SYSTEM UPDATE: July Xbox Update Rolling Out Today

E3 may be in our rear view like a fall leaf in Forza Horizon 4, but we’ve been busy updating the Xbox experience and adding features that you’ve requested. The July Xbox Update adds features that make finding content even easier and offers a host of improvements to Mixer. Here’s what’s new:

FastStart Enabled for Select Titles
Announced back at E3 2018, FastStart is a new innovation from our Xbox Platform team that allows you to jump into your games twice as fast and play after downloading just a fraction of it. FastStart works by identifying which files are needed to begin playing and prioritizes the download of those files first, enabling you to quickly jump into full-fidelity gameplay while the remainder of your title downloads in the background. Simply find the FastStart-enabled title you want to play in our catalog, hit ‘Download’ and your console will take care of the rest. It’s that simple. What’s more, it’s now enabled for select English language titles in our Xbox Game Pass catalog, and will expand to more games in more languages over time. You can learn more about FastStart here.

Group Your Games and Apps
With so much content available, fans have asked for more options to organize libraries of games and apps.  Today, we’re introducing a powerful new enhancement to Pins, which we call “Groups.” With Groups, you can create multiple collections of content made up of anything from within My Games & Apps. You can also assign custom names to each Group, organize and order them, and add individual Groups to Home. Groups will appear across My Games & Apps, Home and Guide, so you’ll be able to access your Groups at a moment’s notice. Best of all, Groups are tied to your Xbox Live account, so they will automatically sync across multiple Xbox One consoles. We’ve started you off with a Group that should look very familiar — your Pins!

More Search Options
Searching for content is now even easier!  Now pressing the Y button anywhere in the dashboard will bring up the search dialog, allowing you to easily launch your content, sift through Settings, or find products in the Store.  This process is found in many apps, but now you can do it anywhere within the dashboard.  Not seeing enough results for your search? Hit enter or click the “more results” button to view a full page for your search results.

 Mixer Share Controller Improvements

We’ve made it easier to use Share Controller on the web. First, we’ve enabled full mouse and keyboard support for PC users, along with Share Controller Key Bindings.

Second, we’ve added multi-touch support for touch-enabled devices. This allows multiple controls to be used at the same time! For example, you can control the joystick and press A at the same time on your touch laptop.

And lastly, we’ve added a per-channel leaderboard that spotlights viewers who have contributed to a streamer’s channel the most during a Share Controller session.

Full Screen Broadcasting on Mixer

Mixer streamers can now go full screen with their webcam while broadcasting. You can switch to full screen webcam broadcasting at any time you want. While in this mode game audio is muted, making it perfect for talking to your audience while switching from game to game or setting up before you start playing. You can even do all IRL broadcasts!

For the best experience we recommend using one of these cameras:

• Microsoft LifeCam Studio
• Logitech HD Pro Webcam C922
• Logitech Webcam C930e
• Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000

Console broadcasting quality and stability improvements

We’ve made a number of changes and fixes to improve overall broadcast video quality.  You will now experience improved performance when broadcasting bandwidth-heavy multiplayer.

All of these updates are available because of the Xbox Insiders who have helped shape these features, so big thanks to all of you for your valuable input.  If you’d like to help create the future of Xbox and get access to early features, download the Xbox Insider Hub app on your Xbox One or Windows 10 PC.  You can also visit the Xbox Insider blog here for the latest release notes and to learn more. Happy gaming!

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BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY: Two Classic Xbox 360 Games Backwards Compatible Today

It looks like we will be getting two classic Xbox 360 games playable on the Xbox One via Backwards Compatibility.

 Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today.

Assassin’s Creed® Liberation HD, is the remastered striking chapter of the pre-American Revolution Assassin’s Creed saga . The year is 1765. As the events leading up to the American Revolution heat up in the north, Spanish forces plan to take control of Louisiana in the south – but they have yet to reckon with Aveline, an Assassin with a French and African mixed heritage, who finds herself on an unforgettable journey that will take her from the crowded streets of New Orleans to voodoo-haunted swamps and ancient Mayan ruins. Taking full advantage of its new hardware, Assassin’s Creed® Liberation HD introduces graphical improvements and new missions that dive deeper into Aveline’s story.

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The face of war has changed. New enemies and new threats require a new type of warfare - a new type of soldier. Enter the Ghosts. Become the soldier of the future: Using a fully integrated combat system with cutting-edge weapons and revolutionary communication systems, gain a realistic view of how war will be fought in the next decade. Customizable multiplayer experience and Unique Online Co-op Campaign: Create your own identity, create your own gametypes, and take the battle online with up to 16 players. Then, play a brand new campaign created exclusively for online coop play.

NEWS: Introducing Xbox Game Pass Quests: Summer Edition

Your summer of fun is about to begin. Starting today, we’re kicking off the Xbox Game Pass Quests: Summer Edition with new quests every other week exclusively available to Xbox Game Pass members. Whether it rains or shines, you will get rewards to play the games you love all summer long.

What is Xbox Game Pass Quests: Summer Edition? 
Xbox Game Pass Quests is a fun way for Xbox Game Pass members to get rewarded and win prizes playing games in Xbox Game Pass. Every two weeks throughout the Summer, we will announce a new Quest so there’s never a dull moment.

How does it work?
Head to the Xbox Game Pass Membership area on your Xbox One console to check out your Xbox Game Pass Quests. Xbox Game Pass members in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada who complete their Quests are guaranteed a special prize, plus entry to win the grand prize. There will be new Quests every two weeks.

What’s the first Quest? 
Starting today, complete both Quests listed below to get a Foxbat Brassilisk from The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, plus a chance to win a gold-plated Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition.

Quest 1: Play 60 minutes, three days in a row in any Xbox Game Pass title before July 9
Quest 2: Earn three achievements in The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited from July 10-16

Complete both Xbox Game Pass Quests to get your reward. Learn more and track your progress here.

Stay tuned for new Xbox Game Pass Quests
We’ll have new Quests lined up all Summer long and we’ll unlock the next Quest on July 17. So, stay tuned in the Xbox Game Pass membership area on your Xbox One.

NEW RELEASE: Red Faction Guerilla Re-Mars-tered Xbox One

Set 50 years after the climactic events of the original Red Faction, Red Faction: Guerrilla allows players to take the role of an insurgent fighter with the newly re-established Red Faction movement as they battle for liberation from the oppressive Earth Defense Force. Red Faction: Guerrilla re-defines the limits of destruction-based game-play with a huge open-world, fast-paced guerrilla-style combat, and true physics-based destruction.

NEW RELEASE: EA SPORTS UFC 3 ICON Edition Xbox One

The EA SPORTS™ UFC® 3 ICON Edition gives you access to five NEW Icon fighters; UFC Hall of Famers Tito Ortiz and Matt Serra, fan favorite and street fighting legend Kimbo Slice, as well as UFC pioneers and former Pride KO artists, Mirko Cro Cop and Wanderlei Silva. Don’t miss out on the new G.O.A.T. Career Mode, where players must build fight hype to gain fans, earn cash to train at new gyms, and create heated rivalries with other fighters to capture the world's attention. With the Icon Edition, perfect your Ultimate Team with the most recognizable names in UFC history. Select one Champion Fighter to bolster your roster with Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, or Anderson Silva. You’ll also receive five ICON packs and 500 UFC points in Ultimate Team. In EA SPORTS™ UFC® 3, whether you are playing solo or on the couch with friends, there is no better feeling than a Knockout.

NEW RELEASE: The Crew 2 Xbox One

In The Crew® 2, take on the American motorsports scene as you explore and dominate the land, air, and sea of the United States in one of the most exhilarating open worlds ever created. With a wide variety of exotic cars, bikes, boats, and planes to choose from, experience the unbridled thrill and adrenaline-pumping excitement of competing across the entire USA as you test your skills in a wide range of driving disciplines. Record every heart-pounding, asphalt-melting moment and share them with the simple push of a button - fame is yours to take! Play with up to7 other friends online.

NEW RELEASE: Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy Xbox One

Your favorite marsupial, Crash Bandicoot™, is back! He’s enhanced, entranced and ready-to-dance with the N. Sane Trilogy game collection. Now you can experience Crash Bandicoot like never before. Spin, jump, wump and repeat as you take on the epic challenges and adventures through the three games that started it all, Crash Bandicoot™, Crash Bandicoot™ 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot™ 3: Warped. Relive all your favorite Crash moments in their fully-remastered graphical glory and get ready to put some UMPH in your WUMP!

Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy Stormy Ascent Level

Experience the notorious Stormy Ascent level from the original Crash Bandicoot game. Previously unfinished and unreleased, this level will challenge even the most hardcore of Crash fans! Do you have what it takes to tackle the fast retracting steps, vial throwing lab assistants, flying birds, moving platforms and iron spikes?

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Future Tense Level

Play the first-ever NEW level built for the original trilogy’s gameplay in almost 20 years. Drawing inspiration from the cut "Waterfall Level" from the first Crash Bandicoot game, Future Tense features several puzzles from the original level set in the futuristic setting from Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. Discover a whole new level of difficulty for Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy as you dodge rockets, destroy robots and leaps lasers while ascending a massive futuristic skyscraper.

FREEBIES: Games With Gold July 2018

For the month of July, 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 Assault Android Cactus ($14.99 ERP) for free during the month of July. Death Squared ($14.99 ERP) will be available as a free download from July 16th to August 15th.

On Xbox 360, starting July 1st, Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown ($14.99 ERP) will be free for Xbox Live Gold members through July 15th. Then on July 16th, Xbox Live Gold Members can download Splinter Cell Conviction ($19.99 ERP) for free through July 31st.

GAME PASS: 9 New Games Added to Game Pass For July 2018

After announcing earlier this month that Fallout 4, The Division, and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited have joined Xbox Game Pass, members can look ahead to a plethora of games from independent developers through 2018 and beyond, including Warhammer: Vermintide 2 which joins the catalog July 11.

Xbox Game Pass members can look forward to DiRT 4, Zombie Army Trilogy, Human Fall Flat, Bomber Crew, Abzu, Shadow Complex Remastered, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Fallout 3 all coming to Xbox Game Pass this July, in addition to the over 100 more great games included in your membership.

DiRT 4 – July 1
Get behind the wheel of the most powerful and demanding off-road vehicles ever made and take on some of the world’s most challenging roads in DiRT 4. As the official game of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, DiRT 4 also showcases the world’s fastest growing motorsport as you drive incredible 600bhp Supercars, which do 0-60mph in just 1.9 seconds around four officially licensed circuits. Featuring rally, rallycross, and land rush, DiRT 4 challenges you to be fearless as you push yourself and your car beyond the limit. With Your Stage, the rally stage creation tool, you’ll have access to millions of unique stages at the touch of a button. You can then take on these stages in a wide selection of rally cars from the past and present and then challenge your friends online.

Zombie Army Trilogy – July 1 
Ever wondered what a putrid Nazi Zombie looks like from the inside? No? Well, we don’t blame you really, but the folks that brought you Sniper Elite 4 have you covered anyway! Zombie Army Trilogy brings gut-wrenching third-person horror and their trademark X-ray kill camera in a battle to save World War II Europe from the undead. Play solo or in online co-op for two to four players. Battle across 15 levels, three campaigns, and one giant, demonic Fuhrer. Take. Him. Down!

Abzu – July 1
If you haven’t explored Abzu’s vibrant undersea world, July is the time to dive in. With hundreds of undersea species and thousands of shoals of fish that respond to you and each other, you’ll lose yourself in a serene world of story and adventure. Though the adventure follows a linear path, you’re free to explore areas at your own pace to discover hidden details or ride creatures like orcas and manta rays as they glide effortlessly through the crystal blue water. And when are ready to truly immerse yourself, pause to meditate and experience the undersea world from the perspective of the creatures that call the world of Abzu their home.

Shadow Complex Remastered – July 1
Conquer a mysterious and challenging game world with over 10+ hours of exploration and fast-paced combat in Shadow Complex Remastered. Overcome obstacles, discover game-altering power-ups, and defeat legions of enemies in this fresh take on classic side-scrolling design.  The remastered version of Shadow Complex includes graphical enhancements, additional achievements and Master Challenges, as well as all-new dynamic melee take-downs.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – July 1
Return to one of the most celebrated RPGs of all time. From the award-winning team at Bethesda Game Studios, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion features a richly detailed and vibrant game world. Featuring radiant A.I., first-person melee combat and spellcasting, and a completely open world to explore, Oblivion introduced open-world RPGs to a generation of players. With the empire ready to crumble, the gates to Oblivion have opened and demons now march upon the land. In the shadow of evil, a hero will rise from the ashes of a fallen empire.

Fallout 3 – July 1
Set more than 200 years following a nuclear war, create any kind of character you want using the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system and emerge from Vault 101 into the Capital Wasteland. Discover an expansive world, unique combat, shockingly realistic visuals, tons of player choice, and an incredible cast of dynamic characters. In the fight for survival against radiation and Super Mutants, every minute counts.

Human Fall Flat – July 1
Join Bob in a hilarious, strange, and out-of-this-world puzzle style game in Human Fall Flat. Embrace the laws of physics to create your own fantastical surreal world; utilizing an array of tools and your imagination, you can let the laws of physics rule Bob to explore this quirky floating dreamscape and make it your own. The goal is to escape the dreams by solving open-ended puzzles using nothing but your own wits.

Bomber Crew – July 10
Bomber Crew is a strategy simulation game where you control every aspect of a World War II bomber, ranging from tagging enemy fighters, managing your o2 supply, ensuring your weapons have ammo and naturally marking your target to achieve your objective. After choosing your crew, painting your Bomber in your own chosen colors and putting some sweet art on the nose, you’ll be taking to the dangerous skies in high-risk expeditions where danger can come from anywhere. Flak guns, enemy fighters, low oxygen and even bad weather will be trying to halt you completing your tasks.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 – July 11
Enjoy Warhammer Vermintide: 2, the action-packed sequel to Warhammer: Vermintide, the same day as its global release right here on Xbox Game Pass. Fight for survival together with your friends in this intense and challenging 4-player co-op game set in the Warhammer Fantasy Battles universe. Experience brutal and groundbreaking melee combat against the new Chaos army, personalize your experience with 15 new careers, a revamped loot and progression system, brand-new weapons, and more. Up the stakes and challenge yourself with the Heroic Deeds system, designed to push the boundaries of battle and grant players the chance to receive even greater rewards. Only with true skill and teamplay that you and your friends may persevere against the endless tides of bloodthirsty enemies.



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BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY: Three Classic Xbox 360 Made Backwards Compatible Today

It looks like the Backwards Compatibility team is back from their E3 brake and after a few weeks today we will be receiving three classic Xbox 360 games playable on the Xbox One via Backwards Compatibility.

Sensible World of Soccer, GRID Autosport and Fable Heroes are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today.

Sensible World of Soccer is the classic 90’s football game reborn with enhanced graphics! Take on your friends online now in this fantastic pick up and play football game. Play a quick game, or manage your team over a full season with a fully immersive tactics editor.This game uses technology of Massive Incorporated ("Massive") that enables in-game advertising. Massive may collect your Internet protocol address and other anonymous information for the purposes of transmitting and measuring in-game advertising. Massive does not store or use this information for discovering your identity. Please see Massive's privacy policy: http://www.massiveincorporated.com/site_network/privacy.htm. 

Experience an intense, authentic and deep world of professional Motorsport - specialize in your favorite racing style or conquer them all across 100 routes at 22 incredible locations. GRID Autosport features a huge career, advanced rival driver AI, the return of in-car view & the most exciting high-performance racing cars. 

Fable Heroes is a fresh spin on the beloved Fable franchise in which up to four players play both cooperatively and competitively in this hack-and-slash adventure. Work together as heroes of Albion to defeat familiar foes and new enemies while collecting as many gold coins as possible to unlock upgrades, characters, and items in both this game and Fable: The Journey for Xbox 360.