Insider Program | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Mon, 21 Mar 2022 08:58:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Insider Program | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Ubisoft F2P shooter ‘XDefiant’ drops Tom Clancy branding https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ubisoft-f2p-shooter-xdefiant-drops-tom-clancy-branding/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ubisoft-f2p-shooter-xdefiant-drops-tom-clancy-branding/#respond Thu, 17 Mar 2022 15:08:35 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=553922 Earlier this month, Ubisoft announced an insider program for Skull & Bones to help gather feedback on the game. Now, one of Ubisoft’s other multiplayer-first titles, XDefiant, is also opening up for insider program sign-ups. Tom Clancy’s XDefiant was first announced last year as a free-to-play Tom Clancy-themed shooter. However, dedicated Tom Clancy fans took …

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Earlier this month, Ubisoft announced an insider program for Skull & Bones to help gather feedback on the game. Now, one of Ubisoft’s other multiplayer-first titles, XDefiant, is also opening up for insider program sign-ups.

Tom Clancy’s XDefiant was first announced last year as a free-to-play Tom Clancy-themed shooter. However, dedicated Tom Clancy fans took issue with the game due to its step away from the more serious tone and setting of traditional Tom Clancy titles. As a result, Ubisoft has made the decision to drop Tom Clancy from the branding. Moving forward, this game will simply be known as XDefiant. The game will still feature some Tom Clancy themed factions, but moving forward, the developers will be introducing original factions instead.

That change was revealed this week alongside the Insider Program. You only need an Ubisoft account to register for alpha and beta tests. Those invited to the program will also get access to a private forum to share feedback.

For those who don’t know, XDefiant is a free-to-play 6v6 FPS, originally featuring teams from other Tom Clancy franchises like Splinter Cell, The Division and Ghost Recon. Now that Tom Clancy branding is being dropped for the game, it is unclear if these factions will be reworked.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Now that Tom Clancy has been dropped from XDefiant, I do wonder if we’ll see similar rebranding for other free-to-play shooters Ubisoft has in the works, including one based on Ghost Recon and another based on The Division.

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Ubisoft is launching an ‘insider program’ for Skull & Bones https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ubisoft-is-launching-an-insider-program-for-skull-bones/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ubisoft-is-launching-an-insider-program-for-skull-bones/#respond Thu, 10 Mar 2022 16:11:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=553311 Skull & Bones has been in development for many years at this point, and during that time, the game has gone through multiple reboots. At this point, Ubisoft has settled on Skull & Bones being a ‘multiplayer first' game, with the core focus being PvP gameplay. Now, the publisher is seeking play testers as the …

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Skull & Bones has been in development for many years at this point, and during that time, the game has gone through multiple reboots. At this point, Ubisoft has settled on Skull & Bones being a ‘multiplayer first' game, with the core focus being PvP gameplay. Now, the publisher is seeking play testers as the game enters what should be its final phase of development. 

Today, Ubisoft announced the Skull & Bones Insider Program, inviting fans to sign up for the opportunity to playtest the game and provide feedback and report bugs.

After many delays and several reboots, Skull & Bones is now expected to release before the end of March 2023. If alpha testing is beginning now, the game could potentially be ready in late 2022, although an early 2023 release seems more likely.

Skull & Bones has made multiple appearances over the years, initially entering development as a spin-off of Assassin's Creed Black Flag to cash in on the popularity of that game's sailing and boat combat mechanics. By the time the game was announced, it had turned into its own IP and was initially destined for a 2018 release. The game should get a full re-reveal and a release date announcement this year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: At this point, it feels like Skull & Bones chance to shine has long past. Are any of you looking forward to Skull & Bones still? 

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Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition beta testing to begin next month https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/age-of-empires-3-definitive-edition-beta-testing-to-begin-next-month/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/age-of-empires-3-definitive-edition-beta-testing-to-begin-next-month/#respond Fri, 24 Jan 2020 16:30:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=448639 At Microsoft's XO19 event last year, we were greeted with the surprise unveiling of Age of Empires IV, with a new trailer dropping alongside the launch of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. There is still one more ‘Definitive Edition' to get out of the way before we can move on to the long anticipated …

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At Microsoft's XO19 event last year, we were greeted with the surprise unveiling of Age of Empires IV, with a new trailer dropping alongside the launch of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. There is still one more ‘Definitive Edition' to get out of the way before we can move on to the long anticipated sequel though. Fortunately, we have news on that front, with Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition set to enter beta soon. 

Age of Empires III wasn't quite as popular as Age of Empires II but with a few updates and balance adjustments, the Definitive Edition could end up with a fonder reception. The Insider Programme for the game is now live, with beta invites set to begin going out in February.

To sign up, you will need to meet the minimum system requirements, which include:

  • Windows 10 64-bit
  • 8GB RAM
  • 2GB Video Memory
  • DX11/D3D11
  • Intel HD Graphics 4400 or newer (if using integrated graphics)

The beta tests will happen in phases, similar to the Halo games on PC. So the first tests will be smaller in scale and will have limited access to game modes, with the beta opening up to more people in the months to come. If you plan on giving it a go, then you can sign up for the Age Insider program HERE.

KitGuru Says: Those who sign up to the Insider Program will likely also get their hat thrown into the ring for Age of Empires IV testing when the time comes. Have many of you been playing the AoE re-releases? Or are you skipping over them and waiting for Age of Empires IV?  

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Microsoft Flight Simulator Insider Program begins, development roadmap revealed https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-flight-simulator-insider-program-begins-development-roadmap-revealed/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-flight-simulator-insider-program-begins-development-roadmap-revealed/#respond Fri, 16 Aug 2019 15:04:35 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=422415 Microsoft Flight Simulator made a grand return to the spotlight earlier this year thanks to an impressive reveal at E3. Now, it won’t be long for the first enthusiasts to get their hands on it, as the Flight Simulator Insider Program has been taking sign-ups and is now ready to kick off. The developers have …

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Microsoft Flight Simulator made a grand return to the spotlight earlier this year thanks to an impressive reveal at E3. Now, it won’t be long for the first enthusiasts to get their hands on it, as the Flight Simulator Insider Program has been taking sign-ups and is now ready to kick off. The developers have also released a roadmap to detail the updates ahead.

The Flight Simulator Insider Program is now live. Currently, testing is being kept internal but Insiders should get their hands on an alpha build soon. We can expect some frequent updates too, with the developers currently aiming for around three media updates per month from August through October.

The above image shows the roadmap in its current form. In September, we'll get another update to this, which will reflect changes and add development goals for November. Then, we'll get a preview of what to expect for December 2019 in October.

Video diaries are also being planned, which will show off parts of the game in more detail, beyond what we already saw in the trailer. The first episode is scheduled for early October and will focus on the world, with future episodes focusing on weather, aerodynamics and cockpits.

We still don't have a release date for Flight Simulator but by the looks of it, Microsoft is going to be quite open as development continues, with plenty of Insider testing to collect feedback and make changes along the way.

KitGuru Says: Microsoft Flight Simulator was one of the most surprising first-party announcements at E3 this year. It is nice to see it making a comeback, although it'll be a while before development wraps up. Are any of you signed up to the Insider program for this? Or will you be waiting for it to come out in full? 

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Microsoft Flight Simulator public testing to begin next month https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-flight-simulator-public-testing-to-begin-next-month/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-flight-simulator-public-testing-to-begin-next-month/#respond Tue, 30 Jul 2019 09:00:20 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=420064 Microsoft Flight Simulator made a grand return to the spotlight earlier this year thanks to an impressive reveal at E3. Now, it won't be long for the first enthusiasts to get their hands on it, as the Flight Simulator Insider Program is taking on sign-ups, with the first playable preview build set to roll out …

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Microsoft Flight Simulator made a grand return to the spotlight earlier this year thanks to an impressive reveal at E3. Now, it won't be long for the first enthusiasts to get their hands on it, as the Flight Simulator Insider Program is taking on sign-ups, with the first playable preview build set to roll out in August.

Early next month, those signed up to the Insider program will be able to test the first preview build and provide feedback for the developers. Joining the program doesn't take long, although you will need a Microsoft account in order to sign up.

After the first preview build in August, we will start to hear more from the developers and their plans to keep people updated. This will be in similar fashion to Halo Waypoint from 343 Industries, or the developer posts often created by the Sea of Thieves team, with the goal of remaining open and collecting feedback during development.

We don't know when the final game will launch but we should expect it to land some time in 2020. This time around, Flight Simulator will be coming to both PC and Xbox.

KitGuru Says: Microsoft Flight Simulator was perhaps the most surprising first-party announcement at E3 this year. I don't think anybody expected to see this series make a comeback but it was still quite exciting to see. Are any of you planning to sign up to the Insider program? Will you be playing this when it eventually launches?

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Microsoft alludes to free Windows 10 for testers then backtracks https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/matthew-wilson/microsoft-alludes-to-free-windows-10-for-testers-then-backtracks/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/matthew-wilson/microsoft-alludes-to-free-windows-10-for-testers-then-backtracks/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:00:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=255656 Microsoft's messaging as far as free copies of Windows 10 goes has been confusing at times. While we have known for some time that those who own a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will be getting the upgrade, Microsoft has also alluded to pirate copies getting the upgrade in the past and …

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Microsoft's messaging as far as free copies of Windows 10 goes has been confusing at times. While we have known for some time that those who own a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will be getting the upgrade, Microsoft has also alluded to pirate copies getting the upgrade in the past and later backtracked.

Now, Microsoft is backtracking again, as a recent Windows blog post said that those who have been helping test Windows 10 up until now as part of the preview program would have access to the final build and their licenses would remain active. After the news broke, the company updated the blog to remove that references to preview licenses remaining active after the release of Windows 10.

Windows-10

Now the blog post clearly states that while preview users will receive the final build of Windows 10 on the 29th of July “It’s important to note that only people running Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 10 as part of the free upgrade offer.”

So unfortunately, if you have been helping test Windows 10 leading up to the operating system's launch, you will still need to buy the OS or own a copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 to receive a genuine Windows 10 license, which is a bit of a shame, after all these people did help shape the operating system for months.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Microsoft has not commented on exactly why preview build testers won't be allowed access to a fully licensed copy of Windows 10 but it  seems like the company was at least thinking about it.  

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New build of Windows 10 Technical Preview released https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/brendan-morgan/new-build-of-windows-10-technical-preview-released/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/brendan-morgan/new-build-of-windows-10-technical-preview-released/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:46:36 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=232226 Microsoft have just made a new build of Windows 10 Technical Preview available online, for those signed up to its Windows Insider Program. This is the first build released this year, with the last build released in December of 2014. It contains a couple of new features over the last build, with a redesigned start menu, …

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Microsoft have just made a new build of Windows 10 Technical Preview available online, for those signed up to its Windows Insider Program. This is the first build released this year, with the last build released in December of 2014. It contains a couple of new features over the last build, with a redesigned start menu, Continuum for 2-in-1 PCs and the digital assistant Cortana as well as much more.

This build, number 9926, is only available to Windows Insiders, who now number well over 1.6 million, but signing up only take a minute and you will then be able to test the latest version of Windows 10, for free. Keep in mind that this should not be used on your main computer and it is not really ready for everyday use, this really is a preview of what's to come and your feedback can help define the next version of Windows.

Windows10build9926

There are several new features in this build, that could really make a difference to how some of us use Windows. Not least of which is the inclusion of Cortana, who is coming over from Windows Phone, as an integrated part of the desktop in Windows 10, right next to the start button. Cortana is a personalised gateway to search for anything, be it on your local computer, on Onedrive online storage or out on the internet. From cute photos of your cat, to cat facts, all available by typing, pressing the microphone button and speaking or just saying “Hey Cortana, …” from anywhere.

[yframe url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9phebKc_DOs']

Secondly the Start menu has been redesigned from earlier builds, it's now transparent, and perhaps most importantly supports a feature called “Continuum” that will be very useful for those of us with tablets or 2-in-1 PCs. When you disconnect your keyboard, you will get a message asking if you want to switch to the touch screen optimised full screen mode (like Windows 8), then when you connect your keyboard again you will get another prompt asking if you would like to go back to desktop mode with a smaller Start menu (more like Windows 7).

Also in this build we have a new settings application , modernising the control panel and making it far easier to find the settings you need, new Photos and Maps apps, the beta of the new Windows Store and finally the new Xbox app. This Xbox app will allow streaming of Xbox One games to your PC, and DVR recording of Windows games. Matt talked about it a bit here.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Well, I'm off to install the new build and test out the new features. Cortana for instance is, I think, going to be a real game changer and I cannot wait to try it out after using it on my phone for the last year. What new features are you looking forward to testing?

Source: Windows Blog

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Microsoft pushes out second update to the Windows 10 Preview https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/matthew-wilson/microsoft-pushes-out-second-update-to-the-windows-10-preview/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/matthew-wilson/microsoft-pushes-out-second-update-to-the-windows-10-preview/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2014 18:51:42 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=221785 Microsoft has pushed out the second build update to Windows 10 preview users. Build 9879 is now available to download, bringing with it a ton of new changes and a few noteworthy additional features, which were created due to user feedback. The first new change made is to the design of the task bar. Due …

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Microsoft has pushed out the second build update to Windows 10 preview users. Build 9879 is now available to download, bringing with it a ton of new changes and a few noteworthy additional features, which were created due to user feedback.

The first new change made is to the design of the task bar. Due to user feedback, users can now hide the search or task view buttons on the task bar. Minimize and maximize animations have been fixed a lot of the “crash and hang” issues have been resolved completely, making the OS a bit more stable to use daily.

Windows-10

The touch gestures that we previously heard would be coming have now been integrated and users can now use snap assist across multiple monitors. The way OneDrive interacts with files has also changed. Previously, it was a bit harder to tell the difference between a file available online and a file saved directly on the PC, so starting from now OneDrive will use ‘selective sync', which allows users to choose what is synced to the PC, removing the need to worry about downloading files before travelling.

Native MKV support has been added in and the Internet Explorer team has made some significant browser improvements. Those of you in the Windows Insider Program will soon be able to get ISO versions of each update as well. However, ISOs will only be made available at the same time as updates are pushed out to those who selected to be in the ‘slow lane' for updates. Meaning if you want new builds as soon as they are available, you will have to continue updating straight through Windows Updater.

You can read the Windows update blog post in full, HERE. 

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Windows 10 is coming along nicely and it looks like Microsoft is taking feedback in to serious consideration this time around. Are any of you guys still using the Windows 10 preview? What do you think so far? 

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