Tag: Microsoft - Page 27
News Xbox Is Launching PC Game Pass In Five New Regions This Year
Across Asian markets
Xbox has been putting more and more emphasis on its PC offerings as of late, and that includes Game Pass. The service recently rebranded to 'PC Game Pass' and now, it's extending to another five countries in Asia. Residents in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam will be able to take part in a preview of the...
News Xbox Announces New Cloud Gaming Initiative
"Come and develop your game with us!"
During its many developer-focused talks at GDC 2022, Microsoft has announced a new publishing arm. The division, known as a new "Cloud Gaming Organization", is basically a publisher within a publisher, a way for developers to create completely cloud-based Xbox games for Microsoft. The publisher is led by Kim...
News ID@Xbox Has Now Generated More Than $2.5B In Revenue For Indie Devs
Program partners "doubled" over the past 3 years
More positive news coming out of Xbox today - with the games division of Microsoft announcing its ID@Xbox program has now generated more than $2.5 billion in revenue for indie developers since launching in 2013. Xbox in that time frame has attracted all sorts of developers to the program - from...
News Activision Blizzard Warns Of Financial Consequences If Microsoft Deal Falls Through
Stock would likely "decline significantly"
Microsoft's deal to acquire Activision Blizzard is still going through the boring legal processes right now, and the next step is for Activision Blizzard's shareholders to vote to approve the deal, with this set to take place on April 28th. As you'd expect, the company is advising that the terms of the...
News Xbox Reveals Custom Sonic The Hedgehog Series S Bundle
Complete with... furry controllers
Xbox has announced some new customized hardware, themed around Sega's famous mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog. Not only is there an Xbox Series S here — with a custom Sonic design — there are also two rather... different Xbox controllers. The two controllers, based on Sonic and Knuckles, aren't exactly a standard...
Random The Xbox Kinect Is Still Being Used At A UK Furniture Store
It's having a second lease of life!
Hey, so, remember Kinect? Everyone's favourite Xbox companion? Well, its uses are no longer tied to Xbox, as Microsoft continues to use the tech in weird and interesting ways. Kinect's latest use, apparently, is to tailor bedroom furniture to your needs by scanning your body in furniture stores. At least, if this
Rumour Xbox Has Some New 'Hardware' To Announce In 2022
"That falls into a different bucket than people are probably expecting"
We're only around a year and a half out since Xbox Series X|S launched, but are we about to see more Xbox hardware? The XboxEra podcast — which had Phil Spencer on as a guest last week — discussed the matter in a recent 'Rumour Mill' show segment. One of the show's hosts,...
News Xbox's Phil Spencer Reveals The First Game He Ever Played
It's old school
Most of us probably remember the first game we ever played, or at least the first system we gamed on. For some of us, that first gaming memory goes way back, and that's certainly the case with Xbox boss Phil Spencer, whose recent Twitter response revealed his first ever game. So, Pong is where it all started for Phil, which is a...
News This Rare Original Xbox Development Kit Is An Absolute Monster
90's desktop life
It's another normal Friday morning on Twitter, browsing the news, checking for discourse, y'know, the usual, and then this absolute unit appears on my feed. An Xbox collector who goes by the Twitter handle GameboxUkv has acquired an original Xbox development kit that we've never seen before. This thing looks like a proper 90's...
News Phil Spencer 'Enjoys The Transparency' Xbox Has With Its Fanbase
A different approach
Xbox is in fairly open conversation with its community, especially compared to the competition. Not only are core social media accounts like Xbox Game Pass often active and ready for a quick pun or two, a lot of the executive team at Xbox are very open and approachable online. Xbox Boss Phil Spencer says the approach is part of...
News Xbox Adds Automatic Downloads To Energy Saver Mode On Series X|S
New sustainability efforts
Xbox has announced a raft of new sustainability goals, as Microsoft attempts to make the Xbox eco-system a more environmentally friendly one. One of the biggest changes for us as end users, is that the Energy Saver mode on Xbox Series X|S now supports background downloads. In an effort to make the power saving mode more...
News E3 Will Supposedly Go Ahead In 2022, Despite Cancellation Claims
It's almost showcase season
We might still be three months away from E3 season, but talk of the year's biggest gaming show is gathering pace. Earlier this year, E3 2022 was reportedly cancelled, however, that may no longer be the case. Prominent leaker Tom Henderson says the ESRB, who rates each and every game launch, has begun sending out emails...
News Could 'Keystone' Be The Next Xbox Console? Codename Found In Datamine
Xbox Series... ?
Xbox has been pretty public with its console codenames in the past. Durango became the Xbox One, Project Scarlett eventually materialised as Xbox Series X, hell, Microsoft even named the launch Xbox One X after its codename: Project Scorpio. Is ' Project Keystone' next? In a Microsoft file datamine by Twitter user Tero Alhonen,...
News Gamescom Returns To In-Person Event in 2022
Digital will still feature
For a couple of years Gamescom — much like the rest of the industry — has gone remote. Both the 2020 and 2021 events were entirely digital, meaning fans couldn't attend one of gaming's largest events. All being well, that's changing this year. Gamescom has announced plans to return to in-person happenings in 2022. It...
News Quick Resume And Share Button Changes Headline March Xbox Update
Along with new audio setup
Xbox has detailed its March dashboard update, and the headline changes relate to Quick Resume and the Series X|S controller's share button. Here's what's changing and how they're set to improve the Xbox experience. Pin To Quick Resume: Quick Resume is getting a new feature involving pins. Basically, users will be able to...
News Xbox Insider Update Removes Social Media Sharing, For Now
A hint at something new?
Game DVR and the whole process of recording and sharing clips has long been a sore spot on the Xbox platform. The current system is janky at best and broken at worst, but is it finally about to change? As spotted by Windows Central, the latest Insider Ring update removes Twitter sharing as an option for Game DVR. The other...
News Microsoft Named Metacritic's Best Publisher In 2021
A LOT of highly rated games
Metacritic has posted a first look at its annual game publisher rankings, where the site judges publishers based on game scores. As it turns out, Microsoft is sitting pretty at number 1 by some margin! Microsoft achieved the ranking with a fantastic output from Xbox Game Studios last year. Their overall Metascore average...
News Xbox Is Launching A Mentorship Program To Help Women Develop Careers In Gaming
In partnership with Xbox Game Studios!
To celebrate International Women's Day, Xbox has revealed a new program aimed at helping women build careers in the games industry. The program will offer access to 1:1 coaching sessions in a number of countries including the UK and US, with the aim of fostering career development in gaming. More details on...
News Microsoft Is Suspending Sales In Russia, Including Xbox Products
The company is exiting the market
As the ongoing crisis in Ukraine continues, companies around the world are changing their stance on serving the Russian market. One of those is now Microsoft, who has said that it will stop selling its products and services in Russia, at least temporarily. In a comment by Microsoft president and vice chair Brad...
News Gears Of War Movie Announcement Coming 'Very Soon' Says Batman Producer
Lancers at the ready
Hints at a Gears of War movie have floated around for over a decade at this point, and we've still got nothing to show for it! However, that might be about to change. In a new interview with The Digital Fix, The Batman producer Dylan Clark, who's also working on the Gears movie, hinted that news is coming. While Clark said he...
Random Playground Producer Pays Respects To Former Fable Studio With Tattoo Tribute
"I never forget the studio that made me"
Last month, it was discovered another former Lionhead employee Amie Loake - previously an assistant producer on the cancelled co-op game Fable Legends - had signed on with the Forza Horizon developer Playground Games to work on the new Fable title. She'll be joining the new Fable team as a senior producer,...
News Xbox Wire Officially Launches In Japan
"Reinforcing our commitment to Japanese gamers"
The Xbox brand is growing in popularity within Japan thanks to services like Game Pass and Cloud Gaming, and locally developed games jumping on board. To help increase awareness, Xbox has now launched its news service 'Xbox Wire' in the country. This will allow the Xbox team to deliver "fully...
News Valve 'Happy' To Work With Microsoft To Get PC Game Pass On Steam
Gabe Newell is up for it
Valve has just launched its handheld PC device the Steam Deck, and Valve boss Gabe Newell is currently doing the PR rounds to promote the system. Of course, he's getting asked all sorts of questions - some that are just about Steam in general. With this in mind, PC Gamer asked him if Valve would be interested in its own...
Video Watch Phil Spencer's Lifetime Achievement Speech At DICE Awards
In Phil we trust
Phil Spencer has done a lot to change the narrative around Xbox in recent years, and he's getting formal recognition for it! At this year's DICE awards, which took place in Las Vegas, Phil was granted the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to gaming. After a short introduction by the one and only Todd Howard, Phil...
News Fallout New Vegas 2 Development Is In 'Very Early Talks', Says Jeff Grubb
Could it be?!
Right, we can't have been the only ones to think of a Fallout: New Vegas sequel once Xbox bought both Obsidian — the New Vegas creator — and Bethesda, owners of the Fallout series. Well, it looks like Xbox has already thought of the prospect. On Jeff Grubb's latest Giantbomb show, the leaker aficionado said that talks of New Vegas...
News Former Lionhead Employee Signs On With The New Fable Dev Playground
"I hope we can make my fellow Lions proud"
The next Fable game is one of the most mysterious projects within Xbox Game Studios right now. So far there's been a single teaser trailer, but apart from that, nothing else is really known about this anticipated release. That's what makes any news about it that much more exciting and with this in mind,...
News Microsoft Wants To Create A 'Universal' Store That Works On Any Device
Console, PC, mobile... and more?
In the face of regulatory approval of its Activision Blizzard purchase, Microsoft is looking to change the way it operates. The company has laid out its plans for after the deal goes through, and it'll include a universal app store for all devices. By all devices, Microsoft means all devices. The vision, seemingly,...
News Halo's OG Composers Are Suing Microsoft Over 20 Years Of Unpaid Royalties
It could even block the TV show release
It's being reported by Eurogamer today that the original composers on Halo are suing Microsoft over 20 years' worth of unpaid royalties, and it could even potentially have an effect on the release of the upcoming Halo TV show. Marty O'Donnell and Mike Salvatori filed
News The Lord Of The Rings Gaming Rights Are Up For Sale
Will Microsoft swoop in?
There seems to be a lot of gaming stuff up for sale right now doesn't there? And it's not all developers and publishers either. Variety has revealed that the film and gaming rights for Lord of the Rings are now up for grabs. The projected value of the rights is at least $2 billion, which is understandable, given the value...
News Cheeky Xbox Game Pass Advert Offers Up Hot, Eligible Games For Valentine's
A new partner
In recent years, Xbox has embraced viral marketing, y'know, the 'off-brand' posts that make us all laugh. The Xbox Game Pass Twitter account is practically built on this, with a much-less-serious tone than other Xbox channels. Well, Game Pass has outdone itself this time.
News Phil Spencer "Wouldn't Take No For An Answer" When Creating Xbox Game Pass
Persistence pays off
It's safe to say that Phil Spencer has transformed Xbox since he took over the brand in 2014. Perhaps the biggest transformation, aside from studio acquisitions, is Xbox Game Pass. However, persuading those at Microsoft that Game Pass was a good idea, wasn't always easy. In a WSJ report on Microsoft's
News Major Gaming Deals Are In The 'Final Stages Of Negotiations', Says Geoff Keighley
Who's next?
The latest gaming company to get snapped up is Bungie, with Sony picking them up at a price of $3.6 billion. Well, there may be more deals coming in the short term, as companies compete for the strongest library of games. The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley has taken to Twitter today to reveal that he's heard some major video game...
News The Xbox Activision Deal Will Receive An Antitrust Review In The US
Will it pass?
So, it's already been a few weeks since Xbox announced its intentions to buy Activision Blizzard. Concerns over a 'monopoly' were brought up pretty much straight away, with many looking at how much Microsoft is growing its Xbox division. Well, according to Bloomberg, a review of the deal will go ahead in the US, conducted by the...
News Microsoft Is Making Changes To Refunds And Auto-Renewals On Xbox
After the CMA "identified concerns"
Have you ever been caught out by auto-renewing subscriptions on Xbox? We know the pain, sometimes things can be a little more complicated to cancel than they should be. Well, it looks like the UK's Competition and Markets Authority agrees, as it "identified concerns" relating to some Xbox policies. As a result,...
News Xbox Gaming Revenue Up 8% YoY In Latest Earnings Report
Driven by Game Pass, first-party releases and hardware
Microsoft's latest earnings results have been published for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 (FY22 Q2), revealing Xbox gaming revenue has increased by 8% year-over-year. Xbox's content and services revenue grew by 10% and was driven by growth in first-party titles and Xbox Game Pass...
News Microsoft And Sony 'Have Never Been Competitors', Says Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford
You sure about that?
As Xbox gobbles up publishers and studios like nobody's business, we're all left wondering what the end game is. The company has expressed that it has Amazon and Google in its sights, rather than Sony, and Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford seems to agree that Microsoft doesn't want to directly compete with Sony. In a series of...
News Insider Patch Addresses Issue With Xbox Game Pass Not Working Offline
Rolling out!
We're extremely quick to champion Xbox Game Pass here at Pure Xbox, as are most of the Xbox community! However, that doesn't mean there aren't issues from time to time, and one cropped up recently regarding offline games. Basically, players were reporting that Game Pass games weren't launching properly when offline. Sometimes it only...
News Xbox Can't Really Talk About Activision Blizzard Until The Deal Is Done
"The reality is, this is gonna take a while"
Earlier this week, Microsoft broke the internet when it announced it would be acquiring Activision Blizzard for close to $70 billion. While there's a lot of conversation surrounding this future acquisition and how it will pan out, don't expect to learn too much about it right away. According to Xbox's...
News Xbox Fans Call For Microsoft To Bring Back Classic Activision Games
Blur, anyone?
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard means that the company will have access to massive range of IP, and Xbox fans are already calling on various franchises from Activision's storied history to be brought back in the future. The one we're seeing requested most prominently right now is Blur. This was a beloved but...
News Sony Stock Value Drops By $20 Billion After Microsoft Buys Activision Blizzard
How will PlayStation respond?
Not to stoke the console war flames, but it looks like Sony is in the middle of dealing with the Xbox Activision Blizzard purchase. After news of the deal dropped yesterday, January 18th, Sony stock plummeted overnight. In total, shares in Sony have lowered by 13 percent in the wake of the deal. Bloomberg noted that...
News Activision Looked For Other Buyers Before Accepting Xbox Offer
"The board weren’t sold on Microsoft as the acquirer"
Xbox might be one of the biggest players in gaming, but it took some convincing for Activision Blizzard to accept Microsoft's offer. Looking at who else was involved, we can be happy Xbox came out on top! According to another Bloomberg report, Activision was looking for potential buyers when...
News Rare's N64 Classic Banjo-Kazooie Is Out This Week On Switch
Another "modern way" to enjoy this title
Update: Rare has passed on the news to Xbox fans that its classic N64 title Banjo-Kazooie is out on the Switch tomorrow. Of course, Xbox fans can still play the title via Game Pass and Rare Replay. Original article [Fri 24th Sep, 2021 03:30 BST]: Rare might have been purchased by Microsoft long ago, but...
News Activision Blizzard Boss Expected To Leave Once Xbox Deal Is Done, According To WSJ Report
But he'll still likely receive a substantial payout
Will he stay, or will he go? That's the question everyone is asking about Bobby Kotick right now after Microsoft announced its plans to purchase Activision Blizzard in a deal worth around $70 billion. Although The New York Times suggested Kotick would be "available as needed" after the acquisition...
News Mobile Gaming A 'Critical' Part Of Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition
Yes, it includes the Candy Crush IP
Today's mammoth announcement that Microsoft is purchasing Activision Blizzard brings to mind IP such as Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot and Overwatch — but the company is also really excited about the potential for mobile gaming. Speaking as part of a con
News Bobby Kotick Will 'Continue To Serve' As Activision Blizzard CEO, Says Microsoft
Update: WSJ reports he will leave post-acquisition
Update: Kotick told The New York Times this afternoon that he will be "available as needed" after the acquisition goes through, and reportedly declined to confirm that he will be CEO after the deal has been finalised. Additionally, The Wall Street Journal has suggested that Kotick will be leaving...
News Microsoft Is Buying Activision Blizzard, Reportedly For $70 Billion
Oh my goodness
This is not a drill! Microsoft has announced today that it is acquiring Activision Blizzard, in a transaction reportedly valued at $70 billion (update: now confirmed as $68.7B). When the deal closes, Activision Blizzard's games will also be integrated into Xbox Game Pass — Microsoft says it expects the deal to close in fiscal year...
News Xbox Fan Feedback Survey Highlights Game DVR As Biggest Series X|S Issue
OS problems a close second
Largely, Xbox Series X, and Series S, handle the Xbox operating system much better than last-gen systems. Things felt sluggish at the best of times on those pesky hard drives, and there's a clear improvement with the move to SSD storage. However, there are still problems. Those problems have been highlighted in an Xbox...
"The real people who made Xbox successful are gamers and fans"
In some parts of the world, it's now the 15th of November, and that means it's officially the 20th anniversary of Xbox. Yes, Microsoft's original Xbox hardware first launched in the US on 15th November 2001. If you weren't around back then, nobody really knew what to expect from this...
News Microsoft Is Randomly Sending Out $100 Gift Cards To Lucky Users
Check your emails!
You might want to check your emails if you live in the US, as Microsoft is reportedly sending out gift cards up to $100 in value, but the catch is that it seems to be completely random - there's no guarantee you'll get one. Various lucky people have been taking to social media to report that they've received one of these emails,...
News Microsoft Wants To Use The Metaverse To Build 'Full 3D Worlds' Of Xbox Games
"We absolutely plan to do so"
Alright, stick with us here. If you've never heard of the 'metaverse', it's what Meta (formerly Facebook) is calling "the next evolution of social connection." According to Mark Zuckerberg and his team, "3D spaces in the metaverse will let you socialize, learn, collaborate and play in ways that go beyond what we can...
