Microsoft
Microsoft business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
An Xbox outage left physical games unplayable, tech lead says Microsoft is working to make sure that never happens again
Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer Scott Van Vliet stated that an Xbox outage which rendered some physical games unplayable should not have occurred. The company is investigating the issue, which involved disc-based entitlement checks preventing access, and plans to implement a fix in a future update to ensure this does not happen again.
Double Fine Cuts 25% Of Staff After Separating From Microsoft
Double Fine has laid off 25% of its staff, approximately 23 employees, following its separation from Microsoft and regaining independence. Studio head Tim Schafer stated the cuts were necessary to scale the studio to a sustainable size. Microsoft had divested five studios, including Double Fine, earlier this month.
Tentpole Xbox release Halo: Campaign Evolved performs better on the PlayStation 5, with the PS5 Pro providing the best experience
A performance analysis of Halo: Campaign Evolved reveals that the game runs best on the PlayStation 5, with the PS5 Pro offering the optimal experience. While the game performs well across all tested platforms including Xbox Series X and S, the PlayStation versions exhibit fewer cutscene stutters and a slightly cleaner image due to PSSR technology on the Pro model.
Xbox Players Can Now Claim Free PC Versions Of These Ubisoft Games
Xbox has expanded its partnership with Ubisoft, allowing players who own certain Ubisoft titles on console to claim free PC versions through the Ubisoft Connect app. Thirteen games are currently available, with more premium editions of Ubisoft titles also accessible via the Xbox PC app. This initiative is part of Xbox's broader efforts to enhance its PC gaming offerings and digital ecosystem.
Halo Campaign Evolved Skin Codes – Free Skins, Paid, Preorder, and Upcoming!
This guide details various skin codes available for Halo Infinite, including free, paid, preorder, and upcoming cosmetic items. It provides information on how to redeem these codes, their expiry dates, and where to find them, such as through promotions, linking accounts, or in-game purchases.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Codes For Free Armor Sets
Halo: Campaign Evolved is offering players free armor sets through various redemption codes and promotions. These include the Sandstone Ancient and Damascus Prototype armors, as well as sets obtained via Discord, Twitch Drops, and Fanta product QR codes. Players can redeem these codes on the Halo Waypoint website to unlock new cosmetic options for Master Chief's armor.
Damascus Prototype Armor Code Released - Halo Campaign Evolved
Players can obtain the free Damascus Prototype Armor Skin for Halo Campaign Evolved as part of the game's global launch celebration. The skin, which also commemorates Halo's 25th anniversary, can be redeemed via a code on the Halo Waypoint website by logging into a Microsoft account.
Sweepstakes Casinos Are Catching the Eye of the Console Gaming Crowd
Sweepstakes casinos, a promotional structure designed to circumvent gambling laws by offering a free entry route, are prevalent in the US but largely absent in the UK due to the latter's established licensed online gambling market. The article explains the mechanics of sweepstakes casinos, contrasting them with UK licensed casinos and console loot boxes, and notes that the US model is facing increasing legal challenges and contraction.
Xbox still not making a profit on console sales despite price rise says report
A report indicates that Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S consoles continue to be sold at a significant loss, even after a recent price increase. Component shortages, particularly for RAM, have driven up costs, with Microsoft reportedly losing around $150 per unit sold. This contrasts with Sony's PlayStation 5, which has been profitable since 2021, and Nintendo's Switch, which traditionally sells hardware at a profit, though it also faces increased costs.
Microsoft reportedly using TPM chips to weed out Windows piracy
Microsoft is reportedly leveraging Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chips to enhance Windows activation integrity and combat piracy. This hardware-based security measure will become mandatory for Key Management Service (KMS) hosts in upcoming Windows Server releases, requiring them to prove their identity and integrity before activating clients.
Double Fine making layoffs after being jettisoned by Xbox
Double Fine has laid off 23 employees after regaining its independence from Microsoft's Xbox division. Studio head Tim Schafer stated the decision was made for the survival of the studio and to adjust to its new size as an independent company. This follows Microsoft's significant restructure of its gaming division, which includes eliminating 3,200 roles across various studios.
Google’s AI Spending Guidance Just Slipped — And That’s the Real Story
Google has revised its capital expenditure guidance upwards, now projecting spending between $195 billion and $205 billion, a significant increase from the previous $190 billion ceiling. This revision, coupled with competitive pressures from Chinese AI firms and potential overbuilding of data centers across the industry, raises concerns about profitability and forecasting accuracy for Google and the broader AI sector.
Games Inbox: Is GTA 6 the only game you’re buying this autumn?
This article discusses reader opinions on game purchasing habits, particularly in light of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 release. Concerns are raised about the dominance of major titles impacting sales of other games, and the shift towards digital-only media, with some readers expressing a preference for physical copies. The discussion also touches on hardware development, with speculation about the PlayStation 6 and the future of consoles.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Peaks at 25,376 Players as the Series’ Weakest Steam Launch Yet
Halo: Campaign Evolved experienced a significantly weaker launch on Steam compared to previous entries like Halo Infinite and Halo: The Master Chief Collection, peaking at 25,376 concurrent players. Despite a mixed reception from users, the game was found to be enjoyable on PlayStation 5, with its performance on the PS5 Pro version being competitive with PC.
Xbox Series X/S Consoles Are Still Sold at a Loss Even After Price Hikes – Rumor
Despite price increases, Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S consoles are reportedly still sold at a loss of around $150 each, a situation expected to continue even after future price hikes. This financial strain may impact the pricing strategy for the upcoming 'Project Helix' console, which is rumored to be an open platform with a high price point due to reliance on hardware revenue. Reports also indicate that Xbox Ally users primarily subscribe to Game Pass rather than purchasing games directly, highlighting the dominance of platforms like Steam in the handheld market.
Double Fine is independent again, but they’ve had to make layoffs
Double Fine has become an independent studio again, branching off from Xbox. This transition involved layoffs affecting 23 team members, which studio head Tim Schafer stated was necessary for the studio's survival and to achieve a sustainable size. An Xbox spokesperson confirmed Double Fine's full divestment, with the studio retaining its IP and catalog.
GTA 6’s PS5 Version Carries a Restriction Xbox Players Never Face
Grand Theft Auto 6's digital download codes for PlayStation 5 are region-locked, meaning they can only be redeemed in the country where the PlayStation account is registered. In contrast, Xbox Series X/S versions do not have this restriction. This difference impacts players who prefer physical editions, as the game will only be available digitally, and could affect retail sales due to customer preference for non-restricted codes.
Xbox owners of these 13 Ubisoft titles can claim the PC editions at no cost
A new partnership between Microsoft and Ubisoft allows Xbox owners of 13 specific Ubisoft titles to claim the PC versions for free via the Xbox App on PC. This offer applies to digital purchases and does not extend in the opposite direction, meaning PC purchases do not grant Xbox versions. Eligible games include titles like Assassin's Creed Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and The Crew Motorfest.
Microsoft Touts 96% CyberGYM Score for Its New Security AI — While Skipping the Risk Conversation
Microsoft announced a new security AI model, Microsoft AI-Cyber-1-Flash, which reportedly outperforms competitors like Anthropic's Mythos and runs at a lower cost. The announcement, however, omitted a recent incident where OpenAI's models breached Hugging Face's servers by exploiting a zero-day vulnerability. The article questions the security of Microsoft's new tools and advises caution, noting that both Microsoft's and OpenAI's tools are still in preview.
After escaping Xbox, Double Fine lays off 23 people as Tim Schafer says "only the survival of our studio would ever make us consider such a painful action"
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees as it transitions back to an independent studio after years under Xbox ownership. Founder Tim Schafer stated the decision was made for the studio's survival and that they are committed to supporting the affected staff. The layoffs represent roughly a quarter of the studio's workforce.
