Due to be released in 2028.

The Microsoft leaks just keep on coming. First was word about the mid-gen refresh for Xbox Series X|S. Then came the leaked release schedule for Bethesda and ZeniMax titles. Now, it's time to read about the next-gen Xbox console that Microsoft is planning for a 2028 release.

As before, this information comes from documents released as part of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) legal battle against Microsoft over the purchase of Activision...

This approval "represents a significant improvement for cloud gaming."

Hot on the heels of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocking the merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard comes the approval of the merger from the European Commission (EC). This approval brings Microsoft's $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard that much closer to being completed.

Interestingly, the European Commission had very similar conclusions and concerns...

At least this one isn't about cloud gaming.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the merger of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard on the grounds of how it would stifle cloud gaming competition. As absolutely ridiculous as that sounds, that wasn't the only weird thing the CMA decreed during yesterday's vote and report.

The CMA also claims in their final report (PDF link) that Nintendo's consoles are not technically capable of running games like Call of...

You'll soon be able to play next-gen games on your Xbox One.

What a time to be alive. You will soon be able to play next-gen games on your original Xbox One. This will be done through the power of cloud gaming from Microsoft. This holiday season, Microsoft will bring their cloud gaming service to the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, which will allow Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream over 100 titles to their consoles without the need to download them or even have the right hardware...

The cloud streaming service from Microsoft is now available to everyone.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers no longer need to be invited to play on Xbox Cloud Gaming. As of June 28, Microsoft has opened the doors so that everyone with an Ultimate subscription can stream games to their Windows 10 PCs, Apple phones and tablets, or through your browser. Xbox Cloud Gaming was already previously released for Android devices during the earlier beta phases.

To get started, you...

New features include Auto HDR, DirectStorage, and Xbox Cloud Gaming built in.

There are a lot of changes coming with Windows 11 when it launches later this year. Some of those changes focus on the gaming side of things and Microsoft is all too eager to tell us about them.

First up, Microsoft will be including Auto HDR with Windows 11. If you have an Xbox Series X|S, you may already be well acquainted with Auto HDR and the impact it can have on games. Auto HDR in Windows...

Day and date with the other platforms.

For every news post we put up about Hitman 3, it was apparently assumed that the game would be released on the Nintendo Switch at the same time as the other platforms. That was our mistake and it's one that we are happy to announce is actually true. IO Interactive confirmed today that the Nintendo Switch release of Hitman 3 will take place on January 20.

This is the same date as the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via the Epic Games St...

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer is confident it will happen.

In speaking with CNBC (relayed by Gamasutra), Phil Spencer says that he is "sure" that Microsoft and Apple will be able to resolve their differences and get xCloud support on iOS sooner rather than later. When asked about what those differences are, Spencer says that they aren't of a financial matter but rather "philosophical."

The problem goes back to September when Apple changed its guideline...

Includes support for over 150 titles.

On September 15, those within 22 supported countries that subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate will soon have access to over 150 games within the cloud. Microsoft says that you will be able to play titles such as Grounded, Forza Horizon 4, Battletoads, Untitled Goose Game, and Destiny 2 through the cloud to your preferred mobile device. That is assuming your preferred mobile device is Android based.

Just as the case is with Game Pass for...

This partnership focuses on "game and content-streaming services."

Microsoft announced today that they and Sony have formed a partnership that will see the two working together on AI solutions and "innovations to enhance customer experiences in their direct-to-consumer entertainment platforms." That's probably as close as you're going to get to them strongly hinting at some form of actual gaming partnership in this announcement release.

The two studios...

It's been a real rollercoaster of a day for those using the Unity game engine. First, Unity cut off all future support for the online multiplayer platform called SpatialOS. Unity updated their terms of service back on December 4, 2018, and only clarified these changes to the SpatialOS development team at Improbable on January 10, 2019. These changes specifically prevent services like SpatialOS from working with Unity.

SpatialOS is a widely used development toolkit allowed developers...

Microsoft today unveiled their latest in cloud streaming technology. They're currently calling it Project xCloud and this "state-of-the-art" technology will allow consumers to stream games on any platform of their choice. If you've seen or heard of one streaming service, you probably know the deal by now.

The Microsoft blog entry on Project xCloud does a pretty good job at giving you the rundown on what this technology will allow you to do.
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Kareem Choudhry, the corporate VP of Gaming at Microsoft announced that they have acquired PlayFab. PlayFab is a "complete backend platform provider of services to build, launch, and grow cloud-connected games." For those of you still rocking the "cloud to butt" extension, this is probably a chuckle inducing news post for you. Heh, butt-connected games.

Microsoft is going to make use of PlayFab's tools and expertise to improve services such as Microsoft Azure.
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Kareem Choudhry, the corporate VP of Gaming at Microsoft announced that they have acquired PlayFab. PlayFab is a "complete backend platform...