Fenix Rising, the third piece of downloadable content included in the Gears of War 3 Season Pass, was made available on January 17th and we were given the opportunity to review it. The new content includes five new multiplayer maps, a new “re-up” option similar to Call of Duty’s prestige option, four “new” character skins, and additional weapon skins achieved through re-upping.
Jump past the break to find out more about the new content and our impressions.
Although it was previously released on PC back on December 7th, the patch is finally now live to download on Xbox 360. The patch addresses some major issues such as backwards flying dragons and “magic resistance not calculating properly”.
The patch is now up to 1.3 and you can find the patch notes here. No word yet on when the patch will hit for PlayStation 3 owners.
Via @ElderScrolls
As promised, YouTube has been finally added to your Xbox 360′s. There are other apps available as well following the system update from last week. If you have Verizon FiOS in the US, you’ll be able to watch Live TV as well.
If you were in the Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Preview Program, this stuff might seem like old news to you, however, for the rest of you, this is a new update. Certain services are region specific suck as blinkbox (UK only). Aside from the awesome addition of YouTube, users will also be able to get access to MSNBC as well and even iHeartRadio (real radio!).
Check out the entire list of Apps added today below.
Via Major Nelson
Do you have an iPhone or iOS device and are on Xbox Live? If so, you can now download the My Xbox LIVE on any iOS device released yesterday by Microsoft.
The app is available for free and will allow you to message friends, keep track of games played as well as customize your Achievements and your Avatar. You can even edit your friends list and delete them for good in front of their own eyes.
Via Major Nelson
While Microsoft routinely bans modded consoles from Xbox Live, a number of units were erroneously banned in what the company calls a “very specific” incident that occurred between August 29 and September 9.
Xbox Live Policy and Enforcement chief Stephen Toulouse says the findings are a result of a investigation that was prompted by customers who insisted that their console was wrongly suspended.
Although an “extremely small percentage” of consoles were affected, Microsoft is taking steps to make things right. Those impacted by the error will receive three months of XBL Gold, plus a 1600 MS Point credit to their primary account. Additionally, use of the software used to carry out these bans has been ceased. more »
Last July, Microsoft consolidated its entire Games for Windows Live storefront into Xbox.com. The Redmond-based software giant is taking integration a step further with Windows 8, announcing today it will feature support for accessing Xbox Live’s growing suite of services directly on PC. Beyond that, few details are known.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to play purchased 360 titles through XBL on PC — unless Microsoft has its own Steam Play equivalent initiative in the works. It does, however, mean that developers will be able to leverage Xbox Live on PC going forward — and all the perks that come with it.
“At BUILD we are showing that it is easy for developers to create games for Windows 8 that take advantage of the power of Xbox LIVE. We have much more detail to share about the capabilities of Xbox LIVE on Windows and look forward to the opportunity to do so in the near future,” reads the announcement.
Above is a screenshot of Windows 8 running the current Xbox Live interface.
Hulu Plus has finally been made available for the Xbox 360 in the United States. Those interested in trying out the service will be happy to learn that the the service will be available to all Xbox 360 owners free for one week. Following the free week users will be required to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription and have an active subscription to Hulu Plus.
Hulu Plus available on Xbox Live on Friday, April 29th [MajorNelson]
Already available on PSN, Square Enix’s announced that its ninja-infused platformer Moon Diver will hit Xbox Live early next month, May 4 to be specific. With support for four way drop-in drop-out coop online or locally, the title delivers “frenetically fast-paced gameplay” across 12 stages. It’ll cost 1200 MS Points ($15).
Developed by feelplus inc., Moon Diver was created by Koichi Yotsui, one of the creative forces behind 1989′s arcade hit Strider.
Sega just posted the first teaser for their next Sonic: The Hedgehog game on Facebook. The trailer gives us a glimpse at what to expect from the new entry in the series, including snow-covered levels and potentially some co-operative action with a younger-looking Sonic. The title is due out sometime this year for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Catch the new trailer at the top of this post.
Gears of War 3, which was previously delayed from this spring, will be launching worldwide on September 20th of this year for the Xbox 360. The third entry into the Gears of War series places players 18 months after the ending of GoW 2 where you’ll still be fighting those pesky Locust.
In addition to all the new stuff you get with any sequel, Gears of War 3 will also feature a new multiplayer mode, Beast Mode. Beast Mode is a new take on Gears of War 2′s signature Horde mode with players able to choose which side of the battle to be on. You’ll be able to choose different “classes” of locust as you try to fend of the enemy (human) attack.
