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Microsoft business and news from across the web.
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Quest maker Meta is having its cake and eating it
Meta is partnering with BlackRock to build a new data center in El Paso, Texas, with an investment of around $14 billion. This facility will provide 1 gigawatt of compute capacity to support Meta's AI technologies and models, with operations expected to begin in 2028. The move comes as Meta faces component shortages impacting its VR hardware like the Meta Quest 3 and has seen significant losses in its Reality Labs division.
Microsoft’s Chaotic Server Outage Was Down To A Single Service Failure
Microsoft's Xbox network experienced a significant server outage that prevented players from signing in, making purchases, and accessing games. Xbox Chief Technology Officer Scott Van Vliet explained the failure was due to a single licensing service and detailed the steps taken to restore functionality. Microsoft is implementing measures to prevent similar single points of failure from impacting services in the future.
'I have been hunted down by HR reps, lawyers, and comms people:' Developers discuss the pain and prevalence of side work clauses
Developers discuss the prevalence and impact of restrictive side work clauses in the video game industry, where companies often claim ownership of personal projects. While some employees have successfully negotiated these terms, many face broad restrictions that hinder personal and professional growth. Legal experts note that clauses are generally enforceable if the side work falls within the scope of employment, emphasizing the importance of transparency and written agreements.
Xbox CTO explains what caused the Xbox outage, apologises to players, and outlines what's being done going forward
Xbox experienced a major server outage on Monday, impacting game purchases, downloads, and offline play due to a failure in an external licensing service. Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet apologized and explained that the issue has been resolved, with the company initiating a full review to prevent future occurrences and improve transparency with the community.
What is the exact release time of Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Halo: Campaign Evolved will launch globally on July 28 at 8 AM PT, with no local midnight release. Players who purchased the Premium or Collector's Edition received five days of early access. The game is described as a return to the roots of the first-person shooter franchise.
Xbox explains outage preventing players from accessing games, CTO says it will "do better"
Xbox's CTO Scott Van Vliet explained that a failure in a shared internal licensing service caused a widespread outage, preventing players from signing in and accessing their games. The issue also impacted publishing and store partners. Xbox is conducting a review to prevent similar failures and improve recovery times, with service restoration occurring unevenly across regions.
Xbox CTO pins Xbox Network downtime on external “licensing service”
Xbox Chief Technical Officer Scott Van Vliet explained that a recent Xbox Network outage was caused by an external licensing service failure, impacting game sign-ins, library access, and purchases. The company is implementing changes to prevent single points of failure and improve transparency during future incidents. The outage also highlighted ongoing concerns about restrictive DRM policies affecting game access.
Halo Studios is Now Working on a New Multiplayer Game, New Campaign-Focused Game – Rumor
A new report suggests that Halo Studios is working on both a new multiplayer game and a remake of Halo 2, utilizing the engine from the recently released Halo: Campaign Evolved. While the multiplayer project is based on classic arena shooter gameplay, the Halo 2 remake is hinted at in the secret ending of Halo: Campaign Evolved. The studio's focus was previously on Halo: Campaign Evolved, with new mainline campaign games still in early concept stages.
Xbox Live’s Extended Network Outage Was “Unacceptable”, Says CTO
Xbox division CTO Scott Van Vliet apologized for a 15-hour network outage that prevented users from accessing games and services. The extended downtime was caused by an external licensing service failure, which cascaded into broader issues. Microsoft plans to improve its infrastructure to prevent similar incidents and increase transparency with users.
Xbox outage is stopping even game discs from working as all-digital future bites
Microsoft is addressing a widespread outage affecting the Xbox ecosystem, preventing users from logging in, accessing their game library, and launching games. The issue impacts both digital and physical disc-based games, highlighting concerns about the reliability of an all-digital future. The outage began on Thursday, July 27, with engineers actively working on a resolution.
Xbox Live server status
This article provides information on how to check the server status for Xbox Live and the Xbox Network. It directs users to the official Xbox website and the Xbox Support X account for updates on outages and maintenance. If Xbox Live services are down, users are advised to be patient for Microsoft to resolve the issue.
Xbox is down, just days after PlayStation outage, and it affects both digital and "disc-based" games
Xbox experienced a significant outage affecting digital and disc-based games, occurring shortly after a similar PlayStation outage. The issues impacted account sign-in, game launches, store access, and app functionality. Microsoft has identified the cause and is working on a resolution.
Xbox service is down, with outages meaning players can't play any digital or physical games, after similar PlayStation Network issues last week
Xbox's online services are experiencing a major outage, preventing players from accessing digital and physical games, as well as signing in and viewing the store. This follows similar issues with the PlayStation Network last week, highlighting concerns about the reliance on digital ownership and DRM in the current gaming landscape.
Now Xbox Is Down for Some, Microsoft Says It's Working to Fix a Major Outage Affecting Library, Sign-In, and Game Launch
Microsoft is addressing a major outage affecting Xbox services, impacting account sign-in, game library access, and the ability to launch games. The company is actively working to resolve the issues.
Xbox Network Is Down Right Now, Microsoft Confirms
The Xbox Network is currently experiencing widespread outages affecting account sign-ins, store access, and gaming services. Microsoft has confirmed the issues and is working on a fix, though no estimated time for resolution has been provided. This outage follows a recent disruption on the PlayStation Network and raises concerns about the reliability of digital-only game access.
Jensen Huang's first-ever post on X is in defense of open access to AI models, alongside Google, OpenAI, and Meta
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, alongside Google, OpenAI, and Meta, posted on X advocating against premature restrictions on open AI models. He argues that open models are crucial for AI's growth, innovation, and global accessibility, while acknowledging their inherent risks. The companies signed an appeal to avoid stifling competition and driving innovation overseas.
Some parts of Xbox Live are now down – digital games affected
Microsoft's Xbox Network experienced a significant outage affecting account sign-ins, game launching, and store access. The issues, which began early in the morning BST, were identified by midday, though some users reported sporadic problems with digital game loading. This downtime follows a similar incident on Sony's PlayStation Network.
John Romero announced as keynote speaker for Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show
id Software co-founder John Romero has been announced as the keynote speaker for the business conference at Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show in Bangkok. The event, running from October 29th to November 1st, will feature speakers from companies like Tencent and Godot, and has expanded its floor space by 20% following a successful 2025 debut.
Console Gamers Bring Sharp Instincts to Their First Real-Money Slot Gameplay
Console gamers often misunderstand real-money slot gameplay due to ingrained instincts from video games, which have skill layers absent in slots. While both involve randomness, slots are designed for the operator's profit, unlike games where player skill influences outcomes. Understanding concepts like Return-to-Player (RTP) and volatility is crucial, similar to reading game specifications, as slots offer no skill-based advantage.
MMO Week in Review: FFXIV in Berlin, Black Desert in SoCal, and Jimothy saturation
This week's MMO news covers Final Fantasy XIV's Fan Festival in Berlin, Black Desert's Heidel Ball, and the early access launch of SEED. Updates were also provided for Dungeons & Dragons Online, Aion 2, and The Guild reunion movie. Several games saw controversy including World of Warcraft staff cheating, Elder Scrolls Online capacity issues, and Microsoft layoffs.
