July2023
Reaction Game Pass Core Marks The End Of Xbox's Most Influential Product
Live no more
Today is a pretty big day in the history of Xbox, folks. While the announcement of Xbox Game Pass Core in itself doesn't seem like a monumental move, the realisation that Xbox Live Gold will basically be gone in two months is starting hit us like a well-placed plasma grenade in a packed matchup of Halo 2. That's right, when the...
News Xbox Explains How Games With Gold Titles Carry Over To Game Pass Core
It's good news, folks
In the wake of today's huge news that Xbox Live Gold is being replaced with Xbox Game Pass Core in September, Microsoft has provided a breakdown on how already-redeemed Games with Gold titles will carry over when the monthly perk program shuts down (on September 1st). <related ids="152764"> Existing Xbox One Games with...
News Xbox 360 Call Of Duty Titles See Huge Player Spikes Following Server Update
The classics are still poppin'
Last week, we caught wind that the folks over at Activision and their various Call of Duty studios had made some positive changes to how the old Xbox 360 games were running online, so naturally, we went back and had a look to see how things were going. As it turned out, online matchmaking did seem to have improved (we...
News Xbox 'Game Pass Core' Reportedly Replacing Xbox Live Gold This September
Update: It's official!
Update: Microsoft has now officially confirmed that Xbox Live Gold will be replaced by Xbox Game Pass Core on September 14th, 2023. We've covered this story in more detail elsewhere on Pure Xbox: <related ids="152764"> Original story: There's been a surprising Xbox leak - seemingly revealing Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold...
News Microsoft & Sony Sign Binding Agreement To Keep Call Of Duty On PlayStation
Phil Spencer confirms
Update: It's now been confirmed Microsoft has committed to a 10-year deal for Call of Duty on PlayStation. Sony has also confirmed this with Axios. "While Microsoft’s initial announcement doesn’t mention 10 years for Call of Duty on PlayStation, Kari Perez, head of global communications at Xbox, confirmed the 10-year
News Xbox Has Released A Minecraft 'Creeper' Themed Mini Fridge
Available now in the US
Back in 2021, Xbox made the Xbox Mini Fridge a reality by releasing it as an actual product to fans around the world. It's since released a revision, and now in an update, it's launched a brand-new Minecraft 'Creeper' themed mini fridge. This is based on the same enemy in Mojang's game that blows up and is now available...
News Microsoft Activision Blizzard Acquisition Given Greenlight In US After FTC Loses (Again)
"This brings us another step closer to the finish line"
Following FTC's appeal of the previous court ruling permitting Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the US regulator has now lost again. The Federal Trade Commission was also seeking injunctive relief to prevent Microsoft from closing the deal but has been denied by the US Ninth...
News Xbox Game Pass 'Friends & Family' Preview Closes Next Month
The program will be taking a break
Almost a year ago now, Microsoft began public testing for an Xbox Game Pass 'Friends & Family' plan in a few select countries, before rolling the preview program out to more regions earlier this year. Well, rather abruptly, the team has announced that the preview is closing down for now as Xbox "investigates"...
News Xbox Activision Blizzard Deal Officially Approved In Turkey Amidst Ongoing FTC Battle
Another win for Xbox
Although Microsoft seems to be getting closer to the final stage of acquiring Activision Blizzard in the US, it's still trying to pass the deal in other regions around the world, and is seeing success in most countries. The company is currently in the process of sorting out some issues relating to the deal with the UK's CMA,...
News FTC Appeals Court's Ruling Permitting Microsoft's Acquisition Of Activision Blizzard
The regulator refuses to back down
Update [Thu 13th Jul, 2023 03:00 BST]: Microsoft's vice chair and president Brad Smith has now issued a statement, mentioning how the tech giant is "disappointed" by the FTC's appeal. Here's what he had to say: Brad Smith: “The District Court’s ruling makes crystal clear that this acquisition is good for...
News Xbox's ActiBlizz Deal Seems Closer, But Some Game Pass Arrivals Could Be Delayed
A recent CMA report mentions COD on Game Pass
Following yesterday's blockbuster news that the FTC's attempted injunction against Microsoft has been denied, the Activision Blizzard deal going through feels closer than ever. Even so, the acquisition is still not confirmed by any means, and a remaining authority that still needs winning over has also...
News Xbox's New Summer Accessory Collection Includes Colourful Xbox 360 Controller Replicas
Room for another?
Xbox has unveiled its next 'collection' of gaming accessories from third-party manufacturers — this time for summer 2023 — and this one includes some neat-looking shiny versions of the recently released 'Hyperkin Xenon' controller. Yep, we reckon the two Xbox 360 controller replicas stand out the most here - especially because...
News Microsoft And UK CMA Agree To Pause Legal Battle Over Activision Blizzard Deal
Update: CMA warns of a potential "new merger investigation"
Update: The CMA has warned that its latest discussions with Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are at an "early stage", and a restructured deal could ultimately lead to a "new merger investigation". Here's a statement courtesy of The Verge: "Whilst merging parties don’t have the...
News Xbox's Phil Spencer 'Grateful' For Speedy Court Decision On FTC Activision Blizzard Case
"I’m proud of our efforts to expand player access and choice"
The FTC has just lost its case to block Microsoft's Activision Blizzard purchase, and company executives are already out there on the internet, reacting to the news and providing statements on the matter. One of those execs is Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who has released a multi-post...
News Xbox Parent Company Microsoft Confirms New Round Of Layoffs
The gaming division does not appear to be impacted
Following mass layoffs at Microsoft earlier this year which also hit the Xbox team, it's been confirmed another round of job cuts has taken place. In a report by GeekWire, a new filing shows 276 layoffs — and 210 of these jobs have been at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The...
News Xbox Game Pass $1 Deal Reintroduced For New And Returning Subscribers
Microsoft's welcome offer returns
Only a few months after Microsoft "stopped" its Xbox Game Pass $1 trial offer, the promotion has returned! Yep, just as the company has slightly raised the price of Xbox Game Pass in most regions, it has reintroduced its £1 / $1 offer for both new and lapsed subscribers. We were made aware of the offer returning...
PSA Crackdown 1 & 2 Are Still Free On Xbox As Sequel Turns 13
Officially a teen!
Once upon a time the Crackdown series was a notable staple within the Xbox first-party lineup. While the third game only came out four years ago (can you believe that?!), it's the first two Xbox 360 titles we have fond memories of - and one of them has just turned 13! Yep, Crackdown 2 launched on this very day in the US back in...
News Xbox Adds Another Free Dynamic Background, Available Now On Series X|S
Try out this new Hi-Fi RUSH theme
If you want even more Hi-Fi RUSH in your life, then you might want to check out the new dynamic background for Xbox Series X|S. Following Tango Gameworks Ghostwire: Tokyo one, we've now got this cool looking one feature Chai and the rest of the gang. To apply it, you'll need to enter the Settings menu >...
Deals All 15+ Backwards Compatible Games In This Week's Xbox Sales (July 4-11)
Up to 80% off!
Another batch of digital Xbox deals is now live, with more than 300 titles discounted over the next week or so. We've already rounded up some of the best offers from this week's promotion, which we'll drop below, but there's a selection of backwards compatible classics from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 eras on sale this week too...
News Lost Xbox-Related Gameplay Footage From Yesteryear Appears Online
Including never-before-seen clips!
Games media outlet Noclip has begun digitising a bunch of old press conference gameplay footage from years gone by, with the results now appearing on the outlet's YouTube archive channel. There are some super cool videos in here, including a full HD Xbox E3 press conference from the 360 days, and even...
News Xbox Boss Reveals His Thoughts On Showcases Like Bethesda's Starfield Direct
"I really like the format"
2023 saw the debut of Xbox Developer Direct - a new showcase format created to highlight specific games outside of Xbox's big summer showcases. January's multi-game dev direct gave us the surprising Hi-Fi RUSH shadow drop, while Bethesda's June presentation focused on all-things Starfield. And, it looks like we could see...
June2023
News Elder Scrolls 6 'Projected Release Is 2026', Claims Microsoft Lawyer
Phil Spencer said it was at least "five-plus years away"
The Elder Scrolls has been name-dropped once again during the Microsoft v FTC court battle. On the final day of the hearing, Microsoft's lawyer claimed the next Elder Scrolls game by Bethesda was projected to release much earlier than expected. Before you get too excited, it seems the lawyer...
News Microsoft's CEO Isn't A Fan Of Console Exclusives, Blames Sony
Sony has "defined market competition using exclusives"
Exclusives are arguably one of the main selling points of console gaming, but if Microsoft's boss had any say, he would apparently abolish them. During his testimony in the Microsoft v FTC hearing today, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella said he would do away with exclusives on Xbox consoles if it...
News Microsoft Acquired Hellblade Creator Ninja Theory For Just $117 Million
Chump change
Some more information that was never meant to be made public has been revealed in the Microsoft v FTC court battle. In the same email and documents revealing Xbox had a huge list of companies it was considering acquiring, page 10 reveals Ninja Theory was purchased for the sum of $117 million USD. Again, what's interesting about this...
News Xbox Boss Promises To Keep Call Of Duty On PlayStation (Again)
As long as Sony is up for it
Head of Microsoft's gaming division Phil Spencer has today been asked a lot about the future of Activision Blizzard under the Xbox banner. One question, in particular, that came up was in regards to Call of Duty, and whether or not the company would continue to release the series on PlayStation. As long as Sony is...