Archive for the ‘Announcements’ Category

If you use Microsoft’s free OneDrive cloud storage, we hope you’re sitting down

Posted: April 25, 2016 in Announcements
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by Zach Epstein via BGR News

OneDrive users, we have some bad news and we think that you should probably be sitting down for it. Microsoft announced last year that it would be making some big changes to its cloud storage solution, OneDrive. Unfortunately, those changes were all bad news for users. For one, the company said that it intended to ditch its 100GB and 200GB plans and offer only a paid 50GB plan for $1.99 per month. Of note, that’s twice what Apple charges for the same amount of iCloud storage.

 

But that’s not even the really bad news. Microsoft also said that it planned to trim the amount of cloud storage available to free OneDrive users from 15GB to 5GB at some point in early 2016, and now we know exactly when the change will take place.

As cloud storage continues to get cheaper and cheaper for service providers, Microsoft has decided to remove much of the value from its own consumer offering. It’s a curious and aggravating move for many users, but there is some good news to be had… sort of.

If you saw earlier coverage of Microsoft’s announcement, you know that there was a way for free users to keep their 15GB of OneDrive storage after the switch is made. All you had to do was visit a special page on Microsoft’s website and click one button. Note the past tense in that last sentence — unfortunately, you had to click that button by January 31st, 2015 in order to keep your 15GB.

If you missed out and didn’t get a chance to visit Microsoft’s site by the end of January, there’s nothing you can do. Well, that’s not entirely true. There are two things you can do: pay for 50GB of OneDrive storage or switch to another cloud storage provider. You have until July 27th to decide, as Microsoft has confirmed that’s the date these changes will take effect.

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Xbox 1.5 Isn’t Happening, says Microsoft’s Phil Spencer

Posted: April 3, 2016 in Announcements, Opinion Piece
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by William Usher by CinemaBlend

The internet nearly went up in flames within the gaming sectors over the big rumors spreading about the PlayStation 4.5, also referred to as the PS4K. All the rumors surrounding the half-step console has put eyes on Microsoft to see if they might follow suit. According to Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer, Microsoft will not follow suit with an Xbox 1.5.

Gamespot quoted Phil Spencer from a recent Microsoft Build 2016 event, where he explained that they won’t be making any incremental upgrades to the Xbox One in the point-five sectors. If they upgrade it will be significant. Spencer stated the following:

I’m not a big fan of Xbox One and a half. If we’re going to move forward, I want to move forward in big numbers, […] For us, our box is doing well. It performs, it’s reliable, the servers are doing well. If we’re going to go forward with anything, like I said, I want it to be a really substantial change for people–an upgrade

Completely agreed.

I think most of all of Phil Spencer’s changes and directions for the Xbox brand have been for the better. He had to right a very wronged ship during the Mattrick-era Xbox One where it was known as the DRM Box. Don Mattrick was condescending toward the Xbox fans and specifically turned off a lot of potential customers with the heavy DRM-laden policies that they originally had planned for the Xbox One.

After Don Mattrick departed the company and Phil Spencer stepped in, he was able to turn around the sales, turn around the brand image and actually get people excited about Xbox again.

One of the system’s main features that now receives a lot of positive feedback is the backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games, as well as the universally praised Games With Gold program for Xbox Live subscribers.

All of these upgrades and feature implementations have helped completely alter how people see Xbox. Well, for the most part. Most savvy gamers still recognize that the Xbox One is the weaker console between it and the PS4 and that there’s no way it can last a decade like the Xbox 360 did.

In a way, a lot of people expected Microsoft to introduce an Xbox 1.5 or some sort of upgrade system due to how weak the hardware is, but the reality is that Microsoft is probably putting resources aside to make a real big step up for a system that will hopefully make trends the way the Xbox 360 did when it first launched back in 2005.

Also, a lot of people across the web are not keen about the PS4.5 or PS4K. Savvy gamers recognize that the system cannot run games at native 4K for anything under $1,500 and most gamers recognize that it seems inconsequential to make a PS4.5 with a barely incremental upgrade over the standard PS4.

If Sony is serious about releasing this half-generation upgrade for the PlayStation 4 they could lose a lot of sales momentum and even confuse potential buyers. Microsoft seems to be playing it right by riding out the generation and looking to make a serious step up when the time comes to unveil their next bit of hardware.

Phil Spencer has played it straight and played it well with the Xbox brand since taking over, and he seems to be on the right path by avoiding a potentially install-base-splitting decision that Sony could be pursuing with the PS4K.

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Microsoft Finally Reveals Long-Awaited Xbox One Feature

Posted: March 30, 2016 in Announcements
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by Dave Thier via Forbes

Three years ago, Microsoft made a tantalizing remark about the future of the Xbox One. It was a game console designed to foster creativity and development, the company said, and to that end any retail unit could be converted into a development kit. Microsoft will finally be making good on that promise, it announced at its annual build conference in San Francisco.

“Windows is the best platform for the vast community of game developers,” said Xbox boss Phil Spencer, via The Verge. “Windows is and will continue to be an open development ecosystem where anyone can build, deploy, and service their games and applications.” And those games will run on the whole ecosystem of Windows devices, from smartphones to desktop PCs and the Xbox console.

In order to take advantage, you need to join the Windows 10 insider program, run Windows 10 on a PC that has a wired connection to your Xbox One and have the latest versions of Visual Studio and Windows (via polygon). The feature is available as  preview today, with the major caveat that it wont be fully ready for primetime until sometime in the summer. This doesn’t mean that the Xbox One all of a sudden became as open as Windows: people can make whatever games they want, but anything they do make is subject to the same approval process that games go through now.

 People were excited when Microsoft first talked about this feature,for good reason: democratizing development is a great idea for all involved, allowing all sorts of new, strange projects from unexpected places. Still, it’s going to be hard to know how this will actually impact the software landscape of the Xbox One until the program has been live for a year or so — in an ideal world, the Xbox One could become at least as open as Steam is today. In a less than ideal world, people are making all sorts of games that won’t be able to make it onto Xbox Live and the whole thing skews hobbyist. Microsoft has made big strides in the way it treats indie games since the beginning of this console generation, and so I’m cautiously optimistic for the former.
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PlayStation 4.5 Is Real, Says Report

Posted: March 25, 2016 in Announcements
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by Tamoor Hussain via GameSpot

Reports that Sony is working on a more powerful PlayStation 4 are true, according Digital Foundry. The publication states it has independently verified a report published on March 18, which said the new version of the console will have an upgraded GPU.

According to the site, Sony’s R&D labs have prototyped the device, which “more than once source” referred to as PlayStation 4K. It continues, however, to explain that although the hardware offers more graphics processing power, it is not enough to deliver a robust 4K gaming experience.

Digital Foundry posits that although the machine may be capable of playing “high-definition media” and some technical aspects of 4K spec gaming, such as high dynamic range, the hardware upgrade currently isn’t significant enough to constitute a full step into 4K gaming.

It goes on to speculate on three viable upgrade paths for the PS4. The first involves making tweaks to existing off-the-shelf hardware to decrease the size of the console’s microprocessor while increasing its power. This would leverage recent improvements AMD has made to its CPU and GPU technology.

The second involves “scaling up the existing [PS4] chip” and attaching some features that allow for select 4K features to be added on. The report notes that Sony must bear in mind potentially splitting the PS4’s audience and development resources.

The final option is a slimmer PS4 that has been given “minor boosts to functionality.” Take a look at the in-depth breakdown of each these in Digital Foundry’s full report here.

The subject of an upgrade to the PS4 was previously discussed by Sony executive Masayasu Ito, who said the company might consider a “high-power” PS4.

The idea of a mid-generation hardware refresh has also been broached by Xbox head Phil Spencer. On March 1, Spencer said Microsoft is building towards a future where the Xbox will be upgradable. This would allow the company to incrementally increasing its power while retaining compatibility with its older games, instead of replacing consoles with an entirely new device.

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Bully and Manhunt suddenly hit PlayStation 4

Posted: March 22, 2016 in Announcements
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by Eric Frederiksen via TechnoBuffalo

Two Rockstar favorites from the PlayStation 2 era, Bully and Manhunt, are now available on PlayStation 4. If you didn’t hear about this, don’t worry; it’s news to all of us.

The two games have been upscaled to 1080p and offer full trophy support. They’re only available on the European store currently, but are expected to follow suit over here before too long.

Bully puts you in the sneakers of Jimmy Hopkins, a teenage delinquent who has to navigate the social structure of his new school with his mind and fists on guard. Manhunt takes pages from Running Man and The Most Dangerous Game. You play as a murderer who will be allowed to go free if you can survive the dangerous city that’s been set up for you, and do it on film.

The releases weren’t hinted at or teased at all, making them truly a surprise. Is this a signal of other Rockstar back catalog titles to come? We certainly hope so. We’d love to see Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas come over, as well as, of course, last gen titles like Red Dead Redemption.

Bully and Manhunt are available now for £11.99/€14.99, and it seems likely that they’ll be priced similarly in the U.S.

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Sony reportedly prepping “PlayStation 4.5” with upgraded GPU for 4K gaming, better VR

Posted: March 19, 2016 in Announcements
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by Shawn Knight via TechSpot

Sony is reportedly working on a more powerful version of its PlayStation 4 console. Dubbed the PlayStation 4.5, the new device will feature an upgraded GPU to enable 4K resolution gaming while simultaneously offering more oomph for its virtual reality platform according to multiple developer sources as first reported by Kotaku.

The publication said it wasn’t sure whether existing PlayStation 4 owners would be able to upgrade their console with the device or if it’s an entirely new console. What’s more, it’s unclear if PlayStation 4.5 will indeed be the official name of the device or if it’s just a temporary internal codename.

Today’s PlayStation 4 is capable of outputting 4K resolution pictures and videos but doesn’t have the ability to push 4K gaming.

The idea may sound a bit crazy at first but it’s much more plausible than you might think.

Modern hardware is evolving at a rapid pace and with gaming becoming more mainstream than ever and the continued threat from PC gaming, the traditional 7+ year lifecycle of a console seems incredibly unlikely. Just think, seven years ago, BlackBerry was still relevant, Palm was launching its Pre and Nokia put out the N97. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will be turning three later this year and compared to PC hardware, they’re already quite dated. Will they last another four years without help?

If the PlayStation 4.5 does arrive as some sort of add-on, it wouldn’t set a precedent.Remember the Sega CD and the 32X? Sure, those devices ultimately failed but one could argue that they were ahead of their time as gaming wasn’t nearly as popular as it is today.

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Sony responds to Microsoft’s invitation for cross-network play between PS4 and Xbox One

Posted: March 16, 2016 in Announcements
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by Jacob Siegal via BGR

Earlier this week, ID@Xbox director Chris Charla seemed to imply in a post on the Xbox Wire that Microsoft would be willing to link up with Sony in order to allow for cross-network play between Xbox Live and PSN players. Of course, Charla didn’t actually mention the PlayStation 4 by name, so it only makes sense that Sony’s response would be equally cryptic.

Answering a direct question from GameSpot about the potential collaboration, Sony indicated that it would be willing to consider cross-platform play with anyone.

“PlayStation has been supporting cross-platform play between PC on several software titles starting with Final Fantasy 11 on PS2 and PC back in 2002,” Sony said in a statement to GameSpot. “We would be happy to have the conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross platform play.”

That is not as clear a response as PS4 or Xbox One owners might have hoped for, but it’s a positive answer nonetheless.

It’s entirely understandable for Sony to be cautious about an arrangement that could give Xbox One owners a way to play with their PS4 friends without buying a PS4, but the fact that the technology exists (and that Microsoft is open to working together) might be enough to push them over the edge.

In the meantime, Rocket League will be the first game to support cross-network functionality on the Xbox One.

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PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners can finally play online games together

Posted: March 15, 2016 in Announcements
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“Halo” hero Master Chief is just as shocked as we are. (YouTube/Xbox)

by Ben Gilbert via Business Insider

Microsoft is opening up its Xbox Live online service to gamers on other platforms — namely, PlayStation 4 and PC. Whoa.

In a move that’s up there with Sonic the Hedgehog appearing next to Super Mario in a video game, Microsoft announced yesterday on its Xbox blog that it’s opening up the Xbox Live online platform — the service you use to play games online through an Xbox One or Xbox 360 — to every platform.

First, in addition to natively supporting cross-platform play between Xbox One and Windows 10 games that use Xbox Live, we’re enabling developers to support cross-network play as well. This means players on Xbox One and Windows 10 using Xbox Live will be able to play with players on different online multiplayer networks – including other console and PC networks.

That’s a huge move.

It means games like “Destiny” or “Call of Duty” could be played online, together, by players who are on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. It means Microsoft is putting the ball in Sony’s court on doing the right thing: making as many cross-platform games as possible playable across both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Think about the situation right now: you buy this year’s “Call of Duty” on Xbox One, and your buddy buys it on PlayStation 4. You want to play the game online together, but you can’t. It’s the same game, with the same online modes. The only reason you can’t play the game online together is because you’re on different platforms, and the platform-makers — Sony and Microsoft — don’t allow you to play games online with people on the rival’s platform.

That’s dumb. Microsoft is saying, “We agree. That is dumb. Enough.”, and enabling game makers who are developing games for both platforms — the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One — to allow online play across both. Rad!

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“Destiny” is a ridiculously popular first-person shooter on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Players scour the universe in search of content to enjoy. (Bungie)

Considering Microsoft and Sony’s long rivalry between Xbox and PlayStation, this is a pretty major philosophical shift. It’s a smart move from a company that’s putting up a solid fight against the PlayStation 4′s continued dominance in sales (over 36 million sold). Frankly, we’re excited to see what comes of this from Sony’s side; we reached out and haven’t heard back just yet.

In the meantime, Tech Insider favorite “Rocket League” is getting cross-platform support for online play between Xbox One and PC. Bizarrely, the game already has cross-platform support between PlayStation 4 and PC, just not between all three platforms. Rather, PlayStation 4 players can play with PC players, and Xbox One players can play with PC players, but Xbox One and PlayStation 4 players can’t play together. Which is just as silly as it sounds.

Maybe “Rocket League” will be the first game in a new, consumer-first paradigm where you can simply play games with your friends regardless of what platform they bought the game on! Fingers crossed, but maybe don’t bet on it.

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The Sega Dreamcast 2 Wants To Answer PC Gamers’ Wishes

Posted: December 21, 2015 in Announcements, Game Articles, Opinion Piece
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by William Usher via CinemaBlend

There’s a possibility of a new console coming from Sega. That sounds like a pipe dream and something far off from reality, but it’s actually the truth. There’s a project making a lot of headway called “Project Dream”, which is aimed at bringing a PC-style Dreamcast 2 console to the market.

According to The Gaming Ground, Patrick Lawsen, a member of the Sega Dreamcast 2 super group aimed at reviving the Dreamcast brand with the help of some Sega of Japan interns and independent OEM designers, has been making some serious progress with the project.

According to Lawson there’s a lot of potential for a new Sega console, stating…

“I’m truly excited about the Crowdfunded prospect for SEGA RingEdge Zero/RingWide Elite. […] If we can get just a million backers worldwide, our upcoming KS could be funded in record time and with SEGA licensing it could have it out on the market in less than a year!

[…] SEGA should be unveiling some new Arcade hardware at AOU in February [2016]. We have [Sega of Japan] interns involved. They will present the ideas to SEGA of Japan next Quarter. SEGA will revive its old IPs.”

What Lawsen and the rest of the group want to do is bring a competitively priced PC rig to the market that can run Sega’s old and new games alike. The plan is that it will be a direct competitor to things like the Steam Machines or dedicated gaming rigs offered by companies like Cyberpower and Alienware.

The device will run an Intel Core i5 Haswell and will be designed to play Sega games right off the hard drive after being digitally installed. The point of the system will be to play old and new Sega titles on HDMI compatible devices with HD upscaling capabilities.

The whole point is to put Sega back into the running as a viable console competitor. The system will have a similar shell as the original Dreamcast but modified and updated for today’s standards. A mock-up is what’s in the main image of this article. The system will also have a wireless controller, just like the Xbox One and PS4 or the Wii U’s Pro Controllers.

This all originally kicked off with a petition on Change.org from a certain Ben Plato from Melbourne, Australia, which managed to accrue more than 22,000 signatures for Sega to release a new Dreamcast that can play Sega’s illustrious library of games. It picked up enough steam over the months that started attracting serious attention, and Lawsen and the rest of the group working to revive the Dreamcast 2 got involved and are now taking things directly to Sega of Japan. From there they plan to host the Kickstarter to get the hardware and designs finalized. The idea that a new console could be out by the end of 2016 almost sends chills down my spine.

At first it looked like a real long shot but with Lawsen and the rest of the group going directly to Sega of Japan and with so much support from the community wanting to see a new Dreamcast on the market, I’m curious to see how this will turn out.

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Sony is bringing PS4 Remote Play to PC and Mac

Posted: November 28, 2015 in Announcements
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by Jacob Siegal via BGR

At E3 2015, Microsoft dropped a bombshell: backward compatibility was coming to Xbox One. The feature was finally implemented after the New Xbox One Experience launched earlier this month, and PlayStation 4 owners were left wondering when Sony might try to do something similar.

This announcement followed the release of an unofficial app called Remote Play PC, which spread like wildfire earlier this week. Fans began to question whether or not Sony would eventually release an first-party app for Remote Play on computers, which prompted Yoshida to officially reveal the existence of the app.

It’s worth noting that Xbox One owners have had the ability to stream games to their computers ever since Windows 10 launched this summer. As I’ve written in more than one piece discussing the consoles, the Xbox One seemed to be leaving the PS4 behind when it came to post-release additions, but it appears that Sony is finally attempting to compete.

Yoshida didn’t have any further details regarding the release timing of the Remote Play app, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for updates in the coming days and weeks.

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