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260°

Did Microsoft Stop Caring About The Planet?

A little while back Microsoft started releasing games in an Eco friendly game case after partnering with the case manufacturing Viva Group. You know the one with the odd looking wagon wheel design behind the disc! Using less plastic and CO2 in the cases not only allowed them to save money but also pass it off as a more environmentally friendly case. Well a few short months later and I have noticed that my new games are no longer coming in these handy cases but rather they are appearing back in the old cases

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Lame
No name site puts on nonsense, falsified story. 3rd party publishers aren't required to use these cases.
DMason5387d ago WhoDisagree(0)Agree(0)
Fake
My Halo Reach came with one of these cases. And what a slanderous title this is. There is no statistical evidence to back this up.
DMason5387d ago WhoDisagree(0)Agree(0)
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Um...Halo: Reach just shipped with these eco friendly boxes. All copies of Halo: Reach did. Any Microsoft published game ships with those boxes. They (Microsoft) can't force other manufacturers to do the same though.
Blaze9295387d ago WhoDisagree(0)Agree(0)
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frjoethesecond5387d ago

Maybe they realised it was a stupid idea in the first place and that all it meant was peoples game cases were falling apart.

darthv725387d ago

people criticized them for doing the cheaper cases and now they criticize them for going back. Honestly...you just can't please anybody these days.

Strikepackage Bravo5387d ago

They get bashed no matter what they do. They were bashed for focusing too much on hardcore gamers, then Kinect comes out and they are bashed for not focusing enough on hardcore gamers.

They were bashed for not including WiFi in the 360 @ launch, they include it and now they are bashed for doing it too late.

They were bashed for making the 360 ugly, they make it pretty and now they are bashed constantly over some stupid finger prints, I never heard anyone but 360 fanboys bash PS3 over this when it had a glossy finish, everyone else including the media just went on about how beautiful PS3 was.

And now this, they make green game cases, get bashed, return to the cases that do not wreck games, and they are still bashed. MS just cant win LOL!

Adrela5387d ago

@Strikepackage Bravo;
Why in the world did you get a disagree? Must be a fanboy :|
Honestly, it's really pathetic how gamers just can't cut Microsoft slack. They have had some issues here and there and they got put down for it. But, if they do something right...All hell breaks lose and apparently theres a scheme under the service.
People are so blinded by the past. It's time to move on. :/

Gilliand5387d ago

Who complained about MS being too hardcore?

YoshiMeetsU5387d ago

Strike and then lets not forget about my favorite MS hater-aid.

MS release 360/PC games and the 360 has no exclusives and is irrelevant.

MS release only 360 and people are mad because they are making them exclusive to the 360 and forgetting the PC community.

DMason5387d ago

My copy of Halo Reach came with one of these cases.

This article is a joke, this is ONE guy making these assumptions, with no statistical evidence to back it up. This is very slanderous.

One could even write a stupid article titled "Does Sony Hate the Environment Because of Their Non-Eco Friendly Cases?" But why? Why try to twist words around just for the sake of getting hits. This is just stupid.

crzyjackbauer5387d ago

i hated those cases the only game i have with that kind of case is MW2

badz1495387d ago

my point exactly? who the hell bashed M$ for being hardcore?? no one but if by hardcore you (bravo) mean shooters, yeah maybe some people bashed them for that! last time I check, 360 is called the FPS console, not hardcore console and it's for a reason!

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Blaze9295387d ago (Edited 5387d ago )

Um...Halo: Reach just shipped with these eco friendly boxes. All regular copies of Halo: Reach did. Any Microsoft published game ships with those boxes. They (Microsoft) can't force other manufacturers to do the same though. It all depends on the manufacture and the manufacturing company's supply. If they still have the old boxes, they are using the old boxes. If they have enough of the new ones, they use those.

Spider-Man Web of Shadows, also comes with those boxes. at least mine did

DeFFeR5387d ago

Wrong sir.

My Reach Limited Edition did not come with this case - and the 4 other people I know who bought the game and came over to have a LAN party did not have those cases either.

The only reason I know, is because it came up when someone brought CoD MW2 and he didn't have the disc in the case.

DMason5387d ago

Wow, that's amazing that you knew to inspect every one of your friend's cases at the time, and then remember that you did when you saw this article. Kudos.

jc485735387d ago

what I do is buy a used game, switch the case, then return for refund.

blackboyunltd5387d ago

Microsoft hates the planet, and is building a new one called WinPlanet

GodsHand5387d ago

See if they can make it like a cube, like in the hitch hiker's guide to the galaxey.

kaveti66165387d ago

I won't go there until they upgrade it to WinPlanet7.

DeFFeR5387d ago

Yeah - that proto-planet Vista is destined for a meltdown and overpopulation and underrepresentation.

YoshiMeetsU5387d ago

LOL I was going to say I'm not moving there until at least WinPlanet SP1 is released..

Nice one Kaveti.

Convas5387d ago

No, they realized it was stupid.Too many broken and or scratched disks. Besides, I hated it and so did many others.

gamingdroid5387d ago

I hated it too, but doesn't introducing these cases in the first place suggest MS cares about the planet? Only to switch after complaints. Why introduce it in the first place if you don't care?

DeFFeR5387d ago

"Why introduce it in the first place if you don't care?"

This is one of the easiest questions to answer...

And it had nothing to do with the environment - although it would be easy to spin it off that way.

Less plastic... Less $$$

However, they didn't (I'm assuming... knowing their R&D track record) expect that the cases would damage discs, and the money they saved using less plastic in the cases is offset by the number of games they needed to replace in the process.

FragMnTagM5387d ago

why not leave the plastic behind the disc there, but cut it out in areas that are not behind the disk? Seems like a no brainer.

crzyjackbauer5387d ago

FragMnTagM
good point i had to change my Mw2 case after i realized that it was scratching my disc

Eternus5387d ago

What they did was realize it was a bad idea to give us gamers flimsy, unreliable boxes.

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260°

AMD CEO Shares Vision Behind Xbox Partnership and Next-Gen Chip Roadmap

AMD CEO Lisa Su talks about the Xbox AMD partnership, next-gen Ryzen + Radeon chips, and AI rendering tech coming to all Xbox devices.

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Community1d 9h ago
Obscure_Observer1d 9h ago

AMD is really building hype around their unique partnership with Microsoft to help and build an advanced and seamless Xbox ecosystem across all Xbox consoles and devices.

I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimized chips" though? Seems ambitious.

Next year´s Xbox Showcase already looks promising and exciting. Here´s hoping they deliver.

InUrFoxHole1d 3h ago

They had best show 3yrs in a row. Heading for another

VenomUK20h ago

Obscure_Observer said “I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimised chips" though? Seems ambitious.” To me, I interpret this to mean rather than having a couple of X/S products for launch and a handheld there is a longer term plan to release new products with higher specs at timed intervals. I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec.

Agent7510h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM15h ago

It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever.

Ganif14h ago

Correct.

"Sony's PlayStation 6 reportedly will feature an AMD semi-custom APU with a Zen 5 CPU and UDNA GPU, capable of 4K 120FPS and 8K 60FPS gaming. The console will include X3D cache and advanced AI upscaling technology."

https://www.tweaktown.com/n...

Obscure_Observer10h ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever."

I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released.

Notellin10h ago

You should have just lead this comment with the fact that you have zero understanding of technology in the consoles and instead have a Toms Hardware online forum level of education.

Agent7510h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer10h ago

@VenomUK

"I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec."

Very interesting theory. Still not sure how MS would actually make it work.

KwietStorm_BLM6h ago

"I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released."

How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is.

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Fishy Fingers1d 9h ago (Edited 1d 8h ago )

Some odd, deliberate wording, no branding, not 'Xbox consoles, Xbox handhelds' specifically, feels and sounds like they're building towards hardware that anyone can be used or licensed to/by themselves and other manufacturers.

Multiplatform software and hardware 'Xbox/AMD APU'.

Obscure_Observer1d 8h ago

I guess you missed Sarah Bond´s next generation Xbox announcement this week, were she clearly states:

"I´m thrilled to share that we´ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including, *our* next generation *Xbox consoles*."

But hey, I don´t think you´re entirely wrong, maybe MS will build their own Xbox consoles while licencing other manufactures to build and sell their own Xbox branded consoles. Who knows

BeHunted1d 4h ago (Edited 1d 4h ago )

I think you watched the wrong video. It's below the description, or you can watch it directly on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/kprpRvsOua...

PRIMORDUS1d 8h ago Show
HyperMoused1d 8h ago

Shares vision....we provide chips for money, this deal will sell many chips, we will make lots of money...good vision

Christopher1d 8h ago

The marketing behind this is so heavy that I worry about the actual outcome. Why are they just not showing us the product, why all this talking in market speak?

Lightning771d 3h ago

Probably because the next xbox isn't ready to release yet?

The marketing and rumors seem to be heavy out of no where. The rumor was a 27 release but it maybe it could be 26 new console launch instead.

Who knows.

Eonjay15h ago

There PR is alrways super heavy handed. No one is acutally buying an Xbox as is.
Also it is very early to be talking so much about a next gen console.

Obscure_Observer10h ago

There´s a lot of people interested on Xbox Next and its ability to run games from major stores like Steam.

We know that the PS6 is just around the corner as well, but so far, no news on what it might improve over the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

However, Sony already made public that their priority and actual focus is the PS6. So its not "very early" to talk about next gen when the very console manufactures are talking about it.

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210°

Activision Forces Adverts into Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone Loadouts

With the launch of Call of Duty Season 4, Activision quietly put adverts inside loadouts for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, sparking a backlash in the process.

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lukasmain20d ago

Putting Ads in a pay-to-play Premium title? Well done Microsoft. Well done /s This is really scummy.

jjb198119d ago

This game will never change because these sweatlords love buying up all the skins and bundles that become obsolete the following year. They're the ones perpetuating Activision's greed.

VenomUK18d ago

If Microsoft introduces adverts into its other games I hope it can do them without disrupting the immersion of the game world. So for example in the new Fable game it would look out of place if there was a billboard advertising Cadillacs.

A far better way to do it would be to have a wizard conjure a 'dream cloud' in front of your character and then in the cloud you can see the Cadillac car and see the text with price and availability and hear a booming sales voice promoting the car. That would work so well as it wouldn't be a billboard and completely, 100%, fit in with your character's adventuring in Albion. Doesn't that sound so much better?!

crazyCoconuts18d ago

@venom, or how about our of 100 farts in Albion, 1 of them has a Cadillac pop out

VenomUK18d ago

@crazyCoconuts That’s undeniably off-beat - but it could really work!

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410°

Xbox's first-party handheld has been sidelined

Xbox's handheld ambitions continue unabated, but the focus is shifting towards improving Windows 11 for third-party handhelds — for now. The Xbox Series X 'Melrose' successor is safe, with development continuing at full pace.

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https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/exclusive-xboxs-handheld-pembrooke-has-been-sidelined-for-now-as-microsoft-doubles-down-on-windows-11-pc-gaming-handheld-optimization is clearly the source and gamerant gets the credit url.
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mocadi22d ago
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shadowT22d ago

Is there really a market for handhelds next to mobile?

Vits21d ago

If they run the same games as the main home console, then yeah, sure.
But if they need specially tailored games just for them? Probably not, unless there isn't a home console for comparison (see Switch).

RaidenBlack21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

I am kinda low-key happy this happened.
Dont want another Series S situation (games to be designed from 4 to 12TF scale and not 10 to 12TF).
Hope PS follows suit as well. Tablet SKU sharing with console for 10th gen, will just continue the cross gen -esque development/design phase/nature.
Want a proper 20+ only TF rasterized next-gen plz (+ frame-gen and the lot).
If anybody wants to continue the cross-gen, the Series S|X, PS5 will remain for that. And Switch 2, if you gotta go even lower in the TF range.

ABizzel121d ago

Yes and No. All of the PC handhelds combined have struggled to sell 7 million units, which would be a flop for any “console”. So the market is extremely niche because of price and target market (the informed hardcore gamer / casuals aren’t picking these up).

These handheld PCs are $500 or more, and offer at best Xbox Series S performance levels, so it’s best for MS specifically to just partner with ASUS, instead of investing millions if not billions.

Sony can make their own with custom AMD hardware due to their partnership, and stronger global brand for hardware. But even then it brings the question, of being a lower resolution PS5, and what does that mean for PS6 cross-gen (likely another generation where the first 3 - 4 years are just upgraded last-gen games).

Kosic21d ago

Imagine a Wii U style console, where the tablet doesn't rely on the console it's self, you download the game on the console under the TV and play in 4k glory, then you can remote play, get some unique game features if using both console and handheld in tandem. Then you can download the games in 720-1080p to play on the go, continue your progress, and continue on the TV when you get back.

Sony could get away with this due to exclusives, and that would be a reason for sales. Look at the portal.

I can picture seeing new hardware having some sort of GPU dock, where the handheld runs 1080p, and the dock has additional hardware to bring in 4k/60 specs.

I do think handheld gaming is going to be a strong future, imagine Nintendo release a new upgraded GPU dock for the Switch 3, every 2 years. More frames, sharper graphics on the same game for an extra £150 for a dock with a built in GPU chip. Console cycles doesn't have to be renewed, just the hardware can be improved by them reselling docks to us again and again with small/yearly upgrades like mobile phones.

GamerRN21d ago

Did you just imply that Sony can make a better stronger handheld than Microsoft? You do realize we are talking about Microsoft, the tech giant, right? If Microsoft can't make one that's cost effective, Sony definitely can't...

Brand and market share means nothing when you are a trillion dollar company

ABizzel120d ago

@GamerRN

It has nothing to do with what company can do it, or what company can spend.

For anyone taking a basic business class there is a term called ROI, and Xbox home consoles are selling at an all time low, meaning their ROI on a handheld is a risk that doesn’t make sense, even if they can afford it. Businesses are there to make money and it doesn’t make sene for MS to invest in a handheld that’s a companion device when their current home consoles they’ve spent 20 years working on are at an all time-low, when they can invest with little risk with what ASUS already has to offer.

This is why Sony can build a better device, because they have less risk involved, meaning they can invest more in their own product, and they already have an exclusive partnership with AMD on creating features and hardware. So in this specific case, YES Sony can built a better handheld, due to custom hardware, customer tools, low level APIs, compared to an off the shelf product running Windows or a Window Xbox kernel =.

TheEroica21d ago

I play steam deck primarily... Don't play consoles or mobile. The deck covers it all.

badz14921d ago

@shadowT

The Switch is a handheld, so will the Switch 2. what are you on about?

Cacabunga20d ago

To run native games offline? Anytime

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CrashMania21d ago

Funny to see the alt already damage controlling and having a meltdown with multiple accounts in the comments already.

Sad for MS if true, a dedicated handheld would go down a lot better than a rog ally 2 with an Xbox sticker on it I think.

crazyCoconuts21d ago

It couldn't have succeeded for a number of reasons. Now they've retreated to the Windows front and trying to keep that relevant for gaming. How long before Windows Central realizes there won't be a real console successor to Series X either?

Lightning7721d ago

Except there is. That project is reportedly full speed ahead.

Outside_ofthe_Box21d ago

@Lighting77

So was the handheld until today...

Lightning7721d ago

@outside obviously not since they sidelined it and they wanna see how the Asus does. Are you saying they're gonna cancel the next console?

crazyCoconuts21d ago

@lightning - I'm admittedly trying to box you in here - Do you think the next Xbox console will have Steam on it?

Outside_ofthe_Box21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

@Lightning

Here we go with having to spell everything out.

If I told you yesterday that Xbox was going to sideline the handheld console what would your response have been? Probably something along the lines of "I doubt that since Phil has been talking about it for some time now"

My point is just because they are "full speed" ahead now does not mean that will not change in future. As we have seen with the handheld. Do you understand what I'm trying to say now?

Lightning7721d ago (Edited 21d ago )

Box me in? No you said the same thing you've always been saying for years now. Those are the rumors to have Steam integration.

What about it

If you told me they were gonna cancel it tomorrow it would nothing more than fanboy talking points. I only wait for credible sources not what someone else says.

Also this is the handheld not a full blown new console. The Asus is yet to release and they're waiting to see how that thing does. Critical thinking is my strong suit you should try it some time if you can. But Ok cool well you hang your hat on that I guess. Main New console is gonna get cancelled even though the handheld is a different marketing device than the main the console itself.

__y2jb21d ago

I think there is a 75% chance there will not be another Xbox. There is zero reason to buy one now. No way it can possibly sell more than 10m units after Xbox went third party.

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BLow21d ago

That's what they do. Goalposts shift like the wind.

I'm really confused on why they are making a "first party" device and also have a Rog Ally with their sticker on it. Make this make sense. How is their own device going to be any different?

Your console doesn't sell and they expect a handheld to?

RaidenBlack21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

The Rog Ally one is gen agnostic ... as you deciphered, it was to be the updated Rog Ally but just with Xbox branding. PC handheld with some Xbox features.
The handheld Xbox is/was supposed to be sharing the same gen/ecosystem with the next-gen (10th gen) Xbox. Think Series S but handheld ... it'll run the Xbox OS or whatever the next Xbox will run.
...
As for anybody wondering/confused why MS is doing another Xbox console ... coz mainly its the 10th gen of home consoles next, which started wayy back in 1972 for the 1st gen. And MS wanna be part in it, in the 10th anniversary gen of consoles. If they gotta bow out, they can't do that at 9th i.e just before 10th. They wanna stick around till the 10th or the X-th gen and check what the fuss happens.

Outside_ofthe_Box21d ago

Curious as to what excuses the spam was saying. Because prior to this news, the Xbox handheld was used as proof that Xbox is still committed to the hardware space. This handheld being scraped is not a good sign...

21d ago
Outside_ofthe_Box21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

@Spam
You can replace scrapped with pushed back if you like. It's not a good sign either way.

21d ago
1Victor21d ago

asq3= obscured: “ What’s your source on the handheld being scrapped? “
Read the article from Microsoft own website and one of your favorite quotations site when it’s something bad about Sony.
Oh BTW good luck with your next SPAM account.

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