Sunset Overdrive - Grinding on Rails

It's a little hard to believe that the Xbox One has been out for a full year already, given how much has changed since the initial reveal and launch last November. Microsoft has implemented multiple monthly updates (and even more updates), dropped the system in price, and introduced new bundles throughout the console's first year. It's also slowly making its way to selling (or shipping) 10 million units, and has possibly even overtaken the PS4's own sales in September.

Tomorrow, November 22, 2014, the Xbox One officially turns one-year-old, and to celebrate the occasion, as well as give Xbox One owners something to do for the day, Microsoft is giving Xbox Live Gold owners the chance to play Sunset Overdrive (for free), for 24 hours. For those that haven't picked up the game yet, consider it to be a very lengthy demo.

But make no mistake, the whole of Sunset Overdrive will be available to players tomorrow, including the ability to unlock achievements and save whatever progress is made within those 24 hours. Provided the save is made before 12:01 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 23, it can be used later if/when the full game is purchased. We have to admit: for a game that's only been out for a month, it's a very generous offer from Microsoft.

Said the company about the anniversary on Xbox Wire:

"The first anniversary of the Xbox One’s release is upon us, and we can’t think of a better way to end Year One than by bringing on the Awesomepocalypse for our fans."

The Sunset Overdrive free day comes just after MS revealed their anniversary plans, which involved free gifts to Xbox One owners, and several giveaways. The free goodies amount to an exclusive Year One gamer picture and backgrounds; free rentals for Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn and Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, and a small collection of DBZ episodes for both US and Canadian Xbox Live members.

The individual prizes like Xbox One bundles, Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, and more will only be available to owners that bought the system before October 1, 2014. So no schemes to rush out and buy the hardware tomorrow for a chance to get free stuff. Closing out the year, Microsoft has yet another update planned, although one that'll be much smaller than the October and November updates, and in 2015, the highly requested screenshot feature will be added.

If you bought an Xbox One at launch, or within the last few months, do you feel that the system is everything you wanted? And are you proud to be a member of the Xbox Community? It's okay if the giveaways and free stuff influence your answers.

Source: Xbox Wire