Tag: Microsoft
News 'We Want to Be Everywhere, on Every Platform': Microsoft CEO Once Again Commits to PS5
"The best way to innovate is to have good margins"
Microsoft has, for the umpteenth time, committed to a multiformat future. In an interview with TBPN, as transcribed by Game File, CEO Satya Nadella spoke for several minutes about his company’s gaming business without once saying the word ‘Xbox’. He pointed out that, following the firm’s...
News PS6 Could Be the Only Next-Gen Console Charging for Online Multiplayer
Next-gen Xbox reportedly removing paywall
After offering online free of charge on PS3, the fact that access to multiplayer servers was tied into Sony's subscription service PS Plus upon the launch of the PS4 was always a quiet but contentious topic. The debate effectively died out after a few years, but it may soon flare up again, as it's been...
News Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
"The biggest games in the world are available everywhere"
Xbox fans against the organisation’s multiformat strategy may want to close their eyes now, as boss Sarah Bond is signalling her company has no plans to explore exclusivity again. In an interview with Mashable, she pointed out that all of the biggest games in the world are available...
News PS6 Could Be Less Than Half the Price of Microsoft's 'Very Premium' Next-Gen Xbox
No brainer
We’ve already reported on how the PS6 – due out in 2027 – is expected to be less powerful than Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox, but that difference is going to come at a significant cost it seems. Earlier this week, in an interview with
News PS6 May Go Uncontested as Rumours of Next-Gen Xbox Cancellation Force Microsoft to Comment
What would that mean for Sony?
The web is, perhaps tediously, once again awash with speculation of Xbox’s unclear future. A tough week for the Redmond firm – in which it raised Game Pass prices by 50%, causing its cancellation website to crash – has culminated in fresh speculation that its next-gen console may be cancelled. The source is not...
"Dominant firms become too-big-to-care"
Everything that ex-FTC chair Lina Khan said would happen is happening. Those of you who followed the drama around Microsoft’s unprecedented near-$70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard will recall Khan was one of the few voices against the buyout. She argued, at the time, that consolidation would...
News Even More Xbox Price Increases Make PS5 Look Like a Good Deal
$20, $50, and $70 increases for Xbox consoles
More expensive than it was at the launch, the price of a PS5 has been heavily affected by the current climate and tariffs imposed by the USA government. It now costs $550 for a base unit with a disc drive, but hey, it could be worse — what if it was $650? That's apparently the new price of an Xbox...
News Xbox Game Pass May Make Devs 'Wage Slaves', Says Ex-PlayStation Exec
"I'm not a fan of the Netflix of gaming"
A sprawling – and quite insightful – article about the current state of the games industry has been published by GamesIndustry.biz, featuring interviews with the likes of Circana’s Mat Piscatella. But it’s former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden’s thoughts that are going viral, as he’s chimed...
Rumour Sony to Put More First-Party PS5 Games on Xbox
"Would anyone care?"
Following on from the confirmation of a Xbox Series X|S version for Helldivers 2 and the debate surrounding a Sony job listing suggesting the company has multi-platform plans, a reliable insider has claimed more first-party PS5 games are indeed on their way to Xbox. NateTheHate, who has developed a reliable track record over...
News Eye-Opening PS5 Sales Data Reveals Why Microsoft Is Porting Xbox Games
Update: Revised list of best-selling PS5 games posted
We have known some of Microsoft's porting efforts, like for Forza Horizon 5, have been paying off with very strong PS5 sales as of late, but a new table from Circana really puts into perspective why the Xbox titles are going multi-platform. Across the Q2 period of 2025, which runs from 6th April...
"The line's pointing up and to the right"
Earlier this month, Microsoft cut an astronomical 9,000 jobs across its entire business, with its Xbox division struck particularly hard. This led to the cancellation of multiple in-development projects, including The Initiative’s Perfect Dark and Rare’s Everwild, all of which would have likely released...
News Xbox's Phil Spencer 'Not Retiring' After Dark Day of Cancellations and Job Cuts
At least someone's safe
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer is “not retiring anytime soon”, after overseeing a disastrous day of layoffs which have devastated the Xbox division. The executive – who oversees publishers like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard following their unprecedented acquisitions – had been tipped to quit earlier in the day...
News Mass Xbox Layoffs Begin, Everwild and Perfect Dark Both Cancelled
Perfect Dark developer The Initiative shut down
The significant layoffs affecting the Xbox division — first reported earlier this week — have now begun, says Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier. In a fresh ar
News You Can Now Launch First-Party PlayStation Games Through the Xbox PC App
And everyone's talking about it
In a social media environment which encourages being as antagonistic as possible, we suppose it was only a matter of time before a video of a first-party PlayStation game launching directly from Xbox’s new PC app went viral. For those of you who haven’t been following the news, Microsoft has been worked on an...
News Microsoft Rivals PSVR2 with Meta Quest 3S Xbox Headset
Out today for £380 / $400
Microsoft has announced that it's dipping its toes into the VR space by teaming up with Meta to create an Xbox-branded Meta Quest 3S headset. This is a limited edition offered by the two companies and is said to be in very short supply, but the idea is that you shall have access to both the Meta Quest storefront and Xbox...
News The Next Xbox Is a PC, So What Does That Mean for PS6?
The times they are-a changin'
In a strange, out of nowhere announcement today, Xbox has effectively announced its next-gen console. The confirmation comes courtesy of a video hosted by boss Sarah Bond, in which she announced a “strategic, multi-year agreement” with computer chip manufacturer AMD. Amusingly, Sony is also collaborating with the...
Reminder Look Out for PS5 Logos in Today's Xbox Showcase
Multi-platform push goes to the next level
Microsoft's recent multi-platform efforts have seen various Xbox games ported to PS5 and PS4 in recent years, but the push will take on a new meaning later today as PlayStation logos appear directly in the annual Xbox Games Showcase. Earlier this year, Xbox head Phil Spencer confirmed that future showcases...
News It's Over! FTC Drops Its Case Against Microsoft's Activision Buyout
"Today's decision is a victory for players"
Earlier this month it was reported the Federal Trade Commission was still fighting Microsoft's Activision Blizzard buyout and it wasn't going so well. Now, in perhaps the last significant development, the FTC has officially dropped its case against the tech giant. “The Commission has determined that the...
News PS5's Share of Active US Players Is Slowly Beginning to Pummel Xbox
Well on top
While those of you who live in Europe and Asia will know Xbox has been little more than a footnote for quite some time, USA has remained somewhat of a battleground for Sony. We know from Circana data that PS5 tends to sell the most units on a monthly basis, but it’s still been somewhat competitive, with Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo...
News The FTC Is Still Fighting Microsoft's Activision Buyout, and It's Not Going Well
Not very appealing
Microsoft acquired mega-publisher Activision Blizzard for an industry-changing $70 billion, with the deal closing about 18 months ago following an extensive legal grilling. While many governing bodies around the world approved of the deal, the USA's Federal Trade Commission was
News Xbox Buyout Won't Stop Sony Bundling PS5 with Call of Duty
Black Ops 6 bundle reportedly on the way
Sony is reportedly set to offer an official PS5 console bundle containing a digital copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in the near future. That's despite the series being owned by a rival hardware manufacturer. Reliable leaker Billbil-Kun made the claim on the Dealabs website, where they suggested that the...
News PS5 Pro Is No Longer the Most Expensive Console You Can Buy
For now, anyway
PS5 Pro is no longer the most expensive console you can buy. It’s unclear how long we’ll be able to say that, because Sony has been no stranger to bumping the price of its products this generation. But as we publish this, the supercharged system has been usurped by the 2TB Xbox Series X Galaxy Black. In the
News Xbox Now Selling PS5 Games for $80, Joins Switch 2 in Price Increase
Consoles, accessories also go up in cost
Microsoft has announced it's raising the prices of all its Xbox Series X|S consoles, accessories, and games, effective as of today. Most importantly for PS5 owners, the Xbox games Microsoft ports to Sony's current-gen console will now cost $80 going forward. Previously ported games, like Indiana Jones and...
News Xbox's Multiformat Move to PS5 Seems to Be Working Out Very Well for Microsoft
CEO praises performance on PS Store
Microsoft’s gradual transition to multiformat publisher appears to be working out well for the platform holder, as its hardware sales continue to torpedo but software sales increase. The trillion-dollar tech titan announced a five per cent year-over-year increase in gaming revenue for the quarter ending 31st...
News See Future PS5 Games in Xbox Games Showcase This June, Including The Outer Worlds 2
Livestream dated for 8th June
Microsoft has confirmed its annual Xbox Games Showcase will take place on 8th June 2025, which will be immediately followed by a livestream focusing on The Outer Worlds 2, which is already confirmed for PS5. Of course, given the firm's updated focus on multi-platform titles, many of the games shown during the showcase...
News Microsoft's AI Obsession Continues with Atrocious Copilot Version of Quake 2
It's bad
We’re not sure we understand why Microsoft has made this atrocious AI-powered version of Quake 2 available to the public. Look, we’re not ones to stand in the way of progress but this version of id Software’s late 90s classic is unplayable. It’s flabbergasting that a demo this bad would be showcased to the world in such a state...
News Xbox Is Absolutely Dominating PS5's Pre-Order Charts
It's a takeover
April is shaping up to be a big month for Xbox – and it’s mostly because of PS5. It looks like Sony stalwarts are salivating at the prospect of Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, because both titles have rocketed to the top of the PS Store’s pre-order charts. MachineGames’ movie spin-off occupies the...
News Xbox Has 'a Lot More' PS5 Ports to Come in 2025
What's next?
It hardly feels like it can be considered "news" at this point, but as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is confirmed for a PS5 release in April 2025, those in the know are suggesting this is just the beginning for the year. Tom Warren of The Verge, who has accurately shared details of various Xbox to PS5 ports in the past 12 months,...
News PS6 Could Be the Only High-End Next-Gen Console, As New Xbox Touted to Be a 'PC in Essence'
Update: Massive report reveals Microsoft's plans
Recent comments from Windows Central's executive editor Jez Corden have sparked discussion about when Xbox's next-gen console will emerge, and more interestingly, what exactly it will be. Speaking on an episode of the Xbox Two Podcast, Corden responds to rumours that Call of Duty studios already have...
News Ex-Xbox Boss Says Console War Has Lost Its 'Feistiness' as Microsoft Goes Multiformat
"If Microsoft had the choice, would they make hardware? No"
Peter Moore – famous for his stints at both SEGA and Xbox – has admitted in a Gamertag Radio interview that he “encouraged” the rivalry between Sony and Microsoft because he felt the console war was “healthy for the industry”, but believes his former employer has lost its...
News Could the Next Xbox Get a Head Start on PS6?
Rumourmonger claims devkits are already out
A rumour doing the rounds on social media today claims the next Call of Duty is currently in development at Infinity Ward, and will release in 2026 on various platforms – including a supposed next-gen Xbox. The rumourmonger, TheGhostofNoHope, is said to be well-connected when it comes to the...
News Xbox Plots a Catalogue of AI Games, And It'll Probably Use Tech on PS5
Nadella impressed with Microsoft's new model
In case you missed the news last week, Xbox has been training its artificial intelligence technology on Ninja Theory flop Bleeding Edge, in an effort to eventually make games using generative AI. The company’s failed to communicate a compelling use case for the project it’s naming Muse, but it’s...
News Phil Spencer Posits Generative AI Tech Preserving Old Games, Called 'Idiotic' by Expert
Muse technology "not a solution" for game preservation
This week, Microsoft unveiled its latest venture into generative AI technology, and it's getting a mixed reaction, you could say. Called Muse, the tech is a first-of-its-kind AI model that's able to replicate a game based upon video footage and player control inputs. Microsoft's AI research...
News Xbox to Put PS5 Logos in Future Showcases, Says Phil Spencer
About being "honest and transparent", says Xbox boss
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has stated that future livestreams and showcases from Microsoft shall feature PlayStation and Nintendo logos when they're relevant. Talking to XboxEra, Spencer explained that the company wants to be "honest and transparent about where the games are" shipping. So, when...
News Xbox Was December's Biggest Publisher, and 64% of Its Sales Were on PS5, PS4
Your PlayStation is an Xbox
For the month of December, Xbox was the biggest video games publisher in the world — according to a recent number-crunching analysis. The data comes from Ampere, which states that $465 million was spent on games owned and published by Microsoft, making it the largest publisher of them all last month. This shouldn't...
News Xbox Boss Wants to Beat PS6 on Hardware Capabilities, Not Necessarily Games
"Let’s build innovative hardware that people want to use to play"
The gap between the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 is growing dramatically, and there’s a good chance it’ll get even bigger in 2025. Microsoft, in response, has effectively ripped off the band aid and is in the process of rebranding as a third-party publisher. Last week, boss
News Xbox Is Eager to Build the Best Games You Can Enjoy Everywhere
Dev resources the only thing holding PS5 ports back
It’s surprising how quickly it’s no longer become a surprise when Xbox first-party titles are casually announced for the PS5. At The Game Awards last week, The Outer Worlds 2 was announced for Sony’s system, after the Obsidian sequel was previously only expected on Xbox and PC. Whi
News DOOM, Elder Scrolls, Fallout Devs Strike in Protest of Parent Company, Microsoft
Xbox boss says business "has never been more healthy"
Hundreds of unionised ZeniMax staff have walked off the job and are striking today, fed up with parent company Microsoft dragging its feet. Developers from Bethesda's various studios are downing tools due to Microsoft's alleged refusal to act in good faith at the bargaining table. The one-day...
News Six Months After Closing Tango Gameworks, Xbox 'In the Market' for Asian Studios
Phil Spencer talks possible acquisitions
Phil Spencer, Xbox's top dog, has made it clear that it remains interested in acquisitions, with one eye on the Asian games industry. Microsoft made history when it concluded its enormous $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. Though this took a long time to close, it followed on from the...
News No Xbox Games Are Off the Table for Release on PS5, Says Phil Spencer
No "red lines"
Ever since Xbox's initial steps into multiplatform releases, fans have been wondering where the company will draw the line. Earlier this year, a quartet of previously Xbox-exclusive titles made their way to PS5 and PS4 (Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, Grounded, and Hi-Fi Rush), and with a new comment from top exec Phil Spencer, it sounds...
News Xbox Appears to Be Readying More Releases for PS5
Age of Empires 2 playtesting underway
It seems like nothing is sacred after all, with arguably the greatest game Xbox Games Studios' ever published, the immaculate Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, seemingly set to charge forth on PS5. More specifically, it seems the game is currently being played on PS5, which lines up with earlier reporting...
News Wolverine PS5 Lead Dev Leaves for Xbox's Perfect Dark Team
Reportedly due to "creative decisions"
Marvel's Wolverine has lost its original creative director Brian Horton to Xbox's upcoming Perfect Dark title, a Game File report has revealed. As confirmed by both Sony and Microsoft representatives, Horton made the switch in the summer and Marcus Smith has taken his place, who has served in directorial roles...
Project Latitude continues
The ongoing will-they-won't-they story surrounding Xbox and its plans to release some of its games on rival platforms continues apace. After some dubious online scuttlebutt, Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, appears to have inadvertently nullified rumours that this strategy is slowing down. A leaker who goes by eXtas1s...
News Expect Plenty of PS5, PS4 News At Xbox's Partner Preview This Week
Alan Wake 2! Like a Dragon! More
Microsoft has announced a Partner Preview broadcast, a livestream designed to spotlight titles from third-parties. While the show will, of course, focus on Xbox – it’ll also inevitably include news and updates for PlayStation fans. Officially, the tech titan is promising 25 minutes of trailers and info, with a...
News PS5 Fans Believe Halo Could Make Its PlayStation Debut
Hope they don't Flood the market
A contingent of PlayStation fans believe Xbox stalwart series Halo could make its PS5 debut in the future. As part of the Halo World Championships overnight, Microsoft made some surprise announcements: developer 343 Industries has been renamed Halo Studios and all future franchise entries will be created using...
News Microsoft Is Investigating Why Devs Are Prioritising PS5 Over Xbox
Wants to address "pain points"
A blog post on Microsoft's game developer website has highlighted the firm's intention to learn why Xbox is being skipped over in favour of other platforms. It's no big secret that certain developers have faced struggles with the Xbox ecosystem in recent times. The biggest example is Baldur's Gate 3, which was delayed...
Random Xbox Boss Complains About X Button After Being Handed PS5 Pad
He's worried he may Push Square instead
A video clip of Xbox boss Phil Spencer at the Tokyo Game Show has gone viral after he jokingly complained about the position of the b:X button on the DualSense controller. “The b:X button’s in the wrong place,” he laughed. “b:X is supposed to be over there.” He then pointed to the position of the...
News Xbox on Bringing Exclusives to PS5: The Industry Is Changing for All of Us
Spencer continues to talk
Xbox boss Phil Spencer never misses an opportunity to speak publicly, and at Gamescom today he’s been chatting as part of an official livestream. Asked specifically about his company’s decision to bring Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to PS5,
Rumour Xbox to Announce a 'Big' Game Coming to PS5 at Gamescom
Might be Forza Horizon 5
A big gaming event is just around the corner, and as usual, rumours have begun appearing from every direction. The latest scuttlebutt doing the rounds online starts with Shinobi602, a notable source currently working at Keywords Studios; apparently, Xbox will reveal the next of its first-party titles going multiplatform...
News The Stars Align for Big Sea of Thieves Season 13 Update on PS5
The return of Captain Flameheart
Sea of Thieves continues to sail from strength to strength, and now the chaotic booty simulator is charting a course towards a whole new season of piratical content. Season 13 will allow players to tackle the tyrannical Flameheart, seizing his skeleton-crewed vessel in a climactic encounter, and it's live now...
