Even though the month is ending soon, the fun has just begun, since Microsoft has unveiled the second batch of games coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass before the end of January, featuring well-known GoldenEye 007, and Age of Empires II.
The list sees the return of Hot Wheels Unleashed which was cancelled at the last moment back in December, the arrival of GoldenEye 007 – with four-player local split-screen coop!, and Age of Empires II’s console adaptation.
Without further ado, here is the full list:
- Hi-Fi Rush (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – Available now
- GoldenEye 007 (Cloud and Console) – January 27
- Roboquest (Game Preview) (Console) – January 30
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (Cloud and Console) – January 31
- Inkulinati (Game Preview) (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 31
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle R (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 31
- Darkest Dungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 2
- Grid Legends (Cloud) EA Play – February 2
- Hot Wheels Unleashed – Game of the Year Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 7
As usual, some titles are leaving the service on January 31:
- Donut County (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master (Console and PC)
- Telling Lies (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Worms WMD (Cloud, Console, and PC)
RTS using a controller
So, how would you play a real-time strategy game using a controller? Unlike Halo Wars, which was built from the ground up for consoles, Age of Empires II (AOE II) is much more detailed, thus to make it work, developers opted for the same circular menu found in Halo, combined with a much-simplified experience. For example, the D-pad is used to create units, workers, and buildings, with RT opening a radial (wheel) menu that allows the selection of soldiers and upgrades. All easy, and just a click away.
To make players’ life easier, it seems that when putting a foundation for something to be built, the nearest villager will automatically start working on it. Additionally, and this is the part that may interest many gamers, AOE II on Xbox will be playable using a keyboard and mouse. Finally, crossplay against PC players will be possible, and surely entertaining. All in all, this seems like a fun way to experience a fan favourite while staying cosy underneath a blanket.
