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As Microsoft turns 50, we look back on the original announcement, Halo, Xbox Game Pass, and more moments that define Xbox. In just a few days, Microsoft is turning 50 — a colossal milestone for the massive Redmond tech firm, and one that's inspired many of us here at Windows Central to reflect on the company's many peaks and valleys over the years. Of course, one of Microsoft's most notable ventures is Xbox, a gaming brand that started with the firm's announcement of a new console at the turn of the century and still continues strong today with powerful modern systems, popular services and programs, and noteworthy initiatives. Indeed, Xbox has grown into a core pillar for Microsoft's business — and in recognition of how far it's come, I thought it would be fun to look back at seven of my favorite moments from that journey (in chronological order). Without further ado, here are some of the most iconic, memorable, and impactful moments in Xbox's history that wowed the industry, brought fans valuable features and opportunities, and changed gaming forever. The reveal of Xbox Where else to start, if not where it all began? Following Microsoft's initial announcement of its plans to make a new console in 2000, former CEO and co-founder Bill Gates famously unveiled the original Xbox system during the Computer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2001. And he didn't do it alone; halfway through his presentation, none other than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — still wrestling in the WWF (now the WWE) at the time — came on stage, engaging in an entertaining back-and-forth chat with Gates without missing a beat. "The Xbox is everything The Rock is: cutting edge, powerful, exhilarating — and like The Rock, it will be the most electrifying thing coming out this year," Johnson said, acting talent that would eventually land him a prosperous film career on display. "And what The Rock is to sports entertainment and the WWF, the Xbox will be to the video game industry: a breakthrough, and certainly an original." I was only a toddler at the time, so I wasn't fortunate enough to experience this moment live. Growing up as a huge fan of Xbox, though, I've always looked back at this reveal of Microsoft's first console fondly. Halo's revolutionary impact The cover art for Halo: Combat Evolved. (Image credit: Microsoft) The Xbox's impressive performance capabilities surpassed that of competing systems like Sony's PlayStation 2, but that advantage wouldn't begin to bear fruit until later in 2002. Microsoft needed a strong title to pair with the console at launch, and that game ended up being Halo: Combat Evolved — a first-person shooter from Bungie, which was best known for the Marathon series at the time. Released on November 15, 2001 alongside the Xbox, Halo quickly garnered widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, and stands tall as one of the most revolutionary shooters in gaming history. With open-ended level designs that brought the genre outside of repetitive corridors, the introduction of a two-weapon limit that drove players to make strategic decisions about their arsenal, a simple, intuitive, and controller-friendly control scheme, and advanced enemy AI that hold up even today, Halo pioneered the shooter market on console, inspired lasting changes to the process of making FPS games moving forward, and became the Xbox's killer app. Halo continued to be a critical part of the Xbox brand for many years, with 2004's Halo 2 skyrocketing the popularity of Microsoft's Xbox Live online multiplayer service and both Halo 3 and Halo: Reach enjoying immense success on the company's follow-up Xbox 360 console. It's less important to Xbox today, but I'll always think of it as the console's flagship franchise regardless. Xbox Live defined the console multiplayer experience The iconic Xbox Live logo from back in the day. (Image credit: Microsoft) Exactly one year after Xbox's explosive launch with Halo: Combat Evolved, Microsoft debuted Xbox Live — a multiplayer network that brought online functionality to the console. And while Live wasn't the first attempt by a manufacturer to do this — Sega and Nintendo had tried before, for example — it was the one that lead to the development of the networks we enjoy today. While previous console multiplayer experiences were entirely managed by individual games and their studios, Xbox Live pioneered the idea of one unified network that all games hooked into, along with features like persistent handles for players and an account-based friends list that made squadding up with friends easier than ever. It also fully supported voice chat, with Microsoft even including headsets with Xbox console purchases. Xbox Live gave Microsoft a noteworthy edge over its competitors, with Xbox firmly leading in the online gaming space thanks to the network's functionality and big titles like Rainbow Six 3 and Halo 2 (among others). Though now known simply as the "Xbox network," Live has remained at the heart of Xbox for over 20 years. Xbox One Backwards Compatibility was a huge win For this next one, we're fast-forwarding to 2015 — a time when Xbox's reputation, after the prosperous years of the Xbox 360 era, had fallen far after consumers were greatly disappointed by 2013's Xbox One. The new system was more expensive than Sony's PlayStation 4 as a result of the included Kinect motion sensor, but also less performant; this left it in a very poor position against the PS4, giving Sony a huge head start in the new generation. Microsoft would eventually decouple the Kinect from Xbox One purchases to reduce the console's price, and also began to claw back hearts and minds with impressive new features. And if you ask me, the most significant and important of these was Xbox One Backwards Compatibility. This function (first revealed by Xbox head Phil Spencer during E3 2015) allowed you to play 100 of the most popular Xbox 360 games on Xbox One via emulation, with countless additional games and even titles from the original Xbox console becoming available over time. Xbox's backwards-compatible library has only continued to swell since then, and the program is fully supported on Xbox Series X|S, too. With the new consoles able to play almost all non-Kinect Xbox One titles (with enhancements!), that means it's possible to play games from four generations ago with a system from 2020. Put simply, that's awesome, and compared to Nintendo or PlayStation — platforms that often don't support backwards compatibility and charge for purchasing old games you already own on new consoles — it makes Xbox stand out as particularly friendly to longtime gamers. Xbox Game Pass changed everything A neon sign advertising Xbox Game Pass. (Image credit: Windows Central) There's no way I could write this list up without talking about Xbox Game Pass, which has become a core component of Microsoft's gaming business in the last decade. First made available in early June 2017 (has it really been eight years? Good grief), the buffet-style service enticed customers with an attractive offer: for $10 a month, you could get access to 100 Xbox One and backwards compatible Xbox 360 games, including big-name exclusives like Halo 5: Guardians and other popular titles. Over time, both the Xbox Game Pass games list and the program itself grew rapidly, with Microsoft eventually committing to releasing all new first-party titles on Game Pass on day one, starting with Rare's 2018 pirate multiplayer game Sea of Thieves. The company then introduced Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $15, including Xbox Live Gold in the package and giving subscribers a chance to save a little money; when Xbox Game Pass for PC — now simply called PC Game Pass — came out for Windows PC, it was also included in Ultimate. Naturally, questions about profitability and sustainability have come up, though Phil Spencer has said it's "completely sustainable" in the past. In an interview, Microsoft Games Marketing vice president Aaron Greenberg also noted that Game Pass isn't a "a big profit play," explaining that it's meant to attract new customers and bring success in the long term. Today, games come and go from the Game Pass library of 400+ titles, and Ultimate has gotten a price increase up to $20 (though you can get it for far cheaper) along with access to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Fundamentally, though, it works as it always has, and Microsoft's "the best deal in gaming" marketing has paid off; Game Pass has 34 million subscribers as of 2024, though those numbers do now factor Xbox Live Gold members into account since Xbox Game Pass Core recently replaced that service. Regardless, it's undeniable that Game Pass has become an absolute juggernaut of a program. The wonderful Xbox Adaptive Controller Another of my favorite Xbox moments came just a year after Game Pass' launch: the introduction of the Xbox Adaptive Controller, a highly customizable accessibility controller for modern Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. The device's debut was a huge step forward for Microsoft's commitment to making gaming more accessible for everyone, and continues to be used widely today. With two large programmable buttons and a whopping 19 3.5mm jacks on the gamepad's rear that allow you to hook up a wide variety of accessibility-friendly input devices, the controller fully lives up to its namesake, adapting to the needs of the person using it. Because of the device's modular nature, it's possible to create setups that significantly mitigate the impact of a wide variety of different disabilities. Indeed, the Xbox Adaptive Controller is fantastic, and it's gone on to inspire other pieces of accessibility hardware like the Access controller for PS5 and the Proteus controller Microsoft designed with Byowave. Earlier this month, Microsoft also released the Xbox Adaptive Joystick after showing it off at the firm's 15th annual Ability Summit. The Activision Blizzard acquisition This graphic shows a number of the franchises Microsoft gained ownership of when it acquired Activision Blizzard. (Image credit: @Klobrille on Twitter (X)) It feels like it would be wrong to cap this piece off with anything other than Microsoft's monumental acquisition of Activision Blizzard King (ABK), with the $69 billion merger finally going through in October 2023 after 20 long months of scrutiny from regulatory bodies around the world. The acquisition gave Microsoft ownership over some of the biggest gaming franchises in history, including the likes of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Candy Crush alongside many others. Many old and new titles alike from ABK have come to Game Pass in the wake of the deal, including games like Diablo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Additionally, it also gives the company the option to make new games from Activision Blizzard exclusive to Xbox and Windows PC, though it can also choose to sell them on PlayStation for maximum profit as it's done with Call of Duty thus far. The merger was also widely seen as a good thing for workers at Activision Blizzard, as it came after the publisher became embroiled in controversy after a lawsuit claimed a "frat boy" culture was fostered in the workplace. The hope was that under Microsoft leadership, company culture would be far healthier; generally, employees at the firm seem to be satisfied with their experience, though I should note that the company has faced scrutiny for major layoffs that have occurred in recent years. Ultimately, it's only been about a year and a half since the acquisition went through, and that's not much time in the world of game development. With that in mind, I'm not surprised that it hasn't borne much fruit yet, but whatever's next for all the teams at ABK will undoubtedly play a huge role in Xbox's future. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of February): 874 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Microsoft's "This is an Xbox" ad campaign has divided Xbox fans once again. While it's clear what Xbox is going for here, they're at least 2-3 years too early to make the claim that my Samsung Smart Fridge is "now an Xbox." Last week during my brief sojourn away from work, Microsoft debuted its new ad campaign for Xbox. It's fairly usual to see products kick start new ad campaigns and debut new marketing slogans ahead of Christmas and Black Friday, which tends to be particularly busy for all types of products and services. Microsoft's Xbox typically enjoys strong sales over the holiday period, which is why they've also cut the price of the Xbox Series X by $50 at Amazon and other retailers. Other accessories like the WD_Black Storage Card for Xbox Series X|S are also on sale, as people scramble to buy gifts for loved ones (and themselves, ahem). Indeed, as of writing, the disc-based Xbox Series X is sold out at Amazon US, which suggests Microsoft is still selling consoles almost as fast as it can manufacture them. I even wrote an editorial last week about how Microsoft has some amazing Xbox momentum as it closes out 2024. Given that stock still seems hard to come by at times, perhaps Microsoft's new ad campaign makes at least some sense on the surface, given that they are telling people that you don't need an Xbox to actually play Xbox games. In reality, though, I think Microsoft's new "This is an Xbox" marketing blitz is going to do more harm to the brand than good, at least today. It smacks of old mistakes of marketing against a future vision, rather than a present day product reality, and undermines the fact that today, as of right now, Xbox consoles are still the only true "Xbox." Why is Xbox once again marketing the future rather than the present? Microsoft's "This is an Xbox" campaign patronizingly showcases products that aren't an Xbox for some reason. (Image credit: Microsoft) I've seen the discourse online about this ad campaign, but even before hearing from others, I immediately found myself perplexed. I am among the few people out there who actively uses the Xbox ecosystem as Microsoft is envisioning it here, and I do love the vision. I love the fact I can take my Hollow Knight or Death Stranding save from my Xbox Series X to my Lenovo Legion Go via my cloud saves (for free, unlike some other platforms). I love that there are dozens of games that support cross-buy and cross-progression via Xbox Play Anywhere. I love that there are some games I can even play with touch controls via Xbox Cloud Gaming, like Vampire Survivors, which play well via a small screen. The issue is that it's so, so piecemeal. It's SO early days, and very much what I would describe as an "Early Adopter" experience. Microsoft itself even knows this, which is why Xbox.com/play cloud gaming is emblazoned with the "beta" tag still after several years. How many people are actually going to go through the trouble of pinning a website to their home screen, for a service that isn't available to download directly from iOS or Google Play anyway? I've also written only recently about how the Xbox app experience on Windows PC is still sub-par. Why Microsoft thinks it's ready for a big-budget global marketing campaign blitz strikes me as odd as someone who is actively using it. "This is an Xbox for your lap," the above London billboard reads. The big claim earned an immediate grimace from me in multiple directions. What is the general public, to whom this is targeted, supposed to take away from this claim? Has Xbox itself forgotten what an Xbox actually is? Because for my money, a laptop is absolutely not an Xbox save for a few tendrils of vaguely useful added value for current Xbox console users. The Xbox app on PC has dozens of games to buy, rather than tens of thousands of games you can find on Steam. The Xbox app on PC is missing basic features like cloud save sync notifications, while also having a usability gap in terms of speed and responsiveness versus competing staples. Even still, it's not like any of those features are actually showcased in this ad here. I'm not quite sure what Microsoft expects people to think when they see this. There isn't even a controller or even a mouse present, nor is there a video game present on the screen. It showcases the Xbox app, which 99% of the people viewing this ad will have never seen before or be able to identify. What game can you realistically play from your lap on the Xbox app anyway? Am I expected to run Halo Infinite ranked with the trackpad here? All this is without mentioning the fact that it barely runs any Xbox games. The pool of games that support Xbox Play Anywhere — which gives you cross-progression within the Xbox ecosystem — is vanishingly small. This is just one example in a variety of caveats that come with advertising things like the Xbox cloud-baked Amazon Fire Stick, occasionally-Xbox ASUS ROG Ally, and other devices as "true" Xbox consoles. Some of them have Xbox features, but much like the mistakes of the Xbox One launch, Microsoft is leading with a vision of Xbox that is subpar over what is already there. Putting a Samsung Galaxy Fold on the same billboard as an Xbox Series X is insanity to me, when one costs thousands of dollars, and doesn't even have Xbox cloud gaming controllers that actually fit the product. You need a full-blown Xbox controller, and a Samsung Galaxy Fold kickstand cover to realistically play anything Xbox on a Galaxy Fold. Microsoft has also vastly decreased the amount of games it's putting on Xbox Cloud Gaming with bespoke touch controls too — the team handling this feature was laid off during Microsoft's cuts this year. If Microsoft is talking about native mobile games, barely any of them actually come with Xbox integration for things like achievements or online status. In what timeline, realistically, is a Samsung Galaxy Fold an Xbox? Certainly not the one I'm living in. This is, again, just one example of the problems with the broad-strokes claim "This is an Xbox" attached to any device running Android — at least today. Why is Microsoft confusing people into not buying an Xbox in the run up to Christmas? (Image credit: Microsoft) I noted earlier that the Xbox Series X was sold out as of writing this post, although new stocks are probably due to land any day now. It precipitates a wider problem not just with Xbox, but the entire gaming industry — the console user install base is static, and may even be in decline. Analysts like Newzoo and PlayStation's own financials detail how console sales seem to have a historical hard ceiling, with the total install base globally hovering around 300 million. Strong competition from free-to-play forever games that live on every platform are eating into the "variety gamer" audience that powers the PlayStation / Xbox paradigm, leading platform holders to figure out where the next wave of growth will emanate from. Microsoft for its money has the correct strategy broadly speaking, in my view — which is finding people where they are rather than trying to persuade people to convert to Xbox console gamers. You can argue the execution has been less-than-stellar though. Microsoft's mobile Xbox game store announced for Android and iOS is delayed, and in my view, will probably never actually launch. Xbox Cloud Gaming's "buy to own" library will hopefully launch this month, although it was announced literally years ago — and is expected to include only a subset of Xbox games from the library, rather than all of it. Even some of Microsoft's own games, like Diablo 4, aren't available on Xbox Cloud Gaming thanks to licensing commitments — at least today. (Image credit: Jennifer Young - Windows Central) I just can't help but wonder what purpose it serves for Microsoft to tell people devices that can do a handful of partial Xboxxy-like things. If my first experience of the Xbox ecosystem was the Xbox app on PC, with all of its foibles, I probably wouldn't be too encouraged to remain in that ecosystem. If I tried Xbox cloud gaming on my phone and discovered only a tiny portion of the games support touch, I'd probably not stick around. I keep trying to ask myself how I would explain to someone who had just asked me "What makes my phone an Xbox?" I'm not sure I'd have a particularly compelling answer for them. That's why ultimately I'm wondering if this campaign was supposed to line up with previously announced features that slipped. The Xbox game store for Android and iOS was supposed to launch this quarter, but now isn't. Xbox buy-to-own cloud games is supposed to launch this month too, and seems to be on track last we heard. Xbox has had some wins with Xbox Play Anywhere on PC too lately, with Death Stranding, Metaphor Re:Fantazio, and Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters all hitting the cross-buy, cross-progression Xbox service without an Xbox Game Pass tie-in. Like I said earlier, the vision is awesome. The vision is excellent. The vision is why I invest in the Xbox ecosystem, despite its shortcomings and mixed messages over the past few years. But why market to a vision that isn't fully realized? Why denigrate the premiere Xbox experience as it exists today? The only place where you can get a true, full-fat Xbox experience is Xbox Series X|S. Actually, today, only Xbox is an Xbox Microsoft's "This is an Xbox" ad campaign is actually solid on paper. It showcases where Xbox is going. It showcases what the future of gaming in general will look like. Microsoft is good at predicting the future. They did it with the Xbox One back in 2013, which was a digital-first experience that people ultimately rejected. Ten years later, people are increasingly preferring all-digital. The problem is, like in 2013, you can't tell people what they should like or should want. Above all, you can't market things based on a promise or a vision of the future, as 2013's Xbox One launch spectacularly demonstrated. I love the direction Microsoft is heading towards. I love the idea of getting ALL of my Xbox games on my phone, anywhere, any time, via 6G or 7G wireless on any device I own. We're years away from that future, if indeed it materializes at all. I have faith that it will, but we're nowhere near there right now. So why tell every day people that Xbox has already reached that destination? The pieces are in place, the systems work, but the vast majority of Xbox games aren't available on cloud. The vast majority of developers opt out of Xbox Play Anywhere between PC and Xbox. The vast majority PC developers don't support the Microsoft Store ecosystem without a Game Pass tie-in. This campaign celebrates the underlying system rather than the real reason people play games in the first place — content, which is arguably still Microsoft's weakest pillar in its ecosystem. Microsoft's "This is an Xbox" ad campaign is great on paper, and I fully concede that I'm no marketing guru. I'm fully prepared to eat crow if this campaign does blow up and helps Xbox reach new users as is most likely the goal. I just can't help but feel that today, as of November 2024, it's absolutely the wrong time to be making the claim that random phones, laptops, and TVs represent a true Xbox experience. It's a poor time to introduce the general public to Xbox via their phone, Fire Stick, or Samsung Smart Fridge. It's also a very poor time to undermine the traditional Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S console, given the nerves people have over whether Microsoft is even still committed to Xbox hardware in the long term. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of October): 4,832 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

A few weeks ago, Microsoft announced it would release a few of its first-party Xbox and PC games for Sony's PlayStation 5 and Nintendo's Switch consoles. At the same time, Microsoft Xbox President Sarah Bond confirmed the company was working on the next Xbox console, adding it would offer "the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation." However, the former head of Microsoft's Xbox division, Peter Moore, believes the company is having some discussions and debates right now on the future of releasing hardware consoles. In a new interview with IGN, Moore stated his belief that those discussions are also happening at Sony and Nintendo. Moore believes that gamers could decide in the future that buying a separate piece of hardware to play games on their TV is not worth it and play their future games on a PC or their smartphone. The future of AI in developing games could also be a factor. Moore added: Moore also said that while he was at Microsoft running the Xbox division, there were questions about the future of console hardware, and there were discussions of whether television makers could just put in a chip inside a big screen PC to play games with a controller. Moore certainly has some interesting opinions on the future of the game console business. While Microsoft has announced it is working on its next-gen Xbox hardware, its launch of Xbox Cloud Gaming could be a forerunner of a console-less game industry that could happen sooner rather than later. Source

Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves are going multiplatform. During a "business update" video podcast last week, Microsoft addressed widespread rumors of Xbox software going multiplatform by saying that four of its legacy titles would be going "to the other consoles" in the future. But the company waited until today to confirm the names of the four soon-to-be-multiplatform titles. The Xbox games coming to other consoles in the coming months are (multiplatform launch date in parentheses): Pentiment (February 22, Switch, PS4/5): Obsidian's historical murder mystery has a sprawling narrative that reacts strongly to player choices. Hi-Fi Rush (March 9, PS5): A rhythm-action game from Bethesda Softworks where you have to match your attacks and movements to the beat to maximize your impact. Grounded (April 16, Switch, PS4/5): Obsidian's co-op survival adventure will be fully cross-play compatible across all platforms. Sea of Thieves (April 30, PS5): Despite what we considered a poor first impression, Rare's pirate-themed multiplayer simulation has attracted 35 million players, according to Microsoft. This title will also be cross-play compatible across platforms. Microsoft's announcement comes just after Grounded and Pentiment were announced for Switch as part of the morning's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase video stream, the timing of which likely prevented Microsoft from announcing its plans for those titles last week. There wasn't a lot of drama to today's announcement, though; The Verge and independent journalist Stephen Totilo cited anonymous sources in accurately naming all four games just after Microsoft's presentation last week. Before that presentation, rumors flying around the Xbox community suggested that major Xbox exclusives like Starfield or Bethesda's upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would be coming to other consoles or that Microsoft had plans to leave the console space entirely. And while Microsoft has effectively shot down those rumors, the company has suggested that exclusive games will be a less important part of its console strategy going into the future. "[I have] a fundamental belief that over the next five or ten years... games that are exclusive to one piece of hardware are going to be a smaller and smaller part of the game industry," Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said. Source

In September 2014, Microsoft officially announced the Windows Insider Program. It was created to let anyone check out early builds of Windows to try them out and give feedback to Microsoft before those features and improvements were released to the general public. It's a program that continues to this day. However, before the official launch of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft was already offering a select group of people who owned an Xbox One console a way to try out early versions of the console's upcoming software updates. That began 10 years ago today, on February 20, 2014. While Microsoft previously released public beta tests for upcoming Xbox 360 updates, this was the first time the company used this method to invite users to try out updates for the Xbox One. The official reveal from Microsoft announced that a select few Xbox Live users would be invited into this program. Microsoft never revealed how it picked those lucky few Xbox One software testers. However, the people who were chosen were given access to a private forum where they could offer feedback on those updates. The first such beta version included a revamped friends app, improvements in the console's party chat features, and more. After that, Microsoft began bringing in more people to test upcoming Xbox One software updates, and it eventually became known as the Xbox One Preview Program. It remained an invite-only program for a while, and those folks got to test out new dashboard updates, a way to purchase backward-compatible Xbox 360 games directly from the Xbox One, and more. In March 2016, Microsoft announced that the Windows Insider Program would merge with the Xbox One Preview Program later that year. In November 2016, Microsoft said that the Xbox One Preview Program would be renamed as the Xbox Insider Program. It also canceled the invite-only method of joining the program, allowing any Xbox One owner to participate. In November 2016, Microsoft announced that Xbox Insider Program members would get system updates to the Xbox One console for the first time. It also revealed that testers could pick one of four "rings" for updates. The Alpha ring members would get the "cutting edge" updates but could also experience more bugs and would also remain invite-only. The Beta ring got fewer updates, but they were more stable, while the unnamed third and fourth ring users would get even fewer updates with fewer bugs than the Alpha and Beta rings. Xbox Insider Program users got the first access to some major updates, including the first public testing of Xbox Game Pass in December 2017. Also in 2017, the third and fourth rings finally got actual names: Delta and Omega, respectively. Microsoft also added a Skip Ahead variant of the Alpha Ring in 2017 for people who want to access even earlier updates than they could on the standard Alpha ring. In 2024, the Xbox Insider Program continues to offer both Xbox One and now Xbox Series X and S console owners a way to try out new features before they are released as part of Microsoft's regular updates for those devices. Insiders can also try out new features on the Xbox Windows gaming app via the Insider Program. On occasion, Insider members get invited to play upcoming Xbox games in preview versions before they are generally released. As with every type of software testing program, we expect the Xbox Insider Program to evolve and change in the months and years to come. Indeed, it was recently announced that release notes for the Insider updates will soon move from the Xbox Wire page to the Xbox support site. However, there are no indications the program will be ending anytime soon. Source

Last week, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and other top gaming executives at the company gave some hints about the future of Microsoft's gaming efforts in a special episode of the official Xbox podcast. Among other things, Spencer confirmed four unnamed Xbox-PC first-party games will be coming to other platforms, and Xbox President Sarah Bond said that Diablo IV will be the first Activision Blizzard game released on Xbox Game Pass on March 28. However, it looks like Spencer has made another fairly major announcement about a future Xbox feature to a fan this week as well. According to X (formerly Twitter) user @jhe007, a fan with the Gamertag "NASburg" asked Spencer when players will be able to access and play their currently owned Xbox games in the cloud. Spencer replied, "Should be this year". This exchange has reportedly been confirmed as genuine by Windows Central. This should be a very big deal for Xbox gamers who may want to play games in the cloud via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but want to continue playing them in the cloud if they are removed from the service. There are still a couple of questions about this upcoming feature. One is whether players will have to continue to pay for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to access their owned games in the cloud or if they can continue to do so if they decide not to get a Game Pass subscription. If you don't have to pay for a Game Pass plan, Microsoft might find another business model for gamers who want to play their owned games in the cloud. Microsoft has not made any major announcements about cloud gaming in a while, but perhaps in 2024 we will get some updates on this service, especially as the company continues to emphasize it wants people to play Xbox games on any screen. Source

As previously revealed by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer last week, the company will be offering "updates on the Xbox business" as part of a special episode of the official Xbox podcast. The video podcast will stream starting on Thursday, February 15 at noon Pacific time (3 pm Eastern time). The event will feature Spencer, Microsoft's president of Game Content and Studios Matt Booty, and president of Xbox Sarah Bond. The podcast episode will be made available on the official Xbox YouTube channel. There's been a ton of rumors, alleged leaks, and speculation on what might be revealed by Spencer, Booty, and Bond as part of this special presentation. Some have claimed Microsoft will be allowing some of its first-party Xbox and PC games to be made available on other gaming platforms in general, and on Sony's PlayStation 5 console in particular. One thing that reportedly won't be on the table is Microsoft's exit from the game console hardware business. A recent but unconfirmed report claims Spencer told an Xbox employee town hall last week that it has no plans to stop making consoles. There's also been a lot of talk and chatter online about the future of Activision Blizzard since Microsoft acquired the game developer and publisher in October 2023. In late January, the company laid off 1,900 employees from its various gaming divisions, and they hit the Activision Blizzard team members and studios particularly hard. The matter-of-fact tone of the Xbox podcast announcement also seems to suggest this won't be a typical "everything's great" hype session for the Xbox team and that some very serious news could be waiting in the wings. Source

There's been lots of rumors over the last few days about the future of Microsoft's Xbox business. In particular, there have been unconfirmed reports that Microsoft plans to offer major first-party games to other consoles, like Sony's PlayStation 5, in the near future. Some people have even speculated that Microsoft will stop selling Xbox consoles, becoming a software-only game developer and publisher. This has happened with other companies that have sold game hardware consoles and later moved away from that business, including Atari and, more significantly, Sega. However, a new but unconfirmed report claims that Microsoft will not be going that route. It comes from noted game journalist Shannon Liao in her Substack newsletter (via VGC). The newsletter stated that earlier this week, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer held an internal town hall with Xbox employees. Spencer reportedly told those assembled team members that the company has no plans to stop making Xbox consoles. He also allegedly said that Xbox hardware will still be part of the company's video game strategy, alongside other kinds of devices. It's worth noting that Microsoft already offers games beyond its Xbox consoles and PC. A few of its titles, like Minecraft, have been on Sony and Nintendo's consoles for years. Of course, the purchase of Activision Blizzard in October 2023 means Microsoft offers games like Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, and the Call of Duty series on the PS5 as well. That also doesn't even cover the devices that are supported by Xbox Cloud Gaming, which is part of Microsoft's Xbox Games Ultimate subscription plan. It allows hundreds of games to be streamed and played on iOS and Android devices, and also on Samsung smart TVs, without the need for an Xbox console or PC. Spencer has already publically announced that there will be more info on the company's Xbox future revealed later this coming week. Hopefully, we will get more clarity on how Xbox consoles will fit into this strategy. Source

In September 2023, Microsoft Xbox announced that it would begin automatically deleting game captures and images stored on the Xbox Network. This automatic deletion was applied to game captures and images that are at least 90 days old. The first set of deletions was to take place in January 2024. It is speculated that this did not take place because Xbox postponed its plans. However, according to a new Xbox notification shared by a Reddit user, volcaandsora, Xbox has announced that it will start deleting game captures starting May 30, 2024. While it is unclear if anyone was affected by Microsoft's deletion of game captures in January 2024, as per the previous announcement, it looks like now we have until May 30, 2024, to back up all of our game captures and images. The images that are at least 90 days old and are stored on the Xbox Network are again affected by the new notification. Notably, images on Xbox Network mean screenshots or images that are uploaded to Xbox's servers, and not the images that are stored locally on a console. But to be extra safe, we would suggest you take a backup of all your favorite game's screenshots and images on an external hard drive or use any of the cloud storage options. To back up your game captures on your Xbox; Go to My Games & Apps. Select Apps. Choose Captures. Here, you will be able to move them to OneDrive, an external hard drive, or a USB. You also get the option to change the location and set future captures to be automatically stored in OneDrive. This would ensure that everything is backed up, and you don't have to worry about losing your favorite game's screenshots and images. Do keep in mind that the free version of OneDrive offers a 5GB limit. Source

Microsoft’s gaming chief has been dropping a lot of hints about the future of Xbox recently. When I reviewed the Xbox Series X nearly four years ago, I called the console a “next-gen PC.” Not only did the Xbox look like a PC with its boxy, rectangular, tower-like case but it also felt like one thanks to hardware upgrades that allowed it to run games with a variety of PC-like graphical modes. Now, as we approach the next generation of Xbox, it looks like Microsoft is about to close the gap between Xbox and PC even further. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has teased some potentially massive Xbox platform changes in recent weeks. At the same time, leaked internal memos have revealed an increased focus inside Microsoft on Xbox game preservation and forward compatibility. When you put all the breadcrumbs together, it feels like we’re about to see Microsoft combine all the good parts of Windows and Xbox for its next-generation console. Spencer recently said in an interview with Polygon that the Xbox team is thinking about how to open up its ecosystem and embrace PC stores like the Epic Games Store and Itch.io. It’s a radical rethinking of the Xbox console model, and Spencer doesn’t usually tease things like this unless it’s something Microsoft is seriously considering. To be able to open up the Xbox to PC stores and embrace a more open model, several things need to happen that I get the sense are in motion inside Microsoft. First and foremost, it will need to make the console capable of running PC games. That doesn’t mean Xbox owners will suddenly be booting into a Windows desktop with a Start menu and pop-up ads for Bing, but it could mean that a future Xbox console would lean more toward the PC side of game development. Microsoft has been trying to bridge this development gap for years, with projects like GameCore, a method that makes it easier for developers to package up games that use both Xbox and PC services and run as container-based apps. While Microsoft has promised “the biggest technical leap ever in a generation” for its next Xbox console, the company has also set up a new team dedicated to preserving existing Xbox games. “We are building on our strong history of delivering backwards compatibility to our players, and we remain committed to bringing forward the amazing library of Xbox games for future generations of players to enjoy,” Xbox president Sarah Bond wrote recently in a leaked internal memo. This feels like a team being set up to transition away from the idea of Xbox and PC games being two separate things, while also ensuring that existing games continue to run on future consoles that adopt this new way of operating. It would open up the Xbox to run a lot more games and make it easier on developers. Microsoft opening up its Xbox console to rival PC stores comes with some risks and rewards, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Two years ago, Microsoft said it was committed to opening up its Xbox platform to the app store principles it put in place for its Windows app store, which allows developers to use alternative systems for in-app payments. “We will build our next-generation game store based on these new principles,” said Microsoft president Brad Smith at the time. If Microsoft does go down this road, opening up the Xbox platform will dramatically shift the economics of Xbox console hardware. Microsoft typically sells its Xbox consoles at a loss that it recoups through sales of games. If rival PC stores are on an Xbox, then subsidizing hardware gets far more complicated and could lead to more expensive consoles. Spencer admitted in an interview with Polygon recently that subsidizing hardware is “more challenging in today’s world” of pricey components and a lack of overall console market growth. “So I think, what are the barriers? What are the things that create friction in today’s world for creators and players? And how can we be part of opening up that model?” asked Spencer. Opening up the underlying model of Xbox to be more PC-like could also enable third-party Xbox consoles in the future. That doesn’t mean Microsoft will walk away from Xbox hardware, but if it’s doing lots of software work to open up its platform and make it easier for developers to build games, then why not extend that to even more hardware? All of these potential Xbox platform changes will also apply to handhelds, and I think this is a big part of Microsoft’s overall thinking here. Valve has shown that the Steam Deck is a viable console, years after it tried and failed to make Xbox-like Steam Machines a reality. The Steam Deck is powered by a custom Linux OS that utilizes Proton, a compatibility layer for Windows games to run on Linux. Proton has been key to making Steam Deck a success because, without it, developers would have to do a lot more work to port their games to Linux. Microsoft is rumored to be working on an Xbox handheld, and while I’m not expecting the traditional next-generation Xbox console to run on Arm-based chips, I think they make a lot more sense in an Xbox handheld form factor. For an Xbox handheld to be successful, it will have to leverage the strengths of Windows and Xbox in a smart combination. On The Vergecast, I recently discussed my ideal for an Xbox handheld. It would run Windows at its core but never expose this to you so it looks and feels like an Xbox console, but if you want to run Steam games or Xbox games, you can. Microsoft has the ability to run the Xbox OS on Windows and has experimented with doing exactly that in the past. The Steam Deck might have only sold a few million units so far, but it represents the biggest threat to Xbox consoles and Windows-based PC gaming ever. Valve has managed to create a console-like experience for PC games, and it has access to all of the best Xbox- and PlayStation-exclusive games through its Steam store. Microsoft’s response to the Steam Deck has been muted so far, but the company has formed a new Xbox Experiences and Platforms team that will help improve the Windows experience on handhelds. “I want to be able to boot into the Xbox app in a full screen, but in a compact mode,” said Spencer recently, discussing handhelds in a Polygon interview. “Like I want it to feel like the dash of my Xbox when I turn on the television. [Except I want it] on those devices.” If Microsoft can pull off merging Xbox and Windows together, it might truly achieve its “Xbox everywhere” vision — the idea that every screen is an Xbox. Source

Almost all of Microsoft's upcoming plans have seemingly been leaked thanks to a confidential document being revealed as a result of the FTC vs Microsoft courtroom battle. We have already reported about the Series X refresh that's launching next year as well as the Sony-inspired controller that will bring haptic feedback. Well, it just does not stop there as the document also explains how Microsoft plans to overthrow Sony and become the console market leader by fiscal year 2030. Just like with Windows, the plan is to devise a hybrid generation of consoles leveraging the power of the client and cloud. While the current generation of consoles has been using AMD's APU's powered by Zen CPU and RDNA GPU, the next-gen Xbox devices will marry Arm64 with x64, and the latter will be in the form of Zen 6 cores. In terms of GPU, Microsoft is planning to either work with AMD to build a semi-custom chip or use AMD's Navi 5/ RDNA 5. Interestingly, according to the roadmap, the company may be currently working on its Arm64 approach: The leak also suggests the next generation of Xbox, likely coming out in 2028, will have Nvidia DLSS-like alternative. While the project does not have a name yet, the tech giant refers to it as Machine Learning (ML) based Super Resolution and Microsoft says ML and AI will be used for the "optimization and acceleration of game performance". Dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Units) may do the heavy lifting for AI and ML tasks. All this will culminate in what the company is referring to as "One Microsoft" where it hopes for "full convergence" of its ecosystem. Keep in mind though that the document is from October of 2022 so nearly a year has passed since which means the plans may have changed slightly. However, hardware upgrade cycles do not typically change overnight as they require long-term commitments and strategies. Source

The FTC v. Microsoft battle may be all but over but the leaks aren't stopping. In a new wave of documents that has been discovered, still unredacted and available to the public for some reason, Microsoft's Xbox hardware plans have been shown off prematurely. One of these is a brand-new Xbox Wireless Controller that's reportedly in development with features that Sony PlayStation fans may be familiar with. Coming with the codename Sebile, the shape of the controller will remain the same from the Xbox Series X generation. However, what seems to be a more grippy material is covering the bottom half of this iteration, while the top half keeps the same plastic finish fans have come to expect from Xbox controllers. The middle share button is repositioned somewhat. As the document shows, the biggest additions are on the inside, with Sebile featuring "precision haptic feedback" drivers as opposed to the current rumble functionality. These Voice-coil actuator (VCA) haptics can also double as speakers. An accelerometer as well as quieter buttons/thumb sticks are also a part of it. Haptics for more immersive game experiences have been a major promotional point of Sony's PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers. If Microsoft is also jumping into the technology, we should see much more titles support the refined vibration tech. The Sebile Xbox controller is also listed as shipping with Xbox Wireless 2, Direct-to-Cloud (possibly similar to Stadia controller), and Bluetooth 5.2 support. Removable battery compartment is returning as well. A new Lift to Wake feature and modular thumbsticks are mentioned too, with the latter hopefully being a cheaper solution to the analog stick drift issue. The documents reveal that Sebile will be included with the newly leaked Xbox Series X|S refreshes. The controller itself will come in at $69.99 with support for consoles, PC, and mobile devices. As expected, special and limited edition versions are planned as well. Source: FTC via The Verge Source

A new wave of documents has just leaked from the FTC v. Microsoft courtroom battle, which was supposed to be redacted, and it seems to have revealed a large part of Microsoft's game plan for its Xbox business. One of the biggest leaks is the existence of a new Xbox console that's meant to refresh the current Series X. Ditching the current rectangular cuboid design, this upcoming Xbox Series X, Codenamed "Brooklin", looks to be going for a more cylindrical form, at least from the front angle seen in one of the leaked documents. As this is a refresh of the hardware and not an upgraded "Pro" version, Brooklin's performance should remain the same as the current Series X. However, shrinking the current 6nm die powering the machine has reportedly lowered the power usage by 15%. 2TB of internal storage, a USB-C port in the front for power delivery, as well as Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 support are also listed as features. However, the confidential document also reveals Microsoft is leaving behind the disk drive for this iteration, something that only the cheaper Xbox Series S has done for now. Microsoft may be opting to offer a separate disk drive for Xbox fans that want to stick to physical media or utilize their back catalogs, something that Sony is also rumored to be doing. As for when people can get their hands on this refreshed Xbox Series X, another leaked document regarding launch timelines gives some targets Microsoft is hoping to hit in its 2025 fiscal year. Per the leak, the new cylindrical Series X is planned for November 2024 with the same $499 price tag as the current console. While the Series S just recently received a small refresh with doubled storage capacity, the document may be alluding to another refresh (Codename "Ellewood") coming in 2024 just behind Brooklin's launch as well. Source: FTC via The Verge UPDATE Details regarding a next-generation Xbox Controller with haptics and an accelerometer, Microsoft's long-term plans for its Xbox consoles through 2030, and even Bethesda's launch schedule for upcoming games (including Fallout and Oblivion remasters) have also leaked from the same FTC source. Source

Microsoft already hosted its massive mid-year showcase on Sunday, but it's not done just yet. Coming up as the final event of the summer showcase season, Xbox Games Showcase Extended is offering deep dives into what was announced over the weekend, some more reveals, and probably even a few surprises. The Xbox Games Showcase Extended will kick off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 7pm CEST / 6pm BST today, June 13. Microsoft hasn't revealed the length of the event, but if previous years are anything to go by, it should run for about 90 minutes. Like the main event, the Extended showcase will air across Microsoft's Xbox channels like YouTube and Twitch, as well as via content creator watch parties on third party portals. As for what's confirmed for this event, Microsoft has said Avowed, Towerborne, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, and Microsoft Flight Simulator's Dune update will be present with deeper dives into their announcements. This will include "in-depth interviews, behind-the-scenes features, gameplay walkthroughs with brand new footage" from the titles according to the company. Several new game announcements from Xbox partners will also be happening during the showcase. Moreover, Xbox is teasing a celebrity appearance at the Extended event. While no hints have been given, Richard Ayoade was revealed to be playing a not-so-gentle giant in the Fable reboot, so there is a chance that he may be the mystery guest. Although, with a Flight Sim Dune collaboration also incoming, it may also be someone from that movie franchise. According to rumors, Tango Gameworks' Hi-Fi Rush may be getting another surprise reveal at the event, this time to shadow drop new DLC for the well-received rhythm action game. Expect more Xbox and PC Game Pass announcements too, considering Tuesday is when the company usually reveals upcoming waves for the subscription service. Xbox Games Showcase Extended is later today, here's how to watch and what to expect

"Carbon Black" edition will launch worldwide on September 1. The "Carbon Black" Series S, seen alongside the original console. Microsoft As much as we like the Xbox Series S as a cheap but powerful, all-digital entry point into the Xbox console ecosystem, the machine's 500GB of onboard storage can seem paltry when downloading and installing today's massive games. And while we like how the system's high-speed storage reduces load times, it also means that expanding the storage can be expensive. That's all preamble for today's announcement of the Carbon Black Xbox Series S, a version of the console with a full 1TB of storage and a $349.99 MSRP. That's about $30 less than you would pay for the standard, 512GB Xbox Series S and an additional 512GB expansion card these days. Aside from that storage capacity, the Carbon Black console—which will launch worldwide on September 1—features the same hardware power as the original Series S. On the outside, though, the low-end console now comes in a brushed black finish like its larger Series X cousin. The design evolution brings to mind the Xbox 360 era, where the white launch consoles were eventually supplemented with a shiny black redesign and more storage years after launch. All three members of the "Xbox Series" family. Microsoft At a roundtable discussion this weekend, Microsoft Head of Xbox Phil Spencer said the company recognizes that "for some people around the planet $500 is too much for a console" and that the price point for the Series S could bring more people into the console ecosystem. At the same time, he said the company has heard a lot of feedback on the limits of the 512GB storage capacity and the expense of expanding it. Despite an increased focus on PC games in recent years, Spencer also said that Microsoft "remains committed to that [console] style of play and the pillar that is for our brand." Microsoft announces new $350, 1TB Carbon Black Xbox Series S

‘I don’t think anything is going to stop us from doing that,’ said Xbox head Phil Spencer, 17 months ago In November 2020, Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer revealed you’d likely be able to stream Xbox games to your TV “in the next 12 months.” And, in June 2021, the company confirmed it would soon offer both a smart TV app and an Xbox streaming stick to make it happen. But it’s been 11 months since “soon” and 17 months since Spencer suggested it’d be 12 months. And, now, both VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb and The Verge’s own Tom Warren are reporting that the wait isn’t over. Grubb now says we can expect the Xbox puck “in the next 12 months,” which I will remind you is the same exact phrase Spencer uttered 17 months ago, alongside the words, “I don’t think anything is going to stop us from doing that.” (I will also remind you that Microsoft already developed a similar product last decade but canceled it before a planned E3 2016 debut.) But both my colleague Tom — a man who does not quite understand the meaning of the word “vacation” — and Grubb have good reasons to believe Microsoft is serious this time around. They’re both namedropping a so-called “Xbox Everywhere” initiative within Microsoft, and they point to how Microsoft just made Fortnite free to play on any iPhone or Android handset or PC as a signal that the initiative has legs. We, at The Verge, have spilled quite a bit of ink writing about how well-positioned Microsoft is with cloud gaming and how its Xbox Game Pass subscription service is the true next-gen Xbox, particularly now that it’s buying Activision Blizzard and becoming one of the biggest game companies in the world. Cloud gaming still has a lot to prove, but when you can just slap a controller on a phone and call it a portable Xbox or load it on a machine like the Steam Deck, it’s hard not to see the potential. Microsoft’s Xbox streaming stick and TV app are less than 12 months away — again

The head of Xbox has future hardware on his shelf Microsoft’s head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, has just revealed the company’s dedicated Xbox game streaming device. Spencer published a photo of the device on Twitter, where you can see it sitting on top of his shelf in his Microsoft office space. It’s a small white box, that resembles the look of the Xbox Series S and will be dedicated to accessing Xbox games over the company’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service. Microsoft first announced it was planning an Xbox streaming device last year, and many had incorrectly assumed it would be a stick that would plug directly into a HDMI port. While Microsoft is still working on this Xbox streaming console, codenamed Keystone, it will be more of a box or puck-like device that attaches to monitors and TVs. Keystone on top of Phil Spencer’s shelf. Image: Phil Spencer (Twitter) The Xbox streaming device will also likely include access to media apps like Netflix and a lightweight user interface to launch Xbox games. Microsoft acknowledged the Keystone name earlier this year, but revealed it was still working on a new revision of the device. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the Xbox team continues to work on its streaming device, and still plans to bring it to market. Microsoft has managed to launch an Xbox TV app, though. Available on 2022 Samsung TVs and monitors, the Xbox TV app launches games from Xbox Cloud Gaming and supports streaming games at 1080p at up to 60fps. You simply log into your Microsoft account in the app and stream Xbox games just like you would through Xbox Cloud Gaming in a browser. Microsoft hasn’t officially commented on the appearance of its Xbox streaming device, but the Xbox account on Twitter replied to Spencer’s tweet with “Now what did we say about putting old prototypes on your shelf boss.” That’s a big wink wink, nudge nudge if ever I’ve seen one. Update, October 10th 2:05PM ET: Article updated with a response from the Xbox Twitter account. This is Microsoft’s Xbox game streaming device

It has not exactly been a good 2024 this year for people who call themselves Xbox fans. Microsoft has had two huge layoffs in the gaming division, including one in early May that shut down three studios and merged one more into another team. However, it's possible the rest of 2024 could turn things around for Xbox console games. This year's Xbox Games Showcase was one of its best in years, and there's a lot that Xbox console owners can look forward to for the rest of 2024. We have our list of the most anticipated Xbox Series X/S games from 2024, which you can read below in the order of their expected release dates. Keep in mind that game launch dates could change. Also, there may be games in development that we know nothing about that will be released in 2024. We will update this list as release dates and games change. Update - August 10 —We have added Assassin's Creed: Shadows and A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead to the list. We have removed two games that have been released this year, and also removed two games that have been delayed until 2025. Star Wars Outlaws - August 30, 2024 Developer: Massive Entertainment Publisher: Ubisoft What's it about: Space smuggler Kay Vess is just trying to make a living in the galaxy that's under Imperial control. She's smart and tough, but she might have bitten off more than she can chew with her latest missions. Why we want to play it: A Star Wars open-world game with both planet and space missions, made by the same team as Ubisoft's The Division game? That sounds like a winner. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 - September 9 Developer: Saber Interactive Publisher: Focus Entertainment What's it about: Lieutenant Titus, the Imperium needs you. It's time to go out and destroy the Tyranid hordes, no matter how many there may be to kill. Why we want to play it: This long-awaited sequel to this third-person shooter is being made by some of the same team that made the World War Z game at Saber. You can expect to see tons of aliens on screen trying to kill you, so you need to kill them first. A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead - October 17, 2024 Developer: Stormind Games Publisher: Saber Interactive What's it about: A woman tries to stay alive on an Earth that's been invaded by hostile creatures that can quickly attack if they hear even the slightest sound. Why we want to play it: The trailers for this title, based on A Quiet Place films, make this look like it will be a worthy stealth action game in the tradition of Alien: Isolation. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - October 25, 2024 Developer: Treyarch and Raven Publisher: Activision What's it about: In the early 1990s, a secret special forces team is trying to fight a new threat that seems to be from inside US intelligence. Why we want to play it: Activision is hyping this game as one of the best Call of Duty titles ever released. The single-player campaign is a sequel to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, along with round-based Zombies mode and more. Assassin's Creed: Shadows - November 15, 2024 Developer: Ubisoft Publisher: Ubisoft What's it about: In 16th-century Japan. players will take control of two characters as they battle for different purposes. Why we want to play it: Even though there's been some controversy about the inclusion of one of the main characters, we are hoping that combining the setting of feudal Japan with the stealth and action gameplay of previous Assassin's Creed games will make it a fun game to play. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - November 20, 2024 Developer: GSC GameWorld Publisher: GSC GameWorld What's it about: The post-apocalyptic world surrounding the destroyed Chornobyl nuclear plant continues to change and evolve, and not in a better way for the people inside of it. Why we want to play it: This long-awaited sequel to the first-person survival horror game has some impressive-looking visuals based on the trailers, and we can't wait to see if the gameplay matches it. Pre-order S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 at Amazon Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Fall 2024 Developer: BioWare Publisher: Electronic Arts What's it about: You are a hero named Rook who joins up with up to seven companions to try to stop the destruction of Thedas from some evil gods. Why we want to play it: The Dragon Age franchise is back, and the gameplay trailers make it look like BioWare intends to create the best game in the series yet, with new features, improved combat and some interesting interactions with your NPC companions. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - TBD 2024 Developer: MachineGames Publisher: Bethesda Game Studios/Microsoft What's it about: Archaeologist Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Junior is once again fighting Nazis in the late 1930s in a globe-trotting action game where he has to solve an ancient secret before it falls into the wrong hands Why we want to play it: The early gameplay glimpses of this title are very exciting, as we will get to play as Indiana from a mostly first-person perspective. MachineGames also knows how to make a well-done single-player game with Nazis as the antagonists in their previous Wolfenstein titles. John Carpenter's Toxic Commando - TBD 2024 Developer: Saber Interactive Publisher: Focus Entertainment What's it about: An attempt to get energy directly from the Earth's core has generated the bad side effect of releasing a creature called the Sludge God. It starts infecting the land and turning humans into the undead horde. You and a team of Toxic Commandos have to stop this supernatural blight. Why we want to play it: This just looks like a lot of fun, judging from the early gameplay footage. The first-person shooter lets you kill hundreds of zombie-like creatures and some big bosses as well. Plus, we hope legendary horror movie maker John Carpenter can be a good influence on this game's design and story. Towerborne - TBD 2024 Developer: Stoic Games Publisher: Microsoft What's it about: In this fantasy world, a post-apocalyptic event has caused this land to be taken over by monsters. The last human survive in the tower structure called Belfry. Now, you and a group of warriors are charged with reclaiming this land. Why we want to play it: Stoic Games has created a side-scrolling action-adventure game with an animated movie art style that looks great in the gameplay footage we have seen. We hope the gameplay matches the graphical looks when it is released. That's the list of our most anticipated Xbox Series X/S games of 2024. Again, we will be updating this list every so often as more games are announced and other games get release dates. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every single day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of July): 3,313 news posts

A big Microsoft milestone is coming up for its gaming division. What you need to know Recently, Microsoft conducted a new interview with License Global magazine, which revolved around the merchandising of Halo. During the interview, Xbox head of consumer products John Friend revealed that Halo has raked in over $1.8 billion in consumer spending on merchandising and licensed products alone, excluding video games entirely. Elsewhere in the piece, John Friend confirmed that Microsoft is planning some sort of 25th anniversary event for Xbox and Halo, which share a birthday. Xbox's 25th anniversary would fall on November 15, 2026 — which would be an interesting time to launch a new console generation, no? Xbox is in a bit of an odd place in 2024. With the game industry struggling to figure out where the next generation of growth is coming from, Xbox has been expanding its vast gaming empire across to PC, mobile, and even PlayStation. Armed with a range of acquisitions that include Bethesda Softworks of Fallout and Skyrim fame and Activision-Blizzard of Warcraft and Call of Duty fame, Xbox overall posted a huge 45% jump in revenue last quarter, while its legacy Xbox business suffered a bit of a dip. Core Xbox fans have been left concerned what expanding to competing platforms so aggressively might mean for the console business. If fewer people want to buy Xbox hardware, it'll be even harder for Microsoft to bring third-party developers into the fold potentially, potentially leading to fewer games. The original Xbox all those years ago suffered from a large library gap when compared to the massive global footprint of the PlayStation 2, and whether or not Microsoft under CEO Satya Nadella has the mindset to sustain a shrinking Xbox console business remains to be seen. Although, both Nadella and Phil Spencer say Xbox has more players than ever, which should keep it at pace with increasing costs, at least for now. Regardless of the perception of Xbox in the core community right now, Xbox is still making plans for the future. Xbox President Sarah Bond unveiled a forwards-compatibility team earlier in the year, while confirming that the next Xbox will represent the "biggest technological leap" for the platform. Microsoft has a promising slate of upcoming Xbox games, even if there are questions about whether or not they'll remain exclusive. Microsoft is also gearing up for a large Xbox showcase at the Tokyo Game Show later this month. But we learned even more interesting bits about what Xbox is planning for the future in a recent interview with License Global magazine. The original Xbox launched on November 15, 2001, and kickstarted Microsoft's uphill battle to take on decades-old industry titans in an incredibly risky, competitive space. During the interview, Xbox head of consumer products John Friend discussed a variety of topics pertaining to licensing and merchandising, which Xbox has been fairly good at in recent years. They license out their games IP to other companies in some cases, such as the upcoming MechWarrior 5: Clans, while also diving deeper into licensed cross-media properties such as the Minecraft Movie, Fallout TV show, and Halo TV show (obviously with mixed success there, ahem.) In any case, Friend confirmed that Halo alone has seen $1.8 billion in non-gaming consumer spend. Microsoft has quite a prolific merchandising operation going on right now, when you consider the legendary Blizzard store, coupled with the Xbox merchandise shop and the Bethesda gear store too. The interesting snippet we're on to discuss today, however, is that Microsoft is already working on plans for its next big Xbox anniversary milestone. "We have these massive, fantastic franchises ranging from World of Warcraft –celebrating its 20th anniversary this year — to Halo, Call of Duty, to StarCraft and much more," Friend said. "We’re building plans for the 25th anniversary of Halo and Xbox — we have such a rich heritage and history, and these communities have been active for so long, you have to celebrate that." The interview dives into how Microsoft has improved its thought processes over merchandising, working more flexibly and reactively to consumer interests. Friend explains that their approach means they can target smaller audiences with merchandise for more niche games like Pentiment, while also building out experiences for the large mass audiences of Call of Duty. Microsoft has celebrated previous major milestones with some fanfare, including the Xbox 20th anniversary event back in 2021. There, Microsoft opened up the Halo Infinite free-to-play multiplayer servers, added 70 more Xbox backward compatible games, and also opened up a virtual Xbox artifact museum called the Xbox Vault (which is no longer accessible). Xbox plans for the future The 20th anniversary Xbox controller was pretty damn sexy. (Image credit: Richard Devine - Windows Central) Xbox's 25th anniversary would fall on November 15, 2026, which puts it firmly in range of a new generation of Xbox hardware potentially. Sony just launched its mid-gen console the PS5 Pro, which Xbox has passed on competing with this time around. Instead, it seems Xbox is full-steam ahead with its next set of console hardware, which we tentatively believe based on our sources to include at least both a traditional-style successor to the Xbox Series X, and Microsoft's first real foray into Xbox handheld gaming with its own take on the Steam Deck. It would be poignant to release those new devices on Xbox's 25th birthday, with the kind of fanfare that I feel the brand has been missing a bit as it navigates strategic changes that haven't always proven popular with its existing customers. On the merchandising side, Microsoft previously did some rather epic-looking 20th anniversary Xbox controllers, so you can expect some custom options there too no doubt. Perhaps we'd get a custom Halo-style next-gen Xbox as well, perhaps the next Halo game itself will be ready by then too (optimistic, perhaps, but hey). Microsoft's Blizzard team is building out a rather huge and epic set of events to celebrate World of Warcraft's 20th birthday this year, complete with in-game events in Overwatch and WoW itself. Hopefully Halo sees similar, too. A Master Chief skin in Overwatch would look pretty badass, I reckon. I'll leave you with a quote from John Friend's interview, as someone who does celebrate gaming well outside of the games themselves. Here's to the next 25 years of Xbox. "Gaming is no longer just a pastime; it’s an integral part of our lives that transcends traditional entertainment boundaries. As we look forward to what the future holds, our goal is to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, ensuring that every player, regardless of their background, feels a part of this incredible journey." Source RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every single day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of August): 3,792 news posts

All owners of currently supported Xbox consoles will see a new update roll out starting today. The update, which also covers Microsoft's Xbox app for Windows PC, includes features that were previously tested by members of the Xbox Insider program. In an Xbox Wire post, Microsoft stated that one of the new features in the August update is allowing users who have their Microsoft and Discord accounts linked up to see their Discord friends on the Xbox Friends list on the console. Also, if you are in a Discord call or in a voice channel, you can now directly jump into a game stream from anyone on your Xbox. Both of these Discord features were made available for Xbox Insiders less than a month ago. Another new feature in the Xbox August update allows both Xbox console owners and Windows PC owners via the Xbox app to choose which parts of a game they wish to download. Microsoft stated: The update will also add features for certain Xbox controllers. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and the Xbox Adaptive Controller will soon add Toggle hold, which will allow a controller button to be held down by only pressing once on the button. There's also a new way to turn off a device via an Xbox controller: Finally, the Xbox August update repeats what was announced earlier this week. People who have the current third-generation Amazon Fire TV Cube and the first-generation Amazon Fire TV 4K Max streaming stick can now play Xbox Cloud Gaming titles with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and a controller. Source RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every single day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of July): 3,313 news posts