Xbox Series X Won’t Launch With Next-Gen Exclusive Games

Xbox Series X is aiming for a holiday release, and a new console launch usually comes alongside shiny new exclusives that showcase its power. Microsoft has a different plan in mind this time, though, as head of Microsoft Studios Matt Booty says its first-party games will be entirely cross-gen for the first year or two.

“As our content comes out over the next year, two years, all of our games, sort of like PC, will play up and down that family of devices,” Booty told MCV. “We want to make sure that if someone invests in Xbox between now and [Series X] that they feel that they made a good investment and that we’re committed to them with content.”

So rather than force an upcoming game to be exclusive to the Series X, Booty says Microsoft will keep releasing games for Xbox One and let the upgraded performance on the Series X speak for itself. That means making sure its flagship game, Halo Infinite, will be ready to showcase the new console at launch.

“Our approach is to pick one or two IP that we’re going to focus on and make sure that they’re there at the launch of the console, taking advantage of all the features. And for us that’s going to be Halo Infinite, which is a big opportunity. It’s the first time in over 15 years that we’ll have a Halo title launching in sync with a new console. And that team is definitely going to be doing things to take advantage of [Series X].”

It’s a model more akin to a phone upgrade. Games still release across devices, but you’ll get a better performance with the newer hardware. Microsoft has signaled this direction for the next generation before, especially with its announcement that “Series X” is just one of potentially several models we’ll see in the coming years. The line of products itself, the company has stated, is now just “Xbox.”

This may be a gamble, however, as players who are still able to enjoy games like Halo Infinite on their current hardware may not feel as compelled to upgrade. That could impact hardware adoption rates, when we know Sony is looking to shift its player-base to PS5 more rapidly.

For more on the Xbox Series X, check out everything we know.

Now Playing: Xbox Series X CPU, Trademark, & Fake Images Revealed – GS News Updates

American Horror Story: The Best of Sarah Paulson

While we all wait for Sarah Paulson’s return to American Horror Story in Season 10, let’s look back at her thrilling AHS career. Paulson is one of three actors to have appeared in at least eight seasons of the show.

Starting with Murder House (Season 1), Paulson played a supporting role as the “medium to the star” Billie Dean Howard. You can say she has a thing for ghosts. Paulson would reprise this role for the seasons of Hotel and Apocalypse years later.

She took on a much larger role in Season 2 of Asylum as up-and-coming journalist Lana Winters. We followed Lana’s horrifying stay at Briarcliff Manor and a fight for her life against Bloody Face. Again, Paulson would reprise this role for Roanoke. Remember, all seasons of AHS are connected!

Cordelia Foxx might be Paulson’s most iconic performance. As Supreme, Cordelia ruled with kindness unlike her horrible mother. She followed the incredible Coven season with perhaps her most challenging performance on AHS: Bette and Dot Tattler. That’s right, she played conjoined twins!

Some of her lesser known characters but still equally celebrated were Sally McKenna, a ghostly junkie from Hotel, English actress Audrey Tindall from the meta-season of Roanoke, Cult’s phobia-ridden Ally Mayfair-Richards and the brutal ruler of Outpost 3 Wilhemina Venable from her most recent appearance on Apocalypse. We can’t wait to see what she does next on American Horror Story!

New Pokemon Sword & Shield Freebies Available Now

Nintendo and The Pokemon Company surprise-dropped a few things following this week’s big Pokemon Direct broadcast, but those aren’t the only freebies that are up for grabs right now. Pokemon Sword and Shield players can also claim a few more rare items via Mystery Gift for a limited time.

First, Nintendo shared a download code for another bundle of rare Poke Balls on the Switch News channel. You can get 10 Premier Balls by entering the code AREAS1LVESTRE in Mystery Gift. Premier Balls have the same catch rate as standard Poke Balls, but they look much fancier.

On top of that, Nintendo has shared a second new download code, this one to commemorate Pokemon Sword and Shield’s next online competition. If you enter the code GALAR in Mystery Gift, you’ll receive a Bottle Cap. Bottle Caps are used to Hyper Train your Pokemon at the Battle Tower in Wyndon, maxing out one of their base stats.

Both download codes are available through the end of February, so you have until then to redeem them and get the free gifts. However, time is running out to claim a few other freebies, including Gigantamax Meowth, which will only be available until January 15. You can see all the free Pokemon Sword and Shield gifts available right now in our roundup.

In addition to the freebies, Nintendo recently rolled out a new update for Pokemon Sword and Shield that lets players experience a very small taste of the games’ upcoming expansion pass content. Once you’ve downloaded the update, you can head to Wedgehurst Station and encounter a new character from the Isle of Armor expansion. There, you’ll also have a chance to catch a new Pokemon: Galarian Slowpoke.

Pokemon Sword & Shield Freebies

Code Gift Expiration date
AREAS1LVESTRE 10 Premier Balls February 27
GALAR 1 Bottle Cap February 28

Now Playing: Pokemon Sword & Shield Are Getting Expansions, New Pokemon, & More – GS News Update

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Destiny 2 – Where Is Xur? 2020 Exotic Vendor Location Guide (1/10 – 1/14)

Xur has arrived in the solar system yet again in Destiny 2, offering a fresh batch of Exotics to help you fill out your collection. Although Destiny 2’s holiday event, The Dawning, continues until the weekly reset on Tuesday, Xur isn’t exactly in a giving mood–but for the right price, you can pick up a new Exotic weapon or piece of armor, including those that are new to the Season of Dawn.

Check out the video above to see how to get to Xur and what he’s carrying. You’ll find him camped out on The Rig on Titan. The newest Exotic he has this week is Black Talon, a sword from the Forsaken expansion. If you like wielding a blade but are put off by the need to get in close to your enemies, good news: Black Talon can fire powerful projectiles. That makes it very useful in both PvE and PvP circumstances.

Use your new toys from Xur to make the most of the new Sundial activity and last few days of The Dawning and its bounties, which offer double XP. Check out our full rundown of baking recipes for The Dawning.

Resident Evil 3 Won’t Have Multiple Endings Like the Original

Capcom has revealed that Resident Evil 3 won’t have multiple endings and has also outlined a bunch of other changes the remake makes to the original game.

In a new interview with Official PlayStation Magazine, Capcom producer Peter Fabiano was asked if this year’s reimagining of Resident Evil 3 will have multiple endings, to which he resoundingly replies with “no.”

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He does reveal, however, that Carlos Oliveira’s role is being expanded as a playable character. “Carlos will have his own interesting section to play through,” Fabiano said. Carlos is a mercenary who works for Umbrella but joins Jill to help her rescue people trapped in Raccoon City during the virus outbreak.

The terrifying star of Resident Evil 3 is, of course, the Nemesis, who has been tweaked to up the horror and make him on par for a modern horror game. “We certainly took some elements that we learned from putting together Resident Evil 2’s Tyrant, but Nemesis is his own brand of terror, and a relentless pursuer who can use weapons,” Fabiano said.

OPM reports that the Nemesis is able to wander freely around Resident Evil 3’s Raccoon City, untethered, so you never know quite when he’ll turn up. This differs from Resident Evil 2’s Tyrant who, while able to chase you with fairly freely around Raccoon City Police Department, only showed up at scripted moments.

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“Resident Evil 3 has more open spaces and one of the things that makes Nemesis so frightening is that he is relentless and you never know when or where he might show up,” Fabiano added.

Capcom has previously described Resident Evil 3 as more of a remix of the original game than Resident Evil 2 was to its ‘90s counterpart. The developer also promised that there will be no delays to its April 3, 2020 release date.

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Chris Priestman is a freelancer who writes news for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

PS5 Logo, Pokemon, and Final Fantasy 7 | GameSpot After Dark #23

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IGN UK Podcast #521: Rik Waller is Kingpin, Confirmed

The Firm are back and ready to shake, shake the room. Dale’s revisited Resident Evil 3 to face his nemesis. Joe’s been watching that new Dracula, who loves a good ol’ drain. Cardy hopes that the newly announced Pokemon Sword and Shield expansions will see his beloved Golduck make a return. There’s also a small dose of Windjammers chat and another helping of bemusement towards the hit Netflix show, You.

We also have a new Endless Search format for Dale and Joe to mentally wrestle over. Please do join.

Remember, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, please do: [email protected]

IGN UK Podcast #521: Rik Waller is Kingpin, Confirmed.

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Ubisoft Australia Donates To Australian Bushfire Crisis

Australia has been suffering from deadly wildfires over the last few months, leading to the death of people and wildlife and the destruction of bush, forests, and parks. Ubisoft Australia has stepped in with a contribution to help ease the crisis, with a note that explains its reasoning.

A post on Twitter says that the company has donated $30,000 to the Australian Red Cross Disaster and Recovery Relief Fund. The note also says that the company has heard calls for in-game items to encourage donations, but it felt the development time for this effort would take too long for such an immediate problem. It suggests that those who feel so inclined should contribute directly to a relief organization, and in threaded replies links to reputable ones to consider.

Ubisoft Australia is located just outside Sydney, the capital of New South Wales where the wildfires have been among the most devastating. Evacuations have taken place across NSW, Victoria, and South Australia. Roughly 1,400 homes have been lost and the human death toll stood at 25 as of January 6, according to NPR. Experts have estimated that roughly half a billion animals have died in the fires as well.

Similarly, Ubisoft donated €500,000 (about $565,000) to assist in Notre Dame reconstruction efforts after a fire destroyed parts of the famous cathedral. It also gave away Assassin’s Creed Unity for free on PC for a limited time following the disaster, which includes a very realistic virtual recreation of Notre Dame.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe On Sale Right Now

If you picked up a high-capacity micro SD card over the holidays, or if you have a new Nintendo Switch and you’re itching to fill it with games, you can take advantage of a bunch of amazing Switch game deals happening right now. Since they’re digital, you can start playing them as soon as you finish downloading them, which could be mere minutes if you have a fast internet connection.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Digital Nintendo Switch Deal

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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is owned by over 50% of Nintendo Switch owners, because it’s awesome and fun and even people mostly unfamiliar with video games know about it. Add it to your Switch right now if you haven’t already, and do it for less.

Splatoon 2 Digital Nintendo Switch Deal

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One of Switch’s funnest competitive games, Splatoon 2, is on sale today at Amazon. It improves on its excellent predecessor and takes the competitive shooter to much inkier places.

Yoshi’s Crafted World Digital Nintendo Switch Deal

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Yoshi’s spin-off games (get it?) are unbelievably adorable, and Crafted World is no exception. Start downloading it right now and make your day a little cuter. You’ve earned it.

Kirby Star Allies Digital Nintendo Switch Deal

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Another adorable Nintendo character returning for Nintendo Switch. Kirby is perhaps the most iconic puffball in all of media. Name a more iconic puffball; I’ll wait.

More Digital Nintendo Switch Game Deals

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