Microsoft
Microsoft business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
PEOPLE CAN FLY GROUP ACQUIRES COOLDOWN GAMES BRAND, PUBLISHING RIGHTS, AND VETERAN GEARBOX PUBLISHING TEAM TO RESTORE ITS GLOBAL PUBLISHING VERTICAL.
People Can Fly Group has acquired the Cooldown Games brand, its publishing rights, and a team from Gearbox Publishing to re-establish its global publishing vertical. This move aims to strengthen People Can Fly's self-publishing strategy, increase profit margins on owned intellectual property, and introduce a new revenue stream through third-party publishing agreements. The acquisition also provides growth capital and operational support to Cooldown Games' existing slate of titles.
Game Pass Gets Busy Again – Aphelion Leads A Week Of New Drops As Big Titles Exit
Xbox Game Pass is seeing a significant influx of new titles, including Day One releases like Aphelion and Trepang2, alongside strategy and sandbox games. This update coincides with a price adjustment for the subscription service. However, several popular games are also being removed from the service on April 30th, prompting players to decide what to finish before they disappear.
Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings retrospective – The millennial medieval masterwork proves that there's…
This retrospective on Age of Empires 2 highlights its accessible design and enduring appeal within the real-time strategy genre. Despite its age, the game's straightforward mechanics, focus on historical detail, and blend of strategic combat with city-building elements make it a timeless classic. The article also touches on its impactful soundtrack and the nuanced portrayal of conflict and environmental consequences.
Mandatory internet connection is back on consoles as new PlayStation DRM disables your license after 30 days
Sony's new Digital Rights Management (DRM) policy for PlayStation consoles requires players to connect online at least once every 30 days to maintain their game licenses. This affects digital purchases on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, with failure to check in potentially disabling game access. The move has drawn comparisons to Microsoft's past controversial DRM plans for the Xbox One.
Saturday Safety Dance
ADT, America's largest home security brand, has confirmed a data breach linked to the ShinyHunters group. Separately, a crime crew is impersonating a help desk and abusing Microsoft Teams chats. These incidents highlight ongoing cybersecurity threats.
The Ultimate Couch Co-Op Guide: Best Local Multiplayer Games in 2026 | TAG
Couch co-op gaming is experiencing a significant resurgence, with local multiplayer games generating billions in revenue and seeing increased player engagement. This guide categorizes the best local multiplayer titles for various player groups, including couples, families, and friends, highlighting games like It Takes Two, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and the Jackbox Party Pack series. The article also discusses the historical decline and recent comeback of couch co-op, emphasizing its unique social and bonding benefits.
Party Club Scores Big on Xbox After Record-Breaking 3.7 Million Player PC Launch
Party Club has achieved a massive success with 3.7 million players on its PC launch day and is now expanding to Xbox with full cross-platform support. The indie party management game, developed by Lucid, features strategic chaos in managing animal customers. The Xbox version aims to bring players together regardless of their platform, enhancing the co-op experience.
Forza Horizon 4 Players Left Stranded After Steam Delisting Catches Them Off Guard
Forza Horizon 4 has been delisted from digital storefronts including Steam and Xbox Store due to expired music licensing deals, leaving players unable to purchase it legally. While Microsoft had announced the December 15th deadline and offered a sale, many players were caught off guard. This situation highlights the challenges of digital game preservation when licenses expire, making it difficult for new players to access older titles.
Rumor Mill
A leak suggests that a 'Starter Edition' of Xbox Game Pass may be in development, potentially including over 50 games. Details about the edition's availability and specific game lineup remain unconfirmed.
Subscriptions, Clouds, and Streams
This article analyzes Microsoft's decision to keep Call of Duty out of Xbox Game Pass, despite the service's focus on subscriptions and cloud gaming. The move suggests a strategic approach to the franchise's monetization and market positioning.
Evening Interviews
Asha Sharma and Matt Booty discuss Microsoft's strategic direction and mission within the gaming industry. The conversation touches upon key initiatives aimed at guiding Microsoft's future in the gaming landscape.
Evening Tech Bits
Microsoft has announced significant improvements to Windows Update for Windows 11. Details on the changes were shared by Windows Central, with a separate mention of LINUX on UNIX on the PDP-11/44 from Dave's Garage.
'We'll Share More When We're Ready': Xbox Wants to Make the 'Right Decision' on Exclusivity and PS5
Xbox is carefully considering its approach to game exclusivity and multiplatform releases, with new CEO Asha Sharma stating that the company will make data-driven and strategic decisions. Sharma, who has been in her role for approximately 60 days, indicated that these are significant, long-term choices that require thorough evaluation before any announcements are made.
Xbox 360 Trading Regret Hits Home for Console Collectors
A Reddit post highlighting the aesthetic harmony of an Xbox 360 with its matching game case sparked discussion about console collecting regrets. Many gamers now lament trading in older consoles like the Xbox 360, which has become a sought-after item in the retro gaming market due to its distinctive design and influential library.
Obsidian Teams With Double Fine for Extra Lives Charity Stream Today
Obsidian Entertainment and Double Fine Productions are collaborating for the Extra Lives charity stream to raise money for Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). The stream, which features Obsidian's upcoming game Kiln, will be broadcast on Twitch and YouTube. This partnership highlights the studios' community involvement and support for charitable causes.
What you need to know as Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman begins
Jury selection is set to begin in the lawsuit filed by Elon Musk against Sam Altman and OpenAI, alleging fraud in the company's reorganization into a for-profit entity. The trial could significantly impact the artificial intelligence industry, with Musk seeking to revert OpenAI to its original nonprofit structure and demanding significant financial damages. Legal experts suggest undoing the reorganization is unlikely, but the jury's decision on fraud allegations could lead to substantial monetary penalties or leadership changes.
MMO Business Roundup: Xbox’s resolutions, Microsoft’s employee buyouts, and Meta’s mass layoffs
This industry roundup covers several key business developments, including Xbox's strategic resolutions to expand its reach and Microsoft's offering of voluntary buyouts to a portion of its US workforce. Additionally, Behaviour Interactive has conducted layoffs affecting external development partnerships, and Meta has laid off 8,000 employees while closing 6,000 job postings.
"I want to make the right decision, not the fastest decision" - Xbox's new boss Asha Sharma refuses to rule out the return of exclusive games
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that the company will take a data-driven and strategic approach to decisions regarding game exclusivity, emphasizing the importance of making the right choice over the fastest one. This comes as Xbox reevaluates its exclusivity policies, with Sharma also discussing the fortification of Game Pass and the potential for more affordable hardware and services.
Xbox gets a new logo, a new mission, and reports of more changes to come
Xbox has unveiled a new translucent logo and the slogan "We are Xbox" as part of a significant brand overhaul led by new CEO Asha Sharma. Reports indicate potential collaborations with Discord, a rebranding of Microsoft Gaming back to Xbox, and a re-evaluation of game exclusivity and release windows. The company also aims to expand into China and is reportedly offering voluntary buyouts to up to 7% of its US employees.
The MacBook Neo is a glimpse into John Ternus's Apple
The MacBook Neo, priced at $599, represents a significant shift in Apple's product strategy, with John Ternus leading the initiative. This budget-friendly laptop, despite its lower price point, maintains premium build quality and performance, challenging industry norms and potentially serving as an entry point into the Apple ecosystem for new users.