Project Spark, Microsoft's ‘game within a game' creation software has finally entered open beta on the Xbox One after a month of closed testing on the console, Developer, Team Dakota has announced. The PC version on the other hand is still stuck in closed beta, despite people receiving invites since December. …
Read More »Console makers catching on to VR trend
Though you could argue that Nintendo has been well ahead of the curve with the creation of the 3Ds (technically a secondary, 3D display), Sony has always shown the most interest in the future of virtual reality technology – second of course to Oculus itself. In-fact at GDC this week, …
Read More »Microsoft may launch Office for iPad this month
Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., may unveil a version of Office software suite for Apple iPad media tablet later this month. The set of programs will help Microsoft to boost its revenue in case users of the iPad find the Office useful and necessary. The world’s largest …
Read More »Microsoft to waive Windows Phone fee for Indian smartphone vendors
In a bid to get a share of one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone markets, Microsoft Corp. plans to waive the license fee for Windows Phone operating systems for two Indian smartphone manufacturers. The move is a rather unprecedented one, but it was necessary to ink contracts with the Indian …
Read More »Titanfall launch botched by six hour Xbox Live outage
Titanfall has done well for itself, the new IP released to a swarm of good reviews and it looked like the launch would go off without a hitch, unfortunately Microsoft's Xbox Live service wasn't feeling up to the task yesterday as it went down for six hours, stopping many gamers …
Read More »Meet Microsoft’s new first party studio: LXP
Microsoft has big plans for internal development and has pushed them forward with the creation of a new first party studio, known as Leap Experience Pioneers, featuring a logo that looks rather similar to a certain flying/falling Austrian of recent fame. Just under a week ago, Microsoft filed a new …
Read More »How many CPU’s does it take to run a Microsoft stand?
During the second week in March, hundreds of stands, spread across dozens of halls, all scream for your attention. So how many computers does it take to run a Microsoft stand at CeBIT? While the familiar brands we all know from the PC industry populate halls 14 to 18, the …
Read More »Analyst: Microsoft will offer Kinect-free version of Xbox One in 2015
While Microsoft Corp.’s Kinect 2 sensor is significantly better than its predecessor and can enable not only new types of games, but new usage models for the Xbox One game console in general, it also makes the new system more expensive and thus less popular. Moreover, many consumer functions of …
Read More »Games with Gold is ‘fundamentally different’ to PS+
SXSW was on this weekend and Microsoft Sudios Vice President, Phil Spencer, was in attendance speaking about Xbox's Games with Gold program that launched last year. During his speech, Spencer noted that Microsoft's program is supposed to be “fundamentally different” to PS+. Playstation + offers subscribers an instant library of …
Read More »Microsoft made awesome Xbox One’s for Titanfall devs
If you thought that the limited edition, white Xbox One consoles that Microsoft gave out to those that helped develop the console were pretty, wait till you have a good look at the new Titanfall branded one that the software giant is giving out Respawn developers. It blows the white …
Read More »DirectX 12 confirmed for GDC unveiling
We knew something big was happening with DirectX at the Games Developer Conference this year, since the brief for the event was posted on the official event planner site. However this is the first time we've seen anything about it involving the next version of DirectX. Initially it just sounded …
Read More »Microsoft’s Cortana voice assistant described, caught on video
It is not a secret that Microsoft Corp. is preparing to finally roll-out a voice assistant called Cortana along with the upcoming update for Windows Phone 8.1 operating system. While the assistant is supposed to compete with Apple’s Siri as well as Google’s Google Now services, the newly released information …
Read More »Bill Gates, Satya Nadella opposed move to buy Nokia – report
Microsoft Corp.’s acquisition of Nokia Corp.’s devices and services division is indisputably one of the most important deals in the history of the two companies. Nonetheless, this does not mean that the decision was initially supported by everyone at Microsoft. Apparently, Bill Gates, a co-founder of the software giant, and …
Read More »Windows 8.1 spring update 2014 goes gold, on-track for April
Microsoft Corp.’s Windows engineering team has released Windows 8.1 spring update 2014 to manufacturing, according to a media report. The new update will be released early next month and will bring a number of improvements in terms of feature-set as well as fix bugs, incorporate updates, enhance security and so …
Read More »Microsoft pushes big Xbox One update ahead of Titanfall
Just days out from the release of one of the Xbox One's biggest launches of the year, Microsoft has rolled out a big update that makes communication with friends easier, as well as adding 5.1 surround sound via analogue connection and better integration of the smart glass feature. There's a …
Read More »Xbox Live to come to Android and iOS?
Microsoft has Xbox Live features included in the Windows Phone OS, in-fact, you can even earn achievements for your account on some mobile games but now the company wants to make Xbox Live cross platform by bringing the functionality to Android and iOS devices. Some details of the plan were …
Read More »Microsoft announces changes to executive team
Microsoft Corp. on Monday announced significant changes to the leadership team. As a result of the changes, the software giant will lose Tony Bates and Tami Reller, who played significant roles at Microsoft in the recent years. Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft, wants to ensure that the senior …
Read More »Dual-booting Windows Phone and Android handsets to come this year
Karbonn Mobiles, an Indian mobile phone manufacturer is set to release dual OS phones at some point this year, these devices will run both Windows Phone and Android with Microsoft's blessing according to Company Chairman, Sudhir Hasija, who told The Times of India that “Microsoft has eased the regulations and …
Read More »Microsoft to offer free Windows 8.1 with Bing operating system
Microsoft Corp. is reportedly working on free versions of Windows operating system. The initial product is expected to be called Windows 8.1 with Bing and will mostly be an experimental one. The software giant supposedly wants to investigate how it can monetize its OSes without charging computer makers or end-users …
Read More »Microsoft to continue to use ‘Nokia’ and ‘Lumia’ brands
Nokia has been one of the most recognized brands in the last 15 – 20 years and it will not disappear from the market of phones after Microsoft Corp. acquires devices and services division of Nokia Corp. later this quarter. The software giant claims that it will continue to use …
Read More »Xbox boss interested in Knights of the Old Republic Anniversary
Microsoft Studios Vice President, Phil Spencer, has expressed some interest in making a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Anniversary edition, something I'm sure a lot of fans of the RPG series would like to see happen. Image Credit: RetroGamingAus Things started off when a fan tweeted the Microsoft …
Read More »AMD-based systems will come with pre-loaded Android simulator
In a bid to differentiate PCs powered by its accelerated processing units (APUs), Advanced Micro Devices plans to enable such systems to run programs originally designed for Google Android platform. To do so, AMD teamed up with BlueStacks, a designer of Android emulator for Windows. Select AMD-based tablets, 2-in-1s, notebooks …
Read More »Microsoft responds to Mantle with DX upgrade plans
Microsoft has seen the writing on the wall – finally – Mantle and the rise of Steam boxes, could see us all jumping ship to a new OS, with a new API with nary a look over our shoulder. To help combat that, it's looking to give DirectX a real …
Read More »Ex-Nokia CEO to take over Xbox division
Remember how we thought ex-Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, would be the next Microsoft CEO after the leaving of Steve Ballmer and that he might even sell off the Xbox division? Well that couldn't have been more wrong. The CEO position eventually went to Microsoft lifer, Satya Nadella and now there's …
Read More »Xbox One receives a slight price drop and new bundle in the UK
The Xbox One has been lagging behind the Playstation 4 in terms of sales and performance in some multi-platform titles but exclusives are a powerful thing and Microsoft certainly intends to take advantage of Titanfall's impending release. From the 28th of February the Xbox One will be receiving a UK …
Read More »Nokia releases its first Google Android-based smartphones
Nokia Corp. on Monday introduced its first smartphones based on highly-modified Google Android operating system. Designed for customers in budget, Nokia X-series handsets feature Windows Phone-like user interface, Microsoft services, Nokia maps, navigation and so on. The family of Nokia smartphones based on Google Android OS consists of three models …
Read More »Microsoft announces new Windows Phone hardware partners
Microsoft has made a fair few announcements at the Mobile World Congress over the weekend, one of the biggest ones being the company's new Windows Phone hardware partners. Microsoft has now welcomed LG, Lenovo and ZTE in to the fold along with a few Indian companies such as Xolo, Karbonn and Lava. …
Read More »Satya Nadella: Microsoft could last for ages, but it needs reinvention
Satya Nadella, the new chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., claims that the software giant could live on for a hundred of years or even more. To do so, it needs constant transformation to stay relevant. “Longevity in this business is about being able to reinvent yourself or invent the …
Read More »Microsoft to takes its time with next Gears of War
Last month Microsoft acquired the rights to Epic Games franchise, Gears of War. Now the torch has been handed over to Black Tusk Studios but Microsoft has no plans to rush out another game any time soon. According to Microsoft Studios Chief, Phil Spencer, the team is still in the …
Read More »Microsoft turned down PS4 exclusive Rime
Some leaked documents obtained by VG Leaks reveal that Rime developer, Tequila Works, originally pitched the game to Microsoft under the working title, Echoes of Siren. Microsoft passed on the game but has since implied that this was a mistake. The now Playstation exclusive title currently has no release date but …
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