Xbox recently announced that it will release Xbox One Backward Compatibility titles as they become available – rather than having a set monthly launch date, titles will go live once each has received the engineering and publisher stamp of approval. This includes CD Projekt RED’s The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, where players assume the identity of Geralt of Rivia – a professional monster slayer – or witcher, as he becomes entangled within the political turmoil that has engulfed Temeria while hunting down a treacherous assassin. 

PopCap Vancouver, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc., recently announced Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare 2 will host a public access multiplayer beta beginning 14 January and ending 18 January. The multiplayer beta will be available for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One®, and will be a chance for players to experience the shooter before the game hits stores on 25 February 25.

Battlefield™ Hardline is gearing up for apparently its fastest, most explosive expansion yet. Whether you’re making a dusty, high-speed escape across the Mexican border, or closing in on a hot pursuit along the sun-drenched Pacific coast, EA aims for you to be chasing glory at top speed when you play Battlefield™ Hardline: Getaway*, coming January 2016.

Set for DVD release on 14 December, Eden spins out over the last two decades and chronicles the rise and fall of one of the DJs who pioneered the French electro music scene in the ‘90s. The movie is based on the experiences of Hansen-Løve’s brother (and co-writer) Sven, who was one of the pioneering DJs of the French rave scene in the early-1990s. 

Octopus Recordings’ label boss Sian and events and management company FourOverFour from Toronto, Canada, have combined forces, to release a new limited edition merchandise line. With their roots apparently planted in the underground club culture, the first drop includes official T-shirts and tote bags, designed and manufactured in the USA. Reflecting the pairings like-minded aesthetics, this collaboration sees ‘functional, futurist, streetwear pieces, featuring minimalistic graphic art’.

One week after launching worldwide, “Halo 5: Guardians” has made history as the biggest Halo launch and fastest-selling Xbox One exclusive game to-date, with more than $400 million in global sales of games and hardware, pushing the franchise to over $5 billion lifetime. In the UK, the day one gross revenue exceeded the first day box office revenue for Spectre – the new James Bond film – with £7.7 million compared to £6.3 million respectively.

Ableton recently announced the release of the new PUSH alongside LIVE 9.5 - a free update for all Live 9 users. It's also inviting owners of the original Push to take part in a trade-in that offers a big saving on the new version. Plus, Ableton is introducing LINK, a new technology that lets you play in time with multiple instances of Live and a growing number of iOS apps. 

To celebrate the new addition to the ‘Halo’ franchise, Xbox UK will be transforming the Roundhouse in London into an exclusive “Halo 5: Guardians” launch event on 26 October. The event will see ‘Halo’ fans, media and YouTubers join together to celebrate possibly one of the most anticipated games of 2015 – coming exclusively to Xbox One on 27 October. 

With the festive season approaching fast, Xbox One recently revealed some new bundles for those looking to buy a console. The Xbox One “Fallout 4” Limited Edition Bundle (£369.99 ERP) features a 1TB hard drive,  Fallout 4, and a full-game download of Fallout 3. Exclusive to GAME, the bundle will be available from 10 November. 

Xbox One recently announced the Elite Bundle – a gaming experience that comes complete with features aiming to take your gaming to the next level. In addition to a matte finish, the Xbox One Elite Bundle includes a 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive which stores frequently-accessed files on a solid state partition and optimises system performance so you can get to the action up to 20 per cent faster from energy-saving mode. 

The Halo 5: Guardians launch is right around the corner, and 343 Industries recently unveiled the opening cinematic to the game, featuring Fireteam Osiris. In the cinematic, the group receives UNSC orders to recover a high value target and deploy to take on Covenant and Promethean forces in a fierce action sequence – the start to possibly the most ambitious, robust and epic Halo campaign experience yet. 

Last week, during a panel event at San Diego Comic-Con, Xbox and The Coalition shared insights on the development of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, the remastered and modernised version of the shooter that possibly defined the first generation of HD gaming. In addition, speakers at the panel revealed the Xbox One Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Bundle, available for pre-order now, and launching in the UK on 21 August (the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition digital code will allow gamers to pre-install the game ready for launch day on 28 August). 

Ghost Games™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, recently announced the return of Need for Speed™ in a full reboot of this storied franchise. The game ‘delivers on what the fans want, and what Need for Speed stands for - deep customisation, authentic urban car culture, a nocturnal open world, and an immersive narrative that pulls you through the game’.

As the release of ‘Halo 5: Guardians’ on 27 October 2015 draws nearer, the cover art for the game was recently revealed online to gaming fans around the world. Several cryptic images were released to various online channels across the globe with no instructions, no explanation and no references to the Halo universe. Apparently it didn’t take long for “Halo Nation” to scour the Internet to piece together the mystery to reveal the cover art.

Stems, a new, multi-channel audio format was recently unveiled at WMC (Winter Music Conference) in Miami. A Stem file allows DJs and live performers to interact with different musical elements of a track independently by accessing four different ‘stem’ parts such as the bass, drums, melody or vocals. This type of mixing introduces new performance possibilities and enriches the listening experience for music lovers. As a premium file format, Stems can also create new revenue streams for music labels and online retailers to grow their business. Developed by software and hardware DSP specialists Native Instruments, Stems is an open file format designed to benefit the entire music industry.

Visceral Games™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, recently announced that Battlefield Hardline™, the next installment in the Battlefield™ series, will host an open multiplayer beta from 3* February to 8 February. The beta will be available to all players around the world on Origin™ for PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system. 

Rockstar Games recently released a new trailer for the four-player co-op mode for Grand Theft Auto Online that allows players to plan, prepare and execute multi-tiered Heists across Los Santos and Blaine County. 

Singapore-based company, XMI, recently launched its most advanced portable speaker to date. The new X-mini CLEAR features a custom 2.1 audio system with proprietary TRI-AMP design. It delivers studio-quality sound clarity, with sound separation that XMI believe exceeds current standards in the portable speaker market. The XMI Research and Development team developed the custom 2.1 audio system featuring an active front-firing 70mm long-throw subwoofer with their signature ceramic drivers for a distinct separated low bass, unusual in portable audio products today. 

With sound separation in mind, the new X-mini CLEAR features XMI’s proprietary TRI-AMP design – a separate amplifier designated to each individual driver. In this way the X-mini CLEAR delivers a deeply engaging, real audio experience.

Bringing clean sound clarity right through to the speaker design, the speaker openly displays the inner workings of its sound engineering with a neat see-through back design. Displaying the clean and simple component layout with near zero wire, the audio enjoyment is further enhanced visually with 3-mode Mood Lighting which pulsate according to different music. For added versatility, the speaker comes packaged in a sleek case with an in-built handle for easy mobile carrying and a base stand so that it can be taken and displayed anywhere.

The new X-mini CLEAR offers 20W of audio featuring:

-       Custom 2.1 Audio System with 70mm active subwoofer delivering crisp low frequency reproduction.

-       Signature Ceramic Drivers creates clearer and cleaner mid and high frequencies through 40mm Ceramic Drivers.

-       Proprietary TRI-AMP design with three amplifiers designated to each of the three drivers offering listeners a more immersive and real audio experience.

Other key features include:

-       Clear Back Design with 3-mode Mood Lighting aesthetics designed to accompany the quality audio experience.

-       Bluetooth & NFC enabled for One-touch seamless pairing and Wireless Connectivity of up to 10m.

-       Noise-cancelling Microphone to filter background disturbances for better wireless telephone calls and/or lifestyle conferencing (such as Skype, Viber and Facetime) with your mobile phones or tablets or laptops.

-       Smartphone Charging capabilities with high-capacity 6600mAh Li-ion battery; a dual-function for charging your devices and longer audio playback

-       Detachable magnetic grill to protect the speaker on the go.

Ryan Lee, XMI founder: “The X-mini brand has become synonymous with the pocket-sized speaker. Yet it is important to remember that X-mini is at its core, an audio brand completely focused on making better sound at every given size. Size does matter for sound, but because we have spent so many years innovating to make excellent sound in small packages, we know we can produce even greater sound in other circumstances. Our confidence is reflected first in our introduction of the thumb-sized X-mini ME and WE Speakers earlier this year which made pocket sized speakers even smaller, and now with our first larger portable form factor in the X-mini CLEAR. We specially named this the X-mini CLEAR because it is to date the clearest speaker we have produced, and the clean simple design confidently reflects this.“

With a stylish, transparent back design that displays near zero wire sound engineering and built in mood lighting, the X-mini CLEAR is available now at £169 from www.store.x-mini.com.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, last night welcomed the worldwide arrival of Halo: The Master Chief Collection at a launch event in London. The Halo Nation came out in full force with apparently more than one million people around the world tuning in to live streams previewing the game’s content, with many lined up at more than 4,300 midnight madness retail events around the world to get their hands on the game.

“Halo has always been synonymous with Xbox,” said Head of Xbox Phil Spencer, who attended the UK launch party at Shoreditch Studios. “‘Halo: The Master Chief Collection’ allows us to thank our fans and celebrate with an amazing package that will introduce a new generation to the epic Halo universe.”

To celebrate the Master Chief’s long-awaited return, fans, media and YouTubers attended the UK launch in East London where they witnessed the UK premiere of the first two episodes of Halo: Nightfall, before four teams battled it out on Halo 2 in a Halo: The Master Chief Collection Anniversary Tournament – all streamed live on Twitch. The competition was closely fought, before Ali-A and his team narrowly secured victory in a finale on the Halo 2: Anniversary map, Lockdown.

 Halo: The Master Chief Collection is available worldwide now exclusively on Xbox One for £49.99. Halo: The Master Chief Collection also includes Halo: Nightfall, the live-action digital series from Ridley Scott, David Zucker and Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, as well as access to the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta, launching 29 December.

© justaweemusicblog.com

New, enhanced versions of Grand Theft Auto V arrive for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on Tuesday 18 November. Check below for the all-new launch trailer which will serve as the game’s official TV spot.

Tiësto, in collaboration with Audiofly, recently announced the launch of the Clublife In-Ear Headphones Series. Voted “the greatest DJ of all time” by Mixmag and “#1 DJ” by Rolling Stone, Tiësto is a Grammy nominated artist with lots of accolades, and, as a DJ, he’s passionate about sound and production. Based in Australia, Audiofly is an award-winning maker of premium headphones. 

Recognised for their fresh approach, Audiofly has quickly acquired industry recognition earning Innovation Honors from International CES, and a Best-In-Show award from the CEA Line Show. Based on this credibility and a swarm of reviews, Audiofly were approached by Tiësto and a collaboration ensued, resulting in the Clublife In-Ear Headphone Series:

Tiësto: “I’ve enjoyed working closely with Audiofly to develop these products - from tweaking the soundstage of each unique product, to creating a glow in the dark cable, I feel we’ve achieved something really unique and I’m excited to finally share these products with my fans.”

“Designing great products is what makes us buzz”, explains Audiofly CEO Dave Thompson. “We’re passionate about sound and thoroughly enjoyed the creative exchange with Tiësto. We have experience with some very unique features, like combining different speaker technologies for better sound, and reinforcing our cables with tough CORDURA® fabric, so it’s exciting to showcase these great innovations plus a whole stack of new things in the Clublife Headphones. We’re confident that consumers will be blown-away by the level of detail we’ve poured into these 3 products.”

Check out the range below.

Paradise, in-ear headphone with mic

Maximal, large driver in-ear headphones with mic

Adagio, dual driver in-ear headphones with mic

© justaweemusicblog.com

Rockstar Games recently released a video of Grand Theft Auto V: First Person Experience, the first footage of the new first person mode available exclusively in the new versions of Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. 

In a crime drama filled single player story, Miami is embroiled in a drug war and Officer Nick Mendoza has just made Detective. Alongside his partner, veteran detective Khai Minh Dao, he follows the drug supply chain from the streets to the source. 

In a series of increasingly off-the-books cases the two detectives come to realise that power and corruption can affect both sides of the law.

In multiplayer, the world is simple. You're on one side of the law or the other - a baton or bat, stun gun or rifle, armoured police truck or powerful muscle cars. But either way, teamwork is going to be essential if you're going to want to pull off that perfect heist or big time bust in this new take on Battlefield multiplayer.

Coming 20 March 2015, Battlefield Hardline lets you live out your fantasy of being a cop and criminal. Check out the video below.

© justaweemusicblog.com

This just released new pack from Cr2 contains a huge 979MB of material and is packed with dark and sinister bass hits and deep rolling bass loops, deep synth hits and loops and their collection of drum hits. 

There are 40 driving techno drum loops all exported into constituent parts for ultimate flexibility, with their FX sounds ideal for anybody looking to put the finishing touches to any techno production.

Each and every melodic file is also included as a MIDI file to make changing sounds or building new melodies and arrangements simpler. Also included is 70 NI Massive and 100 Sylenth presets made up of sounds used in the pack. You can use these presets alongside their MIDI files to build your own custom loops or easily tweak them to form your own exclusive patches.

It’s out now on Beatport, priced at £15.99.

© justaweemusicblog.com

To celebrate the launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection on 11 November, Xbox has asked the series’ biggest UK fans to share their favourite memories from the iconic sci-fi saga. The #HaloNation video features YouTube stars The SyndicateProject, VikkStar123, MoreConsole and a number of fans – talking about their most memorable in-game experiences and encouraging others to share their own. 

Forza Horizon 2 is just weeks away and will ship with more than 200 cars all built from the ground up on Xbox One, and as is the case with all Forza games, it will be constantly updated with new content. Beginning on 3 October, to coincide with the game’s release, a brand new pack for the game will be released: the Forza Horizon 2 Launch Bonus Car Pack. 

Rockstar Games^® recently announced that Grand Theft Auto V^® will arrive on the PlayStation®4 and Xbox One on 18 November 2014, with the PC version to follow on January 27, 2015. The game will feature a range of major visual and technical upgrades to make Los Santos and Blaine County more immersive than ever. In addition to increased draw distances and higher resolution, players can expect a range of additions and improvements.

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) recently announced that the playable demo of EA SPORTS™ FIFA 15* is available to download for PC, Xbox One® and Xbox 360® games and entertainment systems from Microsoft for Xbox Live® Gold members, and for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. 

The FIFA 15 demo on Xbox 360 will be available to Xbox Live Silver members beginning September 16. Fans can download the demo by visiting http://www.easports.com/uk/fifa/demo.

Fans will be able to play at Anfield as Liverpool FC, FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, SSC Napoli, Manchester City, and Boca Juniors, or as one of five unique squads in FIFA Ultimate Team™. 

“The launch of the FIFA 15 Demo is like our pre-season and the first chance for millions of FIFA fans to get hands-on with the game,” said Nick Channon, Senior Producer, EA SPORTS FIFA. “The demo is an early representation and taste of this year’s game, and we welcome the chance to get fan feedback on our innovations and new features.”

Fans are encouraged to send their first impressions of the game by using #FIFA15Demo on Facebook and Twitter.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Microsoft recently announced that Minecraft will enter the next generation tomorrow with the release of “Minecraft: Xbox One Edition”. Starting this Friday, players can purchase and download “Minecraft: Xbox One Edition” as either a full price game for £15.99 or as an upgrade from “Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition” for just £3.99.

With worlds up to 36 times larger than on Xbox 360, there’s an even bigger canvas to create on. You can even transfer your favourite Xbox 360 worlds and content to the Xbox One Edition so you won’t lose your creations.

Gamers can join a community of 13-million-plus Minecraft fans on Xbox Live that are continually laying down imaginative creations. And, with the widest range of downloadable content on console, you’ll never run out of new worlds to explore with four-player split-screen on one console or up to eight players over Xbox Live.

© justaweemusicblog.com

EA SPORTS™ recently announced that last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year and PFA Team of the Year, Eden Hazard, will make his debut on the cover of EA SPORTS FIFA 15 – due out 25 September in Europe and 26 September in the UK and Ireland. The 23 year old Belgian had an outstanding season for Chelsea in the 2013/14 campaign with 14 goals, seven assists and 92 chances created from his 35 appearances. 

The midfielder had a pin-point 83% passing accuracy, including 1,055 passes in the opposition half - one of just ten players to top 1,000 in the Barclays Premier League last season. Hazard also completed more successful dribbles than any other player in the division with 132. In comparison, the second ranked player completed just 93, making Hazard the Barclays Premier League's most dangerous player with the ball at his feet.

Commenting on the partnership, Dan Holman, Head of UK Product Marketing EA SPORTS said: “We’re delighted to have Eden on the cover of FIFA 15 and to be working with him and Chelsea in showcasing the Barclays Premier League to the amazing level of detail that the game will deliver this year. Eden’s quick, direct and skilful approach is a joy to watch on the pitch, and a dream come true for FIFA Ultimate Team fans, and it shows why he is often one of the first names in their concept squads.”

On seeing the FIFA 15 pack, Eden said: “I have played FIFA all of my life and it’s a huge honour to be asked to be on the cover of FIFA 15. Now I have played the game I can say it’s the most realistic football game I have seen, so I cannot wait to challenge my friends and team-mates with FIFA 15 and show off the new moves.”

© justaweemusicblog.com

The San Andreas Flight School Update for GTA Online is now available via automatic update 1.16 for both PS3 and Xbox 360. You think you've got what it takes to be awesome? Get yourself down to The San Andreas Flight School and grab the stick of the fast and nimble Western Besra training jet and push it to the edge of the envelope. Master absolute air superiority in 10 new solo missions that will make you comfortable in any pilot’s danger zone, including combat manoeuvering, low-flying challenges, formation flying and more.

Once it’s ‘mission accomplished’ and you’re out of your new flight suit, spend your shore leave buzzing the skies in the luxury Swift helo, or cram your entire squad into the new 16-seater Buckingham Mil-Jet for team transport in style. Hit the silk with a collection of new chutes and parachute bags, and if things get a little out of control, rely on the reserve parachute to give you a second chance at that soft landing – or use it to get creative with your precision dives. Later, hit the streets in the shapely Invetero Coquette Classic, available in either hard-top or topless roadster variants for whatever your sea-level speed fix.

And round up your wingmen for new races, captures, parachute jumps and more, including the three all-new VS Mission modes. Acquire Targets is a kill-the-carrier style mode where opponents fight in P996 Lazers to control one flag; maintain control for as long as you can to rack up points. In G-Rating, compete against other cadets as you fly to pick up 15 flags in both weapons hot and cold environments. Or try out Air Force Zero, where the defending team must protect an aircraft against an attacking team as it flies to the safe LZ.

In addition to everything listed above, the recent update also includes a number of other adjustments and fixes for GTA Online. Most notably, all Contact Mission GTA$ and RP awards have been rebalanced so that more difficult missions will earn you greater rewards, GTA$ payouts on replays are no longer reduced and all rewards are now time scaled. Check the video out below.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Electronic Arts Inc. recently announced that EA SPORTS™ and the Premier League have extended their existing agreement until the end of the 2018/19 season, which now incorporates the sponsorship of the League’s Goal Decision System. As a longstanding partner of the Premier League, EA SPORTS has been connecting to real world football through a number of partnership initiatives with the Premier League, including the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index - an in-depth statistics matrix measuring player’s all round contribution – and the Fantasy Premier League game.

The new agreement will showcase the Barclays Premier League as the most authentic league in EA SPORTS FIFA 15, with an unprecedented level of detail in the players and all 20 stadiums, as well as the integration of broadcast quality graphics, audio and commentary that ensures FIFA 15 fans will feel the emotion and intensity of the most popular football league in the world. The deal has given EA SPORTS access to all 20 Barclays Premier League clubs to enable the FIFA 15 team to capture 3D head scans of over 200 players, build realistic stadiums for all 20 League clubs, and capture the emotion of the crowd by recording live match atmosphere during the 2013/14 season.

“We’re extremely pleased to announce the extension of our partnership with the Premier League, the most played league in EA SPORTS FIFA,” said Peter Moore, Chief Operating Officer, EA. “It brings our award-winning game to new levels of authenticity and realism, and enables fans to immerse themselves in the drama and emotion of the league. And as a life-long Liverpool FC fan, I know exactly how that feels!”

“EA SPORTS is a long term licensee of the Premier League and we are extremely pleased to extend our existing agreements with them, and to add new elements to our partnership including their sponsorship of the Goal Decision System,” commented Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League. “They have worked with our clubs to enhance the Premier League element of FIFA 15 like never before and, combined with their sponsorship of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index and our Fantasy Premier League game, they continue to engage with football fans in a variety of innovative and exciting ways.”

Check out the trailer showcasing the Barclays Premier League and FIFA 15 below.

FIFA 15, developed at EA Canada, will release 26 September in the UK.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Singapore-based, sound innovation company, Xmi Pte Ltd, embraces ‘lifestyle conferencing’ with a new and improved addition to its multiple award-winning X-mini Capsule Speakers range. The X-mini KAI 2 Capsule Speaker boasts noise cancelling microphone, pocket sized portability, Bluetooth connection (plus wireless dongle function) and Ceramic drivers and will be available in a range of six colours; gunmetal grey, blue, green, orange, red and purple. 

Rockstar Games® recently announced that the critically acclaimed and record-breaking Grand Theft Auto V® is coming this autumn/fall to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC. Grand Theft Auto V will take full advantage of the power of the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC with across-the-board graphical and technical improvements to deliver a stunning new level of detail. Increased draw distances, finer texture details, denser traffic, and enhanced resolutions work together to bring new life to the cities, towns, deserts and oceans of Rockstar North’s epic reimagining of Southern California.

Yesterday, on the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. unveiled the future of gaming on Xbox One through a lineup of games from some of the world’s most visionary creators. This holiday season on Xbox One gamers will enjoy a collection of the most popular game in Xbox history with “Halo: The Master Chief Collection,” as well as highly anticipated exclusives such as “Sunset Overdrive,” “Forza Horizon 2,” “Fable Legends” and “Dance Central^™ Spotlight.”

“We are committed to delivering amazing experiences that will help define this generation of games and delight the millions of passionate Xbox fans around the world,” said Phil Spencer, head of Xbox. “Xbox will be the only place you can enjoy the most-anticipated blockbusters and new franchises, including exclusives like ‘Sunset Overdrive,’ ‘Halo: The Master Chief Collection,’ ‘Forza Horizon 2,’ and ‘Dance Central Spotlight.’ In addition, on Xbox One gamers will be able to play upcoming hits like ‘Destiny,’ ‘Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,’ ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ and a vibrant catalog of games from independent developers.”

Since the launch of Xbox One, the Xbox Live community has spent nearly 1.7 billion hours on games and entertainment, an average of five hours per day per console.

“Today [Monday] we’re thrilled to offer our fans more choices to play the games they love and to enjoy all of their entertainment with the new Xbox One option for £349.99,” said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president, Devices and Studios at Microsoft. “With an amazing lineup of exclusive games and more than 225 entertainment apps available around the world by this holiday, powered by our Xbox Live multiplayer service, we’re committed to making Xbox an incredible place to play.” ³

To see the full announcement and the list of forthcoming games, check: http://news.xbox.com

© justaweemusicblog.com

Microsoft announced a new hub for all things football on Xbox, Destination Brazil. Starting 12^th June, fans can access Destination Brazil on the Xbox One dashboard and launch an array of football content. Destination Brazil includes Brazil Now, a new app that snaps next to live TV to enhance your match viewing experience, enable you to play FIFA 14 Ultimate Team: FIFA World Cup and check out various series about your favourite football clubs from Copa90.

Guess blog from Xbox: With the next system update coming in June, we’re thrilled to announce two of your most-requested features will be here soon: external storage support and real names for identifying your friends. Since our launch of Xbox One last year, we’ve been hard at work to continue making Xbox One the best destination for all your gaming and entertainment experiences. Because of the way we’ve designed the Xbox One platform, we’ve been able to continually improve the product for you with a more regular cadence of system and app updates. Your feedback for what you want most has been our guiding light for these updates, and will continue to be as we work to bring the fan-favourite features you want most.

Any time you transition to a new platform, there is the opportunity to look at things with a new perspective. For us at 343 Industries, the launch of the Xbox One was an opportunity to think about what stories we wanted to tell, how to tell them, and how best to push the Halo franchise to showcase the platform. And maybe, most importantly, combining our passion for Halo with the vocal and informative input from our fans.  

Halo isn’t simply a perennial game franchise, it’s a part of the Xbox platform itself. In terms of innovation and ideation, it’s sometimes important to people who might not even play Halo. And of course it’s a passion and an essential experience for two generations of gamers.  So we asked ourselves, how do we begin and where do we go with Halo on Xbox One?

In the past, Halo games have pushed the Xbox forward, showcasing the console and its ecosystem in entertaining and innovative ways. Making a Halo game that runs at 60 frames per second, on dedicated servers, with the scope, features and scale we’ve been dreaming of for more than a decade, is non-trivial.  It’s a task that we, at 343 Industries, are taking very seriously to ensure we deliver the Halo game that fans deserve, and a game that is built from the ground up for Xbox One.

I’m happy to reveal that Halo 5: Guardians, the next installment in the legendary saga of the Master Chief, will launch on Xbox One in fall/autumn of 2015.  In the tradition of every Halo game since its debut in 2001, it is a massive and exciting project.

Halo 5: Guardians is a bigger effort than Halo 4.  That applies to the content and scope of the game, as well as the technology in what’s now a brand new and more powerful engine.  Certainly there are some core elements carried over from prior games, but we’ve invested a huge effort in retooling our tech to take full advantage of the Xbox One’s hardware and ecosystem to create worlds and experiences worthy of next-gen.

It’s a game that will hopefully demonstrate the talent, learnings and abilities of the 343 Industries team. A game that will incorporate the things we learned from Halo 4 about technology, aesthetics, performance and scale – and perhaps more importantly, understanding and embracing a community of gamers who love what lies at the heart of this game, and the limitless potential of the Halo universe.

And 2015 won’t simply be the year of Halo 5: Guardians, it will also be a year that offers us a unique opportunity. The opportunity to invite old friends and new audiences into that universe through the Halo television series, launched as a unique collaboration with Steven Spielberg and some of the finest creative minds in the business.  A series that will stand alone, as well as complement and enrich the game experience.  We’ll have more to share on the Halo television series as we near its projected fall/autumn 2015 release.

Your Journey Begins in 2014

Many fans noted that I was very deliberate with my phrasing on stage at E3 last year. I spoke about a “journey,” rather than a destination – and that journey definitely begins in 2014 with a giant leap, rather than one small step. We’ll give you much more information about our plans for this year at the Xbox E3 2014 Media Briefing on June 9, and we’re confident that Halo fans will be pretty excited the special plans we have in store.

So until E3, I’d like to express my gratitude to our massive and varied Halo community, whose energy, enthusiasm, criticism and kindness are the driving force behind what we do and what we hope to achieve in Halo 5: Guardians.

WORDS: Bonnie Ross – General Manager, 343 Industries

Forget about packing your Berocca for Ibiza this summer, you need a few sachets of the new SOS Rehydrate. It's a sports recovery supplement that has been personally endorsed by Sir Ben Ainslie and as well as providing athletes with a rehydration solution post sport, it's also amazing for those that live in the fast lane and will be hitting Ibiza and other party islands hard this summer! Basically, athletes and active individuals who want to stay hydrated and performing at their peak now have a new rehydration solution comparable to a drinkable IV. 

A team of experts and athletes who recognize and understand the importance of hydration, including two former elite runners, a retired military officer and a physician, developed SOS. The company’s co-owners and advisory board includes four-time sailing Olympic gold medalist Sir Ben Ainslie, Indycar champion Scott Dixon, and triathlon Olympic gold medalist Hamish Carter, athletes who understand mild dehydration’s effect on endurance activities, running, cycling and competing at the highest levels.

“While there are plenty of sports drinks and energy drinks available, there’s nothing like SOS on the market today. We even can say that SOS is a drinkable IV based the manner and speed at which it replenishes water and electrolytes,” said James Mayo, SOS Co-Founder. “The development process took months and dozens of trials to find a formula that adheres to WHO standards but also tastes good. We’re very pleased with the outcome.”

Order SOS Rehydrate Blueberry and Citrus NOW for a price of £8 for a pack of five of the rehydration drink #recovery

How SOS Works

SOS is a complex, specially formulated blend of sugar, sodium, potassium, citrate and magnesium.

When fluid arrives at the first portion of the small bowel SOS activates the body's sodium/glucose co-transport system when one molecule of sodium is pulled from the small intestine into blood vessels by one molecule of glucose. Due to osmotic forces, water is absorbed because it follows sodium.

Many sports drinks attempt to hydrate and fuel, but higher sugar levels often leads to GI distress. Sugar increases osmolality (the measure of solute concentration), and instead of pushing water into the blood vessels, it pulls it into the gut, causing bloating or even diarrhea.  For this reason SOS has only 25 calories per serving and a low osmolality of 230 Osm/L to more effectively transport water into the body.

SOS is an ideal hydration solution for athletes and anyone engaged in an active lifestyle. Using it before, during and after exercise will both aid rehydration and recovery. It comes in single serving packets that are simply added to water, creating a drink with mild lemon flavor. www.sosrehydrate.com.

© justaweemusicblog.com

EA SPORTS™ recently announced the FIFA Ultimate Team, Team of the Season for the Barclays Premier League. The starting XI was revealed as Petr Čech, Leighton Baines, Vincent Kompany, Per Mertesacker, John Terry, Eden Hazard, Yaya Touré, Steven Gerrard, Aaron Ramsey, Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge, with the substitutes and reserves as David Marshall, Séamus Coleman, Azpilicueta, Adam Lallana, David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Agüero.

As well as making the Team of the Season, Daniel Sturridge has been revealed to be the highest scoring Barclays Premier League player in FIFA 14 Ultimate Team with 34,800,362 goals. Sturridge’s strike partner Luis Suárez is the 10^th highest scoring player with 13,065,556 goals.

Second place in the goal-scoring charts went to Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o with 30,578,146 goals. Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke (26,382,579 goals), Newcastle United’s Loïc Rémy (21,366,615 goals) and Chelsea’s Fernando Torres (20,093,762 goals) make up the remaining places in the Top 5 of the FIFA 14 Ultimate Team top goal-scorers chart.

Check out all the positions below:

FIFA 14 Ultimate Team Top Goal-Scorers – Barclays Premier League

Forwards

1.       Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool FC) – 34,800,362 goals

2.       Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea FC) - 30,578,146 goals

3.       Christian Benteke (Aston Villa FC) – 26,382,579 goals

4.       Loïc Rémy (Newcastle United FC) – 21,366,615 goals

5.       Fernando Torres (Chelsea FC) – 20,093,762 goals

Midfielders

1.       André Schürrle (Chelsea FC) – 11,772,194 goals

2.       Samir Nasri (Manchester City FC) – 9,612,593 goals

3.       Santi Cazorla (Arsenal FC) – 7,278,274 goals

4.       Oscar (Chelsea FC) – 7,045,177 goals

5.       Nani (Manchester United FC) – 6,745,229 goals

Defenders

1.       David Luiz (Chelsea FC) – 5,681,990 goals

2.       Vincent Kompany (Manchester City FC) – 3,522,154 goals

3.       Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United FC) – 2,682,706 goals

4.       Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur FC) – 2,489,126 goals

5.       Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal FC) – 2,469,715 goals

© justaweemusicblog.com

Singapore-based, sound innovation company, Xmi Pte Ltd, has launched a range of thumb-sized speakers designed specifically for smartphones and tablets. The X-mini ME and X-mini WE redefine the idea of pocket-size portability and, with a decent sound performance, aim to deliver the X-mini promise of Sound Beyond Size. Both models are perfect partners for smartphones and tablets, letting you take high quality sound with you, wherever you go. 

The X-mini WE features Bluetooth connectivity to play tracks wirelessly, as well as the ability to Bluetooth-enable any other connected audio device! It also has the latest NFC connectivity, allowing users to simply tap to pair! The X-mini WE comes in a cool Gunmetal Grey, with more colours to follow, and retails at £29.99 while the wired version, the X-mini ME is available now in a fashionable selection of Gunmetal Grey, Yellow, Pink and Blue, and retails at £19.99.

Xmi Pte Ltd’s original X-mini Capsule Speaker range possibly set the benchmark for portable sound quality and is sold in over 80 territories worldwide. The X-mini ME and WE represent an evolution of the X-mini range, and will once again bring a fresh new perspective to the way people think of portable sound.

The X-mini ME measures just 44mm in height and weighs only 44gm, with the X-mini WE at 48mm and 48gm respectively. When you need to pump out the sounds, the magnetically shielded, 31 mm drivers, deliver a performance, well beyond the expectations for a speaker of its stature. With just a 1.5 hour charge via micro-usb, giving a playback time of up to 6 hours. Both models come with a carry strap, and a cable with USB, micro-usb and 3.5mm jack connectors.

The X-mini WE features the popular ‘Buddy-Jack’ which allows you to connect multiple speakers together for an even bigger sound. The Buddy-Jack is also what turns the X-mini WE into a Bluetooth dongle.  Just connect it via 3.5mm jack to any audio system whether it’s an old stereo or a pair of headphones and then transmit your music wirelessly.

Mr Ryan Lee, founder of Xmi Pte Ltd said:

“We wanted to further challenge ourselves and competitors by revisiting our philosophy of Sound Beyond Size. This time we looked at shaking things up by making the speakers even smaller, yet retaining the sound quality expected of an X-mini product. However, this is not just a sound accessory; this is a fashion accessory, a lifestyle accessory, and more than that, this is a movement to encourage people to bring good quality sound everywhere they go.”

© justaweemusicblog.com

Kinect Sports Rivals, which is currently available in North America, Australia and New Zealand, will be available in Europe this Friday 11 April, exclusively on Xbox One. Whether fans are looking to tackle the new sports – climbing, wake racing and target shooting – or experience the re-imagined favourites – soccer, tennis and bowling – the Xbox One and the new Kinect aims to deliver next-gen motion sports gameplay like never before.

Gamers recently queued late into the night across the UK to get their copy of probably the most anticipated game of 2014, “Titanfall”. Exclusive to Xbox, the game is expected to break Xbox One sales records and be one of the best-selling titles this year. To celebrate the launch, free runners dressed as Pilot characters from the game performed stunts for London commuters along Millennium Bridge and the South Bank, emulating the abilities of players in the game. 

Once a TV staple, music videos are now primarily housed on the internet, where easy access is key. With that philosophy in mind, Xbox has brought that discoverability to your music viewing experience on Xbox One by introducing more than 92,000 music videos to Xbox Music.

Now you can rock out to a new playlist, create a Radio stream based on your favourite artist or pick a random track from your collection with Xbox Music on Xbox One, and if the song has a music video, watch it play automatically in sharp HD on your TV.

The process is simple. Find your playlist, say “Xbox Play,” and watch the videos appear on screen. You don’t have to spend hours tracking down videos for each song – it’s all rolled into one easy step.

Check it out and see it for yourself.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Xbox One recently announced their forthcoming Stereo Headset, which will allow gamers to immerse themselves in their games and play at whatever volume they’d like. Releasing across Xbox One markets worldwide in early March, the Stereo Headset will offer a premium audio experience for both game and chat audio, with a full-range (20Hz – 20kHz) audio spectrum to ensure gamers can enjoy the bass and high frequencies.

The Stereo Headset will also feature a unidirectional microphone for clear voice capture and over-the-ear speakers to keep you comfortable during long gaming sessions. The headset will ship with a detachable Stereo Headset Adapter that puts all of the audio controls right at your fingertips.  You can balance the game and chat audio levels to hear just what you want, control the master volume, and mute the microphone each with the touch of a button. 

A Stereo Headset Adapter will also ship separately worldwide in early March, for those who prefer their own brand of headphones. Volume controls on the adapter let you adjust chat volume levels and mute your headset’s microphone without taking your hands off the controller.  Simply plug the adapter into your controller and connect your compatible stereo headset to enable chat audio – thanks to integration with Skype’s audio codec. The Xbox One Stereo Headset will retail for £59.99 MSRP and the Stereo Headset Adapter will be available for £19.99 MSRP.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Hot on the heels of ‘Move Into Light’ and remix duty on US duo Tritonal’s ‘Now Or Never’, Enhanced Music’s Juventa recently revealed that the next track to receive his spin will be one synonymous with one of the most successful video games of all time – Grand Theft Auto V. His reimagining of ‘Sleepwalking’ by The Chain Gang Of 1974 is set for release on Monday 10^th March exclusively through Beatport.

Having been the theme tune to the official GTA V trailer as well as featuring on the game’s soundtrack, the original has been gaining fans, support and millions of online plays ever since. Now the Dutch producer jacks up the tempo and breathes new life into the song by taking it to the dance floor and giving clubbers something they can really move to. Harnessing the vocals and guitar of the initial track, Juventa has transformed the hook into something ardent and infectious that sits perfectly on top of the beat.

With more than 100 million people who’ve played Grand Theft Auto V and countless more that have watched the TV ads, this could do well when it drops on March 10. Check it out below.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Before GTAV took you to the sun-bleached sidewalks and humming concrete freeways of present-day Los Santos and beyond, there was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the biggest GTA of the PS2 era. Now, you can head back to the early-90s again with CJ and the Grove Street Families when Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas comes to mobile devices next month.

Encompassing Los Santos, San Fierro, Las Venturas and everything in between, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has been upgraded for its mobile release. Newly remastered graphics including dynamic and detailed shadows, greater draw distance, an enriched color palette, plus enhanced character and car models make this the best-looking version of San Andreas yet.

The game also features brand new touch controls including contextual control options to display buttons only when you need them and three different control schemes for driving and maneuvering, as well as a reworked checkpoint system for easier progression. It also comes equipped with full controller support, including Made for iOS controller capability on iOS7. It will be available for select iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle and Windows Mobile devices. More info soon.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Leicester Square in London, UK officially became Xbox One Square yesterday for the launch of Xbox One. Possibly the biggest week in video game history kicked off with live outdoor performances from chart toppers Plan B and Katy B, and the midnight opening of a pop-up GAME store in a 10,000 ft² Xbox One gaming zone in London’s Trocadero.

GAME then opened the doors to its pop-up store in the Xbox One Gaming Zone in The Trocadero. Phil Harrison, Corporate Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft EMEA, said: “We’re proud and excited that Xbox One is going to be the biggest launch in Xbox history. Xbox One is a complete, all-in-one system which has the best games, the best online service in Xbox Live, the best entertainment experiences and is built for the future. With the strongest line-up of games we’ve ever seen for a new console, pre-orders from fans across the UK are at unprecedented levels. 

“The games industry is evolving and growing fast, and we are proud to have so many British developers and creators helping to drive the new Xbox One era.”

Councillor Robert Davis, Westminster City Council’s deputy leader, said: “Leicester Square is the number one leisure destination in the UK, so Xbox holding their UK launch here is a perfect match – as the console will provide people with hours of fun, film, music and entertainment, just like the West End of London.

“Microsoft already has a strong bond with Westminster, with Microsoft Studios’ Soho Productions and developer Lift London just a few hundred metres away in Soho – which is becoming one of the UK’s fastest growing hubs for software designers and programmers.

“We are delighted to be hosting them for what is a major launch event which reflects the importance of central London as an economic powerhouse.”

Xbox One goes on sale in the UK today at £429.99 RRP, with launch titles – including Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3, and Ryse: Son of Rome exclusive to Xbox One alongside FIFA 14, Call of Duty: Ghosts , Battlefield 4 and Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Racing fans will soon be donning their virtual crash helmets in anticipation of the imminent release of “Forza Motorsport 5” where they will have the first opportunity ever to try and beat Top Gear’s white-suited test driver The Stig – albeit his Digital Cousin.

The video launched ahead of the annual Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 car race that took place last Sunday at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. The car featured in the video being driven by The Stig’s Digital Cousin is the Holden Xbox One Racing Team car which will be driven by Britain’s Andy Prilaux, three-time WTCC winner and Bathurst veteran, and Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom in this weekend’s race.

Duncan Gray, Top Gear’s Commercial Director at BBC Worldwide says: “Trying to beat The Stig on track has long been the petrol-fuelled dreams of Top Gear fans everywhere and whilst Jeremy and the team did not want to frustrate or embarrass gamers by putting forward the real Stig, they did help us track down a potentially more fallible relative of their tame racing driver.” 

Xbox recently announced that Machinima will launch a new app exclusively on Xbox One, in conjunction with the console’s release on November 22. The app takes advantage of Xbox One’s exclusive “Snap” feature, giving gamers the ability to do two things at once, on the same screen.

Given some of the recent technical issues during the first days of GTA online, and now that things are starting to look much smoother, Rockstar Games are currently giving away a special stimulus package for all who have played or will play Grand Theft Auto Online this month. They will be dropping a cool half a million GTA$ in the GTA Online bank accounts of all players this month, which already started this week.

In order to keep the current worldwide in-game economy balanced, Rockstar Games will be providing this GTA$ to players via two deposits of $250,000. The first installments should have happened this week with the second installment to happen by the end of the month. For players who experienced cloud server errors, connection issues, and lost game progress and characters in the first days of GTA Online, the GTA$ will help to facilitate a fresh start or make your continued life in Los Santos and Blaine County extra sweet.

Below are a few more details on how it will work:

• You must play or have played Grand Theft Auto Online at any time during the month of October 2013 in order to qualify for the GTA$500,000 deposit in your in-game bank account 
• Players will first have to install a forthcoming GTAV title update. That title update (1.04) is expected to fix the remaining instances of issues that have caused vehicle purchase loss and will also enable the functionality through which they’ll be providing this GTA$ stimulus cash to players.
• They will announce at the Rockstar Newswire when each deposit is made.
• Each of the two GTA$250,000 deposits will be made by Rockstar and should automatically appear in the in-game GTA Online bank accounts of eligible players.
• Beyond downloading the forthcoming title update mentioned above, there should not be any additional special action required by eligible players to redeem.

© justaweemusicblog.com

The Xbox team recently announced that it is taking Xbox One on the road, offering gamers the chance to experience the new generation of gaming before Xbox One launches on 22 November. Beginning on 1October through the end of the year, the Xbox team will visit over 75 different cities around the world through a series of experiential events.

“Area One” will provide an opportunity for large groups of people to try the latest games, learn about Xbox One, and enjoy some gameplay with their friends. While attendance is free of charge, space will be limited.

Xbox One will also be taking to the streets to give fans an opportunity to try out the Xbox One with “Test Drive.”  Across the UK, Germany, France, US and Canada, Xbox will cruise the country in custom “Test Drive” vehicles, appearing at festivals, university campuses, retail centers and more in search of gamers ready to take the new generation of entertainment for a spin.

Fans in France, Italy and Spain will also be able to get their hands on the Xbox One line-up at the Xbox booths at Milan Games Week (Oct 25 – 27), Paris Games Week (Oct 30 – Nov 3), and Madrid Games Week (Nov 7 – 10).

For more information and tour dates, check: xbox.com/onetour

Once the benchmark of the industry’s top DJs, Panasonic position themselves to become the number one choice again with the release of the latest version of the legendary Technics professional headphones. Like many quality products, first impressions come with the packaging and by the time you open the matt black box to get your headphones out, you know what’s inside is well worth the wait.

Turn 10 Studios recently unveiled a new video showcasing the first ever direct-feed gameplay footage of the Xbox One exclusive game, “Forza Motorsport 5”. The footage features the 2012 Pagani Huayra racing in the snowy elevations of the Bernese Alps circuit.The Bernese Alps circuit first made its debut in “Forza Motorsport 4” and has been completely rebuilt in “Forza Motorsport 5.”

Debuting for the first time on Xbox One, Microsoft Studios and Press Play revealed features for “Max: The Curse of Brotherhood,” a follow-up to the game “Max and the Magic Marker.”

Players will follow Max on his journey to find his brother, Felix, who’s been taken by a giant monster and travel with Max through a mystical, blighted fantasy-world, using powerful magical abilities to overcome puzzles and enemies in order to save Felix before it’s too late.Tokyo Game Show attendees had the chance to play the game for the first time last weekend. It’s another XBox One exclusive and will be available early next year.

© justaweemusicblog.com

Rockstar games recently announced that The Music of Grand Theft Auto V, a trio of albums from Grand Theft Auto V, are available on iTunes for £7.99 each or as a full compilation for £17.99.

Microsoft Studios and Access Games recently unveiled new details of “D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die” at the Tokyo Game Show.

Capcom recently showcased the Co-op Multiplayer and Super-combo Weapons for the forthcoming “Dead Rising 3”. Microsoft and Capcom Vancouver enticed fans with a first look at co-op multiplayer and Super-Combo weapons, a brand-new addition to the franchise.

Microsoft Studios, in partnership with Grounding and Land Ho! recently unleashed new footage of “Crimson Dragon” for the first time at Tokyo Game Show. Created and directed by acclaimed developer Yukio Futatsugi (creator of “Panzer Dragoon”), the flight-based shooter features action-packed gameplay and a new user interface.

PQube in collaboration with the development studio Milestone, recently released new screenshots of WRC FIA World Rally Championship 4 (WRC 4).


These first pictures feature three of the major manufacturers of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship with the Volkswagen Polo R WRC driven by Sébastien Ogier, the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi DS3 of Sébastien Loeb and the Ford RS WRC of Mads Ostberg.

WRC 4 is the official game for the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship and features the rallies, drivers and teams from the 2013 WRC calendar. Published by Bigben Interactive and developed by Milestone studio, WRC 4 will be available next month for Xbox 360®, Windows PC®, PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®Vita.


© justaweemusicblog.com

EA SPORTS™ recently announced a partnership with the five-time player of the year, Gareth Bale. One of the Barclays Premier League’s most accomplished talents, Bale will make his debut on the cover of FIFA 14 in the UK, Ireland and Middle East alongside, Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi.

Publisher PQube, along with game developer Milestone, recently announced free DLC content for all Xbox 360 and PS3 pre-orders of their upcoming motorbike title, MotoGP™13, the official game of the MotoGP™ World Championship 2013, due for release in June 2013 for Xbox 360, PS3, PS Vita and PC. Featuring top riders from the 2012 season, the DLC gives you a chance to ride in Casey Stoner’s shoes, to be Valentino Rossi during his Ducati season or to take part in the last year of Andrea Dovizioso’s career at Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team.

All these and much more will be included in the Pre-order DLC content which delivers all the adrenaline of the 2012 season thanks to 8 Top Champions and 4 Teams/Bikes. Everyone who pre-orders MotoGP™13 for Xbox 360 and PS3 will receive the free DLC with the following content:

These riders and bikes will be available to use in Quick Race/Race Weekend, Multiplayer, Split Screen and Championship Game Modes. 


“There were a lot of requests to include 2012 content into MotoGP™ 13”, affirms Michele Caletti, Game Director at Milestone. “For this reason we’ve decided to satisfy the fans desire by offering some of the historical riders and unique combinations from the past season for a spectacular MotoGP™ experience.”

SEGA® of Europe ltd. recently announced that the classic arcade game After Burner™ has returned for a new generation of gamers. Developed by Fishing Cactus, After Burner Climax™ is a universal app compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and is available for £1.99 on the App Store.

After Burner Climax is a fast and frantic arcade-style action game that puts fans in the cockpit of the world’s fastest fighter jets. Fans will utilize both tilt and touch controls to dodge missiles and bullets while trying to target multiple on-screen enemy aircraft. Built for all skill levels, anyone will be able to take to the air and soar through a branching storyline of more than 20 stages. Players can select from the F-14D Super Tomcat by Northrop Grumman, the F-15E Strike Eagle or F/A-18E Super Hornet by Boeing and personalize their plane with four different paint jobs. By mastering levels, players can unlock power-ups and climb to the top of the leaderboards. Check the trailer below.

SEGA® Europe, Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. recently launched Kingdom Conquest II™ on the App Store™ and Google Play™. Developed by SEGA Networks, Kingdom Conquest II is a universal app compatible with iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod® touch and is available for free on the App Store and for all Android devices on Google Play.

Inspired by the grisly shootouts from Max’s past, the Painful Memories Pack will bring four new maps and more to Max Payne 3 Multiplayer this December. Players can revisit the subway bloodbath from the original Max Payne in the Roscoe Street Subway map. Flashback to the dingy Hoboken watering hole at Marty’s Bar, open fire on the posh Branco family yacht in Shoot First and wage Gang Wars at Canal De Panamá.

Amid a plethora of holiday launches, many gamers are already looking ahead to spring 2013 as Microsoft and Epic Games recently released the official “Gears of War: Judgment” box art and kicked off pre-orders at participating retailers^. The next marque instalment to the Xbox 360 franchise that’s sold more than 19 million units, “Gears of War: Judgment” takes fans back to the immediate aftermath of Emergence Day.

Fans who pre-order “Gears of War: Judgment” now at participating retailers will receive an exclusive in-game multiplayer weapon at launch, the Classic Hammerburst, along with potential retailer-specific content^. The Classic Hammerburst was the standard-issue assault rifle of the Locust Army during their E-Day onslaught. Highly accurate with a six-round burst, it helped give the Locust a decisive advantage. For more info, click here: www.gearsofwar.xbox.com. In the meantime, check out a new video of the Classic Hammerburst in action below:

The biggest entertainment event of 2012 isn’t a Hollywood movie – it’s a blockbuster video game. Hailed by Newsweek/The Daily Beast as potentially the “biggest entertainment launch of 2012 – in any medium,”¹ “Halo 4” ushers in the return of the Master Chief and is poised to be the biggest entertainment premiere of the year to date, when it storms retail stores worldwide tomorrow, Tuesday, 6^th November.

Around the globe, more than 10,000 retail locations in more than 40 countries will open their stores at 12:01 a.m. on 6^th November to welcome throngs of fans who have been eagerly waiting more than five years for the next blockbuster installment of the iconic franchise that has sold over 46 million copies worldwide and generated more than $3 billion in sales. At launch, festivities in major cities around the world, from Seattle to London to Berlin, will inspire millions of fans to unite and celebrate the highly anticipated return of “Halo’s” iconic hero and the beginning of an epic new “Halo” saga.More than 30 marquee global launch events are planned in major cities worldwide, including London, Seattle, Paris, Berlin, Toronto, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Dubai and Sydney.

London will host a spectacular stunt this evening, down the River Thames from the Greenwich Peninsula to Tower Bridge – under the watchful gaze of the Master Chief. Fans should arrive at Butlers Wharf, adjacent to the Design Museum (28 Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD), no later than 7:30pm so as not to miss out on the action.

There will also be more than 350 midnight openings taking place the length and breadth of the UK, with the flagship London launch taking place at GAME in Westfield Stratford.  Fans will have the opportunity to count down to “Halo 4’s” much anticipated release with developers from 343 Industries, get early hands-on time with the game, win coveted “Halo” merchandise and prizes provided by Samsung, the official TV launch partner for “Halo 4” in the UK, see the Master Chief in person, take photos with a replica Warthog vehicle, meet The Gadget Show’s Jason Bradbury, and sample Mountain Dew’s “Halo 4” themed “Game Fuel” drink and the exclusive “Halo 4”-themed pizza from Pizza Hut.

A limited number of fans can also board a free bus from the Design Museum to GAME Stratford at 8:30pm, immediately following the Butlers Wharf stunt. Spaces will be limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Check http://www.xbox.com/Halo-4 for more info.

With less than three weeks until the launch of “Halo 4” on November 6, Microsoft and 343 Industries recently premiered "Scanned,” a cinematic live-action trailer produced by renowned Hollywood director David Fincher (“The Social Network”), and directed by acclaimed visual effects lead Tim Miller (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”).

Microsoft Corp. is introducing Xbox Music, the first all-in-one music service that gives you the freedom to stream custom-created playlists for free, subscribe to all the music you want or download-to-own your favourite songs. Through the power of the cloud, it integrates the music experience across your tablet, PC, phone and TV. With more than 30 million songs in the global catalogue, Xbox Music begins rolling out around the world tomorrow on Xbox 360 and later this month on Windows 8 and Windows RT PCs and tablets and on mobile phones, starting with Windows Phone 8 at launch and additional platforms later.

Xbox Music makes music simple by offering immediate and comprehensive discovery across the different types of devices you own, free streaming music on Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets and PCs, the ability to purchase songs and albums, a music subscription, and artist-based radio.  

Xbox Music isn’t just a listening experience that shows your tracks in spreadsheets and lists. Taking full advantage of every screen on which you enjoy music, Xbox Music elevates your music experiences with striking visuals. As you listen on your tablet, PC, phone or TV, your screen comes to life with artist photos, bios, cover art and discography.

Whether it’s free streaming on Windows 8 and Windows RT, a subscription on Windows Phone 8 or tuning into a playlist on Xbox 360 — each experience is cloud-based for immediate access to your entire catalogue, making music management simple. With the cloud sync feature, your favourite playlists are no longer held captive by the individual device on which they live. For Xbox Music Pass subscribers, you can create the perfect playlist on your Windows 8 or Windows RT tablet and see it automatically appear on your Xbox 360 or Windows Phone 8. For full info and a list of features, check: xbox.com/music.

Microsoft, Playground Games, and Turn 10 Studios recently announced that the demo for “Forza Horizon” is now available for download. Gamers can experience the thrill of action racing on the open roads of Colorado in this wide-ranging demo, designed to give players a taste of the action in store when it’s unleashed to retail on 26^th October. 

In the demo, players will experience the fictional Colorado of “Forza Horizon”, driving a sampling of cars from Horizon’s line-up across a variety of different event types – from Horizon Festival events taking place on the dusty dirt roads to a climactic street race that find players winding up, around, and over the architectural marvel that is the Finley Dam.

Players who download and play the “Forza Horizon” demo and then purchase and play the full game online will receive a specially designed 2013 SRT Viper GTS, celebrating Forza Horizon’s “gone-gold” status. This rare liveried car will only be available to those who download the demo, then purchase and play the game online.

Music fans in Manchester, London, Newcastle and Birmingham can also win tickets to an exclusive gig at London’s Fabric nightclub, featuring DJ Fresh, Ms. Dynamite and Skepta on 25^th October – the eve of the game’s launch. For those who miss out on winning tickets to the Forza Horizon Music Festival, all of the ear-thumping action will be hosted exclusively on Last.fm at http://originals.last.fm and via the Last.fm app on Xbox LIVE immediately following the gig. Finally, car fans can also get behind of wheel of Forza Horizon at Top Gear Live, taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from 25^th- 28^th October. To get involved in the action, win prizes and more, visit www.xbox.com/forzahorizon to learn more.

Microsoft and 343 Industries recently announced the series premiere of the live-action series, “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn,” on Machinima’s new premium channel, Machinima Prime, and Halo Waypoint. The digital series will lead up to the launch of the “Halo 4” video game, one of the biggest entertainment events of the year.

“Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” tells a story of heroism and sacrifice on a scale never before seen in the “Halo” universe, taking fans back to the beginning of the human and Covenant war, and leading into the events of “Halo 4.” Set against the backdrop of a United Nations Space Command (UNSC) military academy, the film follows a group of cadets who are training to be the next generation of soldiers in the UNSC’s ongoing war with insurrectionists in the outer colonial planets. Among these cadets, Thomas Lasky struggles with his doubts about the war, and with the burden of expectations he may not be able to carry. As Lasky comes to terms with his potential as a military leader, the terrifying alien alliance known as the Covenant arrives and turns his world upside down. 

The Halo Nation is possibly one of the most dedicated fan bases in all of gaming. Comprised of millions of fans around the world, Microsoft and 343 Industries, in conjunction with soundtrack partner 7Hz Productions, are recognising the passion of these fans with the “Halo 4” Soundtrack Remix Contest. Musicians and “Halo” gamers alike will have the ability to put their own spin on the “Halo 4” Soundtrack, working with exclusive original stems from famed composer/producer Neil Davidge, competing for a shot at global recognition. 

The competition started yesterday and will run through until 29^th October, with prizes awarded to the most original and creative tracks. Fans will have access to samples of ‘Awakening’, ‘To Galaxy’, and ‘Nemesis’ from the “Halo 4” Soundtrack, allowing for a wide range of potential remix styles and musical genres. For full contest submission guidelines and rules, visit: Halo4Remix.com.

Entries will be judged by composer Neil Davidge of Massive Attack fame, “Halo 4” audio director Sotaro Tojima, and electronic musicians Sander van Doorn and CASPA – who appear on the “Halo 4” Remix Soundtrack – based on originality, creativity, and musicality. Winners will be announced on 16^th November. 

Fans can get a sneak peek of “Fable: The Journey” for Kinect for Xbox 360 before it hits shelves on October 12. The ‘Before and After the Magic’ ViDoc reveals reactions from fans prior to and after experiencing a hands-on demo of “Fable: The Journey” at Comic-Con 2012 in the US. 

“Forza Horizon: Behind the Scenes” is an all-new series of videos on the making of one of this year’s biggest racing games, Forza Horizon, which is coming to Xbox 360 starting on 26 October. On the video you can go behind the scenes and hear from the game’s creators on what makes Forza Horizon one of the fastest, most action-packed racing experiencea you’ll play this year.

EA SPORTS™ recently announced the official NHL^®13 soundtrack, featuring 16 licensed tracks by established and upcoming artists from around the world. The music selected for the soundtrack, in conjunction with the extensive presentation overhaul undertaken in NHL 13, ensures the game looks, plays and sounds like an authentic NHL^® hockey experience. Promising the biggest change to the franchise on this console generation, NHL 13 will be available on September 11, 2012 in North America and September 14, 2012 in Europe.

“The true NHL hockey experience is about speed, power and creativity,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for EA. “To create its sonic counterpart, our soundtrack features a mix of well-known bands like Gaslight Anthem, Anti-Flag and The Offspring, up-and-comers that include Battleme and Canada’s Classified and Monster Truck, and arena favorites like Zombie Nation’s ‘Kernkraft 400’ and Bassnectar’s ‘Pennywise Tribute’. We think fans will agree that this is the new sound of NHL hockey.”

The game is out tomorrow in North America and September 14 in Europe. For more info and tracklisting, check: http://www.easports.com/nhl

Electronic Arts Inc. recently unveiled the complete music track listing for EA SPORTS™ FIFA 13, featuring a mix of genre-spanning music from 50 Gold/Platinum superstars and breakthrough artists representing 12 countries from around the globe. The soundtrack is aimed to reflect the passion and intensity of FIFA gameplay while defining the sound of the upcoming season for football fans worldwide.

“Our FIFA soundtracks are yearly opportunities to showcase a global roster of breakthrough artists from multiple genres,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing at EA. “For FIFA 13, we wanted to take that excitement to the next level by adding major star power, top indie acts, and more songs than ever before.”

The soundtrack delivers music from artists that include Flo Rida featuring Lil Wayne, Bloc Party, Kasabian, Two Door Cinema Club and Matisyahu, along with such internationally award-winning indie acts as Metric, Santigold, Passion Pit, The Chevin, Hadouken!, Wretch 32 and Band Of Horses. The soundtrack also features global breakthrough artists that include Brazil’s Zemaria; Youngblood Hawke, Imagine Dragons, Walk The Moon and Fitz & The Tantrums from the U.S.; Sweden’s Miike Snow and The Royal Concept, Britain’s Animal Kingdom, The Heavy and Bastille; Germany’s Kraftklub; UK/Spain’s Crystal Fighters; Canada’s Young Empires; Australia’s Atlas Genius and The Presets; France’s Madeon; New Zealand’s Kimbra; and Chile’s Astro.

"'We’re very excited up to be teaming up with EA SPORTS,” said Reverend And The Makers’ Jon McClure. “We could sell-out a full UK tour but my friends would still think having a tune on FIFA is bigger.”

“FIFA is by far the most addictive game we play on the tour bus and when we’re at home,” said The Enemy. “It’s a great game to play with your mates and drive them crazy when you beat them, and it’s even better when your song comes on after the match.”

The FIFA 13 demo for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, and PC, will launch around the world beginning September 11.

To listen to a selection of artists from the FIFA 13 soundtrack visit HERE.