| Official ‘Gears of War 4’ Xbox One S forged by monster claws and fire
The company’s first widely available custom Xbox One S — the console redesign announced at E3 — draws on Gears 4 for inspiration. Its blood-red exterior is scored by faux claw marks, a nod to the upcoming game’s new Swarm menace. The limited edition Gears of War 4 Xbox One S sports a 2TB hard drive and a custom “Crimson Omen” controller that borrows the console’s color scheme. The controller features the same distinctive claw marks as the console along with other nifty flourishes, such as a bloody thumbprint splashed across the D-pad. It will also be sold separately. The claw marks were added using a laser-etching process that cut into the plastic casing deep enough to ignite a fire. You can see that process in action below. On the digital goods side, the console bundle includes a download code for Gears of War 4: Ultimate Edition (for XB1 and Windows 10), early access to the game on Oct. 7, Gears 4 weapon and character skins, a multiplayer lobby emblem and six “Gear” packs containing in-game items. Microsoft will also be releasing a second Gears 4-themed controller, also priced at $74.99, as a GameStop and Microsoft Store exclusive. This one features a grey-and-blue color scheme based on the armor worn by protagonist J.D. Fenix, the son longtime Gears hero Marcus Fenix. Both controllers sport the same enhancements that Microsoft revealed at E3 2016 in June, including a newly textured grip, Bluetooth support and increased wireless range. The two sold-separately controller packages also include some Gears-specific digital goods to justify the premium $74.99 pricing. You’ll get a multiplayer lobby emblem and three “Gear” packs. It’s not yet clear what these packs will contain, but it’ll likely be cosmetic enhancements for the game’s online modes. Pre-orders for the console bundle are up now and pre-orders for the controllers open on Aug. 1, with the bundle priced at $449.99 and controllers selling individually for $74.99. Orders will start shipping in mid-September. mashable.com |
