Issue 167 september 2018
the xbox one and xbox 360 magazine
huge preview!
new details of Ea’s massive open-world sci-fi rpg
Cyberpunk 2077 revealed full gameplay details and dev interview
INTRO
ISSUE 167 september 2018 Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA Tel 01225 442244 Email oxm@futurenet.com Web www.gamesradar.com/oxm Editorial Editor Chris Burke burkey13a chris.burke@futurenet.com Senior Art Editor Warren Brown wozbrown Deputy Editor Daniella Lucas CelShadedDreams Production Editor Russell Lewin FloatedRelic264 Staff Writer Adam Bryant Firebreedpunk Our Man Down Under Paul Taylor Paulus McT
Contributors Writing Stephen Ashby, Kimberley Ballard, Steve Hogarty, Phil Iwaniuk, Martin Kitts, Samantha Loveridge, Dave Meikleham, Alex Nelson, Dom Peppiatt, Justin Towell Art Georgine Hodsdon
Exciting times ahead
All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected Advertising Tel: 01225 442244 Media packs are available on request Commercial Director Clare Dove, clare.dove@futurenet.com Account Director Jeff Jones, jeff.jones@futurenet.com Account Manager Kevin Stoddart, kevin.stoddart@futurenet.com International Official Xbox Magazine is available for licensing. Contact the International department to discuss partnership opportunities International Licensing Director Matt Ellis matt.ellis@futurenet.com Print Subscriptions & back issues Web www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Email contact@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Tel 0344 848 2852 International +44 (0) 344 848 2852 Online orders & enquiries www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Head of subscriptions Sharon Todd Circulation Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Manager Nola Cokely Management Managing Director Brands Julian March Commercial Finance Director Dan Jotcham Editorial Director Paul Newman Brand Director, Games Tony Mott Group Senior Art Editor Warren Brown Printed by William Gibbons & Sons Ltd on behalf of Future
Chris Burke Editor Chris has found himself playing so many RPGs lately, he doesn’t know whether he’s OXM’s editor, a white-haired monster hunter, a post- apocalyptic Vault dweller or an elf called Susan. Of course, that could just be the heat.
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T h e
O X M
This issue we’re basking in the summer sun and afterglow of some thrilling recent announcements of fantastic games coming to Xbox. Some could be a little way off yet, others will be with us much sooner, and we’ve got as much information as we can on all of them. For starters we’re beyond excited for Bioware’s latest open-world RPG shooter Anthem – and we reveal all of the gameplay we’ve enjoyed so far from p26. Another game that blew our minds at E3 back in June was CD Projekt Red’s latest, Cyberpunk 2077. We managed to get quite a bit of gameplay time and we reveal all that we gleaned so far about what is sure to be an amazing Xbox experience when it finally lands. See page 48! Closer in time, we also have a packed preview section, with exclusive firsts and latest looks at plenty of games you’ll be playing before this year’s out. Enjoy!
t e a m
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Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244
Daniella Lucas Deputy editor The UK heatwave has been hard on expectant mum Dani. Not as hard as it’s been on the rest of the team, who had to fan her with giant peacock feathers at her whim.
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Adam Bryant Staff writer Adam ‘jacked into’ cyberspace to get to grips with Cyberpunk 2077. While he was there, we upgraded him cybernetically. He is now Adam 2.0.
Warren Brown Senior art editor This month OXM’s art guy has been trying to get into Fortnite only a few months after everyone else in the world. No, Warren, you’re right. It’s not Street Fighter, is it?
Russell Lewin Production editor England’s progress in the World Cup has made Russ happy. His cat less so. Apparently he’s been scaring puss with his fervent yells and triumphant screams. the official xbox magazine 003
STA RT
contents Everything you can look forward to over the next 100 or so pages
insider 008 The Big Story: fortnite 012 halo on tv 014 gamer dolls 016 the big picture: tunic 018 hot topic: overwatch 020 opinions
previews 026 anthem 030 just cause 4 031 generation zero 032 control 034 dying light 2 036 darksiders III 040 hitman 2 042 outer wilds 044 soulcalibur Vi 044 warface 044 kingdom hearts iii 044 dead island 2 044 tales of vesperia 044 ooblets
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features 048 cyberpunk 2077 056 the big interview: david anfossi 062 oxm investigates‌ the adaptive controller
reviews 072 jurassic world evolution 074 teso: summerset 076 fox n forests 078 lego the incredibles 080 unravel 2 082 super bomberman R 084 red faction 086 street fighter 088 crash bandicoot n sane trilogy 089 the awesome adventures of captain spirit 090 nier: automata become as gods edition 092 the crew 2
extra 098 Now Playing: fallout 4 100 forza horizon 3 101 halo 102 retrospective: prince of persia 106 wHY i love‌ shadow tactics: blade of the shogun 108 10 best animal companions in xbox history 112 Directories 114 disc Slot: michael dousse
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insider
september
2018
insider The virtual world crossed over into the real one recently due to some antics in the global phenomenon that is Fortnite (p8). Thanks to the start of season five we saw rifts opening everywhere, including crossing into our world and dropping a giant burger in the middle of the Californian desert. Maybe that explains how ‘flossing’ became a thing too… Elsewhere we finally have some news on the upcoming Halo TV series on p12 – it’s definitely on its way with some big names behind it. It’s the perfect world for a sci-fi show so we can’t wait to see more of it. Bizarrely this month we also have an Xbox gamer doll (p14) that was announced for fans in the US. While it seems like a weird thing to have a gaming doll, it makes a lot of sense and is a great way to encourage young gamers into the hobby. Finally we’ve got a rather surprising character reveal from Overwatch over on p18 in the shape of an adorable hamster that pilots a mech suit. We’ve got all of the details on how ‘Wrecking Ball’ came to be and how he’s far more vicious than his puffy cheeks make him look.
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fortnite
i ns i d e r
epic update
Fortnite’s in the driving seat The world’s most popular game Fortnite gets an extensive new update, with new locations, skins and for the first time, driveable vehicles
Sports Nite Fancy shooting hoops not noobs? The Season 5 update also includes ball games that you can actually play with your squad. If you’re not getting shot at, try a round of golf, or game of basketball! The Lazy Links country club has a properly sized golf course, courts and a swimming pool to relax in. Because Battle Royale is nothing if not relaxing, right?
Fortnite continues its incredible domination of both the gaming world and the ‘real’ world, inciting fearful headlines as often as it brings more players to its Battle Royale mode. Season 5 has just kicked off, bringing, as always with a new Fortnite update, a whole heap of brilliant new touches to the Battle Royale map. There’s a new Battle Pass packed with challenges to earn V-Bucks, unlock new skins and the rewards, and a new event and updates for the PvE mode Save The World. The theme of this season is ‘Worlds Collide’, with the rifts that had been tearing up Season 4’s map following the launch of a rocket still present and sucking in Viking ships and Wild West wagons from history and spitting them out onto the Fortnite island. The most welcome addition for Season 5 has to be driveable vehicles. All Terrain Karts, which basically look like golf carts, can transport up to four players (your squad, basically). With this addition, one of rival battleroyale game PUBG’s main points of difference, being able to drive around the map, may well have been brushed aside. This is the first time Fortnite’s Battle Royale has included rides – and no, we don’t count shopping trolleys. You’ll find these ATKs randomly in garages. With two squad members standing on the rear, leaning back (pulling back on the left joystick) will help your buggy to make higher jumps.
Drifting in the ATK will give you a Mario Kart-style speed boost, and you can use the roof as a bounce pad.
Welcome to Paradise
The many and varied changes to the Battle Royale map this time include a new desert biome, featuring the topography of US deserts, such as towering rock outcrops and canyons, with the dusty red landscape sprinkled with gas stations and shacks. There are even little clusters of Mexican haciendas straight out of a Western movie. The desert area replaces Moisty Mire and the prison, occupying a huge part of the southeast corner of the island. Slap bang in the middle of this is a swanky residential area and resort called Paradise Palms, complete with a towering hotel, called ‘Hotel 23’. Around here you’ll find ultra-modern houses with swimming pools and garages full of ATKs, and loot. Lots of lovely loot. In fact Paradise Palms has already become a hectic killzone to rival Tilted Towers, with players scrambling for the location’s top loot opportunities. Another new location, Lazy Links, has replaced Anarchy Acres farm in the north of the island. As the name would suggest, it’s a Country Club setting complete with tennis courts, swimming pool and a full sized golf course. You will actually be able to play golf here, although at the time of writing we hadn’t quite worked out the official xbox magazine 009
i ns i d e r
Above Penny, Ramirez and co get cowboy’d up with steampunk weaponry.
fortnite
how, since we were too busy being shot at to figure it out or find a ball and a bag of clubs we could use. There’s also a racetrack here for you to tear up with your karts, making this probably the most fun update yet. Aside from those main locations, there are new intriguing points of interest everywhere you look. Three big colourful dinosaur statues are located near Paradise Palms in the desert area, while there’s talk of a Viking settlement and ship to be found too. And some of those rifts are still around the place. Step through the rifts and you are teleported, which could be very useful for escaping a tricky firefight you’re on the losing end of; these will zap you away from the location and into the sky (with your glider, thankfully), and you’ll need to skydive back to earth. Another new feature that will change the way the game is played is that the storm now moves. During the
OXM SAYS Chris Burke
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This game just keeps on giving for its millions of fans. I love Battle Royale, but as an even bigger fan of Save The World, I’m really pleased they’ve dropped a new update for the PvE too. I can’t wait to get stuck into STW’s new Road Trip event.
“A real-life Durr Burger sign popped up in the Californian desert” later rounds, not only does it shrink and close in, it also moves randomly to new locations. So you won’t be able to set up a fort and defend that one location in the end-game – you’ll really have to stay on your toes to keep in the safe-zone. The new Battle Pass for Season 5 includes good-looking new skins including Vikings, FBI agent, soldier, racer and a costume featuring a Kitsune mask, unlocked of course by buying a Battle Pass and completing its challenges. However, loot-box haters and skinflints can rejoice too,
the battle pass has had an overhaul in this latest update. Previously you could only access the challenges if you bought a Battle Pass; now even if you don’t have one you’ll still be able to access three of the seven weekly challenges. There’s a catch, though: the other four only unlock when you buy the Battle Pass… and you need to complete four to get the XP. Dang it. However, buying a Battle Pass, aside from giving you all the usual cool stuff, will grant access to Drift and Road Trip challenges to unlock unique new skins and other extra rewards. Talking of skins, this season’s Legendary skins – Ragnarok and Drift – both have six different versions, with each tier unlocking at 35,000 XP 75,000XP, 125,000XP, 250,000XP, and, finally, 500,000 XP. Finally for Battle Royale, the Victory Royale end-screen has been updated with a slow-mo effect when you get the last kill. A welcome addition since the end-screen has looked exactly the
I sucked at PUBG, even though I spent hours hunkered down in the dirt or driving an armoured jeep. I never survived long enough to get a chicken dinner. Fortnite, on the other hand, I rule at and can’t wait to see what the update has in store.
While I don’t play it myself, it’s great to see the ways in which Epic is embracing its community and pulling the game into the real world with some of these stunts. It makes it all feel like a proper cultural event, even if you’re not into it.
Warren Brown
Daniella Lucas
Summer Skirmish Epic enters the eSports fray with an eight-week big money prize tournament As well as dominating the world of online shooters, Fortnite also entered the eSports scene with gusto. Its Summer Skirmish series has offered competitors the chance to take home part of an $8 million prize pool across eight weeks of events which began on 14th July. During the Summer Skirmish, some of the game’s most prominent duos competed to take home a cash prize of $250,000, with plenty more cash being dished out over the eight weeks. According to Epic, the Summer Skirmish will see “community creators and Fortnite players who have demonstrated their competitive prowess” facing off for the big money prizes. The event is currently by invite only, with all of the slots already filled by pre-selected competitors, but Epic promises to share more information on how everyone can join in such future eSports Fortnite events.
same for some time now. Oh yes, and there are dances. Lots and lots of new dances to taunt your victims with. Fortnite’s top and ace PvE mode Save The World, meanwhile, also gets some updates including Wild West Hero skins – basically cowboy costumes and some very coollooking steampunk weapons for your characters, a new Roadtrip event and a new Challenge The Horde mode.
Food for fort
above Imagine that box is full of actual cash… that’s Fortnite’s summer eSports tournament… right The rifts that ate Season 4 are still around the map, as are stagecoaches from the old West.
Fortnite’s ability to surprise and intrigue with its updates and new Seasons is already well established. In the final weeks of Season 4, rifts had been appearing all over the Battle Royale map, presaging the end of the season in the same way that the approaching comet spelled Season 3’s doom a couple of months back. But mirroring Fortnite’s crashing into the wider public consciousness, the in-game rifts seemed to be portals into our own world too. Just before Season 5’s launch, a real-life Durr Burger sign – basically a giant anthropomorphic burger sticking out its tongue – popped up in the middle of the Californian desert. Now, eagle-eyed Fortnite players would have already noticed that, within the
game, the Durr Burger sign that was on top of the burger joint in Greasy Grove, had already been sucked into a rift. Following this, fans began sharing the coordinates of the Durr Burger online, and turned up in their droves to see the huge plastic beef-patty sandwich for themselves. Reports then began to flood in of a man referring to himself as Agent #3678 handing out cards at the location. The card had a phone number on it. Phoning that number got only weird static noises, but on a US phone
dial 3678 spells out ‘FORT’. Visitors to the site reported more than one agent present, and that the agents, despite claiming to know nothing of a videogame called Fortnite, were nevertheless responsive to those performing well known Fortnite emotes like the Popcorn and Boneless dances. Undoubtedly Epic’s latest update will not only feed the Fortnite massive and keep them coming back to their servers, but should entice even more gamers to get on board the Battle Bus. ■
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insider
ha l o
tv
coming soon
Stargazing in your living room The Halo series is finally getting its own TV show after years of waiting Rumours of a Halo TV show have been circulating for a few years now, but finally it’s starting to come together and actually get underway thanks to a partnership with the Showtime TV network. It might not be the Peter Jackson-led film that many had previously been pining for a few years back, or the one that originally had Neill Blomkamp involved before he went on to make District 9, but it’s a start. There are also quite a few big names involved with the project, including Kyle Killen, who worked on Awake and Mind Games, who will be taking up writer duties as well as being the executive producer. Rupert Wyatt, the man who helmed Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, will be directing several episodes and also helping to produce the series. “Halo is our most ambitious series ever, and we expect audiences who have been anticipating it for years to be thoroughly rewarded,” said David Nevins, CEO and president of the Showtime network. “In the history of television, there simply has never been enough great science fiction. Kyle Killen’s scripts are thrilling, expansive and provocative, Rupert Wyatt is a wonderful, world-building director, and their vision of
Halo will enthral fans of the game while also drawing the uninitiated into a world of complex characters that populate this unique universe.”
Ring around
“This is a truly exciting moment for the Halo franchise,” said Kiki Wolfkill, head of Halo Transmedia at 343 Industries. “Together with our creative and production partners at Showtime and Amblin Television, the
“In the history of TV, there simply has never been enough great science fiction” Halo television series will represent a new and exciting way for fans to enter and engage with the Halo universe. We can’t wait to share more on what’s ahead.” Of course this won’t be the first time the Halo series has done something TV-related – it previously did a short live-action mini film for Halo 3: ODST and the Halo: Nightfall web series that nailed the look of a real-life Halo universe, so there’s a decent foundation for a full TV series
After dark Halo Nightfall has, so far, been the biggest live-action endeavour from the series. It was set between Halo 4 and 5 and followed Jameson Locke and his small band of ONI agents as they investigated Covenant activity on distant space colony Sedra. It served as Locke’s origin story as he became playable in Halo 5. It also saw them return to a still-intact section of the original Halo at night, making it a very dark world to explore.
Above No shots of the TV show, but Nightfall gives us a taste of what a Halo TV show might look like. right That backdrop reminds us of what was shown of Infinite, except a bit broken.
to work from. We’ve also heard that the series will have narrative ties to Nightfall, so perhaps we’ll be seeing more of Locke or of that time period in particular. There’s no word on whether or not it will tie in to the upcoming Infinite which was announced at E3. Details of the story are thin on the ground at the moment, but it will cover part of the conflict with the Covenant alien threat and will feature one-hour long episodes. While networks such as HBO have Westworld, it feels like Showtime might be setting this up as an epic sci-fi series of its own. Whether it will feature Master Chief directly or perhaps just sporadic contact remains to be seen – we think the latter would make more sense to keep his mystery. ■ We’ll hear more from the project later this year.
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