Tag: Microsoft
Random This Official Halo And Mario Artwork Is The Crossover We Didn't Know We Needed
It's a me, Master Chief!
There's been a lot of buzz already this week that Microsoft and Nintendo could be collaborating together on something. Well, the official Halo Instagram account has only added fuel to the fire with this new artwork, which can only be described as a massive tease. The art, which is beautifully drawn, features many iconic...
Random Xbox Actually 'Commissioned' This Insane Halo & DOOM Crossover Portrait
It's great to see the family come together
In one of the weirdest stories we've ever had to report (and we've reported on some weird ones!), Xbox has "commissioned" a variety of Bethesda themed portraits in honor of the company joining the first-party family. Throughout the month, more images are said to be coming, but the first is a riff of Halo...
News Outriders Dev Says Inventory Wipe Bug Is Its Top Priority
Plan is to run a "one-off" mass restoration
Outriders' Xbox patch is now available, but while cross-play is now live between platforms, it seems there's now been an increase in inventory wipes. Not long after this update went live the Outriders' socials shared another message stating how the developer was "aware" and "deeply sorry" players were...
Random Microsoft Might Be Teasing An Xbox, McDonald's And Spotify Collab
Games, food and music
Yesterday, the official Microsoft Twitter account published a tweet addressed to Xbox and McDonald's - with Spotify attached, asking if they were wanting to catch up soon. It comes across as a joke and also signs off as the "person" who runs the Microsoft account, but knowing Microsoft and Xbox, it could potentially be another...
Rumour Hideo Kojima In Talks With Microsoft About Publishing His Next Game
Phil's shelf was a reference, says insider
We've heard time and time again how Phil Spencer wants Xbox to build its library of Japanese video games and continue to improve relations with various publishers and developers in this region. With this in mind, VentureBeat journalist and industry insider Jeff Grubb has been informed by a "source familiar...
News E3 Returns This June With A Digital Only Event, Xbox Will Be In Attendance
Along with multiple other companies
E3 will return for 2021 in the form of a digital event, and Xbox has been confirmed to be one of the attendees, along with a host of other companies. The event will run from June 12 until June 15, and along with Xbox, it will feature appearances from Nintendo, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner...
News Microsoft To Reportedly Host 'What's Next For Gaming' Event Soon
But keep expectations in check
The rumours are out and about again! You might remember that back in early February, it was reported that Microsoft had a "What's New For Gaming" event to be held on March 23rd. But instead, the Xbox Indie Showcase took its place. That event is reportedly still planned, however - at least according to Mary Jo Foley...
News Xbox Promises To Make Mini Fridges After Winning Twitter Contest
Update: After over 500,000 votes, Xbox won!
Update: It's happening! After a very close battle, Xbox came out on top versus Skittles with 50.5% of the vote, with well over 500,000 votes collected in all. In response, Xbox's Aaron Greenberg promised to make the mini fridges a reality: "Thanks to everyone who voted, this was down to the wire and...
Reminder Rare's Banjo-Kazooie Now Available As A Smash Bros. amiibo
Raring to go!
Well, here's something you don't see every day - the Rare and Microsoft-owned character Banjo-Kazooie has just been released as an amiibo for Nintendo's all-star brawler, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Banjo & Kazooie originally made their debut in Smash Bros. Ultimate in September 2019, as part of Fighter Pass Vol. 1. To this day,...
News Microsoft Reportedly In 'Exclusive, Advanced Talks' To Acquire Discord
The deal could be done as soon as next month
It was reported earlier this week by Bloomberg that Microsoft had been talking to the group-chat platform Discord about a potential acquisition for over $10 billion, but no deal was imminent at the time of writing. Now, The
News Deathloop's Devs Were 'Surprised' By The Xbox Bethesda Acquisition
"After the surprise, it made a lot of sense"
Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda has sent ripples through the gaming world in recent months, and Arkane Studios, which is currently working on the timed PS5 exclusive, Deathloop, was part of that acquisition. Speaking to Press Start, Deathloop’s director, Dinga Bakaba, and art director, Sébastien...
News Microsoft Reportedly In Talks To Acquire Discord For Over $10 Billion
But "no deal is imminent" right now
If you thought the Bethesda deal marked the end of big acquisitions for Xbox in the near future, you could be wrong! According to "people familiar with the matter," Microsoft is interested in buying Discord for over $10 billion. This has been reported by Bloomberg, which states that Discord "has been talking to...
News Xbox Takes Home Multiple Awards At The SXSW 2021 Gaming Awards
Congrats!
South by Southwest is a festival which celebrates a wide range of different interactive mediums, including games. Over the weekend, the winners for its 2021 Gaming Awards were announced and Xbox did pretty alright for itself. Out of the 12 categories, Xbox games took home a variety of awards. Ori and the Will of the Wisps was one of the...
News ZeniMax’s Board Of Directors Has Been Dissolved Following Microsoft's Acquisition
As confirmed by Bethesda's Pete Hines
Microsoft officially obtained ZeniMax Media last week, which saw companies such as Bethesda now directly under the company’s control. Following that huge acquisition, some big changes are already beginning to be made, as ZeniMax’s board of directors has now officially been dissolved. The board was made up...
News Industry Insider Expects Bethesda's New IP Starfield To Launch This Year
But "you still have to factor in covid"
In yet another podcast appearance, industry insider Jeff Grubb has shared more information about Bethesda's plans for the remainder of this year now that it's been acquired by Microsoft. Speaking on the YouTube channel Dealer - Gaming, Grubb said he expected the company's new and highly anticipated IP
News Phil Spencer Already Thinking About Possible Xbox And Bethesda Collabs
And how Xbox can utilise id Tech
The "Microsoft joins Bethesda" roundtable earlier this week gave Xbox fans a chance to learn more about the company behind hit series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Of course, there are a number of other studios under the Bethesda banner team Xbox is also looking forward to working with. Head of Xbox, Phil...
News Xbox Confirms Plans For Summer Event Featuring More Bethesda News
It's currently in the "planning phase"
It may not be the biggest surprise, but it's good to know things are in place. Xbox has confirmed that plans are underway for an event this summer which will dive into more Bethesda specifics. During yesterday's informative roundtable presentation about Microsoft's acquisition, the two companies took a brief...
Random Power Your Dreams With This Todd Howard Xbox Packaging
If only it was real
Now that Bethesda is operating under Microsoft, there are a lot of fans wondering what might come next. Apart from 20 Bethesda titles coming to Xbox Game Pass today, the possibilities are pretty much unlimited. Xbox's very own Aaron Greenberg decided to kick things off by sharing an image of the Xbox Series X packaging with the...
News Xbox Will Deliver Exclusive Bethesda Games 'Where Game Pass Exists'
"That's our goal, that's why we're doing this"
Xbox and Bethesda are officially a thing, much like the 'will they, won't they' couple you see in every single rom-com. Together the companies are committed to delivering great games, but more specifically, they're looking to bring "great exclusive" titles to platforms that allow Xbox Game Pass. In a...
News Phil Spencer Explains Why Xbox Originally Decided To Compete Against PlayStation
"I'm not sure we wanted 'in' as much as we wanted to defend"
There's nothing better than a bit of healthy competition, and the rivalry between Sony and Microsoft over each of their games consoles ensures the systems remain fresh and unique. Over the years we've had new and meaningful additions such as Xbox Game Pass, and the acquisition of multiple...
News Share The Love With A New 'Bethesda Joins Xbox' Twitter Emoji
#BethesdaJoinsXbox
Yesterday we finally got confirmation that Bethesda had joined Xbox Game Studios, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. One small detail that went unnoticed to many following the announcement was a specific emoji available on Twitter alongside using the hashtag #BethesdaJoinsXbox. As spotted by Video Games Chronicle, the...
Talking Point What Do You Think About Certain Bethesda Games Being Xbox Exclusives?
And which games do you think it'll apply to?
So, unless you've been living under a rock, today's biggest story is that Microsoft has finally acquired Bethesda. It's been a long time coming, but we're glad to finally have official confirmation that the deal is complete. And with such a deal, some questions are starting to get answered - albeit in...
News Xbox Has Confirmed 'Some' New Bethesda Titles Will Be Exclusives
Well, there we have it
As Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda has finally gone through, the companies have confirmed that certain future titles will only be available exclusively to Xbox and PC players. In an Xbox Wire post welcoming Bethesda to Xbox Game Studios, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, stated that Xbox, PC and Game Pass "will be the best...
News Microsoft's Acquisition Of Bethesda's Parent Company Nears Completion
Update: The EU has approved the deal
Update (Mon 8th Mar, 2021 10:30 GMT): We're almost there! The EU has also approved the deal without conditions (thanks The Verge), stating that it "does not raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market." We're now just waiting on Microsoft to make an announcement that the deal has fully...
News Don't Worry, The Xbox Design Lab Will Be Back This Year
"We'll keep you posted"
Although the Xbox Series X|S was launched last November, Microsoft's console teams are still in the phase of transitioning everything across to the next generation. This includes the Xbox Design Lab, which was temporarily suspended last October. At the time, it was mentioned how the Lab was "preparing for its next...
News Over 310,000 Xbox Series Consoles Were Sold In The UK Last Year
With over 600,000 Xbox systems sold in total
They may have only launched in November, but the Xbox Series X|S has had a strong start, as a new report claims over 310,000 units were shifted in the UK alone last year. According to a report from GamesIndustry.biz, the information comes from the Entertainment Retailers Association. It’s said that...
News 343 Strengthens Marketing Team With Halo: Point Of Light Cover Artist
Will help "promote the future of Halo"
Since the delay of Halo Infinite, 343 Industries has called on some support. It was recently discovered how The Coalition might have been helping out and last year a Bungie veteran was appointed as a project lead for the game's campaign. In the latest update, the studio has now hired
News Microsoft Reveals 'Mesh' Mixed Reality Platform, Compares It To Launch Of Xbox Live
“Think about what Xbox Live did for gaming"
If you're interested in the world of Microsoft outside of Xbox, you might have seen yesterday that the company unveiled its new Mixed Reality platform called "Mesh", which "enables presence and shared experiences from anywhere – on any device – through mixed reality applications." For the record,...
News Former Journalist Seth Schiesel Joins Xbox As Director Of Executive Communications
“Together, we will continue to extend the joy and community of gaming"
Seth Schiesel, a former journalist at The New York Times, has joined Xbox as its director of executive communications. Announcing the news in a tweet, Schiesel revealed he would be transitioning from journalism to join the team over at Xbox. His hope is to “continue to...
News Here's A Look At The New Halo 3 Maps Coming To The MCC
A blast from the past
Last month, 343 teased some content for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It went on to reveal a future update for the collection would add a custom game browser and much more. In terms of Halo 3, it announced new map conte
News Xbox's Aaron Greenberg Inspires Young Fan With Special Video Call
“Hearing directly from kids like this brings so much meaning to the work we do”
In some heartwarming news, Xbox games marketing manager, Aaron Greenberg, helped inspire one young fan to continue pursuing his dream of working at Microsoft. One mom by the name of Jenessa Petersen, took to Twitter to explain how her seven year old son has a...
News Xbox Exec: No Plans For Major Event With World Premieres Anytime Soon
"Just to set expectations"
There have been some rumblings recently that Microsoft might be planning one or two gaming events in March, but Xbox's Aaron Greenberg has taken to Twitter to "set expectations" about what's on the way. Greenberg, who is GM of Xbox Games Marketing at Microsoft, was responding to an article that suggested Microsoft's...
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 Halo's Live-Action Series Is Now A Paramount Plus Exclusive
Set to premiere next year
It's been announced the Halo live-action television series will now air on Paramount Plus instead of Showtime when it lands in 2022. The series has been produced by Showtime, in partnership with 343 Industries and Amblin Television. The show stars Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief and takes place in the same universe as the...
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 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 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 Has Announced A Gaming Event, But It's Not What You Think
But still worth checking out!
Microsoft has announced a gaming event for February 23-24, with Xbox head Phil Spencer noted to make an appearance. However, instead of focusing on game reveals, the two-day showcase will focus on the background elements to Xbox gaming, such as AI agents for gaming and testing. As spotted by Thurrott, the event 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 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 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 Microsoft's GM Of Cloud Gaming Says Console Exclusive Games 'Aren't The Answer'
"The average game developer doesn’t want exclusivity"
Microsoft's head of cloud gaming James Gwertzman has been talking to Game Rant in a new interview, giving his thoughts on exclusivity and "whether console exclusive games are the answer to pushing platforms forward." In response, Gwertzman explained that he felt Microsoft has done a good job...
News Microsoft Adds Touch Controls To 13 More Xbox Game Pass Titles
A huge selection of fantastic games
As February's first wave of Xbox Game Pass titles have been announced, so has a sleuth of titles to now receive touch controls via Microsoft's cloud gaming service. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to take full advantage of the following games on their Android devices, as they've each been reworked to...
News The 2000s Console Wars Were 'Hardcore', Admits Former Xbox Boss
"I think there was a lot of competition"
Former Xbox exec Robbie Bach, who was president of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division until 2010, has been speaking a bit about his time on the Xbox team in an interview with Twitch Gaming. As part of the interview, Bach along with former Nintendo boss Reggie Fils-Aimé and former Sony Computer...
News Microsoft Working On Multiple 'Capture And Share' Improvements For Xbox Series X|S
It's "a priority for the team"
One of the most notable changes to Xbox's controller this generation is the addition of a 'share' button right in the middle of it. With this, you can instantly upload pictures and video clips to your Xbox profile and social media pages. For some users, though, it seems to be a source of frustration. The good news is...
News Xbox Series X Blu-Ray Black Colour Issue Fixed In January Update
Blu-rays will look better than ever before
Late last year after the release of the Xbox Series X, it became apparent there was an issue surrounding Blu-ray movies and how they seemed to not be portraying the colour black correctly. A recent system update is said to have rectified these issues. In a video from HDTVTest hosted by Vincent Teoh, he...
News Microsoft Will Find 'Solution' To Increase Revenue Per Xbox User, Says Industry Analyst
Business is business
Microsoft's attempt to increase the price of Xbox Live Gold was widely rejected and so it immediately reversed the decision - instead using it as an "opportunity" to announce free-to-play games would no longer require a membership. So what's the plan now that Gold's price will be staying the same? While we doubt Microsoft will...
News Phil Spencer Apologises For 'Angst And Emotion' Caused By Xbox Live Gold Price Hike
"We will learn from it"
Yesterday, Microsoft announced it would be increasing the price of its Xbox Live Gold membership. It's now gone back on that decision and even gone a step further announcing free-to-play titles will no longer require a subscription. Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, realises the initial announcement upset many people, and has now
News Free-To-Play Xbox Games Won't Require Xbox Live Gold Anymore
Update rolling out in the "coming months"
There's been a lot of discussion in the past about Microsoft potentially dropping the requirement of an Xbox Live Gold membership in order to enjoy free-to-play titles on Xbox, and today it's finally happened. Microsoft attached this to the news that it had decided against increasing the price of its Xbox...
