Topic: The everything Xbox thread

I managed to download Game Pass onto my Fire tablet (after going through the hassle of side loading Google Play, since GP isn't on Amazon's app store), and and have to say I came away impressed with the streaming quality.

I played some Forza Horizon 4 (with my DS4, lol) for a little over half an hour and the controls felt responsive & I only experienced one split second instance of lag (where the image skipped). I'll still be gaming mostly on my PS4 & Switch, but I'll squeeze in some Game Pass from time to time & am looking forward to Flight Simulator & FH5 later in the year!

@Eel Sounds like a little gremlin in your router.

@gcunit the weirdest part about it being related to wifi, is that other online functions worked perfectly.

I guess the system was a bit constipated.

The Xbox random Online requirements are nice, aren't they?

@Zuljaras it worked perfectly when I went offline 🤷🏻‍♂️

Being online somehow made it decide nobody could have fun until Stardew Valley was updated.

@RR529 Been using Game Pass and XBox Remote Play for a while now on my Fire Tablet - very handy for when there's no access to the TV. I sideloaded Google Play onto my and my kids Fire tablets a while back and found it a little buggy - nothing too severe, but occasionally randomly kicking you out of apps etc. There's a program called Fire Toolbox which I've used on my latest Fire that (so far) has been rock solid. It allows you more customisation than simply sideloading Play, eg you can remove all (or as much as you want) of the Amazon Apps and the launcher so that it behaves like a regular Android tablet.

What? That is weird having to go offline on the digital console

Soon there will be Series X exclusive games and I hope someone here buy them physically and tries to install it offline and then play it. For now I only see Battlefield 2042 being labeled as Xbox SX (the One physical version is separate).

I wonder if they would require the download.

@Eel

I've had very similar stuff happening.

The console occasionally acts like it has an "always online" requirement, and boots you out of a game. I assume it must be a bug in the OS software where it triggers an alert that was meant for online games?

It's usually fixed whenever I reset the console.

@dmcc0, I don't even have a newer Xbox (just an old 360), so I signed up to GPU just to try out their exclusives via streaming.

Tried playing a bit of The Tourist on my phone this morning (I already have it on Switch, but wanted to try out touch controls), and it looked & ran great, but I don't think I'll be able to get on with touch controls. Luckily my DS4 seems to work fine.

@RR529 I actually signed up for Gamepass a couple of months before I got my Series S at Christmas for the same reason. Unfortunately is didn't really work with my phone - apparently there was a known issue with some Huawei phones at the time and the ancient tablet I'd inherited from my daughter was no use either so ended up getting a Fire during Black Friday sales. I've only used touch controls a couple of times though, prefer to use a controller, and while I could use the Series S controller, I've got an 8bitdo that I use with the fire - also works on Switch which is handy when you need an extra controller or want to use something with an actual D-Pad.

The extended showcase is great.... Seen more on Hellbade 2 & plenty of the other games

@Zuljaras Microsoft Flight Simulator and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 are also X|S exclusive, console-wise. I'm not counting cloud-based options on Xbox One, because that's running remotely, so obviously not actually on the console itself.

When do you first gain the ability to obtain new cars in Forza Horizon 4? I found a Mini Cooper sitting next to a house, but there was no way to interact with it.

To be fair I'm just starting out, and have just completed my first stunt event where I had to make that big jump (I ran into the Mini Cooper even before completing that).

Hm, so is there like a free play mode in forza horizon games? I kinda want to buy the next one (or renew Game Pass) to explore their recreation of Mexico, and most importantly, Baja California. But the reveal kinda makes it seem like the game begins on the other peninsula.

So I was wondering if it would be one of these cases where the game will want to make me play through some sort of story mode first, or if I'll be able to just indulge and ignore that (until I get bored and decide to actually play the game)?

@Eel Yeah, you can easily free play. Drive all over. Run over fences, bushes, hills, yards, farms, crops, rivers, beaches, or drive recklessly through the city/town. It's quite fun to cruise around fast on the roads avoiding other cars. I imagine you'll be smacking plenty of saguaro cacti over with an all wheel drive lambo/porsche or dune buggy.

The game does start with opening, cinematic sequence, where they drop you into a crazy race, which is usually VERY impressive, fun, but easy. After that, you can free play all you want. The whole map is open. Your home base is a Festival, where your garage is. You either drive to the marked spots on the map where the races are, or just do whatever you want.

edit: There's a good amount of stuff to do that's not racing, like finding billboards and smashing through them, finding "barn finds" = barns hidden in world where a new mystery car is. Find the barn, get a car. There are stunt challenges marked on the map, often big jumps that are amusing to hit, or they want you to hit a top speed in a tricky spot. Its a good time

Ah that’s good to know then, thanks!

@RR529 If 4 is anything like 3 you have to purchase the cars.

@RR529 as @Tasuki says, you can buy them with in-game currency by visiting the garage at the Horizon Festival site, but there are a other ways too. Unfortunately you can just drive up to another car and take it - although that would be pretty cool

If I remember correctly, the first "Dirt Series" race you participate in gives you a car to keep - i think it's a choice of 3 like when you picked the initial car - and increasing your "Influence" (basically XP) by competing in races/doing challenges often rewards you with cars as you Level Up.

Bear in mind that as well as your overall Level, you also Level up each category of race/activity separately as well. So you have a Level for Road racing, Drift Zones, Off-road Racing etc; there's probably about 20+ in total so plenty of opportunity to build up your car collection that way.

Also keep an eye out for Game Pass perks too, I think there was a free 'Welcome Pack' of free DLC cars there, although not sure if it's still on offer at the moment.

Starring Ocelot:
"Afghanistan is a big place. I expect you to become quite familiar with those binoculars as you plan your next move. How and where you make it, well that's up to you. Now go! Let the legend come back to life!"

@Tasuki, @dmcc0, thanks!

Yeah, I know I have to buy new cars with in-game currency, but during an old E3 presentation I thought they showed you could buy cars hidden in the environment, which is why I asked about the Mini Cooper. Good to have that cleared up.