Remedy Games’ time-twisting Quantum Break finally has a release date. Microsoft announced the Xbox One launch date for the long-awaited title Thursday, with some rather surprising bonuses for Windows 10 users and fans of the Alan Wake series.
Quantum Break is set to launch on April 5, 2016, for both Xbox One and Windows 10. Additionally, those that pre-order the game “through the Xbox Store, purchases an Xbox One digital token at participating retailers, or pre-orders an Xbox One Special Edition Quantum Break bundle” will receive the Windows 10 PC version for free.
Another interesting aspect is Quantum Break supports shared saves between the Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. Obviously, cross-play is not a possibility, since this is a single-player experience.
But wait, there’s more. The Xbox One version of Quantum Break will also come with a free download of Alan Wake for the Xbox 360, along with its two DLC add-ons – The Signal and The Writer . Those that pre-order the game through the Xbox Store or participating retailers will also receive Alan Wake’s American Nightmare for free.
According to the Xbox Store Listing, the download codes for all of the Alan Wake content will be delivered via an Xbox LIVE message within 7-10 days of Quantum Break’s release. This is the same case for the Windows 10 version of Quantum Break, per the game’s website.
The Alan Wake content will be playable on the Xbox One via the backwards compatibility feature added in November of last year. American Nightmare was one of those titles spotted when Microsoft accidentally made backwards compatible games in testing available to download on the console.
Windows 10 owners will need beefy gaming rigs to play Quantum Break , however. The minimum requirements and recommended PC hardware requirements were released, as well, and the recommended requirements are definitely on the high-end side.
Minimum Requirements
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- DirectX: DirectX 12
- CPU: Intel Core i5-4460, 2.70GHz or AMD FX-6300
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon R7 260x
- VRAM: 2 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- HDD: 55 GB available space
Recommended Specs
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- DirectX: DirectX 12
- CPU: Intel Core i7 4790, 4GHz or AMD equivalent
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 980 Ti or AMD Radeon R9 Fury X
- VRAM: 6 GB
- RAM: 6 GB
- HDD: 55 GB available space
A new live-action trailer also accompanied the Quantum Break release announcement. It’s another fantastic look at how time is breaking down in the game’s world, while also providing Shawn Atmore’s Jack Joyce a quiet moment of reflection.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4or8YE-6P4
Here is the official description of the Quantum Break plot.
“In the aftermath of a split second of destruction that fractures time itself, two people find they have changed and gained extraordinary abilities. One of them travels through time and becomes hell-bent on controlling this power. The other uses these new abilities to attempt to defeat him – and fix time before it tears itself irreparably apart. Both face overwhelming odds and make dramatic choices that will determine the shape of the future.
“Quantum Break is a unique experience; one part hard-hitting video game, one part thrilling live action show, featuring a stellar cast, including Shawn Ashmore as the hero Jack Joyce, Aidan Gillen as his nemesis Paul Serene and Dominic Monaghan as Jack’s genius brother William.
“Quantum Break is full of the vivid storytelling, rich characters and dramatic twists Remedy Entertainment are renowned for. Your choices in-game will affect the outcome of this fast-paced fusion between game and show giving the player a completely unique entertainment experience.”
The decision to give a backwards compatible Alan Wake for free as part of Quantum Break was expected following similar efforts with Just Cause 3 and Fallout 4 . The addition of a free Windows 10 version of the game is surprising, though. The game is Microsoft’s big exclusive for the first half of 2016, and it obviously wants to drive adoption of both the console and its new operating system.
What do you think of the Quantum Break announcement? Sound off in the comments below.
[Image via Remedy Games]