The lineup of Xbox One launch game announcements began with a trickle during the May reveal event and didn’t start to really flow until Microsoft’s E3 press conference. Electronic Arts and other publishers chimed in, and soon gamers began to have a decent idea of what software to expect when Microsoft’s new console rolls around.

Still, for all those title announcements, you never really know exactly what games will launch alongside the system until the console’s release date draws near. The Xbox One’s nebulous November release date (Microsoft still hasn’t named the date yet) is still a few months away, but Microsoft has just revealed the lineup of games that will be available at retail and via download on launch day. With 23 titles to choose from, early adopters are in for a treat this holiday season.

Xbox One launch day games

1. Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag (Ubisoft, Ubisoft)
2. Battlefield 4 (DICE, Electronic Arts)
3. Call of Duty: Ghosts (Infinity Ward, Activision)
4. Crimson Dragon (Grounding/Land Ho!, Microsoft Studios) – Downloadable, exclusive
5. Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver, Microsoft) - Exclusive
6. FIFA 14 (EA Sports, Electronic Arts)
7. Fighter Within (AMA Ltd., Ubisoft) - Exclusive
8. Forza Motorsport 5 (Turn 10 Studios, Microsoft Studios) - Exclusive
9. Just Dance 2014 (Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft)
10. Killer Instinct (Double Helix, Microsoft Studios) – Downloadable, exclusive
11. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (TT Games, Warner Bros. Interactive)
12. Lococycle (Twisted Pixel, Microsoft Studios) – Downloadable, exclusive
13. Madden NFL 25 (EA Sports, Electronic Arts)
14. NBA 2K14 (Visual Concepts, 2K Sports)
15. NBA LIVE 14 (EA Sports, Electronic Arts)
16. Need for Speed: Rivals (Ghost Games, Electronic Arts)
17. Peggle 2 (Popcap, Electronic Arts) – Downloadable, exclusive
18. Powerstar Golf (Zoe Mode, Microsoft Studios) – Downloadable, exclusive
19. Ryse: Son of Rome (Crytek, Microsoft Studios) - Exclusive
20. Skylanders: Swap Force (Vicarious Visions, Activision)
21. Watch Dogs (Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft) - Pictured at top
22. Zoo Tycoon (Frontier Developments Ltd., Microsoft Studios) - Exclusive
23. Zumba Fitness: World Party (Zoë Mode, Majesco)

Next generation versus last generation

Project Gotham Racing 3

For comparison, here’s the American Xbox 360 launch lineup:

1. Amped 3 - Exclusive
2. Call of Duty 2
3. Condemned: Criminal Origins - Exclusive
4. FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup
5. GUN
6. Kameo: Elements of Power - Exclusive
7. Madden NFL 06
8. NBA 2K6
9. NBA Live 06
10. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
11. NHL 2K6
12. Perfect Dark Zero - Exclusive
13. Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
14. Project Gotham Racing 3 - Exclusive
15. Quake 4
16. Ridge Racer 6 - Exclusive
17. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
18. Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
19. Bankshot Billiards 2 (XBLA)
20. Bejeweled 2 (XBLA)
21. Gauntlet (XBLA)
22. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (XBLA)
23. Hardwood Backgammon (XBLA)
24. Hardwood Hearts (XBLA)
25. Hexic HD (pre-installed on the hard drive)
26. Joust (XBLA)
27. Mutant Storm Reloaded (XBLA)
28. Outpost Kaloki X (XBLA)

By my count, that puts the Xbox One at five retail and five downloadable exclusives on day one, whereas the Xbox 360 launched with six retail and 8 downloadable exclusives (we’re not counting Joust and Gauntlet as exclusives). While the new system’s numbers are slightly smaller, I would argue that the Xbox One’s retail exclusives, third-party retail lineup, and downloadable lineup all look much stronger than the games the Xbox 360 launched with in 2005.

Select launch game breakdown

Some of the games on the launch list we’ve covered before, others we haven’t. Everybody knows what to expect from the first-person shooters, Assassin’s Creed, and sports games. Let’s take a brief peak at the remaining titles:

Crimson Dragon

At long last, the big brother of Windows Phone exclusive Crimson Dragon: Side Story will appear on Xbox One. Crimson Dragon was originally announced for XBLA, but Microsoft mysteriously pulled it only weeks before release in order to retool it for Xbox One.

This spiritual successor to Panzer Dragoon has benefitted from the extra year of development time with improved graphics, a greater scope, and the addition of physical controller support in addition to Kinect controls!

Dead Rising 3

The Dead Rising series is known for its mixture of zombie horror, oddball comedy, and massive hordes of enemies on-screen at once. Part three suffers from an unfortunate brown color scheme, but otherwise everything players love from previous games has been improved upon.

The world is completely open now and filled with drivable vehicles, which should make for gory road kills galore. Two-player online co-op and extremely robust SmartGlass support further round out this impressive exclusive. Check out our E3 preview for more details.

Fighter Within

One of the two exclusive Kinect retail titles, Fighters Within allows two players to battle each other via highly accurate Kinect controls. Throw a punch or kick and your character does so instantly, without the lag that Xbox 360 Kinect games experienced.

This is the kind of game that could either be surprisingly solid or completely underwhelming. We’ll have to see how it shapes up in the months to come.

Forza 5

The Forza series is known for its hyper realistic simulation aspects. Hundreds of cars are recreated down to the tiniest detail, and each one drives like the real thing. Forza 5 will of course be the most beautiful racing game to date, with more track detail and livelier spectators than ever before.

Online players will benefit from the cloud processing-fueled drivatar support (AI racers based on your actual driving style), while offline players can still play the game after downloading the day one patch. Madcatz also gas a wireless racing wheel in store that should create an even more immersive simulation.

Killer Instinct

A cult 2D fighting series from the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 days, Killer Instinct is back at last. Not only does it look and play quite faithfully to its predecessors, the new Killer Instinct also boasts an unusual payment model for a fighting game.

One character is completely free and can be used in offline and online play. The other seven characters cost $5 each, or players can grab the whole roster for $20. Hardcore Killer Instinct fans may opt for the $40 deluxe edition. It includes all the characters and a slew of bonus content, including the original KI arcade game!

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

Last year’s LEGO Batman 2 provided a vast playground and assortment of characters to entertain kids and comic fans alike. LEGO Marvel Superheroes should easily recapture that magic, thanks in large part to a playable roster of 100 Marvel Comics heroes and villains.

Warner Bros. quietly announced this game would come to Xbox One in addition to current generation systems back at E3, but that detail was largely lost in the sea of news from the show. We don’t know what enhancements (if any) the Xbox One version will feature, but enhanced graphics and special effects are a given. Give our E3 preview a look to learn more about the game itself.

Lococyle

This quirky combat racer comes from Twisted Pixel, the folks behind Ms. Splosion Man and the original Gunstringer.

It was announced as an XBLA game at E3 2012, but like Crimson Dragon got held back in favor of an Xbox One upgrade.

Peggle 2

Poor Windows Phone never got a port of the original Peggle, but the XBLA version was tops. Peggle 2 will launch as an Xbox One exclusive, which almost makes up for Plants vs. Zombies 2 being iOS-exclusive.

Expect a more pleasing art style complete with animated characters, increased background detail, and tons of peg-busting fun from this one.

Powerstar Golf

Did you like Let’s Golf 2 on Windows Phone? This cartoonish golfing game should evoke much of the same fun. Each character has a unique ability that he or she can use a limited number of times during a game.

Golf games are hard to screw up, but I hear this one currently suffers from severe UI issues. Hopefully those clear up before launch.

Ryse

This epic action game takes place during the times of the Roman Empire.

It will include an online Gladiator mode on top of the single player game. You’ll use the money earned in multiplayer to purchase booster packs of cards that unlock random rewards. Sam and Michael are pumped for this one – how about you guys?

Skylanders: Swap Force

Activision recently announced that the newest Skylanders game will arrive on Xbox One in addition to current gen systems! Swap Force will work with all the Skylanders toys you already own; it’s awesome to see characters we bought for the Xbox 360 game transfer over to next gen as well. The Xbox One version will look much nicer than the 360 games, which should help keep parents’ attention a little better as they play co-op with their children.

Zoo Tycoon

Not long ago I said that Animal Park Tycoon would have to hold Windows Phone owners over since Microsoft wasn’t taking advantage of their Zoo Tycoon license. It turns out that Xbox One is getting the first-ever Zoo Tycoon game for consoles!

This one comes from Frontier Software, the developers behind Kinectimals and Kinect Disneyland Adventures. Expect lots of animal-themed Kinect minigames, highly realistic animals, four-player co-op, and of course: zoo management. We’ll also be able to visit each other’s’ zoos via the cloud.

That's it, guys! Barring last minute delays, these are the games you'll have to choose from on Xbox One launch day. Which ones are you excited for?

The second "season" for Microsoft's Xbox One revival of the Killer Instinct fighting game franchise will begin on October 15 and will eventually add eight new characters to its ranks.

Killer Instinct Season 2 is being developed by Iron Galaxy, the creators of the cult hit indie fighting game Divekick. It will start with two new fighters out of the box, TJ Combo and Maya, and the developer will add one new character every month for the next six months. It will also include new gameplay modes and accessory packs for the fighters.

As with Season 1, Killer Instinct Season 2 will give gamers the option to purchase each fighter separately for $4.99. They can also spend $19.99 for the Combo Breaker bundle which gives them access to all eight new fighters. In addition, there will be a Killer Instinct: Season 2 – Ultra Edition for $39.99 which offers access to all eight new characters, a selection of alternate fighter costumes and accessory packs and the Xbox One port of Killer Instinct 2 Classic, first released in 1996 and now adding support for online multiplayer.

Gamers who purchase the Ultra Edition between September 23 and October 14 will be able to get TJ Combo early, along with access to Killer Instinct 2 Classic. Will you be giving the second season of Killer Instinct a try?

Source: Killer Instinct forums

Microsoft is about to launch Killer Instinct: Season 2 for the Xbox One and today the company released a new trailer that offers new gameplay and teasers of what fans of the fighting game can expect when the season officially launches on Wednesday, October 15.

Microsoft revived the Killer Instinct franchise for the Xbox One's launch in 2013 with a unique business model that offered players access to one character for free with the option to purchase the remaining seven characters either as separate downloads or as a pack with all eight fighters. Under the game's new developer Iron Galaxy Studios, Season 2 of Killer Instinct will offer eight more fighters to download, and Microsoft will provide one of them for free, with a different character rotating in the free slot every week.

Four of the new Killer Instinct: Season 2 fighters are in fact new version of class Killer Instinct characters TJ Combo, Maya, Riptor and Cinder. The other fighters are all new to the series, with Microsoft stating they will include " ancient Babylonian sorcerer, an avenging ghost, a battle-hardened war golem, and more." All of the Season 1 fighters have been re-balanced for Season 2 . New graphics, a new progression system and more will be added to Season 2 throughout the season.

Each fighter can be bought for $4.99 each, or players can pay $19.99 to gain access to all eight Season 2 fighters, with TJ Combo and Maya available immediately and the other six added on a monthly basis. Paying $39.99 adds all those characters plus a bunch of extras including "16 accessory sets and 8 exclusive costumes designed by Kevin Bayliss, art director for the original Killer Instinct arcade games." It will also contain a port of Killer Instinct 2 Classic, originally released in 1996.

Are you happy with what will be included in Killer Instinct: Season 2?

Source: Xbox Wire

In 1994, the original Killer Instinct took arcades by storm. The next year a downgraded but respectable Super Nintendo port followed, along with a GameBoy version. The home games helped maintain enthusiasm until Killer Instinct 2 arrived in arcades in 1996. The Nintendo 64 would see a mildly stripped-down port called Killer Instinct Gold that year.

The true arcade version of Killer Instinct 2 has never been available on home consoles… Until now. Like Killer Instinct Classic before it, Killer Instinct 2 Classic comes bundled with the purchase of Killer Instinct 2 Ultra Edition on Xbox One. The $39.99 bundle gets you eight characters in the new Killer Instinct, plus Killer Instinct 2 as a standalone game. Killer Instinct 2 Classic even gets online play, making it a more viable alternative to Killer Instinct Season 2. Read on for gameplay details, hands-on video, and exclusive screenshots!

Even more killer

Both Killer Instinct arcade games were amazing for their times, featuring huge CG-rendered sprites and backgrounds (with a few genuine 3D elements mixed in), typically memorable Rare soundtracks, and a great cast of characters.

Killer Instinct 2 represents a big step forward from the first game though, introducing many elements that carry over into Killer Instinct Season 2. One of those is the Super Meter at the bottom of the screen. Once the meter fills, players can perform Super versions of normal special moves – these became Shadow Moves in Killer Instinct Season 2. Throws, a staple fighting game move, also debuted in Killer Instinct 2.

The roster of 10 characters and one boss (playable via code) includes seven returning characters from the first game. The less popular fighters Chief Thunder, Cinder, and Riptor sat Killer Instinct 2 out, but all three come back in Killer Instinct Season 1 and 2. New combatants Maya the Amazon, Kim Wu the Asian martial artist, and Tusk the Barbarian replace the sidelined characters in Killer Instinct 2.

Fast-forwarding to Killer Instinct Season 2 again, Maya takes center stage as one of the first two Season 2 characters. Based on teaser silhouettes, it looks like Kim Wu and Tusk are unlikely to join the new game until Season 3.

Killer Instinct 2's single-player mode consists of an ascending ladder of opponents, much like the Mortal Kombat arcade games. The final battle pits players against Gargos, a fireball-tossing gargoyle. The Gargos battle is particularly challenging because you can't just defeat him by depleting his life.

After knocking Gargos down to zero health, players must also catch him with either an Ultra Combo or a combo that includes an uppercut. This will knock him off the bridge and win you the game. The game cruelly doesn't tell you how to beat Gargos, so your first meeting with him will likely end in frustration. I had to dig through some FAQs to discover the combo requirement. At least the endings tell some interesting stories.

Xbox One enhancements

Developer Code Mystics has added a number of options and unlockables to the Xbox One version of Killer Instinct 2, many of which were also present in the first Killer Instinct Classic. When you launch the game, you'll navigate a main menu that includes such features as options, leaderboards, and extras.

The options are truly extensive. You can remap any of the game's six attack buttons, although there is no option to map a press of all three punches or kicks to a single button, unlike Killer Instinct Season 2. The Game Settings menu allows the difficulty to be adjusted. The "Extra Easy" difficulty is actually beatable by an inexperienced player, assuming you know how to handle the final boss. You can even disable finishing moves or access the arcade operator's Test Mode.

Graphically, players can choose between the original 4:3 aspect ratio or (inadvisably) a stretched mode. By default, the game has a Raster graphical filter (listed as a "Scaling Effect") enabled. This simulates the scan lines of a monitor, but it looks awful. I suggest turning off Scaling Effects entirely and enjoying the game's beautiful CGI-rendered sprites in their original glory.

When playing in full-screen mode, you'll be able to choose from several widescreen borders to fill out the screen. Only a border featuring the final boss Gargos is unlocked by default. To get the other fighters' borders, you'll have to play through the game with those characters. I was saddened by the absence of the actual cabinet art as a border, until my research revealed that the real arcade machine only had black space on the sides of the monitor.

Beating the game with a character also unlocks that character's full-motion video win sequence, ending(s), and sprites. The sprite viewer lets you play any of a character's animations – a fun and unusual feature in an arcade port. You can also listen to Killer Instinct 2's excellent soundtrack (which has vocals!) right from the start.

Finally, the game has a built-in screenshot function. At any time you can pause and take a picture for posterity. You can build a library of stills right now to share with friends once the Xbox One's promised screenshot feature finally rolls out.

Multiplayer

Of course, the real standout enhancement is online multiplayer, which didn't make the cut in the first Killer Instinct Classic. The Xbox One's beloved matchmaking system does a great job here. After initiating matchmaking, you can choose to play single-player until the system finds a game. You don't get to choose your single-player character in this scenario, oddly, but it still beats just sitting around staring at a matchmaking screen.

The game supports local multiplayer as well, natch.

Achievements

Killer Instinct 2 Classic has its own Achievement list worth 1,000 GamerScore. You'll need to beat the game with every character including Gargos, perform all of their Ultras, and beat 40 AI opponents per fighter. The toughest Achievement involves beating the game without continuing, which I hear is fairly doable with Spinal.

Besides those 40 wins Achievements, one other Achievement turns up the grind by requiring players to spend 400 credits (continues). That will take several hours of grinding. Not the kind of Achievement a retro bonus game like Killer Instinct 2 needs, but I suppose it could have been worse.

Overall Impression

I'm so glad that Microsoft has finally seen fit to release an arcade perfect version of Killer Instinct 2 at home. They also made the wise choice of hiring Code Mystics to do the job, resulting in flawless 60 frames per second emulation and great bonus features. The game itself holds up quite well – especially thanks to the addition of online play.

The downside to Killer Instinct 2 Classic is the same one that affects the first KI Classic: you can't buy it by itself. Treating these Classic games as downloadable content for the new Killer Instinct Seasons wouldn't be so bad if players could buy the $20 Combo Breaker Pack and then upgrade to the Ultra Edition at any time for another $20. That would be logical, right?

For some reason, the option to upgrade from Combo Breaker to Ultra Edition with the first season was only available for a week earlier this year. It seems likely that a Season 2 Ultra Edition upgrade will only happen during limited time sales as well. So if you really want Killer Instinct 2 Classic, you're much better off buying the Season 2 Ultra Edition right from the start.

We'll be back soon with a closer look at the Killer Instinct Season 2 Ultra Edition!

• Killer Instinct Season 2 Ultra Edition – Xbox One – ? MB – $39.99 – Xbox.com Link

The lineup of Xbox One launch game announcements began with a trickle during the May reveal event and didn’t start to really flow until Microsoft’s E3 press conference. Electronic Arts and other publishers chimed in, and soon gamers began to have a decent idea of what software to expect when Microsoft’s new console rolls around.

Still, for all those title announcements, you never really know exactly what games will launch alongside the system until the console’s release date draws near. The Xbox One’s nebulous November release date (Microsoft still hasn’t named the date yet) is still a few months away, but Microsoft has just revealed the lineup of games that will be available at retail and via download on launch day. With 23 titles to choose from, early adopters are in for a treat this holiday season.

Xbox One launch day games

1. Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag (Ubisoft, Ubisoft)
2. Battlefield 4 (DICE, Electronic Arts)
3. Call of Duty: Ghosts (Infinity Ward, Activision)
4. Crimson Dragon (Grounding/Land Ho!, Microsoft Studios) – Downloadable, exclusive
5. Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver, Microsoft) - Exclusive
6. FIFA 14 (EA Sports, Electronic Arts)
7. Fighter Within (AMA Ltd., Ubisoft) - Exclusive
8. Forza Motorsport 5 (Turn 10 Studios, Microsoft Studios) - Exclusive
9. Just Dance 2014 (Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft)
10. Killer Instinct (Double Helix, Microsoft Studios) – Downloadable, exclusive
11. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (TT Games, Warner Bros. Interactive)
12. Lococycle (Twisted Pixel, Microsoft Studios) – Downloadable, exclusive
13. Madden NFL 25 (EA Sports, Electronic Arts)
14. NBA 2K14 (Visual Concepts, 2K Sports)
15. NBA LIVE 14 (EA Sports, Electronic Arts)
16. Need for Speed: Rivals (Ghost Games, Electronic Arts)
17. Peggle 2 (Popcap, Electronic Arts) – Downloadable, exclusive
18. Powerstar Golf (Zoe Mode, Microsoft Studios) – Downloadable, exclusive
19. Ryse: Son of Rome (Crytek, Microsoft Studios) - Exclusive
20. Skylanders: Swap Force (Vicarious Visions, Activision)
21. Watch Dogs (Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft) - Pictured at top
22. Zoo Tycoon (Frontier Developments Ltd., Microsoft Studios) - Exclusive
23. Zumba Fitness: World Party (Zoë Mode, Majesco)

Next generation versus last generation

Project Gotham Racing 3

For comparison, here’s the American Xbox 360 launch lineup:

1. Amped 3 - Exclusive
2. Call of Duty 2
3. Condemned: Criminal Origins - Exclusive
4. FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup
5. GUN
6. Kameo: Elements of Power - Exclusive
7. Madden NFL 06
8. NBA 2K6
9. NBA Live 06
10. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
11. NHL 2K6
12. Perfect Dark Zero - Exclusive
13. Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
14. Project Gotham Racing 3 - Exclusive
15. Quake 4
16. Ridge Racer 6 - Exclusive
17. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
18. Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
19. Bankshot Billiards 2 (XBLA)
20. Bejeweled 2 (XBLA)
21. Gauntlet (XBLA)
22. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (XBLA)
23. Hardwood Backgammon (XBLA)
24. Hardwood Hearts (XBLA)
25. Hexic HD (pre-installed on the hard drive)
26. Joust (XBLA)
27. Mutant Storm Reloaded (XBLA)
28. Outpost Kaloki X (XBLA)

By my count, that puts the Xbox One at five retail and five downloadable exclusives on day one, whereas the Xbox 360 launched with six retail and 8 downloadable exclusives (we’re not counting Joust and Gauntlet as exclusives). While the new system’s numbers are slightly smaller, I would argue that the Xbox One’s retail exclusives, third-party retail lineup, and downloadable lineup all look much stronger than the games the Xbox 360 launched with in 2005.

Select launch game breakdown

Some of the games on the launch list we’ve covered before, others we haven’t. Everybody knows what to expect from the first-person shooters, Assassin’s Creed, and sports games. Let’s take a brief peak at the remaining titles:

Crimson Dragon

At long last, the big brother of Windows Phone exclusive Crimson Dragon: Side Story will appear on Xbox One. Crimson Dragon was originally announced for XBLA, but Microsoft mysteriously pulled it only weeks before release in order to retool it for Xbox One.

This spiritual successor to Panzer Dragoon has benefitted from the extra year of development time with improved graphics, a greater scope, and the addition of physical controller support in addition to Kinect controls!

Dead Rising 3

The Dead Rising series is known for its mixture of zombie horror, oddball comedy, and massive hordes of enemies on-screen at once. Part three suffers from an unfortunate brown color scheme, but otherwise everything players love from previous games has been improved upon.

The world is completely open now and filled with drivable vehicles, which should make for gory road kills galore. Two-player online co-op and extremely robust SmartGlass support further round out this impressive exclusive. Check out our E3 preview for more details.

Fighter Within

One of the two exclusive Kinect retail titles, Fighters Within allows two players to battle each other via highly accurate Kinect controls. Throw a punch or kick and your character does so instantly, without the lag that Xbox 360 Kinect games experienced.

This is the kind of game that could either be surprisingly solid or completely underwhelming. We’ll have to see how it shapes up in the months to come.

Forza 5

The Forza series is known for its hyper realistic simulation aspects. Hundreds of cars are recreated down to the tiniest detail, and each one drives like the real thing. Forza 5 will of course be the most beautiful racing game to date, with more track detail and livelier spectators than ever before.

Online players will benefit from the cloud processing-fueled drivatar support (AI racers based on your actual driving style), while offline players can still play the game after downloading the day one patch. Madcatz also gas a wireless racing wheel in store that should create an even more immersive simulation.

Killer Instinct

A cult 2D fighting series from the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 days, Killer Instinct is back at last. Not only does it look and play quite faithfully to its predecessors, the new Killer Instinct also boasts an unusual payment model for a fighting game.

One character is completely free and can be used in offline and online play. The other seven characters cost $5 each, or players can grab the whole roster for $20. Hardcore Killer Instinct fans may opt for the $40 deluxe edition. It includes all the characters and a slew of bonus content, including the original KI arcade game!

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

Last year’s LEGO Batman 2 provided a vast playground and assortment of characters to entertain kids and comic fans alike. LEGO Marvel Superheroes should easily recapture that magic, thanks in large part to a playable roster of 100 Marvel Comics heroes and villains.

Warner Bros. quietly announced this game would come to Xbox One in addition to current generation systems back at E3, but that detail was largely lost in the sea of news from the show. We don’t know what enhancements (if any) the Xbox One version will feature, but enhanced graphics and special effects are a given. Give our E3 preview a look to learn more about the game itself.

Lococyle

This quirky combat racer comes from Twisted Pixel, the folks behind Ms. Splosion Man and the original Gunstringer.

It was announced as an XBLA game at E3 2012, but like Crimson Dragon got held back in favor of an Xbox One upgrade.

Peggle 2

Poor Windows Phone never got a port of the original Peggle, but the XBLA version was tops. Peggle 2 will launch as an Xbox One exclusive, which almost makes up for Plants vs. Zombies 2 being iOS-exclusive.

Expect a more pleasing art style complete with animated characters, increased background detail, and tons of peg-busting fun from this one.

Powerstar Golf

Did you like Let’s Golf 2 on Windows Phone? This cartoonish golfing game should evoke much of the same fun. Each character has a unique ability that he or she can use a limited number of times during a game.

Golf games are hard to screw up, but I hear this one currently suffers from severe UI issues. Hopefully those clear up before launch.

Ryse

This epic action game takes place during the times of the Roman Empire.

It will include an online Gladiator mode on top of the single player game. You’ll use the money earned in multiplayer to purchase booster packs of cards that unlock random rewards. Sam and Michael are pumped for this one – how about you guys?

Skylanders: Swap Force

Activision recently announced that the newest Skylanders game will arrive on Xbox One in addition to current gen systems! Swap Force will work with all the Skylanders toys you already own; it’s awesome to see characters we bought for the Xbox 360 game transfer over to next gen as well. The Xbox One version will look much nicer than the 360 games, which should help keep parents’ attention a little better as they play co-op with their children.

Zoo Tycoon

Not long ago I said that Animal Park Tycoon would have to hold Windows Phone owners over since Microsoft wasn’t taking advantage of their Zoo Tycoon license. It turns out that Xbox One is getting the first-ever Zoo Tycoon game for consoles!

This one comes from Frontier Software, the developers behind Kinectimals and Kinect Disneyland Adventures. Expect lots of animal-themed Kinect minigames, highly realistic animals, four-player co-op, and of course: zoo management. We’ll also be able to visit each other’s’ zoos via the cloud.

That's it, guys! Barring last minute delays, these are the games you'll have to choose from on Xbox One launch day. Which ones are you excited for?

The second "season" for Microsoft's Xbox One revival of the Killer Instinct fighting game franchise will begin on October 15 and will eventually add eight new characters to its ranks.

Killer Instinct Season 2 is being developed by Iron Galaxy, the creators of the cult hit indie fighting game Divekick. It will start with two new fighters out of the box, TJ Combo and Maya, and the developer will add one new character every month for the next six months. It will also include new gameplay modes and accessory packs for the fighters.

As with Season 1, Killer Instinct Season 2 will give gamers the option to purchase each fighter separately for $4.99. They can also spend $19.99 for the Combo Breaker bundle which gives them access to all eight new fighters. In addition, there will be a Killer Instinct: Season 2 – Ultra Edition for $39.99 which offers access to all eight new characters, a selection of alternate fighter costumes and accessory packs and the Xbox One port of Killer Instinct 2 Classic, first released in 1996 and now adding support for online multiplayer.

Gamers who purchase the Ultra Edition between September 23 and October 14 will be able to get TJ Combo early, along with access to Killer Instinct 2 Classic. Will you be giving the second season of Killer Instinct a try?

Source: Killer Instinct forums

Microsoft is about to launch Killer Instinct: Season 2 for the Xbox One and today the company released a new trailer that offers new gameplay and teasers of what fans of the fighting game can expect when the season officially launches on Wednesday, October 15.

Microsoft revived the Killer Instinct franchise for the Xbox One's launch in 2013 with a unique business model that offered players access to one character for free with the option to purchase the remaining seven characters either as separate downloads or as a pack with all eight fighters. Under the game's new developer Iron Galaxy Studios, Season 2 of Killer Instinct will offer eight more fighters to download, and Microsoft will provide one of them for free, with a different character rotating in the free slot every week.

Four of the new Killer Instinct: Season 2 fighters are in fact new version of class Killer Instinct characters TJ Combo, Maya, Riptor and Cinder. The other fighters are all new to the series, with Microsoft stating they will include " ancient Babylonian sorcerer, an avenging ghost, a battle-hardened war golem, and more." All of the Season 1 fighters have been re-balanced for Season 2 . New graphics, a new progression system and more will be added to Season 2 throughout the season.

Each fighter can be bought for $4.99 each, or players can pay $19.99 to gain access to all eight Season 2 fighters, with TJ Combo and Maya available immediately and the other six added on a monthly basis. Paying $39.99 adds all those characters plus a bunch of extras including "16 accessory sets and 8 exclusive costumes designed by Kevin Bayliss, art director for the original Killer Instinct arcade games." It will also contain a port of Killer Instinct 2 Classic, originally released in 1996.

Are you happy with what will be included in Killer Instinct: Season 2?

Source: Xbox Wire

In 1994, the original Killer Instinct took arcades by storm. The next year a downgraded but respectable Super Nintendo port followed, along with a GameBoy version. The home games helped maintain enthusiasm until Killer Instinct 2 arrived in arcades in 1996. The Nintendo 64 would see a mildly stripped-down port called Killer Instinct Gold that year.

The true arcade version of Killer Instinct 2 has never been available on home consoles… Until now. Like Killer Instinct Classic before it, Killer Instinct 2 Classic comes bundled with the purchase of Killer Instinct 2 Ultra Edition on Xbox One. The $39.99 bundle gets you eight characters in the new Killer Instinct, plus Killer Instinct 2 as a standalone game. Killer Instinct 2 Classic even gets online play, making it a more viable alternative to Killer Instinct Season 2. Read on for gameplay details, hands-on video, and exclusive screenshots!

Even more killer

Both Killer Instinct arcade games were amazing for their times, featuring huge CG-rendered sprites and backgrounds (with a few genuine 3D elements mixed in), typically memorable Rare soundtracks, and a great cast of characters.

Killer Instinct 2 represents a big step forward from the first game though, introducing many elements that carry over into Killer Instinct Season 2. One of those is the Super Meter at the bottom of the screen. Once the meter fills, players can perform Super versions of normal special moves – these became Shadow Moves in Killer Instinct Season 2. Throws, a staple fighting game move, also debuted in Killer Instinct 2.

The roster of 10 characters and one boss (playable via code) includes seven returning characters from the first game. The less popular fighters Chief Thunder, Cinder, and Riptor sat Killer Instinct 2 out, but all three come back in Killer Instinct Season 1 and 2. New combatants Maya the Amazon, Kim Wu the Asian martial artist, and Tusk the Barbarian replace the sidelined characters in Killer Instinct 2.

Fast-forwarding to Killer Instinct Season 2 again, Maya takes center stage as one of the first two Season 2 characters. Based on teaser silhouettes, it looks like Kim Wu and Tusk are unlikely to join the new game until Season 3.

Killer Instinct 2's single-player mode consists of an ascending ladder of opponents, much like the Mortal Kombat arcade games. The final battle pits players against Gargos, a fireball-tossing gargoyle. The Gargos battle is particularly challenging because you can't just defeat him by depleting his life.

After knocking Gargos down to zero health, players must also catch him with either an Ultra Combo or a combo that includes an uppercut. This will knock him off the bridge and win you the game. The game cruelly doesn't tell you how to beat Gargos, so your first meeting with him will likely end in frustration. I had to dig through some FAQs to discover the combo requirement. At least the endings tell some interesting stories.

Xbox One enhancements

Developer Code Mystics has added a number of options and unlockables to the Xbox One version of Killer Instinct 2, many of which were also present in the first Killer Instinct Classic. When you launch the game, you'll navigate a main menu that includes such features as options, leaderboards, and extras.

The options are truly extensive. You can remap any of the game's six attack buttons, although there is no option to map a press of all three punches or kicks to a single button, unlike Killer Instinct Season 2. The Game Settings menu allows the difficulty to be adjusted. The "Extra Easy" difficulty is actually beatable by an inexperienced player, assuming you know how to handle the final boss. You can even disable finishing moves or access the arcade operator's Test Mode.

Graphically, players can choose between the original 4:3 aspect ratio or (inadvisably) a stretched mode. By default, the game has a Raster graphical filter (listed as a "Scaling Effect") enabled. This simulates the scan lines of a monitor, but it looks awful. I suggest turning off Scaling Effects entirely and enjoying the game's beautiful CGI-rendered sprites in their original glory.

When playing in full-screen mode, you'll be able to choose from several widescreen borders to fill out the screen. At first, you can only play with random borders. To unlock specific borders, you'll have to play through the game with those characters. I was saddened by the absence of the actual cabinet bezel art as a border, until my research revealed that the real arcade machine only had black space on the bezel (sides of the monitor).

Beating the game with a character also unlocks that character's full-motion video win sequence, ending(s), and sprites. The sprite viewer lets you play any of a character's animations – a fun and unusual feature in an arcade port. You can also listen to Killer Instinct 2's excellent soundtrack (which has vocals!) right from the start.

Finally, the game has a built-in screenshot function. At any time you can pause and take a picture for posterity. You can build a library of stills right now to share with friends once the Xbox One's promised screenshot feature finally rolls out.

Multiplayer

Of course, the real standout enhancement is online multiplayer, which didn't make the cut in the first Killer Instinct Classic. The Xbox One's beloved matchmaking system does a great job here. After initiating matchmaking, you can choose to play single-player until the system finds a game. In this scenario, the game resumes your previous single-player game if you had already been playing (as opposed to starting a fresh one). It sure beats just sitting around staring at a matchmaking screen.

The game supports local multiplayer as well, natch.

Achievements

Killer Instinct 2 Classic has its own Achievement list worth 1,000 GamerScore. You'll need to beat the game with every character including Gargos, perform all of their Ultras, and beat 40 AI opponents per fighter. The toughest Achievement involves beating the game without continuing, which I hear is fairly doable with Spinal.

Besides those 40 wins Achievements, one other Achievement turns up the grind by requiring players to spend 400 credits (continues). That will take several hours of grinding. Not the kind of Achievement a retro bonus game like Killer Instinct 2 needs, but I suppose it could have been worse.

Overall Impression

I'm so glad that Microsoft has finally seen fit to release an arcade perfect version of Killer Instinct 2 at home. They also made the wise choice of hiring Code Mystics to do the job, resulting in flawless 60 frames per second emulation and great bonus features. The game itself holds up quite well – especially thanks to the addition of online play.

The downside to Killer Instinct 2 Classic is the same one that affects the first KI Classic: you can't buy it by itself. Treating these Classic games as downloadable content for the new Killer Instinct Seasons wouldn't be so bad if players could buy the $20 Combo Breaker Pack and then upgrade to the Ultra Edition at any time for another $20. That would be logical, right?

For some reason, the option to upgrade from Combo Breaker to Ultra Edition with the first season was only available for a week earlier this year. It seems likely that a Season 2 Ultra Edition upgrade will only happen during limited time sales as well. So if you really want Killer Instinct 2 Classic, you're much better off buying the Season 2 Ultra Edition right from the start.

We'll be back soon with a closer look at the Killer Instinct Season 2 Ultra Edition!

• Killer Instinct Season 2 Ultra Edition – Xbox One – ? MB – $39.99 – Xbox.com Link

The next fighter for Killer Instinct Season 2 on the Xbox One has been revealed. Making a cameo appearance at the end of the trailer upcoming Season 2 character Omen, Golem is set to be the next character to make his debut at some point during Season 2. The trailer itself is mostly about Omen, who will be available for Killer Instinct Ultra Edition owners on Jan. 30, and for Combo Breaker Edition owners on Feb. 5. Golem makes his appearance around the 1:45 mark, towards the end of the video.

Microsoft Creative Director Adam Isgreen revealed the character's name on Twitter:

Omen! Golem! HERE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU3PK6mJVtI&feature=youtu.be … #KillerInstinct #KISeason2Jan. 24, 2015

Source: Killer Instinct on YouTube, Adam Isgreen on Twitter

The latest addition to the Xbox One exclusive fighter Killer Instinct is rolling out to players now. Hisako (previously code-named Ghost Girl) is a fallen Japanese villager on an eternal quest to avenge her murdered family. She wields a naginata blade staff, and sports various unique features.

In addition to Hisako, Killer Instinct dev Iron Galaxy have teased the penultimate Season 2 roster addition offering a brief glimpse at Cinder, a humanoid inferno derived from the experiments of Ultratech.

Hisako borrows abilities from the ghosts of famous Japanese horror movies like The Ring and The Grudge, complete with creepy ambidextrous rush animations, command grab enemy possession and the unique traits that allow her to perform perpetual counters.

Cinder, on the other hand, has ditched his Human Torch look from the classic games, and now looks as though he's comprised of molten lava. He jumps in to take on T.J. Combo at the end of the teaser above, and already has fans divided over his new design.

The Hisako update patch also comes with a swell of gameplay balances and adjustments which can be read about in more detail here.

What do you guys make of Cinder and Hisako? Hit the comments!

Cinder is ready to set Killer Instinct aflame later this week and to celebrate, Iron Galaxy have finally released his character trailer! Cinder arrives hot on heels of last month's Hisako, fresh from the 1994 original.

Check out the trailer here!

Cinder flaunts his personality and sarcastic wit in the video, mocking TJ Combo's name and arrogantly inviting other KI characters to bring it. The trailer also offers a glimpse of Aria, a mysterious Ultratech agent who appears to be cybernetic in some capacity.

Some fans have taken issue with Cinder's new look, which is less fire and more lava, but Iron Galaxy Studios have reassured fans of the classic design will be satisfied with separate costume and customization options, an early concept of which you can see here.

According to the KI wiki, Cinder, or Ben Ferris, left the army to become a private security contractor. Eventually he was offered a job to infiltrate Ultratech and steal data on 'Project Cinder'.

Considering that Cinder refers to himself as being on Ultratech's 'side' in the trailer, it certainly seems as though his transformation into a human volcano was intentional.

Character Traits

Cinder features unique traits, as is standard for KI characters. Cinder's Combo Trait, dubbed Burnout Enders gives some of Cinder's combo enders the ability to set the opponent's upper or lower body aflame, causing damage over time. Using upper or lower attacks corresponding to the location of the fire fans the flames, increasing the duration of the debuff. Additionally, Cinder's unique Fired Up! trait augments Cinder's next special attack with additional properties. Cinder gains the "Fired Up" state automatically every 8 seconds, and his character model becomes more inflamed as a result. Cinder's Instinct Pyromania affords him a permanent "Fired Up" state for its duration.

Cinder will arrive on Thursday 30th April for Ultra Edition owners, and May 6th for Combo Breaker Edition owners.

Are you a fan of Cinder's new look? or will you be eagerly awaiting the classic costume? Hit the comments!

Fans of the Xbox One-exclusive fighting game Killer Instinct will get one more official fighter to play with as part of "Season Two". Developer Iron Galaxy and publisher Microsoft have revealed the robotic female character Aria as the last fighter of the season.

Based on the new trailer, Aria sounds like she is not to be messed with. In addition to her own built-in weapons, she also can use drones that fly around her to take out her enemies. Aria will be released on Friday, May 29 for people who have purchased the $39.99 Ultra Edition of Killer Instinct Season 2. Folks who have elected to buy the $19.99 Combo Breaker edition can download Aria on June 4 and she will be available as a stand alone purchase later that month for $4.99.

While Aria is the last official character for Killer Instinct Season 2, Iron Galaxy has also committed to launching Shadow Jago, a skin of the popular Jago character, as a full-fledged fighter with his own unique moves. There's no word yet on a release date for that character. Microsoft has yet to announce plans for a Season Three for Killer Instinct.

Source: Killer Instinct (YouTube)

If you're a PC gamer looking to get in on some of the Gears of War Ultimate Edition that was announced for the Xbox One during Microsoft's E3 2015 press event, you're in luck. The Coalition's Rod Fergusson took to the stage during E3's PC Gaming Show to announce that the remastered Gears of War will be coming to PC.

There weren't a whole lot of details to be gleaned from the announcement, but Fergusson did confirm that the PC version of Gears of War Ultimate will support 4K displays and unlimited refresh rates, standing in contrast to the console version's 1080p limit. Additionally, the game will support mouse and keyboard input in addition to wireless controllers, along with Xbox Live and game DVR support.

Finally, Xbox chief Phil Spencer was on stage as well, announcing that the fighting franchise Killer Instinct will be coming to PC at some point in the future as well.

Earlier today at Gamescom, Microsoft officially announced Season 3 of its Xbox One and Windows 10 fighting game Killer Instinct. Season 3 will include plenty of new characters, with multiple new characters available at launch rather than just one.

More characters, story modes, and tweaks would be good enough news for fighting game players, but Microsoft dropped an even more exciting bombshell today as well. Rash from Battletoads is coming to Killer Instinct Season 3. In fact, the "beta test" version of Rash is available to play right now! Read our quick impressions, gameplay video, and how to get the amphibious new character!

How to catch this Rash

To get beta access to Rash from Battletoads, you need to either own at least one piece of Killer Instinct downloadable content (Season Pass, Combo Breaker Pack, or KI Gold) OR have played the original Battletoads in Rare Replay for Xbox One. If you haven't read our hyper-detailed Rare Replay review, hurry it up, dude!

Assuming you qualify for Rash, you still need the latest Killer Instinct update to catch him. As of this writing, the update was not available to simply download yet. It's rolling out tonight and tomorrow. Still, there is a way to force the update! Just uninstall the game and redownload it. The updated version should then download, Rash and all. If you get in a real hurry, Rash can be played in Training Mode when the game download reaches 20 percent completion.

Once you get the update, Rash will automatically appear in the bottom-left corner of the character list – no need to download him separately. Naturally, he does not have a story mode, but he can be played against the AI or other players.

The beta version of Rash will be available until September 8th. He will return with Killer Instinct Season 3 in early 2016.

How does Rash feel?

Iron Galaxy and Microsoft warn that Rash's appearance and moveset have not been finalized yet. The Rash we get in Season 3 won't be exactly the same as the one we scratch today. Still, he looks quite cool already. If you've ever played a Battletoads game, you'll recognize him right away. Rash is the sunglasses-wearing Battletoad. His default color is green, but his alternate color is a red that somewhat resembles the brown color of fellow Battletoad Pimple.

Rash's punches and kicks work differently than other Killer Instinct characters, for now anyway. Players can mash away at any punch or kick and they will continuously combo. Even if the enemy winds up in the air, they can keep the combo going. This reduces the need to switch between other punches and kicks in order to maintain a combo.

The 'toad with a 'tude's special moves have been lifted directly from the games. He can turn into a wrecking ball and swing across the screen (like Spider-Man in the Marvel vs. Capcom series), perform a headbutt with ram horns, and kick with a giant spiked boot.

Pushing all three punches performs the Wicked Tongue, in which Rash's tongue lashes out and pulls him towards whatever it catches. Use it like Scorpion's spear in Mortal Kombat or just to move around the stage.

Rash's Instinct move "Turbo Tunnel" requires his Instinct Meter to be fully charged. After that, players can hit High Punch + High Kick to enter Instinct Mode. For the duration of the mode, any time you press HP + HK, Rash's Speeder Bike (from the infamous bike levels of Battletoads) will zoom towards your opponent. It can even be summoned in the air – Rash will hop down onto the bike and slam into his foe.

Finally, Rash has an Ultra Combo like other fighters. Ultras can only be performed when an opponent's health is very low. Whittle down your enemy's life, start a combo, and perform the Ultra input (Fireball motion + all three punches) to pull it off. Right now, Rash's Ultra is simply a very strong punch – not a true Ultra. We can expect Iron Galaxy to turn it into a full combo when Season 3 catches Rash.

The modern Killer Instinct is developed by Iron Galaxy, but Killer Instinct itself is a Rare property, just like Battletoads. With Rash showing up in Killer Instinct, the Battletoads guesting in Shovel Knight, and Rare Replay including two Battletoads titles, it's safe to say that the Battletoads are coming back to the gaming world. Let's just hope we get a new Battletoads sequel soon!

• Killer Instinct Season 2 Ultra Edition – Xbox One – ~21 GB – $39.99 – Xbox.com Link

Does Rash joining Killer Instinct scratch your itch for more Battletoads or what?

Microsoft Studios' creative director Adam Isgreen revealed a catalog of fresh details for the next Killer Instinct season in an interview on the game's official Twitch channel.

The lengthy interview was conducted by CrazyLCD and covered a broad range of topics including returning characters, new features and much more.

Adam Isgreen seemed genuinely hyped for Season 3 throughout the interview, saying that "lots of cool things" are coming when the new season launches in March 2016. He praised Iron Galaxy Studios for their work on Killer Instinct, who took over from Double Helix following their buyout from Amazon.

..."Season 2 was a lot of work, when we discovered we'd lost Double Helix as our developer - I don't know a lot of games that make the transition from one developer to another and do it in such a great way. [To find] another team that picks up and runs with the game, and, in my opinion, just makes it better and more refined and more balanced and more focused and interesting and unique. That's really hard. [...] Iron Galaxy did such an amazing job of picking it up and grabbing it."...

Here are some of the key points raised in the interview:

• Other roster members could get Shadow Jago-like alternate characters via a future Killer Instinct tournament community funds.
• Season 3's soundtrack will be more "diverse" than previous seasons, penned by Celldweller and Atlus Plug.
• Killer Instinct 2's Kim Wu is confirmed, and her move set will stay true to her roots but deliver something new as well.
• Killer Instinct 2's Tusk is also confirmed.
• Dojo training mode will be expanded to further improve accessibility.
• Adam Isgreen was coy about a return for Eyedol and Gargos, asking fans to "wait and see."
• Killer Instinct for Windows 10 will be locked at 60 frames per second, with "insane" resolution possibilities.
• The whole roster for Season 3 is locked in, including the next guest character - who is "very cool."
• Iron Galaxy are "bending over backwards" to ensure the next guest character feels true to who they are, as seen with Battletoads' Rash.
• Season 3 will introduce new systems and engine work, meaning that existing characters have been reworked in varying degrees to accommodate.
• Future "beta" characters like Rash are unlikely, given that Season 3 characters need elements of the new engine.

• Aganos and Glacius received some "cool" tweaks following fan feedback.
• Two characters have been fundamentally changed regarding how they deal damage and build meters, no word on which.
• UI will be further updated, but not to the same extent as it was between Season 1 and 2.
• Retro stages are possible, perhaps as part of the tournament community fund - but their development is expensive.
• Rash's costumes are "so cool."
• The studio has discussed adding more costumes for existing characters, but they were unsure whether the community would react negatively to further paid DLC.
• On the topic of Ultimate finishing moves for characters beyond Shadow Jago, Isgreen says, "stay tuned."
• Cross-play between Xbox One and Windows 10 is already finished.
• Ensuring multiplayer remains stable across platforms is the team's number 1 priority.
• Killer Instinct for Windows 10 will launch at the same time as Season 3 for the Xbox One.
• Your unlocks and DLC will carry across versions, but Adam Isgreen was unsure if that would include Killer Instinct's classic games.
• Season 3 will launch with more than two characters.
• Season 3 might feature a "vampire" character and other pop-culture tropes.

Adam Isgreen admitted that Killer Instinct doesn't boast the same following as some other fighters, but praised the community for their continued passion and feedback.

Killer Instinct's Season 1 is currently available for free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers, with Season 3 set to launch in March 2016, coinciding with the Windows 10 version.

As far as guest characters are concerned, I think Lara Croft could give Orchid a run for her money...

Source: Killer Instinct on Twitch

This week we're looking at comments from Xbox marketing chief Aaron Greenberg, fresh updates for Killer Instinct, new details on Final Fantasy XV, and... EA's Instagram woes?

We're also giving away a copy of Disney Infinity 3.0 (Starter Pack) to one lucky commenter! Simply leave a reply and join the discussion for a chance to win.

Every week, I collect some of the biggest Xbox news, rumors and talking points into one handy post every weekend. You can also rely on this weekly column to catch up with all the latest game releases.

Welcome to the latest edition of This Week in Xbox One News.

Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg offers insights into Xbox's 2016 line-up in a new interview

IGN recently interviewed Xbox marketing chief Aaron Greenberg for a whopping 90 minutes. Throughout the interview, Greenberg discusses Xbox history, his role at the company and much more – if you're a fan of Xbox, it's definitely worth checking out. If you're after some highlights, then look no further.

Scalebound is an upcoming Xbox One exclusive from Platinum Games, famed for Metal Gear Rising and Bayonetta. The game was originally slated to launch this year but has been delayed into early 2017 – partially to further improve the game, and partially for strategic reasons.

"As we're looking at the lineup for this year, and where [Platinum] are [with Scalebound], what their aspirations are – that game is super-aspirational. We want to be able to give them enough time and resources to do that. So strategically, give it time to breathe; let's make sure we can give it enough space. First and foremost, always make sure the game is great."

New IP can be tough to bring to market, as there are no previous mass-market expectations and comparatively fewer word-of-mouth discussions to draw people in. By shipping the game in early 2017, when there's typically a drought of heavy-hitters, Scalebound will get the spotlight attention it deserves, and won't have to compete with staple brands like Call of Duty for attention.

On the topic of console wars, Greenberg emphasized that the rivalry is a lot friendlier than forums, and social media would have you believe:

"We play and compete, but after the game we shake hands. We all feel really fortunate that we get to work in this industry. And while we compete, there's a [mutual] admiration. It's how we connect and what makes this industry so special and unique. There's no hatred or any of that. I think what you see, unfortunately, sometimes online, is not really reflective. We're human people; we're often friends. We'll go out to dinners and spend time together. We obviously don't share secrets. But at the end of the day, it's a closer, friendlier industry than what people think."

Regarding the upcoming shared-world pirate game Sea of Thieves, Aaron Greenberg noted that he'd played a prototype of the game, which featured core mechanics without the visual polish that'll ship with the final product.

Aaron discussed the freedom Sea of Thieves will afford players, and referenced how players will have to work together to properly manage their ships using humorous examples:

"So we were playing with Kudo [Tsunoda] and Phil [Spencer], so Kudo just jumps in the water and jumps onto another ship, he goes AWOL. Then you don't see him for a while and then he comes back around and starts blasting cannons at their ship. On the other hand, there's this guy called Hanno Lemke who runs our European studios now and Rare reports to him, and he's a super high-integrity guy. We've been in meetings all day, and I'm like 'I'm finally playing games!' So I start running around and start hitting him with a fish. And he's like, 'What are you doing? There's water down below. We've got to raise the anchor; we gotta set the sales...' So he starts putting me to work. You know, it's just a fun example of an early prototype of the game. But it's just so much fun."

Aaron also provided insights into how the studio goes about marketing Xbox products, developing games, and snippets about how Satya Nadella has steered the company's culture in a new direction. Even if you're not a Xbox fan, the interview provides a unique insight into the way Microsoft works on the consumer side of things. I highly recommend checking it out.

Killer Instinct trailer reveals Kim Wu, Halo's Arbiter

Forming part of Microsoft's 2016 Xbox line-up is Killer Instinct's Season 3, and yesterday saw the latest addition to the fighting game's ever-expanding roster. Kim Wu is a demon killing martial-artist, complete with Chinese spirit dragons. At the end of Kim Wu's trailer, Iron Galaxy teased the next K.I. guest character, who happens to be none other than Halo's Arbiter.

Since the inclusion of Rash from Battletoads, Iron Galaxy said the studio are planning to introduce more characters from other franchises into the game – and delivering the Arbiter shows their commitment.

Season 3 will also include tons of balance changes to the fighting game, which are listed in detail right here. Killer Instinct will also return to the prestigious EVO fighting game tournament this summer for the third time.

I'm thinking about doing a round-up for the best Microsoft-owned characters that would Killer Instinct as playable guests. RAAM from Gears of War is an obvious choice, but what about an Age of Empires priest? Who would you like to see in Killer Instinct? Let us know in the comments.

Square Enix reveals latest Final Fantasy XV battle footage

Final Fantasy XV has been in development for over a decade, and this year, we'll finally see the game launched on Xbox One. To celebrate, Square Enix are holding a March event in Los Angeles titled Uncovered, where further details on the long-awaited 15th entry in the core Final Fantasy series.

In the video, we see the game's protagonist, Noctis, and his A.I. companions infiltrate a Niflheim military base, complete with gigantic Magitek mechs and stealth-assassination gameplay. It's not long before the team is discovered, and we get a look at the real-time acrobatic combat Square Enix prototyped in Final Fantasy Type-0. The trailer also reveals Aranea, a Dragoon commander in the antagonistic Niflheim army.

As a fan of the classic series, seeing Final Fantasy chase a broader audience with simplified hack-and-slash combat is a tad frustrating, but as Type-0 demonstrated, a compromise between those classic strategic elements and real time combat does seem possible. Hopefully, both fans of the classic and modern Final Fantasy games will find something to enjoy in Final Fantasy XV.

If you'd like to know more about Final Fantasy XV's on-going development, director Hajime Tabata discussed the game for an hour on Square Enix's Active Battle Time Report. Check that out right here.

Instagram users flood EA with requests for Skate 4

Some gamers turn to Petition.org to make demands of developers, and others try to rouse interest with impassioned essays on Reddit's game boards. Others turn to NeoGAF, stirring discussions on its popular forum, in hopes that a publisher may take notice, others might spam individual devs on Twitter. Fans of EA's skateboarding franchise Skate however, have adopted a different approach.

Like many big publishers, EA ensures it has a social media presence on all of the big networks. EA has various YouTube channels, Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, but also, an Instagram feed, full of pictures from its upcoming titles. Rather than discussing the topics presented by EA's social media team, however, Instagram users have been flooding the comments sections with "Skate 4", and variants thereof.

There hasn't been a core Skate title since the Xbox 360 days back in 2007. The campaign might've erupted from the over-hyped and underwhelming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5, which attempted to bank on nostalgia for its beloved PS1 classics but failed to deliver due to bugs, uninspiring designs and various other issues. The game languishes at a shocking 38% on Metacritic.

I think it's a safe bet that EA has received the Skate feedback loud and clear. I'll bet we'll see a Skate 4 announcement sooner rather than later, perhaps at EA's public showcase events later this year.

Giveaway – Disney Infinity 3.0 Xbox One Starter Kit

In honor of Richard Devine's Disney Infinity 3.0 obsession, we're giving away a Xbox One starter kit! Disney Infinity 3.0 features a Star Wars action adventure and various other game modes suitable for all ages. It also comes with the tools necessary to start a Disney Infinity model collection, if you have the wallet for it!

The winner was jdnorthwest, congrats! Check back next week for another giveaway.

ICYMI - Some of Windows Central's biggest Xbox articles of the week

• ColorWare now offering custom Xbox One Elite Controllers
• EA, sort of, estimates that Microsoft has sold 19 million Xbox One consoles
• EA plans to release new Battlefield, Titanfall and Mass Effect games by April 2017
• Community Calendar app now available to all Xbox One owners
• Xbox Live now boasts 48 million active users up from 39 million from last quarter
• Dying Light: The Following opens up a whole new world for the acclaimed zombie thriller
• Xbox Beta app for Windows 10 now shows Xbox news, trending content and more
• Elite Dangerous expansion 'Horizons' heading to Xbox One before Q4 2016
• EA outlines incoming updates to Star Wars Battlefront, season pass to include the Death Star
• Review: Resident Evil Zero HD — timeless classic or dead and buried?

New Xbox One game releases for the week ending January 31st, 2016

Level 22 - Stealth / Strategy & Simulation - Moving Player

"THE FIRST STEALTH GAME SET IN THE MERCILESS AND FRENETIC WORLD OF WORK! Are You Late For Work? Start Panicking!"

This War of Mine: The Little Ones - Action & Adventure / Strategy & Simulation - Deep Silver

"In war, not everyone is a soldier: This War Of Mine: The Little Ones provides a gritty, dramatic and thought provoking experience of war through the perspective of a group of civilians that are trying to survive."

The Living Dungeon - Strategy & Simulation - RadiationBurn

"Bring the excitement of playing a dungeon tournament board game to your screen, in beautiful gruesome detail. There really is nothing quite like The Living Dungeon."

AIPD - Shooter - Blazing Badger

"Enter the AI arena and fight evil artificial intelligences with a variety of weapons and modifications. AIPD is a top-down coop twin-stick shooter with a visual style that is an homage to 80s neon art styles, pioneered by games like Minestorm on the Vectrex console system or feature films like TRON."

Amazing Princess Sarah - Platformer - Haruneko Entertainment

"You are Sarah, princess of the peaceful realm of Kaleiya. The quiet life of your kingdom was lost the day your father was seduced and then kidnapped by Lilith, a demon mistress. Her only desire is to dominate your empire and kill you."

Sparkle 2 - Puzzle & Trivia - 10tons

"A long time ago five enchanted keys were created. The keys were scattered around mysterious lands and still remain undiscovered. Many have come to find them, and so far all have failed. Will you find the keys and unlock the secrets, or will you join the endless ranks of souls forever trapped within these lands?"

LEGO® Marvel's Avengers - Action & Adventure - Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.

"Avengers Assemble! The best-selling LEGO® Marvel video game franchise returns with a new action-packed, Super Hero adventure."

And that's a wrap!

This week I've been hitting The Division's closed beta hard, and will be sharing my thoughts in greater detail here on Windows Central in the near future. As a sneak peek though, the experience on offer in The Division's extremely limited beta was equal parts tantalizing and exciting. Polished gunplay, deep RPG systems, and incredibly detailed world design have all the makings of a blockbuster for Ubisoft, whether or not the full game can fully deliver remains to be seen. I've also been hitting Gigantic's closed beta this week, which I can't discuss due to a non-disclosure agreement... (I hope they won't mind me saying that it's also rather awesome so far.)

What have you guys been playing this week? Let us know in the comments for a chance to win Disney Infinity 3.0!

This week we're looking at comments on Gears of War 4's visuals, graphical upgrades for Killer Instinct in Season 3, The Division's talent options, D.I.C.E. awards and more!

We're also giving away a digital copy of Unravel to one lucky commenter! Simply leave a reply and join the discussion for a chance to win.

Every week, I collect some of the biggest Xbox news, rumors and talking points into one handy post every weekend. You can also rely on this weekly column to catch up with all the latest game releases.

Welcome to the latest edition of This Week in Xbox One News.

Gears of War 4 set to be a 'graphical showcase' for the Xbox One

Gears of War studio head Rod Fergusson joined The Official Xbox Magazine to discuss Gears of War 4, set to feature in OXM's March 2016 issue. Rod Fergusson hailed the lessons Microsoft's internal Gears studio — The Coalition — learned while working on Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and how 60 frames per second boosts the multiplayer experience.

"Delivering [with Ultimate Edition] the first 60fps multiplayer experience in franchise history really taught us a lot about what it means to have a 60fps culture on the team and we're leveraging that experience for Gears of War 4."

As reported by Nerdleaks.com, Rod Fergusson noted how Halo 5: Guardians set standards for visuals on the Xbox One, hoping that Gears of War 4 can achieve similar results:

"Like how the original Gears of War was a visual showcase for the Xbox 360, Gears of War 4 will be a graphical showcase for the Xbox One."

Microsoft purchased the rights to Gears of War back in 2014, and various key personnel from Epic Games jumped ship to work on the series' next installment. Gears of War 4 will utilize Unreal Engine 4 to produce its visuals, which have already been shown off in the trailer above, taken from last year's E3.

Gears of War 4 is expected to land in Fall, 2016, and those who purchased Gears of War: Ultimate Edition copies have guaranteed access to the upcoming multiplayer beta.

Killer Instinct will receive improved graphics with Season 3

Speaking of graphics, Killer Instinct's upcoming Season 3 update will improve the game's visuals in various ways. Microsoft's in-house fighter has already seen graphical improvements over the years, from resolution bumps to texture tweaks, but Season 3 will introduce even more features as detailed via the official Killer Instinct website:

"In terms of visuals, we are adding new graphics technology; reflection tech for the stages; re-introducing screen space color adjustments that work with gameplay; adding an all-new dynamic lighting system that provides greater realism and interaction for the characters and stages. Not only will Season 3 feature this new lighting, but we've gone back and re-lit everything for Season 1 and 2 as well. We can't wait for our fans to see the enhancements of KI's visuals!"

"Our lighting system was very specialized, and it was time for an overhaul. We met as a team to ideate and decided to use a system that allowed us to obtain dynamic lighting for the game, but work with our existing game engine. Once in place, our stages were completely re-lit utilizing the new tools while characters received updates to their lighting probes, which allows them to interact with the stage lighting. Characters now composite into the scenes in a way that is really believable – allowing for good integration/compositing while maintaining readability – especially important in a fighting game. We are now able to get realistic bounce and fill lighting on the characters and we are using strong rim lighting (from behind) to further pull the characters out from the background."

Killer Instinct Season 3 will bring a ton of new characters, features and other improvements, but most importantly a PC version, available via the Windows 10 Store complete with cross-platform play and DLC purchases. Adding a PC version should give the fighting game a large boost, as it goes head to head with the PS4/PC exclusive Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat X and various other fighting games set to launch in the coming months.

The Division's 24 talents detailed in new video, skills calculator now available

YouTube gaming aficionado Arekkz has released a detailed video explaining just how The Division's talent system works, ahead of the game's March 8th launch.

The Division is very much an RPG, allowing you to customize your playstyle using talents and skills out of combat. As you progress the game's story, you'll unlock both skills and passive talents that trigger effects when certain conditions are met. You can equip four talents at any one time, and there's no limit on which types you can choose from — you could pick talents from across all three trees, or stick entirely to a single one. Medical talents and skills improve your ability to play a healing/support role; tech generally improves your offensive capabilities, and security increases your defensive abilities and mobility on the battlefield.

If you want to get a better look at The Division's skills, talents, and perks, as noted by Arekkz, reddit user Miodec has created a detailed interactive skill calculator, using information taken directly from the game. If you're planning on picking up The Division, it might be worth a bookmark.

The Division launches on March 8th, 2016 for Xbox One, PC, and PS4, and Xbox One owners will get 30 days early access to the game's DLC.

Elite Dangerous fleet gives us a glimpse at the center of the galaxy

Elite Dangerous is a futuristic space simulator, available on consoles exclusively for Xbox One. Elite Dangerous' players share the same servers, and the game uses instancing to prevent groups from negatively impact the game's stability. The self-styled Distant Worlds expedition was able to gather over 50 commanders at the location of Sagittarius A*, widely expected to be the real-world location of a supermassive black hole. The result is this stunning video, showing how faithful Frontier Developments have been when it comes to creating their scientific 1:1 scale simulation of our galaxy.

The Distant Worlds expedition is ambitiously attempting to travel a cross section of the Milky Way, surveying planets as they go. You can check out a detailed plan of their journey on the official Elite Dangerous forums here.

Elite Dangerous for Xbox One is expected to receive the Horizons expansion season sometime before Q4, 2016, bringing with it planetary landings and much more.

Ori and the Blind Forest cleans up at the D.I.C.E. Awards; Todd Howard teases future Bethesda projects

This past week saw the 19th annual D.I.C.E. award ceremony, which took place in Las Vegas. The D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit honors the achievements of the video game industry and its key figures, and Microsoft Studios' published titles took home several prizes.

Ori and the Blind Forest took home prizes for Outstanding Achievements in Art Direction, Music, and Animation while Rise of the Tomb Raider's Lara Croft took home a prize for Outstanding Achievement in Character. Additionally, Forza Motorsport 6 beat out Need for Speed and Project Cars for Racing Game of the Year.

Fallout 4 took the prize for Game of the Year, beating Ori and the Blind Forest, Rise of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the PS4 exclusive Bloodborne. D.I.C.E. also honored Hideo Kojima with an induction into the Hall of Fame, and Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Head over to GameSpot for the full list of awards and nominees.

During the D.I.C.E. Summit, Bethesda's Todd Howard teased what's next for the studio behind The Elder Scrolls and Fallout:

"We have three longer-term projects we're doing that are all... we'll talk about them at a much future date. But they're different than anything we've done before while also being a Bethesda-style game — big and crazy. But in many ways different than things we've done before."

Not much to go on, but it is (hopefully) inevitable that at least one of those projects includes Elder Scrolls VI.

Giveaway – Digital copy of Unravel for Xbox One

Unravel stole the show at last year's EA E3 briefing, and here's your chance to let it steal your heart on Xbox One! Unravel is a high-quality physics platformer, complete with detailed 3D backdrops and increasingly complex puzzles. You'll guide Yarny, a magical creature made of string on an adventure to recover memories of the past.

One lucky commenter (chosen at random) will receive a digital key for the Xbox One version of Unravel!

The winner was MatsPers!

ICYMI - Some of Windows Central's biggest Xbox articles of the week

• More signs of a BioShock collection emerge for PC, Xbox One and 360
• Microsoft confirms keyboard and mouse support is still coming to the Xbox One
• Quantum Break goes gold over a month before its April Xbox One-Windows 10 release
• Grab the Fallout 4 Season Pass before it jumps up in price, with an extra 20% off
• Just Cause 3 flies into the future with the Sky Fortress expansion
• The next Xbox One system update will add new social features on Feb. 19
• Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 free trial available for Xbox One and PC
• Quantum Break's arrival on PC won't hurt the Xbox One
• Prepare for the end with these tips for The Flame in the Flood, coming soon to Xbox One and PC
• Review: Digging deep into Cobalt for Xbox and PC

New Xbox One game releases for the week ending February 21st, 2016

Wondershot - Action & Adventure, Family, Other - Leikir Studio

"Wondershot is a local multiplayer battle arena! You have only one ammo and one life to defeat your opponent. If you miss your shot, your ammo will be lost on the map and you need to pick it up without dying. You can play 1 to 4 players. Each round, your weapon changes and the map does too."

Lords of the Fallen Digital Complete Edition - Role Playing - CI Games, Deck 13

"Plunge into the new Digital Complete Edition of Lords of the Fallen! Master the Challenge in the Ancient Labyrinth expansion containing a new location, loot and enemies led by a powerful new Lord."

Rocket League - Sports & Recreation - Psyonix

"Soccer meets driving once again in the award-winning, physics-based multiplayer-focused sequel to Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars! Choose a variety of high-flying vehicles equipped with huge rocket boosters to score amazing aerial goals and pull off incredible, game-changing saves!"

Layers of Fear - Action & Adventure, Horror - Aspyr Media

"You take another drink as the canvas looms in front of you. A light flickers dimly in the corner. You've created countless pieces of art, but never anything like…this. Why haven't you done this before? It seems so obvious in retrospect. Your friends, critics, business partners—soon, they'll all see. But something's still missing…"

Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae - Action & Adventure - ZENITH BLUE

"High school girls + Japanese swords! Enter the arena, take on a swarm of enemies and leave none standing in this action-fuelled indie game. Collect skill points to upgrade your techniques and confront even greater foes."

Pixel Piracy - Strategy & Simulation - 505 Games

"Presented by the creators of TERRARIA. Lead the life of a pirate captain in this open world sim! Recruit a crew, outfit them, customize your ship and set sail on the open seas! There you'll use any combination of aggression, diversion and trade to become the most infamous pirate crew of the seven seas!"

And that's a wrap!

This week we've been addicted to Rocket League, The Flame In The Flood and Far Cry Primal in equal measure. January through to April is typically regarded as a slow period for games, but between the titles mentioned earlier, Oxenfree, Unravel, Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, The Division, Dying Light: The Following, Hitman and Quantum Break, Q1-2 2016 already looks set to buck the trend.

As always, join the discussion in the comments for a chance to win this week's giveaway, and check out our Xbox, Windows, and Microsoft OneCast show over here, with a new episode every week!

Halo fans will be able to control one of the shooter game series's most popular characters, the alien Arbiter, as one of the new fighters in Killer Instinct Season 3. The season begins sometime in early March for both the Xbox One and Windows 10 platforms.

A new gameplay trailer shows the Arbiter in action, as he uses a number of different attacks, some of which include his energy sword and his Covenant Carbine. He also uses his cloaking abilities as well. In addition to the Arbiter, Killer Instinct Season 3 will add seven more fighters, including Kim Wu and Tusk, along with Rash from the Battletoads game franchise.

Source: Halo (YouTube)

The long-awaited debut of the Killer Instinct fighting game series on Windows 10 will happen on March 29. That's when Iron Galaxy and publisher Microsoft will release Killer Instinct Season 3, which will debut on the Xbox One console on the same day.

As previously reported, some of the new characters that will be added to Season 3 include a version of Halo's Arbiter (sadly, not the one voice by actor Keith David) along with Battletoads' Rash. Kim Wu and Tusk will also be made available, and other characters are still waiting in the wings to be revealed.

Source: Microsoft

One of the classic characters from the original Killer Instinct fighting series, the Conan-like barbarian Tusk, will be coming back for Killer Instinct Season Three for the Xbox One and Windows 10 platforms. Tusk now has a full trailer to show off some of his moves.

Tusk will join with Halo's Arbiter, Battletoads' Rash and Kim Wu to make up four of the eight new fighters that will be included in Killer Instinct Season 3. The other four characters have yet to be revealed. The game will be released on March 29 and will include cross-play and cross-purchase support for the Windows 10 and Xbox One versions.

Source: Killer Instinct (YouTube)