Jumbo director Zoe Wittock - New Zealand International Film Festival 2020 Q&A

New Zealand International Film Festival Q&A 2020: Zoe Wittock, Jumbo

Your Name

Zoé Wittock

Title of your film

JUMBO

Tell us about your 2020

2020 has literally been the biggest roller coaster ride I’ve ever taken ! My film, Jumbo, started its festival run with the Sundance Film Festival in January and went on to the Berlinale which just as exciting! What a dream, I thought, as I was waiting for the film’s French release in March 2020… Which, of course, never came as Covid-19 got the best of the whole wide world.  And we’re only halfway through the year… Can you imagine?! 2020 is about uncertainty, I think. So I’m trying to just roll with the punches and make the most of them as I keep developing new projects. 

How has Covid-19 impacted you and your film?

It pretty much destroyed its theatrical release. Less than 20% of the usual moviegoers have stepped back into the theatres to watch movies as Jumbo made its new release in France on July 1 after the theatres reopened. It seems that despite the intense safety measures that have been put in place in cinemas, people still felt more comfortable watching films from their couch on one of the many new VOD platforms they subscribed to during the various confinement periods in the world. Which, to be honest, is understandable. I actually like to believe that this will become part of Jumbo’s identity as time passes, theatres (hopefully) come back to normal, and people slowly learn about the film and its history. The lucky thing for us is that we had just enough time early this year to screen at major festivals, which, we all know, is essential to an independent film’s career. I’m ecstatic that some festivals were able to keep on through this crisis, even if their screening “platforms” had to change from “real” to “virtual”. This is giving the film the exposure needed for it to exist. It is indeed   festivals that the film is, for now, really finding its audience! Which, to be honest, is already a huge win ! 

Jumbo

What's the moment you wish audiences were seeing in a theatre, and why?

“Elephant man” – I actually went to see it as it played in select theatres after Paris’ reopening of theatre (post-COVID). And wow! It was just the biggest emotional punch I’d had in years. The first time I had seen it (on a small screen unfortunately), I had been moved, but I couldn’t remember it as one of the most exceptional screening experience I had had. Originally left with only a vague memory of the film, I am now haunted by it… The solitude of the characters, their distress and most importantly their beauty… I think this is film essential to the morose times we are currently experiencing.  

“Interstellar” or “Apocalypse Now” – More obvious choices of cinematic experiences – but still worth a thousand rides! 

What have you learned about film-making, the film-making community and the film-going audience during the pandemic?

I’ve learned that even the biggest fan of theatre screens have lost (a bit of ) the habit of going to theatres. Hopefully this will change, but it most definitely forces you to think of how to make sure your next films remain a true cinematic experience that can only really exist on the big screen ! 

What's the single best moment of your film?

I think that’s up to the audience to decide. I of course have my favourite moments, but they wouldn’t be the ones you’d expect. It has more to do with the artistic freedom I felt as I was shooting them then the actual end result. ;) 

What do you plan to do next in terms of film-making?

I’m most definitely looking for character stories that can be both emotional and caustic at the same time!  Or at least one or the other. The two things I love the most when watching a film is to be emotionally moved (if I cry, even better! Haha) and/or to pushed to think outside of the box when asked to be rooting for a character. 

And then of course, if there is a fun visual component to the film, it’s always a plus ! I like to play with genres to elevate intimate character stories. 

Tench director Patrice Toye - New Zealand International Film Festival Q&A 2020

Your Name My name is Patrice Toye

Title of your film Tench Tell us about your 2020 Tench had its international première at the Rotterdam Film Festival, that was great ! But soon Covid changed all my plans of travelling around from festival to festival with my delicate film. First I was very frustrated and sad about that, but once I accepted things as they are, I saw the advantages: more time to spend with my family, time to read and time to write. There is beauty in being silent for a while…

How has Covid-19 impacted you and your film? Tench had just been released in theatres in my home country when Corona closed everything down. I hope we will have a ‘re-birth ‘ online and in some arthouse cinemas later this year. 

What's the moment you wish audiences were seeing in a theatre, and why? I wish they would see the whole film on big screen, but I’m sure it also works on a smaller screen. 

What have you learned about film-making, the film-making community and the film-going audience during the pandemic? A creative mind always finds solutions. The master shows himself in the limitation. One can still make powerful, inventive films even without any means. I teach film directing in a film school and my students had to start making ‘minimal’ films at home, with no crew, material etc… but some really fantastic short films came out as a result of those limitations. 

What's the single best moment of your film? I really can’t say. Maybe the moment when Bess and Jonathan have lunch and eat ‘schnitzel’ together. 

What do you plan to do next in terms of film-making? I’m working on a new script, but I don’t like talking about it, I’m superstitious.

Tench plays at Whanau Marama, the New Zealand International Film festival. You can get all the details here - https://www.nziff.co.nz/2020/at-home-online/tench/

Whanau Marama - the New Zealand International Film Festival 2020 Preview - five of the best 

The hybrid film festival is just days away from launch.

This year's festival will offer a selection of screenings in cinemas and online to deal with the ongoing Covid-19 situation which continues to affect the film industry globally.

There may be a reduced programme on hand, but there are no lesser offerings in this year's event, and certainly some will need to be snapped up before they reach online capacity.

Here are five titles that you absolutely cannot afford to miss

Just 6.5

Just 6.5

As searing a drama as last year's Les Miserables was, this Iranian cop drama focuses on the war against drugs in Iran.

Masterfully put together by its director and screenplay writer, Saeed Roustayi, this is a visceral thriller
that commands every frame as it unspools. 

Focussing in on the cops as they try and take down a druglord, the film's got a way of sideswiping you - and certainly by the final frames, you'll be unsure where your allegiances lie.

Some Kind of Heaven

Some Kind of Heaven

Director Lance Oppenheim's peek behind the curtains of The Villages in Florida in the US is a crafty little doco that finds a way of inveigling itself under your skin.

It starts with a series of golf carts being organised in a synchronicity and from then on, Oppenheim leads you through the lives of some of the residents.

Part of the joy of Some Kind of Heaven is seeing it unfurl and its poignant surprises - but its look beneath the polished veneer of OAP happiness is as disturbing and as tragic as they come, without ever feeling exploitative.

Relic

Relic

Aussie director Natalie Erika James' generational horror may be being lauded for being female-led, but that's not the only reason to see this smartly executed psychological terror.

When Emily Mortimer's Kay finds her mother Edna missing, she sets about dealing with the realities of what lies ahead - and soon finds herself and her daughter (Bella Heathcote) having to tackle a bigger problem than they imagined.

Slow-burning and akin to The Babadook, this horror's likely to leave an impression after it's ended. And that's a great thing.

Jumbo

Jumbo

Easily the oddest sell in the Incredibly Strange, this is the tale of Portrait of A Lady on Fire's Noemie Merlant's Jeanne who falls for a rollercoaster at the amusement park where she works.

What could easily be exploitative and laughable, becomes surprisingly intimate and unconventionally humane, preferring never to mock its subjects and leaving you with a wistful and thoughtful meditation on what desire means to many.

Don't overlook Jumbo - it's one of the programme's hidden secrets that's well worth discovering.

Driveways

Driveways

Easily the most affecting movie of the entire festival, Andrew Ahn's intimate picture of a young Asian boy's friendship with his elderly neighbour (Brian Dennehy) is the first unmissable film of 2020's festival.

Sweet, innocent and yet profoundly moving, the story is one of those that can be filed under "Life happens"; and yet, it's a little more than that. 

It may be one of Dennehy's last roles, but that sentiment isn't the reason to adore Driveways - it's a timeless film of connection that doesn't rely on cheap narrative tricks and reveals to hammer its point home. In fact, it's the antithesis of such films - and it's all the better for it.

Driveways also has the most bittersweet final shots of the festival too, so don't be surprised if it catches you off guard.

Whanau Marama - The New Zealand International Film Festival 2020 runs from 24 July to August 3. 

All the details can be found at nziff.co.nz

New Zealand International Film Festival 2020 Q&A with Incredibly Strange director Ant Timpson

Ant Timpson's Incredibly Strange returns to the New Zealand International Film Festival.

Ant's views expressed here are strictly his own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Festival.

You can find out more on Ant's selections here - https://www.nziff.co.nz/2020/at-home-online/films/collections/incredibly-strange-1/

Hi Ant, how have you been? 

Surprisingly we've been doing very well, that was until we moved back to Auckland and remembered what traffic and malls were.  Earlier we hit the jackpot by moving the fam in January to a small isolated coastal community. And so when the world went to poop we were in a bubble within a bubble. If we didn't check news or social media, we might not have known there was a pandemic happening. 

 

Dinner In America

How has Covid-19 affected you as a programmer, film-maker and film-lover?

Programmer : Like anyone else programming festivals, this year has been a bit of a wash for obvious reasons. Many films were held back and of course the overall capacity of titles for the festival was reduced. 

Film-maker: All productions ceased and because there are so many variations in film - every project was affected differently. We still don't have a clear path forward just yet but it's encouraging being in New Zealand and not elsewhere. We have the ability to get a jump on everyone else but we also may not have the resources to fill all the eventual demand. Personally I'm involved with a few projects and things are inching forward.

Film-lover: To be honest, I was more about the beach, making cocktails and eating food during lockdown than sitting inside watching stuff on a laptop.

 

How did it affect the selections for this year's Incredibly Strange?

Lots of major genre titles didn't want to risk any online premieres before their VOD release so we missed out on many titles just through that aspect. There was also uncertainty between producers and sales agents about what strategy they were going to take - the timing wasn't great for us - if we'd had a bit more time then we could've had some other choice cuts and had them playing in cinemas. Still super happy with the small number I have and very lucky to have a couple of 'em tbh. 

Is it a double edged sword for you this year with some films in cinemas, some in homes? A chance for more people to see your selections, but less gatherings and atmospheres?

Double edged? It's a guillotine!

I've only got one title playing in cinemas so that's gutting to me. It's not what I signed up for decades ago. HA!  Online festivals are the antithesis of what I've spent every year doing since the mid 80s.  

I'm the wrong guy to be asking all this stuff  - I'm not a fan of people tweeting what they think of a film as it's playing - all this supposed "interaction" with a large online audience - it's one giant distraction to me. Film is escapism - so how do you escape into a film when someone is sending you moronic memes or their new Tik Tok jam? 

Festivals have always been kind of snobby and elitist - and that was ok to me - cos it meant there was etiquette applied that you don't get during some Marvel poop on a Friday night at the plex. 

Look there's zero atmosphere around the festival unless it's in a cinema - we're so lucky we have that component happening for us - otherwise it would have been one sad affair.

 

You are doing some in cinema screenings - what's going to be the best one in terms of audience reception?

Is this for me or for fest director Marten?  Have you done a cut and paste again Darren?   Anything playing in a cinema is worth seeing at the moment. There's only a 1/4 of the line-up playing so read up on 'em and go see em how they're supposed to be seen. 

Relic

Turning to the selection, Relic is fantastic - what drew you to this?

Advance word before it hit gold at Sundance, a slow burn debut chiller from an exciting new voice coming out of Australia - Natalie James, like Jennifer Kent before her with Babadook, will be going on to do big things. 

Losing your mind has to be one of ultimate fears of any sane adult - and so a film that manages to weave that and some dark generational angst alongside some genuinely creepy moments was always going to fit the bill.

Yummy brings virus and zombies to the IS -the best moment in this film is what?

Yummy

You're asking me? The King of Non-Spoilers to reveal the best moment? Sorry comrade - no can do. Not on my watch. If you like slickly produced demented zombie fun then you're going to find enough puerile gags and gore laden amusement throughout YUMMY.  It does what it says on the box. 

 

Jumbo's inspired by a true story - what more can you tell us about that?

Loosely inspired by Amy, who was the star of the documentary Married to the Eiffel Tower.  The real life Amy has many lovers, one of them a theme park ride and the documentary explores how she and two other Objectum Sexuals (people who are horny for objects) deal with intimacy. Their "partners" range from the Berlin Wall to the Eiffel Tower. You can check out Amy and others here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5OiplprDFU 

Jumbo

 

2020 finds us in a reflective mood generally, so Friedkin on The Exorcist seems perfect fodder. What is it about The Exorcist that keeps drawing people in do you think?

Well it's perpetually cited as the scariest film ever made so there's that huge cultural hook that keeps pulling in new generations of viewers. It's very hard to describe to people who weren't around in the 70s just how impactful the film was to audiences. It was shocking and convincing. 

So hearing Friedkin take us back to that time and to hear about the creation of the film is something anyone interested in cinema is going to find captivating. 

 

Tell us about Dinner in America

Another buzzy Sundance title - this was one of those films that starts off so abrasively with an obnoxious character that you're not sure whether you wanna spend 90mins with em - but then things take a few turns and a relationship begins to grow and it suddenly morphs into something a lot sweeter. A simple story of two miscreants who end up being good for each other once they let their walls down.

 

Congrats on having the best film title in the programme with Jesus Shows You The Way to the Highway.....

Not only the best title but possibly the best film for the right viewer. I truly felt invigorated after seeing it for the first time - it wasn't just because it was gonzo filmmaking, it seemed to celebrate all of cinema and I had a smile throughout and for a long time afterwards. 

 

What are your picks from the rest of the programme?

If there's a chance to support a local film in person at a cinema screening - then please go check it out. Ya just never know when we might all be back in lockdown!

 

Do you hope the NZIFF can run a hybrid festival like this again?

Nope. Zero interest in ever doing this again. 

 

What's the one moment in all your films you want audiences to experience, either in a cinema or at home?

That they got their money's worth for their time and emotional investment. 

And at home I just want them to experience the feeling of wanting to be in a cinema watching the film.

Relic - director Q&A for the 2020 New Zealand International film Festival

Your Name – Natalie Erika James 

Title of your film – Relic 

Tell us about your 2020

I’ve tried to make the most of being in lockdown by getting stuck into writing a few projects. Joining a writing group online has done wonders for my productivity and morale. But along the way I’ve definitely had some unproductive weeks where I was glued to the news and suddenly baking a lot.

How has Covid-19 impacted you and your film?

I’m so grateful we managed to squeeze in our Sundance premiere, because soon after all of the festivals where Relic was supposed to play began cancelling. Our US Distributor was really proactive in making the decision to release the film in July, taking advantage of the gap created by a lot of the bigger studio films postponing their release. We had originally planned to release the film theatrically in Australia, but I was over the moon when Stan jumped on board and we were able to release the film online alongside the US.

What's the moment you wish audiences were seeing in a theatre, and why?

Probably the whole third act, ha! It gets particularly dark (both in image and content), and there’s something amazing about experiencing horror in the darkness of a cinema with others.

What have you learned about film-making, the film-making community and the film-going audience during the pandemic?

I’ve been fascinated by the different approaches filmmakers have been coming up with to ensure they can continue shooting in a socially distanced, safe environment. Things like, writing scenes with only three people or less who don’t have physical interaction, rehearsals over Zoom, splitting up crews over two units so that if one becomes infected, the other unit can continue shooting, etc.  

What's the single best moment of your film?

I think most people would say the final scene of the film, I suppose because it is horrific and emotionally affecting at once. 

What do you plan to do next in terms of film-making?

I’m working on a Japanese folk horror with the same co-writer and Australian producers from Relic. 

Relic plays at Whanau Marama New Zealand International Film Festival. Get all the details here - https://www.nziff.co.nz/2020/at-home-online/relic/

New Zealand International Film Festival - Q&A with director Marten Rabarts

Welcome to 2020's festival, Marten - guessing it was not the start you had in mind?

Hi Darren - Not exactly! I started my position as Festival Director in October 2019 and as we put together the building blocks for the festival in February this year, COVID-19 came thundering down upon us … so I got to invent our first online festival from the ground up.

At what point did you realise the festival would have to change, and how difficult was that decision?

I began to understand we’d need to be making adjustments in early February when my flight back from Europe, after attending the Rotterdam Film Festival, was cancelled as Italy already started to close its borders to Asian Airlines. Experiencing this – I had to re-book, re -route, and cut my trip short as I was meant to go to Rome to screen Italian films after Rotterdam – and Italy being among those first directly affected outside China and Iran, it was a loud clanging warning bell.

As COVID-19 restrictions tightened in New Zealand, and lockdown approached, it became clear that we had a choice; either we cancel the festival entirely and forfeit a year of excellent filmmaking and community engagement, or we adapt and ensure our audiences have the same rich and broad curated programme we always do, but this time through a new medium – online streaming through our VOD (video on demand) platform.

Now that we’ve moved back to Level 1, and some cinemas are reopening, are you a little disappointed the festival can't make it fully back out to the movies?

Cinema screenings  will always be the beating heart of the festival but it takes six months to mount a festival and there was no way anyone could predict whether New Zealand would be in a position to allow social gatherings and cinema re-openings, but starting six weeks ago we managed  to introduce a hybrid situation where 26 titles will be screened in certain cinemas across the country. These are supplementary screenings … the full festival will be NZIFF At Home – Online as planned.

Logistically, what have been the issues for an online festival this year?

They were huge but largely arcane issues around technical demands of online delivery, digital security measures to prevent piracy, complex rights acquisitions for a festival screening on VOD platform, cinemas unhappy with us for taking the festival online; the same  cinemas unhappy with us offering them films to screen when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted … (shoulder shrug emoji) … it was endless and I just hope the difficulty and pain COVID-19 has put our team through is invisible to our viewers, as it should be.

But what do you see as the benefits for the festival's first at home fest?

Not every New Zealander lives in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Even with all of the regions we commonly screen in across the country, New Zealanders living rurally can still be hours away from a cinema.

Moving online means that we have the ability, for the first time ever, to reach more Kiwis than ever before from Kaitaia to Bluff and everywhere (with broadband) in between.

What can punters expect?

Same Great Films , Same Great Festival … just online! Punters should get their screening set up ready and prepare for a selection of fantastic titles. 

We've had the We Are One Festival, how did you see that?

I wouldn’t call the We Are One YOUTUBE marketing venture a festival … in my evaluation it was a damp squib; a motley collection of mostly older films, some shorts  and a few regurgitated celebrity interviews from various festival archives.

There’s no comparison to what we’ll be offering which is the usual world-class curation of the past years’ finest cinema offerings which NZIFF audiences always expect from us.

Once a ticket is purchased, viewers will also be able to watch filmmaker introductions and Q&A sessions with cast  and crew which we are recording and streaming live for certain premiere titles. We’ll have many times more international guests than has ever been possible before!

This is another aspect showing NZIFF At Home – Online will be a FILM FESTIVAL not a global branding exercise for GOOGLE (parent company of YOUTUBE).

How has the lack of festivals like Cannes impacted the choice of films, have some distributors been reticent to premiere material on these shores?

Obviously Cannes is our usual source of big name ,big cast films so like the rest of the world we’re missing some of these titles as they wait to premiere at Venice and Toronto festivals  later in the year … but not to worry, as our catalogue shows, we have a fine selection of films from across the world including films from Venice and Toronto 2019, Sundance, Berlin, Rotterdam, Locarno and even a couple from Cannes 2019 which slipped through the net of the NZIFF 2019 selection, which I’ve included this year.

What can you tell us about the platform it'll be on, how events will happen, films will happen and ticketing etc?

The great team at  Shift72 have created our NZIFF At Home – Online platform. These guys are working from a small Hamilton-based office and have made a name for themselves, internationally being the platform of choice for other film festivals like SXSW CPH:DOX Festival Copenhagen, Sydney and Melbourne film festivals and the Cannes Film Market.

Events will largely be online. Obviously with international travel being a pipedream, we couldn’t fly filmmakers in as we usually would so pre-recorded filmmaker intros will be available for selected titles, as well as Q&A live streams on our social media pages.

Part of cinema-goer culture is having lobby chats and discussions generated around the films, so we wanted to keep this flame burning as much as possible through our online presence. In saying that, now that we also have selected theatrical screenings, many of our New Zealand titles will have their world premiere screenings in cinemas and venues including in-person Q&A sessions with the local film teams. All “how to“ instructions are detailed on our website.

What film or event has you most excited this year and why?

Without having to worry about scoring a big comfortable Cannes title for a corporate-sponsored GALA opening event I’m excited to open the festival this year with a film that has as much speed-punk anarchy coursing through its veins as the outlaw rebel it portrays – Justin Kurzel’s dazzling and disturbing adaptation of Peter Carey’s masterpiece True History Of The Kelly Gang.

Its star-studded cast includes our own Thomasin McKenzie, Russell Crowe and Marlon Williams, alongside George MacKay (1917) Charlie Hunnam (Sons Of Anarchy), Essie Davis  (The Babadook) and Nicholas Hoult (The Favourite, X-Men) The film may divide audiences but it won’t be easily forgotten… 

Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival kicks off 24 July. Details on nziff.co.nz

Phil Spencer Shares Xbox Commitments To Players Ahead Of Xbox Series X

Phil Spencer Shares Xbox Commitments To Players Ahead Of Xbox Series X

Today, Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, published a blog announcing a set of commitments Xbox is making to players as gaming transitions into its next generation. Xbox is committing to policies such as:

 

• Players will always be welcome – a commitment backed up with community support, empowering creators of different backgrounds to bring diverse content to our platform, and the acceleration of new technology to reduce hate speech and toxicity.
• Players will not be forced into the next generation – Xbox Game Studios titles shipped in the next few years will play great on Xbox Series X and Xbox One, and Xbox will continue to support cross-play so that gamers and their friends can play together across platforms, as well as across console generations.
• With Xbox’s “Smart Delivery” technology – players can buy supporting titles once and play across console generations at no cost. Highly anticipated titles like “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla” and “Cyberpunk 2077” will support Smart Delivery.
• Players can play new Xbox Game Studios titles on the day they launch with Xbox Game Pass.

 

 

You Are the Future of Gaming

by Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox

 

Games are a source of joy, inspiration, and social connection. They have the power to bring us together, create empathy, and strengthen our social fabric. As we prepare for the next generation, our efforts to make gaming more inclusive, more immersive, more connected, and more social are as relevant and important as ever.

 

At Xbox, we listen to what you – players, game developers, and content creators – tell us you want from the future of gaming. Based on your feedback, we’re building a future where you and your friends can play the deepest, most immersive and interactive games ever created across your Xbox console, PC, and mobile devices.

 

At the dawn of the next generation, it’s important to be clear about what you can expect from the future of Xbox.

 

Our vision has one hero at the heart of it all: You.

 

And today, I want to share our commitments to you:

 

• You will always be welcome. We are building Xbox for you—players from all walks of life, everywhere in the world. We want to make your Xbox community safe, accessible, and welcoming – a place where you can have fun. As we say in our community standards, harassment and hate take many forms, but none have a home on Xbox. Should you feel others are behaving in ways that violate the standards, our safety team will investigate your report and support you 24/7/365 around the globe. And we continue to accelerate new technology to reduce hate speech and toxicity, giving you the tools to create the safe gaming community you want to play in.

 

In addition to tools, we commit to bringing more diverse stories to Xbox for you to enjoy. We are empowering creators of diverse backgrounds to develop new stories, advocating for an authentic and respectful representation in games, and championing accessibility so that all can play. Additionally, more than 300,000 Xbox Ambassadors give their time and passion to making Xbox the best place to play and we invite all players to join us on that mission. We still have so much more work to do and will not stop until everyone who plays feels welcome, heard, and valued.

 

• Your games will look and play best on Xbox Series X. Xbox Series X is designed to deliver a new level of fidelity, feel, performance and precision never seen before in console gaming. All games will look and play best on Xbox Series X – whether they come from our 15 Xbox Game Studios, like Halo Infinite, or from our world-class publisher and developer partners. Packing over 12 teraflops of GPU power including new technologies like hardware-accelerated Direct X raytracing and variable rate shading, and with four times the processing power of an Xbox One X, Xbox Series X enables developers to provide you with transformative gaming experiences through richer, more dynamic living worlds, more realistic AI and animations, and support for higher frame rates including support for up to 120 FPS.

 

Xbox Series X also enables you to spend less time waiting and more time playing, as it virtually eliminates load times with the 40x boost in I/O throughput from last generation. With our custom next-generation SSD and Xbox Velocity Architecture, nearly every aspect of playing games is improved. Game worlds are larger, more dynamic and load in a flash, and fast travel is just that – fast. The Xbox Velocity Architecture also powers new platform capabilities like Quick Resume, which enables you to seamlessly switch between multiple titles and resume instantly from where you last left off without waiting through long loading screens. Right now, Xbox Series X is in the hands of our 15 Xbox Game Studios teams and thousands of third-party developers, empowering them to create a new generation of blockbuster games for you to enjoy.

 

 

• You play new games day one with Xbox Game Pass. All Xbox Game Studios titles launch into Xbox Game Pass the same day as their global release, so you decide whether to purchase each game separately or play them all with your Xbox Game Pass membership. Xbox Game Studios franchises that will launch into Game Pass day one of release include Halo, Forza, Age of Empires, Gears of War, Minecraft, Hellblade, The Outer Worlds, Psychonauts, Microsoft Flight Simulator, State of Decay, Wasteland, Minecraft Dungeons and Sea of Thieves—and more new franchises in early development. So, when Halo Infinite launches, you and your friends can decide whether to purchase the game or play it with Xbox Game Pass.

 

• You won’t be forced into the next generation. We want every Xbox player to play all the new games from Xbox Game Studios. That’s why Xbox Game Studios titles we release in the next couple of years—like Halo Infinite—will be available and play great on Xbox Series X and Xbox One. We won’t force you to upgrade to Xbox Series X at launch to play Xbox exclusives.

 

• Your games will not be left behind, thanks to backward compatibility. You will be able to play four generations of games on Xbox Series X on day one. That makes it the largest launch lineup for any new console ever, with thousands of games to play. Our backward compatibility engineers have spent years devising innovative ways for modern, next-gen technology to make the games library you’re building today even better, at no additional cost and with no work from developers. It’s our intent for all Xbox One games that do not require Kinect to play on Xbox Series X at the launch of the console. And because of the unprecedented power of Xbox Series X, most of your favourite games will load faster and look and perform many times better on the new console.

 

• Your Xbox One gaming accessories come into the future with you, too. The Xbox Elite Controller and Xbox Adaptive Controller all work on Xbox Series X, so you don’t have to purchase new controllers. We believe that your investments in gaming should move with you into the next generation.

 

• You can buy games once at no added cost. With our new Smart Delivery technology, you don’t need to buy the same game twice – once for the current console generation and once for the next generation. You always have the best available version of supported games on whatever Xbox console you are playing on, at no additional cost. If you own a title that supports Smart Delivery like Destiny 2, Gears 5 and Halo Infinite, you automatically have access to the version that plays best on your Xbox console. Highly anticipated games from the world’s biggest developers, like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel’s Avengers and more have already committed to supporting Smart Delivery and more will be announced soon.

 

Xbox Play Anywhere digital titles also enable you to buy once and play on both Xbox consoles and Windows 10 PCs.

 

• You choose how to jump into the next generation of gaming. We hear from you that you prefer choice and value. With Xbox All Access, you can get Xbox Series X, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for a low monthly price with no up-front costs, no finance charges and no hidden fees. You get to enjoy an instant library of over 100 high-quality games, join friends with online multiplayer, and experience new Xbox Game Studios titles the day they release, including Halo Infinite, on the fastest, most powerful Xbox ever.

 

• You are in control of a healthy and balanced gaming lifestyle. If you are a parent, guardian or caregiver, the new Xbox Family Settings app (Preview) for iOS and Android provides a simple and convenient way to create child accounts, customize family settings, and ensure that your kids have access to gaming that you feel is appropriate.
• You will get more from your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. Finally, today we’re announcing that this September, in supported countries, we’re bringing Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud together at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. With cloud gaming in Game Pass Ultimate, you will be able to play over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on your phone or tablet. And because Xbox Live connects across devices, you can play along with the nearly 100 million Xbox Live players around the world. So when Halo Infinite launches, you and your friends can play together and immerse yourselves in the Halo universe as Master Chief—anywhere you go and across devices.

 

Cloud gaming in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate means your games are no longer locked to the living room. You can connect more than ever with friends and family through gaming. And just like you do with your movie and music streaming services, when cloud gaming launches into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can continue your game wherever you left off on any of your devices.

 

When you add it all up, Xbox Series X is the only next generation console that lets you play new blockbuster games at the highest console fidelity, enjoy the latest blockbuster games the day they launch for one monthly price, play four generations of your games at higher fidelity than ever before, and play with friends wherever you want across your TV, PC, and mobile device. And with Xbox All Access, you can jump into the next generation for one low monthly payment and no up-front costs.

 

The future of gaming has never been more exciting and limitless. It’s a future you’ll explore on your terms, not constrained by restrictive policies. Where your gaming legacy will not be left behind and where you will not be locked out of new exclusive Xbox Game Studios games even if you choose to stay with your current console for a while.

 

It’s a future where you and your friends play the most immersive, responsive, and vivid games together on every screen in your life, and where games reach across the world and bring you stories you’ve never experienced before. It’s a future in which you get more value from your games. And where everyone is welcome.

 

We hope you’ll join us next Thursday, July 23rd for the Xbox Games Showcase for the first look at the Halo Infinite Campaign and more.

 

Thanks so much for shaping the future of gaming.

 

-Phil