Microsoft will launch a new Xbox One S hardware bundle at the end of September that includes downloadable copies of Minecraft for the Xbox One and Windows 10, along with an array of bonus Minecraft-themed goodies.
The package is one of Microsoft’s first hardware bundles to feature its upgraded Xbox One S console, which boasts 4K video playback and other technical improvements.
Microsoft’s upcoming hardware bundle follows up on Minecraft‘s 2014 Xbox One debut. Initially available for PC platforms, Minecraft saw numerous console ports in recent years, inspiring young players to create and maintain thousands of blocky virtual worlds across the Wii U, PlayStation 4, and other supported platforms.
Microsoft purchased Minecraft and creator Mojang for a total of $2.5 billion in 2014, and the company has greatly expanded Minecraft‘s reach over the last year. 2015 saw the launch of a Windows 10 version of Minecraft, which recently introduced Oculus Rift support.
Minecraft‘s Windows 10 port appears to be a particular focus for Microsoft, as digital codes for both the Xbox One and Windows 10 editions are included as part of the bundle. While the Windows 10 version supports cross-platform play with Minecraft: Pocket Edition for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, the game does not currently allow Xbox One and Windows 10 users to play together.
In addition to serving up digital codes for Minecraft, the upcoming Xbox One S bundle includes Minecraft‘s digital Favorites Pack, which adds seven “community-favorite” batches of downloadable content to the base game, including the popular Halo Mash-up and Festive Mash-up packs. The bundle also includes the Builder’s Pack, which collects six add-ons including the Biome Settlers and Greek Mythology Mash-up packs.
The Xbox One S Minecraft Favorites bundle is available for pre-order via Amazon for $300 and is due to launch in North America on September 27. The bundle will ship to the U.K. and select European territories on October 11. A release for Australia and New Zealand is set for November 1.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 finally has a US release date and price, several months after the company first showed off the handheld in May. The highlight is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, which has been adopted by only a couple of other consoles besides the Atlas 8. This version will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on November 1 for $1,299.99.
Acer originally said the Atlas 8 would arrive in North America in October, but left pricing open at the time. The launch came amid the ongoing DRAM crunch, which has made memory more expensive across the PC industry and complicated pricing for hardware makers.
Gaming laptops and I have a complicated relationship. One of my first gaming rigs was an Acer Predator that was already outdated when I bought it. I was a broke college kid, and that was the best I could afford. So trying out high-end gaming laptops is always fun. But ASUS' ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lot more than a laptop that can run AAA games. It is portable, so you're not lugging around a 2.5kg machine everywhere you go. It is built well, none of that plastic chassis, and can even function as a normal laptop outside of just gaming.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.