Позначка: game pass

  • Forza Horizon 6 Unveils Prologue Gameplay: Toyota GR GT and High-Speed Adventures in the Alps

    A Shift in Perspective: How Playground Games Transforms the Series Introduction in FH6

    In anticipation of its May 19 release, Playground Games officially revealed the first moments of the Forza Horizon 6 prologue, coinciding with the lifting of the preview embargo for journalists.

    Set to launch on May 19, 2026, Forza Horizon 6 will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass on day one. Those who purchase the Premium Edition can start playing from May 15. The system requirements for PC have already been released, and a PS5 version will be available later in the year.

    The prologue kicks off with an exhilarating race against a high-speed bullet train while driving the Nissan GT-R Nismo 2024. This is followed by breathtaking snow jumps in the Japanese Alps using a Polaris RZR Pro 4 Truck. Players will then navigate the first touge mountain roads to the beats of Eurobeat and J-Pop in a 1995 Porsche 911 GT2. The introduction concludes with the game’s cover car, the 2025 Toyota GR GT Prototype.

    Described by Xbox Wire as a “cinematic adrenaline rush fueled by petrol,” the Forza Horizon 6 prologue features rapid biome transitions, emphasizing spectacle over detailed explanations. According to design director Torben Ellert, this “Initial Experience” aims to showcase the full scope of possibilities available in the game, rather than serve as a tutorial. The GR GT, crucially, is taken away post-prologue, requiring players to earn it through gameplay.

    The pace changes dramatically following the prologue, as players arrive in Japan as ordinary tourists aspiring to join the Horizon Festival, without yet receiving an invitation. The initial vehicles at their disposal include the 1989 Nissan Silvia K’s for street racing, the Toyota Celica GT-Four for rallying, and the 1970 GMC Jimmy for off-road adventures. Journalists who experienced the hands-on preview noted a marked increase in difficulty compared to previous installments; achieving a top-3 finish on the first try is no easy feat.

    Playground Games and Xbox also presented the map for Forza Horizon 6, set against a Japanese backdrop.

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    Playground Games candidly acknowledges their intent behind these changes. As explained during the Developer Direct in January, they aim for players to truly feel a sense of progression, rather than being handed a premium car immediately. At the Tokyo Game Show announcement, the team promised the “most immersive Horizon yet,” and based on early journalist feedback, they appear to be on the right track.

    What are your thoughts on this article? Votes: Awesome, it’s okay! Wow, that’s something… Annoying to no end!

    What are your thoughts on this article? Votes: Awesome, it’s okay! Wow, that’s something… Annoying to no end!

    What are your thoughts on this article? Votes: Awesome, it’s okay! Wow, that’s something… Annoying to no end!

    What are your thoughts on this article? Votes: Awesome, it’s okay! Wow, that’s something… Annoying to no end!

    Awesome, it’s okay! Wow, that’s something… Annoying to no end!

  • Керівниця Xbox Аша Шарма хоче перезапустити Game Pass із новими рівнями та співпрацею з Netflix

    Нова керівниця підрозділу Xbox, Аша Шарма, активно почала свою роботу, поєднавши обіцянки повернення Xbox на ринок, запуск платформи Xbox Helix та впровадження функцій, яких геймери чекали роками. Тепер вона працює над ще одним великим проєктом – оновленням Game Pass, що може принести як зниження цін, так і потенційну співпрацю з Netflix.

  • Microsoft Unveils DirectStorage 1.4: Enhancements with Zstandard Compression

    Microsoft has introduced the beta version of DirectStorage 1.4, which includes the Zstandard feature aimed at accelerating game load times and data streaming.

    Previously, Microsoft announced the gradual implementation of a full-screen Xbox interface for Windows 11 PCs starting in April. Recently, there have been hints about the possible addition of Cyberpunk 2077 to the Xbox Game Pass subscription.

    Zstandard is a new compression algorithm utilized for game assets on Windows. According to Microsoft, this new feature offers an open standard designed to improve compression ratios, speed up loading, and ensure smooth resource streaming in games. The DirectStorage 1.4 Zstandard compression protocol is being developed by Microsoft in collaboration with leading GPU manufacturers, including AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm.

    The latest DirectStorage 1.4 release supports the Zstd codec, which meets all essential modern requirements such as compression ratio, decompression performance, and availability on both hardware and software levels, as well as widespread use. The source code for the Zstd compute shader has also been published on GitHub under DirectStorage.

    Playing for You: Microsoft’s Ambition for an AI Assistant in Xbox Games

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    Intel’s corporate vice president of software, Lisa Pierce, stated that the company is working with Microsoft to optimize Zstandard decompression via DirectStorage across all GPU architectures.

    NVIDIA’s lead engineer, Patrick Neill, confirmed that support for Zstandard and decompression optimization will be available for GeForce RTX graphics cards in the latter half of this year. Qualcomm has promised to introduce this standard on its platforms by year’s end.

    Currently, the shader is under development and initially optimized for content split into blocks of 256 KB or smaller, aligning with modern game packaging patterns for streaming workloads.

    “We aim to release optimizations for AMD GPUs in a publicly available driver by the second half of 2026 and are eager to see how developers leverage these investments to enhance the gaming experience,” noted AMD’s vice president of software development, Daniel Staheli.

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