Tag Archive for Microsoft

Microsoft to show off ‘smaller and denser’ Xbox console at next-gen event

18/05/2013

During Microsoft’s next-generation reveal event next week, the company will show off a “smaller and denser” Xbox console, as well as redesigned controllers. That’s according to sources speaking with The Verge, who described the new controller design as “flattened.”


The “smaller and denser” Xbox console is reportedly the rumored third generation Xbox 360 console that will be “significantly less expensive” than current models. According to Windows blogger Paul Thurrott, this console is codenamed “Stingray.”

Details regarding the form factor of the Xbox 720 have not been divulged.

Unlike the PlayStation 4′s DualShock 4 controller, no images of Xbox 720 controllers have leaked of yet.

In addition, The Verge has heard from sources that Microsoft will release an Xbox 360 dashboard update this summer in preparation for the next-generation Xbox. Part of the update will be a refreshed user interface, complete with smaller Live Tiles, similar to those that will be found in the upcoming Windows 8.1 update.

Another purpose of the update, according to the sources, is to ensure Xbox 360 owners can upgrade to the next Xbox and continue to interact with the friends on the past platform using beacons, achievements, and messaging.

The update is also said to kill off the controversial Microsoft Points system, replacing it with gift card and real-world currency alternatives. This was rumored earlier this week.

The site understands that a public beta for the Xbox 360 update will be available in late June or early July before a full release in August.

A Microsoft representative told GameSpot, “We’re excited to share more about the new generation of games, TV, and entertainment on May 21, but have nothing further to share at this time.”

Microsoft’s Xbox 720 event takes place Tuesday, May 21 at 10 a.m. EDT. GameSpot will have full coverage of the event as it happens.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated the rumored “smaller and denser” Xbox console was the Xbox 720. GameSpot regrets the error.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-to-show-off-smaller-and-denser-xbox-console-at-next-gen-event-6408547

Ubisoft: Core gamers ‘starving’ for next-gen

16/05/2013

The wait for next-generation consoles will soon be over, and according to Ubisoft, gamers will be eager to adopt the new platforms. As part of its latest earnings report, Ubisoft said the eight-year wait for new consoles has left gamers “starving” for next-gen platforms.


The company also detailed the various long-term opportunities it sees in next-gen platforms. Ubisoft said the social nature of these platforms will make players even more connected, which in turn will yield greater average revenue per user.

Overall, Ubisoft said it believes the arrival of next-gen platforms will lead to record sales for the industry. Outside of the Wii U, the only announced next-generation platform thus far is Sony’s PlayStation 4. This is likely to change in five days, when Microsoft lifts the veil on its long-rumored next Xbox.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said in prepared remarks that gamers today want to express themselves without limitation, noting that new platforms for Sony and Microsoft will key in on this to their benefit.

“We live in a world of self-expression. Everywhere, everyone is creative and wants to add value,” Guillemot said. “Customization, or curating, is a huge growth area across all services and that holds true for games. People want to play in their own way, they want to define their own experience and they want to share the way they’re playing.”

Ubisoft also revealed new market share figures for the industry’s leading publishers. Citing NPD, GFK, Chart-Track, and Nielsen data, the company said it was the third largest publisher in the business, with its market share jumping to 11.2 percent in the past year, up from 8.8 percent a year ago.

Activision Blizzard was the top publisher in the year (19.5 percent), with Electronic Arts (18.4 percent), Nintendo (10.8 percent), and Take-Two Interactive (6.4 percent) rounding out the top five.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/ubisoft-core-gamers-starving-for-next-gen-6408441

Microsoft constructing event space for next week’s Xbox reveal

14/05/2013

Microsoft’s venue construction plans for the May 21 Xbox event are well underway, according to tweets from staff.


The Xbox event will be hosted in Redmond, Washington.

The Xbox event will be hosted in Redmond, Washington.

Microsoft chief of staff for interactive entertainment business Aaron Greenberg posted a picture of the venue still under construction to social networking site Twitter. Similarly, Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hryb tweeted a photo of what he referred to as “the briefing space”.

The event will be hosted at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

Microsoft has promised to unveil a “real taste of the future” at the press conference. Following the announcement of the event, several rumours have circulated over the past few months regarding the console’s name, mandatory internet connectivity, and a set-top streaming device.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-constructing-event-space-for-next-weeks-xbox-reveal-6408303

Microsoft set-top ‘Xbox TV’ plans in question

10/05/2013

Microsoft’s rumored plans for an “Xbox TV” set-top streaming device are reportedly in question.


Sources speaking with The Wall Street Journal (via Polygon) have indicated that the Xbox maker has created designs for a “simple” non-gaming set-top device that will stream video and “other entertainment options.”

However, Microsoft is reportedly not sure how or if it will move forward with the device.

The unnamed sources said the Xbox TV device has gone through “several” design iterations, including “recent” prototypes that operated with Microsoft’s Kinect technology.

A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment to The Wall Street Journal and to GameSpot.

Microsoft’s overall ambition is to create “common experiences” between multiple products, the sources said, similar to the ecosystem in which Apple’s various products exist.

The company has begun to lay the groundwork for this initiative by telling its development teams to write applications using recently developed coding standards. The goal of this effort is to simplify the process by which developers can create programs for various devices, whether it be an Xbox, a smartphone, or a PC, the sources said.

The supposed Xbox TV device was first spoken of last year, when multiple sources told The Verge that this Xbox-branded set-top box would release in 2013 running on a modified version of Windows 8. It is rumored to being a “low cost” alternative to the next Xbox and will support casual games, but not “full” Xbox titles.

Microsoft is widely believed to formally unveil its next Xbox during an intimate event at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington on May 21.

This announcement will “mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV, and entertainment.” The event will be streamed through Xbox.com, Xbox Live, and Spike TV in the United States and Canada.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-set-top-xbox-tv-plans-in-question-report-6408205

Microsoft appoints first female CFO

10/05/2013

Xbox owner Microsoft this week appointed Amy Hood as chief financial officer. She will replace outgoing CFO Peter Klein and is the first female CFO in the company’s history.


Klein announced his intentions to leave Microsoft last month. He will stay on-board at the company through June to ensure a “smooth transition.” Hood, 41, becomes CFO effective immediately.

Hood joined Microsoft in 2002 and most recently served as CFO of Microsoft Business Division, where she oversaw all financial strategy and management of the $24.1 billion business. Hood also oversaw the execution of several acquisitions, including Skype for $8.5 billion and Yammer for $1.2 billion.

“Amy brings the right talents and experiences to the role as we continue to strengthen our focus on devices and services,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement. “She has been an instrumental leader in the Microsoft Business Division (MBD), helping lead the transition to services with Office 365 and delivering strong financial and operational management throughout her time on the business.”

Prior to joining Microsoft, Hood worked at investment firm Goldman Sachs in various roles. She attained a bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke University and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University.

Hood is Microsoft’s first woman to serve as CFO and one of four female executives at the company. Others include Windows CFO and chief marketing officer Tami Reller, Windows corporate vice president Julie Larson-Green, and chief people officer Lisa Brummel.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-appoints-first-female-cfo-6408197

New Xbox will be named Infinity

10/05/2013

The next Microsoft console will be named Xbox Infinity, according to a report by the UK arm of the International Business Times.


Is this the name of the next Xbox?

Is this the name of the next Xbox?

Unnamed sources, who are believed to be involved in the development of the new console, confirmed to the publication that the new hardware will simply be called Xbox Infinity. These claims mirror those of a reportedly leaked image, which recently appeared on the Reddit website.

IBTimes UK sources also revealed that development units have already been made available to software developer partners. Previous rumours suggested that some of Microsoft’s next-generation titles may have been cancelled, while others may be as much as six months behind schedule.

Microsoft is expected to officially unveil its next home console to the public at its event on May 21. Rumours have circulated for months regarding the branding that the Redmond, Washington, software giant will elect to use for the Xbox 360′s successor, with Xbox 720, the Next Xbox, and the device’s development codename, Durango all being used in lieu of any official moniker.

GameSpot contacted Microsoft seeking clarification, but a spokesperson declined, saying, “We do not comment on rumours or speculation. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform, but we don’t have anything further to share at this time.”

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/new-xbox-will-be-named-infinity-report-6408186

Microsoft, Sony ‘heavily’ investing in free-to-play for next-gen, says Epic

09/05/2013

Microsoft and Sony are “heavily” investing in free-to-play business models for their next-generation platforms, Epic Games vice president Mark Rein asserted today.


As reported by Joystiq, the executive said today during a roundtable discussion at the Game Horizon conference that both platform holders see the opportunity in such models for the PlayStation 4 and next Xbox.

“The next-gen consoles are going to be fully embracing the free-to-play and these [In-App Purchase-type] business models,” Rein said. “So in case you don’t know that I’m putting that out there. Sony and Microsoft are both going heavily in that area.”

Xbox Live’s first free-to-play game Happy Wars launched in October and has attracted 2 million players. It is the first free game on Xbox Live, but it won’t be the last.

Signal Studios’ third-person role-playing game Ascend: New Gods will also be available through the platform for free when it launches in “several months.”

As for Sony, the PlayStation maker announced in March that free-to-play shooter Blacklight: Retribution is coming to the PlayStation 4. It is the first game from Sony’s Pub Fund for the PS4.

Not all in the industry are bullish on free-to-play. During a post-earnings financial call last night, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said the Call of Duty company is not expecting to see a significant shift in the way it monetizes its console business.

“And then with respect to new business models, I can’t comment specifically on the next-generation consoles. But our general view is we approach new business models skeptically,” Kotick said (via Seeking Alpha). “And we take our time. And we look for those that will turn out to be something that is sustainable for a long term.”

“I think we’re seeing there are a lot of exciting new ways to allow customers to pay for their experiences, there are a lot of new ways for us to monetize our content,” he added. “But I can’t say that you’re going to see any dramatic shifts in the way that we monetize on the console.”

Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry publisher Ubisoft believes free-to-play business models, as well as microtransactions, are essential to the future of AAA games.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-sony-heavily-investing-in-free-to-play-for-next-gen-says-epic-6408137

Microsoft showing ‘next chapter’ of Xbox at Gamescom

07/05/2013

Microsoft will show off the “next chapter” of Xbox when it returns to Gamescom this August, the company announced today.


“Xbox will be back at gamescom this August,” wrote Microsoft social marketing manager Graeme Boyd on Twitter. “Next chapter of Xbox gaming experiences on show.”

Microsoft did not attend last year’s Gamescom (or the Tokyo Game Show), saying it would instead focus on smaller events.

Gamescom 2013 takes place in Cologne, Germany August 22-25. Nintendo also skipped last year’s show but will attend this summer.

Microsoft did not give any specifics regarding what it will show at Gamescom, but the company is widely believed to formally unveil its next Xbox during an intimate event at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington on May 21.

This announcement will “mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV, and entertainment.” The event will be streamed through Xbox.com, Xbox Live, and Spike TV in the United States and Canada.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-showing-next-chapter-of-xbox-at-gamescom-6408019

Next Xbox will not require Internet connection

06/05/2013

Numerous reports have claimed Microsoft’s next Xbox will require an Internet connection to function, but these assertions are false, according to an internal Microsoft memo obtained by Ars Technica.


“Durango is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today’s Internet,” reads a line from the memo, reportedly sent to all full-time staffers working on the next Xbox.

“There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an Internet connection, and those should ‘just work’ regardless of their current connection status,” it goes on. “Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single-player game.”

It is not clear when the memo was sent to developers. A Microsoft representative told GameSpot, “We’re excited to share more about the new generation of games, TV, and entertainment on May 21, but have nothing further to share at this time.”

Most recently, noted Windows blogger Paul Thurrott claimed the Xbox 720 will require an Internet connection to function, but suggested that the feature “isn’t as Draconian as many seem to believe.”

Microsoft is widely believed to formally unveil its next Xbox during an intimate event at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington on May 21.

This announcement will “mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV, and entertainment.” The event will be streamed through Xbox.com, Xbox Live, and Spike TV in the United States and Canada.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/next-xbox-will-not-require-internet-connection-report-6407955

Molyneux: Next Xbox should focus on games

03/05/2013

Former Microsoft higher-up and longtime Fable designer Peter Molyneux has offered his take on how Microsoft should handle the approach to its next-generation console. Speaking with Edge, Molyneux said he would like to see Microsoft make the platform game-centric above all else.


“What I would do is double-down on what this console is for: it’s for playing games,” Molyneux said. “It’s for playing console games for this massive, incredibly loyal audience of gamers out there. When they start to mix all this other stuff in there I’m kind of slightly like: ‘look, I don’t want another way of looking at Facebook’. You know, I’ve got all the ways of looking at Facebook. I don’t want another way of looking at Netflix. Just give me what I’ve paid my £299 for, and that is to play amazing, incredible computer games.”

Molyneux left Microsoft in 2012 to start independent studio 22Cans. He suggested he was briefed on the next Xbox before he left the company, but is now only “kind of” aware of the approach Microsoft plans to take with the new platform.

The designer may have a role to play in Microsoft’s next-generation announcement next month. He revealed earlier this week that there are 50 layers left in his latest game, Curiosity, and that he expects the center of the cube to be reached May 21, the same day as the next Xbox reveal.

“There’s an interesting opportunity, possibly, for me to… well, I can’t say any more than that. There may be some words from me around that time. I’m not saying any more,” Molyneux said.

Microsoft has previously suggested the next Xbox will be much more than just a destination for games. The company said its ambition for the platform’s reveal event next month is to highlight the “beginning of a new generation of games, TV, and entertainment.”

Microsoft also recently hired former CBS television executive Nancy Tellem to develop “interactive and linear content for Xbox” at a new production studio in Los Angeles to help make the Xbox platform an all-in-one destination for entertainment.

GameSpot is owned by CBS

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/molyneux-next-xbox-should-focus-on-games-6407883

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