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Microsoft business and news from across the web.
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MMO Business Roundup: New VR glasses, Microsoft kills a game, and controllers that can read credit cards
Microsoft's recent layoffs may have led to the cancellation of a new Age of Empires game, with the studio World's Edge reportedly working on an unconfirmed project before its closure. Facebook unveiled new VR glasses focused on general use, capable of playing Meta Quest games and connecting to consoles. Sony patented a controller design that can read NFC information, potentially for payment processing or data transfer.
Inside Xbox, "the only concrete thing they have communicated is they want higher profits, and they want it…
An id Software employee reports that ongoing layoffs at Xbox are exacerbating management chaos and making it difficult to meet Microsoft's high profit expectations. Despite corporate communication about a business 'reset,' the employee states the only clear goal is immediate profit increases, leading to low morale and unrealistic goals for game development.
It's 24 years since Xbox bought Rare and things have only got worse for everyone
This article analyzes the 24th anniversary of Microsoft's acquisition of Rare, arguing it was an ominous sign for Xbox's current struggles. The piece details Rare's history, its shift from Nintendo exclusivity to Xbox, and the subsequent decline in quality and sales, culminating in its current state under Activision and focus on Sea of Thieves.
Apple, Nvidia, Google, Microsoft...pretty much all the big US players in the chip business are reportedly evaluating…
Major US tech companies including Amazon, Apple, AMD, Google, Tesla, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Qualcomm are reportedly evaluating Intel's upcoming 14A semiconductor manufacturing node. This interest stems from Intel's improving technical data, the industry's search for alternatives to TSMC, and political pressure for on-shoring chip production.
Post-Xbox, Double Fine boss Tim Schafer is baffled by the terrible state of the game industry: "People are making money, so I don't know why there's a big loss of jobs"
Double Fine founder Tim Schafer expressed confusion regarding the current state of the game industry, particularly the widespread layoffs despite reported profitability. He questions the economics driving these job losses and hopes for a cyclical recovery, while acknowledging the creativity in the indie space.
Free Play Days – PGA TOUR 2K25, The Escapists 2, Young Suns, and The Division 2
Xbox is offering Free Play Days for several games including PGA TOUR 2K25 and The Division 2 for all Xbox members, and The Escapists 2 and Young Suns for Xbox Game Pass members. These titles are available from Thursday, September 24, to Sunday, September 27, with options to purchase the games at a discount after the trial period.
"I assume someone is being greedy somewhere" - Tim Schafer discusses current game industry woes following Double Fine's split with Xbox
Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine Productions, discussed the studio's recent split with Xbox and his views on the current state of the game industry. He expressed support for Game Pass but questioned the economics leading to widespread layoffs, suggesting greed is a factor. Schafer praised Xbox's past support for Double Fine but noted their differing strategies.
Nintendo Switch 2 is at its lowest price ever but you better act fast
The Nintendo Switch is currently available at its lowest price ever, selling for £354.99 at retailers like Argos and Smyths, which is significantly cheaper than its recent increased price of £419.99. This makes it a more attractive option than the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X for holiday purchases, especially as those consoles are unlikely to see price cuts due to upcoming major game releases like Grand Theft Auto 6.
Quake Champions ditches free-to-play and kills off its Microsoft Store version eight years after its original release
Quake Champions is transitioning from a free-to-play model to a paid product, eight years after its initial release. The Microsoft Store version is being discontinued, with the game now exclusively available on Steam for £8.99/$9.99. This change also marks the end of ongoing development for the game.
Microsoft Culled Age of Empires Studio Before Handing It Over to Activision, With Nearly Half of All Staff Gone
Microsoft's Age of Empires studio, World's Edge, has lost nearly half of its staff due to recent layoffs. This occurred before the studio was reportedly handed over to Activision Blizzard.
4 years after full launch, Quake Champions is a paid game on Steam with old content unlocked and microtransactions removed as devs announce an end to updates
Quake Champions has transitioned to a paid model on Steam, removing microtransactions and unlocking all characters and most vanity content. This change comes four years after its full launch and marks an end to further content updates for the game, with id Software and Bethesda Softworks citing structural changes within Microsoft's gaming division.
A leaker claims the PS6 and Xbox 'Helix' chips have been finalized, and that the Microsoft's console could be 40% more powerful than the PlayStation — and gamers are worrying about what the powerful news systems will cost
A leaker claims the chips for the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox, codenamed 'Helix', have been finalized. The leaks suggest the Xbox console could offer 56 TFLOPS of power compared to the PlayStation 6's 40 TFLOPS, significantly more than current-generation consoles. Gamers are expressing concern over the potential high cost of these next-generation machines.
Subscriptions: The Gaming Industry Business Model of the Future
Subscription services like Microsoft's Game Pass have fundamentally changed the gaming industry by shifting the model from ownership to access. This provides players with greater affordability and choice, while also offering developers and publishers new avenues for reaching audiences and extending game lifecycles. However, increasing competition and subscription fatigue may force platforms to innovate further to retain users.
Bethesda say new underlings Obsidian will retain their "distinct" creative identity, despite no longer being as free to work on their own creatively distinct series
Bethesda's Jill Braff announced that Obsidian Entertainment will now report to Bethesda, impacting its creative independence. While Braff claims Obsidian's distinct identity will remain, the article argues this structural change, especially with Obsidian working on a new Fallout project, will likely dilute their ability to create original series like The Outer Worlds or Pentiment.
Xbox's version of PlayStation's Platinum Trophy achievement seems to leak, and it's got a sound-effect that's 15 seconds long
Microsoft appears to be introducing a "Mythic Achievement" for Xbox, similar to PlayStation's Platinum Trophy, which is reportedly retroactive and worth zero Gamerscore. This comes amidst significant restructuring within Xbox, including the effective closure of Halo Studios and job losses across multiple development teams like Ninja Theory and World's Edge.
Bethesda says that Obsidian's 'creative identity' will be preserved, just months after multiple projects were cancelled and it was told to make a Fallout game
Bethesda Game Studios stated that Obsidian Entertainment's 'creative identity' will be preserved following its integration into Bethesda and the cancellation of multiple projects. Despite assurances, the article expresses skepticism, highlighting recent layoffs and the shift to developing a new Fallout game after a 16-year hiatus from the franchise.
Wardogs boss says "games need to cost more" and GTA 6 should've been the game to make the change
Wardogs lead Joe Brammer argues that video games are priced too low, citing the high cost of development and suggesting Grand Theft Auto 6 missed an opportunity to set a new $80 price standard. He believes the industry's economic struggles stem from games being too cheap, a sentiment echoed by Double Fine founder Tim Schafer who expressed confusion over game development economics. While some companies like Nintendo and Rockstar have experimented with higher prices, Brammer insists that developers need to be more vocal about increasing game costs.
Following id layoffs, Quake Champions drops free-to-play nonsense and becomes a £9 game on Steam
Quake Champions has transitioned from a free-to-play model to a premium purchase on Steam, removing battle passes, loot boxes, and its in-game store. This change occurs in the context of significant layoffs at id Software, its developer, following Microsoft's acquisition of Zenimax. While the game will continue in some form, no further content updates are planned.
Microsoft files patent for "ad-credit" system to show ads on PC and Xbox without disrupting gameplay
Microsoft has filed a patent for an "ad-credit" system that would display advertisements during PC and Xbox gameplay by pausing the game during natural breaks like loading screens. Players would earn credits for ad-free playtime after viewing ads. This follows earlier reports of Xbox considering ads for cloud gaming and recent tests of ad-supported streaming sessions.
Fans of ads will enjoy Microsoft’s new patent for in-game advertisements
Microsoft has patented a new 'context-aware system' for delivering in-game advertisements across PC and consoles. This system aims to integrate ads at natural stopping points, offering players 'ad credits' to delay interruptions. While the patent doesn't confirm specific product plans, it suggests Microsoft is exploring ad-supported models, potentially impacting both free-to-play and paid games.
