With Microsoft's own Xbox controller, you are required to purchase a Dolby Atmos for Headphones license on the Microsoft Store (a one-time $14.99 add-on for the Dolby Access app) to experience the impressive surround sound technology that adds height and depth to supported games. The PRO Compact is the only wired controller on the market that includes Dolby Atmos without paying for a separate license.

Officially licensed for the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, the PRO Compact retails for $49.99 USD and $79.96 CAN, and is available in both black and white.

The full press release can be read below:

NACON announces the RIG PRO Compact, its first customizable wired controller and app for Xbox available in North America from May 20. The PRO Compact is also the world’s first game controller to include Dolby Atmos® for Headphones.

Dolby Atmos places game audio all around the player with three-dimensional precision, so they can react faster and more accurately. Gamers are immersed in a more intense experience that brings crystal clear, hair-raising realism to every battlefield, so they can catch the subtle, potentially game-changing sounds they’ve been missing.

Exceptional audio, optimized form factor and complete customization give the PRO Compact an impressive combination of features. Gamers can create custom button maps, change trigger sensitivity and control dead zones using the PRO Compact app for Xbox.

“We’re excited to introduce the RIG PRO Compact controller to North America,” said RIG VP of Global Sales & Marketing, Peter Petrides. “Being able to leverage Nacon’s expertise as the #1 third-party controller brand in Europe, means we’re bringing RIG gamers a product that stays true to our brand promise. Which is to develop next generation gear that helps gamers improve their performance.”

“This is the perfect controller for competitive players who prefer, and play better, using a smaller form factor not available in other elite products,” continued Petrides. “The PRO Compact provides unparalleled levels of customization through its dedicated PRO Compact app. This, coupled with the inclusion of Dolby Atmos, makes it an extremely compelling controller for its price.”

“Dolby Atmos heightens your situational awareness and helps you reach competitive excellence,” said Mahesh Balakrishnan, Vice President of Dolby’s Audio Business. “It’s great to work again with RIG to make immersive gaming experiences more accessible to people around the world through the RIG PRO Compact.”

To enjoy Dolby Atmos for Headphones, simply download the Dolby Access app from the Windows Store on Xbox or Windows 10, plug in the controller via USB and connect a headset to experience immersive audio while gaming.

Unlike the entire 500 PRO series, which are all wired, the RIG 700 PRO Series (HX and HS) provides wireless comfort with zero lag in an ultra-light design.

The full press release can be read below:

The RIG 500 PRO Gen 2 takes everything gamers love about the first generation 500 PRO and adds a few upgrades. All models of the 500 PRO Gen 2 feature a comfort-enhanced steel headband that is both highly durable and flexible while also being lightweight. Signature RIG exoskeleton earcup design isolates low distortion 50mm drivers that have been specifically tuned for immersive game audio.

RIG 500 PRO Series has a number of models for use with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Windows 10. The 500 PRO HC Gen 2 is available now at GameStop, with all other variants available at major retailers on 20 May:

• RIG 500 PRO HX Gen 2: for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One: $69.99 (USD) / $89.96 (CAN)
• RIG 500 PRO HS Gen 2: for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4: $69.99 (USD) / $89.96 (CAN)
• RIG 500 PRO HC Gen 2: for multiplatform console and portable gaming: $69.99 (USD)
• RIG 500 PRO HA Gen 2: for PC gaming and includes longer cables and y-splitter: $79.99 (USD)

Lastly, the RIG 700 PRO Series delivers unreal wireless comfort with zero lag in an ultralightweight design. Weighing no more than 241 grams, it remains one of the lightest wireless headsets available for Xbox and PlayStation gaming. Featuring a self-adjusting head strap along with dual-material ear cushions, the RIG 700 PRO Series provides hours of fatigue-free gaming.

RIG 700 PRO Series has models for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One and also PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Both models are available exclusively at GameStop today:

• RIG 700 PRO HX: officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One: $119.99
• RIG 700 PRO HS: PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4: $119.99

After speaking to the PlayStation phone support the day after launch, it was determined rather quickly that the unit is indeed broken beyond repair and will need to be sent in. The customer representative was very reassuring and understanding and informing him of all the steps that were already taken. It seems that a complete hardware failure has been rare from the calls already received. A few days later, and I recieevd the return box, however, it is the PlayStation 4 Pro, meaning a PlayStation 5 can not fit inside the box with the included protective foam. Seems they were not prepared for units needing to be replaced this close to launch.

As excited as everyone else was today, watching the delivery get closer and closed, my heart sank mere minutes after setting up the $400 PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. Moments after logging into my PSN account and updating the system firmware, everything seemed normal until launching a PlayStation 5 game. No matter how many times a game is deleted or re-downloaded (Bugsnax, Marvel's Spider-man: Miles Morales, etc.), not a single PS5 game works, not even the preinstalled Astro's Playroom.

While no error code is shown at the time, going into the dedicated error code portion of the system menu produces CE-10005-6. According to the PlayStation Support website, that specific error code does not exist. In fact, after scouring the internet, I have yet to see another person with the same issue. However, there seem to be many other issues plaguing launch systems, including a similar but different database corruption issue and those tied to external storage devices. Making matters worse, PlayStation support has been swamped with calls. After contacting text support, I was told I needed to call phone support. While waiting on hold for PlayStation 5 support, I was greeted by an automated message that my call will not be answered, and I need to hang up and call another day.

At this time, I want to apologize to every publisher, developer, and PR contact that was promised review coverage, let's play videos, and live streams. Considering the lack of availability, especially for the Digital Edition, it is unknown at this point when I'll be able to receive a replacement.

We have important news to share with you pic.twitter.com/qZUaD6IwmM
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) October 27, 2020
 

This is the best-case scenario for a multiplayer-centric title that has no build-up since the initial reveal trailer. Not only does this move space it away from launch titles, but there should be significant more players when it launches thanks to PlayStation Plus.

Sony has promised a brand-new trailer and additional details on the game next week.

Today, NACON unveiled two Xbox designed controllers, complete with customization options and full support for Xbox One and the upcoming next-generation platform Xbox Series X|S. For those who may not have heard of the brand before, The Revolution series controllers introduce customization and optimizations designed for the competitive edge in gaming. With the Revolution X, you'll be able to create unique profiles, alter the configuration with stick accessories, programmable back triggers, and changing the weight of the controller by adding or removing weights in both handles.

The Pro Compact gives you options for using it in standard game mode or an advanced mode via a dedicated app for consoles and PC. It includes different settings found in professional controllers, including "programmable buttons, stick settings, and trigger sensitivity controls." The Pro Compact will be available in black and white color options.

Unlike the Razer Kishi, which directly plugs into the USB C connector of your device, draining your smartphone's battery, these devices are wireless, using Bluetooth 4.2 and providing "up to 20 hours of gaming thanks to the included rechargeable battery."

MG-X - Compact, easily accommodating all hand sizes, and is designed for portability.

MG-X Pro - Designed to feel like a traditional gaming controller with two handles, sacrificing portability for comfort.

Cake Bash will be priced at $19.99 across all platforms. A Nintendo Switch release for Cake Bash is still in the works, but it will launch sometime before the end of the year.

Read more about Cake Bash below:

In Cake Bash, you fight to be the tastiest cake, it’s a frantic four-player party game where adorable drawn-to-life cakes beat the crumbs out of each other! Pick your favourite cake and battle in a variety of lifelike places with unique goals - cover yourself in sweeties or hurl fruit into a pie, there’s plenty for everyone!

To cool down, try an assortment of minigame treats - roast perfect marshmallows, pipe the finest frosting, or be the last flan standing in Fork Knife.

Guide your cakes through the bakery as they dress to impress the customer in Get Tasty! Buy delicious toppings in a series of games to be the chosen one…

Compete on the same screen, find challengers online or battle well-baked bots. It’s time to get out of the oven and into the fray!

It has been announced that any previous timed exclusivity agreements will be upheld, which is a similar situation some of the earlier acquisitions had to go through with games releasing on non-Xbox platforms.

The full announcement release can be read below:

Today is a special day, as we welcome some of the most accomplished studios in the games industry to Xbox. We are thrilled to announce Microsoft has entered into an agreement to acquire ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Softworks.

As one of the largest, most critically acclaimed, privately held game developers and publishers in the world, Bethesda is an incredibly talented group of 2,300 people worldwide who make up some of the most accomplished creative studios in our industry across Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios. These are the teams responsible for franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, DOOM, Dishonored, Prey, Quake, Starfield and many more.

Bethesda’s games have always had a special place on Xbox and in the hearts of millions of gamers around the world. Our teams have a close and storied history working together, from the amazing first DOOM, and its id Tech engine, innovating games on PCs to Bethesda bringing their first console game to the original Xbox, the groundbreaking The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Over the years I’ve had many deep conversations with the creative leaders at Bethesda on the future of gaming and we’ve long shared similar visions for the opportunities for creators and their games to reach more players in more ways.

Just as they took the bold first steps to bring The Elder Scrolls franchise to the original Xbox, Bethesda were early supporters of Xbox Game Pass, bringing their games to new audiences across devices and have been actively investing in new gaming technology like cloud streaming of games. We will be adding Bethesda’s iconic franchises to Xbox Game Pass for console and PC. One of the things that has me most excited is seeing the roadmap with Bethesda’s future games, some announced and many unannounced, to Xbox console and PC including Starfield, the highly anticipated, new space epic currently in development by Bethesda Game Studios.

Like us, Bethesda are passionate believers in building a diverse array of creative experiences, in exploring new game franchises, and in telling stories in bold ways. All of their great work will of course continue and grow and we look forward to empowering them with the resources and support of Microsoft to scale their creative visions to more players in new ways for you.

All of our work, and the foundation of our relationship with you, starts with a commitment to deliver a breadth of amazing games to discover and play on Xbox. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been excited to share more detail on important elements of a plan we’ve been building towards for years. A plan that is the fulfilment of a promise, to you the Xbox player, to deliver the most performant, immersive and compatible next-generation gaming experiences, and the freedom to play blockbuster games with your friends, anytime, anywhere. Today is a landmark step in our journey together and I’m incredibly energized by what this step means for Xbox.

Please join me in welcoming all of our friends at Bethesda to Team Xbox.

Microsoft has dabbled with monthly payment plans in the past, and they will offer both platforms via Xbox All Access. The Xbox Series S costs $24.99 a month for 24 months, while the Xbox Series X costs $34.99 a month for 24 months. Both options include 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. As an added value, Microsoft has also announced that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will receive an EA Play membership at no additional cost starting holiday 2020.

You can read more information below:

Bringing the Next Generation of Gaming to Everyone on Day One

We believe that access to the next generation should be available to everyone. And we know that price is an important factor for many of our fans. To complement Xbox Series X and invite more players into the next generation sooner, we built Xbox Series S—an all-digital, next-gen console designed to deliver everything that is core to next-generation gaming – faster load times, higher frame rates, and richer, more dynamic worlds – in our smallest, sleekest Xbox ever. Developing two consoles in parallel from the beginning enables us to deliver the most powerful console ever in Xbox Series X and make next-gen gaming available and affordable to more players on day one with Xbox Series S.

Empowering you with freedom and choice is core to everything we do at Xbox. In addition to the traditional option of purchasing the new generation of Xbox Series X and S at $499 (Estimated Retail Price) and $299 (Estimated Retail Price) respectively, we’re expanding our Xbox All Access program to 12 countries this holiday, with more to come in 2021.

Whether you’re upgrading to the newest consoles or joining the Xbox family for the first time, Xbox All Access is the easiest way to get the best of Xbox. Xbox All Access provides an Xbox Series X, or Series S, along with 24 months of the full Xbox Game Pass Ultimate experience. In total, that means you get access to:

• The next-generation Xbox console of your choice
• Over 100 high-quality games to play on console, including next-gen Optimized games
• Over 100 high-quality games to play on PC
• An EA Play membership to play more than 60 of EA’s biggest and best console and PC games
• And over 100 games to play from the cloud

That’s all with no upfront costs and a low monthly price. Xbox Series S will be available starting from $24.99 a month for 24 months and Xbox Series X will be available starting from $34.99 a month for 24 months.

The Ultimate Gaming Membership Goes Beyond the Console and Keeps Getting Better

With the Xbox Game Pass community now over 10 million players, we know how critical it is that your friends can easily access and play the same games you can. And you’ve pushed us to make Xbox Game Pass the only membership with access to more than 100 games on your console, PC, and mobile.

To provide even more value, we are teaming up with Electronic Arts to provide Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC members with an EA Play membership at no additional cost starting this holiday. This means Ultimate members can enjoy EA Play on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Windows 10 PCs, and Xbox Game Pass for PC members get EA Play on Windows 10. In addition to the 100+ games in the Xbox Game Pass library today, Ultimate and PC members will be able to play more than 60 of EA’s biggest and best console and PC games like FIFA 20, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat, as well as titles from some of EA’s most popular franchises like Battlefield, Mass Effect, Skate, and The Sims. Some of the best EA Play games will also be available for Ultimate members to play on Android devices from the cloud at no additional cost.

And we’re continuing to add great games and experiences to Xbox Game Pass for PC. Game Pass for PC and the Xbox App will become generally available on September 17.

The Best Place to Play the Biggest Games

When Xbox Series X and Series S launches this November, it will herald a new generation of game experiences. Optimized games for Xbox Series X and Series S coming this year are built to take full advantage of our fastest consoles ever. On day one you will be the first to enjoy next-gen versions of the most anticipated games of the year such as Gears Tactics, Tetris Effect: Connected and Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion. Ubisoft is known for leveraging new technologies and the power of new hardware to deliver groundbreaking games, and we think you’ll be blown away by the experience you’ll have playing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion on Xbox.

Xbox Series S is designed around the same technology that will make these games and so many others look and feel incredible. In speaking to game developers, we identified the areas that are most difficult to scale effectively, including the CPU and I/O, and made it easy to include Xbox Series S for developers who are targeting their experiences for Xbox Series X.

Powered by the Xbox Velocity Architecture, you can expect the same benefits from Xbox Series S such as faster load times and Quick Resume. Xbox Series S also supports all the same next gen features including HDMI 2.1, frame rates up to 120fps, DirectX Raytracing and Variable Rate Shading. It will also support Spatial Sound, including Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision via streaming media apps like Disney+, Vudu and Netflix at launch. Plus: Dolby Vision support for gaming will come first to our next-gen Xbox consoles in 2021.

And the new Xbox consoles are also the only next-generation, backward-compatible consoles that allow you to play thousands of games from four generations better than ever before, and empower you to play with friends wherever you want across your console, PC, and mobile device.

The Best Generation of Gaming Yet

Gaming has evolved in the last decade to make it easier, simpler and more affordable for any player to make that first connection with a new world, a new story, or a new friend. With a family of next-gen Xbox consoles, even greater variety and value with Xbox Game Pass, and an expansion to Xbox All Access, we invite everyone to join us for this next generation of gaming.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, it seemed, for a time, that we may have never gotten any next-generation news. Xbox Series S launches on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Microsoft has yet to tip their hat on whether if this falls day and date with the Xbox Series X.

The all-digital Xbox Series S is 60% smaller than the Series X and supports the same next-generation technology in terms of DirectX ray tracing, variable-rate shading, and variable refresh rate. The resolution is limited to 1440p at up to 120fps but does have 4K upscaling for games. This is similar to the current generation Xbox One S. The included SSD has been cut in half, limiting the console to 512GB.

News Ways to Play and Memorable Modes Return:

• Turn the Tide of Battle in an Instant: Brand-new Skill Battle mode introduces dynamic character-based skills and equippable Item Cards to fit your playstyle, power up your team, and quickly turn the tables in a match!
• Save a World or Two in a Wild New Adventure: Travel through dimensions with the lovable and quirky cast of both returning and new characters in an all-new story adventure across the worlds of Puyo Puyo and Tetris!
• Online and Better Than Ever: Improved Online modes offer competition in game-specific leagues and Free Play for up to four players, online rankings, and more to be announced!
• Many Ways to Play: Tons of modes provide plenty of variety for up to four players including Versus, Fusion, Swap, Party, Big Bang. For competitors and newcomers, get ready for Tournament and Lessons! Details about these exciting modes will be revealed in future announcements, so prepare yourself!
• And More to Come: DLC will be announced at a later date, but get ready for plenty of content beyond launch!

The last two attempts at developing a new title in the Turrican franchise didn't go well for Factor 5. Thornado, a spin-off game developed for Nintendo GameCube, was canceled, and the rumored PlayStation 3 Turrican Project was canceled, followed by the shuttering of the US-based Factor 5 studio. One of Factor 5's co-founders Julian Eggebrecht, announced back in 2017 that the company has reacquired the rights to the Turrican franchise.

The two anthologies will come with the original chiptune soundtrack; however, it also features a newly arranged soundtrack by composer Chris Huelsbeck. Besides the typical inclusion of filters and borders that come with the vast majority of anthology-style games, it will include the long-lost Super Turrican Director's Cut, featuring cut content and an all-new score attack mode.

Turrican Anthology Vol. 1

• Turrican (Amiga)
• Turrican 2 (Amiga)
• Super Turrican (SNES)
• Super Turrican Director's Cut (SNES)
• Mega Turrican Score Attack (MD/GEN)

Turrican Anthology Vol. 2

• Turrican 3 (Amiga)
• Mega Turrican (MD/GEN)
• Mega Turrican Director's Cut (MD/GEN)
• Super Turrican 2 (SNES)
• Super Turrican 1 Score Attack (SNES)

Both anthologies will be available on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

Only months after the release of The Sinking City (August 2019), Frogwares has been involved in ongoing legal battles with the publisher regarding the alleged breach of contract.

The public statement outlines many of the ongoing issues, including late/partial payments and the removal of milestones that were previously agreed upon. This means that Frogwares would not see any profits from sales of the game on any platform.

Monetary compensation is only part of the problem. The Frogwares logo was removed on the game's cover, as well as additional marketing pieces, resulting in misrepresentation of the property owned by Frogwares and not the publisher.

You can read the full public statement and all of the grieviances at the following link on the official Frogwares website.

• September 10 for Epic Game Store, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (digital only)
• End of 2020 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (physical)
• End of 2020 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (digital)
• Early 2021 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (physical)

Only those that purchase Control Ultimate Edition on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will receive a free next-gen digital upgrade to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X version of the game. Control Ultimate Edition contains the base game, the already released first expansion "The Foundation," the upcoming second expansion "AWE," and all of the content updates since the release of the original game. Those that supported the game when it launched last year in 2019, and purchased the Season Pass will NOT be eligible for the free next-gen digital upgrade, even though they own the same content included in Control Ultimate Edition.

Since the announcement, there has been a fury of backlash, both across various message boards and Twitter, condemning the decision to leave Season Pass owners out of the next-gen digital upgrade. I have to agree that this is certainly a choice (a very bad one), especially considering the content is the same. Also, you have to take into account that buying the game and Season Pass separately at launch costs more than the new Ultimate Edition SKU.

We have reached out to our contacts at 505 Games for comment.

You can read the full release on the official website.

The full announcement from Microsoft can be read below as well on the Xbox Wire Site:

Today, we announced updates to Halo Infinite’s launch timing. Our vision at Xbox and 343 Industries has always been to deliver the most ambitious Halo game ever for our fans, while also balancing the team’s well-being. To do that, we will need some more time to finish the critical work necessary to launch Halo Infinite, which will come in 2021.

We have plenty to keep you busy until Chief arrives: There will be thousands of games to play, spanning four generations, when Xbox Series X launches globally this November and over 100 optimized for Xbox Series X titles, built to take full advantage of our most powerful console, are planned for this year. And with brand new console features like hardware-accelerated Direct X raytracing, framerates up to 120 frames per second, faster loading times, and Quick Resume for multiple games, playing will look and feel better, no matter which games you choose to play on day one.

• More than 50 new games planned for this year across generations and optimized for Xbox Series X, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Dirt 5, Gears Tactics, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Watch Dogs: Legion. With Smart Delivery you only have to buy these games once to play the best versions for your console, across generations.

• New games developed for Xbox Series X and launching with Xbox Game Pass, including exclusives like The Medium, Scorn, Tetris Effect: Connected, and more.

• More than 40 popular games newly optimized to take full advantage of Xbox Series X such as Destiny 2, Forza Horizon 4, Gears 5, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Madden NFL 21, and more.

A shared library of great games through Xbox Game Pass
Hundreds of developers are at work on new games for Xbox Series X that will raise the bar for fidelity, speed and immersion; and the best way to discover new games will be with Xbox Game Pass. Game Pass delivers a curated library of content across console and PC, including all games from Xbox Game Studios the day they launch, for one low monthly price. Beginning September 15th, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will also be able to play more than 100 games from the cloud on their Android phone or tablet, enabling them to take their console gaming on the go. Experiences you expect on Xbox consoles such as your friends list, achievements, controller settings and saved game progress all come with you when you play on mobile.

Play thousands of games across four generations of content
Playing your favorite games and franchises across four generations of Xbox was a key tenet for us in the next generation of console gaming. This commitment means that you will have access to thousands of titles across four generations of content – from Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Our back compat team continues to develop new innovations that can be applied to a curated list of titles that will enhance them even further than was possible when they were originally created. These optimizations include the ability to render titles with increased resolutions up to 4K, delivering new HDR reconstruction techniques to games that were developed years before HDR came into existence, applying anisotropic filtering to improve image quality, and creating ways to increase or double the frame rate of certain titles.

Whether you’ve played for years or have just recently picked up a controller, we can’t wait for you to see and feel the first big step into gaming’s next generation with Xbox Series X this November.

The full statement from 343 Industries studio head Chris Lee can be read below:

Today I want to share an important Halo Infinite development update with the community. We have made the difficult decision to shift our release to 2021 to ensure the team has adequate time to deliver a Halo game experience that meets our vision.

The decision to shift our release is the result of multiple factors that have contributed to development challenges, including the ongoing COVID-related impacts affecting us all this year. I want to acknowledge the hard work from our team at 343 Industries, who have remained committed to making a great game and finding solutions to development challenges. However, it is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game to ship it this holiday.

We know this will be disappointing to many of you and we all share in that sentiment. The passion and support the community has shown over the years has been incredible and inspiring. We wanted nothing more than to play our game with the community this holiday. The extra time will let us finish the critical work necessary to deliver the most ambitious Halo game ever at the quality we know our fans expect.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Chris Lee

Studio Head, Halo Infinite

Although nothing official is known, the Xbox Series S is meant to be a cheaper alternative to the Xbox Series X, similar to Microsoft's approach in the current generation with multiple SKUs for the Xbox One. It is rumored to be a weaker console in terms of GPU performance, but on-par with the Xbox Series X in terms of CPU power.

The Xbox Series X will be released this holiday season, and if the packaging is anything to go by, the Xbox Series S could be released at the same time.

Check out the store page on the official website or the RPG Maker MZ Steam store page for additional information.