The August 2019 edition of Microsoft’s semi-regular web announcement series Inside Xbox gave us a glimpse of a bevvy of new titles, updates to highly-anticipated ones, as well as new additions to Xbox Game Pass that will no doubt keep the green side of the console fandom occupied for the remainder of the year.
Arguably the biggest name in this list will be Gears 5, which comes with a newly-announced game mode called Horde Mode, which essentially transforms the popular third-person shooter into something akin to the likes of Destiny 2, with players sporting game-changing abilities, or “ultimates”, if you will.
The Gears hype doesn’t stop there, however, with the Funko spinoff Gears Pop! mobile game due out on August 22 for iOS, Android and Windows 10.
For those who are hardcore NBA, basketball fans, or have just come off the hype of Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, rejoice, as veteran British star Idris Elba will be joining the ranks of NBA 2K20 for the game’s career mode. Elba will be part of a star-studded cast, alongside Rosario Dawson (Daredevil), Thomas Middleditch (Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), and King LeBron himself.
Another highlight that brought a smile to many fans was the announcement of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, which will launch on November 14 on Steam and the Microsoft Store. The remaster of the classic historic real-time strategy game will pack better 4K visuals, as well as improved AI and four new factions to keep gameplay fresh even after all these years. This one’s definitely for the “wololo” fans.
New game trailers have also been revealed at the event, with the first-person survival horror game Blair Witch due out on August 30, and Paradox Interactive’s 1920s gangster strategy title Empire of Sin set to release in Spring 2020.
Subscribers to Xbox Game Pass will also have more to look forward to for the remainder of the month. Here is the list of games that will be coming to the subscription service in August:
- Devil May Cry 5 (Available now)
- Stellaris: Console Edition (Available now)
- Ape Out (August 22)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance (August 22)
- Blair Witch (August 30)
Additionally, here are several new game updates for players of the respective titles:
- Ghost Recon: Breakpoint will be getting an eight-player multiplayer mode called Ghost War, which pits players against each other in two teams of four in a battle royale-style match.
- Metro: Exodus‘ new DLC The Two Colonels is set to launch
- Humans Fall Flat will get a new level for PC and Xbox One (this update is free, by the way) on August 27.
- PUBG will be getting some cross-play love between Xbox One and PS4 sometime in October.
Capping off the Inside Xbox episode are the launch of two new Xbox One controller colours (Night Ox and Sport Blue), and a new fan event called X019 that will take place on November 14 in London. X019 will feature several big names of the Xbox team, most notably Phil Spencer.
Marion has a serious RPG addiction. Sometimes it bleeds into real life; he forgets to sleep because he thinks he has a Witcher’s body clock. Forgive him in advance if he suddenly blurts out terms such as “Mind Flayer” and “Magic Missile”, because never once does he stop thinking about his next Dungeons & Dragons game.
Si Jia
