170°

Microsoft Building New Studio For Next Generation Natal

Microsoft has also started to build up a separate team (similar on the lines of their internal Halo team) within Microsoft Game Studios to handle high profile games that are bound for this piece of technology.

KingKionic 5445d ago (Edited 5445d ago )

Wonder what its going to be called....

EDIT

Natal Creations would be a good studio name.

Nineball21125445d ago

How about Fatal Natal?

Well this is good news... obviously Natal is going to be supported and this bodes well for the system.

5445d ago
shocky165445d ago

Definitely day one buy for me.

Mu5afir5445d ago

They haven't announced many new IPs, or first party games for the X360. Yet they are making a new studio to develop games for Natel? Shouldn't Microsoft focus on making a few more good IPs for 2010, before jumping the gun? I mean, what games are we expecting for 2010? Halo Reach?

Pizzagaki5445d ago (Edited 5445d ago )

Howabout you wait until E3 2010 until you start talkingabout what comes in 2010 on the 360.

So far for 2010: Alan wake, Halo reach, Mass effect 2.
Obviously more will be revealed.

This year we get Halo ODST, Splinter cell, Left4dead2, venetica and forza 3, and nobody saw those coming either.

IdleLeeSiuLung5445d ago

Looks like MS is really serious about Natal and putting a lot of support behind it with the creation of another new studio.

ShabzS5445d ago (Edited 5445d ago )

also crackdown 2

green5445d ago (Edited 5445d ago )

Why think about 2010 when i am still thinking of the hit that fall 09 will have on my wallet with

-Halo 3: ODST
-L4D2
-Forza 3 + Fanatic 911 S Turbo racing wheel
-Need for Speed: SHift (not so sure)
-Bioshock 2
-Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
-Shadow Complex
-Modern Warfare 2
-Venetica
-Champion Online and Splinter cell: Conviction

Lets over come the 09 influx 1st then think about 2010.Damn i feel sorry for the wallets of multi console owners.

heroicjanitor5445d ago

There will be a lot of broke multi-console owners, but fatal natal wouldn't work because I'm pretty sure it's pronounced na-tal not nay-tal, or maybe I'm wrong? A good studio name would be motion studios, simple but rolls off the tongue.

ABizzel15445d ago

Can some one seriously tell me what makes Natal so much better than the PS Eye. I've seen everything they've demoed with it, but I haven't seen anything that I don't think the PS Eye is capable of especially now since they have the 1 to 1 motion controller.

Don't get me wrong Natal looks sweet, especially navigating the NXE with it, and racing in Burnout and casual games, but I have yet to see it as a the huge revelation in gaming like so many others have.

da720izcumin5445d ago

well for one....the natal has no physical device beside the person that is playing
second...it looks sci-fi like, something the mainstream would go 'gaga' for
third...the new sony dildo thingy...kinda looks like a pleasure device that desperate housewives use...ie 'not for gaming'

truthfully though, no one knows how things will really go, just like wii...everyone hated it and dismissed it, and then it came out and sold a bazillion...
NATAL is the truth!!!

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 5445d ago
SpoonyRedMage5445d ago

This is definately good news. MS is starting to realise that they desperately need more first parties and this is a better way to do it because when you buy a company you're forcing people to work only for you but if they get a job with you they want to work with you.

Godmars2905445d ago

When the 360's 1st party dev is weak? How does this guarantee good games for Natal and not take away resources from normal 360 games?

qface645445d ago (Edited 5445d ago )

tittle is kinda misleading if you ask me for a sec i thought this was about the next natal for the next xbox or something like that

personally i questions the choices they make when it comes to studios and devs
1 minute they are ignoring their 1st party the next they are trying to build it then they get rid of some of their 1st party studios only to go and buy others?

IdleLeeSiuLung5445d ago (Edited 5445d ago )

It might be a business decision, sometimes they close studios for variety of reasons including financial, lack of employee motivation, business strategic reasons, studio loosing steam and etc....

It seems MS was closing studios to shift their business strategy though. While MS was closing they were also hiring for new studios and buying other studios.

I am however, surprised at the closing of Ensemble Studios. They made some great games such as Age of Empires and Halo Wars.

Xi5445d ago (Edited 5445d ago )

that's the reason why they canned ensemble.

They weren't a diverse enough studio, and because their bread and butter was a genre that keeps dropping in popularity they felt the studio wasn't worth it any more.

However they still have extremely tight connection with bonfire studios who will now be doing the DLC on halo wars.

5445d ago
360RRODFIX5445d ago

Turd natal corp trademarket by Micro$oft

Copy cat of Eyetoy and Eyedentify http://www.youtube.com/watc...

but no, it is so "inovative", just ignore same sh!t that Sony made like 5 years ago...

Pizzagaki5445d ago

Yeah ?
If it was always around, how come nobody cared for it ?

The media is all over Natal, so obviously MS is doing something right here.

El Botto5445d ago (Edited 5445d ago )

"It's true that Sony has more studios but some of them are just there for the hell of it. Many of them have not done one game this generation while Microsoft studios are always pumping games or supporting another studio."

>> rofl

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60°

XCOM's Jake Solomon Q&A - Building a Narrative-Driven Life Sim Game at Midsummer Studios

XCOM and Marvel's Midnight Suns director Jake Solomon has founded a new studio to make a life sim game. Here's a new interview with him.

Read Full Story >>
wccftech.com
340°

Microsoft's quest for short-term $$$ is doing long-term damage to Windows, Surface, Xbox, and beyond

Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation, and it all revolves around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood's plans to increase every department's margins.

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
Brazz15h ago

"The plan to move Xbox games to other platforms is codenamed "Latitude" internally, and I know there's debate and unease at Microsoft about whether or not this is a good idea. More upcoming Microsoft-owned games slated for PlayStation are already being developed. At least for now, they're potentially obvious games you'd most likely expect. And yes, while it's true Microsoft is a prolific publisher on PlayStation already, it has typically revolved around specific franchises like Minecraft. From what I've heard, Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation, and it all revolves around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood's mandate to increase every department's margins. "

Yeah, they are going to kill Xbox hardware.

Xeofate13h ago

"Yeah, they are going to kill Xbox hardware."

It's for the best.

Quit stringing along xbox fans and screwing over PlayStation owners.

crazyCoconuts8h ago

Take good care of those Xboxes if you have 'em ...

outsider16248h ago

An Xbox game on a Playstation. Never in my years of gaming did i ever thought this was gonna happen.

jznrpg3h ago

It is dying anyway so doesn’t make much of a difference

VersusDMC3h ago

No way can they get rid of the hardware as probably 90% of game pass subscribers are hardware users.

Highly doubtful those users will move to PC or Cloud to subscribe there and the competition (Sony and Nin) will never have gamepass on their system.

If they want to keep the current subscribers, they need to keep releasing new hardware.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
gold_drake14h ago

i think it will kill off the xbox brand. windows will be fine.

but there is and would be a chance that xbox might be killed off in the future. if they fail to make the money they put in. imo.

S2Killinit12h ago

They wont kill it, but they will go fully PC while keeping xbox as a brand, and go multiplatform for the most part. They will also work tirelessly to diminish console gaming’s importance.

PRIMORDUS9h ago

It would be best if Xbox goes the way of Sega, just make and publish games. I know I myself will not support them at all with buying games from them, you all can. 🙃

ChasterMies7h ago

The Xbox brand will live for the games. I don’t expect Microsoft to entirely drop out of gaming hardware. They make Surface tablets and laptops. They’ll make Xbox branded hardware for those that want it.

shadowT14h ago

"Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation"

Forza and Starfield next?

Skuletor12h ago

Starfield would be no surprise and there's the rumor that it will come to Playstation after the Shattered Space DLC, Forza (along with Halo and Gears of War) I find less likely but I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually end up on PlayStation too, especially if Xbox give up on hardware and go the Sega route.

shinoff218312h ago

Not to worried about forza. I'd rather see others like what inxile and obsidian are working on. Starfield sounds like it needs more time in the oven so let it cook first imo. If starfield and it's a small if does release on ps it'll be in the fall around the time for dlc or right at the dlc and come packaged with it.

-Foxtrot13h ago

In the words of Phil Spencer when he was talking about Nintendo last year

“It's just taking a long time for Microsoft to see that their future exists off of their own hardware"

S2Killinit12h ago

Yup. MS are a cancer to console gaming.

Aloymetal11h ago

100%!!
I wonder what happened to that dude that was always here posting those court articles with cartoons about MS spending all those billions in studios. He suddenly disappeared, I guess he doesn't like bad news when the green brand is in trouble. No new articles from him as of late...

PRIMORDUS9h ago

Yup, and it's only going to keep spreading.

Outside_ofthe_Box9h ago

Phil Spencer's words always comes back to bite him lol

12h agoReplies(7)
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210°

Price Reductions Available Now on the Digital Xbox 360 Store - Closing July 29, 2024

Xbox 360 launched 18 years ago and was a generation-defining console that invited many people to jump into gaming for the first time and connect with friends around the world. We’re thrilled people continue playing their favorite Xbox 360 games on Xbox 360, or on newer consoles via Backward Compatibility for supported titles.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
Einhander197215h ago

"we believe in game preservation"

Remember the media reaction when PlayStation wanted to shut down the PS3 store (but then kept it open)... where is that reaction here?

CrimsonWing6914h ago

What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it.

You’re getting a chance to buy what you want before they close it. Moving forward digital stores should work like Steam. It’s just in this beginning they made it platform specific and closed off. A hindsight in their part and it sucks, but what is the percentage of people buying anything off these stores and what is the cost to keep the servers up?

I get it and yes making strives so this isn’t the case every gen we go into is absolutely a must. I mean PSN on PS3 is so convoluted to buy anything since you can’t use a credit card. Vita store is gone. It’s going to go away eventually.

Einhander197214h ago

"What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it."

My point is when PlayStation did this every website under the sun was writing articles talking about how "anti-consumer" it was yet I haven't seen anything like that happening when it's xbox doing it, in fact mostly what I see is praise from media when xbox makes obviously false claims about game preservation while they close down their store and xblig and push for digital only consoles streaming and subscriptions.

What I am asking is for everyone to be criticized or praised equally.

I mean look at the way the PS5 Slim's detachable disk drive was reported, it was super critical. Even though in reality they made it easier for people who initially buy a digital only console to move to physical, it was actually a step away from digital only. But did it get reported like that at all... no.

And you can still buy stuff on PlayStation you just need to add money to your account on the website or a PS4/5.

Tacoboto14h ago

That reaction isn't here because you can still play Xbox 360 discs of supported BC titles on Series and Xbox One, and you can still buy BC titles on the current Xbox Store.

It still sucks losing access to non-BC titles but don't act like it's the same situation. Let me know when PS5 actually supports my PS3 library.

Einhander197213h ago(Edited 13h ago)

How are you going to play those discs on your Series S (which 75% of xbox owners have) or your adorably all digital Series X?

And keep in mind that BC on xbox is an extremely limited selection of games, it's less than 25% of retail releases, and way less than the entire catalogue.

It's not a solution for the future, this isn't how "game preservation" looks, it's the fake PR that makes it that much worse.

Tacoboto13h ago

I'm not getting an all digital Series X so bark up someone else's tree, creep. I have my Series X for that disc support and functioning old hardware I still buy discs for (Bought Sudeki, Super Paper Mario, and 3D Dot Game Heroes a few months back - one for each old platform).

Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about.

Einhander197212h ago

"Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about."

I understand that, I'm making commentary on the fact that xbox is moving to digital only (and that the vast majority of current gen xbox owners do not have a disc based option) and not towards preservation as they claim.

And obviously people can play games on the original hardware for as long as that lasts, I have hundreds of games from "retro" consoles, I own nearly 200 PS3 discs alone.

Is there some reason, you feel the need to make personal insults in every comment, I reply to what you say without insulting you. But you know whatever, it says more about you than me...

And for the record "you" was being used colloquially I wasn't speaking you directly.

shinoff218310h ago

It won't as far as emulation. The os3 was built different.

I am in agreement though. I wish Sony would sell like an ultimate console. Have it where you have to order off their site and make it have real bc. Like the og ps3 had ps2 inside so to say.

Tacoboto9h ago

@Ein You're a creep because of your obsessive comment history making everything revolve around Sony or how awful Xbox is to a point that you're now just throwing irrelevant things in any way you can.

And don't try to make "you" colloquially now just because you're wrong about me and your feelings got hurt.

Einhander19726h ago

Whatever, keep insulting me, if you think that is going to make me change my opinions or what I say you couldn't be more far from the truth.

How you choose to treat other people only reflects poorly on you. (and this time it's not colloquially)

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 6h ago
darthv7213h ago

The PS3 situation may have something to do with no forward way to play those games on newer hardware. Not to mention the PS3 store has been around far less than the 360 store. 360 store closing was expected and they did a pretty good job making many of its digital games forward compatible with XBO and subsequently the Series as well. Ones they could not come to an agreement with are going to be left behind, but here is your chance for last minute deals for you to continue playing on your 360.

Just because the 360 store closes doesnt make all of those games you have (digital/physical) stop working on real 360 hardware. If people have physical 360 games, chances are they also have the means to play them. Just like People with PS3 games having a PS3. It would be nice if all older games worked on newer hardware... but that is not for us to decide, that is for MS, Sony and Nintendo.

Asplundh12h ago

Difference being the 360 games will still be sold on series consoles, while the PS5 only preserved a selection of Ps3 games for premium subs. If the Xbox 360 store closes the games will still be available, if the Ps3 store closes then those games are gone.

How does this contradict what they said about game preservation?

Einhander197212h ago

As far as what I have read that is not accurate, except for a small selection of games that are available through BC.

And even when the PS3 and Vita stores were going to be shut down they still were still going to be available to download if you purchased them already.

rlow15h ago

So you’re asking for equal treatment? That’s not how the world works or don’t you know? Which I can can’t believe you’re that naive. Xbox gets attacked on this site all the time. You have to ask why that was a big deal amongst the PS3 fan base? Because it wasn’t Xbox fans that were throwing up a huge stink. It’s was PlayStation fans and look at the results, Sony gave in and kept it open. You should celebrate it, instead of worrying about who takes it on the chin more.

The one thing I’ve Learned, is these companies don’t need people to defend them. They have all done things worth criticizing, but it will never be equal.

darthv725h ago

While the 360 store is closing and you will not be able to make any new purchases from a 360..... you can still download content you have previously purchased prior to the closure. The same can also be said about access to 360 games available on the XBO/Series. You will be able to make new purchases of titles that are available on the current store as well as download previously purchased content that is also compatible with the XBO/Series.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5h ago
1Victor15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

RIP Xbox 360 digital store and all its games.
It really grinds my gears that they are waiting till 10 days before closing to give the best discounts and the list as of now is 100 or less titles from the massive 360 library

Phoenix7614h ago(Edited 14h ago)

I should have enough points by the weekend to get £25 credit off MS, (hardly ever spend money on xb1), might look at a few of these.

DivineHand12514h ago

The Xbox 360 store was one of the only advantages the Xbox Series consoles had over the PS5. When I got my series X, I spent more playing Xbox 360 games vs current-gen Xbox games since that was the golden era for Xbox and several titles had enhancements such as 4k resolution and fps boost.

Closing this store will now only benefit the competition.

VersusDMC14h ago

The xbox360 store is closing on the xbox 360.

Xbox 360 games are unaffected on the xbox one and series consoles.

Einhander197213h ago

"Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console ->and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com).<-&q uot;

You will not be able to purchase any 360 games. You will only be able to play xbox discs if you have a console that support discs which doesn't look great for the future of xbox, if it has one.

VersusDMC13h ago

@Ein

Why are you repeating what i said?

You will not be able to buy digital 360 games to play on your 360.

You will still be able to buy 360 games on Xbone and Series consoles. Go to marketplace.xbox.com, that's the old browser store and not the new one.

Knightofelemia10h ago

Won't be long before Sony pulls the plug on the PS3.

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