220°

Xbox One to 360 Communication Limited to Text Only, IllumiRoom Unlikely to be Greenlit

AusGamers had a chance to ask the head of planning and marketing for Xbox One, Albert Penello, how communication between Microsoft's new console and Xbox 360 would work, and also probed him about the likelihood of IllumiRoom ever being released for consumers and Xbox One.

"I wouldn’t expect you’ll see that,” Penello told AusGamers of IllumiRoom. “It’s very, very cool tech but it’s, like, for a consumer, it requires projectors and things. It’s really super-neat if you’re in the lab and you’ve got Microsoft money and you could totally set up this awesome lab, but... we looked at it, but for an average customer it’s, like, thousands of dollars [for the set up]."

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ausgamers.com
Vip3r3889d ago

What about skyping to people on a PS4?

sincitysir13889d ago

Haha funny. But I guess this a good? I dont know I don't care anymore

Vip3r3889d ago

No, I'm serious. Will it work?

shoddy3889d ago

I believe Skype would work for all platform such as iphone to PC or android phone or even vita.

ewstokes3889d ago (Edited 3889d ago )

It said anyone with Skype so yeah it'll work. You can also chat with Xbox one ppl from your ps vita

FullMetalTech3889d ago

Well to a Vita maybe since it has a Skype App available.

BallsEye3889d ago

if ps4 would have skype, but it won't, ms will not let it. PS vita tho for sure (ms doesn't have it's own handheld gaming machine thats why skype there is a benefit for mS)

3889d ago
BallsEye3889d ago

@Zachriel All it says is that they are commited to have it on more platforms. If they confirm it they confirm it.

Don't get your hopes too high when ms is boasting skype as one of system seller aspects.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3889d ago
deep_fried_bum_cake3889d ago

Well that's good news, I was under the impression that there would be no communication between them. The Illimiroom thing is just ridiculous, why even announce it?

Belking3889d ago

Illumiroom is actually pretty cool but just too expensive. Especially when the console and kinect alone is $ 500.

3889d ago
Bathyj3889d ago

Oh I didnt realise IllumiRoom was just a concept. I thought it was a thing.

MariaHelFutura3889d ago

Well, you're not incorrect. Microsoft has a way of twisting words.
http://bgr.com/2013/04/30/x...

YNWA963889d ago

Maria, would you go docile if the internet went down and you had no more links?

MicDude3889d ago

Can I ask you something out of pure curiosity?

We all know that you prefer the PS4 over X1. Let's face it, the PS4 beats the X1 in both hardware and price and that can be proven. Those are two very good reasons to prefer the PS4. But I would like to know what you like about the X1 if anything. Obviously, some people prefer the X1 over the Ps4 so there must be some reason people are pre-ordering it.

The reason I'm asking you this is because I want to know if you really love the PS4 so much or if you just hate the X1.

Animal Mutha 763889d ago

@micdude

Whatever dislike she has for Xbox seems perpetuated by a genuine hatred of MS. Look at her history for evidence of that and also a recent 2 week silence as a result of a suspected suspension no doubt for trolling/spamming Xbox related articles. I'm glad mods did something tbh but now she has her bubbles back simply by saying things the Sony hardcore like to hear.

In a way she's actually being very clever. A sort of super troll using links and lists to substantiate her point of view whilst using the Sony faithful on this site to keep her in bubbles. She also submits a lot which also keeps the points rolling in. Again the nature of many of the submissions is telling along with the fact that she is often an early commenter in many/most Xbox related articles for no obvious reason other than to rubbish Xbox or put the boot into MS or any slightly positive news.

ArmrdChaos3889d ago (Edited 3889d ago )

It's just the typical MO that many display on this site. They look to knock others down so that they can feel taller. It's really nothing more than ego. Just laugh, shake your head, and move on...nothing to see here, carry on. I would imagine all of you consider your time more valuable than that.

MicDude3889d ago

@Animal

I just don't understand why people feel the need to behave the way they that they do on sites like this; it is childish really. Seriously, what do people gain from telling other people. "Hey, my console is better than yours. Yours sucks." ...Okay. And? It's pointless you see. I guess the best thing to do is to let kids be kids and ignore them.

givemeshelter3888d ago

And you wonder why you got banned?

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3888d ago
nunley333889d ago

yeah it's very unreasonable unless you have ms money. he said that illumiroom setup would cost thousands.

palaeomerus3889d ago

It probably is a thing in a club, or an arcade, or a rec center, or a lan-party center. It's just not ready to be sold in a box to a consumer. The market that could afford it or would want to pay for the setup is too small.

Remember how Surface started out being sold to Real Estate companies to use in the sales office and used on TV News instead of being a consumer product? It's like that. It will be used for presentation applications by entities with big money instead of gamers in the home.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3888d ago
corvusmd3889d ago (Edited 3889d ago )

Ahh that blows, it was awesome in the demo they showed. It makes sense though, getting consumer projectors could be expensive....who knows, maybe just put this tech in their back pocket and if projectors and such get cheaper, then pull it back out, it was an amazing idea for immersion.

I have to be honest though, if it was 1k, I'd buy it, I know the average gamer can't afford that, but the way I see it, I play games a ton, and over a 10 year cycle, that's only $100 a year to make my games way more enjoyable.

AsimLeonheart3889d ago

And many were considering illumiroom the killer app for Xbone just a few months earlier. It turned out to be just an impractical concept.

http://www.extremetech.com/...

torchic3889d ago

it really is a shame.

by far the most impressive piece of tech the engineers at Microsoft have come up with. it would've been a great advancement in the industry.

I would've bought an Xbox One (after its first price cut) just for Illumroom.

shame :/

stuff3889d ago

You would purchase an XBO, "after a price cut," for some tech that would require you to have MULTIPLE projectors setup in such a way that would allow them to be useful only for this purpose and nothing else?

I hope that was sarcasm. Awesome tech either way. It just seems it wouldn't work for many. It seems like requires a very particular setup -- large white-ish wall, white-ish furniture, a fairly dimly lit room, and etc.; projector friendly things.

Imalwaysright3889d ago

To me is just another gimmick.

torchic3889d ago

@stuff

no, the consumer version of Illumroom was going to be a projector installed into a Kinect sensor, to be placed on your coffee table.

I'm not sure about limitations, I personally think the only thing needed was big wall space + a room without illumination, but the "multiple projectors" thing was just the concept. ONE projector lens fused into Kinect for retail.

stuff3888d ago

@Torchic

It seems unlikely that it would be designed in such a way. A projector (usually set behind the user) combined with a camera (usually set in front of the user.)

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3888d ago
Show all comments (39)
230°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7219h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle6h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18814h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio3h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga6h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21835h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga4h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan20m ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

purple1019h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos8h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac8h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1017h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic5h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

Show all comments (25)
300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 16h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 13h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 11h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 4h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 6h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies1d 2h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 13h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic1d ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9023h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 15h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 15h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 12h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 14h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 13h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (21)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10112d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref12d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde12d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197212d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville12d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218311d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos11d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
isarai12d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan12d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197212d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde12d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197212d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier12d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto12d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218311d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto11d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts12d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts11d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)