860°

Could Microsoft Be Prepping A Major Announcement

So according to reddit, the domain name “xbox.steampowered.com” has been active recently, with development being done over the past couple of days.

Whilst somewhat suspicious on its own, the news happens to coincide with the Microsoft’s imminent press event on February 25th.

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xboxoneuk.com
OpieWinston3016d ago

Given that MS has put an NDA on all articles until March 1st and that there's no livestream.
I wouldn't expect it.
But who knows maybe MS will give out a overview video of a few things like they always do.

jb2273016d ago

Wait, so the Windows event isn't going to be live streamed & there's an NDA on all articles? That's the first I'm hearing about this...do you reckon there will still be some new gameplay footage for stuff like Recore? I was really looking forward to seeing some gameplay for that one or one of the other upcoming titles.

Either way, is it an open conference or is it solely for journos? I don't see how they can keep info from leaking if it is a trade type event like E3, and it would have to be very exclusive even if it was solely for media to keep things from getting out w/ a full week until the NDA is up.

ScorpiusX3016d ago (Edited 3016d ago )

Probably taking place on their campus and most likely have Tougher NDA with sever penaltys.

jb2273016d ago

@castillo

That would make sense...I know in the past the console division has typically taken a back seat at this event but I'm really hoping we get some great game footage & previews when the NDA runs up. Dying to see more from Recore specifically among others.

Agheil3016d ago

How many things are there that "this is the first I'm hearing about this" for you ? Lol

illtownNJONE3016d ago

we will be able to watch it march 1st

jb2273016d ago

@arabien

Way too many things brother...way too many things. News flies so fast these days you'd hafta be Usain Bolt to keep up

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Tobsesan3016d ago

The event had a livestream last year

OpieWinston3016d ago

That was for unveiling Windows 10.
THIS is to showcase all their games in the spring lineup and allow all the journalists to dump videos/articles on the same day after playing the games for a bit.

Idiedgoodbye3016d ago ShowReplies(5)
FlexLuger3016d ago

Id really like the ability to stream (better yet access those games natively on my console, even though it will no doubt be at lower settings on my xbox) my steam library to my xbox in my living room. MS....you have given plenty of xbox to pc...time for PC to come to xbox

joab7773016d ago

It would be huge, but why would steam do this? Doesn't this undercut their living room box and all steam machines.

I just don't think I'd ever buy a game on steam to play on an xbone. Maybe many would.

Yetter3016d ago

Valve doesn't care how you play your games, just that you're buying them from steam.

OC_MurphysLaw3016d ago

There are tons of games on steam that are not available to consoles. Having a way to bridge steam and xbox consoles would be a massive step for both MS and honestly Steam. Remember Steam also has been trying to crack the console market with their big picture and steam boxes but it's not been terribly successful there.

poppinslops3016d ago

I bought a PC just so I could play the first Witcher game, but I'd have preferred to play it on my tv with my xbox controller... If this is a thing, then I'll use the feature for a bunch of games - Firewatch, the Witness, Fez (console version's unfinished) and Xcom2 come to mind, but there's a stack of older titles I'd like to check out.

I've never played any of the Half Life games, or any of the Final Fantasies and I'd love to try the first Crysis... Yeah, I could play 'em on PC, but I don't like playing on PC and I don't want to lug it into the living-room (where there's no space for it anyway), so a streaming solution would be great for me.

As to Steam undercutting their Steamboxes - perhaps they've finally realised no-one's gonna buy them and that this is a better solution?
That, or they're happy to let the Xbox be the low-end Steambox, while they concentrate on high-spec models?

Speculation at it's finest... I can't wait to see what comes out of this conference!

WarPuppet963016d ago

Wouldn't it be awesome if all steam machine took the name of Xbox one all in one machines. An Eco system of systems for different levels of players and Xbox live integrated into to all steam powered boxes, Xbox one or windows one machines.

DDMNeo3015d ago (Edited 3015d ago )

Honestly this is more a benefit to current Xbox owners. This won't sell Xbox One systems for one really good reason. Why would you pay $300 when you can get the hub for $50? I mean if cross buy happened between the two that'd be another thing, but that'd still be mostly a benefit to current Xbox users. Granted if it meant the Xbox games would be available on steam as well somehow (like Halo 5 or Sunset Overdrive) that'd be big for PC players as well. However as a PC gamer I'd rather take the cheaper and more proven way. Does it hurt the PS4? Not really, but it doesn't help it either. The only way it hurts Sony is in the long game. If the next Xbox (if that even happens) comes out with a partnership with Steam then that's a big blow to Sony.

Personally I just hopes it means I can get Killer Instinct on Steam, because I don't want Win 10 or to buy from its store.

FlexLuger3015d ago

"Granted if it meant the Xbox games would be available on steam as well somehow (like Halo 5 or Sunset Overdrive) that'd be big for PC players as well. However as a PC gamer I'd rather take the cheaper and more proven way."

PC gamers can access the windows store just as easily as they can the steam store. This is about Xbox as an eco system. PC gamers are now invited to the party. And it might be a case of steam being in on the party already...clearly something is being worked on between MS and valve, though.

"Personally I just hopes it means I can get Killer Instinct on Steam, because I don't want Win 10 or to buy from its store."

Your loss. The whole point of KI, QB and gears remaster coming to PC is to sell more copies of W10 and get more XBL accounts signed up (you also need an xbox account to play these games BTW, even on PC...thats how it records achievements and shares your gameplay clips with xbox gamers...not steam gamers.....how else did you think this was gonna work?

Now steam....valve wants it in the living room. And given that you (and pretty much EVERY PC gamer..myself included) already play your games on an X86 windows based PC (which is basically what the xbox is, in case you didnt notice), and nobody is buying steam boxes in case you have not noticed, so valves best shot at getting steam in the living room is the xbox. it always was..MS were just slow to unify the xbox and PC. Which was always the plan anyway. I own two PCs and an XB1 (aswell as X360 and PS4) and the synergy between my PC and xbox has spurned me to put a surface pro and a windows phone on my shopping list for this year.

Im an xbox gamer..but Im also a windows user (professionally and creatively) MS just tied it all together for me neatly.

Bobafret3015d ago

It means more people accessing games through the Steam portal, which in turn may help with more sales. I could of course be wrong but that is my thought.

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Silly gameAr3016d ago

That would be pretty cool actually.

StrangerX3016d ago

Hey, I know I'm going to get burned for this but if this becomes real then Mr. X Media's info a while back was right about this one too. Just saying guys! Back on the subject: It would definitely be awesome to have a steam app for accessing games from the account!

pingthing3016d ago

Cant believe you mentioned 'He who shall not be named'. If you throw enough s**t, some of it will stick to something, somewhere. Just saying.

meche3343016d ago

Yes if MS has been baking up steam for the xbox that'd be amazing

meche3343016d ago

Plus the Xbox already runs win 10 so it wouldn't be too hard

spicelicka3016d ago

If they can bring PC to Xbox i would that would be just brilliant.

Idiedgoodbye3016d ago

I use the Xbox One DVR app to record my gameplay but 5 minutes is not enough.

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ScorpiusX3016d ago (Edited 3016d ago )

They've bought Valve and fired Newell but kept everyone's else and they are proud partners of HTC and its VR.

ScorpiusX3016d ago ShowReplies(1)
SpaceRanger3016d ago

Since when is buying out a company good? Are simple business concepts that hard to understand?

wakeNbake3016d ago

Many cases actually, one relevant example would be the Facebook purchase of Oculus which guaranteed the future of the rift through Facebook's enormous wealth.

headblackman3016d ago

what if they announced that the xbox one is the the steam box that valve has been talking about for a while now? (just saying) ;)

Yetter3016d ago

then the internet would break for a day

BitbyDeath3016d ago

Valve buying Xbox would be more likely than MS buying Valve. IMO

BitbyDeath3016d ago

I don't think it'll happen but -
-Steampowered.com is a Valve registered website.

-Valve is embedded in the gaming industry and have nothing else as opposed to MS who is refocusing on the core.

-Steam Machines could carry on the Xbox name and provide exclusive content to help sell them. (As their existence still doesn't make much sense)

ScorpiusX3016d ago

That is funny, ha ha ha ha But seriously MS could by valve without hesitation but valve buy Xbox ha ha ha that's to funny.

FlexLuger3016d ago (Edited 3016d ago )

"That is funny, ha ha ha ha But seriously MS could by valve without hesitation but valve buy Xbox ha ha ha that's to funny."

^^This..... I know valve are making money....but they dont have the funds to buy the xbox division from MS...besides the fact that MS aint selling the xbox division anyway...It is too important to their windows in the living room ambitions where they fight the likes of apple and google.

MS can though...and the best shot for valve to get mass adoption of their steam machines in the living room, is if they become xboxs...next gen is gonna be interesting.

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PancakeLova3016d ago Show
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150°

10 Biggest Xbox Mistakes of All Time (So Far)

The Xbox brand has done a lot of good over the years, but their various blunders are pretty wild to look back on in their magnitude.

Read Full Story >>
culturedvultures.com
piroh4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Ironically number 9 can save them at this point (releasing games on multiple platforms)

ChasterMies2d ago

By “save them” you mean make more profit for Microsoft. Xbox will still be a dying hardware platform.

OtterX3d ago

You could add the naming scheme for the consoles, it just confuses customers. I know they wanted to avoid traditional numbering bc it would always be lower than their competitor, but this whole 360 then One then Series thing is confusing af. Imagine a Soccer Mom trying to figure this stuff out. I still mistakenly call the Series X the One from time to time on accident.

RNTody3d ago

Don't forget about the Xbox One, Xbox One X and Xbox Series X! Good luck to Soccer moms around the world.

S2Killinit2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

They did that on purpose to confuse and direct attention away from the generational numbering.

MS doesn’t like reminding people that they joined the industry after others had already been involved in gaming.

For instance, they called the xbox “360” to combat PlayStation “3” because they wanted to seem like “more” than “3”, so instead of xbox 2, they opted for xbox 360. Also this had the additional benefit of selling consoles to uninformed parents who might purchase a “360” instead of a “3” by mistake, or because they thought 360 was more than 3. Kind of a disingenuous move.

They have been continuing with their confusing naming patterns for pretty much the same reasons. Frankly, it fits with who and what they are as a brand.

FinalFantasyFanatic2d ago

I can understand their reasoning, but whoever came up with that naming scheme should be fired, bad naming schemes have killed consoles (I'm pretty sure it was the major reason for the downfall of the WiiU). They should have had unqiue names like Nintendo and Sega have had for their consoles, far less confusing for the consumer.

Cacabunga3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Phil Spencer is the worst that has happened to Xbox.
They built a respectable brand up to Xbox one. Then this guy took over and things became a joke

Reaper22_3d ago

He still has his job. Something you can't say about Jim Ryan.

Cacabunga3d ago

Both bad execs. One is on job and one thankfully retired.

FinalFantasyFanatic2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I didn't like either person, both people damaged their respective brands and produced worse outcomes, but Phil did save the Xbox brand from being retired by Microsoft. Although in hindsight, he should have just let it die, rather than languish in limbo like it is now.

Rainbowcookie1d 17h ago

Yeah but the one that was "bad" didn't even affect sales.

bunt-custardly3d ago

Phil Spencer was also on the team back when 360 was around, alongside Shane Kim, Peter Moore etc. I think the damage that did the most harm was the Don Mattrick "Always Online" console (ahead of its time basically). They handed Sony and Nintendo a free-pass when that was revealed. It went downhill from there. Then the corporate machine went into full swing to try and recover. They have to a degree as a games company for the masses, and less so for the core gamer. Outside USA, the Xbox brand does not sell as well as Japanese based consoles (citation needed).

Cacabunga3d ago

Want a decision maker. The always online and TV plans was a disaster yes, but they caught up by announcing 1st party games that gamers actually kept the hype going.. until this moron took over and introduced the PC day one release.. e all know where that ended..

S2Killinit2d ago

I dont think they were ever a respectable brand, not since the beginning, when their goal was never to be involved and share in the gaming space. I think the OG xbox was an exception because MS as a brand was still getting its foot in and so the people behind that were people of the gaming industry.

FinalFantasyFanatic2d ago

The 360 was the brand in its prime though, everything went downhill towards the end of that generation. Its staple games like Halo, Forza and Gears are what kept the console relevant and afloat for so long.

MaximusPrime_3d ago

Really good video.

I remember the days with RRoD was big news on here, N4G.

Microsoft had it turbulence number of years.

Looking at the success of Sea of Thieves despite being 6 years old, time to release Halo, Forza horizon 4 & 5 on PS5. It'll help their revenue

shinoff21833d ago (Edited 3d ago )

2 of the 4 games they did already sold really well. So it's definitely going down. Idk about halo or forza but I feel those studios they've bought in the last 5 years, their coming

ChasterMies3d ago

I found this video painful to watch. Can someone list them out?

Top 10 for me from are:
1. 2013 reveal presentation
2. Bundling Kinect 2 with Xbox One
3. RRoD or why rushing to market with hardware is always a bad idea.
4. Buying studios only to close them.
5. Ads on the Home Screen
6. Letting Halo die.
7. Letting Geard of War die.
8. Every console name
9. Charging for Xbox Live on Xbox 360 when Sony let PS3 players play online for free.
10. Cancelling release of OG Xbox games after the Xbox 360 launched.

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150°

Microsoft to Add Copilot AI to Video Games

Microsoft recently revealed its plans to incorporate Copilot directly into video games, with Minecraft being the first showcased example.

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xpgained.co.uk
Fishy Fingers7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

F*** AI

"Hey Copilot, what's a good meme to prove I dislike AI".... https://giphy.com/clips/sou...

Einhander19727d ago

Two trillion dollar company that just can't wait to put as many people possible out of work as fast as possible.

It feels like every single thing they do is making gaming worse and destroying the industry.

7d ago
7d ago
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darthv727d ago

....you know it takes people to program the AI.... right? It isnt like it is sentient. We haven't reach skynet level of situation or anywhere close to the matrix just yet.

That's next Thursday.

Einhander19726d ago (Edited 6d ago )

It takes a people to program the AI then that AI is used for who knows how many games eliminating countless jobs which only grows as AI is used for more and more game creation functions.

What you're saying is so ridiculously short sighted and truly larking any kind of understanding and foresight.

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CaptainFaisal7d ago

Why all the hate? Im actually excited about this! Always wanted this kind of immersion, and an AI companion with me all the time helping me out knowing the status of my skills/inventory/progress and giving me tips on the best approach or how to craft something specific is game changing for the industry.

Hate all you want about AI, but this is just the start and I can see the potential already. You wont be complaining in the next 5-10 years about this, but rather complain if a game hasn’t implemented it.

MrDead7d ago

Yes we can't wait for the work of others to be used without the need to pay them so that MS can profit even more from the people they fire.

I_am_Batman7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

There is no chance I'd ever use something like this, especially if it's not part of the core game design, but a layer on top of it. It's way too much handholding. Many games already feel like busy work, because they don't let the player figure things out on their own. Having a real-time interactive guide defeats the purpose of playing the game in the first place in my opinion.

If this were to become the standard like you predict, we'll see more and more video games get away with bad design, because people will just be used to ask for help from the AI companion anyway.

Number1TailzFan7d ago

Well Nintendo don't need this with some of their games these days, with invincible characters, items, easy bosses etc.. they do the hand holding built in

helicoptergirl7d ago

Takes "hand holding" in games to a whole new level.

BlackDoomAx6d ago

Because human nature xD Almost every new technology had these kind of comments.

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220°

Ghost of Tsushima PC has 84% positive reviews and a peak online audience of 72 thousand people

On 16 May, the long-awaited release of the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima took place. And the game proved to be a great success on the first day.

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gagadget.com
PrinceOfAnger10d ago

69,477
all-time peak 3 minutes ago.

thorstein10d ago

Nice. It's really cool that PC players get to play this masterpiece.

PrinceOfAnger10d ago

It has surpassed spider man now
it's 71k+
game did this with way shorter time than spider man.

itsmebryan9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

@prince
I'm confused. Does that number mean total players at one time playing like a snapshot
or total sales? If it's the former that's not very accurate because I know I'm not the only person that buys games and plays them later and that number is not included.

RNTody10d ago

Great, I loved this game. Definitely think it's Sucker Punch's best work to date!

rippermcrip10d ago

Is this going to be the new thing thing? Articles about Steam reviews? Which of course was in response to the false article about the review bombings in the first place.

Christopher10d ago

Hey, just a heads up that the new owners did open news to Steam updates, but we try our best to not allow them to go on daily updates unless relevant to some other news. I understand this isn't everyone's cup and tea and sympathize, but the door has been open. If you feel it's 'too much' please do PM me or submit a ticket to the mod team. Thank you.

9d ago
shinoff21839d ago

I came here to post this link in that specific article. 84 perce t is pretty good. How many bad reviews were there like 5

GamerzElite10d ago

This is good game and Ghost eliminate all fake outrage.

CrimsonWing6910d ago (Edited 10d ago )

I always get confused by this, but is 72k good sales numbers for a game? I keep seeing games fail at selling 2.5 million and that they need to be on multiple platforms but is an additional 72k adding much?

Fishy Fingers10d ago

Im not sure how its confusing :\

72k actively playing. Not 72k sold.

A good example is Helldivers 2, 6m sold, 450k (at its peak) active players.

But how many swords swung is what we're all really waiting for.

shinoff21839d ago

Lmao. How many swords swung. I was hoping for how many steps

wesnytsfs9d ago

And its how many years old from initial release.

Crows9010d ago

72k is concurrent
...that is not the sold figure.

Michiel198910d ago

for one they already had a huge launch on the playstation, they don't need to sell 5m to make the porting to pc profitable and as pointed out below that number you see is just the people playing it at this moment.

Plague-Doctor279d ago (Edited 9d ago )

Also from the insomniac leak we know these PC ports are a quick turnaround and budgeted around $2-4 million. At 100k sales they break even including Steams cut. They may not sell millions but they are a great ROI

elazz9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

72k concurrent. That is a global number. People who bought the game are not playing at the same time because of timezones, working schedules, holidays, events... There is no good rule of thumb but you can extrapolate based on other games that also released sales data. Then it is clear that the PC release alone accounts for at least 500K copies sold on steam, maybe closer to 700-800K. Probably will sell over a million this extended weekend.

According to steamspy and other data gathering sites games like Days Gone, Spider Man, God Of War, Horizon Zero Dawn have sold 2 to 5 million copies on Steam. So I expect Ghost to reach similar numbers. Probably even surpass it.

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