Streaming
Microsoft is bringing Project xCloud streaming service to Western Europe
11 countries will get access
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
Agostino Simonetta
Director for global partnership management ID@Xbox
Miguel Vicente
Audience Marketing Manager, Portugal
Asha Sharma
EVP and CEO of Microsoft Gaming
Andy Lunique
Influencer Relations Manager
Brad Smith
President
Satya Nadella
CEO
+3 more
Accolades
Articles featuring Microsoft
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
Live
Gameloft is bringing Xbox Live support to three mobile games
Two Asphalt titles and Dragon Mania Legends are three of the first mobile games in Xbox Live’s lineup
Pokemon Go Competitor?
Microsoft digs up Minecraft AR teaser for mobile
More information will be revealed on May 17th
$$$
Xbox Live monthly active users dropped to 63m in last financial quarter
Revenue up five per cent for Microsoft's games business
Money Money Money
Newzoo: Tencent responsible for 15% of 2018's global games revenue
Chinese tech and entertainment giant saw close-to $20bn coming in last year
Electric Turn
Electric Square’s Forza Street takes franchise free-to-play and to mobile
Released on PC, coming to iOS and Android
Company Roundup
Meet 31 of the top most exciting Washington state games companies
Get a chance to meet with the state's finest at Pocket Gamer Connects Seattle on May 13th to 14th
Stadia Versus Xbox
Microsoft: Google has technology and community, but Stadia needs content to succeed
Xbox marketing boss Nichols is first Big M exec to weigh in on the platform
Data
UK games industry gender pay gap widens
Median hourly wage for women drops 4.78 per cent, mean figure down four per cent
Terms And Conditions
UK's Competition and Markets Authority investigating Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft over game subscriptions
“We are fully prepared to take action”
Play
A win for accessibility: Google Stadia will support the Xbox Adaptive Controller
Google's open approach to input opens the door for less able-bodied gamers
Xbox Live
GDC 2019: 4.28 billion game hours played over Xbox Live across platforms every month
64 million monthly active users
Stacked Up
Xbox Live comes to iOS and Android as Microsoft brings tools and services under Game Stack banner
PlayFab, DirectX, Azure, Simplygon, Mixer, Havok and more get brought closer together