'Valheim' will exclusively launch on Xbox consoles in 2023

Viking survival game Valheim will finally make its way from the Windows PC to become an exclusive console title on the Xbox. During Microsoft's Xbox Game Showcase, publisher Coffee Stain and developer Iron Gate announced that Valheim will be coming to the Xbox Game Pass for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X in early spring 2023. It will also be playable via PC Game Pass (and on the Microsoft Store) in fall 2022.

Both versions will have full cross-play support at launch when they're released so Vikings can "build, fight, and survive together"—whether you got the title on Steam, Microsoft Store, or console. Valheim is also expected to get its Mistlands update this year, which brings a new, tree-dense biome.

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Microsoft halts Xbox One production

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft wants to focus its resources on the latest generation consoles instead of producing the older Xbox One models. The company has announced it will focus on making more of the still-scant Xbox Series X/S models. Microsoft already stopped producing the Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition in 2020. Now, the manufacturer won't make any other variant of the Xbox One series. Any of the Xbox One models you see in the market are existing stock.

Sony is taking a different approach to Microsoft, opting to continue producing PlayStation 4 units this year to fill the lack of the PS5 stock. The Xbox Series X/S and PS5 still quickly sell out when new stock is announced, so we can't say if these strategies will pay off. 

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Xbox brings Xbox Cloud Gaming to its consoles

If you want to try out a game on Xbox without downloading it, Microsoft gives you that option with the start of the Xbox Cloud Gaming rollout. It's coming to Canada and 25 other regions first to users with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. If it still hasn't made it your way, you might need to wait a bit as the November release is for a "subset of Xbox gamers," with everyone in the supported markets getting it "over the coming weeks."

Xbox Cloud Gaming will make it easy to demo games you aren't ready to purchase yet. Or you can jump into a multiplayer game with a friend on a title you haven't installed yet. Those with an Xbox One can try out next-generation exclusive titles like Recompile, The Riftbreaker, and The Medium. If you're a fan of Microsoft Flight Simulator, that's coming to the cloud game library in early 2022.

Via: The Verge

Xbox controller update makes it easier to switch between devices

A new update for the Xbox rolls out Bluetooth Low Energy support for its controller and supported devices. This change makes it easier to pair and switch from the Xbox One consoles to other systems, including Windows 10, iOS 15, and Android. The firmware update makes the switch between your devices much more seamless. You simply need to double-tap the "pair" button for it to work. 

Microsoft is also introducing Dynamic Latency Input (DLI) for older controllers to reduce console input latency with the latest Xbox Series X/S consoles. This should result in a reaction time similar to the controllers that ship with the console. The company is testing this feature with Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha Xbox Insiders today, and it's expected to come to all users in the coming months.

Source: Engadget