FREEBIES: Xbox Live Games With Gold For April 2016

For the month of April, Xbox Live Gold members will receive four new free games – two on Xbox One and two on Xbox 360 – as part of the Games with Gold program. You can play both Xbox 360 titles on your Xbox One with Backward Compatibility.

*Titles are available as free downloads for qualifying Xbox Live Gold members in all markets where Xbox Live is available. Some regions may offer different titles depending on market availability

On Xbox One, Xbox Live Gold members can download The Wolf Among Us ($24.99 ERP) for free during the month of April. Sunset Overdrive ($29.99 ERP) will be available as a free download from April 16th to May 15th.

On Xbox 360, starting Friday, 01 April, Dead Space ($14.99 ERP) will be free for Xbox Live Gold members through April 15th. Then on April 16th, Xbox Live Gold Members can download Saints Row IV ($34.99 ERP) for free through April 30th.

BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE: Two more games now available on Xbox One Backward Compatibility

Microsoft has named two more Xbox 360 Games that Xbox One owners can now play through backwards compatibility.  Dark Souls and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 are now backwards compatible.

 As always, those that own these games digitally will be able to download them again for free from the "Ready to Download" section of the Xbox One. If you own Alan Wake on disc, you can also put this in and the necessary files required to make it work will be downloaded.

	Dark Souls is an action RPG (role playing game) set in a rich, dark fantasy universe. Tense dungeon crawling, fearsome enemy encounters and groundbreaking online features combine for a truly unique RPG experience. Dark Souls breaks down barriers with a seamless world design that encourages exploration and fosters an adaptable gameplay experience.
	WE ARE TEKKEN! Join the world's greatest fighters to swap blows in action-packed battles! Choose from a massive cast of characters and unleash your most vicious combos to claim ultimate victory!

SYSTEM UPDATE: Buy Xbox 360 Games On Xbox One, 16-Person Party Chat And More

The latest system update starts rolling out on Xbox One and the Xbox app today.

All of the features that hit preview earlier this month are rolling out today. There are also a few additions and updates, so check out details below. Thanks again for continuing to chime in on Xbox Feedback, and enjoy the new features!

To see all update features please read my post about this month's preview update: HERE

New feature updates since Preview

– Xbox Elite Wireless Controller improved thumbstick precision with firmware update: We heard from fans that you wanted to see improvements to the behavior of the thumbsticks on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, particularly when you are moving the thumbsticks diagonally. Based on this feedback, we’ve created a new method to calculate the position of the thumbsticks consistently, enabling thumbstick response that is more in line with what you are expecting. This method measures and uses the distance of the thumbstick position relative to the center focus point of the thumbstick base, instead of the standard method, which calculates the measurement using a two-dimensional plane. With the latest firmware update, you can expect increased accuracy of the thumbsticks on your Xbox Elite Wireless Controller for even greater control.

– Xbox Accessories app: The Xbox Accessories app on Windows 10 now includes a page displaying the current firmware version, battery status, and other details about the controller. This detailed information about the controller is already available on the app on Xbox One.

– Include Party Chat in Twitch broadcasts: A top voted-for feature on Xbox Feedback and released in Preview, you can now broadcast Party Chat when using the Twitch app. If you are broadcasting from your console and in a party, you can invite other people to include their chat audio in your broadcast by enabling “Broadcast party chat” in the Twitch app settings. As mentioned in Preview, if a member of your party declines, they’ll still be able to chat in the party; they just won’t be heard in the broadcast. Additionally, as the party leader, you have the option to mute a party member’s chat audio, even if they opted-in. You can also include party members on Windows 10 PCs in your Twitch broadcast.

NEW RELEASE: Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO Xbox One

Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO

Play SLR EVO and experience real rally! More than 186 miles of faithfully-reproduced track and 58 cars which have made rally history! From legends of the past, such as the Stratos and Celica, to jewels of the modern era, like the Citroën DS3 and C4. 64 specials, five Rallycross circuits and the Pikes Peak track – where you can reach some incredible speeds! Revisit all of the 9-time World Champion’s successes – 8 stages to relive his career, from ’98 to the incredible 2013 Pikes Peak record.

DEALS: Spring Sale

Spring Sale starts March 22 – 28 with over 150 game deals up to 40-60% off, and some deals even more than 60%. Xbox Live Gold members will save up to an additional 10% on top of the game discounts. Additionally, we’re offering Xbox One consoles at a special $299 price for a limited time (more details here).

Now is a great time to go Gold. For a limited time, Xbox One or Xbox 360 owners (who don’t have Gold) can log onto their console and upgrade to Gold for just $1 for the first month of membership to unlock the deeper discounts. Gold membership also lets you play online with friends on the most advanced multiplayer network, and gives members up to $700 in free Games with Gold titles every year.

Click this Image to see all Deals

More Deals Here: Major Nelson

RUMOR: Microsoft playing with the idea of trading in digital games for store credit

For all the convenience of being able to buy any game you want and download it directly to your console, there aren't a lot of options for you once you've finished the game.

That could possibly change for Xbox One users though, with a survey appearing on Reddit over the weekend indicating that Microsoft is looking at the possibility of letting users trade in their digital games for store credit.

The exchange rate appears to be a slightly less than what you would get for trading in a physical copy, with Microsoft suggesting that a 10% store credit would be on offer.
Trading places

If you cast your minds back to Microsoft's original Xbox One reveal, there was a lot of criticism and confusion around the company's strategy to limit physically traded-in games.
But given the backflips performed since then, it's not surprising that Microsoft is beginning to explore the possibilities of trading digital copies.

While there's no physical product, there's still a software license, and if Microsoft could buy it back cheaply and then resell it at full price, there's a real opportunity for the gaming company to make a decent profit.

At this stage, it's not certain if the situation will ever proceed past the question-on-a-survey stage, but if it does it could create a significant change in the marketplace.

NEWS: Three More Xbox 360 Games Playable on the One

Microsoft has named three more Xbox 360 Games that Xbox One owners can now play through backwards compatibility. Assassin's Creed, Dark Void and GRID 2 are now backwards compatible.

As always, those that own these games digitally will be able to download them again for free from the "Ready to Download" section of the Xbox One. If you own Alan Wake on disc, you can also put this in and the necessary files required to make it work will be downloaded.

	1191 AD. The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You are Altair, a Master Assassin sent to kill corrupted leaders profiting from the war. As you carry out your missions, you find yourself tangled up in a conflict that threatens not only the Holy Land, but the entire world. Master the skills, tactics, and weapons of history's deadliest and most secretive clan of warriors.
	A sinister parallel world of hostile aliens, powerful weapons and deep mystery.... Dark Void’s unique combination of jet-pack powered dog-fighting and ground-based combat brings a thrilling new dynamic to video-gaming. Experience the seamless transition between flight and fight in this epic adventure from Capcom®.
	Be fast, be first and be famous as the race returns in GRID 2, the sequel to the BAFTA-award winning, multi-million selling Race Driver: GRID. Experience aggressive wheel-to-wheel competition, advanced AI, stunning visuals, jaw-dropping damage and feel the thrill of racing iconic cars in a new word of evolving motorsport.