Xbox’s Post

Free games means new ways to connect with the community, explore new worlds, and more. Try some new Free-to-Play games and perks until July 22: xbx.lv/3zBcKaO

No console? Don’t be scared.   Xbox Gaming is rolling out today with Amazon Fire TV, where you’ll be able to play games directly from the Xbox app: https://xbx.lv/3zwuX9w

"How was school today, sweetie?" "Amazing! We played Minecraft!"   Educators can join the Minecraft Teacher Academy for free sessions to integrate Minecraft Education into their teaching. Find a session that fits your schedule: https://xbx.lv/4bzqGiK

With Diablo IV’s first expansion coming this Fall, let's look back at the concept art that helped breathe life to the game’s immersive world. The devil is in the details... Igor Sidorenko, a principal concept artist for Blizzard Entertainment, says he drew inspiration from fine art hanging in some of the world’s greatest museums.   “The vision was, let’s make Diablo a painting and connect it with traditional fine art like drawings and paintings,” Sidorenko says. “Let’s take the inspiration from academic art, neoclassicism, pre-Raphaelites and their followers, from pieces like ‘The Last Day of Pompeii’ or ‘The Raft of the Medusa,’ and insert it into the decaying, brutal world of Sanctuary. So we started working in this direction from the very beginning to make it clear for a public, when people can finally see it, that this project is going to be different.”   1. “This big battle scene was heavily inspired by Gyula Benczúr’s ‘The Recapture of Buda Castle in 1686’ and Jan Matejko’s ‘Battle of Grunwald.’ We wanted to have a “last stand” scene—a battle filled with chaos, anger, and desperation,” Sidorenko says.   2. “Murals for Alabaster Monastery are my favorite ones. I wanted to have a strong religious feel here: The moment of creation (Genesis), the revelation of deity (Revelation), the ascension of Jesus into heaven (Ascension). Fortunately there is no shortage of European paintings based on biblical stories in any period.” 3. “I was mostly inspired by Benczúr’s masterpiece ‘The Baptism of Vajk’ as well as different artworks by Edwin Austin Abbey and Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant.

When it comes to creativity and innovation, the indie gaming scene continues to bring it. Enjoy another batch of Indie Selects, featuring everything from detective ducks to killer klowns and more: xbx.lv/3VNHmgL

We could spend hours checking out these exhibits.

There is one key difference between Minecraft Education esports and other gaming competitions: Minecraft Education Esports focuses on non-violent and collaborative build challenges. Which means it's accessible and inclusive for a diverse player base, including girls, neurodiverse students, and younger grade levels. In fact, many schools are licensed for Minecraft Education through their organization’s Microsoft 365 licensing, and no special equipment or technology is needed, making it an accessible, inclusive option for those looking to get started with academic esports. This past weekend at the ISTE Conference in Denver, schools competed in a one-hour block battle. They all had to solve a sustainability challenge, then build a solution in Minecraft. Congratulations to the Blazing BEVA Builders from LAUSD on their creative win. For lessons, guides, and more information about the program, click here: https://xbx.lv/3zuzf0V