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”
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
Satya Nadella
CEO
Agostino Simonetta
Director for global partnership management ID@Xbox
Brad Smith
President
Andy Lunique
Influencer Relations Manager
Asha Sharma
EVP and CEO of Microsoft Gaming
Miguel Vicente
Audience Marketing Manager, Portugal
+3 more
Accolades
Articles featuring Microsoft
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
Xbox On The Go
Microsoft’s xCloud streaming service lets you play Xbox One games on your smartphone
Public trials will begin this year
Error 404
Report: Forza Street in development for mobile
Turn10 Studios and Electric Square helming the project
Money, Money, Money
Streaming toolkit Lightstream raises $8 million in initial funding
Chicago firm has accrued $9.8 million overall to date
Warfare
Microsoft workers demand stricter ethics as HoloLens prepares to kill
Open letter calls for the cancellation of a recently-signed army IVAS contract
Enterprise Ar
Microsoft unveils $3,500 HoloLens 2 headset
Epic's Tim Sweeney praises tech giant's open approach to development
Diamonds Are Forever
Minecraft has its best year ever on mobile earning $110 million
Good news for Steve
Change Of Name
Microsoft Studios renames to Xbox Game Studios
"2019 is going to be a great year for Xbox gamers everywhere"
Cross-platform Xbox
Microsoft readying SDK for Xbox Live cross-play on mobile and Nintendo Switch
In part thanks to the Big M's acquisition of PlayFab in January 2018
Craft
Fortnite isn't top dog yet - Minecraft is now pushing 90 million monthly active users
The second-highest selling game of all time found an extra 20 million monthly users in 2018
R&d
Scotland set for $11.6m games research and development centre
Students also stand to benefit with work experience through InGame partnership
Code Kids
Microsoft puts $500k behind tech training for students of colour
Publisher enters partnership with Black Girls Code to improve STEM education
Beef
Nintendo and Microsoft dunk Sony on Twitter over Minecraft cross-play
Sony’s cross-play policy has been under public scrutiny since Fortnite launched on Switch
Augmented
Report: Microsoft plans to unveil Hololens 2 in late 2018
“Sydney” set to launch next year with a significantly lower price tag
Storm Closing In
Nintendo and Xbox go on the attack as Sony flounders on Fortnite cross-play controversy
Crackdown on cross-platform play continues to rile up players
Xbox Mobile
Microsoft building Xbox streaming service to bring console games to any device
Looks like Xbox games could be coming to mobile
Popping Up
Gears Pop blends Gears of War with Funko Pop for mobile
Gears Pop release date set for 2019 on Google Play and App Store
Microhub
Microsoft acquires GitHub for $7.5 billion
Announcement could be made as early as Monday, June 4th
Gender Pay Gap
UK games companies reveal gender pay gap
New figures show men earning more than women