Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Bundled with an EE Subscription
The Xbox Game Pass grants Xbox/PC gamers unlimited access to 100 titles, both from Microsoft and other established publishers (and indie studios) to fully download and play. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the upper tier, granting benefits from both the Game Pass and Live Gold, plus access to EA Play, a month of Disney+ (for countries that have Disney+) and access to games on console, PC and now mobile (Android only; a browser-based app will soon come for other platforms). While the Ultimate version is more packed, it may look like a tough commitment to make. But apparently, in case you live in the UK, you should be able to get a good deal on the tier via a very generous offer.
A recent promotion from EE lets existing and new customers on their network get both the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and unlimited gaming data for £10 a month. If you want to give it a spin and if you’re a UK citizen, text XBOX to 150 and you’ll get a 30-day rolling contract, which you can cancel if either you’re unsatisfied (Xbox Cloud Gaming quality depends on the game you’re playing or the place you’re playing in) or find a better deal out in the world. As for the unlimited gaming data, it’s a little hazy on the details, but it’s likely the same as EE’s Gamer data pass: you might have unlimited use of Twitch, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, Pokemon Go and Fifa Mobile. For an additional £7 a month when buying a new phone/SIM plan from EE, you can add a controller. There was another way to gain the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for one year (without unlimited gaming data): you had to sign into a number of Samsung phone deals before June 1st. Oh well, coughing up £10 shouldn’t hurt anyone.
This offer, to gain Xbox Game Pass Ultimate through a phone provider, is an ingenious idea (to me at least). I would’ve signed up to get it if I still lived in the UK, so I can play on the go and online with my classmates. But it’s no longer possible and I certainly don’t plan to return to the UK any time soon. This means I have to pray it comes to Vodafone… eventually. If I could get this offer, it’d be a great reason to play outside, since I certainly have very few reasons to go outside. I already have the Xbox Game Pass (until August), making me crave the Ultimate tier even more. I seriously hope this becomes more available internationally.
GTA V Shouldn't Come to the Nintendo Switch
For those who still are ignorant about this game, Grand Theft Auto V is a worldwide gem. It’s an open world action-adventure title that, in a first for the series, is told through the perspective of three characters that represent the type of players the series is known for: a retired bank robber (veteran), a street gangster (newbie) and the most deranged person to ever be conceived for this game (psychopath). In a world as superficial and vile as Los Santos, the three come together to perform the most ambitious heists ever made, in order to survive in a place where they can trust nobody - least of all, each other. A tale of betrayal, entering the criminal world and getting to chose how the story ends, this is the most complex video game to be created by Rockstar - and it’s just as controversial for its depiction of violence, women and one sequence of torture. The game was so good, Rockstar developed a multiplayer-focused title named Grand Theft Auto Online, which initially acted as a prequel to the main game, eventually becoming its sequel in later updates. As of now, it’s the most successful game in the market, with about $6 billion in worldwide revenue. It’s also the first game to be made available in three generations of consoles, including PC (first remaster only) and:
-Sony: PS3, PS4 & PS5 (on November 2021)
-Microsoft: Xbox 360, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X (on November 2021)
But of course, you’ll notice that it’s not on a Nintendo console, which is alright since Nintendo is family-friendly (while allowing Mortal Kombat on their latest platform). The writer of a gaming news site expressed interest in seeing the game come to the Nintendo Switch, even if it’s the original rendition. I disagree with that, especially with Grand Theft Auto Online also coming to the Switch. The idea of playing the game on the go will not only increase the sales of the Switch even further, but it’ll also prevent Rockstar from getting to work on a new installment of the series, since they’d have to work hard to accommodate the large number of Switch players.
Other than playing on a couch, it’s also not the type of game to play in public. As for the single player experience, it’ll have the same negative impacts: increased Switch sales and making Rockstar delay their GTA VI even further. Historically, the Grand Theft Auto series has only been on three Nintendo consoles, all of which are handhelds: Game Boy Color (GTA 1 and 2), Game Boy Advance (GTA Advance) and the Nintendo DS (GTA: Chinatown). Most of the games were okay: not great sellers, but okay. And with how controversial GTA V is and despite the number of mature titles on the Switch, it’s likely Nintendo can get away with getting GTA V on their platform the same way they got Saints Row III and IV. I believe that the game is more than suited for the full console experience, since as stated previously, it will be available on three generations of consoles, an extraordinary feat on Rockstar’s part.
Square-Enix Teases Outriders Expansion
The game is set in the distant future where players attempt to colonize a planet that they believe to be a new home for humanity. Unfortunately, the planet isn’t looking to be colonized. This is where a mysterious storm called the Anomaly left advanced technology useless and wildlife evolved into ferocious monsters. Now, it's a war of attrition for the last of humanity's resources. The game features some great mechanics, with the different character classes offering variation. While the game is a bit weird on the story side, the gameplay more than makes up for its flaws and bugs. Heck, I enjoy playing the Devastator, being able to destroy and wreck! People Can Fly is seeing the potential, so they’re gonna do what any developer of a game with high potential does!
The game hit 3.5 million players in its launch month (no, that’s not an April’s Fools joke!), which is enough to make the game Square-Enix’s “next major franchise”, despite the game’s rocky launch. Square-Enix is already telling players to look forward to the game’s future, teasing a future expansion. Now, it’s not known what kind of expansion it will be, but it’s likely additional content which will make their way to the players. Despite the game’s impressive playerbase, it doesn’t translate directly to sales: since the game was added to the Xbox Game Pass at launch, it’s possible a significant amount of that number are Xbox gamers, like myself. We’ll just have to wait and see if the expansion can expand/improve the story, since it would be a shame for a game to have great gameplay but terrible storytelling (People Can Fly even claimed they made the game to show they can craft a mature story).
While I was a little hesitant about the game, it changed once I got to play from the Game Pass. I even considered replacing it on my channel, but I ultimately chose to continue playing it, alongside Just Cause 4. I cannot wait to see what’s coming next for this game, and Square-Enix itself (since they had a failure in Balan Wonderland).
Far Cry 6 Will Be Playable on Previous Consoles
Making new games built for new hardware enjoyable on old hardware can be hard. After all, the game is supposed to take advantage of the advanced hardware to deliver great immersion and gameplay. But for those still stuck with previous gen consoles, they’re missing out, especially with how hard it is to get hold of the PS5 and Xbox Series X (Xbox Series S is more accessible, so Microsoft has an advantage). Some developers are aware of this, which is why when they make new games, they try to bring it to the previous gen - but then CD Projekt absolutely wrecked it with Cyberpunk 2077, which had numerous bugs and technical issues on PS4 and Xbox One. Sony removed it from the PlayStation Store “until further notice” while Microsoft kept the game and put a warning about the issues. Despite offering refunds and apologizing, CD Projekt Red will face class-action lawsuits for trying to downplay the severity of the technical issues before release. For a company that enjoyed a pro-consumer reputation (from games like The Witcher 3), this is a disastrous and costly blunder on their part. Looks like somebody is trying to learn from that mistake.
After revealing the sixth entry in Far Cry and confirming its release date, Ubisoft also confirmed that the game will also be available on PS4 and Xbox One, promising to showcase the playability of the game on the two last gen consoles at a later date. David Grivel, lead game designer on Far Cry 6, said while working on new-gen hardware is “really cool”, older hardware wasn’t abandoned. He said: “We’re really, really cautious about that, so we’ll show more detail and more info very soon. But yeah, we’ll care about all the platforms, both old gen [and] new gen”. Ubisoft’s dedication to PS4 and Xbox One is certainly in response to all the negativity CD Projekt Red received due to the problems Cyberpunk 2077 faced on those old platforms, making the next gen consoles (or a fancy PC) mandatory to enjoy the game. If Ubisoft can manage to get their next game compatible with the last gen consoles and if other developers can do that until the new gen console shortage is resolved, then upgrading won’t have to be a must.
While upgrading to the latest hardware is nice, it’s a comforting thought that the developers will continue to support last gen hardware, especially during the pandemic and shortages of components. CD Projekt Red’s failure with Cyberpunk 2077 is a warning to any developer who doesn’t take time to make a game built on new hardware to be compatible on last gen hardware. Ubisoft is definitely trying to dodge the bullet.
Triple Indie Game Recommendations
Haven - A relaxing but captivating tale of two lovebirds settling on an unknown planet and fighting whoever wants to tear them apart. You can craft items, food and travel the ground with style! You can play by yourself or with a friend (or girlfriend)!
Touhou Luna Nights - A fangame with elements of Castlevania. Heck, you can even stop time, which is super useful for avoiding enemies or giving yourself an edge in boss battles. You can spend hours and hours exploring every floor!
The Messenger - I know you heard of it before, but it is a solid placeholder for the SNES Ninja Gaiden games! Heck, the NPC character pokes fun at the genre and other cliches involved. It can be a tough challenge mind you, so be prepared to spend hours on it!
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