Xbox – Syndication Server

Microsoft is offering big discounts Xbox Series X|S for the holidays

Black Friday may be over, but Microsoft is still feeling the spirit of bargains, with some big Xbox Series X|S sales going on right now

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Black Friday may be over, but Microsoft is still feeling the spirit of bargains, with some big Xbox Series X|S sales going on right now. Many of Microsoft’s Xbox Black Friday deals are actually sticking around, including a pretty sweet console bundle deal.

If you’re just after a console, you get them at a respectable discount for the time being. Microsoft is offering the Xbox Series X for $399.99, which is $100 off its usual $499.99 price. The console comes with 1TB of memory and one Xbox controller. While it doesn’t come with any games, you can purchase a console Game Pass subscription for $1 for your first month and $9.99 per month after that. Game Pass gives you access to hundreds of games, including Bethesda’s library, a hefty number of Sega games, and some of the best indie games around.

The Series S – a smaller, digital-only, less powerful alternative – is going for $249. It normally costs $299.99. Xbox is running a special on the Series S Starter Bundle as well, which gets you the system and three months of Game Pass Ultimate for $239.99. Game Pass Ultimate includes Game Pass for console and PC, so if you game on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you have a pretty solid selection of games to choose from on your PC as well.

You can also grab a Series X bundled with a digital version of Diablo 4 for $399.99, which is essentially giving you a free copy of the game. There’s a similar bundle that includes Forza Horizon 5 instead, and it’s also going for $399.99.

Other retailers, including Amazon, have similar offers running, though the stock and pricing seem to fluctuate a bit more unreliable. It’s worth checking, but make sure to keep an eye on Microsoft’s store as well.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox is off to a rough start

Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox is going through a few rough patches and deleting people’s saves, and the problem is an odd one

Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox is going through a few rough patches and deleting people’s saves, and the problem is an odd one. Shortly after Larian surprised launched BG3 on Xbox at The Game Awards 2023 – an announcement Geoff Keighley cut short, like he did every other acceptance speech – people started encountering game crashes.

That’s not entirely unusual. BG3’s PS5 launch was pretty rough as well, but several players started noticing their save files vanished when they rebooted the game. That’s definitely not usual. Larian posted a statement on Twitter acknowledging the situation and said Microsoft published an Xbox firmware update that should address the problem.

It didn’t. Microsoft support stepped in and said the Xbox team is working on a solution to the missing save files problem, and they have a temporary solution to, hopefully, hold you over until it’s permanently fixed.

Xbox is aware of a problem that can cause players to lose saved progress in Baldur’s Gate 3. In order to avoid this issue players should save their game and then return to the Xbox dashboard and select “Quit Game” or “Save to Quick Resume” from the game menu (Home, Game, Select,…

— Xbox Support (@XboxSupport) December 12, 2023

“In order to avoid this issue players should save their game and then return to the Xbox dashboard and select ‘Quit Game’ or ‘Save to Quick Resume’ from the game menu (Home, Game, Select, and then choose ‘Save to Quick Resume’ or ‘Quit’) when they finish playing,” Xbox support said. “Users should not disconnect their console from the power. Users should select ‘shut down’ from the console menu and leave their Xbox connected to power.”

Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t on Game Pass, so if you’ve thought about diving in on Xbox, you might want to hold off buying it until Larian and Microsoft sort the problem out.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

All upcoming video games in 2024 – Final Fantasy, The Last of Us, and more

The list of video games in 2024 is already looking pretty packed, even in just the first few months for PS5, Switch, and Xbox

The list of video games in 2024 is already looking pretty packed, even in just the first few months. You’ve got remakes, ports, long-awaited new games, and more. The year is frontloaded with Persona 3 remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Dragon’s Dogma 2, with plenty of smaller releases peppered in between, including Unicorn Overlord (it’s a thing) and Eiyuden Chronicle. While most of the games are for PS5 and Switch, some are multiplatform, and there’s plenty of Xbox exclusives slated for launch sometime later in the year.

The best Xbox Black Friday deals on the Xbox Store

We’ve rounded up the best Xbox Black Friday deals on the Xbox Store, including Cyberpunk 2077, Monster Hunter Rise, Sekiro, and more

Xbox Black Friday deals on the Xbox Store are live, with discounts on big names across the spectrum. Whether you’re after a Fromsoft classic, a recent AAA blockbuster, or an older hit you never got around to before, you’ll find plenty to entertain your wallet while these deals last. Most of the games available playable on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, though we’ve noted when there may be a conflict.

The Xbox Black Friday deals are up now through Nov. 30, 2023.

Xbox Game Pass games for November 2023

The Xbox Game Pass games for November 2023 include a new Yakuza game, some creative RPGs, and a meditative indie game about climbing

Microsoft announced the Xbox Game Pass games for November 2024, and there’s quite a lot headed to Xbox’s subscription service in the month’s first half. A new Yakuza game, some inventive RPGs, and a handful of cozy farm games are just a few of the games headed to PC and console. There’s a handful of games leaving as well, including Coffee Talk, so make sure to set aside some time to get through them before it’s too late, if you can.

Microsoft is banning some third-party Xbox controllers soon

Microsoft is starting to block third-party Xbox controllers, giving users two weeks to find something else for their Series X|S

If you use a third-party Xbox controller, there’s a good chance you might have to switch to something else soon. Microsoft is starting to block third-party Xbox controllers, though why software giant opted to ban third-party accessories is a bit of a mystery (thanks, The Verge).

The problem started showing up sporadically on Resetera, as users reported receiving an unusual message when they plugged in their controllers.

“So I bought a third-party Hall Effect controller compatible with Xbox Series X/S and I plugged in the wireless dongle and it says come November Microsoft will be blocking ‘unauthorized accessories,’” one user wrote. “So now I’m returning the controller and my wife is going to open up our current controller and try and fix the stick drift.”

“Authorized” third-party controllers are those you’ll find in the “Designed for Xbox Hardware Program from some of the bigger names in third-party console accessories, including 8BitDo, Nacon, and Razer. The Verge speculates Microsoft wants to cut down on cheating from devices such as the Cronus Zen, though it leaves some players who just want an alternative to the official Xbox controller out in the cold.

A common threat in Resetera comments is how less expensive third-party controllers offered a better alternative to the more expensive Xbox controller, which also tends to suffer from stick drift pretty frequently. It presents a problem for the fighting game community as well, a group that almost always uses third-party options that don’t come from the Xbox Partner program – and are usually more affordable.

“This is essentially a death sentence for local fighting game events that run on Xbox, much less, others that can only afford one arcade stick,” Maximillian Dood, a popular YouTuber and fighting game enthusiast, wrote on Twitter.

Heyo @XboxP3 @Xbox @mattbooty This is essentially a death sentence for local fighting game events that run on Xbox, much less, others that can only afford one arcade stick. The @brookgamingfans converters are not cheat devices. They’re a huge boon to the FGC. Please reconsider! https://t.co/85rqlfXm4i

— Maximilian Dood (@maximilian_) October 30, 2023

Microsoft made no official announcement about it, aside from a brief blurb on the Xbox support website.

“From the moment you connect an unauthorized accessory and receive error code 0x82d60002, you’ll have two weeks to use the accessory, after which time it will then be blocked from use with the console,” the note reads. At that time, you’ll receive error code 0x82d60003. We encourage you to contact the store or manufacturer where you obtained the accessory to get help with returning it.”

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

13 horror games on Game Pass that you have to play

We’ve rounded up 13 of the best horror games on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, whether you’re allergic to scares or need something terrifying

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Your selection of horror games on Game Pass includes nearly every possible subgenre. You’ve got first-person thrillers, multiplayer games, roguelike scares, lighthearted humor, and some so frightening that you’ll think twice before looking into a mirror again. Best of all, since they’re on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, you can try them on either platform without fear of getting in too far over your head.

We’ve rounded up over a dozen of the best horror games on Game Pass for Xbox and PC to try, whether you’re allergic to scares or need something downright terrifying.

Xbox Partner Preview recap: Alan Wake 2, cozy dungeon crawlers, and more

Here’s every Xbox Partner showcase announcement, including a new Alan Wake 2 trailer and a first look at Metal Gear Solid 3 remake gameplay

The first Xbox Partner Showcase popped up out of the blue and went just as fast. Xbox’s take on the Nintendo Direct format showcased roughly a half hour of reveals and new trailers for indie games and blockbuster AAA projects alike, including Dungeons of Hinterbeg and Metal Gear Solid 3 Delta. While there wasn’t a whole lot of actual new information, we did get some pretty big reveals for a few games, most of which are set to launch in the next six months or so.

Starfield’s weirdest ship is officially canon in the space game

One of the most unusual Starfield ships is actually an official creation in the space game, and it’s a pretty clever one at that

One of the most unusual Starfield ships is actually an official creation in the space game, and despite how impractical it looks, it’s a pretty clever design. Reddit user Morfalath posted an image of their… well, it’s technically a ship, but it doesn’t really look like one, and called it the “Unbeatable Ship” (thanks, GamesRadar).

Morfalath created a giant, hollow cube using what looks like storage modules for most of thebody, along with engines placed in strategic locations and a cockpit in the upper right corner. It looks pretty small, but they said it actually ended up maxing out the allotted length, height, and width in the ship builder. The unorthodox design means Morfalath never has to worry about ship combat, as the enemy AI only ever targets a ship’s center.

the (by AI) unbeatable ship (they shoot through the middle)
byu/Morfalath inStarfield

It turns out Bethesda built something similar, and we even unknowingly got a glimpse of it during one of the Starfield showcases. Reddit user DoragonHunter posted a picture from the showcase where the developers are saying what kind of ships they built. If you zoom in, you can see a ship that’s somewhat similar to Morfalath’s, with room modules forming a broad outline around a more traditional ship-like shape.

So even the Bethesda developers even use/show the center ship exploit. (Shown In Starfield Direct – Gameplay Deep Dive)
byu/DoragonHunter inStarfield

The center is still open, though, despite there being a more recognizable cockpit. One Redditer commented that they built an L-shaped ship with a tower and achieved a similar effect, where the enemy just targeted empty air where the center should’ve been.

Evidently, Starfield’s AI takes size into consideration when deciding where the middle is. Size matters if you want to avoid a fight, though you certainly wouldn’t find any of these in our roundup of Starfield ships with the most rizz.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

Xbox’s Phil Spencer teases classic Activision games on Game Pass

Phil Spencer is interested in reviving classic Activision Blizzard games for Xbox Game Pass and being a “custodian” for games history

Xbox head Phil Spencer is interested in reviving classic Activision Blizzard games for Xbox Game Pass and being a “custodian” for games, at least as far as Xbox Games Studios are concerned. Spencer made the comments on the official Xbox podcast a few days after the Xbox-Activision Blizzard deal closed and said Xbox’s goal is encouraging its studios to pursue projects they’re passionate about.

“I just don’t think that a team working on something that isn’t their passion leads to the best result,” Spencer said. “So I might have my list of things from my memories and history that I want to see made again. Everybody will.”

“When I just think about, not just about Activision-Blizzard-King, you add in Bethesda, you add in Xbox’s history, Rare… the amount of franchises that we now have in our portfolio is kind of inspiring,”. “It’s daunting. I feel that we have to be a great custodian for the content that we touch.”

Spencer said that when an Xbox studio does bring a game back to life, he wants to make sure they do it with motivation and a desire to work on it without a mandate hanging over them.

There’s probably a good reason for Spencer saying that. Arkane’s Redfall was reportedly made by a team that didn’t want to make the game Redfall turned into, but had no choice as first Bethesda and then Xbox pushed for a multiplayer, live-service game. Spencer then said that Arkane didn’t meet its own creative goals and was taking feedback on improvement.

He also said Game Pass provides studios an opportunity to experiment with projects that might not warrant more intensive budgets. Pentiment, the medieval mystery game from Obsidian, was one such project, a game that only exists thanks to Game Pass and found not only its niche on the platform, but critical acclaim as well.

Activision Blizzard certainly has a robust portfolio of classic games to dig through. From Pitfall and the FPS classic Hexen, to licensed games like X-Men and Star Trek, and even some more niche games, including the Lost Kingdoms RPG on Gamecube. Sure, we called it one of the worst Gamecube games, but maybe a fresh coat of paint and some tweaks could help make it a bit better.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF