BY RYAN MCCAFFREY2011’s Homefront put an uncomfortable twist on the usual military first-person shooter: what if America was invaded and occupied? Though its three-hour campaign was woefully short, it nevertheless offered up a compelling dose of America-is-defeated gameplay, nicely spiced up by intriguing vehicle segments and a complementary vehicle-heavy multiplayer mode in a fictional scenario where North and South Korea unite, becomes a world superpower, and conquer the US.

Homefront: The Revolution – in development by Crytek UK (the TimeSplitters guys, not the Ryse or Crysis folks) after original Homefront studio Kaos folded in summer 2011 – isn’t a reboot, but it is taking the series in a decidedly different gameplay direction. In The Revolution, Crytek UK promises an open-world romp through Philadelphia, where the Korean People’s Army has been oppressing the citizens of Philadelphia for four years, and you as an average-Joe member of the American resistance decides to fight back.

BY RYAN MCCAFFREYIt’s time to crank up the stereo and hit the open road once again, as Microsoft has announced Forza Horizon 2, the next installment in their flagship racing series. Forza Horizon 2 is in development for Xbox One and Xbox 360 and due for release this fall.

The racer follows 2012’s critically acclaimed franchise spinoff Forza Horizon for Xbox 360 and 2013’s frontline Xbox One launch game Forza Motorsport 5. Development is being handled primarily by Horizon 1 studio Playground Games, though the team is collaborating closely with the Motorsport team at Turn 10 Studios; the two teams share a technology pipeline as well as select key personnel.

Hello, Lambo.

“[Turn 10 and Playground] share this belief that we can create a true home for racing fans on Xbox One,” said Horizon 2 creative director Ralph Fulton.

In making the leap to Xbox One, Forza Horizon 2 will include hundreds of cars, according to Playground Games, headlined by the 2015 Lamborghini Huracán. A long-awaited weather system will also make its Forza debut, while Forza 5’s Drivatar system is also being adapted for Horizon