PSA: Xbox One's First MOBA, Smite, Now Officially Available for Free
The popular PC game is no longer in beta on Xbox One.
Smite, the first MOBA to come to Xbox One, has left beta and is now available on the console for free.
Originally released earlier this year as part of an alpha test, Smite has gone through closed and open beta tests on Xbox One. It's been a free download for everyone since early July, but developer Hi-Rez Studios officially took off the beta tag today, having already attracted more than 1 million players on Xbox One so far.
Unfortunately, this wasn't accompanied by a new patch. One is expected soon, however; updates for the PC version typically arrive on Xbox after about a month, and one adding a new character--Khepri--debuted on PC in late July. That should be available on Xbox before long, and will be followed (presumably in September) by the patch that just landed on PC earlier this week.
Being a free-to-play game, there are a number of ways to spend real-world money on it, including by buying the game's many characters. While this can be done with a currency earned by playing, those in a hurry to get their hands on all of them can opt to buy the $30 Founder's Pack.
The pack has been available since June but will be going away at the end of the month. It grants buyers access to every current and future characters in the game, along with some extra goodies (exclusive skins and gems). It will be replaced by the Ultimate God Pack, which lacks those bonuses but still provides access to all current and future characters.
Also leaving at the end of the month is the ability to merge PC and Xbox One accounts.
While development will continue on Smite with new characters and other updates for both PC and Xbox One, Hi-Rez recently announced its next game, an FPS named Paladins coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC next year.
-Chris Pereira
More Xbox One Backwards-Compatible Games to Be Announced This Week
What are you hoping to see?
Microsoft may announce the next wave of Xbox 360 games coming to Xbox One through backwards compatibility as early as this week. Xbox boss Phil Spencer offered the tease recently on Twitter.
Asked when fans will see the next batch of titles for backwards compatibility, Spencer replied, "Looks like you should hear some news this week."
The fan added, "Really wanna see Red Dead Redemption," but Spencer didn't reply to this.
With more than 87,000 votes, Rockstar's 2010 western action game sits near the top of Microsoft's most-requested backwards compatibility voting page, behind only Call of Duty: Black Ops II. There is no guarantee, however, that Red Dead Redemption will ever come to Xbox One through backwards compatibility. Ultimately, publishers--in this case Rockstar Games--get to make those decisions.
Backwards compatibility is currently available on Xbox One for Preview Program members only. It will roll out to everyone in November, at which time there will be "hundreds" of available games. In addition, all future Xbox 360 Games With Gold titles will be backwards-compatible.
In July 2015, Criterion Games said it would like to bring Burnout Paradise to Xbox One, while Ubisoft has also talked about bringing some of its back-catalog titles to the new platform. In addition, Electronic Arts recently said it's interested in bringing some Xbox 360 games to Xbox One through EA Access.
For now, you can check out this list of all the Xbox 360 games playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.
What Xbox 360 games would you like to play on Xbox One? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
-Eddie Makuch
More on Xbox Backwards Compatibility... Could One Day BC Work With Original Xbox Games?
"I ask the backwards compatibility team this question a lot."
Maybe don't throw away your original Xbox discs just yet. Xbox boss Phil Spencer said today that the Xbox One's existing backwards compatibility functionality could one day be extended to original Xbox titles.
Spencer made the tease in an exchange on Twitter. Here's how the conversation transpired:
Question: "Very silly question, but if Xbox One essentially has Xbox 360 emulator, how much work would go into making original Xbox titles backwards compatibility?"
Spencer: "I don't think it's silly. I ask the backwards compatibility team this question a lot. Need to finish 360 backwards compatibility for now."
Spencer's comments shouldn't be taken as confirmation that the Xbox One will add original Xbox backwards compatibility support soon, or ever. Clearly, nothing is set in stone at this time.
Backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games is currently available on Xbox One for Preview Program members only. It will roll out to everyone in November, at which time there will be more than one hundred available games. In addition, all future Xbox 360 Games With Gold titles (starting in November) will be backwards-compatible.
Microsoft has not yet announced the full lineup of supported titles, but you can check out this list to see all of the confirmed games so far. The list may grow later this week, as Microsoft says it will announce the next wave of backwards-compatible games in the next couple of days.
If the Xbox One were to add backwards compatibility support for original Xbox games, which titles would you like to see made playable? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
-Eddie Makuch
Awesome Xbox Deals:
Act Fast, This Xbox One With $50 Gift Card Deal Is Good Today Only
Looking for a new Xbox One? Here's a deal you may want to consider.
Microsoft has rolled out a new offer on Xbox One hardware, but you'll have to act quickly to enjoy it.
Today only, August 19, you'll get a $50 Xbox gift card with the purchase of any new Xbox One at Microsoft's online store, or a $50 Microsoft Store gift card when making the purchase at a physical Microsoft Store.
This applies to all Xbox One hardware, including the 1 TB Madden NFL 16 bundle that launched this week and the Halo: The Master Chief Collection system. In addition, the deal is even sweeter, as Microsoft is packing in a free copy of Assassin's Creed Unity with every bundle.
The Assassin's Creed Unity Xbox One bundle doesn't have any bonuses per se, though it does come with a free copy of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, as it always has.
Buying any of the bundles also lets you save $10 on Xbox One controllers and Xbox Live subscriptions.
Other Xbox One game deals:
- Dying Light -- $30 (Amazon) / $30 (Best Buy) / $30 (Walmart)
- Rory McIlroy PGA Tour -- $50 (Amazon) / $50 (Best Buy)
- Batman: Arkham Knight -- $45 (Amazon) / $45 (Walmart)
- WWE 2K15 -- $20 (Amazon)
- Zombie Army Trilogy -- $40 (Amazon) / $40 (Best Buy)
- Lego Jurassic World -- $43.64 (Amazon) / $50 (Best Buy)
- Project Spark Starter Pack -- $10 (Best Buy)
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor - Game of the Year Edition -- $39 (Amazon) / $30 (Best Buy)
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -- $49 (Amazon)
- Mortal Kombat X -- $40 (Walmart)
- Mortal Kombat X: Kollector's Edition -- $88 (Amazon)
- Forza Horizon 2 -- $40 (Walmart)
- State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition -- $24 (Amazon)
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited -- $40 (Amazon)
- Thief -- $15 (Amazon) / $8 (Microsoft Store)
- Sunset Overdrive -- $29.39 (Amazon)
- Evolve -- $28.48 (Amazon) / $30 (Best Buy)
- Borderlands: The Handsome Collection -- $40 (Best Buy) / $40 (Walmart)
- Final Fantasy Type-0 HD -- $42.49 (Amazon)
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 -- $27 (Amazon)
- Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition -- $28 (Amazon)
- Saints Row IV Re-Elected + Gat Out of Hell -- $26 (Amazon)
- Far Cry 4 -- $20 (Amazon) / $20 (Target)
- Fantasia: Music Evolved -- $12 (Amazon) / $17 (Walmart)
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition -- $15 (Microsoft Store)
- The Walking Dead: Season Two -- $13 (Microsoft Store)
- Dead or Alive 5: Last Round -- $27.50 (Amazon) / $28 (Best Buy) / $27.50 (Walmart)
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare -- $40 (Amazon)
- The Evil Within -- $23 (Amazon)
- Dragon Age: Inquisition -- $26 (Amazon)
- The Crew -- $26 (Amazon)
- EA Sports UFC -- $21 (Amazon) / $21 (Target)
- Disney Infinity 2.0 Toy Box Starter Pack -- $28.42 (Amazon)
- Ryse: Son of Rome - Legendary Edition -- $23.69 (Amazon)
- Ryse: Son of Rome -- $12 (Best Buy)
- Assassin's Creed: Unity -- $19 (Amazon)
- Watch Dogs -- $19.49 (Amazon)
- Wolfenstein: The New Order -- $24.64 (Amazon) / $15 (Microsoft Store)
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