidiary," reads a statement from Kadokawa in its latest earnings report.
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Halo The Series has always been about offering a different perspective. Where the games have always put us inside a helmet, the Paramount+ show pulls back and offers unfamiliar points of view on a story so well-known by millions of fans.
In Season 2 â which sees its first two episodes released on Paramount+ today â thatâs never been truer. We know from the trailers that this season will tackle a war with the Covenant that edges ever-closer to human home soil and, crucially, will cover the events of the iconic, epochal Fall of Reach. But weâll be seeing that from perspectives weâve never had before and â as we saw in Season 1 â even seeing changes to the game seriesâ storyline, upping the surprise factor.
We caught up with Xbox Head of IP Expansion and Entertainment (and all-round Halo legend) Kiki Wolfkill to discuss how the showâs creators have gone about putting a new spin on such legendary events, and even shifted the tone of the show from Season 1.
âWith Season 2, we edge up against events that we start to see in the games,â Wolfkill explains. âObviously the events on Reach, which people have seen in trailers, [are] a huge historical milestone in Halo history and chronology, and are also critical [to] the story â because what it does is it marks when the Covenant have really come close to home. Reach is our last stand before they find Earth.
âWe really tried to honour that event for what it means for the stakes. But also, what we get to do is see it from a different perspective â we get to see it on the ground. We get to see it from the soldiersâ perspective, outside of Noble team, which is where Halo: Reach focuses. And so you get a very different story that comes out of that by virtue of seeing what it means for a Marine to go through that â what it means for a city to fall and how terrifying that is.â
But Reach is only a part of this story, and learning how we reach that moment will be a major part of Season 2. âWeâre about six months or so after the events of Season 1,â Wolfkill explains, âand the environment feels really different. The UNSC has had a lot of changes, the Covenant are edging ever closer. So I would say the big thing with Season 2, where we start off from, is that humanityâs absolutely on its back foot. We saw in Season 1 [that] the Covenant [were] out in the Outer Colonies â theyâve really come close to home in Season 2⊠So we find our Spartans kind of in a different place while the threat gets ever bigger. The stakes feel higher, but a lot in the universe has shifted in that six months.â
That comes with a shift to the overall tone of the show, too. Wolfkill says Season 2 reflects its more desperate stakes with a shift in how it feels â helped by new showrunner David Wiener (âFear the Walking Deadâ). âItâs much more grounded, itâs much grittier,â says Wolfkill. â[It kind of goes] back to those Halo 3: ODST TV ad roots, you know? The stakes are high, and this is a war story. We wanted really for the audience to feel the threat, and not just see it.â
Cristina Rodlo as Corporal Perez. âWe really wanted this to be a visceral experience,â she continues. âWe wanted it to feel scary, we wanted it to feel intense, and I wanted it to feel emotional with what happens with some of our characters. At the same time, Iâm super proud of our action. What I love is that intertwining of really interesting character drama, and also just high action and stakes. We spent a lot of time actually refactoring some of our action sequences in order to get that more visceral feel â and I think thatâs something people will be able to see right away.â
Of course, seeing familiar characters in new contexts will remain a major part of Season 2 â Master Chief, Silver Team, and more will return, and Wolfkill says that Chiefâs journey to discovering what his role is for humanity will be the key to his storyline here. But Halo The Series is introducing new perspectives along the way.
Joseph Morgan as James Ackerson. âWe have some great new characters,â Wolfkill enthuses. âWe have Colonel James Ackerson â who is from [the original seriesâ] canon â played by Joseph Morgan, whoâs extraordinary. Whatâs exciting about bringing Ackerson in is itâs a character we get to see in books and in comics, and has always been sort of a shadowy foil for [Cortana creator Catherine] Halsey⊠It lets us sort of dig into that in a way that we donât actually experience in the games.
âAnd then we also introduce a character named Corporal Perez, played by Cristina Rodlo â who we see early in Episode One is a Marine â getting back to that Marine perspective and, again, how terrifying it is to see an Elite or Sangheili for the first time and encounter them in battle. Thereâs, thereâs sort of a horror aspect to that.â
It all adds up to make Season 2 of Halo The Series a very exciting prospect â a storyline that helps push forward an intriguing tale for those already invested in the show, and a new reflection of events from the games already firmly in the hearts of millions of Halo fans. You can start that journey right now by streaming the first two episodes of Season 2 on Paramount+ today, with new episodes coming weekly.
To celebrate the release of Halo The Series Season 2, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can now claim a 30-day trial to Paramount+.
This interview has been edited for context and clarity. It was conducted by Malik Prince.
The post Halo The Series Season 2 Interview: âThe Stakes are High â This Is a War Storyâ appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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Persona 3 Reload has reached 1m sales globally less than a week after it released.
This makes it the fastest-selling game not only in the Persona series, but also in the history of developer Atlus.
For comparison, Persona 5 Royal's multi-platform release took two months to reach 1.3m units sold.
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Activision execs offered Infinity Ward staff a 50 percent pay increase and told staff to "take the money and get over it" after the publisher dramatically fired the developer's founders Jason West and Vince Zampella in 2010.
That's according to a fresh account with further details on the fallout from Activision's now-legendary ousting of West and Zampella, as published on LinkedIn by lead designer Paul Sandler (spotted by PC Gamer).
Sandler writes that he was told about the loss of West and Zampella by a fellow employee who rode a scooter around the Infinity Ward office, sharing the news. "I just sat there in stunned silence with my eyes wide open," Sandler wrote. "I stood up from my chair and said: 'What the fuck? ...Why?'"
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Elias Toufexis has said goodbye to his Deus Ex character, Adam Jensen, now that the franchise's in-development next entry has been canned.
Writing on the Deus Ex reddit, Toufexis - who also plays Sam Coe in Starfield - said he wanted to share his gratitude with the series' community. "I wanted to come on here and say thank you for this page, your wonderful messages over the years, and your continued, unbelievably strong support," the actor said.
"As for Jensen, we say goodbye, but hopefully not farewell. Maybe someone else will buy the licence. Maybe we'll make an animated series or finish the game. Elon Musk is a big fan, I think he has some money. Someone ask him!"
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Cambridge-based RuneScape developer Jagex could soon be snapped up in a ÂŁ900m deal.
CVC Capital Partners, the private equity backer with a broad sports portfolio, is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Jagex from current owner Carlyle Group, reports Sky News.
Sources suggest a formal agreement to purchase a controlling stake in Jagex could be finalised within days.
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Activision Blizzard's Crash Bandicoot and Spyro studio Toys for Bob lose 86 employees as a result of layoffs.
These people are part of the wider round of layoffs Microsoft is undertaking, which will see 1900 employees across Xbox and Activision Blizzard lose their jobs.
The layoffs at Toys for Bob are much higher than previously estimated - a report from two weeks ago claimed between 30 to 40 percent of jobs would be affected, which was estimated to be around 35 people.
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The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has said the recent spate of layoffs at Microsoft "contradict" what was presented in the antitrust trial over the company's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
In a letter submitted to a US Federal Appeals Court yesterday - first spotted by The Verge - the FTC argued the company's layoff plan differs from how Microsoft represented itself in court proceedings ahead of the merger's closure last year.
"Microsoft represented to this Court that 'the post-merger company will be structured and operated in a way that would readily enable Microsoft to divest any or all of the Activision businesses as robust market participants in the unlikely event that such a divestiture is ordered'," FTC counsel Imad D. Abyad wrote.
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Take-Two Interactive and 2K Games have said that virtual currencies within games are "fictions created by game publishers" during a lawsuit which alleges that money is effectively stolen from players when games are shut down.
The lawsuit, originally filed in November by a Californian minor and his mother, alleges that Take-Two is guilty of civil theft and unfair business practicies for closing down servers for various NBA 2K, WWE 2K and PGA Tour 2K titles, causing players to lose access to any remaining in-game funds they have paid for.
"VC [virtual currency] is not plaintiff's property," a Take-Two lawyer stated this week, as reported by Game File. "Instead, in-game VC are fictions created by game publishers, subject to the publishersâ terms of service and user agreements."
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Today in legally-distinct depictions of pop culture figures, indie shooter RoboSquad Revolution has introduced a new character called Saylor Twist to its game, who may or may not resemble a certain incredibly popular Grammy-winning, world-touring American pop star.
Miss Twist joins the cast of RoboSquad wearing her partner Trevon Celcius's number 87 jersey, along with a white beanie, and various robot parts to match the game's themeing. RoboSquad developer Zorans Resistance hasn't said whether Celcius might be added at some point to join Twist in game.
RoboSquad Revolution is a free-to-play arena shooter that launched last year into early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store. Players take on the role of a robot revolutionary, fighting against the human-led Zoran Task Force.
As well as customizing a robot avatar, which come in a variety of classes, players can also make use of humanoid-looking holograms, which project around the robot body to provide different abilities and aesthetics.
RoboSquad already has a healthy number of parody celebrities that can be employed as holograms, from the classic Pelvis Wrexley to modern tech figures like Elias Tusk and Clark Suckerberg--the latter even has the option appear as a creepy lizard person.
RoboSquad isn't the first game to include a character inspired by Taylor Swift--long-running MMO EverQuest introduced an NPC quest-giver called Sailor Twift for its 22nd anniversary, with other Swiftie-related easter eggs appearing through the quest.
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Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Beta ring today.
Itâs important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so youâre aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
System Update Details
- OS Version: XB_FLT_2402ZN\25398.3487.240206-2000
- Available: 5 p.m. PT â February 7, 2024
- Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT â February 8, 2024
Fixes Included
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
Apps
- Fixes to address an issue where Microsoft Edge would close unexpectedly.
Games
- Fixes to address unexpected graphical issues with some titles.
- Fixed an issue where changing the language in a game would not always download the new language as expected.
System
- Various stability and performance fixes.
Known Issues
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
- We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If youâre unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the âReproduce with advanced diagnosticsâ option, then select the category âConsole experiencesâ and âConsole Audio Output Issuesâ. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
- When did the issue start?
- Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
- Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
- Does rebooting resolve the issue?
- What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
- And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the âReproduce with advanced diagnosticsâ option, then select the category âConsole experiencesâ and âConsole Audio Output Issuesâ. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
Game Card
- Some users are reporting an unexpected black screen when opening the game card or selecting âShow in Microsoft Storeâ after it has opened, and we are investigating.
Networking
- We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as youâre able.
- Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasnât connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide. Learn more here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data weâll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If youâre an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, donât forget to use âReport a Problemâ before posting â the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if youâre just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
The post Xbox Insider Release Notes â Beta (2402.240206-2000) appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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Get To Know Our Team
Tim
Operations Manager (Game/App Flighting)Hi, everyone! Wynn here. Back again with another Xbox Insider Team interview. Today weâre sitting down with Timâan Operations Manager, man of few words, and⊠wait, are you a cat?
You said we could choose whatever we want for our pictures! So, Iâm my cat.
Not exactly what I was going for, but technically correct.
Thatâs the best kind.
You know youâve started something here, right?
Mission Accomplished.
Okay, then I have one more question before we hop in.
Hmm?
Pspspspspspspspspsps?
Iâm not responding to that.
Excellent! Just like my cat.
Iâm fully committed to this bit.
Well, letâs tell the Community about Tim, the human. How long have you been with Microsoft and the Xbox Insider Team?
Sure! I started back in 2010 as a Tester for Xbox Cert. I did that for a few years, before moving to Japan with my wife for a couple years to teach English as a second language.
I thought about embarrassing myself and hitting you with my, âI spent too much time on IRC in collegeâ level Japanese, but Iâll just say I think thatâs really sick instead.
Haha. It was a really rewarding experience and we still go back and visit as often as we can. We moved back to the States in⊠probably mid-2014, and I was able to land back with Xbox on the ID Team. I worked as a Release Manager for them until 2021 when I transitioned to this team.
Thatâs quite the journey. Iâm always surprised by how many people we have here that have such a deep history on Xbox.
Yeah, our team is pretty stacked.
Youâre right about that.
Speaking of: anything youâre working on right now for the 10th Anniversary you can tell us about?
Hmm. I feel like youâre doing most of the big stuff. Iâm mostly focused on keeping our game and app flighting on track every day.
Oh, stop. Youâre making me blush. But we do have a few upcoming flights that I think people are going to enjoy.
Absolutely! Thereâs a couple I know youâre like very amped about.
What can I say? Iâm always first onboard the hype train. Okay, shifting gears. Letâs get to know a little more about your interests. What game has impacted your life the most?
Itâs maybe an over-used answer, but Final Fantasy VI really just blew me away the first time I played it. It was my first RPG I played as a kid, and it solidified a love for the genre that Iâve had ever since.
That opening crawl is seared into my mind. When they dropped the 35th Anniversary shirts I knew VI was an instant purchase.
Itâs an iconic moment in gaming for sure.
What kind of music are you into? Any albums you keep on repeat?
I should go get my wife for this one. Sheâs way more into music than I am. I generally listen to a lot of different video game OSTs.
OSTs are definitely music! I have dozens in my collection. Whatâs your favorite?
Chrono Cross is the GOAT for me.
Dude, yes! Yasunori Mitsuda is tied for my favorite composer along with Motoi Sakuraba. Scars of Time is one of the most moving pieces ever put in a game.
I love all of Mitsudaâs work. He contributed a few tracks to another OST Iâve been enjoying recently, Sea of Stars.
Oh, I adore Sea of Stars. Thereâs a bunch of heaters on that OST. The main composer, Eric Brown, is also the drummer in a few metal bands I listen to. Okay, I could talk music literally all day. Do you have any favorite binge shows?
I donât watch much TV. I tend to lean more toward anime.
A man of culture. Whatâre some of your favorite series?
I really like comedy or âslice-of-lifeâ stuff. So, Ranma Âœ, K-On, KonoSuba, etc. I also watch the heavy-hitters too like SAO or One-Punch Man.
Whatâs your most âuniqueâ pick?
Thereâs one I really enjoyed called Kono Oto Tomare!, which is about a group of high-school students learning to play the koto.
I wish everyone could hear how perfectly youâre pronouncing these words. But you heard it here folks. Everyone go to MAL and add Kono Oto Tomare! to your watch list.
Moving on. Do you have any hobbies or interests outside the realm of popular media?
Iâm really into Go.
Oh, no. I have to askâ
Yes, itâs because I read Hikaru no Go.
Haha. Thatâs so perfect. That manga rips though. Itâs so good.
I havenât played as much as I would like recently, but Iâve been really fascinated with how after AlphaGo beat Sedol back in 2017, how much differently people have been approaching the game and how moves that used to be considered âtraditionalâ are changing.
Oh, youâre like deep into this. I was gonna say we should play, but Iâm not looking to get ruined.
It wouldnât be that bad. Youâd probably score a couple stones.
Haha. Okay, Iâll wrap this one up before I keep getting dunked on by a cat. Any final words youâd like to share with the Community?
Just that Iâm genuinely excited that I get to work in an industry that I care about so much, and that, as a gamer myself, itâs awesome to bring cool games to our Xbox Insiders.
Well, thank you so much for your time, Tim! Itâs been a pleasure.
Xbox Insiders, be sure to be on the lookout for more content all throughout February including more interviews from the team, a trip down memory lane, and so much more. All of our 10th Anniversary content can be found on our Hub Page (Coming Soon).
Until next time! Wy\nn/
The post Get To Know Our Team: Tim â Operations Manager (Game/App Flighting) appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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Persona 3 Reload Is Atlus's Fastest-Selling Game
in Gaming News & Releases Feeds
Posted
Atlus has revealed that Persona 3 Reload is its fastest-selling game to hit one million units. The game launched on February 2 and has already hit a big milestone within its first week on the market.
Over in Japan, Persona 3 Reload took the top spot in terms of its release week, selling 116,392 physical copies across PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The Persona series has been becoming increasingly popular over the years due to the success of Persona 5, as well as its gradual shift to other platforms like PC and Xbox. The series has reached 17.7 lifetimes sales.
This is another big success for Atlus's parent company, Sega, as it also released Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth a week prior to Persona 3 Reload and it reached one million units sold as well.
Atlus's upcoming projects for 2024 include publishing Vanillaware's Unicorn Overlord, which is releasing in March. Its new IP, Metaphor: ReFantazio, is finally set to launch in Fall 2024 after initially being revealed back in 2017.
Persona 3 Reload is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. It's also available through Xbox Game Pass. In GameSpot's Persona 3 Reload review, we said, "Persona 3 Reload succeeds in elevating an unforgettable story with smart combat changes and drastically improved visuals."
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