Tag Archives: microsoft

The CMA may have opted to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard but Microsoft is showing no signs of backing down. The company is already preparing to appeal the ruling and in the meantime, the company is also still signing 10-year deals guaranteeing access to major IP to other cloud …

Ever since Microsoft debuted its Xbox Game Pass subscription service we have seen the console manufacturer’s legacy Xbox Live Gold fall somewhat out of relevancy. Despite this, Xbox Live Gold and its Games with Gold program remains – though with a noticeable decrease in the quality of its offerings. Fortunately, …

Ever since the release of their first game back in 2014, Tango Gameworks have been known for developing tense 3rd-person survival horror titles. That said, in the past few years the team has spread its wings, creating an open world action-horror first-person shooter (Ghostwire Tokyo) and most recently a comedic …

Microsoft held its quarterly earnings call this week, revealing the latest batch of stats on how Xbox is doing. As expected, Xbox console sales are indeed down, but the company is seeing continued success in gaming subscriptions, with revenue nearing $1 billion for the quarter. Microsoft did not announce a …

Ever since its initial launch back in 2020, the team at Asobo Studio have continually improved all aspects of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, with various tech and content updates making for a much more complete and bespoke experience. MSFS’s 13th World Update has now gone live, bringing bespoke recreations of Oceania …

While Microsoft was able to convince the UK's Competition & Markets Authority that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard would not harm the console gaming market, it would seem the CMA was not convinced that the deal wouldn't impede competition in the cloud gaming market. 

Grounded is one of the more interesting titles published by Xbox Game Studios. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, this ‘Honey I Shrunk the Kids’ styled survival game spent many years in Early Access, with the title finally going 1.0 in September of last year. The team have continued to work on …

First announced all the way back in 2020, Forza Motorsport is one of the biggest Xbox titles planned to be released in 2023. Ahead of its launch however, the team at Turn 10 have released a new dev update, confirming that the much-anticipated racer is in the ‘polishing’ phase of …

HI-Fi Rush might be the biggest surprise of 2023 so far, with the Xbox console exclusive game getting announced and released on the same day to great fanfare thanks to its unique gameplay mechanics and punchy art style. Unfortunately, despite its critical success, according to insiders the game did not …

The CMA has set a 26th of April deadline to announce its final decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The CMA has already changed its initial stance, finding that the deal would not harm competition in the console space. As it turns out, the Xbox team is also …

Xbox Game Pass has proven to be quite a success for Microsoft, with the subscription-based service adding a bunch of games on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, as is the case with such services, each month also sees the removal of a number of titles. Come the end of April, subscribers …

Twice a month Microsoft updates its Game Pass library with a number of new and exciting games. For the second half of April, the console manufacturer has now detailed the full list of titles dropping onto the service over the next two weeks – including the likes of Minecraft Legends …

343 Industries has gone through some major changes this year. A round of layoffs at Microsoft in early 2023 saw the majority of the campaign team let go and other major studio leads have also departed the studio in recent months. Now, Frank O'Connor, the franchise director for Halo, is …

There is no denying that the success of the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck has helped to inspire other manufacturers to get in on the handheld market. One company which seems to be tinkering with the idea is Microsoft – with a new video showcasing a Windows 11 UI designed …

It's nice to be able to personalise something to make it your own. Last October, Xbox Design Lab responded to fan requests by introducing the Xbox Elite Series 2 to its customisation options. Now, Xbox is taking it to the next level by announcing a new range of colours for …

Earlier this year, Xbox began rolling out PC Game Pass to new countries in preview form. Now, the ‘preview' period has come to an end, with Game Pass now officially available in 40 additional countries, greatly expanding the service's reach. PC Game Pass has seen a lot of growth in …

As part of its effort to get the CMA on board with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has signed a number of 10-year deals, not only guaranteeing Call of Duty on other console platforms but all Xbox first-party titles for various cloud services. The latest 10-year cloud support deal …

Microsoft’s planned purchase of Activision Blizzard is still ongoing, but that has not stopped the console manufacturer from engaging in other acquisitions, with Bethesda now having acquired the Budapest-based Nemesys Games. As reported by Timur222, the Budapest-based Nemesys Games has been acquired by Bethesda for an unknown sum, with the …

Recently, we learned that Xbox-exclusive, Quantum Break, is due to leave Xbox Game Pass this month. At the time, it was theorised that this was due to licensing issues, or perhaps Remedy buying back the IP from Microsoft as it did with Alan Wake back in 2019. Now, Microsoft has …

As previous reports claimed, Microsoft is launching an Xbox Series X Diablo IV bundle on the game's launch day. Besides the console and the game, players will also get some in-game items with this bundle, including a mount and an armour skin. If you want to play Diablo IV on …

Ever since Microsoft debuted its Xbox Game Pass subscription service we have seen the console manufacturer’s legacy Xbox Live Gold fall somewhat out of relevancy. Despite this, Xbox Live Gold and its Games with Gold program remains – though with a noticeable decrease in the quality of its offerings. This …

We've seen standard black and white versions of the Xbox Elite Series 2 controllers already but now, more options are going to be available. This week, Xbox revealed new Red and Blue colourways of the controller.  The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller will now be available in Red and …

Chances are if you've been a new subscriber to Xbox Game Pass in recent years, you've had an opportunity to get one month of subscription time for just $1 or £1. This offer was widely used and has aided in Game Pass growth across console and PC. However, all good …

The CMA has published its latest update into its ongoing investigation into Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. While previously, the regulator seemed to have many concerns, it has now “narrowed its scope” of issues with the deal and no longer feels that it would “result in a substantial lessening …

With each passing year we have seen physical media decrease in popularity, with both Sony and Microsoft leaning into it by creating discless versions of their current-gen systems. That said, there is still very much a market for physical game discs – though on Xbox in particular this has been …

Live service games are all the rage nowadays, with many studios vying to have a hit which could last for a decade or more. One game which is well on its way to this milestone is Sea of Thieves. First released 5 years ago back in 2018, the team at …

Last year, the EU announced law changes that will force Google and Apple to allow third-party stores on iOS and Android devices. Now, it looks like Microsoft is preparing to capitalise on this opportunity with its own mobile Xbox store.  In an interview with the Financial Times this week, Xbox …

While we've known for a while now that Sony has been in talks with the CMA to express concerns about Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we haven't heard much about studios speaking out in defence of the acquisition. That changed today, with the CMA's filings being updated with responses …

Just recently, we heard that Sony is developing a PS5 Pro console, indicating that the PlayStation 6 should arrive sometime between 2027 and 2028. Now, regulatory filings have confirmed that Microsoft is also working on its next generation of Xbox hardware and services.  The FTC is currently suing Microsoft to …

In recent weeks, Microsoft has signed legal agreements to bring Activision Blizzard titles to additional platforms, including Nintendo consoles and Nvidia's rival cloud gaming service, GeForce Now. Microsoft is looking to pile on here with additional deals with competing companies. While Sony isn't playing ball with Microsoft's 10-year agreement, other …