220°

Microsoft To Bring “Beloved Franchise” to PC with New Game, Cloud Will Be Central to the Experience

Microsoft Game Studios are working to bringing a "beloved franchise" to Windows 8, as specified by a career opportunity ad.

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dualshockers.com
Christopher3787d ago

So, locking out Win7 already?

Completely unnecessary.

cesuf3787d ago

Releasing a game to win8 is not locking out win7. Overreact much?

And if said game relies on some form of cloud use, then obviously it is necessary.

Sarobi3787d ago

I heard they were planning on pulling Windows 7 from store shelves soon.. so I wouldn't be surprised if they were locking it out.

nypifisel3787d ago

@Sarobi

Then you're wrongly informed cause MS just announced they would prolong the sale of W7

rdgneoz33787d ago

@cesuf So at the moment, Windows 7 users can't play any MMOs, Diablo 3, or last Sim City game (which with the "power of the cloud" crashed and burned horribly at the start)? Saying "the cloud" is basically a new way of saying it has dedicated servers or has to always be connected online to play.

Christopher3786d ago (Edited 3786d ago )

***Releasing a game to win8 is not locking out win7. Overreact much?***

You might want to read what the position required:

"Microsoft Game Studios is looking for a senior engineer with services development experience to join our team and help us build a new title based on a beloved franchise for Windows 8."

For windows 8.... That means exactly that... Just for Windows 8. At no point did they say "For Windows OS with a focus on Windows 8" or anything of the like.

rainslacker3786d ago

This game will likely be a year or two out if they are just now looking for senior engineers. By then I'm sure Windows 7 will be phased out.

Christopher3786d ago (Edited 3786d ago )

***By then I'm sure Windows 7 will be phased out.***

Not at all likely.

http://www.zdnet.com/window...

Windows 8 would have to see an unprecedented growth. Even then, at least 25% of the market will still be using Win7 (more than likely closer to 40%).

This is purely Microsoft forcing Windows 8 on people since the adoption rate for it has been abysmal in comparison to other Windows OS releases.

Letros3786d ago (Edited 3786d ago )

Likely for purchase through the W8 store, Project Spark/Halo:SA is W8 only and it'll work that way going forward. People complained that there's no real reason to upgrade to W8, well they listened lol. Also DX11.2 is W8 only, when tiled resources become widely used on X1, it'll translate to PC.

rainslacker3786d ago

I'm sure. What I meant though is that in 2 years or so, MS will start phasing out support for Windows 7. I doubt MS wants to support another OS for the long term like they did XP. But even with XP, their software support not related to the OS itself eventually dried up. It is a way to force obsolescence though, which is what you are saying.

At this point though, it's likely the game is being designed around some feature of Windows 8. The only real difference between 7 and 8 though is the Metro UI and the way they handle apps/programs, along with some memory management stuff.

Christopher3786d ago

***Likely for purchase through the W8 store, Project Spark/Halo:SA is W8 only and it'll work that way going forward.***

Yes, and it's only being done to force people to upgrade to their latest and greatest. No other reason since DX 11.1 can be put out on Win7. They both use the same framework and there is zero reason the can't put it out other than they want people to use Win8 and force people to use the Win8 storefront (they want to turn PCs into closed OS systems like iOS and Android) so they can get a cut of everything sold on PC.

See why Gabe Newell is so angry with Win8 and Microsoft.

*** I doubt MS wants to support another OS for the long term like they did XP.***

Microsoft's license agreement says they will support each OS release for a minimum of 10 years.

***At this point though, it's likely the game is being designed around some feature of Windows 8.***

The _only_ feature in Win8 that can't be in Win7 is the tiles UI. Otherwise, they are holding back on Win7 to force upgrades.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3786d ago
Gamer19823787d ago

Hmm indeed everybody thought this game was a new xbone game..

DeadlyFire3786d ago

It could be a Xbone/PC game. I think Fable is one that should be considered. When I think of beloved franchise from Microsoft I see only Fable and Halo. Considering the new Fable will be getting episodic like content over the whole generation of Xbone. It could be coming to PC as well. It utilizes cloud tech.

DOMination-3786d ago

If its pc then I'm guessing age of empires is the most likely fit

Gabenbrah3787d ago

Halo F2P is my guess, there's been so much evidence to put to that.

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney3787d ago (Edited 3787d ago )

Thank god the cloud is not exclusive... lol

@ShinMaster

Nah xbox will still be here. But my ps4 will be next to my pc nov 2014..

If they are making it for win8(low selling OS) it's probably another small game like that halo thing.

I want Quantum break on pc so we can play it at it's highest potential.

ShinMaster3787d ago

Looks like Microsoft is starting moving back to PC.
This might be the beginning of the end of Xbox.

...but probably not

wtopez3787d ago

Bring all the AAA Xbox titles to PC please. I would love to see all the 360 Halos on PC with updated graphics. And all the Gears (even Judgement- I actually really enjoyed it). Let's start with Dead Rising 3 please and thank you.

MegaRay3787d ago

Just cancel x1 and put all game in PC. Everyone has a pc so its a win-win

memots3786d ago

Yup I would love Forza on Pc, I'm sure the mods for it could make it pretty epic

gamernova3787d ago

So PC is getting this infamous cloud too? Whatever. Anything added to PC is better for PC gamers and as a PC gamer I am all for more.

ShinMaster3787d ago

Looks like Microsoft is moving back to PC.

This might be the beginning of the end of Xbox.

NoLongerHereCBA3787d ago

Microsoft has always supported the PC. This is in no way an indication that it is the beginning of the end for Xbox.

ShinMaster3787d ago

They wouldn't be admitting to stuff like this if it wasn't true:
http://www.lazygamer.net/ge...
"we’ve lost our way a bit in supporting Windows games"
http://www.gamespot.com/art...

Heck, you haven't gotten a Halo game on PC since the second one.

PixelNinja3787d ago

Or.. maybe it's because windows is owned by Microsoft and they need to bring content out for that platform so they don't alienate their community.

ShinMaster3787d ago

Also because it's more profitable than Xbox.

BitbyDeath3787d ago

It's likely a move to combat steam.
Steam Consoles are going to become a big issue for Windows in the near future as Valve are trying to get Windows gamers (and devs) to switch over to Linux.

Blank3787d ago

My exact thoughts as well its a shame they pretty much had the pc gaming market to themselves in many times but they just didnt bother too mucb now that steam is picking up momentum they want to focus on pc gaming this also reminds me of the windows smartphone os before the metro ui came in they had that market but didnt focus it took apple and google to get them moving

Show all comments (61)
270°

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
darthv721d 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.

solideagle11h ago

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

Sonic18819h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio8h 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:

Lightning773h ago

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

Cacabunga11h 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.

shinoff218310h 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.

Cacabunga9h 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

itsmebryan5h 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

romulus234h ago

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

darthv723h 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.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
purple10113h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos13h ago

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

DOMination-3h 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.

XBManiac12h ago

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

SimpleDad12h ago(Edited 12h 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.

purple10112h ago

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

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos11h ago(Edited 11h 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

Kornholic10h ago

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

MrDead3h 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.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3h ago
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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 21h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 18h ago

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

Barlos1d 16h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 9h ago

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

peppeaccardo1d 11h ago

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

ChasterMies1d 7h 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 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h 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 18h ago

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

Mr Logic1d 4h ago

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

Crows901d 4h ago

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

blacktiger1h ago

You own nothing snd be happy. I'm sure you heard that

Profchaos1d 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h 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 20h ago

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

Profchaos1d 20h ago

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

Yi-Long1d 17h ago

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

XiNatsuDragnel1d 19h ago

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

Profchaos1d 17h ago (Edited 1d 17h ago )

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

TheColbertinator1d 18h 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 (23)
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?"

purple10113d 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.

Xeofate12d ago (Edited 12d 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)