Tag: Microsoft - Page 11
News Former Xbox Exec 'Major Nelson' Announces Next Move In Gaming
He's back!
Larry Hryb, AKA 'Major Nelson', was the face of Xbox for years before announcing his departure from Microsoft last summer - and now the Xbox legend has revealed his next move in gaming. He's heading over to the Community team at Unity, which develops one of the industry's leading game engines amongst other bits and pieces in the world of...
News Bethesda's Todd Howard Says The Team Doesn't 'Need To Rush' Future Fallout Games
"I don't think it's bad for people to miss things"
Fallout hype is at fever pitch right now, with Amazon's fantastic TV series and the recent Fallout 4 next-gen update helping fuel interest in Bethesda's post-apocalyptic series. Despite some synergy with the show and existing games in the franchise, fans are wondering why this didn't happen...
News Five Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass In Late June 2024
June's second batch of leavers revealed
Update: These five games have now been formally announced by Microsoft, and we also know that Cricket 22 will leave Xbox Game Pass on July 5th. The table below has been updated with the latest platform details for each June title. We also have more details on what's coming to Xbox Game Pass between June 18th...
"It's what makes this experience the most immersive"
The Xbox Games Showcase last weekend was packed with fantastic-looking titles across a whole bunch of different genres, but one of the highlights was undoubtedly Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The fact that MachineGames' upcoming adventure is a 2024 game is incredibly exciting, and a couple...
Rumour Xbox Publishing Next Game From 'Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey' Dev
Xbox odyssey
Well-known leaker eXtas1s is reporting that Xbox Game Studios Publishing will be working with Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey dev Panache on a new project. 2019's Ancestors was the much-talked about adventure game from the creator of Assassin's Creed - and at this point it's still the only game to have been released by Panache. The
Talking Point Are You Interested In Any Of The New Xbox Series X|S Models?
Will you be picking one up later this year?
During the Xbox Games Showcase this year, Microsoft unveiled three brand-new Xbox Series X|S console revisions coming in late 2024 - and we want to know if the Pure Xbox audience is planning on picking up any of these shiny new systems later in the year. Across the new lineup, we've got a 1T
News Sea Of Thieves Was The Best-Selling PS5 Game In Both The US & Europe Last Month
Sea of sales
Rare's Sea Of Thieves was probably the most high-profile Xbox game to make the switch to PlayStation 5 earlier in the year, and Microsoft's multiplatform move seems to have paid off for the Xbox owner already. In a new post over at the PlayStation Blog, Sony has detailed its software sales charts for May 2024, and Rare's pirate...
News Age Of Mythology: Retold Gets Huge Upgrade In Side-By-Side Graphics Comparison
See how the new game looks alongside the 2002 release
One of the many highlights of the Xbox Games Showcase this year was Microsoft's new take on a classic strategy series in Age of Mythology: Retold. If you've been wondering about the graphical improvements and upgrades coming in this new version of the game, developer World's Edge has now shared...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (June 13-16)
Included with Game Pass Core and Game Pass Ultimate
Free Play Days returns once again, and this week we have four Xbox titles in total to try for free over the next few days. Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is leading the charge here - there's absolutely loads to go at within Ubisoft's online co-op shooter. And here's your full Free Play Days lineup...
News State Of Decay 3 Development Is Being Supported By Two Other Xbox Teams
Better with friends
Since its major acquisitions, Xbox has mentioned how studios within its ecosystem would be able to collaborate on projects and generally help each other out. We've already seen this before with some games in the past, and it seems the developer behind State of Decay 3 has also had some assistance crafting the next entry in its...
News Xbox Series S Carbon Black Model Seems To Be Getting Discontinued
As Microsoft introduces another 1TB model
During the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft unveiled a fresh lineup of console revisions for Holiday 2024, including a new 1TB model of Xbox Series S. This new version of the Series S looks identical to the existing 512GB model that launched in 2020 - and it appears to be phasing out 2023's Carbon Black model...
News Avowed Director On Obsidian's Future And Xbox Closures: 'I Really Trust In Our Leadership'
She doesn't "believe in living in fear"
Xbox has been through a rough patch recently with the closure of four studios. If you are wondering how other developers at Xbox are feeling about this, Obsidian's Avowed director Carrie Patel has now shared some thoughts.
News Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Estimated File Size TBA 'Closer To Launch'
Activision confirms
In case you missed it, yesterday Call of Duty fans voiced their concerns when pre-order page listings for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 suggested the title would require a huge download of around 300GB. There were some suggestions this was factoring in the "entire" Call of Duty app, and Activision has now officially confirmed this...
Reaction Xbox's 2024 Showcase Felt Like A Throwback To The 360 Era, In The Best Way Possible
What an unbelievable show!
Xbox fans, we weren't dreaming last night, were we? Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase really did go that well, yeah? Because my word, that felt like the best summer showcase we've seen in years - not only for how slick the whole presentation was from top to bottom, but also for the calibre of reveals and the E3-of-old...
News Xbox Game Pass Upgrade Detailed For Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6
The base game is included in the service
Yesterday's big Xbox Games Showcase delivered the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launch date - with the new Call of Duty title arriving like clockwork in late October 2024. However, this is the first year that CoD launches day one on Game Pass, and that means that fans have the opportunity to effectively upgrade...
News Xbox: 'You Are Going To See More Of Our Games On More Platforms'
"We just see that as a benefit to the franchises we're building"
In case you missed it, during a chat about DOOM: The Dark Ages with IGN, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer snuck in a brief comment about more of Xbox's games going to "more platforms" in the future. Unsurprisingly, it's raised some eyebrows on social media and other corners of the...
News Eidos Montreal Confirms It's Supporting The Development Of Fable
Following a report late last year
Fable developer Playground Games has already called on the assistance of some other parties, and following the latest trailer it's now been confirmed Eidos Montreal is helping out. The studio made it official on social media with the following message earlier on, mentioning how it's been "supporting" development of...
News Phil Spencer Seems Excited About The Elder Scrolls 6, But Can't Say Anything
Phil: "Speed it up, Todd"
Bethesda's portfolio was featured throughout the latest Xbox showcase, but one title (unsurprisingly) missing was The Elder Scrolls 6. While all the focus for Todd Howard is on Fallout right now, IGN Live attempted to get a status update from Microsoft's Gaming CEO Phil Spencer about this anticipated title. While Spencer...
News Diablo 4's Xbox Game Pass Release An 'Incredible' Boost Ahead Of Expansion
The 'Vessel of Hatred' expansion will arrive this October
We've already heard a little bit about Diablo 4's growth since its debut on Xbox Game Pass at the end of March, and today during an IGN Live segment, the game's production director Tiffany Wat spoke about how Microsoft's subscription service boosted player numbers. She described it as...
News Xbox's Console User Count At Record High, Says Microsoft Gaming CEO
"When everybody plays, we all win"
There's not been the most positive press surrounding Xbox's future in the console hardware business this year, but according to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, the amount of users playing on Xbox console platforms right now is historic: "What I can say sitting here today, from our decisions on cloud, on Game...
News Xbox Boss Teases 'Awesome' Future In Hardware, In Response To Handheld Rumours
He says the ability to play the game locally would be "very important"
Xbox today revealed some new versions of existing hardware, but there was no mention of any "handheld" system despite ongoing rumours. If you are wondering what's going on there, during the same chat with IGN, Xbox's Phil Spencer has kind of acknowledged th
News Phil Spencer On Recent Studio Closures: It's About Running A 'Sustainable Business'
"The closure of any team is hard"
Xbox has just wrapped up another showcase and while the general vibe is rather positive right now, it hasn't been quite as rosy so far this year for Microsoft's gaming division. During a post-show chat with IGN, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer was asked about the "recent studio closures"
News Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Gets Huge Deep Dive Ahead Of 2024 Release
A globetrotting adventure on Game Pass
MachineGames is firing on all cylinders with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and a fresh Indy deep dive has us extremely excited for this globetrotting adventure. Expect to be going hands on with this new Indy title on Xbox in 2024, and in the meantime, we certainly recommend giving the above trailer a good...
News Xbox 'Cross-Gen Face-Off' Shows The Benefits Of Series S Ownership
Xbox One X is lagging well behind
It's no secret that this generation's 'cross-gen' period is much extended in comparison to previous console cycles - massive games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are still launching this year on Xbox One. However, as we approach that four-year mark for Xbox Series X|S, Digital Foundry has decided to have another...
Talking Point 10 Years Ago, Phil Spencer's First E3 In Charge Marked A Turning Point For Xbox
Games, games and more games
A decade ago this month, Xbox fans around the world were getting excited for Microsoft's E3 2014 showcase - a showcase that needed to deliver after a tumultuous first year with Xbox One. At the time, Xbox Game Studios boss Phil Spencer had just moved up the ladder into his Head of Xbox role, and it marked a pretty big...
Rumour Xbox Exclusive Contraband Internally Delayed At Avalanche Studios
"Contraband is a ways off, for sure"
Contraband is one upcoming Xbox title we've not heard about in quite some time, with the Avalanche Studios-developed affair going dark since its summer 2021 announcement. At the time, it was revealed that Microsoft would be publishing the game, and fresh rumours are suggesting that this partnership is still a...
Rumour Xbox Showcase To Feature First-Party Shadow Drop, Details On Portable Console
Insider inklings
It's that time of year, folks! Showcase season is upon us, and in the run up to Microsoft's big Xbox Games Showcase this coming weekend, a bunch of leaks and rumours are starting to crop up - as is the norm with these sorts of things. On the back of the rumour that
News Former Xbox Boss Reminisces About Gears Of War's 'Groundbreaking' Mad World Trailer
"Kudos to the teams"
Less than a year ago we ranted and raved about how much we liked the direction of the first Gears of War game, and we're definitely not the only ones that still have strong feelings for that era of Gears. The first game in the series, and also its Mad World marketing campaign have gone on to become iconic, and former Xbox boss...
News Bethesda Developers Now Have Stronger Employee Rights Within Microsoft
Brand new union
Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Studios, has today announced that its workers now have stronger rights within Xbox - as Microsoft strikes a 'labour neutrality agreement' with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The Xbox owner first entered into such an agreement way back in summer 2022, amidst the whirlwind of Activision...
News Xbox Has Entered An Agreement To Publish The Next Game From Toys For Bob
Crash-landing a new deal
After announcing that it was becoming an independent studio earlier this year, former Activision Blizzard developer Toys for Bob has officially entered into an agreement with Xbox to publish its next game. Announcing the news on social media, the Crash Bandicoot 4 and Spyro Reignited Trilogy
News Minecraft's Next Big Update For Xbox Officially Arrives June 2024
Get ready for the Tricky Trials Update
After months of updates, Mojang has finally confirmed the Minecraft 'Tricky Trials' update will be coming to Xbox Series X|S and other platforms on 13th June 2024. This will include the all-new trial chambers, new mobs (the breeze and the bogged), a special new block called the vault and both solo and co-op...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (May 30)
Including a former PS5 exclusive!
Welcome to your final Xbox Game Pass update for May 2024! We have two big titles coming to the library today, including the former PlayStation-exclusive platformer HUMANITY. Here's a closer look at that title, alongside today's other Game Pass addition in 2023's Lords Of The Fallen: HUMANITY (Console, PC, Cloud)...
News Xbox's Recent Multiplatform Releases Selling Well On PS5, Fallout Sales Also Get A Boost
NPD has all the deets
Whatever we may think of Microsoft's new direction in bringing certain first-party games to other platforms, the results are beginning to speak for themselves. Circana's Mat Piscatella (formerly NPD) has today posted a bunch of figures and statistics about US game sales for the month of April - and Xbox's new PlayStation...
Rumour Rocksteady Founders Sign New Studio Game Deal With Xbox
Hundred Star Games was founded last year
The former Rocksteady co-founders Sefton Hill and Jamie Walker, who founded Hundred Star after their departure, have reportedly done a deal with Xbox Game Studios on their next game. This information comes from eXputer, which claims the studio is working on its "first project" - a "AAA-standard,...
News Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Is Launching Day One On Xbox Game Pass
"We’re excited to confirm..."
Update: This has now been formally announced on the official Xbox website. Here's how it reads: "We’re excited to confirm that Game Pass members will be able to jump into Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 on day one with Game Pass." As revealed last week, we will have a special Xbox Games Showcase followed by Call of...
Reminder Six Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass This Week
Here's what's on the way out
It's that time again where a selection of titles leave the Xbox Game Pass library, and we have six games in total exiting the service this week - including the pictured JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle up above. These six games are all on the way out on Friday, May 31st, so you have just a few days left to give...
News DOOM: The Dark Ages To Be Announced At Xbox's Showcase, Claims New 'Exclusive'
And it's supposedly coming to "PlayStation as well"
There have already been some signs a new DOOM game could be appearing at this year's Xbox Games Showcase and a new "exclusive" has now independently verified this while also providing some new information about the title. According to Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson, the final name of the new entry...
News Xbox Series S Seems To Do A Great Job At Handling Ninja Theory's Hellblade 2
Series S users are in good hands
Much has been made of the Unreal Engine 5 tech powering Ninja Theory's Hellblade 2, but that focus so far has largely been placed on the Xbox Series X and PC versions of the game. However, in a new video from the folks over at Digital Foundry, lower-end devices like the Xbox Series S and Steam Deck have been put...
News Digital Foundry Analyses 'Next-Level Visuals' Found In Hellblade 2 On Xbox
"Hellblade 2 is a defining moment"
Ever since Hellblade 2 was unveiled alongside the Xbox Series X, we've expected the game to be a looker, and that's exactly what Ninja Theory's sequel delivered earlier this week. Of course, that means that the tech aficionados over at Digital Foundry have been keeping a close eye on the game as well - and now the...
News Hellblade 2 Developer Ninja Theory Thanks Fans For 'Incredible Response'
"We've loved hearing your impressions"
It's been another big week in the land of Xbox with UK-based studio Ninja Theory launching Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 on the Series X|S, PC, Cloud, and also Game Pass. It's already one of the highest-rated Xbox games of the year and with this in mind, the team has now issued a brief message on social media,...
News Free Play Days: Try These Nine Xbox Games For Free (May 23-26)
There are a whopping 9 games to play!
Microsoft is bringing a special Free Play Days lineup to Xbox players today, with a total of nine games playable for free on Xbox consoles this weekend. The reason for such a stacked lineup is because all of this week's games are Warhammer themed, ahead of the 2024 edition of the Warhammer Skulls showcase. The...
News Beta Footage Of Valve's New Game Has Apparently Leaked
And no, Microsoft isn't buying Valve
Closed beta footage of Valve's new "6v6 4-lane third-person shooter MOBA" has apparently leaked online. Allegedly codenamed 'Deadlock', this new title is expected to follow in the footsteps of games like Counter-Strike and DOTA, and will supposedly feature more than 19 heroes. The footage that appears to have...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (May 23)
Both are new day-one releases!
Welcome to another Xbox Game Pass update! Microsoft is adding two more games to the library today, and they're both brand-new day one releases on Xbox. Here's what to expect from your two new Xbox Game Pass additions: Galacticare (Console, PC, Cloud): "Build, manage and optimise intergalactic hospitals! Recruit...
Talking Point What Dream Reveal Would You Like To See At The Xbox Games Showcase 2024?
How about Gears 6?
It's exciting and a bit scary to say that we're only two weeks away from the start of Summer Game Fest 2024, which includes the big Xbox Games Showcase on June 9th! As usual, we're expecting some major announcements this year. If you listen to the rumour mill, we're hearing all kinds of things about the 2024 show already. A new...
News Ninja Theory Explains Why Headphones Are So Important In Hellblade 2
It's the "best way" to experience the sequel
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is now available on Xbox and Game Pass, and while it's already quite different to a lot of other games, the developer Ninja Theory wants players to take the experience to the next level by wearing headphones. When you boot up the game, you'll receive a message recommending you...
News Microsoft's 'Copilot AI' Could Have A Big Effect On Xbox And PC Games
A glimpse into the future
Yesterday, Microsoft hosted a special Keynote introducing a range of Copilot+ PCs which are designed "with AI at the center" to allow their users to achieve things that weren't possible in the past. You can watch the full Keynote up above. The bit we're most interested in though relates to Xbox and PC games. During the...
News Starfield's 60FPS Update Results In Huge Player Boost On Xbox
Jetting off
Starfield's huge May update was a big one, bringing loads of new performance modes and other fixes and tweaks to Bethesda's 2023 RPG. Shortly after last week's release the update was getting very good feedback from fans, and n
Roundup Here's What The Critics Are Saying About Xbox's Hellblade 2
A lot of varied opinions on this one!
Ninja Theory's Hellblade 2 launch is finally upon us, marking the first major Xbox Game Studios release of 2024. We've already delivered our thoughts on the team's highly-anticipated sequel earlier today, so now it's time to take a look around and see what other folks are saying about the Xbox Game Pass title...
News Xbox Game Pass Will See 'Changes' When Call Of Duty Arrives, Rumours Suggest
Could we see a price hike?
Last week we saw a fresh report from the Wall Street Journal on Microsoft bringing brand-new Call of Duty games to Xbox Game Pass, and some follow-up rumours have circulated over the weekend suggesting that the service will make "changes" in order for this to happen. Well-known insiders
News Microsoft Adds New State Of Decay Dynamic Background For Xbox Series X|S
Celebrate 6 years of SOD2!
Microsoft's Undead Labs has created a new dynamic background for Xbox Series X|S users, to mark the six year anniversary for State of Decay 2. The background itself stems from the team's 'Juggernaut Edition' artwork for the title, and you can take a look at the dynamic version of the art down below. This marks the...
