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 »Microsoft still loves TV, giving US 360 owners 300 channels
If you thought Microsoft's about face on DRM, online connectivity and game lending meant that it had fallen out of love with TV (tv, tv, tv) you'd be sorely wrong, as it's looking to introduce US Xbox 360 owners to over 300 Time Warner channels. If they pay for it. …
Read More »If we dropped used games, which publishers would drop prices?
There's been a lot of talk recently about used games, about loaning games, renting games, borrowing games, trading games – the whole second hand game market has been up for scrutiny. You've had Microsoft looking to kill it then backpedaling, you've had developers discussing aggressive GameStop tactics, reams and reams …
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 »The environmental impact of used game blocking is huge
If you're a PC gamer, chances are the majority of your games aren't installed from the disc anymore. Maybe you use Steam, maybe you use GoG, or MAME or play a standalone, downloadable game like League of Legends; whatever your choice though, there likely isn't a stack of game boxes …
Read More »Nintendo on limiting used sales: make better games
While the world and his dog is attacking Microsoft for its stance on used games and Sony is being a little coy about third party publishers potentially blocking the sale of them, Nintendo has another idea about how to restrict used sales: make better games. This was said by Nintendo …
Read More »Nvidia is all about the PC now
While Nvidia has always been “about the PC” in some way or another, it put a lot of time and effort into the current, fading console generation as well, since it was reliving its war with ATI (now AMD) in the battle between the Xbox 360 and PS3. While its …
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 »Despite bad press, Xbox One pre-orders beating out PS4
Even though Microsoft has been hammered with bad press for its Xbox One console over the past few weeks, it's still managing to beat out the much more favourably viewed PlayStation 4 in pre-orders, according to a new report from Amazon.co.uk. First there was the fact that Microsoft just loved …
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 »Next gen console prices predicted
While we don't have any concrete pricing information on the next-gen consoles from Microsoft or Sony just yet, that doesn't mean speculation isn't abound. One analyst, by the name of Michael Pachter, has given a talk to investors in an E3 preview show and he thinks he's got a handle …
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 »Blockbuster customers love the Xbox One
Well at least somebody does and at least somebody is shopping in Blockbuster. It's more than that thought, as Blockbuster pre-order records have been shattered by those laying down cash for an Xbox One, despite the console not hitting the shelves until much later this year. MCV has a statement …
Read More »Microsoft wants to do TV achievements next
If we all drew one thing from Microsoft's Xbox One reveal, it's that it loves TV and wants you to watch it through your Xbox. Despite the fact that people are watching more and more content via streaming and on demand services than ever before, Microsoft is continuing to invest …
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 »Xbox One reveal – less focus on games
Microsoft have sold a staggering 76 million Xbox 360 consoles since its release in 2005. Based on their May 21st event it would appear Microsoft want to target the huge audience of TV addicts. The Xbox One is going to be tightly integrated with the living room environment. The system …
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