Tag: xbox

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Microsoft says Xbox products will be 100 percent recyclable in 38 countries by 2030

Microsoft has provided an update on its Xbox-specific sustainability efforts.

To start, the company says its Xbox products, accessories and packaging will all be 100 percent recyclable by 2030 in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Thirty-eight countries are members of OECD, including Canada and the U.S. The company says Xbox Series X/S consoles were recently deemed to be 97 percent recyclable in OECD nations based on the UL 2789 Environmental Claim Validation (ECV) Procedure, a standardized metric for measuring electronic product recyclability.

With respect to its ongoing cloud gaming efforts, Xbox says it will shift its Azure data centres to 100 percent supply of renewable energy. Xbox Cloud Gaming, the company’s Game Pass feature that lets more than one hundred games be streamed to mobile, PC and consoles, leverages these Azure networks.

Additionally, the company says it’s expanded the functionality of its Energy Saver mode feature, which consumes 20 times less power than Standby mode when the console isn’t in use or receiving updates. Now, system and game updates can be downloaded during Energy Saver mode for a more eco-friendly process.

Other changes include shifting to cardboard for prepaid Xbox gift cards (which it says reduces over 500,000 kg of plastic annually), making the Xbox Series S its first console to use a minimum of 28 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin for mechanical components and showcasing electric vehicles in last year’s Forza Horizon 5.

Source: Xbox

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8BitDo unveils wired Xbox controller

8BitDo has announced a new controller for Xbox consoles.

Dubbed the ‘Ultimate Wired Controller,’ the gamepad features an Xbox-specific button layout and customizable Elite Controller-esque back paddles. Black and white models are available for $45 USD (about $58 CAD).

Currently, the controller is available for pre-order from Amazon U.S., but not Amazon Canada. We’ll update this story if and when Canadian information becomes available. Shipping begins on May 31st for Amazon U.S.

Via: GameSpot

 

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Mouse and keyboard support is coming to Xbox cloud games

I might finally start using Xbox Cloud Gaming (oft called xCloud) thanks to an upcoming, much-needed addition: mouse and keyboard support.

Currently, Microsoft’s game streaming service only supports gamepads and touch (on limited titles). While there’s nothing wrong with those options, I’ve found that restriction to be one of the main reasons I don’t use xCloud. The few times I’ve wanted to try xCloud games, I couldn’t because I didn’t have a controller handy. What did I have? Yup, a keyboard and a mouse.

Windows Central spotted the news in a developer Q&A video. A comment from Jorg Neumann, the head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, at 8:40 confirmed that xCloud keyboard and mouse support was on the way.

“The next step for us is mouse [and] keyboard,” Neumann said. “This is platform-level support, so it has nothing to do with us. Obviously, mouse and keyboard works for our sim. So the platform team is working on this. I know I can’t give a date because it’s the platform team. I don’t know their dates, but it’s coming.”

Neumann also said Flight Simulator would get touch control support in the future, and expressed interest in adding gyroscope support for mobile devices. Both would make Flight Simulator much more accessible on mobile devices, which can access the title now thanks to its recent arrival on xCloud.

Despite the lack of a timeline, it’s great to know that mouse and keyboard support is on the way. xCloud, to me, has always stood out as a great way to game on the go or for testing games before committing to a download. For the former, I often have a laptop with me when I’m away from home — mouse and keyboard support would make it much easier to use that for xCloud. For game testing, mouse and keyboard support would make it much easier to try PC titles like Age of Empires IV.

Source: Developer Q&A Via: Windows Central

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

Every month, Xbox brings new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. Microsoft adds games to its service in two different waves and now the company has revealed what’s coming out in the first half of March.

Notably, the 2021 action-adventure game, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which was developed by Eidos-Montreal, hits the service this month.

  • Far: Changing Tides (Cloud, Console and PC) — available today
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator (Cloud) — available today
  • Lightning Return: Final Fantasy XIII (Console and PC) — March 3rd
  • Kentucky Route Zero (Cloud, Console and PC) — March 10th
  • Lawn Mowing Simulator (Xbox One) — March 10th
  • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Cloud, Console and PC) — March 10th
  • Young Souls (Cloud, Console and PC) — March 10th

No Man’s Sky Sentinel Updates – Available now

Meanwhile, here’s what’s leaving Game Pass on March 15th:

  • Nier: Automata (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Phogs! (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Torchlight III (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • The Surge 2 (Cloud, Console and PC)

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

Furthermore, 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 Game Pass last month here.

Image Credit: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

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

Every month, Xbox brings new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. Microsoft adds games to its service in two different waves and now the company has revealed what’s coming out in the first half of March.

Notably, the 2021 action-adventure game, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which was developed by Eidos-Montreal, hits the service this month.

  • Far: Changing Tides (Cloud, Console and PC) — available today
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator (Cloud) — available today
  • Lightning Return: Final Fantasy XIII (Console and PC) — March 3rd
  • Kentucky Route Zero (Cloud, Console and PC) — March 10th
  • Lawn Mowing Simulator (Xbox One) — March 10th
  • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Cloud, Console and PC) — March 10th
  • Young Souls (Cloud, Console and PC) — March 10th

No Man’s Sky Sentinel Updates – Available now

Meanwhile, here’s what’s leaving Game Pass on March 15th:

  • Nier: Automata (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Phogs! (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Torchlight III (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • The Surge 2 (Cloud, Console and PC)

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

Furthermore, 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 Game Pass last month here.

Image Credit: Xbox

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‘Elden Ring’ is having network check and co-op issues on Xbox

FromSoftware’s latest game, Elden Ring, has already proven quite popular and has seen high scores from critics across the board. Unfortunately, problems with the Xbox version of the game are preventing some players from fully enjoying the experience.

According to Windows Central, a version mismatch issue on Xbox is causing Elden Ring’s online systems for co-op, messages, and PvP to fail. Publisher Bandai Namco has reportedly failed to acknowledge the problem.

Windows Central reports that users on ‘Calibrations Ver. 1.0.2.1’ and app ‘Ver. 1.02’ shouldn’t have problems connecting to the Xbox online systems. However, many players haven’t received the update yet, leading to warnings that the ‘Network status check failed.’

Image credit: Windows Central

Since the issues appear to impact online systems only, those who want to take on Elden Ring solo should still be able to play. In classic FromSoftware style, Elden Ring is quite difficult — however, this time around, the game includes a way to summon AI-powered companions that can help players through challenging encounters.

Hopefully, a fix comes soon for Xbox players hoping to enjoy Elden Ring with friends.

Source: Windows Central

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Details on pricing and features for PlayStation’s Xbox Game Pass rival reportedly revealed

A number of new details have reportedly been revealed about PlayStation’s long-rumoured response to Xbox Game Pass.

On VentureBeat, credible reporter Jeff Grubb spoke about the yet-to-be-announced service, codenamed Spartacus.

To start, Grubb said that testing could begin in a few weeks ahead of a reveal in March. This would align with Bloomberg‘s original December 2021 report on Spartacus, which offered first-ever information on the service, including a spring release window.

More tantalizing, though, was Grubb’s breakdown of names and pricing for the three tiers which Bloomberg had stated the service would offer. First, there’s ‘Essential,’ which would be $10 USD (about $12.80 CAD) and offer the same functionality as the current PS Plus (online play, free monthly games and cloud saves).

‘Extra,’ meanwhile, would be the middle tier and cost $13 USD (about $16.64 CAD). Per Grubb, Extra is the base PS Plus membership plus a limited offering of PS Now, Sony’s game streaming service. Specifically, you’d only get what he says is a “downloadable game catalogue” of any game that’s currently downloadable on PS Now. As Grubb notes, there are around 250-300 downloadable games out of the full 800-plus title catalogue. No streaming functionality would be offered.

Finally, there’s ‘Premium’ for $16 USD (about $20.48 CAD), which would offer PS Plus, the full PS Now catalogue with streaming capabilities and more. Bloomberg first noted that one of the extra perks would be classic games from the PS1, PS2 and PSP eras, and Grubb corroborated that.

One other Premium benefit Grubb mentioned is EA Play-like full game trials. While PlayStation has dabbled in trials before for the likes of Death Stranding, Grubb suggests that trials for all first-party PlayStation games would be included with Premium.  While PlayStation most certainly wouldn’t offer its big-budget first-party games on day one as Xbox has with the likes of Halo Infinite, the free trials seem to be a compromise. Grubb didn’t mention whether these would be 10 hours like EA Play, but regardless, they would be an option for consumers at a time when games normally cost $80 to $90 CAD before taxes.

Grubb noted that the pricing for all three tiers could be placeholders, but that’s what he’s heard for now. He also said he’s not sure whether there will be annual subscription options. For context, PlayStation Plus costs $11.99/month, $29.99/three months or $69.99/year, while PlayStation Now is priced at $12.99/month, $34.99/three months or $79.99/year.

Xbox Game Pass, meanwhile, is $11.99/month on Xbox and PC with a $16.99 ‘Ultimate’ tier that includes Game Pass for both platforms, ‘Cloud Gaming’ (streaming on mobile/in browsers), Xbox Live Gold and EA Play.

It’s worth noting that PlayStation is rumoured to be holding a major March event; the company’s last significant showcase was in September. It’s possible that a formal reveal of Spartacus, as well as updates on the likes of Final Fantasy XVI and Hogwarts Legacy, could come during this rumoured March showcase.

Source: VentureBeat

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Here are the free games hitting Xbox Games with Gold in March 2022

Xbox has announced the four games that will be offered at no additional cost to Xbox Live Gold subscribers in March.

It’s important to note that Xbox 360 titles offered through Games with Gold can be played on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The Series X/S can also play all of the Xbox One and Xbox 360 games that are made available through the program.

In Canada, an Xbox Live Gold subscription costs $11.99 for one month or $29.99/three months.

Additionally, Xbox Live Gold is included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is priced at $16.99/month and also offers Game Pass and PC Game Pass, Cloud Gaming (mobile streaming) and EA Play.

Image credit: THQ

Source: Xbox

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New update brings Twitch streaming back to Xbox dashboard

The Xbox dashboard features Twitch streaming once again thanks to a new update.

The feature first began testing in October and is now rolling out to everyone. Now, Twitch has been integrated into Xbox Guide’s Capture and Share tab, where you’ll first have to link your Twitch account.

From here, you can manage game or mic audio levels, including friend audio and more. Headsets and webcams are also supported.

Twitch integration was available earlier in the Xbox One’s lifecycle but was removed in 2017.

Source: Xbox

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Microsoft started Activision acquisition talks three days after harassment report

According to newly public SEC filings, Activision acquisition talks started at Microsoft three days after the bombshell harassment report on the company was released. As first reported by CNBC, talks amongst the Microsoft brass of an Activision purchase first commenced on November 19, 2021, three days after The Wall Street Journal dropped its report detailing harassment within the company.

The Wall Street Journal Report outlined widespread harassment at Activision that CEO Bobby Kotick was well aware of. Kotick was also alleged to have participated in these acts himself by mistreating women in and out of the company.

After the Activision report went public on November 16, the company’s shares dropped nearly $10. Two days after the report’s release, Xbox head Phil Spencer sent a company-wide email. In it, Spencer mentions he was “disturbed and deeply troubled” by the Activision news.

Then as detailed in the SEC filing the very next day Spencer reach out to Kotick expressing Microsoft’s interest in “discussing strategic opportunities” between the two. The proposal was then brought before Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella the following day.

It was a mere eight weeks later that Microsoft officially announced the acquisition of Activision for $69 billion.

Also revealed in the SEC filing was the fact that negotiations between the two went fast, as there were at least four other companies trying to purchase Activision.  These companies remain nameless; however, it is noted that one was attempting to purchase Blizzard separate from Activision.

The Microsoft/Activision deal is currently pending review.

Image credit: IGN

Source: CNBC