Category: Xbox

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2404.240328-2200)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Beta ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN25398.4073.240328-2200
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – April 1, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – April 2, 2024

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

System

  • Various stability and performance fixes.

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2404.240328-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Get To Know Our Team: Andrew – Customer Experience Manager

Get To Know Our Team
Andrew
Customer Experience Manager

Hi, everyone! Wynn here again. Welcome back to another Xbox Insider Team interview. Today’s chat is with Andrew—a Customer Experience Manager on the team who definitely has more Xbox 360 games than you do.

How’s it going, Andrew?

Ha. Going well, Wynn. You didn’t have to call me out like that right from the top.

If there’s one thing I want Xbox Insiders to know from this interview, it’s that you are Xbox 360’s #1 fan and supporter. It’s like that meme. If there are no more Xbox 360 fans, then we can know you’ve shed your mortal coil.

I can get behind that.

But before we dive into your 7th gen obsessions, let’s take it all the way back. Give us the backstory. What started your interest in games?

I’ve been playing games my entire life, even as a very small child. I’m dating myself a little here, but my first console was an Atari Pong home console.

That’s about as OG as you can get.

Yup! And I’ve been playing ever since. All the way from Mario to Halo, which is really what got me heavily into the Xbox ecosystem.

Did you find your love for the 360 before or after you started here?

Before. I was on that train immediately. You remember the Xbox Live Arcade when it first launched? I was sitting on my console every Wednesday getting almost every single game as it came out. It’s really my love for the 360 that made me want to start working at Xbox. I grew up in rural Ohio, so it wasn’t really a big tech hub.

So how long ago did you get hired?

I think around 13 years ago or so. Right at the start of the 2010s I got hired to do Twitter Support for Xbox. I was one of those old agents where we’d reply to tweets or DMs with our initials.

Oh wow! I actually did something similar when I was in the retail stores. If you clicked “Support” on Outlook Mobile in like 2015-2017, you may have talked to me. It’s a tougher job than people might think.

Yeah, you talk people through so many different issues every day. You become a very well-oiled support machine after a while.

Absolutely. If I tried hard enough, I could probably remember some of the error codes.

Same here. I remember many.

So, how long did you did work on Support?

Well, I did the Twitter stuff for about six years. Worked my way up the ladder before I moved over to a program management position on the Support Team. Then, I did that for a few years before moving to the Insider team where I still kinda do a lot of support. So, really in some ways, I’m still Support, but I left the official “Support” organization back in 2021.

Is there anything you’re currently working on that you can tell the Xbox Insider community about?

I’m not working on too much for Xbox Insider specifically right now, though I’m always trying to improve the features we flight through the program. I guess the most interesting stuff I’m doing—that would also be interesting to this audience—is that I’m working on all of our legacy Xbox 360 services.

Okay, that’s sick.

Yeah, I’ve been on that team for a while now and it’s something I’m extremely passionate about. I believe we have to do everything we can to best preserve and appreciate our history before we can truly move into the future.

I’m fully with you there on that man. I know I joked about it before, but I want to let our readers know that you do have almost every physical Xbox 360 disc.

Well, every North American disc. I don’t have a PAL or JPN 360 yet, so I don’t purposefully collect those at the moment.

My JPN 360 is collecting dust, but I have a bunch of Visual Novels that I should play sometime on it. Since we’re talking about your favorite system, do you have a favorite moment in time from working on it since you’ve been here?

Man, I’ve done so many things actually for the Xbox 360, but I can’t really talk about most of them; even in retrospect. But I do have one of my most cherished game collections items from working here.

Let’s hear it.

So, when I started back in 2011, I was already pounding my drum about much I love the blades on the old 360 dashboard.

I think if you listen hard enough, that’s a chorus of voices from our community shouting out in agreement right now.

Haha. I still think it’s the greatest console operating system of all time. But yeah, I was really passionate about telling everyone I could how much I loved that OS. Fast forward to around 2017-2018, I had just transferred over to a new CSS role, and I was talking about my love for the blades with my new team. Well, a long-tenured teammate showed up at my office about a week later. Turns out, he worked on the hardware team, and he had an old 360 that still had the blades dashboard on it stored in his archives. He gifted it to me and now It’s one of my favorite things I own. A true gem in my collection that means a lot to me personally.

I love that so much. I would give a not-insignificant portion of a paycheck to figure out what all we have buried in offices around campus. So many cool systems hidden away.

Yeah man. Some people have held onto some really cool stuff for the entire 20-year run.

Okay, let’s move on to some of the more rapid-fire stuff.

What’s a game that’s had the biggest impact on you throughout the years?

Hmm. I’m not sure I can pick just one. But there’s an evolution in my tastes and my interest in the medium over time. Like Pong was my intro to games and I thought it was pretty cool, but the first Super Mario Bros. is when I knew I was going to be playing them for the rest of my life.

It’s hard to understate just how revolutionary it was to have played that in that time period.

Exactly. It paved the way for so much. Even growing up my favorite game, and probably still my favorite game of all time is Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. I would play that game over and over and over. I never get tired of it. If I move more into my adult life, I think that the ones that impacted me the most are Portal and Braid. Portal because it taught me to actually enjoy stories in games, and Braid because it was the first really challenging puzzle game I played. It unlocked design-language in my mind that I just didn’t have previously.

You’re picking just banger after banger. I’m surprised by the Portal pick though. Not because it’s not a great game, but I know you’re what I like to call a “mechanical purist” when it comes to games.

Oh yeah. I really can’t stand text in my games. RPGs are my least-favorite genre ever. I just want to play the game. But the way Portal gave me the mechanical depth, but also kept me interested in the over-arching story from moment to moment gave me a better appreciation for narrative in games.

As someone who probably has more RPGs in my collection than any other genre, my knuckles might be changing colors, but I respect your opinion.

Let’s move on to music though. Favorite albums of all time?

I have twenty-one records framed and hung on the wall of my living room that are the best music ever pressed. But for the sake of brevity, I’ll go with Illmatic by Nas and The Undisputed Truth by Brother Ali.

I could have never in a million years have guessed those answers.

Haha. You expect the typical like Aerosmith or Nirvana? Nah, most of what I listen to is rap and hip-hop from the 80s through the 2010s.

Honestly, I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t those.

So, now I’m curious. How does a white guy from rural Ohio get into this style of music?

I saw the video for Fight the Power on MTV when I was seven years old. It was immediate. Flav drew me in, and Chuck taught me lessons. From there it was a wrap. Rakim, EPMD, LL, De La Soul; you name it, I was listening to it. I definitely got made fun of for liking this type of music growing up in the area where I came from. It wasn’t really until 2Pac blew up that people started getting a little more into it. But even then, I’d try to show someone the new Tribe Called Quest record and they’d call it wack because it was still too different from the hip-hop that was finding wider success at the time.

I love when people go really deep into their musical leanings. I mostly listened to whatever my dad was listening to growing up. It wasn’t until high school that I got into my own music tastes. Lots of “scene” music. Post-hardcore, metalcore, etc. Anything on Rise or Victory or Sumerian. I have so much of that era of music.

I have a ton of CDs. Like, probably over five thousand of them back home in Ohio arranged by release date. I knew just about everything there was in the hip hop world from the 80s until 2010. But there were like 10 different albums dropping every day and I couldn’t keep up anymore.

Five THOUSAND?!

Yeah man. I spent like all of my money as a kid on CDs. I remember this one time I skipped a school field trip to walk to the record store and get the new Ghostface album.

That was the era before Spotify and everything. How did you even find that much music?

In the mid to late 90s, a rapper named Big L got me really into the underground scene and I’d listen to radio from everywhere. 888hiphop.com, PhillaFlavaDrop.com, Rhymesayers.net, I was super into this stuff. I’d go watch battles and see people before they blew up. It was just a world I was fully immersed in.

Dude, I want to spend another hour talking about all of this, but we gotta wrap up soon. Especially since this next question I tailor made for you.

Do you have any TV shows that you always have on in the background?

Ha! Okay, you got me. Yes, I’ve probably had 4-5 episodes of Friends playing on my TV every day for as long as the show has been off-air. Well, that and South Park.

Way back when I originally had the idea for these, the reason this question came up is we had like three meetings together in one day and there was always a show on in the background of your camera. I’m definitely not a “can just listen to it” kind of guy, so I thought it’d be fun to see everyone on the team.

Honestly, I could probably recite a few of my favorite episodes.

Now that’s entertainment. We could maybe charge for that.

Okay, moving away from media, do you have any hobbies outside of the house?

I’m really into sports. I took vacation days to watch the beginning of March Madness. I watch a lot of college football as well.

Wait. I know this one. O-H!

I’m Ohio State’s worst enemy.

Whelp! That backfired. Haha.

Yeah, I’m a Michigan fan.

Even better! You had a great year.

For the first time in my lifetime, yes. I was ecstatic.

Any other teams you enjoy? I won’t risk guessing the Bengals, the Reds, or any other Oihio-based sports entity.

Good! Because I’m all about teams not from my state. Bills, Tar Heels, Penguins, Celts, Pirates. Can’t say I have too much hometown pride there.

Oh. I also really enjoy MMA. I get a group of buddies together and we watch all the PPVs.

As an Atlanta sports fan, I sometimes wish I hadn’t grown up with my hometown teams.

All right, well we’re out of time. Any final thoughts for our Xbox Insiders?

This is going to go back to that idea of preserving history. If there’s a main point in what I’m doing, it’s that I focus on history over the future. I want in 60 years people to still be able to access their games library, and like hand down their Gamertag to their grandkids or whatever. That’s my ideal dream state. My games collection is the most valuable thing I own other than my house, and I know that a lot of people invest their time, money, and energy into these ecosystems. I want to do everything I can to ensure we’re respecting that investment and enabling people to keep playing long after we’ve turned to dust.

That’s powerful stuff man. Incredibly stated.

Andrew, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with everyone today. It’s been great!

Thanks for setting this up, Wynn. Until next time!

Xbox Insiders, be sure to be on the lookout for more content all throughout February including more interviews from the team, a trip down memory lane, and so much more. All of our 10th Anniversary content can be found on our Hub Page.

Until next time! Wynn/

The post Get To Know Our Team: Andrew – Customer Experience Manager appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2404.240327-1930)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Beta ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN25398.4068.240327-1930
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – March 29, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 30, 2024

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

Game Clubs

  • Fixed an unexpected ‘Like’ tooltip that could appear in the Watch area when focus is on the filter.

Home

  • Fixes to address some tiles on Home not navigating as expected, such as when trying to claim Perks.

Settings – Access Restrictions

  • Fixed an issue where disabling installing apps and games would not always behave as expected.

System

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2404.240327-1930) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 1 – 5

Next Week on Xbox Hero Asset

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 1 – 5

This is Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we list all the games that are coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! You can find more information on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for more details (release dates may vary). Let’s get started!


Alchemist: The Potion Monger
Xbox Live

Alchemist: The Potion Monger

Art Games Studio S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

$19.99
Pre-order

Alchemist: The Potion Monger – April 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Alchemist: The Potion Monger is a mixture of simulation puzzle and RPG game, in which you can leave your lab, venture into the world, and change it with your brews! Choose your character “Race” from a wide array of animal types, with their strengths and weaknesses and begin your alchemical journey!


Deceit 2
Xbox Live

Deceit 2

World Makers

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

Get it now

Deceit 2 – April 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

An online social deduction horror game where you can inspire fear as the Terror, play detective as the Innocent, or create mayhem as the Cursed. Who can you trust to help you escape?


Flightpath: Adventures in Venaris
Xbox Live

Flightpath: Adventures in Venaris

Eastasiasoft Limited

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

Get it now

Flight Path: Adventures in Venaris April 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A top-down vertical shoot ’em up where choices presented in certain stages drastically alter the way the narrative unfolds. With multiple paths, unique content for each pilot you choose, specific tasks to complete, procedurally generated levels and unpredictable enemy attack patterns across 10 stages, Flightpath: Adventures in Venaris offers a wealth of replay value as you explore its narrative possibilities!


Knowledge Keeper (Xbox Series X|S)
Xbox Live

Knowledge Keeper (Xbox Series X|S)

Sometimes You

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★


$4.99

$3.99
Pre-order
Free Trial

Knowledge Keeper – April 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Become a keeper of knowledge by collecting shards of divine crystals. Look for the right way to obtain the crystals, avoid dangerous obstacles, and teleport from one space to another to get closer to your goal. Solve tasks on memory, logic, and orientation in space to get to the blocked areas.


Freedom Planet 2
Xbox Live

Freedom Planet 2

XSEED Games / Marvelous USA, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
2
★★★★★


$24.99

$22.49
Pre-order

Freedom Planet 2 – April 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Return to the vibrant world of Avalice to battle an ancient threat in the long-awaited sequel to the surprise indie action-platformer hit, Freedom Planet. With 24 expertly designed stages, an ambitiously expanded Adventure mode, retro-but-refined 2D visuals, and the addition of the highly requested Boss Rush mode, Freedom Planet 2 is the indie darling grown up to become a true platforming power.


Vigour
Xbox Live

Vigour

Weakfish Studio Publishing

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

Get it now

Vigour – April 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

In this puzzle platformer game, you’ll play as a cute bird that must solve challenges with different mechanics per each of the levels, completing them by solving different puzzles for each season. With 30 differently designed levels, will you be able to pass them all?


Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy
Xbox Live

Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy

ChiliDog Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

$5.99
Pre-order

Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy – April 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Enter a world of magic in a stunning new solitaire adventure! Guide a kind-hearted fairy, a noble knight, and a powerful wizard as they pursue the evil witch, Jill, who intends to destroy the knight’s realm and enslave its people.


Sky Survivors
Xbox Live

Sky Survivors

Desert Water Games

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

Get it now

Sky Survivors – April 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

An arena shooter roguelike where you choose from a variety of skills, unlock unique characters, and weapons. Build a sky tower where each floor gives your character a unique bonus. Create your own overpowered build and survive against hordes of monsters!


Super Destronaut Landed X Loaded
Xbox Live

Super Destronaut Landed X Loaded

Ratalaika Games S.L.

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

Get it now

Super Destronaut Landed X Loaded – April 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A 2D arcade with intense, addictive arena-based gameplay. Battle for as long as possible in 10 different arenas, each with its own unique set of challenges. Shoot down enemy combatants and gain special power-up drones that add extra firepower to your side.


Withering Rooms
Xbox Live

Withering Rooms

PERP GAMES

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

Get it now

Withering Rooms – April 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Take on the role of young Nightingale in this challenging 2.5D RPG that draws inspiration from roguelikes, Souls likes, and classic survival horror games. Explore an expansive procedurally generated map of Mostyn House full of hedge mazes, tombs, caves, churches, and ruins that lie beyond its gates. Craft a wide variety of weapons, tools, spells, outfits, and magical artifacts. Encounter a cast of strange friends, merchants, and liars each with their own agenda.

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 1 – 5 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Omega (2404.240325-2200)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Omega ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN25398.4063.240325-2200
  • Available: 4 p.m. PT – March 28, 2024
  • Mandatory: 4 p.m. PT – March 29, 2024

Note: This update may not occur automatically before it has already become mandatory. You can always find the most current update as soon as it is available by opening the Guide > Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates.

Remember: Newly enrolled users in this ring are not guaranteed to receive all early updates, but they’ll receive the update prior to the GA release. Additionally, a small subset of users may remain on their current GA build once they enroll until the next system update becomes mandatory for the public. Visit the Xbox Insider Program FAQ to learn more.

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

Backgrounds

  • Fixes to address an unexpected error when attempting to set a new dynamic background.

System

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Home

  • We are aware some tiles at the top of Home may not navigate as expected, such as when trying to claim Perks, and we’re working on a fix.
    • Workaround: Take an alternate path. For example, if you’re trying to claim Perks, open Game Pass > Perks.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Omega (2404.240325-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Stampede: Racing Royale on Xbox Insider Program – Test Drive the Wild 60-Player Online Kart Racer

Ahem… ‘scuse me, is this thing on?

Hey there! Chris here from the Stampede: Racing Royale team. We’re super excited to bring our upcoming free-to-play racing game to Xbox Insider Program today! Like, right now! If you’re wondering what in the world this is all about, sit back, grab a snack, and let me give you the elevator pitch…

Developed by the racing veterans and all-round swell folks at Sumo Leamington, Stampede: Racing Royale combines the fun and thrill of kart racing, with the tension, competition, and social shenanigans of a battle royale. Imagine dropping into a go-kart and racing in 60-player online events (yes, sixty!), avoiding elimination across three rounds, and competing to become the ultimate champion. Throw in a variety of wild power-ups to deploy, incredible maps to master, and different modes like Battle and Zombies, and you’ve got yourself a tasty cocktail known as ‘Stampede: Racing Royale’.

There’s no point in racing well if you don’t look good doing it, either. This early version of the game already includes over 450 different customisation items to discover, earn, and equip for both your kart and character. From cheese wheels, to pirate costumes, to wearing an octopus on your head (they’re called Ollie!), play and progress to stand out on the track with the rarest and wildest gear.

We may be early on in Stampede’s journey, but there’s still plenty to keep you coming back for one more match. Special Events will mix things up with different scenarios and limited-time rewards to earn. Account levels and kart progression will see you unlock Rare and Legendary gear to show off. Challenges are there to, err, challenge you to complete objectives and win more goodies.

There’s so much more that Stampede will be serving up over time, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. With Early Access kicking off later this year, joining Xbox Insider Program is an opportunity for our wonderful dev team to preview fresh features and additions, and a chance for you to test-drive what we’re building. Whether you’re on Xbox Series X|S or Windows PC, head to the Xbox Insider Hub now, find Stampede: Racing Royale, and jump into the action.

Whilst progress and unlocks unfortunately can’t be carried over once Early Access begins, we wanted to make sure your support for Stampede is rewarded. Play at any time via the Xbox Insider Program and, in a future version of Stampede, we’ll drop an exclusive gift into your account, available only to Xbox Insiders. Just make sure you’re playing on the same Xbox account you used for Xbox Insiders to redeem it.

Our first public playtests in 2023 allowed us to make improvements driven by community feedback, and we’ll be doing exactly the same with Xbox Insider Program. Keep an eye out for surveys and announcements in the Xbox Insider Hub to give your opinion, and share your thoughts on our official Discord server – or just hang out with us there. We’re cool, honest…

Stampede: Racing Royale is all about conquering the chaos with friends and against the world, making memories with fast-paced automotive shenanigans. The 10,000-IQ plays, the epic fails, the sick drifts – all that stuff. So, grab some friends, play, stream, give us your hot takes, and be part of the wildest racing event in existence. Now, where did I leave that homing missile…?

Ready to hit the track?

Note: This playtest has limited capacity and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

  1. Open the Xbox Insider Hub on your Xbox Series X|S or Windows PC.
  2. Navigate to Previews > Stampede: Racing Royale
  3. Select Join.
  4. Wait for registration to complete, and you should be directed to the correct Store Page to install the preview.

Need a pit stop?

If you experience any issues while playing Stampede: Racing Royale, please use “Report a problem” so we can investigate. (Note: This is only for Xbox consoles.)

  1. Hold down the home button on your Xbox controller.
  2. Select Report a problem.
  3. Select the Games category and Stampede: Racing Royale subcategory.
  4. Fill out the form, in detail, and select Submit.

Wanna keep in touch?

Stampede: Racing Royale on X/Twitter || YouTube || TikTok || Instagram

Xbox Insider on X/Twitter || Reddit

The post Stampede: Racing Royale on Xbox Insider Program – Test Drive the Wild 60-Player Online Kart Racer appeared first on Xbox Wire.

How to Make the Most of Cyberpunk 2077 During Xbox Free Play Days for All

Summary

  • A free trial of Cyberpunk 2077 is available on Xbox Series X|S as part of Xbox Free Play Days For All.
  • Players can experience the first five hours of the action-adventure RPG from March 28 to April 1.
  • From high-stakes heists and high-octane shoot outs to street vendors, cyberpsychos, and more, Night City has a lot to offer newcomers.

At CD Projekt Red, we’re excited to give Xbox players a chance to discover Cyberpunk 2077 for free as part of Xbox Free Play Days For All! Starting tomorrow at 4pm CET, all Xbox players can hop into Night City and explore everything it has to offer. But with only five hours to spend in the city of dreams, I rounded up some tips and tricks to make the ascent to legendary merc that much smoother.

Upgrade Your Tools

In order to keep your weapons in top shape, dismantle any items or clothing you need for components (don’t worry, the clothes will be added to your wardrobe even if you scrap them for parts). These components can then be used to upgrade all of your Iconic weapons — all you need to do is navigate to the Crafting menu within your Inventory, and you’ll see how many components you need. When it comes to non-Iconics, keep an eye out for the guns that enemies drop. Their tier will grow alongside your own progress.

The same rule applies for cyberware: dismantling everything will also help with ensuring you can upgrade your chrome at the ripperdoc. Although you receive some basic pieces at the start of the game, I’d recommend first investing money into higher-tier cyberware and only then upgrading — especially when it comes to your skeleton, which will help mitigate damage. Another great piece of cyberware is Fortified Ankles or Reinforced Tendons, which let you make the most of Night City’s verticality with a charged jump or double jump.

Cyberpunk 2077 Asset

Familiarize Yourself With the Skill Tree

Cyberpunk 2077’s perks received a major overhaul as part of Update 2.0 — available on Xbox Series X|S — making it easier than ever to create unique and impactful builds. Take a look through the perks available in each skill tree to get a sense of where you should invest your points. Even in the early game, there are plenty of opportunities to level up and test out great perks.

If you’re interested in netrunning, it’s best to invest heavily in the Intelligence tree; for stealth, the Cool tree is a must, while anyone interested in melee will find a wealth of great perks in the Body tree. Feel free to mix and match, or go all in on one specific tree! If you want to plan your approach ahead of time, I’d recommend spending some time in the Cyberpunk 2077 Build Planner to get a sense of what you can choose.

Cyberpunk 2077 Asset

Decrypt Everything

In both the main story and side quests, you’ll come across optional chances to hack into terminals or decrypt shards. At the beginning, the hacking minigame, or Breach Protocol, can be trickier to nail because of the smaller margin of error. This means planning all your moves before you start is key — you’ll also have various sequences that you have to complete, but it’s not always possible to do all of them in one go. Decide which payoff you want to go for (which sometimes means the amount of eurodollars you’ll receive, or the level of decryption you’ll achieve). Be careful: Breach Protocol is a timed event, meaning that once you lock in your first move, you’ll only have so long to complete the whole sequence.

(Don’t) Fight the Law

As an up-and-coming merc (heavy emphasis on the “up-and-coming”), you might not be ready to tussle with trigger-happy law enforcement at this stage. Not to mention, the more you hit back, the more reinforcements the police call in, and the more intense their countermeasures become. Wreaking too much havoc can see you flagged as a cyberpsycho and facing down the NCPD’s apex predators: MaxTac. This new addition to the police department is available as part of Update 2.0, accessible on Series X|S. In any case, be sure to watch how many stars you’ve received in the top right corner and duck into a safe alley if need be.

Cyberpunk 2077 Asset

Meet Watson’s Resident Fixer

Each district in Night City has a fixer that rules the area, pulling in mercenaries for gigs and rewarding them appropriately. In Watson, Regina is the one to give you a call and introduce herself. You’ll meet her quite early in your story, and she’ll send a few potential gigs your way — on top of that, she’s got quite a unique proposition for dealing with the wave of cyberpsychosis hitting the city. If you’re looking to get a sample of the gigs and fights that Cyberpunk 2077 has in store for you, it may be worth hearing her out. However, fixers can be a particular bunch, and they’re not always happy with a merc zeroing everyone in the vicinity. Which brings me to my next point:

Learn How to Deal Non-Lethal Damage

There are a few quests where taking out your marks may not be the best option. In those situations, there are two main ways to handle that: equipping the non-lethal Pax mod on your gun, or whipping out a baseball bat or similar blunt weapon. (Of course, you could always ignore your non-lethal orders and go in for the kill, but this will affect your payout.) All blunt non-lethal melee weapons are marked as such, and the Pax mod can be picked up during your normal gigs or purchased from a weapons dealer. However, Pax is permanent, so it’s best to pick a gun you don’t mind defanging. And don’t get too trigger-happy: hitting someone who’s already unconscious will also zero them.

Cyberpunk 2077 Asset

Arm Yourself (With Knowledge)

Our team at CDPR has prepared plenty of guides to make your experience as fun as possible! Check out our Ultimate Edition Game Booklet for build inspiration, insight into characters, dev interviews, and more. You’ll have everything you need to make the most out of Cyberpunk 2077 during Xbox Free Play Days For All — and you’ll be ruling the streets of Night City in no time.

The post How to Make the Most of Cyberpunk 2077 During Xbox Free Play Days for All appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Indie Selects for March 2024: The ID@Xbox Team Serves Up Another Batch of Outstanding Indies

It’s been a month since our first round of Indie Selects were announced, and we’re back again with another great batch of games that we think you’ll love. As a reminder (or introduction if you’re new to this program), Indie Selects are chosen from recently launched Xbox games that the ID@Xbox team considers to be indie and that aren’t available with Game Pass. The whole team votes and the top six vote winners are our Indie Selects for the month.

The selects for March 2024 run the gamut from the return of an old favorite, a brilliant new take on a very old card game, and an intense horror experience. Here’s the list (in no particular order):

Balatro

Balatro Image Asset

It’s just video poker, right? You’d be forgiven for thinking that by just glancing at it, but you’d be very wrong. It takes the rather simplistic poker framework and reinvents it as a deep, engaging and utterly addictive roguelike. You start with a basic deck and play hands to beat a target number of chips for each round. But where it gets fun is unlocking bonus and special cards that make your choices much more complex and interesting. Leveling up “three of a kind” and playing it with a Spade bonus can make it more valuable than even a Royal Flush. And you can unlock new Jokers and other cards after each run to create new options for the next run. And…suddenly it’s 3:00 AM and you’re still playing.

Tomb Raider I – III Remastered Starring Lara Croft

Tomb Raider Remastered Image Asset

The first Tomb Raider came out in 1996 and took the gaming world by storm. It’s an absolute classic from start to finish. This remaster of the first three games is a love letter to the origins of the series, featuring all three original adventures, including the expansions and secret levels, improved graphics, and the choice to play with classic or modern controls. The classic “tank” controls might seem a bit alarming and strange to anybody under 35, but playing that way certainly took us back to our youth and thrill of tomb raiding with Lara.

As with many games from the ‘90s, they’re not considered particularly easy by modern standards, but finding your way through platforming-based puzzles and figuring out the best solutions is incredibly rewarding. Does a remaster compilation of games that were undeniably “triple A” back in their day count as “indie”? Great question. Who knows for sure. We decided that it counts since the developer behind the remaster, Aspyr, generally fits the bill. But instead of getting bogged down in that thought experiment, go play the games. You can thank me later.

The Outlast Trials

Outlast Trials Image Asset

The original Outlast and its sequel, Outlast 2, were terrifying first-person adventure survival games, where, with no way to defend yourself, you survived by hiding, sliding, creeping, crouching, and running through the levels, staying one step ahead of whoever was trying to kill you at that particular moment.

The Outlast Trials takes that formula and adds four player co-op, and radically over-the-top villains, who hunt you and buddies down in a series of outrageous death games. After each run you can upgrade your character through various class-based skill trees, before you and your friends jump back into the next terrifying experience. It can be as hysterically funny as it is terrifying, while the gameplay loop of surviving, solving puzzles, and finding an escape is incredibly compelling. The game can be played solo, but it’s much more fun if you can find some friends to brave the experience with you.

Rounds

Rounders Image Asset

Landfall created the delightfully wacky Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, and Stickfight, The Game. With Rounds, they’ve created probably the world’s first 1v1 roguelike combat game. At the start of the game, each player uses their noodle arms to select a card containing a power-up. You’re given a half dozen to choose from out of 65 or so overall. Powerups can let you shoot straighter, make bullets explode on impact, let your bullets push enemies back, or give you all kinds of other slight advantages.

Where it gets interesting is at the end of each, uh, round the loser gets to pick a new card with a new ability. And since abilities stack, by the end of each five-round game, you can create an overwhelmingly powerful custom build (assuming, of course, that you lose a lot). This mechanic turns an otherwise simple, level-based combat game into a sophisticated roguelike where each player can build their strengths against the other player’s weaknesses. The game is never the same from one round to the next.

Slave Zero X

Slave Zero X Image Asset

Slave Zero, a cult favorite 1999 Windows and Dreamcast game, cast the player as a giant, rampaging robot in a third person shooter. A quarter century later, Ziggurat brings us a prequel to that game, in a stylish 2.5D world. But unlike the original, Slave Zero X plays out as a brawler blended with the precise gameplay mechanics of a fighting game.

It’s the kind of game that can drive you to toss your controller through a window, but in the next breadth has you climbing through the window to retrieve it because you just can’t stop playing. The art and music are both fantastic and do a lot to help serve up the rich cyberpunk world. Hard? Yes. A bit unfair at times? Maybe. Rewarding, addictive and compelling? Absolutely.

Choice of Life: Middle Ages 2

Choice of Life: Middle Ages 2 Image Asset

Finally, this month we have something completely different. Choice of Life: Middle Ages 2 is a medieval choose-your-own-adventure experience, where you play your cards to direct your choices. Each decision you make leads to seemingly endless twists and turns. There are apparently over a thousand different events that you can encounter in the game, along with over 99 ways to do, but you’d have to go through many different playthroughs to find them all.

It’s a relaxing, casual experience that encourages you to play around with your choices to see where your kingdom will end up. At the end of the first playthrough (which might be very short, since death is constantly right around the corner) you’ll almost certainly find yourself wanting to jump in and see where else fate, and your decisions, will take you.

The post Indie Selects for March 2024: The ID@Xbox Team Serves Up Another Batch of Outstanding Indies appeared first on Xbox Wire.

No Man’s Sky Orbital Update Introduces Space Station Overhaul, Ship Customization, and More

No Man's Sky Orbital Update Image Asset

No Man’s Sky Orbital Update Introduces Space Station Overhaul, Ship Customization, and More

Summary

  • No Man’s Sky free Orbital Update available to download today.
  • Space stations are now vast and varied in the all-new Orbital update for No Man’s Sky.
  • No Man’s Sky players on Xbox can now customize their starships.

Last month, all Xbox owners were able to try No Man’s Sky’s free Omega expedition whether they owned No Man’s Sky or not. We were thrilled to welcome so many new Travellers into our friendly community. This month, we’re excited to show all those new players what veteran players have come to expect by way of regular updates as we unveil the Orbital update, free for existing owners to download today.

Orbital focusses on an area of the game which has remained largely unchanged since No Man’s Sky launched on Xbox five years ago. It’s an aspect which every player encounters almost every time they embark on a new adventure – the ever-present space stations!

No Man's Sky Orbital Update Image Asset

Space stations have always been a vibrant and much-frequented feature of every No Man’s Sky star system and are a bustling destination for trade, equipment upgrades, missions, fast travel around the universe and endearing yourself to the locals.

The first thing to strike you about these news stations is their vastness. They loom ever larger upon your starship as you approach the docking entrance. Secondly, their procedurally-generated exteriors mean that you rarely encounter the same form twice. Upon initiating the docking sequence, the large, cavernous landing strip you traverse hints towards a much larger interior than previous, again with a wide variety of layouts.

No Man's Sky Orbital Update Image Asset

One of the new additions to the space station map which Travellers will no doubt race towards is the Ship Fabricator. For a while now, players have dreamed of the ability to create their own starships in their dream configuration. This new function enables you to combine parts of salvaged ships together in a near-limitless array of permutations to create brand new form factors. You may still need to scour the universe for that perfect S-Class though!

The envoys from the three universe guilds – Merchant, Mercenary, Explorer – frequent the new space stations and it’s always worth paying them a visit. Your standing with the guilds can be increased with donations of interesting artefacts from your travels, and a higher standing unlocks ever-higher gifts, cheap supplies and discounts, anything from free ammo and fuel to powerful equipment upgrades.

No Man's Sky Orbital Update Image Asset

Orbital also ushers in the concept of “Intervention Events” as part of freighter expeditions. Frigates that you have dispatched to the far-flung corners of the universe on lucrative missions can now call upon further instruction mid-voyage or even ask you to come to where they are to assist them in their objective.

As with all No Man’s Sky free updates, Orbital features a whole host of other additions and improvements, large and small. It is available to download from today, free for all existing Xbox and Game Pass owners. Our journey continues.


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No Man’s Sky comes complete with all 26 major updates up to and including Omega.

Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action.

In No Man’s Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you’ll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again.

Embark on an epic voyage
At the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you’ll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit.

Find your own destiny
Your voyage through No Man’s Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry.
Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you’ll reap huge rewards.
Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary.

Share your journey
The galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own…

The post No Man’s Sky Orbital Update Introduces Space Station Overhaul, Ship Customization, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.