Every week, I summarize some of the biggest rumors and talking points in one handy post every weekend. You can also rely on this weekly column to catch up with all the latest Xbox One game releases.
Welcome to the latest edition of This Week in Xbox One News.
Halo Wars 2 beta details leak, including screenshots
This week has been all about pre-E3 leaks and the biggest in the Xbox camp is quite easily Halo Wars 2. Halo Wars was a real time strategy game designed by Ensemble Studios, best known for Age of Empires. It came out for the Xbox 360, featuring intuitive controls built for the Xbox 360 gamepad. Most RTS games are designed for a mouse and keyboard, however, which probably prevented Halo Wars from seeing serious traction in a space dominated by PC titles like Starcraft.
Halo Wars 2 will once again attempt to make the case for a console-based RTS, but this time round Microsoft could be playing things a little differently. In an interview last year, Phil Spencer said that it would 'make sense' to ship the Xbox One's oft-promised mouse support with Halo Wars 2, as hardcore RTS players likely wouldn't give the game a chance without these sorts of inputs.
"Those two announcements aren't related, but it makes sense to me that this is a time when we turn that on. We haven't gone back to do the planning on how these things tie together. Obviously, we're going to want people to play strategy games the way they want to play it, and to give them choices."
Earlier in the week, Halo Wars 2's store listing appeared on Xbox Live, showing a June 13th beta download date, in addition to a raft of screenshots!
New gamer pics added to Xbox One
A ton of new gamerpics have been added to Xbox Live for your perusal, and many of them focus on existing characters and franchises. Here's a gallery handily posted onto reddit.
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OneCast Episode 20 - E3 anticipations, hopes, dreams!
This week's OneCast is all about, you guessed it, E3! Join Matt, Lauren and myself for a discussion all about our most anticipated E3 announcements, our hopes, dreams, and much more!
E3 Giveaways!
This week we're forgoing our regular weekly contest to bring you something even more special during the week! We'll be announcing the winner of last week's contest here soon too, so stay tuned if you entered!
ICYMI - Some of Windows Central's biggest Xbox articles of the week
- Microsoft will be giving some Xbox owners $10 in credit for Fallout 4 pricing errors
- New Titanfall 2 teaser gets us pumped for the full reveal on June 12
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare will star Game Of Thrones' Kit Harington in villain role
- DOOM gets multiplayer patch, larger game update coming later in June
- The Halo Wars 2 open beta could start on June 13 [Update: leaked in-game screenshots]
- Hands on with Ultimate Source's range of Killer Instinct figures
- Microsoft: Gaming hours on Xbox One doubled in May 2016 compared to last year
- I love you Xbox, but don't cancel things on your fans
- Cuphead's platforming action takes center stage in latest gameplay reveal
- XCOM: Enemy Within and three more Xbox 360 games now playable on Xbox One
New Xbox One game releases for the week ending June 12th, 2016
Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride - Puzzle & Trivia - Artifex Mundi
"Within the shadow of an ancient forest, on the bottom of a foggy valley, stands the lonely village of Ravenbrook. The folk there are cheerful and diligent, yet warily superstitious. They surround the village with countless charms to keep the evil spirits at bay, for on the other side of the forest, there lies a seemingly bottomless pit, known as the Abyss."
Dovetail Games Euro Fishing - Strategy & Simulation - Dovetail Games
"Euro Fishing immerses you deep into the adrenaline-packed action, fun and beauty of Europe's most famous lakes. Master your rod, line and tactics, and refine your technique to become a top angler. This is the closest you can get to real fishing from the comfort of your own sofa."
Professional Farmer 2017 - Strategy & Simulation - United Independent Entertainment
"Get ready for the rural lifestyle! This game is set on your own farm! Enjoy the life of a farmer with all its amazing tasks and challenges! Drive your original vehicles, cultivate your fields, take care of your animals and market your produce!"
DUCATI - 90th Anniversary - Racing & Flying - Milestone S.r.l.
"From the creators of RIDE comes a spin-off entirely dedicated to the legendary Ducati brand – nearly a century of legend wrapped up in one video game! With 39 models in the game, you can thrash the most iconic bikes. 7 great ERAS ere you can rediscover the bike of your dreams, from the 50s to historic victories."
Neon Chrome - Shooter - 10tons Ltd.
"Neon Chrome is a ruthless top-down cyberpunk shooter with rogue-like elements. Blast your way through enemies and walls with guns and cybernetic abilities. Experiment with different roles like the Hacker or the Cyber Psycho."
Color Symphony 2 - Action & Adventure, Platformer, Puzzle & Trivia - REMIMORY
"Color Symphony 2 is a puzzle action platformer that utilizes the ambiguity of color. Try to eliminate obstacles or find new paths by using color!"
HeartZ: Co-Hope Puzzles - Platformer - Neko Entertainment
"HeartZ offers you a hearty combination of platform, action, puzzle and local co-op gaming. Outsmart traps and solve mysteries in each room and level while getting rid of Dr. Nylus' soldiers and machines!"
In Between - Action & Adventure, Other, Platformer, Puzzle & Trivia - Headup Games
"In Between is an atmospheric, award-winning platformer where you solve mind-bending puzzles by manipulating your surroundings and gravity itself."
Soul Axiom - Action & Adventure, Other, Puzzle & Trivia - Wales Interactive
"Soul Axiom is a first-person, story-driven adventure game, set in the beautiful, haunting cyber-world of Elysia. Combining exploration and puzzle solving powers with over 20 hours of gameplay and multiple story endings."
Fenix Furia - Action & Adventure, Platformer - Green Lava Studios
"Fenix Furia mechanics are unique yet simple – infinite jump and dash paired with instant restarts. Race through hundreds of increasingly difficult levels, with new mechanics like fire, ice and jump portals."
Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 6: A Portal To Mystery - Action & Adventure - Telltale Games
"Continuing their journey through the portal hallway, Jesse and crew land themselves in another strange new world - one completely overrun by zombies."
Mirror's Edge Catalyst - Action & Adventure - Electronic Arts
"Follow Faith, a daring free runner, as she fights for freedom in the city of Glass. What appears to be an elegant, high-tech city on the outside, has a terrible secret hidden within. Explore every corner from the highest beautifully lit rooftops to the dark and gritty tunnels below."
And that's a wrap!
This week I'll be heading out to Los Angeles with Paul Acevedo and Mark Guim to bring you all the latest and greatest the show has to offer.
What E3 announcement are you most anticipating?
