Welcome to our weekly ICYMI for Xbox news!
We'll still be posting major Xbox announcements in the main feed, but I'll be collecting some of the more nuanced news, rumours and talking points into one handy post every weekend!
So without further ado, here's our latest edition of This Week in Xbox One News.
Remedy CEO calls it quits, sparking rumours of a buyout
On Wednesday Matias Myllyrinne announced his departure after 15 years at the helm of Remedy Entertainment. Remedy is best known for Max Payne, Alan Wake and the upcoming Xbox One exclusive Quantum Break.
In a statement on Remedy's website, Myllyrinne assured that Quantum Break was on track to be "amazing" and "worthy of the Remedy brand."
..."This year marks the 20th anniversary for Remedy and 15 years for me with the studio. I've been with Remedy since 1999 – this is a long time. It is time for me to move on. It has been a great ride and now is the right time to start another adventure. Remedy will be an unbelievably tough act to follow.I'm humbled by the continued support of our audience and fans. It has sustained us in times of struggle and gives meaning to the work we do here every day.We have all grown up with games that have touched our hearts and left an imprint on our soul. It is these moments that we want to create for our fans… these lasting emotional impressions that stay with us for years. This is our mission, to build games with character that could not be built anywhere else.The studio is in good standing and will go on to great things. Quantum Break looks amazing, and the team is working hard to build it into the game that you deserve. It will be worthy of the Remedy brand.We are yet to see Remedy's best game. Remedy and the fans will always have a place in my heart. Thank you!"...
Matias Myllyrinne will move on to an executive position at Wargaming, the developers of World of Tanks. Speaking with GameIndustry.biz, Matias remarked that the move was due to a desire for a change in scenery. While he didn't blame the demands of Triple A development for his departure, he noted that Quantum Break has required 3x more work than Alan Wake.
..."AAA can take a lot of effort, but it feels like a worthwhile undertaking. The leap from Alan Wake to Quantum Break is close to 3x in terms of work alone. There is just a lot of ground to cover - certainly if you are building a new IP with new technology on a new platform. But Remedy is one of the few places that can produce new AAA IP and build original franchises."...
The fact that Remedy haven't appointed a new CEO has led some to wonder if Microsoft have purchased the studio. While there's no real evidence to suggest that at the moment, the timing does beg the question. Matias has praised Remedy's independence before, and with Microsoft locking down Gears of War from Epic Games, they could be looking to do the same with Quantum Break and Alan Wake.
Fallout 4 trailer blows up the internet
In what is perhaps the biggest news of the week, Bethesda Softworks announced the long anticipated Fallout 4 with a nostalgic and colourful trailer.
The trailer has been viewed over 11 million times as of writing this, which is probably some game trailer world record. Stay tuned for Bethesda's E3 conference on June 14th for the game's full reveal.
Fallout 4 is set in Boston, Massachusetts and enjoys a slightly more diverse color palette than its predecessor. Very little is known about the game right now, but Bethesda game director Todd Howard describes Fallout 4 as their most "ambitious" game ever.
..."We know what this game means to everyone. The time and technology have allowed us to be more ambitious than ever. We've never been more excited about a game, and we can't wait to share it."...
It should also be noted that Fallout 4 is new-gen only, meaning that PS3 and Xbox 360 console gamers will have to leap across to PC, PS4 or Xbox One to enjoy it. Stay tuned.
Xboss Phil Spencer will be on stage for the PC Gaming Show at E3
PC Gamer magazine is hosting the first ever PC Gaming Show at this year's E3 on June 16th. Phil Spencer will be on stage to discuss Windows 10, in what will likely be a charm offensive for PC gamers refusing to ditch Windows 7.
..."For us, the PC Gaming Show is the ideal place to speak directly to PC gamers, and it's a great time to talk about Windows 10 – the best operating system we've ever created for gamers on PCs. With Windows 10, we're bringing the best of Xbox with the best of Windows gaming, and DirectX 12 for better gaming graphics and performance."...
Windows 10 includes native video game capture, something that required cumbersome programs to do previously. This is in addition to DX12, which will allow game developers to program closer to the metal than ever before. Check out this demo of Final Fantasy XV running on DX12 for an example.
PC Gamer echoed fans scepticism of the inclusion of Xbox in Windows 10, asking Phil Spencer why he wanted to show up at the conference in the first place after the debacle of Games for Windows Live.
..."That's one of the reasons why we need to be here. We want to be clear with the community about not only our progress and our ambitions, but also how we think about other popular gaming platforms like Valve, Origin, GoG, Oculus, etc. in the broader PC gaming ecosystem."...
Microsoft have previously showed how the game DVR features could be used regardless of how you run the game, whether it's from Steam, Origin, or a DRM free service like GoG. It certainly seems as though Microsoft's platform agnosticism is extending beyond Android and iOS app and into gaming as well.
Are you a PC gamer? How do you feel about Microsoft's renewed focus on PC gaming? Do hit the comments!
FBI SWAT joins the Rainbow Six Siege line-up
Ubisoft is gearing up to show off fresh Rainbow Six Siege details at their E3 conference next week. The above trailer shows us another team in the line-up of playable counter-terrorists. This time it's the USA's FBI SWAT. Thermite wall explosives, heat signature trackers and portable obstacles make up just part of the FBI's arsenal. Rainbow Six Siege will be available on October 13th later this year.
ICYMI - Some of Windows Central's biggest Xbox articles of the week
- Xbox One with 1TB hard drive gets spotted on Amazon with June 15 launch date
- The Xbox One will get a small update today 'to prepare for the future'
- Fallout 4 goes up for pre-order from Gamestop for $60
- Microsoft's Gears of War team changes name from Black Tusk Studios to The Coalition
- Ubisoft @ E3 2015: The Division, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Rainbow Six Siege and "a few big surprises"
- Here's a first look at Halo 3: ODST on Xbox One
- Forza 6 Japanese website goes live early revealing night racing, wet weather, 450 cars and more
New Xbox One game releases for the week ending May 31st, 2015
SteamWorld Dig - Metroidvania - Image & Form International AB
"SteamWorld Dig is a platform mining adventure with strong Metroidvanian influences. Take the role of Rusty, a lone mining steambot, as he arrives at an old mining town in great need."
Sparkle Unleashed - Puzzle - 10tons Lt
"A secluded world of mystery has succumbed to an ominous darkness. You must travel through the fallen lands, light magical braziers and banish the darkness once and for all. Unlock amazing powerups and use the ones you like the most to overcome increasingly challenging levels, Chained Orbs, Rock Orbs and Survival challenges."
Massive Chalice - Strategy - Double Fine Productions, Inc.
"MASSIVE CHALICE is a tactical strategy game set on an epic timeline from Double Fine Productions. As the Immortal Ruler of the Nation, you'll take command of its heroes, forge marriages to strengthen your Bloodlines, and battle a mysterious enemy known as the Cadence in a war lasting hundreds of years."
And that's a wrap!
I feel as though I should've just named this article "This Week in Xbox One News: Fallout 4" and stuck the trailer up. All the details are just a week away. It's going to be a really long week.
