For each generation of good idea, there needs to be a seed: An injection of high-profile capital that energises the market and fires the imagination. With The Cloud, that investment could well be from Microsoft. KitGuru pulls out the trusty old abacus. People have been talking about the cloud for …
Read More »Here’s how Microsoft is handling trolls on the Xbox One
Microsoft is doing a lot of things with its next-generation console (though perhaps less than initially) but one of the big things, is overhauling Xbox Live and specifically, how it deals with the internet's #1 pest, the Troll. With the Xbox One's live system, gamers will be somewhat beholden to …
Read More »Julie Larson-Green to take over as Xbox One head
It was big news yesterday: Don Mattrick, the guy that had been just a few weeks before touting the virtues of Microsoft's upcoming Xbox One console, was now headed to Zynga to try and save the dilapidated Facebook game maker. The question remained however, who would replace him? Now we …
Read More »Ex-Rare dev says Microsoft buy-out was a culture clash
There's always been a lot of speculation about what happened at Rare during its Microsoft buyout. There've been rumours that the atmosphere of the once great British developer changed, that the people there weren't keen on the new direction – but it's all been rumours. Now one ex-staff member has …
Read More »Microsoft now letting devs update games for free
Microsoft has been criticised by big developers and indies alike, for always charging tens of thousands of dollars to update games on its Xbox 360, leading to long delays in some cases and in others, no updates at all – as it just wasn't financially viable. Now though, the software …
Read More »PS4 and Xbox One release dated
While Microsoft and Sony have both publicly stated that their respective consoles would be available worldwide during the Christmas period this year, retailers have begun putting up release dates for both systems, suggesting something a little more concrete. German website Media Markt has listed the PS4 for a 13th November …
Read More »Xbox One is now more confused than ever
While Microsoft might have down an about face on its policies for the upcoming next-gen Xbox One system, the console landscape is now more confused than ever. Yes there's no 24 hour check-in system, yes you can resell, trade and lend your game discs to people, but you still need …
Read More »Microsoft attempts to calm fears over Xbox One live bans
It's been surprising, considering how much of a public opinion beating that Microsoft has taken in the past few weeks over its Xbox One console, that it hasn't done more damage control – but it seems to be doing some now. Major Nelson has announced that even if you get …
Read More »Here’s how Xbox One achievements are changing
We already talked about Microsoft adding achievements to its Xbox One for simply watching TV, but that isn't the only changeup it'll be making. It'll also be introducing challenges that transcend individual games, can be temporary or long term and even unlock new content. Challenges are not just your regular …
Read More »Witcher III dev putting gamers first despite Xbox One DRM
While some companies may have been pleased by the announcement by Microsoft that its next generation console, the Xbox One, would come packing built in DRM that locked games to individual accounts, disallowed game lending and required online activation on a regular basis, developer of the Witcher, CD Projekt is …
Read More »Gamers declare Sony as E3 champion
We talked about it since the original reveal of PS4 features and games, we carried on talking about it when Microsoft showed us the Xbox One and we've been talking about it off and on until yesterday: which would come out on top at E3, the Xbox One or the …
Read More »Here’s how much the new Xbox One is going to cost
$499 in the US. 499 euros in the EU £429 in the UK. I know we always have to pay a little more for things, but really? For those who don't fancy Google converting those currencies, here's the breakdown: we're getting screwed. $499 works out at about £320. This is …
Read More »Publishers can block you selling your Xbox One games
Cementing the idea of the future that we won't own any console games, merely rent licenses to play them, Microsoft has announced that while it personally won't stop you selling Xbox One games, game publishers will have the right and the ability, to opt out from resales as a feature …
Read More »Now Take Two wants a taste of the used game pie
Microsoft has made it quite clear that it's taking a pickaxe to the used game industry and it's mining a chunk of change from it before dismembering it over the next few years. At least that's the plan, but not everyone is keen to let the software giant have all …
Read More »No, you can’t transfer your XBLA games to the One
If you thought Microsoft was pussy footing around with its commitment to no backwards-compatibility with the Xbox One, you are sorely mistaken. The Xbox One will not only not be able to play Xbox 360 games, but you won't be able to play your XBLA games on it either. Speaking …
Read More »Sony’s Kaz Hirai says PS4 is at heart, a games console
It's been a long time since games consoles were solely about playing games. Since they started adding CD playing functions, consoles have been more than just a tool for gunning down digital enemies, but you'd have been forgiven with the recent Xbox One reveal for thinking that nobody uses them …
Read More »Microsoft hopes to appease Xbox One DRM haters
Let's face it, there's very few people that don't think the idea to make people pay full price licensing fees for games they borrow from friends for their Xbox One is a dumb idea. Everyone's talked about it, from consumers, to journalists, to analysts. No one wants it. Microsoft has …
Read More »Microsoft earmarked a billion dollars for Xbox One games
Microsoft has announced that it will have 15 exclusive games during the Xbox One's first year, with eight of those being brand new IPs. It's also said that its upcoming E3 presentation, will be all about games and understandably so, as it's apparently going to be spending around a billion …
Read More »Is Microsoft out of touch?
So the Xbox One was revealed yesterday and the consensus from a huge numbers of gamers, is that they hate it. While Sony isn't doing everything right with its next-gen system, it does seem to have done one thing: listen to consumers and developers. But Microsoft, it just seems completely …
Read More »PS4 teaser shows blurry console, coming at E3
The PS4, as we all expected, will be making its big debut at E3 this year. Microsoft is of course jumping the gun and getting in its next-Xbox unveiling tomorrow, so just to remind you that Sony is waiting in the wings, it's released a teaser video that shows blurry …
Read More »Windows 8 successor coming this year
Remember Windows ME? Windows Vista? Windows 8? Microsoft would rather you didn't and to help brush your memory of the last one further under the mat, it's already planning the release of the sequel. It's called Windows Blue and it's coming later this year. It's not a complete overhaul like you might …
Read More »Next Xbox not as far along as Microsoft wants
Let's crank out the rumour mill on this Tuesday morning, because it's time to speculate on the next-gen. According to some reliable sources over at Kotaku, the next-generation Xbox console from Microsoft, is as much as six months behind in its development cycle. On top of that, a handful of …
Read More »Always on ranter Adam Orth no longer with Microsoft
Adam Orth, the Microsoft creative director that a few days ago posted tweets that seemed to sarcastically suggest anyone complaining about always-on DRM was an idiot and should just “#getonwithit#, no longer works for Microsoft, having resigned his position. It isn't known at this moment if he resigned by choice …
Read More »Next-gen Microsoft console to be called Xbox, reveal coming 21st May
A few separate sources are confirming some very specific information about Microsoft's next-gen console, suggesting that it won't be called the 720, or Durango, but in-fact, just Xbox – taking the John Rambo and Rocky Balboa route – and will be revealed for the first time on 21st May, a few weeks …
Read More »Microsoft apologises for always-on ranter’s rant
Last Friday, we covered how Adam Orth, a creative director at Microsoft was bashing those that complained about always-online systems, suggesting people should just put up with it. This annoyed Microsoft and Xbox fans, as well as many gamers in general – especially coming off the back of EA's Sim …
Read More »Microsoft employee berates fans for always on hate
Microsoft's next console has been rumoured for some time to be an always online system, something fans haven't been too happy about – in many instances, claiming that it means they would buy a PS4 instead. That's even more likely now, after Adam Orth, a creative director at Microsoft, suggested …
Read More »Battlefield 4 release date leaked
Microsoft may have leaked the date that Battlefield 4 is set to launch, after it revealed it on the official Xbox blog, before immediately removing it. Fortunately, some intrepid users were able to snatch a screenshot, so we can confirm that the rumoured date is 29th October, 2013. Whether this …
Read More »High profile Microsoft employee Xbox Live accounts hacked
Well I say hacked, in reality I mean social engineered. It turns out that some high profile Microsoft employees have had their accounts taken over by a nefarious few, who used the employees' social security numbers and other services' customer support to gain access. Microsoft has been keen to point …
Read More »Microsoft Entertainment Rewards security leak reveals voter information
Microsoft's Entertainment Rewards voting procedure has been blighted after it was revealed that the information of everyone that had voted in order to become eligible for a prize draw, was freely available to anyone that knew a few simple steps. According to MCV, one of its readers sent over a …
Read More »Hotmail still down for some after 12 hours
Microsoft's Hotmail and Outlook services went down for a big portion of the user base earlier this morning and over 12 hours on there's still a lot of people unable to access their email. While this writer has no problem accessing his old Hotmail account, the Microsoft Status page is …
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