Microsoft News Articles
Friday24th May 2024
News Activision Officially Announces Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6
Microsoft now has a 10-year deal with Nintendo
Ahead of a Switch "successor" announcement this fiscal year, Activision has officially announced Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This new entry is scheduled to be featured at Xbox's upcoming showcase next m
Sunday7th Apr 2024
News Sea Of Thieves Could Lead To More Xbox Exclusives On Other Platforms
It's reportedly a "key test" for Microsoft
Microsoft is currently in the process of rolling out select Xbox exclusive on the Switch and PlayStation 5, and apparently, one particular upcoming title could decide if it releases more games on these platforms in the future. The Verge's senior editor Tom Warren claims the PlayStation 5 release Sea of...
Friday23rd Feb 2024
Rumour Xbox's Hi-Fi Rush Will Reportedly Launch On 'Switch 2'
It was revealed for PlayStation this week
Nintendo's recent Partner Showcase locked in two Xbox games for the Switch, but what about those Hi-Fi Rush rumours? According to Insider Gaming, the rhythm-based action game might actually be targeting a release on the Switch 2, so a possible announcement could still be months out. Here's exact
Thursday22nd Feb 2024
Random Some Rare Fans Are Upset About The Latest Switch Online Announcement
"Rare Replay should have been announced on Switch"
The latest Partner Showcase from Nintendo was packed with all sorts of surprises and another standout announcement was the news five more classic Rare games would be coming to the Switch Online service. These titles include games like Killer Instinct and Blast Corps, and while it's welcome news for...
Wednesday21st Feb 2024
News Two Xbox Games Get Nintendo Switch Release Dates
And one is arriving tomorrow
If there's one thing we all expected to see at today's Partner Showcase, it was the reveal of a couple of Xbox titles coming to Switch. And we didn't just get one — we got two, with release dates! Two of Obsidian's Xbox exclusives are jumping ship in 2024 and coming to Switch — the excellent narrative RPG Pentiment...
Friday16th Feb 2024
News Xbox Game Pass Really Isn't Coming To Nintendo Switch
Microsoft reiterates it will remain exclusive to Xbox
There's been conversation about Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service potentially being released on rival platforms, but at the end of last year, the company's gaming CEO Phil Spencer ruled this out. If you were hopeful this might change one day, it seems not. In Xbox's latest business...
Thursday15th Feb 2024
News Microsoft To Bring Four Xbox Exclusives To Other Consoles, But Won't Name Them
Platforms also haven't been confirmed
After weeks of rumours, Xbox has finally confirmed that it will be bringing more Xbox exclusives to other consoles. What consoles, and what games, is anyone's guess. During today's Official Xbox Podcast, the Head of Xbox and CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer confirmed that four titles that are currently...
Tuesday13th Feb 2024
News Xbox Exclusives Hi-Fi RUSH & Pentiment Reportedly Coming To "Rival Consoles"
"With other first-party titles also under consideration"
Rumours have been circulating recently about Microsoft potentially bringing select games to competitor platforms and Xbox has now confirmed its business update will take place this Thursday. Along with this, a new report from Th
Tuesday6th Feb 2024
News Microsoft To Share "Vision For The Future Of Xbox" Next Week
Following rumours about select Xbox games going multi-platform
There have been industry rumours recently about Microsoft potentially bringing select games to competitor platforms and last weekend it escalated, with games media outlets and key figures claiming Xbox could potentially go "all in" on a new multi-platform model. It's got to the point
Friday2nd Feb 2024
News Hi-Fi Rush Datamine Lends Weight To Switch Port Rumours
"Rock Out! Anywhere"
It's always rumour season in the video game industry, and one of the biggest regarding the Switch thatisn't about the Switch successor focuses on a critically acclaimed Xbox title coming to the hybrid console. Those rumours — which seem to point at Tango Gameworks' excellent action title Hi-Fi Rush — might have a bit more...
Tuesday30th Jan 2024
News Call Of Duty Exec Is Appointed As Blizzard's New President
Times are a-changin'
Following the departure of Mike Ybarra from Blizzard just last week, Microsoft has announced that Johanna Faries has now been appointed as the new President of the formidable subsidiary. Faries is currently serving as General Manager for the Call of Duty franchise, with her new role at Blizzard effective from February 5th,...
Friday26th Jan 2024
News Microsoft Lays Off 1,900 Xbox, Bethesda And Activision Blizzard Employees
It's been a rough start for the industry in 2024
Some more industry news has broken this week, and this time it relates to Microsoft's Xbox division, which last year finalised its acquisition of Activision Blizzard and has in recent times reiterated its support for Nintendo platforms. In a message from the Xbox and Microsoft gaming boss Phil...
Thursday18th Jan 2024
News Microsoft: ActiBlizz Acquisition Gives Xbox A Chance To Be A "Good Publisher" On All Platforms
"We're excited about that acquisition closing"
Following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, there's been a lot of debate about Xbox published titles on other platforms, so what's the latest? Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has told Bloomberg this week how he feels Xbox has a better chance of being a "good publisher" for all platforms...
Tuesday9th Jan 2024
Rumour Microsoft Will Bring Critically Acclaimed Exclusive To "Competitor System" This Year
"It's going to be met with a lot of excitement"
Update #2 [Tue 9th Jan, 2024 00:25 GMT]: To add fuel to the fire, an Australian Classification Board rating for 'Project 2022A' has been discovered. It was rated 'M' for mature on 15th December 2022, the applicant is ZeniMax Media, Shinji Mikami is referenced and there are multiple platforms listed...
Wednesday3rd Jan 2024
News Minecraft Movie Reportedly Casts Jack Black As Steve
Bowser, is that you?
Last year, Warner Bros. announced the live-action Minecraft movie would be released in cinemas in April 2025. Now, in a new update, Deadline is reporting the actor and musician Jack Black will be joining the cast. The Kung Fu Panda and Tenacious D star will supposedly be playing the role of the player character Steve in this...
Thursday21st Dec 2023
News Activision Blizzard's Bobby Kotick Will Step Down Later This Month
While ex-Nintendo employee Jill Braff will lead ZeniMax/Bethesda
Following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard earlier this year (finally, right?), it's been announced that Bobby Kotick will step down from his role as CEO on December 29th, 2023 (thanks, Eurogamer). Kotick became CEO of Activision all the way back in 1991 and was integral...
Saturday2nd Dec 2023
News Xbox Acknowledges Fan Requests For New Banjo-Kazooie Game
Phil Spencer: "Banjo fans, I hear you"
Rare's famous bear and bird duo Banjo-Kazooie made a return via Nintendo's Switch Online service last year, and ever since then, fans have been calling for a proper comeback. There have even been some rumours doing the rounds about a possible revival, so what are the chances of something like this ever...
Thursday30th Nov 2023
News Xbox Reiterates Interest In Bringing Game Pass To "Every Screen" Including Nintendo Platforms
"It's a bit of a change of strategy"
Microsoft and Xbox have mentioned on a number of occasions how they want to make gaming more accessible than ever before, and during a recent appearance at the Wells Fargo TMT Summit earlier this week, Xbox CFO Tim Stuart reiterated this. While he admits it's a "bit of a change of strategy" compared to Xbox's...
Sunday19th Nov 2023
News Minecraft Unveils Trial Chambers And New Mischievous Mob
Coming in the Version 1.21 update
Following Minecraft Live last month, Mojang has now shown off the new "Trial Chambers" as well as the new hostile mob known as "The Breeze". The Trial Chambers are a new procedurally generated structure, crafting different challenges each time you enter. Each room contains something helpful or hostile. Trial...
Tuesday7th Nov 2023
News Microsoft Will Think Of Nintendo Users As "Part Of The Xbox Community" Going Forward
Phil Spencer wants an "equal" future
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has been busy promoting the tech giant's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and as part of this, he spoke to Japanese outlet Famitsu about how it will work with other platforms going forward. In regards to Xbox's future, Phil and the team want to think of Nintendo and...
Wednesday25th Oct 2023
News Minecraft's Latest Update Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Fixes, changes and much more
The latest update for Mojang's survival crafting game Minecraft has just landed, bumping the game up to Version 1.20.40. The highlights included in this update are rebalanced Villager trades, updated and improved in-game sounds and buckets can no longer pick up liquids for a few ticks after they've been placed. Here's...
Tuesday24th Oct 2023
News Xbox Developer Open To A Switch Release Of Pentiment
"I think it's possible"
We've heard how Xbox wants to make gaming more accessible and with this in mind, Obsidian's studio design director Josh Sawyer has now responded to a question about the idea of the medieval role-playing title Pentiment coming to Switch. Speaking to TouchArcade, he mentioned how there's nothing that would prevent it...
Wednesday18th Oct 2023
News Xbox Boss Wants Nintendo Fans To Feel "100% Part Of The Call Of Duty Nation"
"The goal is 100% parity across all platforms"
After a lot of courtroom drama, Microsoft last week announced it had officially acquired Activision Blizzard as well as mobile giant King. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has now appeared on the Official Xbox Podcast to discuss the acquisition and Call of Duty has once again come up in conversation. Phil...
Sunday15th Oct 2023
News Minecraft Live Returns With New Mob Vote, Armadillo Wins
It's official!
Update [Sun 15th Oct, 2023 23:55 BST]: The community votes have now been counted and the Armadillo is officially the next mob joining Minecraft. Here's a bit more information about it: The armadillo lives in the savannah biome. If you startle the armadillo, it will curl up into a blocky ball! The armadillo also drops a scute that...
Monday18th Sep 2023
Random Xbox Marketing Wanted To "Avoid Calling Switch A Console"
Wish upon a Star(field)
In an attempt to ensure that Microsoft's Xbox is easily differentiated from the Switch, the company once attempted to make a shift in terminology when it comes to what constitutes a "console" — because that couldn't possibly lead to confusion, right? In a 2019 email from Xbox's head of marketing, Aaron Greenberg (and...
News Nintendo Reportedly Briefed Activision On 'Switch 2' Back In 2022
Specs comparable to PS4 and Xbox One
Oh boy... The 'Switch 2' hype train is picking up some speed now, huh? According to The Verge, Nintendo has reportedly already briefed Activision Blizzard on its next console and had in fact done so back in December last year. The news has been brought to light thanks to internal emails from the FTC Vs...
Monday4th Sep 2023
Random Xbox's Phil Spencer 'Had A Blast' Playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder
High praise
With Nintendo Live now taking place in Seattle, many folks are getting hands-on sessions with the highly anticipated Super Mario Bros. Wonder, launching next month on October 20th, 2023. One particularly notable attendee just so happens to be the Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, and he had some high praise for Nintendo's latest flagship...
Saturday19th Aug 2023
Random Xbox Legend Major Nelson Visits Nintendo
Fans are already speculating...
Last month, Xbox's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb announced he would be departing Microsoft and team Xbox after 20 years at the company. In his parting message on social media to more than one million followers, the senior director of corporate communications mentioned how he needed to "take a step back and work on the...
Sunday16th Jul 2023
News Microsoft Given All-Clear In The US To Acquire Activision Blizzard
Call of Duty is back on the menu
Update #3 [Sun 16th Jul, 2023 16:30 BST]: Microsoft gaming head Phil Spencer today confirmed a binding agreement with Sony has been made to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This is a 10-year deal, as confirmed by Stephen Totilo of Axios. "We are pleased to announce...
Friday30th Jun 2023
News Minecraft's Switch Version Earns More Revenue Than Xbox And PlayStation
Apparently it's "four times as big as" Xbox's earnings
Minecraft is still insanely popular and has been a huge form of revenue for Microsoft since its acquisition of Mojang. While PC and mobile is still seemingly the most popular way to play the game, during the final part of the 'Microsoft v FTC' hearing today, it's been revealed Nintendo's...
