Latest news with #GamePass
Metro
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Everyone should play Rematch: the best new football game in years
A reader enjoys Rematch on Game Pass and insists that while it's not trying to compete with EA Sports FC it is the best arcade style game in a long time. If Rocket League ditched the cars, took International Superstar Soccer and mashed them together, the result would be Rematch! This new Xbox Game Pass title from Sloclap – the minds behind Sifu – is a wild, stylish, and surprisingly strategic take on football, that's less about realism and more about flair, chaos, and pure arcade joy. Forget everything you know about traditional football sims. Rematch throws out the rulebook, literally. No offsides, no fouls, no referees. Here, you control a single player in third person view, trying to out-dribble, out-pass, and out-style your opponents in six minute matches that feel like a cross between a street tournament and a martial arts showdown. If you love a good sliding tackle without the consequences of a red card, you will be right at home here. The controls are tight but demanding. Shooting feels like aiming in a third person shooter and passing requires finesse and timing. It's not pick-up and play easy, but once you get the hang of it, the satisfaction of threading a perfect through ball or pulling off a last-ditch sliding tackle is immense. Every player has the same stats, so it's all about skill, positioning, and teamwork. You will need patience, but if you have it, it will pay off in the end. Teamwork is where Rematch really shines – or stumbles, depending on your squad. Because you only control one player, communication is key. A well-timed 'Pass!' shout or a humble 'Sorry!' after a botched shot can make or break your team's chemistry. But when your teammate decides to go full Messi, and dribble through everyone (and fails), expect a flurry of sarcastic emotes and a few rage quits. I have rage quit more than once and probably caused others to do the same. If you think you can win at this game alone, think again. Still, when it clicks – when your team moves like a unit, covering space, calling for crosses, and pulling off slick one-twos – it's magic. You'll find yourself grinning like a kid playing five-a-side in the park, minus the scraped knees and need for TCP and plasters! Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Visually, Rematch is a treat. The anime-inspired graphics give it a vibrant, kinetic energy. Players move with exaggerated swagger, and the arenas are compact, colourful, and designed for wall-bouncing trick shots and last-second saves. It's like playing football inside a neon-lit skate park. It's similarities to Rocket League are evident throughout. The game's Season Zero is already live, with ranked play and seasonal content promising fresh modes and cosmetics. While there's no real-world team licensing the customisation options are still fun, and more are on the way so hopefully we will get more variety with updates as they arrive. Also, the learning curve might scare off casual players. The controls are intuitive once mastered, but the early hours can feel like trying to juggle a football while blindfolded. And while the lack of commentary adds to the street football vibe, a bit more audio flair wouldn't hurt – it can feel very quiet and a pumping soundtrack would be most welcome. Despite its quirks, Rematch is a bold, refreshing spin on the football genre. It's not trying to be EA Sports FC, but rather it is carving its own lane, and doing so with style, swagger, and a whole lot of slide tackles. Whether you're a football fanatic or just looking for a new multiplayer obsession, this one's worth lacing up for. Grab your mates, stretch those thumbs, and get ready to shout 'One more game!' until the sun comes up. Rematch is here and it's a beautiful mess – in the best way possible. More Trending Score: 8/10 By reader BaldB3lper The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: As an Xbox fan all I can say is that Microsoft betrayed us - Reader's Feature MORE: Gaming peaked with the PS4 and I want the PS6 to recognise that – Reader's Feature MORE: After 24 years of wasted potential the Xbox dream is finally dead - Reader's Feature
Metro
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
As an Xbox fan all I can say is that Microsoft betrayed us - Reader's Feature
A reader is angry with the recent layoffs and changes at Xbox and accuses Microsoft execs of betraying both their fans and their employees. I don't know where to start with this week's Xbox news, but I can tell you this, if Phil Spencer or any of the other execs dare to appear in another showcase or livestream, I don't think I'll be able to hold in my anger. Then again, I'm not sure I'd watch anyway. I'm done with Xbox now and while I'm too deep in the 'ecosystem' to get out quickly, I'm going to try and make sure I give them as little of my money as possible. I remember, back in the day, that I had vague dreams of being a game developer but the way things are now I don't know if there's a less stable or less respected job in the world. Although developers are made to feel like pampered kings at other companies, compared to how Microsoft treats them, where they're literal human sacrifices to make their financials look better for investors. Even though Microsoft is the richest company in the world! Even if your empathy levels aren't where they should be, it's a terrible thing because now they have less people to make their games, while they try and use AI to plug the gaps. Studios have been shut down, games have been cancelled, and you know that's only the start of it. We're going to see Microsoft making less and less games until all that's left is Call Of Duty. All of this is on top of the blatant lies told to us about Microsoft's multiformat plans. They'll say that their plans changed but they knew, when they said it was only four games, and that some games were never going multiformat. Gears Of War is already announced, Halo is inevitable, and they only haven't done Starfield yet because they've realised no one will care. I'm not upset about this because of console wars jealousy but because I realise, as many fans do, that without exclusives you cannot have a console. Microsoft tried to convince itself that wasn't true, and that Game Pass alone could be their exclusive, but now they won't admit to themselves that it hasn't worked and that by making everything multiformat they've lost everything that makes them special. Sure, they might be the biggest publisher in the West, because they own Call Of Duty, but who ever cared or had any loyalty to Activision? Which is who they've taken the place of. But Xbox isn't just a third party publisher now, they're a company that used to be much more than that and nobody's going to forget what they should've been or how far they've fallen. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The worst thing is I can only see things getting wore from here. Especially with Spencer staying in charge. Xbox is only going to get more bitter and petty over time, trying to undermine Sony and Nintendo, especially when it comes to AI and streaming – technologies which Microsoft has full control of. You can laugh if you want, but I feel betrayed. I imagine their developers definitely do. Xbox don't care about its customers. It doesn't even care about gaming. It just cares about the bottom line. I no longer see Xbox as the upstart company, doing the things Sony wouldn't or couldn't. I see them as the giant bully, trying to muscle out other firms that have done so much for gaming, but which Xbox couldn't beat even with all the money in the world. Particularly in the Xbox 360 era, I was an unashamed Xbot fan and felt like Microsoft were pushing the envelope in the face of the stuffy, old-fashioned PlayStation. Now though I see that it was nothing but a mask, that they have now ripped off entirely. More Trending Nobody important at Xbox cares about games or their fans, only money. And now I think they are going to have considerably less of both. By reader Gambit The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Gaming peaked with the PS4 and I want the PS6 to recognise that – Reader's Feature MORE: After 24 years of wasted potential the Xbox dream is finally dead - Reader's Feature MORE: Rainbow Road in Mario Kart World is the best track ever – Reader's Feature
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
The entire Call of Duty World War 2 RCE hack controversy explained
Image via Activision. It's been not a great start for Call of Duty World War 2 on the Xbox Game Pass. Players have been reporting about their systems being attacked by severe RCE hacks, compromising the whole machine. Call of Duty World War 2 became a part of the highly popular subscription service on June 30, making it the fourth available CoD title in Xbox Game Pass, after Black Ops 6, Modern Warfare III, and Warzone. But no CoD fan could ever imagine in their worst nightmares what would happen next. Call of Duty World War 2 gets hit by RCE hackers after being added to Xbox Game Pass Call of Duty World War 2 was one of the most successful titles in the entire franchise. There is no doubt that fans became immensely happy after the game became available on Xbox Game Pass. But what happened next was utterly shocking. There have been several reports from the fans that after downloading the game from Game Pass, their system got seriously exploited by Remote Code Execution (RCE) hackers. In one instance, the hackers even went on to take control of the whole computer of a user and opened up the notepad in it to communicate with him. This is actually one of the most conercing and shocking incidents in the gaming world ever. No one would imagine how serious the consequences of RCE hacking can become. This is actually a type of cyberattack where the targeted machine or server gets compromised after remotely executing some arbitrary codes on them. These malicious codes usually consist of scripts, binaries, and commands to make the system vulnerable. As Call of Duty World War 2 is an eight year old game, it needed some proper security layers before being added to Game Pass. As the time goes by, the hackers are becoming more and more advanced. So, to cope up with them, serious anti-cyber attack measures should be implemented in older titles if those are going to be made available on modern platforms. As of now, there has been no official response yet from either Activision or Microsoft regarding this RCE massacre. Until some official hotfix arrives, players are strictly advised to stay away from downloading Call of Duty World War 2 from Xbox Game Pass. Yes, players who have the original game purchased previously can play the game without any hassle. It's still unclear how deep the hackers have dug into Xbox Game Pass and Call of Duty World War 2, so an official explanation of the whole situation is the need of the hour right now. A few days ago, some older Call of Duty titles got sudden updates , speculating a potential entry into the Xbox Game Pass. However, after this severe attack on CoD WW2, those titles seem even more unlikely to be featured in the popular subscription system. Read More: After consoles and games, Microsoft may increase price of Xbox Game Pass For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 new Game Pass games to play this weekend (July 4-6)
Those of us in America have a nice, long weekend to kick off July thanks to the 4th of July holiday. While some of us may have plans for barbeques and fireworks watching in the evening, there's still loads of time to spare playing some awesome Xbox games. As luck would have it, Game Pass just added a ton of new additions to the service this week that are perfect for the extended weekend. We do have to wait until next week for the first major day one release, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, but there are still some great options to check out before that. I've included a fun party game for anyone hosting an event, a game with a short but powerful runtime, and a classic RPG to get lost in. Let's check them all out. Ultimate Chicken Horse With a name as wacky as Ultimate Chicken Horse, you can expect the gameplay to be just as chaotic. This is a competitive platformer with a simple but devious twist; players all place different platforms, obstacles, and hazards on the map between rounds to try and stop everyone else from reaching the end while still making it possible for you to get there. It is simple enough that anyone can hop in and play without feeling overwhelmed or at a disadvantage. Rounds go by fast and are full of laughs as people inevitably fall into their own traps or mess up a jump at the last moment. This is a great option for parties where you can play for a few minutes or a few hours. Recommended Videos Ultimate Chicken Horse is available now on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. Little Nightmares 2 We're looking forward to the third entry in this unique horror franchise later this year, but you can get a taste of what's to come if you haven't tried Little Nightmares 2 yet. There is technically a connection between the first two games, but only if you dig deep into the lore. There's absolutely no issue if you start off with the second one. This game shrinks you down and presents you with a dark world filled with distorted giants and surreal landscapes that feel ripped right out of a child's nightmare. Mechanically, this is a 2.5D puzzle platformer with very light combat and stealth elements, which is a rare genre to blend with horror that is incredibly effective. If you get hooked, as I think you will, then you can count on completing the adventure before the weekend is done. Little Nightmares 2 is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC. Legend of Mana The Mana games often live in the shadow of bigger JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, but are just as high quality. Legend of Mana is a remaster of one of the classic entries from 1999 that updates the visuals and adds some nice quality-of-life features. If you've never played a Mana game, they feature a neat real-time combat system where you build up a meter over time to unleash special moves. Beyond a traditional story and RPG systems, what Legend does that remains unique to this day is the Land Make system. This allows you to build out the world map yourself as you go to dictate how your adventure plays out. Legend of Mana is available now onPS4, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: Has Xbox become irrelevant this generation?
The Thursday letters page reacts badly to the Xbox layoffs, as one reader agrees that Rematch is not real competition for EA Sports FC. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Blame game I think these latest job cuts will be the final straw for many people when it comes to Microsoft. They have been failing so badly for so long it's got to a point where I think they're already irrelevant for a lot of folks, but this has got to be the final straw. Or at least it should be, because the final straw should be Phil Spencer, and all his horrible friends, leaving Xbox and brand new management coming in (or Microsoft just shutting it down, which is actually looking increasingly likely in the long term). I just do not understand why this man still has a job. When hundreds of other developers get dumped for the crime of simply existing why is Phil Spencer, who has overseen two failed generations of consoles, still in charge and appearing in videos to pretend everything is fine. He has got to go, and Microsoft has got to accept the mistakes he made. I know he tried to be everyone's friend but that only made it worse in my opinion. Of all those gaming T-shirts he wore, hinting at a revival of an old retro title, how many actually got made? Zero, nilch, nada. Unless Hexen 3 secretly came out and I missed it. We're not even getting Perfect Dark now. I'll give him the fact that Game Pass seemed a good idea in theory but now it's clear it didn't work out that should be it, he's had all its chances. But no, he's still there even after this latest round of redundancies. Xbox is dead and Phil Spencer killed it. Tom Meadows Numbers go up Funnily enough, the one thing that came to mind with all this Xbox madness is that at one point they were convinced they were going to buy Nintendo, with that awful email from Phil Spencer about how he knew better than them what they should do and how they shouldn't make their own consoles. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Can you imagine what would be happening now if they had bought them (I believe they were trying around 2020)? What would have been pocket change for Microsoft would've meant destroying the longest serving and most revered company in gaming, just to watch the numbers go up on a graph. The Xbox leadership couldn't organise a you-know-what in a brewery and I'm both shocked and not shocked that Spencer is still there. Has he no shame? Considering he must be a multi-millionaire, at the very least, why not just take the hint and retire into the sunset. Do you really want to still be at Xbox when they finally pull the plug on the whole thing? Because I don't think that's going to be long now. Trepsils Summer racin' Fun list of summer games. I'd also add Wave Race: Blue Storm, another game with a summer feeling thanks to beaches, sea and lakes. I finally picked it up this year (despite owning a GameCube for decades) and it definitely holds up thanks to its unique controls (which are hard at first but amazing once they click), water effects, and graphics. Barry GC: Blue Storm isn't usually most people's favourite, but we were tempted to include Mario Kart World in our list, specifically for the Wave Race-esque areas. Email your comments to: gamecentral@ No competition I agree with RInce, Rematch has no chance of replacing EA Sports FC, it's barely even competition for it and anyone who says otherwise really doesn't understand football and the fans of the beautiful game. But I do believe that a football game without licences *could* compete. Imagine something like a Sunday League Football game. It would need realistic physics and would preferably be a continuation of the vastly superior gameplay of PES. The players could be AI-generated 'normal' people, you could manually input yourself and as many of your mates as you wanted. It could be more difficult and true to life and keep the realism (it's just wrong if you are running around with Messi and making him play badly). You would be creating your own universe of rivalries and heroes as you played, which you do to a certain extent in EA Sports FC, after playing a season or so anyway. I've talked myself into this! It sounds awesome. Inbox magic make it happen. Themadmonk82 Mushroom casserole Personally, if Donkey Kong Bananza is the alpha team, then what I would like to see most from a new Mario would be the A-team, B-team, C-team, even the Luigi team, all making a standalone Mazza game, 10-15 hours long each, akin to Bowser's Fury. So, four or five games in one package, all buzzing with crazy individual ideas, as even the lowest ranking Nintendo teams would be near top tier compared to most other stagnant developers. Make it so. I love the Luigi's Mansion games, just not the middle one. big boy bent GC: The Luigi's Mansion games are made by Next Level Games, who are Canadian. The awful truth I know I shouldn't be surprised at what's going on at Xbox, especially as we had the leaks, but it's still awful to see. Who knows how many people will be let go once it's all over. I think the only reason Turn 10 wasn't shut down completely is that they're helping out with Fable. When that's finally done, I doubt they'll survive. I don't know how long Rare has got left either, once Sea Of Thieves starts to fade in popularity. If they've had to cancel Everwild have they even got any new games in development or are they basically a support studio now, for their own game? As for what's going on with Perfect Dark. As you said, that's just so obviously Microsoft's fault, in terms of bad management, it's just kind of pathetic. The amount of talent they had working for them, and they produced absolutely nothing and were apparently a disaster the whole time anyway. And then there's some new MMO at ZeniMax that they've been making since 2018 but now it's been canned? What an earth was it? Was it really not close to being finished at this point or is Microsoft's bad management catching and Bethesda had forgotten how to make a game properly too. Watson GC: There were faint rumours the ZeniMax game might have been the Starfield equivalent of The Elder Scrolls Online, but there was no evidence of that. Oops! I did It again After seeing what Xbox has done yet again, letting people go, I'll never buy an Xbox game or console in my life. The big bosses keep their jobs and overpriced wages, yet someone that does all the work for 1% of Phil's pay packet gets kicked out the door. What a joke of a company and I hope the next gen Xbox drops like a lead balloon because my cash will never go in his pocket. David The human factor I'm not sure what to say about this latest Xbox disaster, except that I'm very sorry for anyone losing their job. Which seems to be a lot of people. Of course, none of them have done anything wrong. It's not their fault Xbox is in the state it's in. But of course, business being what it is, it's the people most responsible for a problem that are the least likely to be punished for it. How Phil Spencer hasn't been kicked out by now I do not know. Maybe he's got dirt on someone at Microsoft because at the very minimum he should've gone once it was obvious the Xbox Series X/S wasn't working out, so several years ago. You could argue at the end of the Xbox One era, when it was obvious he hadn't turned that around. Him and all his other cronies, there's not one of them that seems to have a clue as to how to do their job properly, although I suspect that the real problem is that the people above them, in Microsoft proper, have no interest in gaming and don't like that it's not the easy money all their other stuff is. For me, I'll never touch an Xbox console again and cannot believe there's any point in releasing next gen, hardware because I don't know who else is going to want it, especially if it's going to be pushing AI rubbish. Personally, I'd prefer my games to be made by human beings. One day, it'd be nice to have them as execs too. Gordo Inbox also-rans100 % agree about EA Sports FC 25; absolute joke. It's all about store packs with EA, pay to win. Gary With all this talk of AI, I have a real bad feeling about the PlayStation 6. Especially as it's now got no competition from Xbox, pushing Sony to do better. Blench More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@ The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: What will be the first Mario Kart World DLC? MORE: Games Inbox: Why I sold my Xbox Series X to get a Switch 2 MORE: Games Inbox: Is EA Sports FC 26 going to be a flop?
