Microsoft’s Xbox has been around since 2001, and over that time the gaming brand has given us huge hits like Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and more. Today, the Xbox brand covers consoles like the Xbox One, PC gaming, and has even expanded to other platforms. You can play Minecraft on everything from a computer to an iPhone to a Nintendo Switch. Along the way, Microsoft has pioneered modern services like Xbox Live and Game Pass, introducing new ways to play games. And with Project Scarlett on the horizon, the Xbox looks to have a bright future.
Once the PlayStation-published shooter is available on Xbox consoles on August 26th, there will also be a new Helldivers 2 x Halo: ODST Legendary Warbond available, with armor seats, weapon skins, ODST-themed player cards, and a Warthog-style vehicle pattern, for the price of 1,500 Super Credits that you can pick up in-game or purchase.
Beginning November 13th, the console version of PUBG: Battlegrounds will only be supported on PS5 and Xbox Series X / S, Krafton says.
This trailer starts with the PlayStation logo and ends with a teaser for Xbox’s most prized gaming franchise, before the game arrives on Microsoft’s consoles on August 26th. Meanwhile, formerly Xbox-exclusive Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga is launching on PlayStation.
Are the platform wars over?
Microsoft still can’t decide whether to use Xbox PC or Xbox on PC. Last month I highlighted how the company has been using both brands in recent weeks, before seemingly settling on Xbox on PC. Now, Xbox game studio Ninja Theory has just used both brands in a single post on X 🙃
Development on Contraband, the next game from Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios, is now on pause. According to a post on its website, Avalanche and publisher Xbox are “evaluating the project’s future.” Contraband was revealed during E3 2021 before Xbox went radio silent on its development. The news of the game’s production pause comes shortly after Microsoft laid off 9,000 employees.
[Avalanche Studios Group]
The original version of 8BitDo’s clamp-on smartphone controller featuring Hall effect sticks and a rechargeable battery since it connects to devices over Bluetooth is only compatible with Android.
The functionality and price of its new $49.99 Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller Xbox Edition is the same as the original, but it now features Xbox branding, a dedicated Xbox button, and (finally!) support for both Apple and Android Devices.
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The tags were made in partnership with big gaming companies like EA, Google, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft. They add to the tags Xbox already uses, according to an Xbox Wire post.
The dominoes from Microsoft’s layoffs continue to fall. Several games have been cancelled or their development halted with other studios, like The Initiative being permanently shuttered. Now Romero Games has announced that due to the layoffs, Microsoft has cancelled funding for its game. Update July 3rd: According to several employees’ posts on LinkedIn, Romero Games is closing outright due to the layoffs.
In the announcement, Brenda Romero wrote that the unannounced game had been progressing well. “We are incredibly proud of the work being done and the of the talented team behind it,” Romero wrote. “The best we’ve worked with.”
Matt Firor is departing “later this month” after more than 18 years of heading up the organization, he says.
News of Microsoft’s major layoffs today keep rolling in, as the company informs around 9,000 employees of the cuts. I’ve heard from sources that the Xbox user research team has been hit hard, with nearly half the team affected. It’s a key team that focuses on ensuring quality across Xbox games, the platform, and developer tools. Even a product lead for Xbox Family and child safety has been laid off.
According to a report from VGC, Rare will be “restructuring” as part of the latest round of layoffs at Microsoft today, and that means development on its mysterious adventure game Everwild — which was announced way back in 2019 — has ended.
[videogameschronicle.com]
It sure looks like the next Xbox is going to be different, as Microsoft competes more with Steam.
The developers at Ninja Theory have been hard at work adding new features to Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II and now they’re ready to show it to even more players than before. Seanua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced launches on Xbox, and, as a part of Xbox’s new multiplatform strategy, it’s coming to PS5 too on August 12th.
The enhanced edition will include a performance mode with 60 FPS (not available on the Series S unfortunately.) A new gameplay mode called Dark Rot, an improved photo mode, and developer commentary.
