February2021
News Xbox Japan Shows Off Yakuza Themed Controller That's Held Up By A Crayfish Stand
But sadly it's an image only
We've seen Xbox teams from all around the world show off their own crazy designs and now it's Japan's turn. To commemorate the local release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon on the Xbox Series X|S earlier this week, the team within this region shared an image of an appropiately-themed Xbox controller. What makes it particularly...
News Microsoft To Reportedly Host 'What's New For Gaming' Event Next Month
Will apparently be followed by a Windows event
Earlier this week, Microsoft held an AI and Gaming Research Summit featuring Xbox head Phil Spencer. Paul Thurrott from the website Thurrott (the same source that originally spotted this event) is now suggesting Microsoft will also be holding a "what
News Gamers Were Tearing Their Hair Out At Last Night's Xbox Live Outage
It lasted for quite a few hours
If you didn’t know or were asleep, you may have completely missed that Xbox Live experienced a few problems last night. The service was down for quite a few hours as many were unable to sign in, play multiplayer games, and lost the ability to purchase content. As expected, the internet didn’t take this outage...
News Xbox Head Phil Spencer Predicts Future Games Will Be Built For The Cloud First
"They will think first about their game running in the cloud"
Yesterday saw the kickoff for the AI and Gaming Summit, with Xbox’s very own Phil Spencer making an appearance. While it wasn’t focused on announcing new games or reveals, Spencer still had some interesting notes to say. One of his biggest mentions was how developers could be using...
News Expect Microsoft To Host Bethesda Event Sometime In Mid-March, Says Industry Insider
"They will talk about it extensively and explain what it means"
Industry insider and VentureBeat reporter Jeff Grubb expects at least some kind of event to happen in mid-March when Microsoft finally closes its deal with Bethesda. In response to a question on his YouTube livestream, Jeff explained how everything would be discussed "extensively"...
News 16 Years Ago Today, Xbox Decided To Recall Millions Of Power Cords
The issue affected just over 14 million consoles
Remember the mid-2000s? Remember the days of the original Xbox? Then you may recall the time Microsoft recalled 14.1 million power cords after it was found they had the potential to catch fire. As reported by CBS News back in 2005, the mass recall was made after 30 customers had reported they had...
News Microsoft Unveils The First Batch Of 'FPS Boost' Games For Xbox Series X|S
Free improvements for backwards compatible titles
Microsoft has announced that it has begun introducing a frames per-second boost to a selection of backwards compatible games on Xbox Series X|S, starting with five games available today! The news was outlined in an Xbox Wire post, revealing that Microsoft has worked closely with developers to make...
News The New Xbox Wireless Headset Allows You To Pair Your Phone And Xbox At The Same Time
The microphone has an auto-mute function, too
Yesterday saw the announcement of the all-new Xbox Wireless Headset, and with it an array of fantastic neat new features for players to try out. One of the most intriguing is the ability to have your phone and Xbox linked to the device at the same time. As outlined in an extensive Xbox Wire post, users...
News Microsoft Launches New Program To Help Developers Improve Accessibility In Games
Gamers with disabilities will test and provide feedback
Microsoft has always strived to make Xbox, and gaming in general, more accessible. With this in mind, it's announced developers will now be able to send their games in to be evaluated (according to the Xbox Accessibility Guidelines) and get them tested by members of the Gaming & Disability...
News Seven More Games Are Getting Touch Controls For Xbox Cloud Gaming
Coming later this week
Xbox has announced a new batch of games to receive touch controls from February 18th. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to take full advantage of touch controls via Xbox Cloud Gaming on Android devices. The latest Xbox Wire post highlighted which games will be available for players later this week: Bridge...
News Xbox 'Enhancement News' Might Be Dropping This Wednesday
Fingers crossed!
Fans have been eagerly anticipating information from Microsoft since a YouTuber suggested "some very interesting" Xbox Series X|S content was arriving on February 17th, along with Xbox Live's Major Nelson teasing 'enhancement news' was coming soon on his podcast, and the hints appear to keep on coming! "Very excited he (Jason...
News Xbox Secretly Showed Us The New Wireless Headset Months Ago
They got us again!
Last year, Xbox discreetly teased the Xbox Series S months before its initial reveal without any of us noticing. Well, something similar has happened again, this time with the recently announced Xbox Wireless Headset. As brought to our attention by Xbox's very own social media manager, Stein, last year's Xbox Series X|S l
News The Coalition Dev Kate Rayner Comes Out As Transgender, Met With Industry Support
"I am so happy to introduce you to all of me"
Over the weekend Kate Rayner (who works at The Coalition as the studio's technical director) made the incredibly brave decision to reveal she is transgender to her work colleagues and industry friends via Twitter. In response, many Microsoft employees have rallied behind her with support and love,...
News Xbox Cloud Gaming Is Reportedly One Step Closer To Releasing On PC
According to multiple reports
Microsoft has previously announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming would be arriving on iOS and PC sometime in the Spring. It now seems that the PC version is far ahead of the iOS release and is currently going through a very important phase. According to a couple of industry insiders, the development of Xbox Cloud Gaming for...
News Techland Rep Shuts Down Rumours About Being Acquired By Microsoft
"Same rumour" was floating around the net a year ago
Ever since Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media (Bethesda's parent company) for $7.5 billion, there have been ongoing rumours about who they'll be adding to the Xbox Game Studios line-up next. Over the past 24 hours, there's been speculation the next studio joining Microsoft could be the Dying Light...
News Microsoft Teases Xbox 'Enhancement News' Coming Soon
And expect "a lot of really exciting things" in the future
Earlier this week, a tech YouTuber said they had something exciting to share with Xbox fans on 17th February but expected the details to leak beforehand. This led to speculation that the news could possibly be tied to the long-awaited double framerate enhancements for select backwards...
News Xbox Japan Removes Final Fantasy XII From Game Pass After Just One Day
That was fast!
Despite only launching on Xbox Game Pass yesterday, it seems Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age has already been removed from the service in Japan, just 24 short hours later. While many fans around the world have eagerly anticipated the game joining Xbox Game Pass, players in Japan were saddened to learn that its "addition in Japan is...
News 343 Has 'No Current Plans' For A New Halo Wars Game
And is done with Halo Wars 2
Earlier this week, a job listing suggested that 343 Industries might be working on a new project set in the Halo universe. At the time, there was some speculation it could be for a new Halo Wars game. 343's community manager John Junyszek shut this down rather quickly - confirming the role was tied to the u
News YouTuber Teases Xbox Series X Related Surprise For February 17th
"I think it is VERY top for Xbox Series"
We're still waiting for Microsoft to roll out the feature on Xbox Series X|S that will double the framerate of select backwards compatible titles. When this enhancement does arrive, certain older titles will be able to jump from 30FPS to 60FPS and even from 60FPS to 120FPS. Xbox Series X|S director of...
News Microsoft To Merge ZeniMax Into New Subsidiary Called 'Vault', But Only Temporarily
Update: The 'Vault' name won't be sticking around
Update: Well, this has been a confusing day. Following the discovery of the below document, another has been highlighted by UESP on Twitter (thanks RPS), this time detailing that 'Vault' won't be the permanent name for ZeniMax Media and Bethesda games under Microsoft, and that the ZeniMax name will...
News The Pulse Red Xbox Series X Controller Is Now Available
Grab it while it's hot!
Remember the new Pulse Red Xbox Series X controller that was unveiled last month? Well, it's finally available to take home and add to your controller collection, releasing as of today, February 9th. Available at most major retailers such as Amazon and the Microsoft Store, the Pulse Red controller clocks in at £54.99 /...
News Xbox Is Gifting The New Red Series X Controllers For Valentine's Day
All wrapped up in a lovely package
In the spirit of gifting your loved ones on Valentine's Day, it looks as though Microsoft is also joining in as it has begun delivering the new Pulse Red Xbox Series X controllers to select fans, as revealed on social media. Over the weekend it was seen that a couple of Kinda Funny xCast influencers received a...
News OG Xbox Creator 'Amazed' By Response To Classic Console, Says It Might Be Possible
Now to contact Phil
Earlier this week, Seamus Blackley - the creator and designer of the first Xbox - asked fans if they wanted to see a classic model (based on the 2000 prototype model) that could stream and play original games. Just days later, Blackley has now followed up on his original tweet. Before he gets in contact with the head of Xbox...
News Rare Seeking Senior Designer For Its Next Big Xbox Project Everwild
"Come on down"
It's the beginning of another year and a lot of video game companies are obviously on the lookout for new talent to assist them with upcoming projects. With this in mind, Rare - best known in recent times for its pirate-themed multiplayer game Sea of Thieves - is calling for a senior designer to come and help create its next big hit,...
News Microsoft Has Reportedly Shifted Around 3.5 Million Xbox Series X|S Consoles So Far
According to a senior industry analyst
According to one industry analyst, Microsoft has shifted 3.5 million Xbox Series X|S systems since their launch back in November last year. The total number reportedly makes it 1 million less than the PlayStation 5. In a response to IGN's report on the PS5 sales, one of the site's editors took to Twitter,...
