Microsoft has revealed their gaming line-up for 2011 across the Windows PC, Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7 platforms. MyGaming has already taken a look at the most interesting announcements – The Gears of War 3 beta and the Fable III PC launch date – but there’s still plenty in the pipe, summarised below.
Xbox 360
Gears of War 3 (Epic Games) – Kicking off in mid-April, the “Gears of War 3” public multiplayer beta will give fans a chance to experience three new Versus Multiplayer modes on four new maps. Set to launch worldwide on 20 September and in Japan on 22 September. Fans can help decide which maps they’d like to see in the beta starting today by visiting the “Gears of War” Facebook page (facebook.com/gearsofwar) and voting on their favourites. Voting ends on 28 February.
Halo: Reach Defiant Map Pack (Certain Affinity, 343 Industries) – Available on Xbox LIVE for 800 Microsoft Points on 15 March, the “Halo: Reach” Defiant Map Pack introduces three new battlefields – Condemned, Highlands and Unearthed.
Halo Waypoint – Fire up Halo Waypoint on Windows Phone 7 or HaloWaypoint.com today to check out the new stat-tracking features, which allow you to share your in-game stats on the web and compare against friends.
Fable III Traitor’s Keep game add-on (Lionhead Studios) – Available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 560 Microsoft Points on 1 March, the Traitor’s Keep game add-on ventures into three new levels called Ravenscar Keep, Clockwork Island, and the Godwin Estate, taking on new quests and encountering a mysterious prisoner. Traitor’s Keep also includes 250 gamerscore points and additional content.
Crysis 2 3D (Crytek, Electronic Arts) – In either HD or 3D, Crysis 2 from Crytek and Electronic Arts, lets players step into a post-apocalyptic world where alien invaders stalk the streets of New York City. 12 multiplayer maps and six modes on Xbox LIVE. Launches on Xbox 360 on 25 March.
Homefront (Kaos Studios, THQ) – The new IP FPS Homefront asks civilians to stand united, fight back and defend their Homefront. All Homefront game add-ons will appear first on Xbox LIVE, and at launch on 18 March, Xbox 360 versions of the game will exclusively feature the Suburbs map.
Child of Eden (Q Entertainment/Ubisoft) – Winner of several E3 awards, Child of Eden is a multi-sensory shooter from the mind of game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi that will send players diving into a kaleidoscopic matrix of synchronised music and mind-blowing visuals. Child of Eden was designed with Kinect for Xbox 360 in mind.
Batman: Arkham City (Rocksteady Studios, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, DC Entertainment) – Launching this fall, Batman: Arkham City builds on the foundation of the award-winning Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players into Arkham City, the new maximum security home for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds.
NFS Shift 2: Unleashed (Slightly Mad Studios, Electronic Arts) – The seventeenth game in the Need for Speed series, Shift 2 Unleashed features an all-new rendering engine and graphics overhaul, a helmet camera, night racing, and authentic degradation of cars and environments to deliver a realistic racing experience. Launching on 1 April.
Once Upon a Monster (Double Fine Productions, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) – Young players join Cookie Monster, Elmo and other Sesame Street characters as they explore a living storybook titled “Once Upon a Monster.” In the book, they make new zany monster friends from the “Once Upon a Monster” world and share in their adventures, solving problems, forging friendships and learning key life skills along the way. Parents and children literally become part of the whimsical storybook adventure by getting active together through dancing, jumping, flying and more.
The Gunstringer (Twisted Pixel Games) – From the developers Splosion Man, The Maw and Comic Jumper, comes a new Kinect-exclusive title; The Gunstringer for Xbox LIVE Arcade. Take control of an undead marionette in an epic Wild West stage production that requires your puppeteering and quick draw shooting skills to exact revenge on the Gunstringer’s enemies.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood The Da Vinci Disappearance game add-on (Ubisoft) – The Da Vinci Disappearance will include both single-player and multiplayer content for Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. After the fall of the Borgias in Rome, Ezio will embark on a quest to save Leonardo Da Vinci from an underground cult. The multiplayer addition includes one new map, four new characters and two new game modes.
The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile (Ska Studios) – Created by award-winning indie developer James Silva, “The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile” is the stylistic action platform sequel to 2009’s “Dead Samurai.” Exclusive to Xbox LIVE Arcade. The title features solo and co-op campaigns, 50 arcade challenges, an almost endless Dish Challenge, and a new 3D mode.
Beyond Good & Evil HD (Ubisoft) – Releasing on 2 March, the fan-favourite “Beyond Good & Evil HD” will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade in full HD for 800 Microsoft Points. Enter the futuristic world of year 2435, a world full of deception, where nothing is as it seems and exposing the truth is the only hope of restoring freedom. Play as action-reporter Jade and capture the truth using stealth, force, and wits against a government that deceived you in this puzzle-solving action-adventure game.
Torchlight (Runic/Microsoft Game Studios) – The highly-regarded PC action-RPG is heading to Xbox LIVE Arcade on 9 March for 1200 Microsoft Points. Features revamped controls and mechanics for its console debut, along with new armour, quests and a pet.
(Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime Atari) – Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime is releasing on Xbox LIVE Arcade in March 2011. Team up with up to three other players, locally or online, to bust gigantic bosses and fend off a new supernatural threat.
Games for Windows LIVE and Windows Phone 7
Fable III for Windows (Lionhead Studios) – Launching in the UK and Ireland on 20 May, “Fable III” for Windows. Full 3D functionality through NVIDIA technology and a PC-exclusive hardcore mode which offers a higher level of difficulty.
Age of Empires Online for Windows (Gas Powered Games) – Age of Empires Online invites players to create a living, growing online world, shared with friends and friendly rivals around the world. A free-to-play experience and a selection of premium content packs.
Fable Coin Golf (Lionhead Studios) – Launching March exclusively on Windows Phone 7, Fable: Coin Golf draws upon the wealth of traditional British pub games and lets you transfer gold earned in the game to your Fable III game on either Xbox 360 or Windows. In addition, you can unlock three exclusive weapons that can be used in the Traitor’s Keep game add-on.
Must Have Games for Xbox LIVE on Windows Phone 7: A collection of mobile games, including: Plants vs Zombies (PopCap), Hydro Thunder Go (Microsoft Game Studios), Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I (Microsoft Game Studios), geoDefense (Microsoft Game Studios) Doodle Jump (GameHouse). Complete with Xbox LIVE Achievements, leaderboards and more.
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