Tag: Xbox
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 'PlayStation's Blessed with Marketing Budgets We're Not Able to Enjoy,' Xbox Bigwig Bemoans
Marketing man doesn't mince his words
Microsoft is in a dire position in Europe, with the latest round of data suggesting PS5 is outselling the Xbox Series X|S by a ratio of almost 10:1 on the continent. One of the reasons for that enormous discrepancy all comes down to brand awareness, and Sony has spent the past 30 years carefully and effectively...
News Xbox Really Wasn't Happy with PlayStation's Call of Duty Marketing Deal
Phil Spencer says Microsoft won't do "slimy platform things"
Microsoft has spent $69 billion on Activision Blizzard, so now it calls the shots when it comes to juggernaut franchise, Call of Duty. Of course, previously, starting with Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 in 2015, Sony had marketing dibs on the series, which meant it could advertise annual...
News Xbox Explains Why It Shuttered Beloved Hi-Fi Rush Developer
"I have to run a sustainable business"
Hi-Fi Rush released on PS5 earlier this year to the same kind of critical acclaim it had already received on Xbox Series X|S and PC – then Microsoft decided to unceremoniously shut the studio down. Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who has been curiously quiet in the aftermath of the closure, piped up during an IGN...
News Xbox Bigwig Confirms Many More Microsoft Games Are Coming to PS5
"You are going to see more of our games on more platforms"
Phil Spencer, the talkative head honcho of Xbox, has confirmed his company will be bringing more of its games to other platforms, like PS5. After its bemusing business meeting earlier in the year, the executive would only officially commit to four ports, all of which are already available:...
News Many, Many More Major Xbox Games Are Being Plotted for PS5
Starfield! Age of Empires! Hellblade! Halo!
In the coming days, Microsoft will host its big Xbox Showcase, where it’ll try to shift the conversation away from the negativity that has circled the brand ever since it controversially shuttered Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin earlier this year. While this will likely harbour huge news for those...
News Sony Shipped 4.5 Million PS5's Last Quarter, Almost Five Times More Than Xbox Series X|S
Estimates indicate enormous gap
As the industry digests the latest deluge of earnings reports, attempting to parse the information and present a clearer picture, one piece of news is likely to fuel more than a few pointless arguments on social media: despite marginally missing its own revised target, Sony shipped 4.5 million PS5s last quarter,...
News This Year's Call of Duty May Not Be Included in Xbox Game Pass After All
Microsoft keeping a close eye on the financials
One of the big reasons Xbox fans were so eager for Microsoft to purchase Activision Blizzard was the promise of the juggernaut publisher’s output being included in subscription Game Pass at no extra cost. However, it appears the bean counters at the Redmond firm are reconsidering, and Xbox Series X|S...
News Many, Many More Xbox Ports Plotted for PS5, New Speculation Suggests
Halo! Forza! More?
The hugely successful launch of Sea of Thieves on PS5 this week fulfilled Microsoft’s commitment to Sony’s system, following its widely publicised business update earlier in the year. During that broadcast, boss Phil Spencer focused on four titles: Rare’s aforementioned seafaring release, Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush, and Pentiment...
News Xbox Confirms June Showcase, Bound to Feature Some PS5 Games
The summer's heating up
Microsoft has announced that it'll be hosting its 'Xbox Games Showcase 2024' on the 9th June, which, under previous circumstances, wouldn't necessarily be a huge deal for us here on the PlayStation side of the fence. However, with Microsoft's now obvious push towards more and more multiplatform titles, it's all but guaranteed...
News Microsoft 'Meeting Players Where They Are' as Xbox Games Among PS Store's Bestsellers
Lots of Xbox-owned titles in top 25
Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, has passed comment about Xbox's increased presence on other platforms. Speaking during an earnings call, he said how titles under the Xbox umbrella have been selling rather well on PlayStation Store. "Earlier this month, we had seven games among the top 25 on the PlayStation Store,...
News Xbox Planning to Release the 'Majority' of Its Exclusives on PS5
Third-parties apparently unsure whether to support Microsoft's system
Xbox will apparently release the “majority” of its tentpole first-party titles on PS5 in the future, as its multiformat strategy gathers pace. Earlier in the year, the Redmond firm broadcast a strategic business meeting, where it announced four console exclusive titles –...
News Xbox's 'Everywhere' Future Outlined in Company Memo from Phil Spencer
Read the message now
In case you missed it, Xbox's top dogs set live a podcast yesterday, publicly announcing the company's long-rumoured intention to bring a selection of first-party games to rival consoles. After so much noise around the subject, it hardly came as a surprise, but it's still a noteworthy shift in how the platform holder will handle...
Reaction Xbox Is Bringing Some Great Games to PS5, But Rumours Will Remain Rampant About What's Next
Redmond firm fails to set out its strategy
More great games are coming to the PS5, and that’s never a bad thing. Microsoft announced during a highly massaged corporate message that it’ll bring four first-party titles to rival systems, although it wouldn’t name any names. Fortunately, the rumours have been so strong that we can surmise...
Rumour Xbox Has Considered Microsoft Flight Simulator, Gears of War, and DOOM for PS5
Just the start
Microsoft only announced four first-party titles for PS5 today, and it’s refusing to name which ones, although the likelihood is that Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush, and Pentiment will all get ported. However, its stance is
News Starfield, Indiana Jones Aren't Coming to PS5 Just Yet
But
Microsoft will not release Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5 – yet. Xbox boss Phil Spencer stressed these two titles are not part of the four unnamed outings it’s officially bringing to Sony’s system, but in a follow-up interview with The Verge he seemed hesitant to rule out the possibility of them ever getting...
News Xbox Is Bringing Four Exclusives to PS5, But It Won't Say Which
It's not Starfield or Indiana Jones... Yet
Microsoft has officially confirmed it’ll bring four formerly exclusive games to rival platforms like PS5, but it won’t say which ones. As part of a bizarre podcast featuring executives Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond, and Matt Booty, the trillion-dollar tech titan danced around the rumours which have been...
News Microsoft Allegedly Told Employees 'Every Screen Is an Xbox' Ahead of PS5 Port Speculation
All will be revealed imminently
More information on Microsoft’s previously reported employee town hall has emerged on Inverse, where it’s claimed by staff that leadership declared “every screen is an Xbox”. There’s been rampant speculation recently that the Redmond firm will bring formerly exclusive titles, like Hi-Fi Rush and
News Pentiment Pegged for PS5 Amid Ongoing Xbox Strategy Shift Rumours
Still no confirmation, though
Microsoft will reveal more about its new business strategy during a podcast later this week, where it’s expected it’ll announce several formerly Xbox exclusive titles for PS5 and Nintendo Switch. The strongest speculation seems to surround Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves, although others like Starfield and
News Xbox's Multiplatform Plans to Be Revealed on Thursday
Feeling green
Microsoft has confirmed that it will "share updates on the Xbox business" this Thursday, the 15th February, at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM GMT / 9PM CET. In other words, this is when the beans will finally be spilled on Xbox's all-but-official multiplatform plans. The news will be delivered through the Official Xbox Podcast — which...
News Xbox Has Allegedly Insisted It Won't Stop Making Consoles, As PS5 Port Rumours Mount
Will apparently support "multiple kinds of devices"
No one really expects Microsoft to suddenly step out of the hardware race, but it’s been a hellish week for the Redmond firm, where rumours have swirled with reckless abandon. All the way back on Monday – which feels like an eternity ago now – boss Phil Spencer announced it’d share news...
News Readers Vote Gears of War Above Halo as Their Most Wanted Xbox Series on PlayStation
Cogs of conflict
The people have spoken. Amid countless rumours that Xbox is planning a pivot to bring some of its games to other consoles, we now know what's top of the list when it comes to what fans want to see make the jump to PlayStation. We held a poll earlier this week asking our readers which Xbox franchise they'd most like to play on PS5...
Poll Which Xbox Franchises Would You Buy on PS5?
The big question
There’s strong speculation that some first-party Xbox franchises are being considered for release on the PS5. In some cases, the rumours are incredibly strong, like Hi-Fi Rush – which had a handful of in-game shirts datamined, clearly showing that a PlayStation port is on the way. In other instances,
Poll How Do You Feel About All of the Xbox Multiplatform Rumours?
A PlayStation perspective
While we use the word 'rumours' in the headline of this article, the reality of the situation is that it really does look like Xbox is making significant changes to its business strategy. Speculation is absolutely rampant at the time of writing, with numerous reports all coming to the same conclusion: Microsoft wants to...
News Xbox Set to Announce Multi-Platform Plans Next Week
A "vision for the future of Xbox" is coming
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has announced Microsoft plans to share its "vision for the future of Xbox" in a business update event next week. While neither confirming nor denying rampant reports that multiple Xbox exclusives shall be ported to PS5 and PS4, you'd assume the speculation would be denied if it...
Rumour Xbox Console Exclusive Starfield Is Setting a Course for PS5
Reach for the stars
Starfield, the Bethesda RPG that released last year as an Xbox console excusive, is apparently being readied for PS5. As reported by XboxEra, the spacefaring title will arrive on Sony's current-gen console alongside its Shattered Space expansion, which is expected to launch at some point this year. What's more, according to the...
News Podcast Chit-Chat Prompts Fresh Xbox First-Party on PS5, PS4 Rumours
A different kinda rush
If you poked your head into the deep recesses of enthusiast gaming social media this weekend, you’ll have no doubt discovered avid discussion about the potential of a high profile Xbox first-party game coming to rival consoles. While the discussion has largely occurred in riddles – as is so often the case with this...
News PS5 Is Now Above PS4 in USA, While Its New-Gen Rival Flounders
Xbox Series X|S is struggling
After the severe disruption of the post-pandemic semi-conductor shortage, enormous credit must be levelled at Sony for rebounding in such an impressive way. According to lifetime Circana sales data shared by analyst Mat Piscatella, the PS5 is now nine per cent above the PS4 launch aligned, accurate as of 28th October,...
News PlayStation Users to Be Considered 'Part of the Xbox Community', Says Xbox Boss
Phil Spencer's getting chummy
Ah, good old Phil Spencer, always keeping us PlayStation plebs in his thoughts. In a fresh interview with Japanese publication Famitsu (as translated by our pals over at Pure Xbox), the Xbox boss spills some beans on what the future of Microsoft's gaming brand looks like. Spencer outlines a broader vision for Xbox as a...
News Xbox Poised to Borrow from PS5's DualSense Controller
Can't beat 'em? Join 'em
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and it seems that’s exactly what Xbox has cooking for the latter half of the generation. While the DualSense controller, with its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, has represented a pivotal part of the PS5’s marketing since launch, it looks like Microsoft is poised to...
News "We've Lost the Console Wars," Says Trillion Dollar Underdog Xbox
Incentive to spend $69 billion
One consistent theme throughout the entire sorry Activision Blizzard buyout saga has been how both Sony and Microsoft have utterly dismantled their own businesses in attempt to convince regulators to get their own way. The latest effort comes courtesy of the US Federal Trade Commission’s ongoing court case, where...
Roadmap will soon be required
The curtain has closed on what was, in this author’s partially informed opinion, probably the strongest Xbox Showcase in recent memory. This wasn’t a total knockout on par with some of PlayStation’s best ever E3 presentations – is such a thing even possible now we’ve effectively transitioned from live...
Random Xbox Politely Points Out All the Non-Exclusives from Sony’s PS5 Showcase
Which was most of 'em
The post-press conference haze is a real phenomenon, and it can be difficult to determine exactly which games are exclusive and which aren’t. To be honest, Sony’s show this evening wasn’t the worst example we’ve ever seen, because it became pretty obvious as the minutes ticked by that we weren’t seeing many...
News PlayStation Well Ahead of Nintendo, Xbox In Terms of Brand Momentum, Says Sony
"The Strongest Gaming Brand"
Sony's latest business report is packed with impressive looking statistics and graphs, but one particular page that catches the eye claims that PlayStation as a brand is enjoying much more momentum than its closest competitors. The graphic itself is based on Sony's own 'Global Brand Tracker of Brand Momentum', but it's...
News European Union Likely to Pass Xbox's $69 Billion Buyout of Activision
Money talks
According to a Reuters report, the European Union will apparently not object to Microsoft’s unprecedented $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard. The Redmond firm went on a charm offensive in Brussels last week, signing a variety of deals with Nintendo and NVidia GeForce Now, promising Call of Duty for at least the n
News Xbox Series X|S Is Getting Trounced by PS5, Microsoft Weirdly Reveals
The solution? $69 billion
The funniest thing about the never-ending Activision Blizzard acquisition saga is how it’s prompted tech giants Microsoft and Sony to undermine their own businesses. Case in point: during a media briefing in Brussels earlier today, the Redmond firm proudly (?) declared that Xbox has a global market share of just 30 per...
News UK Determines Xbox's $69 Billion Activision Buyout Could Harm Gamers
May result in "higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation"
Microsoft’s eye-watering $69 billion proposal to purchase Activision Blizzard has been the source of intense scrutiny from global governments for nearly a year now, but the UK’s regulator has released a provisional report today which says it “could harm gamers” and potentially...
News PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass Aren't Big Enough to Impact Business, Says Take-Two Boss
Not yet, anyway
Gaming subscription services like PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass have almost certainly had an impact on how we in the hardcore sphere perceive the value of video games — but they're yet to have a truly significant impact on how big publishers do business. At least, that's what Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has to say on the matter. The...
News PS5's Market Share Is Expanding Significantly in Xbox's Backyard
Sony takes control in USA
There had been a school of thought that, due to the various stock shortages, Sony and Microsoft were neck-and-neck in the all-important battleground of the United States. That’s actually not the case, and the PS5 is actually outperforming the Xbox Series X|S at a ratio greater than the PS4 against the Xbox One at the same...
News PS5 Games Likely to Remain $70 as Xbox Bumps Prices
Pressure's off
Any hope of Sony feeling pressured into reducing the price of its first-party releases looks over, as Microsoft has announced plans to increase the cost of its own exclusives. While the dynamics aren’t directly comparable – Xbox owners will point to Game Pass as an alternative, cheaper means of playing the Redmond firm’s output...
Report FTC Could File an Antitrust Lawsuit to Block Xbox's Activision Buyout
And that's Jenga
A day dominated by stories involving Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard has concluded with an exclusive story by Politico, which claims the Federal Trade Commission could be poised to file an antitrust lawsuit against the acquisition. The website cites “three people with knowledge on the matter”,...
News PlayStation Says Activision Blizzard Simply Must Remain Independent
Throws the gauntlet at regulators to block the acquisition
Sony and Microsoft are embarrassing themselves publicly to extreme levels, which perhaps demonstrates just how much is on the line with Xbox’s proposed near-$70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The platform holders have bickered, back-talked, and are one step away from arranging...
News Sony: Xbox Wants Us to Be Like Nintendo, a Less Effective Competitor
Nintendo, meanwhile, is counting its Pokémon cash
Sony and Microsoft’s very public war of words continues, with paperwork published by the UK government today outlining PlayStation’s stance against Xbox’s unprecedented near-$70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In the document, the Japanese giant’s legal team responds to a point...
News PS Plus Is Losing to Xbox Game Pass, And Sony Fears Call of Duty Would Make It Worse
Bruised and broken
As industry titans Sony and Microsoft continue to play the victim in an attempt to influence regulators regarding the latter’s outrageous near-$70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we’re beginning to see both companies openly acknowledge their weaknesses. Earlier today, the Redmond firm effectively admitted that its...
News Persona Fans on PlayStation Get Sold Short Again as Xbox Deal Reveals Native Ports
This time it's Persona-l
Atlus and SEGA are clearly in bed with Xbox for the upcoming Persona ports — and we've known that for a while. Not only are the new versions of Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable coming to Game Pass — while PlayStation users have to pay with no upgrade path — Microsoft even managed to place...
News Microsoft Says PS5, PS4 Would Still Be Bigger if Every Call of Duty Player Switched to Xbox
UK regulator argues PlayStation will be impaired
Ah, the ongoing Activision-Blizzard acquisition: a Twitter-style fanboy spat being played out publicly by two ginormous corporations – it’s all fun and games in the video game business, isn’t it? Microsoft’s unprecedented near-$70 billion buyout is unsurprisingly under scrutiny, with UK...
News PS5, PS4 Pipped to the Discord Punch Despite Investment and Partnership
Xbox gets Discord voice chat first, after Sony bought minority stake
Over a year ago, Sony announced that it had purchased a minority stake in Discord and was working towards full integration of the social network on the PS5 and PS4 in 2022. The platform holder even closed down its popular Commun
News No, Kojima Productions Isn't Ditching PlayStation in Favour of Xbox
It's just business
During the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, it was revealed that Kojima Productions is partnering with Microsoft on a new project. Exactly what this new game will be remains a mystery, though the auteur game designer says it's something he's always wanted to make. Kojima is also calling it something "no one has ever experienced...