Microsoft dropped an absolute bombshell when the tech behemoth announced that they would be acquiring video game publishing giant Activision Blizzard for a whopping $68.7 Billion USD. The console manufacturer has already offered a statement as to what this will mean for Call of Duty - though it is rather confusing. On this week’s KitGuru Games, we will analyse Microsoft's statement, and what we think it actually means for the future of the franchise - all corporate speak removed...
Read More »Phil Spencer reveals Call of Duty’s fate on PlayStation
When Microsoft first announced that they were going to acquire Activision for 68.7 Billion, one of the first thoughts that crossed many’s minds was “what does this mean for Call of Duty?” Microsoft’s CEO of Gaming, Phil Spencer, has now answered this question. In a tweet, the CEO of Gaming …
Read More »Activision Blizzard CEO will leave company after Microsoft deal closes
Microsoft recently dropped a bombshell on the video games industry as they announced that the Xbox manufacturer will be acquiring the publishing behemoth Activision Blizzard. But what does this mean for the company’s highly controversial CEO? We now have an answer. Bobby Kotick has served as the CEO of Activision …
Read More »Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard for almost $70 Billion
Microsoft has been the force behind many industry-shaking moments: from the original announcement of Xbox Game Pass to the reveal that they had bought Zenimax Media (i.e. Bethesda). Even so, the recent announcement made by Microsoft may be the biggest piece of industry news ever.
Read More »The Series X|S is the fastest-selling Xbox generation of all time
Gaming is bigger than it's ever been, both in terms of mindshare as well as profits. Whether in consequence, or due in part to, Microsoft is feeling the positive effects of the current gaming boom, with Phil Spencer revealing that the Series X|S is the fastest selling Xbox console family …
Read More »Xbox to make ‘proactive adjustments’ to relationship with Activision following allegations
Things are not going well at Activision Blizzard right now, as more information has come to light regarding the company's internal practices and calls for CEO, Bobby Kotick, to resign have grown louder. This week, we heard from PlayStation's Jim Ryan, who spoke up against what is happening at the …
Read More »Xbox head wants industry-wide “legal emulation”
As the video games industry matures, more and more older titles are being left behind. While some publishers will remaster or re-release these older titles on newer consoles, hundreds of games are being left behind with no legal way to play them. Xbox head Phil Spencer has now commented on …
Read More »Xbox head Phil Spencer calls current NFTs “exploitative”
NFTs are currently one of the most controversial topics in gaming, with the blockchain technology being scrutinised by some, while adopted by others. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, has now given his thoughts on NFT’s and claims that “some of the creative that I see today feels more exploitive …
Read More »Xbox Game Pass is said to be “very, very sustainable”
Xbox Game Pass represents one of the biggest gambles made by Microsoft when it comes to the Xbox ecosystem. Deprioritising purchasing games and instead focusing on bolstering an ever-expanding library for one monthly cost is certainly ambitious. It does seem to be paying off, however, as according to Xbox, Game …
Read More »Xbox will not make a VR headset, company reiterates
Microsoft has invested in many fringe technologies over the years. The company has created the AR Hololens headset, the Xbox Kinect and more, however it seems that when it comes to the VR space, Microsoft isn’t interested. Though nothing new, the console manufacturer has once again reiterated the fact that …
Read More »Xbox is “definitely not done” buying game studios
Microsoft has been on an acquisition spree, spending billions of dollars to acquire more than a dozen studios in the past few years. Even so, the console manufacture is not ready to stop now, as Microsoft is “definitely not done” acquiring game studios. In 2018, Microsoft surprised many fans when …
Read More »Xbox has partnered with over 200 Japanese developers
While Sony and Microsoft have gone back and forth over the generations when it comes to succeeding as the top platform, one country where the winner has always been predetermined is Japan – with Xbox’s presence nearly non-existent in the country. According to Xbox’s Phil Spencer however, Sony’s home turf …
Read More »Xbox Game Pass reportedly surpasses 30 million subscribers
It has been made quite clear that Microsoft is going all in on Xbox Game Pass, viewing it as the future of the Xbox brand (and gaming as a whole). The console manufacturer has seen great success, amassing millions of subscribers, however a new slip of the tongue may have …
Read More »Xbox Game Pass won’t be coming to rival consoles any time soon
There has been a lot of speculation around Microsoft bringing Xbox Game Pass to other console platforms over the years. The Nintendo Switch in particular has been at the forefront of these rumours, possibly with an xCloud powered version of Game Pass for the handheld console. Unfortunately, for the time …
Read More »Future Xbox controller upgrade to take inspiration from PS5 DualSense
While both Microsoft and Sony released new controllers for their respective next-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X/S controller was an incremental upgrade over the Xbox One gamepad, while the PS5's DualSense controller went with a more ambitious design and feature set. Now, Microsoft is looking to make some bigger improvements …
Read More »Xbox head says studio acquisitions are a ‘healthy part’ of games industry
It is no secret that Microsoft is constantly in acquisition mode at this point and is always keeping an eye out for studios that can bring additional value to Xbox Game Pass. After the Bethesda acquisition, a lot of people questioned whether larger publishers buying up studios is a good …
Read More »Xbox xCloud streaming could come to Smart TVs next year
Xbox head, Phil Spencer, is continuing to do the rounds at press outlets to discuss all things Xbox and promote the recent Series X/S launch. In a recent interview published this week, we learned about what's next for xCloud in 2021, with Microsoft's game streaming service set to become much …
Read More »Phil Spencer insists everything is fine at 343 Industries with Halo Infinite
Over the last few months, there has been some concern regarding 343 Industries, employee turnover and the state of Halo Infinite. Xbox head, Phil Spencer, finally tackled these online rumours in an interview this week, insisting that everything is fine. Speaking with Gamespot, Phil Spencer touched on the recent high-profile …
Read More »Xbox Game Pass is “sustainable” and will not increase in price, claims Phil Spencer
During the final years of the Xbox One and the start of the upcoming Series X and S, Microsoft appears to be betting big on its game subscription service ‘Xbox Game Pass’. For £7.99 a month, Xbox owners can get their hands on a number of titles, including day-and-date releases …
Read More »Porting future Xbox Games to Switch is “unsustainable,” claims Phil Spencer
Over the course of this generation, we have seen a number of first-party Xbox titles make their way onto the Nintendo Switch. With the likes of Ori and the Blind forest finding its way onto Nintendo’s hybrid handheld, Microsoft appeared to be willing to bring its games to the Switch …
Read More »Phil Spencer says Xbox can recoup Bethesda investment without multiplatform releases
There has been plenty of discussion recently around Microsoft's acquisition of Zenimax and Bethesda. One of the biggest questions has of course been whether or not future Fallout or Elder Scrolls games will come to PlayStation. Phil Spencer had a few words to say on that front during an interview …
Read More »Microsoft will release new Xbox hardware beyond Series S/X
As each console generation ends and the next begins, conversations surrounding whether ‘this’ upcoming console generation will be the last always manages to surface. Be it due to the launch of smartphones or some other reason, the discussion is in many ways as old as consoles itself. Still, with cloud …
Read More »Phil Spencer confirms more Xbox Series X platform news coming in August
The Xbox Game Studios July showcase has come and gone, leaving us all to wonder what could be next. Rumours have indicated that the next Xbox announcement stream will focus on platform features and now, thanks to a new interview with Phil Spencer, we seem to have confirmation of that, …
Read More »Xbox will have “a good strong showing of Japanese created games”
In just a couple days, Microsoft will be hosting its Xbox Games Showcase, unveiling an hour’s worth of next-gen games. Though PlayStation is most often associated with Japanese developed titles, Phil Spencer has stated that he is “proud of what we're going to show on July 23” when it comes …
Read More »Games planned for 2021 are more likely to be impacted by COVID-19 delays
There has already been a few game delays this year due to the coronavirus situation, some of which we don't yet know about. According to Xbox head, Phil Spencer, there is still more to come, as next year's titles are more likely to be impacted than what was scheduled for …
Read More »Phil Spencer announces that next-gen game reveals are coming soon
Recent rumours circulating the internet have suggested that Microsoft might be prepping for a May event, where the console manufacturer will reveal more information on the upcoming Xbox Series X and perhaps even the much-rumoured Lockhart. It would appear as though Phil Spencer himself has now corroborated the rumours, claiming …
Read More »Gears of War confirmed to be receiving Xbox Series X “enhancements”
With the release of the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, the concept of the ‘pro patch’ was introduced. These patches were released by developers and were introduced in order to allow older games to take advantage of the higher-end console hardware. Thanks to Phil Spencer, we now know …
Read More »VR is on the cards for Xbox’s future, as Phil Spencer clarifies previous comments
A few months ago, head of Xbox Phil Spencer stated in an interview that VR wasn’t a focus for the console manufacturer, and that Xbox is “responding to what our customers are asking for and… nobody’s asking for VR”. Since then, Spencer has returned to clarify the situation, claiming that …
Read More »Xbox head wants to focus on better frame rates with next-gen games
One of the bigger disappointments back at the start of this console generation was the lack of support for 60 frames per second gameplay. The situation improved once the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X came out, but weak CPUs continued to hold frame rates back. While developers won't be …
Read More »In the wake of PlayStation’s announcement, Microsoft confirms its E3 presence
Sony once again took many people by surprise when it announced late last night that the company would not be showing its face at 2020’s E3 expo. While Microsoft’s plans for the expo were unconfirmed until now, the Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, took the opportunity to officially confirm that …
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