Tag: Microsoft
News Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
The floodgates have opened
After Xbox's promising showcase over the weekend, head honcho Phil Spencer took to the stage with IGN's Ryan McCaffrey to talk about the Xbox business, recent studio closures, and future hardware. Following on from the release of Grounded and Pentiment on the Switch, Spencer reiterated Xbox's plan to release more of its...
News Crash Bandicoot And Spyro Studio 'Toys For Bob' Is Now Officially Independent
It will partner with Xbox to publish its next game
In March, the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro developer Toys for Bob announced it would leave Activision and the Xbox team to become an independent studio. In an update on social media, it's now made this official with a profile update. In its bio description on X, it now says "We are an independent game...
News Activision Officially Announces Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6
Microsoft now has a 10-year deal with Nintendo
Ahead of a Switch "successor" announcement this fiscal year, Activision has officially announced Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This new entry is scheduled to be featured at Xbox's upcoming showcase next m
News Rumoured 'Hi-Fi Rush' Switch Port In Doubt As Microsoft Culls Tango Gameworks And Other Studios
A "reprioritization of titles and resources"
In the latest shocking blow to the gaming and developer communities, Microsoft has announced a series of studio closures and consolidations, including the shuttering of Tango Gameworks, the developers behind 2023's acclaimed Hi-Fi Rush. The game was released recently on PlayStation and, much like the...
News Ratings Board PEGI Lists Hi-Fi Rush For Nintendo Switch
Could it be..?
The 'Pan European Game Information' board (or PEGI, for short) has listed Hi-Fi Rush for the Nintendo Switch following the game's launch on PS5 last month. The listing comes with a release date of 30th April 2024, but hones
Random Latest Fan-Made 'Banjo-Threeie' Trailer Very Nearly Had Us Going
It ain't real, folks!
For years decades now, Banjo-Kazooie fans have been clamouring for a new entry in the dormant platforming franchise, and while 2008's Nuts & Bolts was certainly likeable in its own way, there's just no escaping that niggling thought in the back of our minds: we need 'Banjo-Threeie'. We're not sure what Microsoft is...
News Minecraft Marketplace Adds Kung Fu Panda DLC
Po and friends are back
Mojang's insanely popular survival-crafting game Minecraft is celebrating the new Kung Fu Panda movie with some new themed DLC. The DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda DLC can be purchased from the Minecraft Marketplace and is an "adventure map" filled with "action-packed battles, epic showdowns from the movies, and pand-tastic co-op...
News Moon Studios Isn't Making 'Ori 3' Yet But It Has "Ideas"
"Right now, we are completely focused on No Rest for the Wicked"
Moon Studios, developer of the platforming Metroidvanias Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, is busy working on its upcoming action RPG No Rest for the Wicked. But in a new interview with Game In
News Sea Of Thieves Could Lead To More Xbox Exclusives On Other Platforms
It's reportedly a "key test" for Microsoft
Microsoft is currently in the process of rolling out select Xbox exclusive on the Switch and PlayStation 5, and apparently, one particular upcoming title could decide if it releases more games on these platforms in the future. The Verge's senior editor Tom Warren claims the PlayStation 5 release Sea of...
Rumour Xbox May Be About To Join The Switch In The Handheld Space
Competition is good!
Since the Swich's launch and subsequent success (139 million units sold, anyone?), a vast variety of technology manufacturers have dipped their toes into the handheld market, including the likes of Steam, Ayaneo, Lenovo, and Asus. If recent rumours are to be believed, however, it seems like Microsoft might be wanting to get in...
News Crash Bandicoot Dev Toys For Bob Splits From Activision & Xbox, Goes Independent
"We're thrilled"
It's been another wild week for the video game industry and it seems we're not done just yet. After mass layoffs at companies like PlayStation and Electronic Arts, we've now got developers splitting from their owner groups. Adding to this is the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro developer Toys for Bob, which has now announced it's leaving...
Talking Point Which Xbox Games Would You Like To See Come To Switch?
Halo, is it me you're looking for?
After what felt like months of rumours, Microsoft and Nintendo finally put us out of our misery during the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase by confirming that, yes, select Microsoft-published Xbox games will be making their way to the Nintendo Switch to join the likes of Banjo-Kazooie on NSO, and the Ori duo...
Random Some Rare Fans Are Upset About The Latest Switch Online Announcement
"Rare Replay should have been announced on Switch"
The latest Partner Showcase from Nintendo was packed with all sorts of surprises and another standout announcement was the news five more classic Rare games would be coming to the Switch Online service. These titles include games like Killer Instinct and Blast Corps, and while it's welcome news for...
News Two Xbox Games Get Nintendo Switch Release Dates
And one is arriving tomorrow
If there's one thing we all expected to see at today's Partner Showcase, it was the reveal of a couple of Xbox titles coming to Switch. And we didn't just get one — we got two, with release dates! Two of Obsidian's Xbox exclusives are jumping ship in 2024 and coming to Switch — the excellent narrative RPG Pentiment...
News Five More Classic Rareware Games Come To Nintendo Switch Online Today
Blast (Corps) from the past!
As part of today's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Nintendo has announced that five of the now-Microsoft-owned Rare's titles will be available today via Nintendo Switch Online. The games are: NES Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll RC PRO-AM Super Nintendo Battletoads in Battlemaniacs Killer Instinct Nintendo 64 (
News Xbox Game Pass Really Isn't Coming To Nintendo Switch
Microsoft reiterates it will remain exclusive to Xbox
There's been conversation about Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service potentially being released on rival platforms, but at the end of last year, the company's gaming CEO Phil Spencer ruled this out. If you were hopeful this might change one day, it seems not. In Xbox's latest business...
News Microsoft To Bring Four Xbox Exclusives To Other Consoles, But Won't Name Them
Platforms also haven't been confirmed
After weeks of rumours, Xbox has finally confirmed that it will be bringing more Xbox exclusives to other consoles. What consoles, and what games, is anyone's guess. During today's Official Xbox Podcast, the Head of Xbox and CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer confirmed that four titles that are currently...
News Minecraft Reveals New Hostile Mob "The Bogged"
And there's also some new DLC
The sandbox game Minecraft continues to expand and the latest reveal is a new hostile mob. It's called "The Bogged" and is a new poison skeleton mob that will be added in the upcoming 1.21 Update. It's available now in testing as well. Here's a bit about it from the official announcement, along with a look in the video...
News Xbox Exclusives Hi-Fi RUSH & Pentiment Reportedly Coming To "Rival Consoles"
"With other first-party titles also under consideration"
Rumours have been circulating recently about Microsoft potentially bringing select games to competitor platforms and Xbox has now confirmed its business update will take place this Thursday. Along with this, a new report from Th
News Microsoft's Xbox Layoffs Hit Crash Bandicoot And Spyro Developer 'Toys For Bob'
It reportedly includes an office closure
Just weeks ago, Xbox's owner Microsoft announced mass layoffs, and now in an update, it seems the Crash Bandicoot, Spyro and Skylanders developer Toys for Bob has been hit. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, 86 workers will be affected at the developer's office in Novato, Cali
News Microsoft To Share "Vision For The Future Of Xbox" Next Week
Following rumours about select Xbox games going multi-platform
There have been industry rumours recently about Microsoft potentially bringing select games to competitor platforms and last weekend it escalated, with games media outlets and key figures claiming Xbox could potentially go "all in" on a new multi-platform model. It's got to the point
News Hi-Fi Rush Datamine Lends Weight To Switch Port Rumours
"Rock Out! Anywhere"
It's always rumour season in the video game industry, and one of the biggest regarding the Switch thatisn't about the Switch successor focuses on a critically acclaimed Xbox title coming to the hybrid console. Those rumours — which seem to point at Tango Gameworks' excellent action title Hi-Fi Rush — might have a bit more...
News Call Of Duty Exec Is Appointed As Blizzard's New President
Times are a-changin'
Following the departure of Mike Ybarra from Blizzard just last week, Microsoft has announced that Johanna Faries has now been appointed as the new President of the formidable subsidiary. Faries is currently serving as General Manager for the Call of Duty franchise, with her new role at Blizzard effective from February 5th,...
News Microsoft Lays Off 1,900 Xbox, Bethesda And Activision Blizzard Employees
It's been a rough start for the industry in 2024
Some more industry news has broken this week, and this time it relates to Microsoft's Xbox division, which last year finalised its acquisition of Activision Blizzard and has in recent times reiterated its support for Nintendo platforms. In a message from the Xbox and Microsoft gaming boss Phil...
News Microsoft: ActiBlizz Acquisition Gives Xbox A Chance To Be A "Good Publisher" On All Platforms
"We're excited about that acquisition closing"
Following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, there's been a lot of debate about Xbox published titles on other platforms, so what's the latest? Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has told Bloomberg this week how he feels Xbox has a better chance of being a "good publisher" for all platforms...
Rumour Microsoft Will Bring Critically Acclaimed Exclusive To "Competitor System" This Year
"It's going to be met with a lot of excitement"
Update #2 [Tue 9th Jan, 2024 00:25 GMT]: To add fuel to the fire, an Australian Classification Board rating for 'Project 2022A' has been discovered. It was rated 'M' for mature on 15th December 2022, the applicant is ZeniMax Media, Shinji Mikami is referenced and there are multiple platforms listed...
Rumour Rare & Microsoft's Sea Of Thieves Could Be Sailing Onto Switch
Plundered
The Xbox and Microsoft rumours are flooding the news at the moment, aren't they? And there's another one sailing into view — Microsoft exclusive Sea of Thieves, developed by Rare, is reportedly being considered for Switch and PlayStation. Giant Bomb and Game Mess Mornings host Jeff Grubb claims that he's heard that "that was the one...
News Activision Blizzard's Bobby Kotick Will Step Down Later This Month
While ex-Nintendo employee Jill Braff will lead ZeniMax/Bethesda
Following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard earlier this year (finally, right?), it's been announced that Bobby Kotick will step down from his role as CEO on December 29th, 2023 (thanks, Eurogamer). Kotick became CEO of Activision all the way back in 1991 and was integral...
News Xbox Acknowledges Fan Requests For New Banjo-Kazooie Game
Phil Spencer: "Banjo fans, I hear you"
Rare's famous bear and bird duo Banjo-Kazooie made a return via Nintendo's Switch Online service last year, and ever since then, fans have been calling for a proper comeback. There have even been some rumours doing the rounds about a possible revival, so what are the chances of something like this ever...
News Phil Spencer: There Are "No Plans" To Bring Xbox Game Pass To Nintendo Platforms
Microsoft's Gaming CEO provides an update
Earlier this week, Xbox's CFO Tim Stuart claimed there was a "mission" to bring Game Pass to "every screen" it possibly could including Nintendo devices. Now, during an interview with Windows Central, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has provided an update, mentioning how there are actually "no plans to...
News Xbox Reiterates Interest In Bringing Game Pass To "Every Screen" Including Nintendo Platforms
"It's a bit of a change of strategy"
Microsoft and Xbox have mentioned on a number of occasions how they want to make gaming more accessible than ever before, and during a recent appearance at the Wells Fargo TMT Summit earlier this week, Xbox CFO Tim Stuart reiterated this. While he admits it's a "bit of a change of strategy" compared to Xbox's...
News Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition Officially Announced
More news coming in 'early 2024'
Update [Wed 29th Nov, 2023 15:15 GMT]: Well, that didn't last long, did it? After Beyond Good and Evil 20th Anniversary Edition was accidentally listed on the Microsoft Store and briefly made available to Ubisoft+ subscribers, Ubisoft itself has now confirmed that it is indeed the real deal (shock). In a post on X...
News Microsoft Will Think Of Nintendo Users As "Part Of The Xbox Community" Going Forward
Phil Spencer wants an "equal" future
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has been busy promoting the tech giant's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and as part of this, he spoke to Japanese outlet Famitsu about how it will work with other platforms going forward. In regards to Xbox's future, Phil and the team want to think of Nintendo and...
News Xbox Developer Open To A Switch Release Of Pentiment
"I think it's possible"
We've heard how Xbox wants to make gaming more accessible and with this in mind, Obsidian's studio design director Josh Sawyer has now responded to a question about the idea of the medieval role-playing title Pentiment coming to Switch. Speaking to TouchArcade, he mentioned how there's nothing that would prevent it...
News Doug Bowser: Nintendo Has A "Great Relationship" With Microsoft
"We're looking forward to that partnership continuing"
If you were curious to know if there was any bad blood between Nintendo and Microsoft after certain Xbox email leaks, apparently not. In a new interview with Inverse, Nintendo of America's president Doug Bowser insists the creator of Mario maintains a "great relationship with Microsoft" and its...
News Xbox Boss Wants Nintendo Fans To Feel "100% Part Of The Call Of Duty Nation"
"The goal is 100% parity across all platforms"
After a lot of courtroom drama, Microsoft last week announced it had officially acquired Activision Blizzard as well as mobile giant King. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has now appeared on the Official Xbox Podcast to discuss the acquisition and Call of Duty has once again come up in conversation. Phil...
News It's Over, Microsoft Has Officially Acquired Activision Blizzard
It's done, says Mr. Frodo
Well, that's that, folks. After Microsoft initially announced its intention to acquire gaming giant Activision Blizzard on January 18th, 2022, it's only bloomin' gone and closed the deal. The news comes after the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved the proposed acquisition following Microsoft's amendment...
Soapbox Nintendo, "THE Prime Asset" In Xbox's Content Quest? It's Only Natural
But it ain't happening
The FTC case examining Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, depending on your perspective, is either the gift that keeps on giving or an eye-scrapingly dull, never-ending saga. Still, you can't deny that it's turned up some tasty behind-the-scenes morsels to chew on, giving gamers a fascinating glimpse of the...
News Internal Xbox Email Details Desire To Acquire Nintendo
“THE prime asset for us in Gaming”
An internal email from Xbox's Phil Spencer in 2020 has revealed that the company was (and potentially still is) considering Nintendo as a potential acquisition. Revealed as part of a deluge of leaked, unredacted documents from the FTC Vs. Microsoft case in the United States (the original of which appears to...
Random Xbox Marketing Wanted To "Avoid Calling Switch A Console"
Wish upon a Star(field)
In an attempt to ensure that Microsoft's Xbox is easily differentiated from the Switch, the company once attempted to make a shift in terminology when it comes to what constitutes a "console" — because that couldn't possibly lead to confusion, right? In a 2019 email from Xbox's head of marketing, Aaron Greenberg (and...
News Microsoft Given All-Clear In The US To Acquire Activision Blizzard
Call of Duty is back on the menu
Update #3 [Sun 16th Jul, 2023 16:30 BST]: Microsoft gaming head Phil Spencer today confirmed a binding agreement with Sony has been made to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This is a 10-year deal, as confirmed by Stephen Totilo of Axios. "We are pleased to announce...
News Minecraft's Switch Version Earns More Revenue Than Xbox And PlayStation
Apparently it's "four times as big as" Xbox's earnings
Minecraft is still insanely popular and has been a huge form of revenue for Microsoft since its acquisition of Mojang. While PC and mobile is still seemingly the most popular way to play the game, during the final part of the 'Microsoft v FTC' hearing today, it's been revealed Nintendo's...
News Microsoft CEO Says He Would "Love To Get Rid Of" Exclusives On Consoles
While blaming Sony for shaping the market
Even from a Nintendo perspective, there are all sorts of juicy insights, quotes and documents coming out of the Microsoft v FTC hearing. The latest day in the ongoing courtroom battle has briefly focused on exclusivity. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadalla admitted in his own testimony he would "love" if Xbox could...
News Activision CEO Made 'A Bad Judgement' In Not Supporting The Nintendo Switch More
Console has sold more than 125 million units
During day four of what is already proving to be a surprisingly gripping trial relating to Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick took to the stand and stated his deep regret in not supporting the Nintendo Switch more over the course of its lifespan so far. As...
News PlayStation Boss Doesn't Think Call Of Duty Appeals To Nintendo's Core Audience
You know, the fans who enjoy "Mario and Zelda"
As part of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft's aim is to bring Call of Duty to as many platforms as possible. This includes Nintendo's devices, with a 10-year legal agreement already penned. The only thing Xbox has got to overcome first is the FTC and Sony's attempts to block the deal. The...
News Xbox Boss Says Call Of Duty Would Run "Relatively Great Compared To Other Switch Games"
Microsoft previously announced a "10-year commitment"
In December last year, Microsoft entered a "10-year commitment" to bring the Call of Duty series to Nintendo platforms if its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard passed. There have been many questions about if the series could even run on Nintendo hardware, and now during the current...
News Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition Has Been Officially Blocked In The UK
Is Microsoft's deal with Nintendo in jeopardy?
Microsoft's planned acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard has been officially blocked in the UK by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The $68.7 billion acquisition was blocked on grounds that it would "alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced...
News Microsoft "Confident" Activision Could Optimise Call Of Duty For Nintendo Switch
Including titles like Warzone & Modern Warfare II
Believe it or not but Activision's Call of Duty series is actually coming back to Nintendo platforms after a 10-year commitment was finalised in February. Since then, Microsoft has mentioned how it aims to bring the "best version" of the Call of Duty to Nintendo device
News Microsoft Wants To Bring The "Best Version" Of Call Of Duty To Nintendo Platforms
Expect the same experience across all systems
Last week, Microsoft put pen to paper, announcing its 10-year commitment to bring the Call of Duty franchise to Nintendo platforms is now legally binding. Microsoft president Brad Smith followed this up by mentioning how the tech giant would ensure the series works exactly as people expect on other...
News Call Of Duty Will Run As You "Would Expect" On Nintendo Platforms, Says Microsoft
The 10-year commitment is now legally binding
Earlier this week, Microsoft officially locked in a deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms for the next 10 years. Microsoft president Brad Smith has now answered some questions regarding this new deal. While Smith admits he's "not the right person" to dive into a discussion about system...
