Tag: Microsoft - Page 15
News Xbox Details First 'Indie Selects' Lineup, Featuring Six Games For February 2024
"Amazing and delightful indie games"
Last month, Microsoft announced Xbox Indie Selects, a new program designed to highlight some of the platform's best and brightest indie titles that aren't available on Xbox Game Pass. A month on from introducing the new initiative, team Xbox has now unveiled its first collection for February 2024. Six games are...
PSA You'll Need A Microsoft Account To Play Sea Of Thieves On PS5, Unsurprisingly
PlayStation crew members can sign up for free
Xbox wants to expand its ecosystem, and as part of this, it recently announced four first-party titles for other console platforms. One of these is Rare's online multiplayer pirate game Sea Of Thieves, which sails onto the PlayStation 5 on April 30th, 2024. For anyone who wants to play on this...
Guide Xbox And Microsoft Reveal Full GDC 2024 Schedule
"Microsoft and Xbox are here to help power your games "
The 2024 Game Developer Conference will take place next month in March and as part of this, both Microsoft and the Xbox team will be there to "engage and empower" developers, publishers as well as technology partners across the globe. "Our message is simple: Microsoft and Xbox are here to...
News Xbox's Phil Spencer Praises 'Unique, Emotional' Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons
"If you haven't played I highly recommend it"
Every now and then, Phil Spencer drops his opinion on some of the latest and greatest games coming to Xbox, and today the boss has chimed in on Josef Fares' debut title ahead of its upcoming remake. Yep, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake launches for Xbox Series X|S tomorrow, and Phil has showered...
Deals All 15+ Backwards Compatible Games In This Week's Xbox Sales (February 27 - March 5)
Up to 80% off!
Our latest set of Xbox deals is now live - with over 500 titles discounted this week as part of a big 'Bundles' sale. The backwards compatibility list is significantly shorter than that this week - but there are still some great deals to be had! <related ids="162761"> So, here are all of the OG Xbox / Xbox 360 backwards...
News PlayStation Follows Xbox In Announcing Significant Layoffs For 2024
"Difficult news about our workforce"
Sony has announced major layoffs involving its PlayStation business - the next chapter in a rough start to 2024 for the gaming industry. Following Xbox's huge round of layoffs last month, PlayStation will shed around 900 jobs imminently. Those 900 jobs amount to roughly 8% of PlayStation's current workforce;...
News Three Games Are Available This Week On Xbox Game Pass (February 27-29)
And a bonus fourth title!
As we near the end of February we're coming up on our final Xbox Game Pass additions for the month, and Feb 2024's closers include the likes of returning 'SharkPG' Maneater, sandbox survival game Space Engineers and more. So, ahead of March's Game Pass lineup — which kicks off with
News Xbox Insiders On PC Can Now Try Out A Brand-New 'Special Feature'
"Introducing game hubs"
If you happen to be an Xbox Insider on PC, Xbox has recently launched a brand-new feature called game hubs. This is also accessible to a subset of Xbox App users. This is a new way to connect with your Xbox game library on the computer - allowing you to track progress, discover the latest content and add-ons, connect and...
News Here's Everything Revealed During The Age Of Empires 'New Year, New Age' Livestream
Everything coming in 2024
The Age of Empires team has wrapped up its "New Year, New Age" special presentation outlining everything arriving in 2024. Starting with the main announcement, Age of Mythology: Retold has now been officially confirmed for Xbox Series X|S, and will be a "day one" Game Pass release. Below are all the other announcements and...
News Age Of Mythology: Retold Coming To Xbox, PC And Game Pass In 2024
"From the creators of the award-winning Age of Empires"
Back in 2022, the Age of Empires team World's Edge revealed it would be releasing Age of Mythology: Retold - a "definitive edition" of the 2002 PC title with "upgraded graphics, features and more". Now, in a "sneak peek" announcement, it's been confirmed this new version of the game will be...
Talking Point Will Certain PlayStation & Nintendo Games Eventually Come To Xbox?
Returning the favour
It's been a busy few weeks for Xbox, starting out with a whirlwind of rumours about certain games launching on other platforms - before that exact plan was put into action this week. Four games are in the process of coming to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, but what do you think about either of the two platforms ever...
Rumour Xbox To Release White, All-Digital Series X This Summer
"Microsoft is planning to release a digital Xbox Series X"
Microsoft is reportedly planning a digital Xbox Series X console launch very, very soon. According to outlet eXputer, we're set to get a white digital Xbox Series X this summer, with a June or July release date currently outed. The rumour originates from insider eXtas1s (Twitter), who...
News Xbox Series S Custom Console & Controllers Unveiled For Mega-Hit Palworld
"Imagine playing Palworld on THIS"
Fancy throwing your name in the hat for a custom Palworld Xbox Series S console bundle? Well, here's your chance! Xbox has just announced its latest sweepstakes competition - featuring a one-of-a-kind Palworld console alongside four unique Xbox controllers and a three-month Game Pass Ultimate code. This looks like...
News Xbox Influencer Klobrille Shares Impressive Player Numbers For First-Party Lineup
Two games now have over 35 million players!
If Xbox Game Pass helps drive one thing it's huge player numbers - especially for some of the bigger AAA games out there. Naturally, Xbox's own first-party releases get lots of attention on Game Pass — and indeed the platform in general — and influencer Klobrille has gathered some of the team's recent...
Random Halo TV Show's Latest Episode Pays Respect To OG Xbox
Here's a look
In case you missed it, Halo's fourth episode of Season 2 aired this week, and in one segment in the episode, fans have spotted a neat little Easter egg paying respects to the series' video game history. Early on in this episode at the beginning of the Covenant invasion of Reach, Master Chief and Corporal Perez stumble across an...
Poll Are You Enjoying Season 2 Of The Halo TV Show?
We've reached the halfway mark, Chief
We're now halfway through the second season of Paramount's Halo series with Episode 4 of Season 2 airing yesterday. Leading into this episode, there was a lot of excitement about the Covenant's invasion of Reach finally getting underway. So we're curious to know at this point what everyone here on Pure Xbox...
News Xbox Cloud Gaming Now Accounts For At Least 10% Of Overall Xbox Playtime
"Now accounts for a double-digit percentage"
Phil Spencer recently talked to outlet Game File about a wide range of different topics to do with Microsoft's gaming business, and the Xbox boss slipped in some chatter about Xbox Cloud Gaming and how much it's grown in recent times. Cloud gaming on Microsoft's platform "now accounts for a double-digit...
Poll Will You Be Playing Any Of Xbox's New Multiplatform Games On Other Consoles?
The big green wave is coming
So, it has begun. This week, Microsoft has made announcements for games heading to both Nintendo Switch and PlayStation platforms - with Pentiment and Grounded heading to both ecosystems while Hi-Fi RUSH and Sea Of Thieves have been confirmed for PS5 so far. As Xbox fans, and users of Microsoft's consoles, this isn't...
News Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 22)
Featuring a massive AAA surprise!
Another Xbox Game Pass update day is upon us, and this one is delivering a lovely surprise! Deep Silver's Dead Island 2 has been shadow dropped into the Game Pass library, having not been announced prior to its arrival. This zombie-slaying adventure lands today alongside two other titles. Here's an introduction to...
News Five More Of Xbox's Rare Classics Are Now Available For Switch Online
But some titles still aren't available on Xbox
Nintendo's latest broadcast revealed both Pentiment and Grounded would be coming to the Switch, but that actually wasn't the only Xbox-related news shared during the Partner Showcase. Five games in Rare's retro library have also made the journey across to the Switch Online service. This includes Snake...
News Microsoft Adds Amazing 'Just For You' Deals To This Week's Xbox Sales
As much as 95% off recent releases!
Xbox's recent sales roundup is quite a slim one - although a new discovery on the Microsoft Store may explain why. Yep, once again the team has unleashed another set of 'Just For You' deals on the Xbox digital store, and if you're lucky (they won't show up for everyone) you'll be treated to some massive discounts...
News Xbox Insists It's Not Ditching Physical Games: 'That's Not A Strategic Thing For Us'
However, right now "a majority" of its players are buying digitally
There have been reports in recent months about Xbox potentially scaling back its physical software departments, so what can be expected going forward? Speaking to Game File recently, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer reiterated how Xbox is still "supportive of physical media" and...
News All 30+ Backwards Compatible Games In This Week's Xbox Sales (February 20-27)
Up to 85% off!
Tuesday rolls around again, which means a fresh set of deals are live on the Xbox Store. It's a fairly slim update this week, but we still have some huge games discounted right now - including highlights from an EA Publisher Sale. <related ids="162413"> As usual, tucked in here is a solid selection of OG Xbox and Xbox 360...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 20)
Including a huge JRPG!
We have a couple of new additions to Xbox Game Pass today, including a major JRPG from the team over at Bandai Namco. That'll be Tales of Arise, which caused some confusion last week, but it's available in the library right now! Here's some more information on that title, along with today's brand-new release in the form of
Talking Point Would You Be Interested In A New 'Multi-Subscription' Tier On Xbox?
Ubisoft Plus is becoming more appealing each month
A couple of weeks ago we asked you fine folks about EA Play - more specifically about how important it was for you as an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate perk. The majority of Pure Xbox readers made it known that EA's subscription service was rather important, and that EA Play titles are regularly engaged...
News 343 Devs Pitched '20-30 Game Ideas Over 12 Years', Including New ODST Spin-Off
Ah, what could have been
Halo studio 343 Industries has been heavily focused on Infinite in recent years, as Microsoft attempted to breathe new life into the series after the bumpy ride that was Halo 5. While we very much enjoyed the team's 2021 release, it sounds like we could have seen a lot of different Halo styles in recent years if 343 and Xbox...
News Ubisoft Brings Free Skull & Bones Dynamic Background To Xbox Series X|S
Be reminded of the high seas, right at home!
Another Xbox Series X|S dynamic background is now available! This one's for you aspiring pirates out there - Ubisoft has brought a new Skull & Bones option to the roster of animated backgrounds on Xbox consoles. The background is based on some Skull & Bones key art, with the animated aspect...
News Xbox Scoops Up Two D.I.C.E. Awards
Congratulations, Xbox
The 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards took place this week and there were multiple Xbox games nominated for all sorts of awards. As previously mentioned, Starfield and Hi-Fi RUSH were nominated across multiple categories, but in the end, went home empty-handed. Fortunately, for Xbox, it still picked up a few awards on the night. The...
Poll When Do You Think Xbox Will Release Its Next-Generation Console?
Give us your best guess!
Microsoft has begun teasing its plans for a next-generation Xbox console - described as the 'largest technical leap ever' in a generation. We're yet to see exactly what the team means by this statement, but it has got us questioning when it might arrive. Xbox Series X|S launched in November 2020; seven years after Xbox One...
Reaction Xbox's Commitment To Console Gaming Is Pleasing, But Big Questions Linger
Will we see a gradual change from Team Green?
The dust is beginning to settle on Xbox's big business event from yesterday, and in general we're feeling quite relieved that the initial drama is over. Xbox is clearly sticking around, especially when it comes to creating consoles and building towards another healthy generation in gaming. However, major...
News Phil Spencer: Xbox's New Plan Is 'Not A Change To Our Fundamental Exclusive Strategy'
"We're making these decisions for some specific reasons"
You may have heard about a little event that happened last night regarding the future of Xbox - an event where Phil Spencer & co. confirmed that four Xbox titles are making their way over to other console platforms. Despite this new plan from Team Green, the Xbox boss is keen to stress...
News Game Pass Hits 34 Million Subs, Service Will Remain Exclusive To Xbox
It's "kind of at a scale" where it's sustainable & profitable
Xbox's business update has concluded and in amongst the key information, the leaders of Microsoft's gaming division have also delivered some other interesting details. One update, in particular, was regarding the subscription count for Xbox Game Pass, with the service now at 34 million...
News Microsoft Has New Xbox Hardware To Announce For Holiday 2024
"There's some exciting stuff coming out in hardware"
Today's Xbox roundtable brought us news on the next generation of Xbox, but what about hardware plans for the here and now? While the standard Xbox Series X and S consoles are still Microsoft's 'new' gaming machines, the team appears to have plans for some sort of Xbox hardware refresh later this...
News Xbox's Next Console Will Feature The 'Largest Technical Leap Ever' In A Generation
Bold claim!
Today's Xbox business update delivered lots of interesting tidbits on what's coming for the platform - and news on some of the team's next-generation plans is getting us all giddy already. Speaking on the Official Xbox Podcast, Microsoft's Sarah Bond briefly talked about the team's future hardware plans and what we can all expect from
News Activision Blizzard's First Game Pass Release Has Been Confirmed By Xbox
Arriving next month!!
Update [Fri 16th Feb, 2024 04:30 GMT]: The Verge's senior editor has reached out to Microsoft and confirmed Diablo 4 "won't" be available to Xbox Game Pass Core subscribers. "Diablo IV is coming to Xbox Game Pass on March 28th, with the exception of the Xbox Game Pass Core catalog,” says Kari Perez, head of communications...
News Tales Of Arise Announced As Xbox Game Pass Title For Next Week
The game's official Twitter account has spoken!
Okay, so, last week Tales of Arise seemed to be included in this month's Xbox Game Pass lineup - only for it to be removed shortly after Microsoft posted its latest roundup. At the time, the team described Tales of Arise as an "incorrect title" for Game Pass, however, it's now been announced once ag
News Xbox President's Reported Message To Employees: 'Every Screen Is An Xbox'
Striving to be the top "cross-platform gaming company"
During the same supposed Xbox town hall meeting last week, Xbox's new president Sarah Bond reportedly shared the message that "every screen is an Xbox". Inverse journalist Shannon Liao claims to have confirmed this with "multiple Microsoft employees" who attended the virtual town hall on...
News Minecraft Celebrates Valentine's Day With A Brand-New Skeleton Mob
It's ready to take your hearts away
If you're still playing Minecraft regularly, you might want to check out the new hostile mob "The Bogged". It's come to testing as part of the 1.21 update and is a new skeleton variant that fires poison-tipped arrows. You can sometimes find the bogged in the trial chambers (coming with the 1.21 Update), as well...
Pick One Which 2024 First-Party Game Are You Most Looking Forward To From Xbox?
Let's talk games before tomorrow's 'business update'
We have a super serious day ahead of us tomorrow when Xbox delivers its 'business update' on what's next for the platform, but for today, let's talk about some video games. Putting all of the multiplatform drama aside for a minute here, Xbox has a really good games lineup planned for 2024. As was...
Talking Point Are There Any OG Xbox Remasters You're Dying To See On Series X|S?
Tomb Raider has us feeling all nostalgic
Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered is officially out today, marking the arrival of three PS1 classics on Xbox consoles. We're very happy to see these old school third-person adventures finally land on Xbox - if you'd like to read our full review on the collection, check out the link below! <related...
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...
