Moving On
Mojang is moving Minecraft to Microsoft's Azure servers
Title previously posted on Amazon's platform
Company Profile
Microsoft
Website
www.microsoft.com
About
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
Related People
Miguel Vicente
Audience Marketing Manager, Portugal
Brad Smith
President
Andy Lunique
Influencer Relations Manager
Satya Nadella
CEO
Agostino Simonetta
Director for global partnership management ID@Xbox
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Accolades
Articles featuring Microsoft
Getting Ultimate
Project xCloud is becoming part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in September
"When cloud gaming launches into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can continue your game wherever you left off on any of your devices"
Total Control
Microsoft reveals official Project xCloud mobile controller
Officially licensed from 8BitDo
Possible Acquisition
Report: Xbox is interested in buying Warner Bros' games division
Microsoft joins Activision Blizzard, EA, and Take-Two in its interest for WBIE
10 Years On
Opinion: Seven problems Microsoft will have to overcome to make Windows Phone 7 a success
How to make a winner
Pride
Microsoft donates $250,000 to LGBTQI+ organisations to celebrate Pride
"To help in their fight for LGBTQI+ rights and racial equity"
Be Diverse
Microsoft is committing $150 million to diversity and inclusion
"We are committed to take action to help address racial injustice and inequity"
Laters Mixer
Microsoft is shutting down Mixer and partnering with Facebook Gaming
Microsoft launched the platform in 2016
Street Life
How does Forza Street monetise?
Is the racer's mobile debut generous or greedy?
More Games!
Microsoft adds another five games to Project xCloud on Android
Including Mortal Kombat X and Batman: Arkham Knight
Round The Track
Forza Street races onto mobile devices after nine months of soft launch
The game was first teased back in March 2019
Beta Booming
Microsoft's Project xCloud accumulates "hundreds of thousands" of active users
"Commercial cloud revenue generating $13.3 billion"
Streaming
Microsoft is bringing Project xCloud streaming service to Western Europe
11 countries will get access
Out The Gate
Bill Gates leaves the Microsoft board
But he will maintain his role as a tech advisor
Containment
Update: Rockstar, EA and Maysalward are the latest companies to enforce remote working due to the coronavirus
Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and Google also request staff to work remotely
E3 Drama
Microsoft and Ubisoft are looking at digital events to replace E3
As are EA, Devolver and Limited Run Games
No Go
Epic and Microsoft join Unity, EA, Facebook and Sony in withdrawing from GDC 2020
Annual games conference loses more key companies
Capacity Full
Microsoft's Project xCloud launches preview on iOS
The UK, US and Canada only
Project Xcloud
Microsoft and Samsung team up for "cloud-based game streaming"
Forza Street simultaneously announced for Galaxy devices
Infectious
Plague Inc. overtakes Minecraft as top paid app in the US due to coronavirus association
Minecraft lead chart for the majority of 2019
New Deal
US and China proposed console tariffs postponed indefinitely
"There's a lot of work to do ahead"
Join The Fun
Project xCloud makes its way to Canada as part of preview rollout
Invited Canadians will have access from January 29th
Green Is Good
Microsoft pledges to be "carbon negative" by 2030
Plans to remove all carbon emitted by 2050
Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft adds 50 more games to Project xCloud
Available now in Japan, Canada and India
Negotiations
US and China agree to roll back tariffs that were set to affect console and mobile
A new deal is pending
Great Pivot
Microsoft reveals Android-based Surface Duo foldable 8.3” phone
Due late 2020
Blockbuster Numbers
Minecraft surpasses 112 million players each month
Over 176 million physical copies have been sold around the world
Project Xcloud
Microsoft partners with SK Telecom on 5G-based cloud gaming in South Korea
“Partnerships, like the one we announced with SK Telecom today, are critical to continuing that trajectory and moving the gaming industry forward”
Gears Royale
Gears Pop snags one million players
The title has been an early top 100 grossing game in the UK and US
Closed Beta
Minecraft Earth beta is coming to Android devices next week
Players must be 18 years old with a device running Android 7 or above
Cloud Gaming
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer thinks it’s a long while before the cloud replaces traditional consoles
"I think this is years away from being a mainstream way people play”
Cancelled Content
Mojang cans Minecraft Super Duper Graphics Pack
The project was announced at E3 2017
Loot Boxes
Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony will now require developers to disclose loot box odds
Agreement has been made for odds to be shown by the end of 2020
Cloud Partnership
Cloud partnership is driven by Sony according to Microsoft CEO
Historically Sony and Microsoft are rivals in the games industry
All Time High
Increase in subscription revenue offsets Fortnite decline for Microsoft as Xbox Live hits 65 million MAUs
Games cash drops 10 per cent year-on-year
Survive Together
Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony unite against US tariffs on consoles
Joint statement addressed to US government asking to exclude consoles
Up In The Cloud
Microsoft's Azure cloud tech venture set up shop in the Middle East
Big M beats both Amazon and Google to the region
E3 2019
E3 2019: Mobile gets a fair shake as the lines between platforms blur
From mobile to cross-platform streaming, all kinds of games were welcome on the big stage
Bird And Bear
Nintendo and Microsoft collaborate to bring Banjo-Kazooie home in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dragon Quest XI's Hero also revealed as third DLC character
Next-gen Xbox
E3 2019: Microsoft unveils next generation Xbox console Project Scarlett
"When we think about the future of gaming, it's not just PC, it's not just console, it's not just mobile, it's really all of the above"
Gears Pop
E3 2019: Pre-registrations open for Gears Pop mobile game
Title looks to take inspiration from Clash Royale with added cover mechanics
Xbox At E3
E3 2019: Microsoft acquires Psychonauts 2 dev Double fine
Developer joins growing number of in-house studios
E3 2019
E3 2019: Livestream schedule for the biggest press conferences
Days and times for this year's keynotes
Minecraft Ar
Minecraft Earth takes centre stage at Apple’s WWDC
Upcoming augmented reality game used to show off ARKit 3 capabilities
Build Me Up
Minecraft builds to 176 million copies sold worldwide
Estimated to be the second highest selling game of all time
Communication Error
Report: PlayStation team didn't know about Sony-Microsoft cloud technology deal
And there's numerous reasons why
Steve Go
AR game Minecraft Earth arrives on mobile this summer
Players can sign up to a closed beta now
10 Years Of Minecraft
Minecraft was the only top 250 grossing premium mobile game in 2018, showing it’s still going strong 10 years later
A look at the history and continued success of the blockbuster game
Big Deal
Microsoft and Sony set aside rivalry to team up on cloud gaming
PlayStation maker to use Azure data centres for cloud gaming; will also work with Microsoft on new developments
New Opportunities
SK Telecom partners with Microsoft on 5G, AI and cloud technologies
SK Telecom will adopt Microsoft 365 secure solution