NEW RELEASES: ZHEROS Xbox One

 ZHEROS

In a journey through distant and unknown galaxies, you play as the members of the ZHEROS squad: Mike and Captain Dorian. Brave, strong as awkward and dim-witted the first one; agile, smart and ready for anything the second one. They are both intergalactic agents called to defend the universe from crime. From bizarre characters and encounters to strange locations, find out what mystery awaits you at the end of your journey.


ZHEROS is free until 15 Feb for all Xbox Live Gold Members as part of the January Games With Gold offers.

BETA: Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 Open Multiplayer Beta

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 launches its open multiplayer beta beginning today and running until 18 January. The beta is open to all Xbox One players (requires Xbox Live Gold to go online and play multiplayer). Check out the beta trailer and summary of what the beta offers.

-Enjoy the Backyard Battleground and play Flag of Power, Garden Warfare 2’s King of the Hill-inspired mode, where you can jump into the action right away and experience an immersive and escalating battle (don’t worry – EA and PopCap are saving tons of great content and plenty of surprises for launch).

-You’ll also get to try out six new PvZ character classes, as well as a returning roster of your favorite characters from the original Garden Warfare.
-Jump into the 24 person multiplayer modes – the new Herbal Assault and Gardens & Graveyards.
-You’ll be able to play across four distinct maps – Moon Base Z, Frosty Creek, Z-Tech Factory, and Seeds of Time.

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 will be available 23 February, but with EA Access, you can play it early starting on 18 February. Pre-order now and receive bonus in-game content. For more information on Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, visit the official website.

FREEBIES: EA Access Play Days

Xbox Live Gold members get to experience the EA Access Vault for free during the week of January 19 – 24. That means if you have Xbox Live Gold and own an Xbox One, you can play more than a dozen of EA’s greatest games. Explore, lead, and battle in Dragon Age: Inquisition, hit the streets in Battlefield Hardline, be a Titan in Titanfall, and feel the game with FIFA 15 — and that’s just the start.

Xbox Live Gold members can get started by downloading the EA Access Hub App by clicking on the Gold Member area on the home dashboard.

Get ready for the release of Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 by binging on the original during the EA Access Free Play Days. Your characters earned carry over – plus EA Access members get 10% off EA games, and get to play GW2 before it hits the shelves.

EA games now in The Vault include Battlefield Hardline, EA Sports UFC, Battlefield 4, FIFA 15, Madden 25, Dragon Age: Inquisition, NHL 15, Titanfall, Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare, Need for Speed Rivals, NBA LIVE 15, Peggle 2, FIFA 14, and Madden 14.

After Free Play Days, you’ll have the option to become an EA Access member for $4.99 (USD) per month, or $29.99 (USD) for a full year, and can continue playing your favorite Vault games right where you left off. You’ll also get to keep your Gamerscore and achievements earned while playing.

With EA Access, members can play new EA titles before they are released for a limited time and save 10% on all EA digital purchases on Xbox One. You’ll be among the first to download and explore Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, Unravel, EA Sports UFC 2, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, and other new EA games. Since you’re playing the real game and not a demo, your saved progress will carry over if you decide to buy the full game once it’s released.

NEWS: Xbox Exclusive EA Access now on PC

Electronic Arts has launched a new PC gaming subscription service, promising 'endless PC gaming' for just US$4.99

The new plan is called Origin Access and it’ll offer everything that EA Access on Xbox One does: Free versions of old games; early access to brand new games; and a 10% discount on games, DLC, and other add-ons.

Of course, you’ll have to play all of these games through EA’s Origin client, which may be a game-changer to some Steam devotees. But it’s good to see a big company taking these kind of experiments.

DEALS: Amazon Prime just launched an awesome deal for gamers

Along with all the other benefits your Prime membership gets you, Amazon is now offering members 20% off new video games.

The new 20% discount is only offered on physical copies of games, meaning no digital downloads, and is only available for pre-orders all the way up to two weeks after the game's release.

It seems to also be available for game accessories, like Nintendo's amigos and Lego Dimensions packs.

NEWS: Microsoft's Mike Ybarra has been teasing a new feature

Microsoft's Mike Ybarra has been teasing a new feature likely coming in the Xbox One February update - the ability to see who's in a Party before joining it.

Now that might seem like a pretty minor update, but it's a pretty important one from a social point of view and something that gamers have been requesting for a good while now.
It's good to see Microsoft is still listening to its fans.

And if there's one thing that can ruin a perfectly good match in Halo 5, it's other people. You can't trust them. And we're not just talking about random, anonymous tweens verbally abusing you online because you just laid waste with a SPNKr rocket.

Hmm, what am I doing here on Xbox One... #Xbox pic.twitter.com/gnvs4TEFgG

— Mike Ybarra (@XboxQwik) January 9, 2016

No, even people you know can be a royal pain in the posterior.

There's always one person in the group you play online with that you're hoping won't be there when you next log in. They're the one's who make you wait in the lobby for ages while they use the bathroom between every match, always have their mic turned up too loud, or are perpetually - and loudly - snacking for the entirety of a gaming sesh.

In short, they're always doing something annoying.

Up to now there was no way to find out who was actually playing within an Xbox Party, but with the new update a third option will appear when you click on a friend's profile to join them in-game.
As well as 'Join Party' and 'Join Game' there will now also be an option to 'See who's in the party'.
And if you don't think there's anyone annoying in your gaming group who no-one wants to play with then, chances are, it might be you...

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