Welcome to our weekly ICYMI for Xbox news!
We're also giving away a copy of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege to one lucky commenter! Simply join the discussion for a chance to win.
We'll still be posting major Xbox announcements in the main feed. However, I'll be collecting some of the more nuanced news, rumors and talking points into one handy post every weekend. You can also rely on this weekly column to keep up to date with all the latest game releases too.
So without further ado, here's the latest edition of This Week in Xbox One News.
Final Fantasy VII Remake likely headed to Xbox One and PC, gameplay revealed
The legendary Final Fantasy VII is being remade, only launching first on PS4, according to this gameplay reveal trailer. As previously teased, Square Enix has ditched Final Fantasy VII's classic turn-based RPG combat for something a little more action-oriented. Purists may complain, but the game's producer Yoshinori Kitase promised that FFVII won't be entirely action-based (via GamingBolt):
..."The hardware itself has evolved since the release of Final Fantasy VII, and the games are more real, and real-time based. The previous Final Fantasy VII was a command-based RPG that utilized active-time-battle. Real-time and GMC are the trends these days. [...] I can't say the new game is completely action-based, but it has more of that element and real-time than the previous game."......"However, what makes Final Fantasy and RPG different from other games is that the players have the ability to choose weapons, capabilities and magic to be strategic minded, so while the new game has more real-time element, it will also maintain that strategy building element, balancing these two factors perfectly to enhance the gaming experience."...
The trailer ends with "Play it first on Playstation 4", implying that Sony has only purchased timed exclusivity, similar to Rise of the Tomb Raider on Xbox One. Indeed, some retail outlets around the world have begun taking pre-orders for the Xbox One version of Final Fantasy VII's remake, but remain skeptical until we receive that all-important confirmation.
What do you think of Final Fantasy VII's action-oriented combat? Hit the comments.
EA defends Star Wars Battlefront's single-player offering, acknowledges criticisms over depth
I'm in the process of reviewing Star Wars Battlefront for Xbox One and unlike some who have accused the game of being too much like Battlefield, I find myself in the opposite camp, wishing Battlefront had a little more of Battlefield's depth.
As I speculated in my preview, DICE and EA intended to make the game as accessible as possible due to the broad appeal of the Star Wars license. EA's CFO Blake Jorgensen seemed to confirm my suspicions in comments at a NASDAQ conference earlier in the week:
..."Star Wars Battlefront is a first-person shooter, but it is [one of] the only teen-rated first-person shooters. We had designed it to be a much more accessible product to a wide age group. So, an eight-year-old could play with his father on the couch, as well as a teenager or 20-year-old could play the game and enjoy it. It is more accessible. And for the hardcore, it may not have the depth that they wanted in the game."...
I find it hard to criticize EA over this decision, given the popularity of the license attached to the game, however, I think they did those same fans a disservice by neglecting to include some decent story-based content. EA appear to have heard the criticism loud and clear, with EA's Peter Moore stating that future Battlefront titles could focus a little more on single player aspects (via The Examiner):
..."Let's be clear though, there are a lot of single player opportunities within the game. It's lacking a campaign mode in the eyes of gamers, but it's got co-op, couch play...it's not a purely multiplayer game. There is more content coming to this game, which will deepen the content."......"The decision by the DICE team was made not to put single-player in, but to focus on multiplayer. This isn't to say that decision for future games are locked in stone, we'll determine what that team does as the development team gets further down that process."...
I'd say even Call of Duty trumps Battlefront on depth, but despite lacking content I feel it delivers quite well in the fun department so far. Hopefully, EA can capitalize on their 10-year Star Wars licensing deal a little better in Battlefront's inevitable sequel.
Konami's lawyers prevented Hideo Kojima from collecting his award from the TGAs last week
Post-Kojima Konami isn't really doing itself any favors. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain took home the award for best action and adventure game at The Game Awards last week, but the franchise's life-long overseer, Hideo Kojima, wasn't in attendance to accept the award.
Industry figure and TGA host Geoff Keighley took it upon himself to explain why, slamming Konami in the process to a chorus of audience jeers.
..."As you noticed, Hideo Kojima is not here with us tonight and I want to tell you a little about that. Mr. Kojima had every intention of being with us tonight but, unfortunately, he was informed by a lawyer representing Konami just recently that he would not be allowed to travel to tonight's awards ceremony to accept any awards. He's still under an employment contract. It's disappointing and it's inconceivable to me that an artist like Hideo would not be allowed to come here and celebrate with his peers and his fellow teammates such an incredible game as Metal Gear Solid V."...
Konami has publically stated that they wish to continue making "Triple A" console titles, including future additions to Metal Gear Solid. However, the company's complete disregard over how they're perceived in the industry at large makes me wonder just how committed they are.
Check out 10 minutes of Far Cry Primal gameplay
Far Cry Primal ditches the guns and takes the franchise back to the Stone Age. In Far Cry Primal, you play as caveman Takkar on a quest to avenge his fallen tribe. In the above video, Ubisoft details the game's combat, which features typical Stone Age weaponry like spears and bows. Additionally, Takkar can tame the game world's various beasts and deploy them in combat. You'll be able to call upon a stealthy jaguar to help you infiltrate enemy camps, summon a trusty owl and send it on reconnaissance missions, or climb on top of a mammoth and trample your foes into a bloody paste.
Far Cry Primal launches on February 23rd, 2016, and looks set to breathe new life into a franchise I felt had gotten a bit stale. Kudos Ubisoft.
CD Projekt RED practically confirm The Witcher 4, discuss Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt RED took home the award for game of the year 2015 for the impeccable The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and thankfully, the studio aren't yet done with the franchise. Speaking to Polish TV (via Gamepressure), CD Projekt's CEO Adam Kicinski discussed the future of The Witcher series, stating that it would be "unfair" to the fans to leave the popular RPG franchise on the shelf:
..."It's too early to talk about it, but it's not like we're forgetting about this brand – that's understandable. (...) It wouldn't be fair towards the fans. We work within this universe for over a dozen years now and I don't think it's going to be the end of it."...
While we wait for The Witcher 4, CD Projekt RED's next game, Cyberpunk 2077, was also discussed. We don't know a great deal about their mysterious action RPG, suffice to say that it'll be playable in both the first and third person, it will take inspiration from its pen and paper gameplay roots, and it's set in a science-fiction dystopia. So far, all we've seen from Cyberpunk 2077 is some incredible concept art and an impressive reveal trailer (linked above).
Adam Kicinski said that Cyberpunk 2077 is proving to be even more ambitious than planned, also hoping that it'll reach higher levels of commercial success than The Witcher 3:
..."The project is even more ambitious than we first planned (...) we need to create a game that will be even more successful. (...) We have a long way ahead of us to reach the biggest commercial successes in the world. Sure, many people consider The Witcher 3 to be the best game in the world this year, but this is not a game that broke any sales record."...
I think the fact The Witcher 3 is the third game in a trilogy probably prevented it making significant sales penetration, given that a lot of people likely missed out on The Witcher and The Witcher 2. Still, as a fan of the franchise, I'd say it's not completely necessary to have played these previous titles - if you're a fan of action RPGs, you should definitely check it out.
Giveaway - Rainbow Six Siege!
Each week, we'll be giving away a free Xbox title to one lucky commenter! Simply join the discussion below for a chance to win.
Congrats IEhrgeizI you won Rainbow Six Siege for Xbox One! If you lost, don't worry, we'll have another contest for you next week!
ICYMI - Some of Windows Central's biggest Xbox articles of the week
- Upcoming game Gigantic delayed until 2016 amid developer layoffs
- Day 6 of Microsoft's 12 Days of Deals event has price cuts on many Xbox disc games
- Dead or Alive 5 Last Round Core Fighters is now free-to-play on Xbox One
- You can now use Kinect and Windows Hello to sign in to Windows 10
- Shadow Complex Remastered is currently free on Windows, coming to Xbox One in 2016
- The next free Halo 5 update will add the Forge editor so you can get mapping
- Xbox One U.S. Black Friday sales were huge for Microsoft, Windows 10 gaming on the rise
- Rocket League coming to Xbox One in Feb. 2016 with exclusive Halo and Gears of War vehicles
- Quantum Break trailer gives us a quick look at the upcoming time-manipulation game
- Rise of the Tomb Raider is getting some new DLC in January with Baba Yaga
New Xbox One game releases for the week ending December 6th, 2015
Super Party Sports: Football - Sports & Recreation - Handy Games
"Super Party Sports: Football' is a physics puzzle game full of action and fun. Solve tricky riddles, fight against different types of enemies and score a goal. Take the challenge with players from different leagues and FCs."
Rock Zombie - Action & Adventure - EnjoyUp Games
"What would happen if a concert of a female rock band was invaded by a horde of zombies? The answer to that question can be found in this videogame which combines both, classic gameplay from the Arcade Golden Age with modern 3D graphics."
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare - Fighting - Activision
"Besiege castles and raid villages in this 24 player online experience. Trade in your guns and grenades to test your mettle against cold hard steel on the medieval battlefield."
Kung Fu Panda Showdown of Legendary Legends - Fighting - Vicious Cycle Software / Little Orbit
"Up to four players compete in iconic locations throughout the Valley of Peace and beyond. Compete in an epic Tournament where all Kung Fu warriors contend for honor and glory. Who will reign on top as the mightiest warrior in the land?"
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing - Action & Adventure / RPG - NeocoreGames
"Put on your wide-brimmed hat, grab your weapons and embark on an incredible adventure in the gothic-noir world of Borgovia, where mad science threatens the fragile peace between monster and mortal."
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege - Shooter - Ubisoft
"Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is the upcoming installment of the acclaimed first-person shooter franchise developed by the renowned Ubisoft Montreal studio. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege invites players to master the art of destruction."
Just Cause 3 - Action & Adventure - Avalanche Studios
"Explore a Mediterranean island paradise with complete vertical freedom – skydive, BASE jump and free dive in an open world with virtually zero limits."
And that's a wrap!
This week I moved to Germany, and have been stuck on 2.5 MB DSL internet. I'm having multiplayer withdrawals. Still, my belated Fallout 4 review is nearly here, and I'll likely spend the rest of the year knee deep in Hoth, Endor and the other planets offered by Star Wars Battlefront.
What have you guys been playing this week? What do you think of this week's Xbox news? Let us know below for a chance to win Rainbow Six Siege!
