Microsoft
Microsoft business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Call of Duty Movie Adaptation is Coming to Theatres on June 30th, 2028
A film adaptation of the Call of Duty franchise is scheduled for theatrical release on June 30th, 2028. The project, announced by Activision and produced by Taylor Sheridan and Pete Berg, aims to capture the authenticity and epic scope of the games. This announcement follows years of rumors and discussions about adapting the popular shooter series.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Plans to Introduce Game Pass Tier With Only First-Party Games – Rumor
Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly planning a new, more affordable tier for the Game Pass subscription service that would exclusively feature first-party Xbox Game Studios titles. This move comes as Sharma has stated the current Game Pass model is "too expensive for players." Discussions are also underway with Netflix for a potential bundled subscription.
Fable’s Development Was Helped by Blizzard’s Cinematics Team
Microsoft Gaming's chief content officer Matt Booty revealed that Blizzard's cinematics team assisted Playground Games with Fable's development. This collaboration is part of a broader initiative to foster synergy between Xbox Game Studios, with other examples including Compulsion Games using Activision's MoCap studio and Rare helping Double Fine with multiplayer features. Fable is slated for a Fall release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Gears of War: E-Day Developer is “Righting the Ship” for the Franchise, Says Former Designer
Former Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski praised The Coalition's direction for Gears of War: E-Day, believing they are revitalizing the franchise by focusing on the Locust as a primary threat. He highlighted the importance of the Marcus and Dom relationship and criticized the inclusion of robots and Lambent in previous titles. The game is slated for a 2026 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a dedicated Xbox Games Showcase Direct planned for June 7th.
Subscriptions, Clouds, and Streams
An expert suggests the gaming industry needs more advertising and proposes a cheaper $6 tier for Xbox Game Pass. The discussion touches upon the evolving landscape of game subscriptions, cloud gaming, and streaming services.
Arc Raiders and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 help show "mid-price is the new sweet spot" for games, analysts…
Analysts at Newzoo identify the $30-$50 price range as the new sweet spot for PC and console games, citing titles like Arc Raiders and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as examples of successful mid-priced releases. This trend emerges as the overall cost of gaming increases, with players seeking better value between indie and premium $70 titles.
Vague Patch Notes: No, ‘foreigners’ are not coming for the American games industry
This article critiques the notion that Asian game developers are poised to overtake the American industry due to their embrace of generative AI. It argues that many Asian companies struggle to penetrate Western markets and that the real issues facing the industry include over-reliance on single titles, fixation on graphics, studio cannibalization, and poor working conditions, rather than external threats.
Morning Tech Bits
AMD may be releasing a special edition of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the AM4 socket. The article also briefly mentions Visual Studio Code version 1.116.
Ex-PlayStation boss says Microsoft is 'trying so hard to will' Xbox Game Pass 'into health' and suggests 'a clarifying post mortem would do the entire industry some good'
Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden commented on Xbox's efforts to sustain Xbox Game Pass, suggesting the service is struggling despite Microsoft's attempts to improve its value. This follows a leaked memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledging the subscription service's current high cost and outlining plans for future evolution. Layden also stated that a thorough analysis of the service's performance would benefit the entire industry.
Japan: Nintendo Switch 2 reigns supreme and Pokemon Pokopia remains No.1
The Nintendo Switch 2 was the best-selling hardware in Japan for the week of April 6-12, 2026, selling over 52,000 units. Pokemon Pokopia for the Nintendo Switch 2 remained the top-selling software. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S also saw sales figures reported.
Meta Quest headset prices are going up on April 19
Meta is increasing the prices of its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets starting April 19 due to rising RAM costs. The Quest 3 will increase by $100 to $599, and the Quest 3S will be $50 more expensive at $350 for the 128GB model. Sony also recently raised prices for PlayStation 5 consoles and the PlayStation Portal for similar reasons.
A 17-year-old Excel vulnerability is currently being exploited by threat actors, and it's been flagged by the…
A 17-year-old vulnerability in Microsoft Office, originally reported in 2009, is now being actively exploited by threat actors, according to CISA. The agency has flagged the exploit, which has a severity score of 8.8, and is urging Microsoft to patch it again. A separate, less severe but automatable exploit in Microsoft Office SharePoint has also been identified.
Until Then for Xbox Series launches April 23
The narrative adventure game Until Then is set to launch on Xbox Series X on April 23, available through the Microsoft Store. The article confirms the release date for the console version of the game.
Famitsu Sales: 4/6/26 – 4/12/26
Famitsu has released its physical game sales data for Japan for the week of April 6-12, 2026. Pokemon Pokopia for Nintendo Switch 2 remained the top seller, while Starfield for PlayStation 5 was the highest-selling new release. Nintendo Switch 2 led hardware sales, followed by the Nintendo Switch family.
Famitsu sales (4/6/26 – 4/12/26) – Nintendo Switch 2 leads hardware sales
The latest Japanese hardware sales data from Famitsu for the week of April 6-12, 2026, shows the Nintendo Switch 2 leading with 52,058 units sold. Software charts are topped by 'Pokemon Pokopia' on the Switch 2, followed by 'Mario Kart World' and 'Starfield' on PlayStation 5.
Blizzard is assisting with Fable's cinematics, while the Sea of Thieves team is lending its expertise to quirky pottery brawler Kiln
Xbox's studios are collaborating on various projects, with Blizzard assisting Playground Games with Fable's cinematics and Rare lending multiplayer expertise to Double Fine's Kiln. This cross-studio support aims to leverage unique strengths without compromising individual studio cultures, as explained by Xbox's chief content officer Matt Booty.
One Key Part Of Fable Is Getting Outside Help
Blizzard Entertainment's cinematic team is assisting Playground Games with the cinematics for the upcoming Fable reboot. Microsoft's chief content officer Matt Booty highlighted this collaboration as an example of internal studio synergy. The Fable reboot is slated for release this fall, with recent speculation suggesting a potential delay to 2027 to avoid launching alongside Grand Theft Auto 6.
Microsoft Considering These Major Changes To Game Pass After CEO Said It's Too Expensive- Report
Microsoft is reportedly considering significant changes to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, including a potential new tier for first-party games and exploring bundling with third-party services like Netflix. The company is also mulling over whether to continue releasing new Call of Duty titles on Game Pass at launch, following a reported $300 million in lost sales for Black Ops 6. These potential adjustments come as Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma aims to create a more flexible and cost-effective model for players.
I'm sad to report that when I worked on Black & White 2's expansion I was never offered a weed-laced chilli con carne
A former intern at Lionhead Studios reflects on the studio's culture during the development of Black & White 2's expansion, noting the prevalence of marijuana use among developers. The author humorously laments never being offered any, questioning if they were considered too 'normal' or if the practice had ceased by 2006. Despite the anecdotal drug use, the author maintains a fond memory of Peter Molyneux buying them a McDonald's, highlighting the lasting impact of games like Black & White.
Starfield PS5 Review – Same stars, new vessel
This review examines Starfield on PlayStation 5, noting that significant updates and expansions have improved its standing since its initial launch. While still bearing similarities to Fallout, the game offers a vast spacefaring experience with deep ship customization and an interesting New Game+ integration, despite some dated technology and narrative delivery.
