360°

Microsoft defends free Xbox Games with Gold - "we've got some great games coming up"

Speaking to OXM at our reader-exclusive Xbox One hands-on event last night, Xbox Live product manager Pav Bhardwaj has discussed the future of Microsoft's Games with Gold program, whereby Gold subscribers are handed two free downloadable Xbox 360 titles a month. There's still no definite word as to whether the program will continue past the end of 2013, but Bhardwaj suggested that it could "evolve" along lines drawn by Microsoft's free-to-play strategy on Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Bundi3881d ago

I think the games and they give us this month were pretty decent...if this were 2007 that is!
I know free is free, but at some point it just becomes insulting.I didn't even bother downloading this month games I mean a card game and nuts and bolts? Are you kidding me?!

yes I did not buy xbox live gold for the free games but if you're going to offer me free games please make them worth my while.

dirigiblebill3881d ago

Thing is, Magic 2013 and Nuts & Bolts were and are great games. They're just a bit old, and they don't fit the "OMG shiny blockbuster" criteria.

Maddens Raiders3881d ago

Well bundi is right. The games offered shouldn't need "defending" at all. The games offered should stand on their own "gold" merit, but this is too often, not the case.

Bundi3881d ago

I disagree, DR2 was old but that was a great gift. Crackdown as well, ACII, heck even Fable 3 as a great freebie.
I would even recommend Ghost Recon too!

The rest have been an insult IMO. Grid, Joyride Turbo, Magic 2013, nuts & Bolts...I mean come now.

As old as it is, I'm looking forward to playing Halo 3 again. Now that's a classic. How can this dude call hose 4 games classics?

PoSTedUP3881d ago (Edited 3881d ago )

imagine if sony was like MS?

Sony: this months free game will be Haze. enjoy, f#%&ers.

yeesh, that would be a nightmare.

i feel like MS is that kid in last place (metaphorically speaking) thats struggling to cross the finsh line and everyone n their mother is trying to help him by giving moral support and advice from the sideline.

i hope they Really have some good games for yall considering their dedicated fanbase that has paid for the service for almost a decade, like cmon show some appreciation MS!! oh yeah thats right, they said they would ony continue the program if "they benifit" from it. microsoft, just stop. stop with the bs, you aint about the gamer at all obv. im not trying to be harsh either, idky but it makes me sick, its like watching someone take advantage of a [naive] person.

hellzsupernova3880d ago

The problem is Sony is making them look bad with plus
The last three months for me I got assassins creed 3 far cry 3. Also include sleeping dogs, mass effect 3, battle field 3 of course it is going to look bad

ShinMaster3880d ago

Excuse me, Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie were great.

Nuts & Bolts? no.

minimur123880d ago

Better than Far cry 3, Hitman Absolution, AC3, Need for Speed: Most wanted?

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3880d ago
MrZweistein3881d ago (Edited 3881d ago )

I have to agree. Only game i did not have was Magic 2013. All others I had already played or was not my taste of a game. Especially in germany which didn't had Dead Rising 2 which was a game that I wanted to play but couldn't. As I remember this game is blacklisted in germany which is a real shame!

GearSkiN3881d ago

Microsoft free games is crap, but glad is free, we're sony is a rent not really free unless you stay with the plus.

Hellsvacancy3881d ago (Edited 3881d ago )

"we've got some great games coming up"

Kane & Lynch and Iron Man 2 incoming

GearSkin? yes we may "rent" these games but after they've been beaten I delete them, I'd MUCH rather rent NEW games then get to keep oldskool games no one give a sh!t about

Besides I rent games anyway, currently renting Skyrim Legendary Edition, soon as i've got the trophies for all the dlc ill send it back

joefrost003880d ago

Well MS free games are actually free
Meaning if you lose gold you still get to play your games
PS plus games are not free so please stop saying that
Its like subscription based
It's like game fly accept you dont even get to choose what games you get
People complain about the games but they actually give you free games not like sony who lets you llay games free with but read the fine print

Kryptix3880d ago

If you're always going to be paying for Plus yearly then arguing about the games being "rental" or not doesn't make any sense. I payed $50 for a year and from playing most of the games Plus has offered, I'm going to subscribe again. That's the thing Sony is good at, they give you a reason to subscribe again. And since they're "rental," Plus offers more games than Gold does...and better games at that. And a lot of us can't keep all the games in the hard drive. Eventually you'll be deleting them and might not bother downloading them again.

andrewsqual3880d ago (Edited 3880d ago )

@joefrost00 And you forget Games for Gold IS ENDING in 2 months. You get to keep the games because it was a rushed concept after the May 21st gargantuan epic console reveal failure. Do you think if they had time to plan it out they would have actually let you keep the games? It was out of their control because they can't activate additional "Services" for you on an Xbox Live account.
The service was released in desperation to stop people letting their Gold run out over the next 6 months after May and jump ship, like so many people have. What are those global Xbox Live gold numbers now Microsoft?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3880d ago
Peckyyy3881d ago

How could Magic 2013? be a decent game in 2007 if it came out in 2013?

MrZweistein3880d ago

Magic Gathering 2013 XBLA card game. Sorry for using the short name :)

andrewsqual3880d ago

It was Magic 2012 that you got on Games for Gold not Magic 2013, the outdated one that nobody would be playing anymore. Are they going to give you FIFA 12 next?

XboxFun3880d ago

Yea, Magic was kind of ehhhh...

But I think Nuts and Bolts is great just because it was a great game that went unrecognized by many.

By offering that game free hopefully more people will try it and see how good it was prompting Rare to make a sequel for it.

zugdar3880d ago

Free is free. Nuts and Bolts, DR2 and Halo are far from 3rd party. I do agree however that they set it up to look more epic when they announced it.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3880d ago
KonsoruMasuta3881d ago (Edited 3881d ago )

Dead Rising 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 were good games. Never played either of them before they put up for free.

Fable 3 was meh.

Magic the gathering is a horrible game to put up.

No doubt that PSN is the better and I'm not asking that Microsoft try to make this program the next PSN. I'm just asking that they try harder.

They should do a poll for these types of things and see what answers are the most possible.

BabyTownFrolics3881d ago

Well the recent NA offerings on PSN have been getting many complaints on the PS+ subreddit. Apparently EU gets the better games. This month for NA its ICO and a couple of RE on rails games.

I guess its all in the eyes of the beholder.

MasterCornholio3880d ago

In October Europe gets Far Cry 3, Street Fighter X Tekken and Dragons Dogma. That's a pretty good selection in my opinion.

Nexus 7 2013

gamer20133880d ago (Edited 3880d ago )

A glorified game rental service does not equal overall better service. Better features, connectivity and social options would be better examples for comparing XBL to PSN.

KonsoruMasuta3880d ago (Edited 3880d ago )

Lets put the fanboyism aside for a minute. I'm not exactly comparing everything in the two services. I'm only comparing the free game aspects of each.

And in terms of what these two services are doing with game handouts, PS+ is the the better service.

If this conversation was about social options or connectivity I might agree with you. But that is not what this is about.

You can scream on and on about "glorified rentals" but if you're looking for free games, PS+ is the better service.

ShwankyShpanky3880d ago

I'd say BF3, Vanquish, Deus Ex, XCOM, Infamous 2, Uncharted 3, Demon's Souls, Saint's Row 3, Sleeping Dogs, Far Cry 2, Bioshock 2, and SSFIV (and those are just *some* of the full retail games included with PS+) are much better features than cross game chat and "social options."

Tooly3880d ago (Edited 3880d ago )

if the service was on xbox you would be singing so stfu ohh and the ps4 is built around the social aspect so dont worry bout that

PrimeGrime3881d ago (Edited 3881d ago )

Seems like you aren't doing a lot of things right when you constantly have to defend what you are doing.

DiRtY3881d ago

If I really want a game, I just spend my money on it. If I don't want a game, I won't spend my money on it. Pretty simple, heh?

So the free games are the titles I play when I am bored and I won't complain about that. Dead Rising, Assassin's Creed 3, Halo 3, Banjo Kazooie are nice titles to play even today.

DiRtY3879d ago

I bought Banjo n Kazooie for $50 and got the HD remake of the original for free with it. I enjoyed both games.

Gazondaily3881d ago (Edited 3881d ago )

We get 'great games' till December and then what?

"and then we'll take a look at the program, see how well it's done, and how we want to go forward with it"

So what they haven't even thought about how they're going to move forward with it?

PSN puts this reward scheme to shame. MS really need to get their act together in this department unless they can somehow justify the cost now that the PS4 has bolstered its online social functionality.

Kayant3881d ago

And that right there is the problem. Am happy they're finally trying to offer some value for live and giving free games old but totally free. But in all honestly I would have rather liked it if they introduced something similar to IGC on PS+ with free games that are relevant and less chances of you having played them already rather than this promotional offer. Even if IGC is a rental service at the end of the day it's the best damn rental you can pay for anywhere and not forgetting it's also the cheapest in the long run :)

Come on MS step up your game my X360 is waiting for a reason to justify paying for live.

gamer20133880d ago

Pahleeze! XBL is, and has been the gold standard for online gaming on consoles for quite a few years now. Sony is just barley managing to keep pace with MS with their online infrastructure. Microsoft's recent Azure and Matchmaking upgrades along with everything thing else just puts PSN to shame.

GiantEnemyCrab3880d ago

MS are so confident and sure that they don't need to give any further true value to the Gold service.

How wrong they are. They seriously have some issues with their charge to return to customer ratio. The value they think they are giving just doesn't look that good from the customers perspective now that the competition has brought their online service up to speed.

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300°

Microsoft Survey Asks About Handheld

A new survey from Microsoft has further hinted at the possibility of an Xbox handheld being in development.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
EasilyTheBest5d ago

This is definitely happening, I just hope they have 2 versions one with a much bigger screen.

GamerRN5d ago

I'll be happy with this, and a PC console hybrid that rivals anything we have power wise

Number1TailzFan5d ago

The problem with bigger devices is playing them on your side in bed, Vita and before that was fine. Since the Switch you gotta have a gooseneck holder & controllers detached so you can lie down holding them, or your arm will quickly get tired.

1Victor4d ago

@thesofware: “A much bigger screen than what?”
A gaming laptop 🤷🏿🤣

Kosic4d ago

Than the screen originally planned...duh... :D

darthv724d ago

it kinda already did... https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

They are just gauging interest in one of their own.

crazyCoconuts4d ago

A Xbox version of Logitech G-Cloud?
I mean, why bother? Not like the G cloud is flying off shelves and what would Xbox add to make it better?
They're surely not going to create bespoke architecture here and there are already a few Windows handhelds out there. I have little confidence in their ability to put together an attractive UI in the way Steam did. So I doubt anything will come from this.

KicksnSnares5d ago

Day One buy for me if they'll make a dedicated handheld device.

darthv725d ago

i have that logitech g-cloud. Its a sweet little piece of kit. I like that it can also install games from the play store unlike the other android based handheld.

mudakoshaka5d ago

It sure is! Don't understand why you get the down-votes. Whoever does not like the G Cloud must have been dropped down a well, head first, when they were of a younger age.

PassNextquestion5d ago

I wonder if Microsoft will perform better in Japan if they do actually make a handheld since everyone says handheld and mobile are king over there.

TiredGamer5d ago

This looks like the future of the game industry... all three platforms with a handheld option.

I wonder if the Playstation Portal is a technology test-bed/prototype for a future Playstation handheld?

rlow15d ago (Edited 5d ago )

It’s a possibility but I can’t help but think would that be the best way to go about it? Though it would give you data on how much it is used and game type. It’s still not a true portable device and so people approach it differently. I think that data on phones, tablets, and of course the competition would give a better indication.

But I really think if Sony is considering a new PSP that could play ps5 games, now would be the time to dive in. Honestly, if they do this, it would be huge.

Traecy5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Doubt if Sony PS wants to support a new handheld with first party games. Something they lacked with the Vita. What they should do is have a handheld that is like the PS Portal which can play all games but play those games on the go as well as at home. Something like that is a better investment.

TiredGamer5d ago

Agreed that you will probably never see a separate line of games specifically for the handheld (a la PSP or PSVita). The modern economics and expectations of game development make that cost prohibitive. What makes more sense is if the full-fat game on PS5 or PS6 has a special "handheld" profile that is automatically optimized for the lower spec handheld. There would be some significant compromises compared to the bigger console variant, but it would be the same game overall and would only require a single purchase.... somewhat what the Switch does with a lower resolution when playing handheld versus docked.

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310°

Xbox Games Showcase Followed by [REDACTED] Direct Airs June 9

- Xbox Wire - Mark your calendars! The Xbox Games Showcase followed by [REDACTED] Direct airs June 9. More info inside.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
bionicstar5d ago

Will they show Fable 4, Stalker 2, GoW 6 & Perfect Dark?

PhillyDonJawn5d ago

Crossing fingers for Fable and perfect dark. And State of Decay 3

RaidenBlack5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

And maybe Clockwork Revolution, South of Midnight, Contraband, Project 007 & OD? lol
and whatever happened to Everwild ?
+ that rumored Wu Tang RPG

Sonic18815d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Will they have official release dates and gameplay?

anast5d ago

Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming.

5d ago
Lightning775d ago

It's an Xbox showcase that they have every year.

Make smarter comments for once.

anast5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Tell me what a smarter comment is.

If they don't sell game pass the entire time, then I will be wrong. All of this can be proven once the show gets underway. Let's wait and see.

InUrFoxHole4d ago

@Anast
Anything you didn't type. Good day sir!

5d ago
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5d ago Replies(1)
Lightning775d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Wow too easy.

You went from MS going all streaming to selling gamepass content in which we all know they are.

Which one is it?

Pretty clear you don't know what a smart comment is at least you admit you don't know.

5d ago
anast5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

"Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming."

It's both. I would worry about your own intelligence at this point. It seems that there is not enough to go around for you to worry about how smart other people are.

Lightning775d ago

It's just a regular event announcing games. Nice one captain obvious they're gonna mention gp stuff like they do every year what else is new.

The all streaming part is just you, being you I guess. They have streaming options but going all streaming again is just you pulling stuff outta thin air.

anast5d ago

You don't know what a smart comment is or isn't. You're welcome for the help.

Lightning775d ago

No you said something dumb then you tried to back track and mention GP.

Again make smart comments for once.

anast4d ago

And we have broken record syndrome.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
darthv725d ago

Wonder if they will address the handheld rumors....?

jimb0j0nes5d ago

For a brief moment I thought we might get a whole Direct for Gears 6 - seems like it's COD though!

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290°

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
darthv7210d 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.

solideagle10d ago

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

Sonic18819d ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio9d 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:

Lightning779d ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga10d 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.

darthv729d ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19929d ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21839d 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.

Cacabunga9d 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

itsmebryan9d 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

S2Killinit9d ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus239d ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv729d ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier9d ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan8d ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 8d ago
purple10110d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos10d ago

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

DOMination-9d ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac10d ago

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

SimpleDad10d ago (Edited 10d 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.

purple10110d ago

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

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos10d ago (Edited 10d 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

Kornholic9d ago

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

MrDead9d ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

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