Microsoft

Microsoft Apologizes For Perceived Racial Slur In Xbox Email

Earlier today, Microsoft sent out a promotional email for Dead Rising 4. The pitch was some zombies singing Christmas Carols, and the email had the subject line “NNNNGGGHHHAAAA”. The intent was obviously to put into text the kind of noise a zombie makes, but when you arrange those letters together and say them out loud,…

Minecraft‘s New ‘Exploration’ Update Adds Maps, Mansions, And Llamas

Minecraft just got a big new update on PC and Mac. Titled the Exploration Update, it adds maps that lead you to special (and perilous) treasure locations, an evil counterpart to Villagers called—not joking—“Illagers,” woodland mansion dungeons, and llamas that’ll transport your loot. Here’s a trailer: If you want to know more, check out our…

Xbox Holiday Update Rolling Out With Clubs, Group Chat, Emojis And More

The Xbox community across Xbox One, PC and mobile platforms is about to get a whole lot more communal. Microsoft is rolling out the Xbox Holiday Update, making it easier to find friends, find games and communicate with stupid little faces. As you can see in the screenshot above with the odd choice of team…

Mark your calendars, Japan. Microsoft ain’t giving up on you. The Xbox One S will be released in the country on November 24. 

Infinite Warfare‘s Windows 10 And Steam Versions Don’t Play Together

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare launched today, and while it may be tempting for PC gamers to pick it up through the Windows 10 store at a substantial discount, not being able to battle online with Steam players is probably a deal breaker. The basic edition of Infinite Warfare is $59.99 on Steam. On the…

Winter is coming to Forza Horizon 3. Developer Turn 10 slipped a teaser image for the first expansion into a post onXbox Wire. The currently unnamed addition is slated for release before the end of the year.

Borderlands: The Handsome Collection Is Free On Xbox One Right Now

Though we’ve seen nothing from Microsoft, Gearbox or 2K mentioning any sort of special offer, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is now available for free in the Microsoft Store. Weird. Update: It’s a gift from Microsoft! Reader Nick sent in a tip letting us know that the two game bundle, which includes both remastered versions of…

Windows 10 Gets Built-In Game Streaming This Spring

The Xbox One has built-in game streaming, so why not Windows? During today’s Windows 10 event, Microsoft announced that Beam interactive broadcasting technology would be built into the operating system with this spring’s free Creators Update. Streaming from a PC can be a complicated affair. Microsoft aims to make the experience as easy as it…

The Impossible Problem of Where Minecraft Goes Next

It’s been two years since Microsoft bought Minecraft, and the new owners are faced with a conundrum: what do you do with a game that is already a phenomenon? Complicating things further, Minecraft is now a seven-year old game. While lot of work has been put into keeping the game current, Minecraft is also beginning…

I Keep Going Back To The First Forza Horizon

Do you have a game you regularly return to, just because you like how it feels? For me, that game is Forza Horizon I love hopping into a car and zipping my way through Horizon’s Colorado to the tune of pulsing music and the roar of the engine. I also like zipping my way through…

Gears Of War 4 Runs Like It Was Made For PC

Earlier this year Microsoft released the DX12-powered Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on PC, and it was a stuttering mess. Looks like Microsoft and developer The Coalition learned a lot from that debacle, because the Windows 10 version of Gears of War 4 runs like a proper PC release should. Now keep in mind that I…

A playable demo for ReCore is now available on Xbox One and PC. Players put off by themiddling reviews and long loading times now have a chance to experience 30 minutes of Far Eden robot play at no charge.

N64 Emulator Pops Up On Xbox One, Gets Removed

A Nintendo 64 emulator was briefly available on Xbox One earlier this week, but Microsoft yanked it from the store today. Sad news for people who yearn to play Paper Mario on an Xbox. The emulator Win64e10, which has been a Universal Windows App for months now, popped up Sunday on the Xbox One. Microsoft’s…

Forza Horizon 3 Is A Good Upgrade

Forza Horizon 3 is classified as a racing game, only really it’s not. It’s an open-world adventure game of the (mostly) four-wheeled variety, with a focus on celebrating everything exciting about cars and driving—even racing. This piece originally ran 9/20/16. We’ve added video impressions from the PC version at the bottom. Playground Games’ open-world spin-off…

Forza Horizon 3 Runs Fine On PC

Forza Horizon 3 marks the series’ PC debut as part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program. I’ve been playing the PC version since yesterday, and so far nothing horrible has happened. In fact, almost everything is fine. It’s sad that a PC port of a game that’s traditionally been a console exclusive had me primed…

Microsoft Accidentally Sent An Xbox One To A Random Customer Two Months Before It Was Announced

In March of 2013, two months before Microsoft officially unveiled the Xbox One, they accidentally mailed one of their prototype units to a random customer. For years that story has remained quiet—until today. Over at Business Insider, my good friend Ben Gilbert tells the story of the time Microsoft lost track of top-secret hardware. Back…

Halo‘s Warthog Probably Handles A Lot Better In Forza Horizon 3

After years of pleading from fans on both sides, Microsoft is finally crossing-over two of its most popular characters: Forza car and Halo Warthog. I spent most of my time in the wonderfully off-road friendly Forza Horizon 2 wishing I were driving a Warthog over the hills and through the other cars of Souther France…

Every Xbox One S Has A Tiny Master Chief Inside

Look at him. Cute as a button. Just don’t go trying to find him on yours, if you ever decide to pick one of these things up. That’s because, just like Sony’s nice little PlayStation screws, Master Chief is inside the computer He was discovered in this teardown of the new console by Ifixit, etched…

God Damn This Halo Trailer Was Good

Game trailers tend to be forgettable things. Explosive diversions paving the way for a marketing campaign that hits you, tries to sell you something then fades into nothingness as the next hype train takes its place. ODST’s live-action clip, though, lingers long after the game has disappeared off the charts. I watched this the other…

It’s Hard To Make The Official Xbox One Custom Controllers Look Bad

Last month Microsoft announced fans would be able to apply their own style to the Xbox One’s new wireless controller, creating a custom design to have shipped to their door. Mine just arrived, and it’s even prettier in person. There are several options for picking up the new smaller Xbox One, but not as many…