Tag: Microsoft - Page 11
News Xbox Adds New Dynamic Background To Celebrate 5th Anniversary Of Apex Legends
A Legendary addition
Popular battle royale shooter Apex Legends has been out for five years now, and the team has added a new Xbox Series X|S dynamic background to celebrate the game's milestone anniversary. Now available on current-gen Xbox consoles, the new Apex Legends dynamic background is based around the game's latest official artwork -...
News Rumours About Microsoft Surface Team Taking Over Xbox Hardware Development 'Not True'
Surface team has been helping since Xbox One S
The Xbox rumours have been popping up repeatedly over the past few months and the latest one doing the rounds claims the Microsoft Surface team could be in charge of creating the next Xbox. It turns out it's "not true" - with Windows Central's Jez Corden noting how the team behind a whole host of...
News Halo TV Show Master Chief Actor Reveals Why Cortana Looks Different In Season 2
The new showrunner played a part
Paramount's second season of the Halo The Series is now streaming, and if you've been wondering why Cortana looks different this time around, Master Chief's actor Pablo Schreiber has shed some light on this change. While Cortana's original live-action model didn't go down so well with some fans in the first season,...
News First Two Xbox Exclusives Coming To 'Rival Consoles' Reportedly Revealed
Hi-Fi RUSH and Pentiment could begin a new era for Xbox
Following the latest update from Xbox about its upcoming podcast, The Verge's senior editor Tom Warren has now chimed in (again), with details about what can supposedly be expected. Warren has been informed by a "source" that the first two Xbox titles releasing on "rival consoles"...
News Microsoft Announces Official Date & Time For 'Updates On The Xbox Business'
"Please join us"
Rumours about the future of Xbox and its first-party games have been swirling for a good week-or-so now, and we're finally about to get some answers straight from the team. As head of Xbox Phil Spencer alluded to recently, Microsoft is holding a 'business update event' this week, and the company has now announced when it'll share...
Rumour Microsoft Surface Team May Be In Charge Of Building The Next Xbox
Update: Apparently not...
Update [Tue 13th Feb, 2024 06:30 GMT]: Windows Central's Jez Corden has chimed in on this latest rumour, claiming it's not true. You can learn more in our latest story: <related ids="162074"> Original article [Mon 12th Feb, 2024 11:00 GMT]: We're all caught up in a mad swirl of Xbox rumours at the moment,...
News Xbox Reportedly Has 'No Plans' To Stop Making Consoles
It's claimed Phil Spencer has already reassured employees
Rumours this week have led to claims Xbox could completely exit the hardware side of the video game business, and naturally, it's raised concerns amongst fans. It was believed employees of Microsoft's gaming division might have also been left in the dark at one point, but it seems not based...
News Xbox Insider Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Teases What's Next
Update: Anniversary hub now live
Update [Sat 10th Feb, 2024 08:00 GMT]: As part of these celebrations, the Xbox Insider Program has now released an anniversary hub, where fans can check out interviews, historical retellings, and much more over February and March. If there are any other surprises, we'll let you know. Original story [Wed 7th Feb,...
News Xbox Supposedly 'Very Surprised' At The Extent Of The Latest Rumours
Apparently not much is "set in stone"
Rumours about Xbox's future have been circulating online recently, with the company to directly address this in a "business update event" early next week. There have been some pretty wild claims so far, but apparently, nothing is "set in stone" according to Insider Gaming's owner Tom Henderson. He has been...
News The FTC Is Concerned About Xbox's Recent Batch Of Employee Layoffs
Accuses Microsoft of being contradictory
Update: Microsoft has since responded to this, stating that "Activision was already planning on eliminating a significant number of jobs while still operating as an independent company." Here's an excerpt from the latest court filing: "Consistent with broader trends in the gaming industry, Activision was...
News 343 Hires New Art Director To Lead 'A Very Exciting New Era' For Halo
"I am incredibly proud to join 343 Industries"
Halo developer 343 Industries appears to making moves for its next major release. Following on from hints last month at an 'unannounced' project being in the works, the team has hired a brand-new art director to lead the series "into a very exciting new era". The news comes from LinkedIn, where former...
Talking Point What Do You Expect To See From Microsoft's Update On The Future Of Xbox?
Speculation is rampant
So, the next thing doing the rounds in this whole 'future of Xbox' saga is a vague comment from The Verge's Tom Warren - a comment that is eliciting some knee-jerk reactions to say the least. Basically, Tom believes that much of Team Xbox doesn't really know what's going to happen at Micro
News Tales Of Arise Mysteriously Disappears From February's Xbox Game Pass Lineup
Wonder what happened there?
Yesterday, Microsoft delivered our latest Xbox Game Pass roundup - and a weird error occurred as the team announced what was coming in the first half of February. While the lineup is looking nice through February 20th, it could have been even better as Tales of Arise was initially listed as well before being removed!...
News Halo TV Showrunner Describes Season 2 As 'Grittier, More Grounded, More Visceral Ride'
Kiki Wolfkill: "It's our job to step up and do the best we can"
We've already heard one of the Halo TV Show's new actors talk up Season 2 - calling it the Halo he "wanted to see", but if you still aren't convinced, some higher-ups working on Paramount's hit series have also chimed in. Speaking to GamesRadar+ again, the show's executive producer and...
News Halo TV Show Actor Says Season 2 Is A Great Time To 'Jump In'
It "takes it more in a direction like the games"
Season 2 of Halo on Paramount Plus kicks off this week and so far the critic reception has gone down pretty well. If you are wondering whether now is the time to jump in or not, one of the newcomers to the show's cast thinks it's the perfect time. When asked by GamesRadar+ if fans should hop straight...
News Phil Spencer Addresses Xbox Speculation Ahead Of 'Business Update Event'
"We look forward to sharing more details"
Well, it looks like we're about to get some answers on the direction of Xbox moving forward. Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, has taken to social media to address the rampant speculation that's gone on over the last day or so in regards to Xbox exclusives launching on PS5. In response to...
Roundup Halo TV Show Season 2 Impressions Are Starting To Go Live Ahead Of Launch
Here's what the critics are saying so far
Halo The Series returns this week on Paramount Plus, as the TV network's Halo adaptation moves into its second season. Ahead of the release of Season 2, some early reviews have gone live from various outlets - giving us a glimpse at how this second season of Halo the Series is shaping up. Now, it should be...
Reaction We're Conflicted About Xbox Exclusives Potentially Going To PS5
It's... complicated
Update: In case you haven't seen, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has now addressed some of the rumours and speculation floating around online, promising to reveal more about the "future of Xbox" at an event next week. <related ids="161730"> Original story: The closing stages of this past weekend have been awash with
News Xbox Might Be Looking Into A Handheld Console As PlayStation Rumours Circulate
"They are."
Thanks to a new 'PlayStation Vita 2' leak via YouTuber Moore's Law Is Dead, rumours that an Xbox handheld console could be in the works have now started to appear. Outlet Insider Gaming reported on that initial 'Vita 2' leak, and Windows Central's Jez Corden has responded with an Xbox rumour of his own. Basically, Insider Gaming's Tom...
Pick One Which Is Your Favourite Obsidian Game On Xbox?
They've been prolific over the years!
Back in 2018, Xbox made a fairly high-profile purchase when it acquired Obsidian Entertainment, the team behind Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds and others. Truth be told though, this development studio has been active on Xbox for many years before Microsoft's recent acquisition. The team began its Xbox...
News Xbox Games Are Reportedly No Longer Being Stocked At Some European Retailers
"Several retailers have started not listing Xbox anymore"
Xbox's move towards a more digital-focused future is coming under increased scrutiny these days - especially when more reports on the matter keep cropping up. Last month we heard that US retailer Walmart may have planned to pull Starfield discs from store shelves, and now a new industry...
News Xbox 'Providing Support To Enable Dedicated Servers' In Palworld
It's now "the biggest 3rd party Game Pass launch ever"
Palworld has become an overnight sensation and Xbox has now confirmed it's performing just as well on Game Pass. It's officially the subscription service's "biggest" third-party launch ever, with more than 7 million Xbox players experiencing the game since its 'Game Preview' debut last month...
News Microsoft Adds 'Vapor Collection' To Xbox Design Lab & Unveils New Special Edition Controller
"Introducing the newest collection"
Microsoft is back with even more Xbox controller options today, as the team expands its Design Lab program into 'Vapor' territory. Remember last year's 'Stormcloud Vapor' pad? Well, you can now apply the very same effect to Xbox Design Lab controllers across a variety of different colours. They're calling this...
News Xbox Predicts 'Hardware Decline' Despite Huge Revenue Boost From ActiBlizz
Services are on the up
Microsoft's latest earnings report has been an eye-opening one, with its gaming division posting huge revenue boosts - propelling the sector to Microsoft's third largest business within the company. While much of that is attributed to the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, one area that doesn't seem to be growing so fast is...
News Gaming Becomes Microsoft's 'Third Largest Business' In Latest Quarter
It has surpassed Windows with the help of ActiBlizz
It's been a bit of a wild start to the year for Xbox with a Developer Direct, mass layoffs, some record-breaking milestones, and now the
News Xbox's Gaming Revenue Receives Huge 49% Boost YoY From Activision Blizzard Acquisition
The second quarter fiscal year 2024 results are in
Microsoft has just released its earning results for FY24 Q2 and Xbox's gaming revenue has experienced huge growth in the latest quarter, up by 49% year-over-year. This growth is credited mostly to Microsoft securing Activision Blizzard, which closed last year on October 13, 2023. This latest figure...
News Shapeshifter Games Apparently 'Co-Developing' Xbox Game Studios Project
Update: Confirmed as Clockwork Revolution
Update: It's now been confirmed by InXile Entertainment that Shapeshifter Games has been working on the upcoming Clockwork Revolution as a "co-development partner". Here's a bit more about the collaboration: "Shortly after Volition closed, we flew to Illinois and worked with Xbox and the then ex-Volition...
News Xbox Hires Call Of Duty GM As New President Of Blizzard Entertainment
"I cannot wait to get going"
Following the departure of Blizzard President Mike Ybarra last week, Microsoft has today announced a successor in the form of the Call of Duty GM Johanna Faries, who will officially begin her role on February 5th. In a message to Blizzard employees earlier today, Faries shared her enthusiasm for the role, while also...
News Unreleased Call Of Duty Gameplay Leaks Online From Project 'NX1'
Footage from an Xbox 360 era COD has appeared
Call of Duty is a juggernaut franchise and has been for decades at this point, and it was the Xbox 360 era of the franchise that got the ball well and truly rolling. Annual releases became the norm that generation, but as it turns out, there were some projects — quite far along in development might we...
News Microsoft Will Apparently Announce Blizzard's New President 'Next Week'
Mike Ybarra is departing
Xbox this week revealed it was laying off 1,900 employees and in the process, Blizzard president Mike Ybarra, who was an ex-Microsoft executive before this, also announced his departure. There's still obviously a lot to take in, but if you are wondering who will replace Ybarra, apparently that update will be happening as...
Talking Point Would You Buy A 'Revised' Xbox Series X|S Controller In 2024?
Or are you perfectly happy with the current one?
After first leaking last September, this week brought fresh rumours that a new Xbox controller could be revealed soon. Reportedly set to be announced around the time of Xbox's summer showcase this year (although unconfirmed at this stage), project "Sebile" sounds promising so far. According to that...
News Odyssey Was 'Fantastic' Says Blizzard Dev, Despite Reports Of Development Troubles
"The Blizz survival game was fantastic"
Yesterday, we all got the news that Blizzard's long-in-development survival game Odyssey had been cancelled as part of Microsoft's huge round of Xbox layoffs. Odyssey had been in development in some form since 2017, and development was seemingly progressing well despite some issues with the game's engine. In...
News Microsoft Hits Historic $3 Trillion Valuation On Same Day Of Xbox Layoffs
It's the second company after Apple to achieve this
Microsoft announced 1,900 jobs had been axed in the Xbox division earlier today, with MS Gaming CEO Phil Spencer explaining how the goal going forward is for leadership to "align on a strategy and an execution plan with a sustainable cost structure" to support the whole of its growing business...
News Xbox Is Employing 'A More Focused Strategy' After Merging With Activision Blizzard
"Together we will continue to create amazing games"
Following the Microsoft and Blizzard layoff news posted earlier today, Xbox's Matt Booty has also made a lengthy statement on the company's reasoning behind such a huge round of job losses. Coming by wa
News Blizzard President Quits Microsoft, In-Development Survival Game Also Cancelled
"It’s an incredibly hard day"
After today's megaton news of almost 2,000 job losses over at Team Xbox, we have even more disruption amongst the ranks. Long-time Blizzard president and ex-Microsoft executive Mike Ybarra has announced his departure from the studio - and with it the cancellation of Blizzard's in-development survival game. Ybarra has...
News Microsoft Cuts 1,900 Jobs Across Xbox, Bethesda And Activision Blizzard Teams
"We have made the painful decision to reduce the size of our gaming workforce"
The move to bring Activision Blizzard into the Xbox ecosystem has largely been seen as a positive one, but unfortunately we have some bad news to share today. As part of a company restructure post-ActiBlizz deal, Microsoft has laid off almost 2,000 people. Shared by IGN...
News Halo TV Star Sends Blunt Message To Fans About No-Helmet Master Chief
"There's no point discussing it"
Paramount's Halo TV series has had its fair share of ups and downs so far, but one of the showrunner's most controversial decisions up to now has been revealing no-helmet Master Chief. Yep, Halo's main star goes helmet-free at t
Talking Point Do You Think Xbox Will Release Another Disc-Based Console?
Or could Xbox Series X be the last one?
Throughout this generation we've been very happy with where things are with Xbox Series X and S, but we're starting to wonder if Microsoft would ever go with a similar approach again. Of course, releasing two different consoles on day one isn't the 'normal' way to do things anyway, but more specifically -...
News Starfield Discs Could Be Removed From Sale At US Retail Giant Soon
Living in a digital world
It's not rocket science to suggest that Xbox is a digital-focused game seller these days - after all, Xbox Game Pass is a massive part of the company's overall strategy. However, even though the Xbox Series X still supports discs of course, it looks like one of the team's biggest releases isn't doing so well in physical...
Rumour Major Xbox Series X|S Controller Revision Still To Be Revealed This Year
"Ahead of June showcase"
Back in September, leaked FTC documents from the huge Activision Blizzard case revealed numerous bits of upcoming Xbox hardware, including an Xbox Series X console refresh and a brand-new Xbox controller revision. At the time of writing, neither of these have been officially announced by Microsoft, but The Verge's Tom Warren...
News 'Quake 6' Was Teased At Xbox Developer Direct, And We Didn't Even Spot It
You cheeky fellows
The dust is beginning to settle on Xbox Developer Direct 2024, but not before fans have managed to extract one final teaser from the showcase. During MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle segment, Bethesda seems to have teased a new Quake game. Yep, during a section of Indiana Jones developer chit-chat, a whiteboard is...
Reaction Xbox Developer Direct 2024 Proved That Microsoft's New Format Really Works
Another home run
Well, that's it folks, another Xbox Developer Direct is in the bag after the 2024 event came to a close yesterday evening. It was a fantastic showing all-in-all, with four Xbox studios and one surprise Square Enix appearance packing out a neat livestream that never outstayed its welcome. We didn't get an unexpected shadow release...
News Xbox Game Pass Likely Surpassed 33 Million Subs Last Year, Claims Analyst
"We’re seeing slowing adoption of Xbox Game Pass"
It's been a while since we've had any official numbers on Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Back in early 2022 Microsoft announced that the service had hit 25 million members, but aside from a quietly-retracted 30 million milestone in September last year, we've not r
Gallery Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Looks Super-Slick In New HD Screenshots
Big budget adventuring
The biggest reveal of yesterday's Xbox Developer Direct came via MachineGames and its closer look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - with lots of fresh gameplay and a whole load of new details unleashed on this exciting FPS. You can check all of that out in the video up above, but shortly after the presentation the team...
News Phil Spencer Thanks Xbox Developer Direct Teams, Praises Show Format
What did you think of the latest showcase?
It's safe to say Xbox's latest Developer Direct showcase was a huge success, with the official reveal of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as well as many other exciting upcoming projects. Microsoft's Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has always shown a lot of support for Xbox's studios as well, and sure enough...
News 'Indiana Jones And The Great Circle' Gameplay Has Landed, And It Looks Awesome
Coming to Game Pass in 2024!
We still can't quite believe our eyes, but yes, Bethesda is releasing an exclusive Indiana Jones title on Xbox Game Pass. The project, now named Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, was first teased back in 2021 - and a new gameplay deep dive has confirmed that the game launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC
Guide Xbox Developer Direct 2024: Event Date, Start Times & Where To Watch
Everything you need to know
It's almost time for Xbox's 2024 Developer Direct event, where various teams will provide closer looks at their upcoming projects. Last year's event was Microsoft's debut effort, and we're expecting big things from its second outing. Here's everything you need to know about the Xbox Developer Direct 2024 event. What...
Poll Which Was Your Favourite Big Exclusive From Year-Two Of Xbox One?
2014 was a fantastic year for Xbox!
Somehow it's been a whole decade since we were all settling in with our Xbox One consoles! Yep, this time 10 years ago, we were becoming well-accustomed to Xbox One. The year after a big console launch is always a tough one, but we thought Microsoft handled year-two of the Xbox One's lifespan very well indeed. As...
News Indie Dev Says Optimising For Xbox Series S 'Benefits Consumers Immensely'
"Multi-platform development doesn't have to be difficult"
In the build-up to the Xbox release of Baldur's Gate 3, there was a fair bit of drama surrounding the Xbox Series S version of the game. In short, Larian Studios was having trouble getting the title to perform properly on the less-powerful Xbox, and it's led to questions being asked about...
News Microsoft CEO Says ActiBlizz Deal Helps Xbox Become 'A Good Publisher' On All Platforms
"On Sony, Nintendo, PCs and Xbox"
Microsoft's Activision Blizzard deal finally came to its long-awaited conclusion back in October 2023, with the two companies successfully merging late last year. While the deal makes the Xbox platform a much-more inviting one for gamers, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been keen to point out that this benefits...
