Xbox

Microsoft Shoots Down Rumors Of Kinect-Free Xbox One Bundle

Microsoft has denied rumors that they intend to release an Xbox One bundle without Kinect, telling Kotaku they have “no plans” to do so. Yesterday, the website Inside Gaming Daily reported that Microsoft plans to release a Kinect-free Xbox One bundle next summer, citing “an anonymous source familiar with the matter.” Inside Gaming Daily writes:…

Microsoft Might Bring Back Cut Xbox One Features That People Liked

When Microsoft pulled their Xbox One DRM-reversal, lots of people were happy. Others, not so much, and with fair cause: Microsoft didn’t just remove the console’s onerous internet and used game requirements, they removed some cool-sounding features people that were looking forward to. In a new interview at IGN, Microsoft’s Marc Whitten says that the…

Let’s Put This “Mobile Gaming Is Killing Consoles” Argument To Bed

Epic’s Tim Sweeney gets to the point, and shows the inherent problem in giving two shits about “market share”. Epic’s Sweeney: Studios need to react to the changing industry to survive [Gamasutra]

Hey, Look, It’s Don Mattrick on a Canadian Game Show 30 Years Ago

Don Mattrick has, reportedly, 50 million reasons to smile this week, ditching Microsoft and all things Xbox for Zynga and the leadership of all things ‘Ville. But you can see traces of that big money smile going back 30 years, when he appeared on a newsmakers-style quiz show on CBC. Here he is on “Front…

FACE, MVPC, 11-X—the Original Xbox had Some Ridiculous Alternate Names

We’re all familiar with the etymology behind “Xbox”—it’s a truncation of “DirectX Box.” But, as one of the console’s creators told Edge, Microsoft lawyers at first weren’t too sure of “Xbox” for some reason, and the alternatives favored by the suits were all hideous. The final stage of naming the console “was a battle between…

There’s an interesting piece on former Xbox boss Don Mattrick over on Fast Company. He has around a dozen Ferraris, and “Oftentimes, he’ll take his jet to work”.

Why Xbox Fans Are Called “Gropers” in Japan

The Xbox consoles are not popular in Japan. That doesn’t mean those game machines lack hardcore fans. They certainly exist in the region. And online in Japan, there’s a disparaging nickname for them: “gropers”. The Japanese word is “chikan” (痴漢), which translates as “groper” or “molester”. “Chikan” is certainly not something anyone wants to be…

Microsoft’s New Control Pad For Flashy Rappers, Russian Oil Tycoons

I can’t think of anyone else who would consider owning one of these ostentatious fingerprint magnets. Announced earlier today, its full product name is the “Xbox 360 Special Edition Chrome Series Gold Wireless Controller”. It’s out next month and will retail for $55 “at GameStop and Microsoft Store locations in addition to select regions worldwide”.

The New Xbox Boss Is… Steve Ballmer?

Former Xbox boss and incoming CEO of Zynga Don Mattrick will not be replaced immediately at Microsoft, according to a memo issued to Microsoft employees from company CEO Steve Ballmer. The Microsoft chief says that Mattrick’s top lieutenants—those in charge of games, the hardware, etc.—will be reporting directly to Ballmer himself. Here’s the e-mail: From:…

Ride to Hell is a Bad Game, but I Still Bought It for a Good Reason

Last year saw the glimmer of a movement to get a video game based on Sons of Anarchy, FX’s biker gang series and a vicarious lifestyle fantasy for many viewers, one of them me. The possibility seemed to go no further than series creator Kurt Sutter’s own hopes. Still, he vowed anything the show licensed…

Are These Real Answers, or Fake Questions, in This Xbox One Document?

This past week a 100-question internal FAQ on the Xbox One, purportedly official communications guidance from Microsoft, landed on Pastebin. It’s not the usual laundry list of wishful thinking you get in most video game fakes. That said, there’s no way to know if this is true or total B.S. Oh, we’ve asked Microsoft. Their…

Microsoft Can’t Tell Us If The Xbox One Is Region-Free Or Not

Microsoft has this week released some confusing statements and policies regarding how the Xbox One will work around the world. We’ve tried to get to the bottom of them, with no avail. Earlier in the week, a guide on pre-ordering the Xbox One was published by Microsoft. Saying that the console is only launching in…

A Slightly More Convincing Reason For The Xbox One’s Forced Online

There’s a very good argument that Microsoft’s biggest failure this week was not its Xbox One policies, but its messaging. The way gamers were lumped with obligation, instead of opportunity Take the console’s mandatory online check-in. For nearly every single one of you, that will never be a problem, at least on your end (should…

Take a Peek at What’s Inside the New Xbox 360

Sure, everyone’s talking about the Xbox One this week. But it’s not the only new piece of Xbox hardware MIcrosoft showed this week. The tech giant also announced a newly-redesigned Xbox 360 e model, one that’s styled to match the Xbox One’s shiny/matte exterior. But what’s underneath the hard plastic shell? iFixit set out to…

Yakuza Series Developer Offers His Opinion On the New Consoles

As seen from thephotograph, the well-tanned Yakuza series developer, Toshihiro Nagoshi was walking among the crowds at E3 this year. Hopefully basking in the saturated spectacle of upcoming consoles and games. Nagoshi wrote on his blog about the Sony conference and the announcements from Microsoft and Sony (Unfortunately, due to flight delays, he was unable…

How Your Microsoft Points Will Become Dollars/Pounds/Euros/Whatever

Later this year, Microsoft’s awful points system will be retired. Yes. In its place, you’ll be buying content using the same stuff you do for everything else: your local currency. But how, exactly, is the transition going to work? I mean, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Currency values fluctuate, the price of Microsoft…

Xbox Achievements Are Changing. Here’s How.

When the Xbox One launches in November, Microsoft’s achievements system will undergo its biggest overhaul since its implementation. There’ll be two kinds of achievements. Stuff you can earn that aren’t achievements. Achievements for watching TV. And more. CHALLENGES First things first: you can now earn more than just regular achievements. Those are staying as they…

The Xbox One Isn’t Hitting Asia Until 2014 (But What About Japan?)

Americans look at the Xbox 360 and see a dominant home console, one which has topped the sales charts for literally years, but it’s not the same story worldwide. The PlayStation brand remains stronger in Europe, while in much of Asia – especially Japan – it’s the dominant console. Which probably explains why the list…

Don’t Steal That Xbox One

Stephen’s at the annual Wedbush E3 party, and on display is an Xbox One, Kinect and controller, just sitting there, out in the open. As though someone could just walk by and… …oh. Hi. Well-guarded Xbox One at Michael Pachter’s party. https://t.co/hk39jp0Fjt — Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 12, 2013

How Much Space Do You Need To Use The New Kinect?

The old Kinect was notorious for needing a fairly large space in which to play, so the camera could accurately capture your movements. I mean, I live in a house, and my living room setup wasn’t big enough. The new Kinect, packing a wide-angle lens, is supposed to alleviate that problem, but it’s not like…