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Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming stick and TV app could come ‘in the next 12 months’

Microsoft is a leader in cloud gaming and its ecosystem continues to expand on that front. For over a year, we’ve known the company is working on developing a stand-alone Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming stick to plug into a TV or display. Additionally, a native smart TV app is also on its way.

This streaming-focused future could very well arrive in the next year. Most recently VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb and Tom Warren from The Verge corroborate the story that Microsoft’s next major shift is on its way. Grubb states that the Xbox streaming stick or “Roku-like puck” may launch “in the next 12 months.”

In November 2020, Xbox head Phil Spencer first discussed the possibility of being able to stream games directly to a TV or display without a console. Later last year, Spencer confirmed the development of both a streaming stick device and a native TV app that could function as an Xbox Cloud Gaming portal.

However, since that time, Microsoft remains quiet about when this concept will become reality. Grubb and Warren both bring up an “Xbox Everywhere” initiative Microsoft is working on. “I’m pretty sure we’re gonna hear a lot more about it in the coming months,” Warren says. Based on the name, one can imagine taking your games and progress with you from a console in one room, to a smartphone, and to a TV in another.

This past week, Microsoft and Epic Games launched Fortnite on Xbox Cloud Gaming. This release is important for a number of reasons. First, the company is prioritizing a launch of a free-to-play game on its service. It also doesn’t require a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Secondly, Epic Games and Fortnite have been banned from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. Launching on Xbox Cloud Gaming sidelines the ban. Microsoft and Epic restore the ability to play Fortnite on iOS and Android devices.

Finally, while it’s only one title, it’s another leg forward in a reality where a player’s entire library is accessible through Xbox Cloud Gaming. This is something Microsoft has envisioned since day one of this initiative. As more devices and options are brought into the fold, the ecosystem effectively opens up to more players.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: The Verge

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New York City sues Activision Blizzard, targets CEO amid workplace scandals

New York City officials have sued Activision Blizzard over its agreement to be sold to Microsoft.

The suit, filed by New York City Employees’ Retirement System, argues that Activision CEO Bobby Kotick rushed to secure Microsoft’s takeover bid in an effort to cover up controversies at his company.

Specifically, a California lawsuit from July 2022 alleged that Activision Blizzard fostered a “frat boy culture” in which employees, particularly women, faced harassment and other forms of abuse. More controversy surfaced in November when The Wall Street Journal reported that Kotick not only knew about these incidents, but worked to cover them up, including by threatening to kill an assistant. Microsoft ultimately announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard two months later.

“Given Kotick’s personal responsibility and liability for Activision’s broken workplace, it should have been clear to the Board that he was unfit to negotiate a sale of the Company,” the suit says. “But it wasn’t.”

The New York plaintiffs, who own stock in Activision Blizzard, added that the deal provides “Kotick and his fellow directors [with] a means to escape liability for their egregious breaches of fiduciary duty.” Microsoft’s $95/share deal, they claim, undervalues Activision Blizzard, which was trading at close to that price prior to the California lawsuit.

As part of their suit, the New York plaintiffs are demanding access to various Activision Blizzard documents, including those pertaining to the takeover and the five other potential buyers that the company had mentioned in previous filings.

For now, though, the Microsoft takeover must go through regulatory approval in multiple countries, including the U.S. and China. Activision Blizzard shareholders have voted to approve the deal, but Wall Street remains skeptical it will go through.

It’s also unclear what will happen with Kotick himself. While he’s been expected to leave once Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is finalized, a recent report indicates that Microsoft hasn’t actually discussed his future. If the deal is approved, Kotick could make as much as $530 million USD (about $676.7 million CAD).

The full New York suit can be found here.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Via: Axios

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Xbox giving away 12 custom Lego Star Wars consoles for Star Wars Day

Last month, Lucasfilm Games and Warner Bros. released Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, a well-regarded return to the (brick-filled) galaxy far, far away.

Now, the Lego Group has teamed up with Xbox to celebrate May the Fourth, also known as Star Wars Day. As part of the celebrations, they’re running a “Lego Star Wars Xbox Sweepstakes” to give away 12 custom Xbox Series S consoles inspired by the latest Lego Star Wars game.

Based on the nine mainline films, the consoles sport unique designs featuring the following characters:

  • BB-8
  • Boba Fett
  • Chewbacca
  • Darth Maul
  • Darth Vader
  • Finn
  • Kylo Ren
  • Luke Skywalker
  • R2-D2
  • Rey
  • Stormtrooper
  • Yoda

As is normally the case with these Xbox giveaways, these consoles are only being produced for the Lego Star Wars Xbox Sweepstakes, so there won’t be any other way to obtain one. To enter the contest, follow the official @Xbox account and retweet the promotional post using the hashtags #LEGOStarWarsXboxSweepstakes and #Maythe4th.

The contest runs from May 4th to 31st.

Source: Xbox

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Xbox’s May update includes the ability to create, share and view stories within Xbox mobile app

Microsoft is adding a core feature from several notable social media platforms to its Xbox app. Soon, Xbox-supported regions will be able to create, share, and view stories with their friends on the Xbox app on iOS and Android.

As a part of the May update, the Xbox app is receiving a fairly significant new feature. Previously, stories were reserved for Microsoft itself to highlight new games. Now, Xbox users can share gaming highlights with friends.

Currently, Xbox users in Australia have access to the new feature within the app. However, Microsoft claims the feature is “coming to more Xbox supported regions soon.” Once users have access to it, they can share game clips, screenshots, and achievements with friends. Users can also reply to the stories of friends with a message or quick reply.

Stories are found on the right of the Home screen on the Xbox app. As with other social media platforms, creating stories is as easy as clicking the ‘+’ button on your Gamertag within the stories channel. The user is then brought to the screen with access to all screenshots and gaming clips. Users select what to add, create an optional caption, and post.

Unlike most other social platforms, Xbox app stories last 72 hours before disappearing. Anything the user shares is also available on the activity feed within their profile.

In addition, Microsoft is adding priority tags to consoles with Quality of Service (QoS) Tagging. QoS Tagging is a new Xbox service available on Xbox consoles. These set priority tags on “latency-sensitive outbound networking traffic.” Examples of this include party chat, console streaming, and supported multiplayer games.

Once enabled, this feature supports gaming experiences when network conditions may be constrained.

On top of announcing the May update for the Xbox app, check out the new Xbox Game Pass titles arriving this month.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: Xbox Wire

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Xbox unveils new ‘Deep Pink’ wireless controller

Xbox has launched a new controller variant, Deep Pink.

Other than the all-pink front design with a white rear, this is a standard Xbox Wireless Controller for Xbox consoles and PC. As such, it’s priced at the usual $74.99 and can be ordered from retailers like the Microsoft Store.

Deep Pink joins a lineup of Xbox Wireless Controllers that includes standard Black and White options, as well as slightly more expensive variants like ‘Aqua Shift’ and ‘Daystrike Camo.’

The company also offers a ‘Design Lab’ service through which you can create your own custom controller at a higher cost.

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What’s new on Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and mobile in early May 2022

Every month, Xbox brings new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Normally, these come in two waves and now, the company has revealed what’s hitting Game Pass in the first half of May. Notably, EA Vancouver’s NHL 22 is among this batch of new Game Pass titles.

  • Loot River (Cloud, Console and PC) — May 3rd
  • Trek to Yomi (Cloud, Console and PC) — May 5th
  • Citizen Sleep (Cloud, Console and PC) — May 5th
  • Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition (Cloud, Console and PC) — May 10th
  • Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (Cloud, Console and PC) — May 10th
  • This War of Mine: Final Cut (Cloud, Console and PC) — May 10th
  • NHL 22 (Console) — May 12th [EA Play]

Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition (Cloud and Console) is leaving Game Pass on May 10th, while the following titles are exiting the catalogue on May 15th:

  • Enter The Gungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (Console and PC)
  • Remnant: From the Ashes (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Steep (Cloud and Console)
  • The Catch: Carp and Coarse (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • The Wild at Heart (Cloud, Console, and PC)

As always, Game Pass subscribers can take advantage of an exclusive 20 percent discount to purchase any game in the catalogue and keep playing even after it leaves Game Pass.

Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Android and iOS in betaGame Pass for Console and PC Game Pass each cost $11.99/month.

Further, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $16.99/month and is required for streaming (which Xbox refers to as ‘Cloud’) to mobile devices and browsers. On top of that, this tier includes Game Pass for both Console and PC, as well as subscriptions to Xbox Live Gold and EA Play.

Find out what came to Xbox Game Pass late last month here.

Image credit: EA

Source: Xbox

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Activision Blizzard stockholders approve Microsoft acquisition

Activision Blizzard, developer and publisher of Call of Duty and Overwatch, reveals that its stockholders approve of Microsoft’s acquisition bid. The proposal, which would see Activision Blizzard under the Xbox Game Studios banner, saw more than 98 percent of the shares voting in favour of the proposal.

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its plans to acquire Activision Blizzard for $95.00 per share. The $68.7 billion USD (roughly $85.96 billion CAD) deal would see tentpole franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, and more owned by Microsoft. The acquisition also folds in a laundry list of studios including Blizzard Entertainment, Beenox, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, King, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob, Treyarch and more.

Microsoft expects the deal to close by the end of its fiscal year ending June 30th, 2023. However, one step to securing the deal was gaining approval from Activision Blizzard stockholders. During the Activision Blizzard Special Meeting of Stockholders, the votes were cast in favour of the acquisition.

“Today’s overwhelmingly supportive vote by our stockholders confirms our shared belief that, combined with Microsoft, we will be even better positioned to create great value for our players, even greater opportunities for our employees, and to continue our focus on becoming an inspiring example of a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive workplace,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard.

A report detailing the results from the Special Meeting will come in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Form 8-K by early next week.

Previous reports claim Microsoft plans to make future Activision titles multiplatform. This includes Call of Duty in some capacity, as Xbox head Phil Spencer confirms. However, some games and content will be exclusive to Xbox consoles and platforms.

Activision Blizzard continues to be investigated over sexual harassment claims. Kotick is also being investigated after reports allege turned a blind eye to the supposed “frat-boy culture” within the company. While Kotick’s future within the company has not been officially confirmed, he is expected to step down.

The next step in the Activision Blizzard acquisition is to receive the approval of the Federal Trade Commission and antitrust enforcers. However, Wall Street is currently betting the deal may fail. If the merger passes, Microsoft will become the third-largest video game company.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: Activision Blizzard

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Xbox and Bethesda announce Games Showcase on June 12th

Even though E3 is cancelled this year, there’s still a lot of gaming news just around the corner.

Microsoft has confirmed plans to hold an Xbox and Bethesda games showcase on Sunday, June 12th at 1pm ET/10am PT. The event will feature announcements from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda and Microsoft’s partners.

Microsoft says the show will be available on Xbox’s Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, and the event will offer “news and updates about games coming to Xbox this year and next, upcoming releases on Xbox Game Pass, and more.”

It’s likely the showcase will offer a glimpse at anticipated Bethesda titles like Starfield, along with Arkane’s Redfall, Undead Labs’ State of Decay 4 and maybe even The Initiative’s Perfect Dark.

Regarding other upcoming gaming events, Summer Game Fest is also set to return this year in June.

Image credit: Xbox 

Source: Xbox 

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Over 10 million people have used Xbox Cloud Gaming: Microsoft

Microsoft says more than 10 million people have used its Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming service.

The company revealed the figure during its Q3 2021 earnings call. It’s a notable statistic since public data into the game streaming landscape has largely been unavailable. Historically, Microsoft has only offered random stats like “20 percent of Cloud Gaming players use touch controls,” and even less is known about user habits for Google Stadia. (Nvidia GeForce Now, meanwhile, offers a free trial that includes in numbers)

That said, Microsoft didn’t provide any further details about Cloud Gaming’s audience, so it’s hard to gauge ongoing success. All we really know is that Game Pass — the $16.99 CAD/month ‘Ultimate’ tier of which is required for Cloud Gaming — hit 25 million subscribers in January. No data on monthly active users of Cloud Gaming has been provided, nor did Microsoft clarify what constitutes a single stream (i.e. ‘x’ number of minutes).

We don’t even know how many of these 10 million-plus people are existing Game Pass members. That’s because Game Pass has had a “$1 for your first month” introductory offer for a while now, meaning it’s unclear how many people may have signed up, tried out streaming and later cancelled.

Still, unlike, say, Google’s beleagured Stadia service, Microsoft has been positioning Cloud Gaming as merely an option, rather than its core gaming platform. On top of Cloud Gaming being available on iOS, Android, Xbox consoles and PC, consumers can still purchase Xbox/PC games physically or digitally as normal. Xbox is also still positioning Cloud Gaming as a beta as it plans to expand the service to other platforms, like TV apps and Roku-esque streaming sticks.

In related news, Microsoft confirmed that Xbox hardware revenue was up 14 percent in Q3, although it warned that future performance could be affected by Chinese production shutdowns.

Via: The Verge

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Xbox’s latest Publisher Sale offers games up to 75 percent off

Xbox’s latest Publisher Sale is offering games up to 75 percent off.  Games like Grand Theft Auto Online, Far Cry 6, Little Nightmares II, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and more are discounted for this sale.

There are tons more games on sale, and you can check them out here.