Own the Night with the Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition Controller

Explore the mysteries of the nocturnal world with the uniquely created Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller. Inspired by nature at night, every color swirl is an expression of that expansive landscape with a design that’s unique to each controller – each with its own energy and pattern. A striking addition to the Vapor series, alongside Stormcloud Vapor and Dream Vapor, this controller features a dynamic smoky design blending style seamlessly with performance.

The Nocturnal Vapor’s design is a strong contrast of dark and light green. The swirl effect mixes these two colors across the top case and textured side grips, all while being accented by the surrounding parts. Feel the allure of the rubberized, green diamond-pattern grips on the back case, elevating your experience with a touch of sophistication.

The Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition packs the performance punch you need. Wield the smoke and stay on target with the textured side and back grips that let you hold on to the action. Embark on your gaming odyssey with confidence, boasting up to 40 hours of battery life (varies with usage and other factors). Enjoy gaming anywhere you desire with Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth technology, allowing you to connect seamlessly to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, PC, iOS, and Android devices (see xbox.com/controller-compatibility for more details; use with controller compatible games).

No matter where you play, you’re going to want to listen to your game with crisp, clear audio. Utilize the 3.5mm audio jack to plug in your favorite compatible headset, perfect for listening to your game or chatting with friends. Share clips with your friends with the dedicated share button or use the Xbox Accessories app to remap your controller buttons and create custom controller profiles for your favorite games, giving you endless potential to elevate your play.

The Xbox Wireless Controller – Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition is available to preorder today in select Xbox markets worldwide for $69.99 USD ERP. Visit Xbox.com or your local retailer, including the Microsoft Store, for more information.

The post Own the Night with the Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition Controller appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Get To Know Our Team: Wynn – Comm(s)unity Manager

Get To Know Our Team
Wynn
Comm(s)unity Manager

Hi, everyone! Wynn here again with a very special April 1st version of the Get to Know Our Team interviews. Today we’ll be chatting with—

Me!

You can’t just interrupt the intro. Wait… why are you wearing that ridiculous hat?

They need a way to tell us apart, so why not get in the holiday spirit?

It’s awful. Try something else.

Save me Mike.

Vecna can keep you. Next.

You either die a hero…

Nope that is truly villainous.

I haven’t even assumed my final form!

All right edge lord. Pick something normal.

Fine, this bit has gone on too long anyway.

Perfect. Now I can properly introduce my(our)self(ves)! This is Wynn! The Community, Communications, and Social Media Manager for Xbox Insider Program. How’s it going?

Pretty well. Hopefully some of y’all recognize me by now.

Well for the uninitiated, tell the audience a little bit about yourself.

Sure thing! Well, back in 1991, two people loved each other very much—

Okay, I think we skip forward a bit.

Fine. I’ll give the spark notes. (Do those even still exist?) I was born and raised in and around Atlanta. I’ve always loved games and gaming. Ever since I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to work in the games industry. It’s a medium that is so uniquely positioned to tell interesting stories that it has captivated me my whole life.

True. I remember gaming always being there. From beating Mega Man X without boss powers to accidentally erasing mom’s save file on Super Mario World to getting lost in Eorzea and losing thousands of hours in Guitar Hero. It’s helped me through some hard times.

But you’re here now, working for Xbox. How did that happen?

I took a slightly long and arduous road here. I had a full ride to Georgia Tech fully planning on getting a Computer Science degree because that was the closest thing to “video game degree” that existed at a “normal” university at the time. But after a few semesters of classes, I dropped out to go the “starving artist” route. Did a lot of starving, not a lot of art.

I remember that. But I persevered. Worked at GameStop for a few years, some odd jobs here and there. Even took one off of Craigslist that wasn’t a scam. But I think you ended up joining Microsoft in 2013, is that right?

Yup! Started in the retail stores as a holiday hire. Converted to full-time Product Advisor at a brand-new store a few months later.

Shout out Store 0056!

That’s where I worked for around four years. Eventually became a technician and then ran the front of house service desk for that entire store until I left. I took a more traditional IT role as a temp job before being laid off as that company axed almost every single non-full-time employee.

A dark time. How’d you make it back to Microsoft?

My old manager at the retail stores actually moved into a sales organization and had an opening on her team. Which is the story of how I packed up my entire life and drove a U-Haul 26 hours straight from Atlanta to Fargo.

A climate, not to mention culture whiplash, to be sure.

You know, I didn’t mind the cold so much. Plus, not sitting in traffic for 90 minutes every day to get to work was an incredible blessing. The worst part was the food. It’s a culinary wasteland up there. Only like three restaurants in the whole city that I would eat at ever again.

Shout out Rustica, Plaza Azteca, and Pounds.

So how long did you stay in sales?

Around two and half years in Fargo and then moved to Charlotte to be closer to family and friends for another two years before getting caught up in another round of layoffs.

Yikes. Almost five years to the day of the previous one, yeah?

Funny how life is cyclical like that isn’t it? But I’m a firm believer that everything happens for reason, even if you have to retroactively apply that reasoning. In different circumstances, I’m not sure I would’ve been in a place to take this position.

Especially true since these first seven months working here have been the most enjoyable and fulling work I’ve done in my time at Microsoft.

Exactly. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Right. Cause you did say it.

So, you’ve been at Microsoft over a decade, here almost a year, what’s your favorite moment so far.

Hmm. I’ve done a ton of really cool stuff since joining. Some highlights include hosting a 100+ person soccer gaming tournament out of my store with a true “round robin” format. It took like 9 hours to finish, and people flew out from all over the US. Then there was a bunch of work I did with achievements for like three years. Can’t really go into specifics, but that was a top moment personally.

Ahh yes. Achievements. My one true gaming love.

Oh! A small plug for something happening right now. My favorite thing that’s launched—keyword launched—is the pizza survey we’re doing right now. It was a silly idea that everyone was on board with, and I’ve been pretty pleased with the results so far.

Yes, everyone who has been asking why the survey results have changed will be pleased to know that they’ll be returning to normal after this week.

For now.

Whoa!

I’m not sure how jump scares come across in text, but I went for it.

Well, speaking of something recent, is there anything you’re working on that you can tell the Xbox Insiders about.

Well, we’ve been working on the release notes migration, which there should be a bigger announcement of later this week / next week. There’s a new Community Update coming out tomorrow, but really anything else I say here won’t be believed because of the day.

Yeah, we could say anything we want here, and no one will know the difference.

Exactly. Let’s tell them about the—

Uhh, Wynn? You cut out there.

*static*

You there?

Whoa. Sorry about that. There was this bright flash of light and I think my camera knocked out.

What were we talking about?

Uhh… you know what? Let’s move on to the rapid-fire questions.

What’s a game that has impacted your life the most?

Ah! I finally get to tell everyone that I purposefully phrased this question this way because I don’t believe in “favorite” media.

Yes, this seems like an okay time to wax philosophic.

So, there’s too much media out there. Too many different genres, variations, etc. having an “all-time” favorite just means you haven’t experienced your new favorite yet. What’s infinitely more interesting is how media impacts your life. The song that brings back memories of your first kiss, the movie that makes you tear up because you watched it with someone who has passed on. Those are the moments that are truly special.

Despite the pretention, I am forced to agree.

To answer the question itself, I mentioned it earlier in passing, but I’ve beat Mega Man X more than a hundred times, which is saying something since I’m generally not someone who replays games. The most recent game that had a profound impact on me was Outer Wilds. That entire experience hit me at a point where the scope, message, and melancholy all wrapped up into a deeply personal moment for me.

Can’t forget about Eternal Sonata either. The Heaven’s Mirror flowers in particular are something inextricably tied to my life as my best friend passed away at the same time those bloom in the game.

Plus, it’s a truly magnificent game that deals with the idea of “someone’s last moments” in a unique and interesting way.

Okay, I get that part of the joke of this interview is that it’s mostly serious, but we’re almost out of time.

But isn’t time a flat circle?

Okay, Rust. That’s a great segue.

Since you don’t re-watch stuff often, do you have any favorite TV shows?

Well, I do think the first season of True Detective is a near perfect show. But I generally veered more sitcom. Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Cougar Town. All peak television. I also liked the late aughts “dude who isn’t a cop, but has some unique insight” shows like Castle, The Mentalist, and White Collar.

Yeah, I generally like TV shows more than movies, but a few all-timers on that front are School of Rock, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and Inception. I’m trying to remember the last “artsy” movie I watched, so I don’t lose all credibility.

Everything Everywhere All At Once?

Yeah, that’s ticket.

Okay, music. I know you can talk about this for hours, so just hit me with the top bands in each genre.

Weezer (Alternative); Alesana or Chiodos (Post-Hardcore); Streetlight Manifesto (3rd Wave Ska); I See Stars (Electronic Hardcore); Veil of Maya (Djent); In Fear and Faith or Currents (Metalcore); Shadow of Intent or Brand of Sacrifice (Deathcore); Motoi Sakuraba or Yasunori Mitsuda (Video Game Composers); Pepper – (Reggae); Muse (Rock); The Devil Wears Prada (Christian Metalcore Bands From Ohio That Started In The Mid Aughts).

I love that that last genre has at least a dozen entrants. I’ll go ahead and sum up the final question. I’m a huge soccer fan. I played all growing up and I still follow several teams. YNWA. We’re sending off Klopp right. I also read a ton of sci-fi fantasy novels and dabble in writing them myself.

No self-promo!

Fine, fine. Okay, let’s wrap this one up.

Any final thoughts for the community?

First, I just want to say. Hey. Look at us.

Who woulda thought, huh?

Not me. It’s so wild that we’re here and doing this.

So, I’d like to give an enormous thank you to the entire Xbox Insider community. Without all of you I would quite literally be out of a job, and I take that responsibility very seriously. These first several months have been incredible. I know things haven’t necessarily moved quite at the pace I would’ve liked them to, but I hope the community knows that changes are being made. There’s not a comment on socials that’s been posted since I got here that I haven’t read.

Exactly. It’s hard to state in words some of this because I know everyone wants to see actions. But if there’s any assurance to be had, it’s hopefully the knowledge that things are being worked on.

Hopefully there’ll be more to share in the near future!

Okay, I’m checking this word count and I won’t let my own interview be the longest, so that’s all for now folks!

Xbox Insiders, be sure to be on the lookout for more content all throughout February including more interviews from the team, a trip down memory lane, and so much more. All of our 10th Anniversary content can be found on our Hub Page.

Until next time! Wynn/

The post Get To Know Our Team: Wynn – Comm(s)unity Manager appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2404.240328-2200)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Beta ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN25398.4073.240328-2200
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – April 1, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – April 2, 2024

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

System

  • Various stability and performance fixes.

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2404.240328-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Get To Know Our Team: Andrew – Customer Experience Manager

Get To Know Our Team
Andrew
Customer Experience Manager

Hi, everyone! Wynn here again. Welcome back to another Xbox Insider Team interview. Today’s chat is with Andrew—a Customer Experience Manager on the team who definitely has more Xbox 360 games than you do.

How’s it going, Andrew?

Ha. Going well, Wynn. You didn’t have to call me out like that right from the top.

If there’s one thing I want Xbox Insiders to know from this interview, it’s that you are Xbox 360’s #1 fan and supporter. It’s like that meme. If there are no more Xbox 360 fans, then we can know you’ve shed your mortal coil.

I can get behind that.

But before we dive into your 7th gen obsessions, let’s take it all the way back. Give us the backstory. What started your interest in games?

I’ve been playing games my entire life, even as a very small child. I’m dating myself a little here, but my first console was an Atari Pong home console.

That’s about as OG as you can get.

Yup! And I’ve been playing ever since. All the way from Mario to Halo, which is really what got me heavily into the Xbox ecosystem.

Did you find your love for the 360 before or after you started here?

Before. I was on that train immediately. You remember the Xbox Live Arcade when it first launched? I was sitting on my console every Wednesday getting almost every single game as it came out. It’s really my love for the 360 that made me want to start working at Xbox. I grew up in rural Ohio, so it wasn’t really a big tech hub.

So how long ago did you get hired?

I think around 13 years ago or so. Right at the start of the 2010s I got hired to do Twitter Support for Xbox. I was one of those old agents where we’d reply to tweets or DMs with our initials.

Oh wow! I actually did something similar when I was in the retail stores. If you clicked “Support” on Outlook Mobile in like 2015-2017, you may have talked to me. It’s a tougher job than people might think.

Yeah, you talk people through so many different issues every day. You become a very well-oiled support machine after a while.

Absolutely. If I tried hard enough, I could probably remember some of the error codes.

Same here. I remember many.

So, how long did you did work on Support?

Well, I did the Twitter stuff for about six years. Worked my way up the ladder before I moved over to a program management position on the Support Team. Then, I did that for a few years before moving to the Insider team where I still kinda do a lot of support. So, really in some ways, I’m still Support, but I left the official “Support” organization back in 2021.

Is there anything you’re currently working on that you can tell the Xbox Insider community about?

I’m not working on too much for Xbox Insider specifically right now, though I’m always trying to improve the features we flight through the program. I guess the most interesting stuff I’m doing—that would also be interesting to this audience—is that I’m working on all of our legacy Xbox 360 services.

Okay, that’s sick.

Yeah, I’ve been on that team for a while now and it’s something I’m extremely passionate about. I believe we have to do everything we can to best preserve and appreciate our history before we can truly move into the future.

I’m fully with you there on that man. I know I joked about it before, but I want to let our readers know that you do have almost every physical Xbox 360 disc.

Well, every North American disc. I don’t have a PAL or JPN 360 yet, so I don’t purposefully collect those at the moment.

My JPN 360 is collecting dust, but I have a bunch of Visual Novels that I should play sometime on it. Since we’re talking about your favorite system, do you have a favorite moment in time from working on it since you’ve been here?

Man, I’ve done so many things actually for the Xbox 360, but I can’t really talk about most of them; even in retrospect. But I do have one of my most cherished game collections items from working here.

Let’s hear it.

So, when I started back in 2011, I was already pounding my drum about much I love the blades on the old 360 dashboard.

I think if you listen hard enough, that’s a chorus of voices from our community shouting out in agreement right now.

Haha. I still think it’s the greatest console operating system of all time. But yeah, I was really passionate about telling everyone I could how much I loved that OS. Fast forward to around 2017-2018, I had just transferred over to a new CSS role, and I was talking about my love for the blades with my new team. Well, a long-tenured teammate showed up at my office about a week later. Turns out, he worked on the hardware team, and he had an old 360 that still had the blades dashboard on it stored in his archives. He gifted it to me and now It’s one of my favorite things I own. A true gem in my collection that means a lot to me personally.

I love that so much. I would give a not-insignificant portion of a paycheck to figure out what all we have buried in offices around campus. So many cool systems hidden away.

Yeah man. Some people have held onto some really cool stuff for the entire 20-year run.

Okay, let’s move on to some of the more rapid-fire stuff.

What’s a game that’s had the biggest impact on you throughout the years?

Hmm. I’m not sure I can pick just one. But there’s an evolution in my tastes and my interest in the medium over time. Like Pong was my intro to games and I thought it was pretty cool, but the first Super Mario Bros. is when I knew I was going to be playing them for the rest of my life.

It’s hard to understate just how revolutionary it was to have played that in that time period.

Exactly. It paved the way for so much. Even growing up my favorite game, and probably still my favorite game of all time is Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. I would play that game over and over and over. I never get tired of it. If I move more into my adult life, I think that the ones that impacted me the most are Portal and Braid. Portal because it taught me to actually enjoy stories in games, and Braid because it was the first really challenging puzzle game I played. It unlocked design-language in my mind that I just didn’t have previously.

You’re picking just banger after banger. I’m surprised by the Portal pick though. Not because it’s not a great game, but I know you’re what I like to call a “mechanical purist” when it comes to games.

Oh yeah. I really can’t stand text in my games. RPGs are my least-favorite genre ever. I just want to play the game. But the way Portal gave me the mechanical depth, but also kept me interested in the over-arching story from moment to moment gave me a better appreciation for narrative in games.

As someone who probably has more RPGs in my collection than any other genre, my knuckles might be changing colors, but I respect your opinion.

Let’s move on to music though. Favorite albums of all time?

I have twenty-one records framed and hung on the wall of my living room that are the best music ever pressed. But for the sake of brevity, I’ll go with Illmatic by Nas and The Undisputed Truth by Brother Ali.

I could have never in a million years have guessed those answers.

Haha. You expect the typical like Aerosmith or Nirvana? Nah, most of what I listen to is rap and hip-hop from the 80s through the 2010s.

Honestly, I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t those.

So, now I’m curious. How does a white guy from rural Ohio get into this style of music?

I saw the video for Fight the Power on MTV when I was seven years old. It was immediate. Flav drew me in, and Chuck taught me lessons. From there it was a wrap. Rakim, EPMD, LL, De La Soul; you name it, I was listening to it. I definitely got made fun of for liking this type of music growing up in the area where I came from. It wasn’t really until 2Pac blew up that people started getting a little more into it. But even then, I’d try to show someone the new Tribe Called Quest record and they’d call it wack because it was still too different from the hip-hop that was finding wider success at the time.

I love when people go really deep into their musical leanings. I mostly listened to whatever my dad was listening to growing up. It wasn’t until high school that I got into my own music tastes. Lots of “scene” music. Post-hardcore, metalcore, etc. Anything on Rise or Victory or Sumerian. I have so much of that era of music.

I have a ton of CDs. Like, probably over five thousand of them back home in Ohio arranged by release date. I knew just about everything there was in the hip hop world from the 80s until 2010. But there were like 10 different albums dropping every day and I couldn’t keep up anymore.

Five THOUSAND?!

Yeah man. I spent like all of my money as a kid on CDs. I remember this one time I skipped a school field trip to walk to the record store and get the new Ghostface album.

That was the era before Spotify and everything. How did you even find that much music?

In the mid to late 90s, a rapper named Big L got me really into the underground scene and I’d listen to radio from everywhere. 888hiphop.com, PhillaFlavaDrop.com, Rhymesayers.net, I was super into this stuff. I’d go watch battles and see people before they blew up. It was just a world I was fully immersed in.

Dude, I want to spend another hour talking about all of this, but we gotta wrap up soon. Especially since this next question I tailor made for you.

Do you have any TV shows that you always have on in the background?

Ha! Okay, you got me. Yes, I’ve probably had 4-5 episodes of Friends playing on my TV every day for as long as the show has been off-air. Well, that and South Park.

Way back when I originally had the idea for these, the reason this question came up is we had like three meetings together in one day and there was always a show on in the background of your camera. I’m definitely not a “can just listen to it” kind of guy, so I thought it’d be fun to see everyone on the team.

Honestly, I could probably recite a few of my favorite episodes.

Now that’s entertainment. We could maybe charge for that.

Okay, moving away from media, do you have any hobbies outside of the house?

I’m really into sports. I took vacation days to watch the beginning of March Madness. I watch a lot of college football as well.

Wait. I know this one. O-H!

I’m Ohio State’s worst enemy.

Whelp! That backfired. Haha.

Yeah, I’m a Michigan fan.

Even better! You had a great year.

For the first time in my lifetime, yes. I was ecstatic.

Any other teams you enjoy? I won’t risk guessing the Bengals, the Reds, or any other Oihio-based sports entity.

Good! Because I’m all about teams not from my state. Bills, Tar Heels, Penguins, Celts, Pirates. Can’t say I have too much hometown pride there.

Oh. I also really enjoy MMA. I get a group of buddies together and we watch all the PPVs.

As an Atlanta sports fan, I sometimes wish I hadn’t grown up with my hometown teams.

All right, well we’re out of time. Any final thoughts for our Xbox Insiders?

This is going to go back to that idea of preserving history. If there’s a main point in what I’m doing, it’s that I focus on history over the future. I want in 60 years people to still be able to access their games library, and like hand down their Gamertag to their grandkids or whatever. That’s my ideal dream state. My games collection is the most valuable thing I own other than my house, and I know that a lot of people invest their time, money, and energy into these ecosystems. I want to do everything I can to ensure we’re respecting that investment and enabling people to keep playing long after we’ve turned to dust.

That’s powerful stuff man. Incredibly stated.

Andrew, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with everyone today. It’s been great!

Thanks for setting this up, Wynn. Until next time!

Xbox Insiders, be sure to be on the lookout for more content all throughout February including more interviews from the team, a trip down memory lane, and so much more. All of our 10th Anniversary content can be found on our Hub Page.

Until next time! Wynn/

The post Get To Know Our Team: Andrew – Customer Experience Manager appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2404.240327-1930)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Beta ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN25398.4068.240327-1930
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – March 29, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 30, 2024

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

Game Clubs

  • Fixed an unexpected ‘Like’ tooltip that could appear in the Watch area when focus is on the filter.

Home

  • Fixes to address some tiles on Home not navigating as expected, such as when trying to claim Perks.

Settings – Access Restrictions

  • Fixed an issue where disabling installing apps and games would not always behave as expected.

System

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2404.240327-1930) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 1 – 5

Next Week on Xbox Hero Asset

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 1 – 5

This is Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we list all the games that are coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! You can find more information on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for more details (release dates may vary). Let’s get started!


Xbox Live

Alchemist: The Potion Monger

Art Games Studio S.A.

$19.99

Alchemist: The Potion Monger – April 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Alchemist: The Potion Monger is a mixture of simulation puzzle and RPG game, in which you can leave your lab, venture into the world, and change it with your brews! Choose your character “Race” from a wide array of animal types, with their strengths and weaknesses and begin your alchemical journey!


Xbox Live

Deceit 2

World Makers

Deceit 2 – April 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

An online social deduction horror game where you can inspire fear as the Terror, play detective as the Innocent, or create mayhem as the Cursed. Who can you trust to help you escape?


Xbox Live

Flightpath: Adventures in Venaris

Eastasiasoft Limited

Flight Path: Adventures in Venaris April 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A top-down vertical shoot ’em up where choices presented in certain stages drastically alter the way the narrative unfolds. With multiple paths, unique content for each pilot you choose, specific tasks to complete, procedurally generated levels and unpredictable enemy attack patterns across 10 stages, Flightpath: Adventures in Venaris offers a wealth of replay value as you explore its narrative possibilities!


Xbox Live

Knowledge Keeper (Xbox Series X|S)

Sometimes You


$4.99

$3.99
Free Trial

Knowledge Keeper – April 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Become a keeper of knowledge by collecting shards of divine crystals. Look for the right way to obtain the crystals, avoid dangerous obstacles, and teleport from one space to another to get closer to your goal. Solve tasks on memory, logic, and orientation in space to get to the blocked areas.


Xbox Live

Freedom Planet 2

XSEED Games / Marvelous USA, Inc.


2


$24.99

$22.49

Freedom Planet 2 – April 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Return to the vibrant world of Avalice to battle an ancient threat in the long-awaited sequel to the surprise indie action-platformer hit, Freedom Planet. With 24 expertly designed stages, an ambitiously expanded Adventure mode, retro-but-refined 2D visuals, and the addition of the highly requested Boss Rush mode, Freedom Planet 2 is the indie darling grown up to become a true platforming power.


Xbox Live

Vigour

Weakfish Studio Publishing

Vigour – April 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

In this puzzle platformer game, you’ll play as a cute bird that must solve challenges with different mechanics per each of the levels, completing them by solving different puzzles for each season. With 30 differently designed levels, will you be able to pass them all?


Xbox Live

Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy

ChiliDog Interactive

$5.99

Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy – April 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Enter a world of magic in a stunning new solitaire adventure! Guide a kind-hearted fairy, a noble knight, and a powerful wizard as they pursue the evil witch, Jill, who intends to destroy the knight’s realm and enslave its people.


Xbox Live

Sky Survivors

Desert Water Games

Sky Survivors – April 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

An arena shooter roguelike where you choose from a variety of skills, unlock unique characters, and weapons. Build a sky tower where each floor gives your character a unique bonus. Create your own overpowered build and survive against hordes of monsters!


Xbox Live

Super Destronaut Landed X Loaded

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Super Destronaut Landed X Loaded – April 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A 2D arcade with intense, addictive arena-based gameplay. Battle for as long as possible in 10 different arenas, each with its own unique set of challenges. Shoot down enemy combatants and gain special power-up drones that add extra firepower to your side.


Xbox Live

Withering Rooms

PERP GAMES

Withering Rooms – April 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Take on the role of young Nightingale in this challenging 2.5D RPG that draws inspiration from roguelikes, Souls likes, and classic survival horror games. Explore an expansive procedurally generated map of Mostyn House full of hedge mazes, tombs, caves, churches, and ruins that lie beyond its gates. Craft a wide variety of weapons, tools, spells, outfits, and magical artifacts. Encounter a cast of strange friends, merchants, and liars each with their own agenda.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 1 – 5 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Omega (2404.240325-2200)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Omega ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN25398.4063.240325-2200
  • Available: 4 p.m. PT – March 28, 2024
  • Mandatory: 4 p.m. PT – March 29, 2024

Note: This update may not occur automatically before it has already become mandatory. You can always find the most current update as soon as it is available by opening the Guide > Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates.

Remember: Newly enrolled users in this ring are not guaranteed to receive all early updates, but they’ll receive the update prior to the GA release. Additionally, a small subset of users may remain on their current GA build once they enroll until the next system update becomes mandatory for the public. Visit the Xbox Insider Program FAQ to learn more.

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

Backgrounds

  • Fixes to address an unexpected error when attempting to set a new dynamic background.

System

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Home

  • We are aware some tiles at the top of Home may not navigate as expected, such as when trying to claim Perks, and we’re working on a fix.
    • Workaround: Take an alternate path. For example, if you’re trying to claim Perks, open Game Pass > Perks.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Omega (2404.240325-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Stampede: Racing Royale on Xbox Insider Program – Test Drive the Wild 60-Player Online Kart Racer

Ahem… ‘scuse me, is this thing on?

Hey there! Chris here from the Stampede: Racing Royale team. We’re super excited to bring our upcoming free-to-play racing game to Xbox Insider Program today! Like, right now! If you’re wondering what in the world this is all about, sit back, grab a snack, and let me give you the elevator pitch…

Developed by the racing veterans and all-round swell folks at Sumo Leamington, Stampede: Racing Royale combines the fun and thrill of kart racing, with the tension, competition, and social shenanigans of a battle royale. Imagine dropping into a go-kart and racing in 60-player online events (yes, sixty!), avoiding elimination across three rounds, and competing to become the ultimate champion. Throw in a variety of wild power-ups to deploy, incredible maps to master, and different modes like Battle and Zombies, and you’ve got yourself a tasty cocktail known as ‘Stampede: Racing Royale’.

There’s no point in racing well if you don’t look good doing it, either. This early version of the game already includes over 450 different customisation items to discover, earn, and equip for both your kart and character. From cheese wheels, to pirate costumes, to wearing an octopus on your head (they’re called Ollie!), play and progress to stand out on the track with the rarest and wildest gear.

We may be early on in Stampede’s journey, but there’s still plenty to keep you coming back for one more match. Special Events will mix things up with different scenarios and limited-time rewards to earn. Account levels and kart progression will see you unlock Rare and Legendary gear to show off. Challenges are there to, err, challenge you to complete objectives and win more goodies.

There’s so much more that Stampede will be serving up over time, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. With Early Access kicking off later this year, joining Xbox Insider Program is an opportunity for our wonderful dev team to preview fresh features and additions, and a chance for you to test-drive what we’re building. Whether you’re on Xbox Series X|S or Windows PC, head to the Xbox Insider Hub now, find Stampede: Racing Royale, and jump into the action.

Whilst progress and unlocks unfortunately can’t be carried over once Early Access begins, we wanted to make sure your support for Stampede is rewarded. Play at any time via the Xbox Insider Program and, in a future version of Stampede, we’ll drop an exclusive gift into your account, available only to Xbox Insiders. Just make sure you’re playing on the same Xbox account you used for Xbox Insiders to redeem it.

Our first public playtests in 2023 allowed us to make improvements driven by community feedback, and we’ll be doing exactly the same with Xbox Insider Program. Keep an eye out for surveys and announcements in the Xbox Insider Hub to give your opinion, and share your thoughts on our official Discord server – or just hang out with us there. We’re cool, honest…

Stampede: Racing Royale is all about conquering the chaos with friends and against the world, making memories with fast-paced automotive shenanigans. The 10,000-IQ plays, the epic fails, the sick drifts – all that stuff. So, grab some friends, play, stream, give us your hot takes, and be part of the wildest racing event in existence. Now, where did I leave that homing missile…?

Ready to hit the track?

Note: This playtest has limited capacity and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

  1. Open the Xbox Insider Hub on your Xbox Series X|S or Windows PC.
  2. Navigate to Previews > Stampede: Racing Royale
  3. Select Join.
  4. Wait for registration to complete, and you should be directed to the correct Store Page to install the preview.

Need a pit stop?

If you experience any issues while playing Stampede: Racing Royale, please use “Report a problem” so we can investigate. (Note: This is only for Xbox consoles.)

  1. Hold down the home button on your Xbox controller.
  2. Select Report a problem.
  3. Select the Games category and Stampede: Racing Royale subcategory.
  4. Fill out the form, in detail, and select Submit.

Wanna keep in touch?

Stampede: Racing Royale on X/Twitter || YouTube || TikTok || Instagram

Xbox Insider on X/Twitter || Reddit

The post Stampede: Racing Royale on Xbox Insider Program – Test Drive the Wild 60-Player Online Kart Racer appeared first on Xbox Wire.

How to Make the Most of Cyberpunk 2077 During Xbox Free Play Days for All

Summary

  • A free trial of Cyberpunk 2077 is available on Xbox Series X|S as part of Xbox Free Play Days For All.
  • Players can experience the first five hours of the action-adventure RPG from March 28 to April 1.
  • From high-stakes heists and high-octane shoot outs to street vendors, cyberpsychos, and more, Night City has a lot to offer newcomers.

At CD Projekt Red, we’re excited to give Xbox players a chance to discover Cyberpunk 2077 for free as part of Xbox Free Play Days For All! Starting tomorrow at 4pm CET, all Xbox players can hop into Night City and explore everything it has to offer. But with only five hours to spend in the city of dreams, I rounded up some tips and tricks to make the ascent to legendary merc that much smoother.

Upgrade Your Tools

In order to keep your weapons in top shape, dismantle any items or clothing you need for components (don’t worry, the clothes will be added to your wardrobe even if you scrap them for parts). These components can then be used to upgrade all of your Iconic weapons — all you need to do is navigate to the Crafting menu within your Inventory, and you’ll see how many components you need. When it comes to non-Iconics, keep an eye out for the guns that enemies drop. Their tier will grow alongside your own progress.

The same rule applies for cyberware: dismantling everything will also help with ensuring you can upgrade your chrome at the ripperdoc. Although you receive some basic pieces at the start of the game, I’d recommend first investing money into higher-tier cyberware and only then upgrading — especially when it comes to your skeleton, which will help mitigate damage. Another great piece of cyberware is Fortified Ankles or Reinforced Tendons, which let you make the most of Night City’s verticality with a charged jump or double jump.

Cyberpunk 2077 Asset

Familiarize Yourself With the Skill Tree

Cyberpunk 2077’s perks received a major overhaul as part of Update 2.0 — available on Xbox Series X|S — making it easier than ever to create unique and impactful builds. Take a look through the perks available in each skill tree to get a sense of where you should invest your points. Even in the early game, there are plenty of opportunities to level up and test out great perks.

If you’re interested in netrunning, it’s best to invest heavily in the Intelligence tree; for stealth, the Cool tree is a must, while anyone interested in melee will find a wealth of great perks in the Body tree. Feel free to mix and match, or go all in on one specific tree! If you want to plan your approach ahead of time, I’d recommend spending some time in the Cyberpunk 2077 Build Planner to get a sense of what you can choose.

Cyberpunk 2077 Asset

Decrypt Everything

In both the main story and side quests, you’ll come across optional chances to hack into terminals or decrypt shards. At the beginning, the hacking minigame, or Breach Protocol, can be trickier to nail because of the smaller margin of error. This means planning all your moves before you start is key — you’ll also have various sequences that you have to complete, but it’s not always possible to do all of them in one go. Decide which payoff you want to go for (which sometimes means the amount of eurodollars you’ll receive, or the level of decryption you’ll achieve). Be careful: Breach Protocol is a timed event, meaning that once you lock in your first move, you’ll only have so long to complete the whole sequence.

(Don’t) Fight the Law

As an up-and-coming merc (heavy emphasis on the “up-and-coming”), you might not be ready to tussle with trigger-happy law enforcement at this stage. Not to mention, the more you hit back, the more reinforcements the police call in, and the more intense their countermeasures become. Wreaking too much havoc can see you flagged as a cyberpsycho and facing down the NCPD’s apex predators: MaxTac. This new addition to the police department is available as part of Update 2.0, accessible on Series X|S. In any case, be sure to watch how many stars you’ve received in the top right corner and duck into a safe alley if need be.

Cyberpunk 2077 Asset

Meet Watson’s Resident Fixer

Each district in Night City has a fixer that rules the area, pulling in mercenaries for gigs and rewarding them appropriately. In Watson, Regina is the one to give you a call and introduce herself. You’ll meet her quite early in your story, and she’ll send a few potential gigs your way — on top of that, she’s got quite a unique proposition for dealing with the wave of cyberpsychosis hitting the city. If you’re looking to get a sample of the gigs and fights that Cyberpunk 2077 has in store for you, it may be worth hearing her out. However, fixers can be a particular bunch, and they’re not always happy with a merc zeroing everyone in the vicinity. Which brings me to my next point:

Learn How to Deal Non-Lethal Damage

There are a few quests where taking out your marks may not be the best option. In those situations, there are two main ways to handle that: equipping the non-lethal Pax mod on your gun, or whipping out a baseball bat or similar blunt weapon. (Of course, you could always ignore your non-lethal orders and go in for the kill, but this will affect your payout.) All blunt non-lethal melee weapons are marked as such, and the Pax mod can be picked up during your normal gigs or purchased from a weapons dealer. However, Pax is permanent, so it’s best to pick a gun you don’t mind defanging. And don’t get too trigger-happy: hitting someone who’s already unconscious will also zero them.

Cyberpunk 2077 Asset

Arm Yourself (With Knowledge)

Our team at CDPR has prepared plenty of guides to make your experience as fun as possible! Check out our Ultimate Edition Game Booklet for build inspiration, insight into characters, dev interviews, and more. You’ll have everything you need to make the most out of Cyberpunk 2077 during Xbox Free Play Days For All — and you’ll be ruling the streets of Night City in no time.

The post How to Make the Most of Cyberpunk 2077 During Xbox Free Play Days for All appeared first on Xbox Wire.