Ara: History Untold Archives

AppWizard

February 2, 2025

Game of the Year 2024

PC gaming has evolved from a niche market for mouse and keyboard enthusiasts to a diverse platform that includes a variety of genres and styles, welcoming indie developers and enhancing controller support. The Best PC Game award highlights this transformation, with UFO 50 recognized as a standout title for packaging 51 NES-like games into one collection, offering challenges and a nostalgic experience. Hollowbody is noted as a runner-up for its modern take on survival horror, featuring fixed camera angles and environmental puzzles, while Ara: History Untold stands out in the historical 4X genre by focusing on empire building and cultural development rather than warfare. Other honorable mentions include Frostpunk 2, Mouthwashing, and Satisfactory.

AppWizard

November 17, 2024

Xbox chief calls recent PC exclusives an “anomaly,” reaffirms Xbox ecosystem goals

Microsoft's upcoming game releases for fall include several major titles debuting as PC exclusives, such as World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion, Ara: History Untold, and Towerborne, which will not be available on Xbox consoles initially. Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, described this PC-centric approach as a temporary "anomaly" and emphasized the company's goal of making games accessible across various platforms within the Xbox ecosystem. He stated the intention for ownership across cloud, PC, and console platforms. Spencer expressed optimism about potential cross-platform play with Sony's PlayStation and clarified that the PC exclusives are tied to specific reasons, such as the World of Warcraft expansion's PC roots and Towerborne's early access launch. He reassured fans that this is not the new standard and highlighted the upcoming Diablo 4 DLC as an example of cross-ecosystem availability. Spencer also confirmed that a long-rumored Xbox handheld device is in development and that the Xbox team is exploring a Microsoft mobile game store, which has been delayed for further market research.

AppWizard

November 15, 2024

Microsoft’s PC-Only Games Are An “Anomaly,” Says Phil Spencer

Microsoft is releasing several PC-exclusive titles this fall, including World of Warcraft: The War Within, Ara: History Untold, and the early-access Towerborne. Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, described the trend of PC-only releases as an "anomaly" and emphasized the company's commitment to making games accessible across multiple platforms, including Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud. He stated that Microsoft aims for a seamless gaming experience where players can own their games across the Xbox ecosystem, regardless of the platform. Some Microsoft-owned titles, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, will be shared with Sony's PlayStation, and upcoming releases such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch on Xbox and PC before reaching PS5.

AppWizard

November 13, 2024

“We think about the Xbox platform as the Xbox console, PC and cloud. We want them to be Play Anywhere.” Microsoft strives to bring more Windows PC games to Xbox while hitting as “many screens as possible”

Microsoft's Xbox brand is focusing on multiplatform game releases, aiming for games to be playable across various devices, including Xbox consoles, PCs, and cloud gaming. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, stated that the upcoming titles Ara: History Untold, Towerborne, and the World of Warcraft expansion The War Within are exceptions and not indicative of a broader trend towards PC exclusivity. He emphasized the goal of making games accessible on all platforms and highlighted the Xbox Play Anywhere feature, which allows purchases on one platform to be accessible on another with the same Microsoft account. Spencer noted that not all content currently supports this feature but aims for a unified gaming experience across the Xbox ecosystem.

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

PC Gamer magazine’s new issue is on sale now: Path of Exile 2

PC Gamer provides an exclusive look at Path of Exile 2, an upcoming action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, after visiting their headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand. The magazine includes hands-on gameplay impressions and developer interviews, highlighting features set to debut in Early Access later this year. Additionally, the issue features a discussion with Gunfire Games about Remnant 2, marking its one-year anniversary, and includes previews of various games such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Reviews of new releases like Frostpunk 2 and Final Fantasy XVI are also included, along with a group test of gaming mini PCs and features on gaming mods and guides. Issue 403 is available in stores and on digital platforms.

AppWizard

September 29, 2024

Best strategy games on PC Game Pass

The Xbox Game Pass offers a variety of new releases and classic games, particularly appealing to strategy game enthusiasts. Notable titles include: - Ara: History Untold: A turn-based 4X strategy game developed by Oxide Games and Microsoft, combining elements from Civilization and Anno-like production chains. - Manor Lords: A medieval city-builder that sold over 2.5 million units since its April 2024 launch, available on Game Pass from day one. - Against the Storm: A city-builder with roguelike gameplay, recognized as the best city-builder of 2023. - Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition: A revitalized classic with modern enhancements and new content. - Age of Empires 4: A significantly evolved installment with polished visuals and extensive content. - Age of Mythology: Retold: Features quality-of-life upgrades and balanced content, with upcoming DLCs. - Frostpunk 2: Continues the thematic depth of its predecessor with a new gameplay loop focused on survival in a frozen apocalypse. - Wartales: A tactical RPG offering a detailed mercenary simulation. - The Lamplighters League: A tactical turn-based game set in a post-WWI world with supernatural elements. - Jurassic World Evolution 2: A park management game featuring dinosaurs and genetic experimentation. - Dune Spice Wars: A blend of RTS and 4X gameplay set on the desert planet of Arrakis. - Crusader Kings 3: A game focused on medieval politics, warfare, and diplomacy. - Stellaris: A complex sci-fi strategy game allowing players to shape species across a galaxy. - Rise of Nations: Extended Edition: Combines turn-based strategy with real-time gameplay. - Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection: Revitalizes iconic RTS titles for modern audiences. - StarCraft: Remastered & StarCraft 2: Joining the service on November 5, 2024, offering revitalized classic gameplay and mission variety. The PC Game Pass features nearly twenty exceptional strategy titles, enhancing its reputation as a premier destination for strategy game fans.

AppWizard

September 24, 2024

Play Frostpunk 2 and More Games Now With Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers subscribers a vast library of games for a monthly fee, including access to titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, online multiplayer, and exclusive discounts. In September, Microsoft added games such as Age of Mythology: Retold. Frostpunk 2 is a PC-exclusive city-building survival game set in an arctic apocalypse, where players lead a city facing overpopulation and resource scarcity. Wargroove 2 is a turn-based tactics game where players command forces to restore peace after the death of a queen. Ara: History Untold is a PC-exclusive turn-based grand strategy game focused on nation-building and diplomacy. Nine games are leaving Game Pass on September 30, prompting subscribers to complete any ongoing campaigns before they become unavailable.

AppWizard

September 24, 2024

Ara: History Untold review for PC – Gaming Age

Oxide Games is set to release Ara: History Untold this week on Windows and Steam, with availability on PC Game Pass. The game features thirty historical leaders, each with unique skills, and allows players to generate unique maps or choose pre-designed ones. It departs from the traditional hex-based system, using a multi-region city structure for resource management. Ara implements a simultaneous turn system for dynamic gameplay and supports online multiplayer for up to 36 players. The game includes a tutorial for newcomers and a Prestige system for determining victory.

AppWizard

September 23, 2024

Ara: History Untold review

Ara: History Untold is a grand strategy game developed by Oxide Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, set to launch on September 24, 2024, priced at £50 and available through Game Pass. The game features a visually detailed world where players can build cities and expand empires through strategic placement of buildings. Gameplay is structured across three acts and four eras, with a Prestige system that tracks achievements in military, scientific, and cultural domains. Players face elimination based on Prestige rankings, adding urgency to the game. Combat emphasizes numerical superiority, and a crafting system allows for item creation to enhance city attributes. The game aims to be more accessible for newcomers to the 4X genre, with potential for future expansions to improve gameplay and narrative depth.

AppWizard

September 17, 2024

Game Pass adds 3 games, 2 only on PC

Xbox Game Pass has added three new titles in September: 1. Wargroove 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 19 2. Frostpunk 2 (PC) – September 20 3. Ara: History Untold (PC) – September 24 Several titles will be leaving the platform on September 30th, including: - Gotham Knights (Cloud, Console, and PC) - Let’s Build a Zoo (Cloud, Console, and PC) - Loop Hero (Cloud, Console, and PC) - My Time At Portia (Cloud, Console, and PC) - PAW Patrol Grand Prix (Cloud, Console, and PC) - Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Cloud, Console, and PC) - The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (PC) - The Walking Dead: Season Two (PC) - Valheim (Cloud, Console, and PC) Additional content includes: - Fallout 76: Milepost Zero – Available now - EA Sports FC 25 Early Access Trial – September 20 - Starfield: Shattered Space – September 30 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks available now include: - Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass - The First Descendant: Season 1 Invasion Bundle - Apex Legends: Bright Idea Weapon Charm - Hawked: Plunder Pack 2