Microsoft

Xbox head Phil Spencer discusses recent Microsoft layoffs, Activision Blizzard acquisition, and more

Microsoft recently laid off roughly 10,000 of its employees.

SOLITAIRE/DOMINO

GoldenEye 007 players show you how to remap your Switch controls so it plays like a modern FPS

There's a setting for that.

Perfect Solution

Want to play GoldenEye 007 multiplayer online on Xbox? There is a way – sort of

If this week's Xbox Game Pass release has left you a little disappointed, you ought to read this.

SPRUCED UP

VG247's The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.36: The best game that really needs a remake

Games tend to age badly, and sometimes that's a tragedy.

MORE MORROWIND

The Elder Scrolls Online takes you to the eastern part of Morrowind this spring

New class uses mechanics drawn from a Daedric Prince in the realm of Oblivion.

A RUSH, A PUSH

Xbox's Hi-Fi Rush has that Dreamcast era vibe, and it could be one of the best games of the year

The latest Xbox Game Pass surprise drop has a really retro feel to it – and that is a very good thing.

MORE GAMES

Age of Empires 2, Inkulinati, Darkest Dungeon, more coming soon to Xbox Game Pass

Have a tune-kicking time.

BITE BACK

Redfall set for a May release, new deep dive takes a 12 minute look at gameplay

Take back the island from the bloodsuckers.

FIGHT PIGLINS

Minecraft Legends gameplay shown off, releases April 18

A look at the game's PVP mode was shown off today.

NEW HIGHS

Xbox Game Pass just keeps on growing and growing

Gaming revenue has declined, however.

LEAKS HAPPEN

The next title from Tango Gameworks has leaked ahead of tomorrow's Developer Direct

Microsoft is probably a bit perturbed.

LAYOFFS

Microsoft and Riot the latest gaming/tech companies to layoff staff - 343, The Coalition, Bethesda all affected

As the wider tech industry downsizes, some games industry giants start following suit.

Deals

Save 5% on lots of digital games, DLCs, store credit, and in-game currencies on the VG274 shop.

Save on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo digital codes.

CASH HAEMO ROYALE

The best Xbox Game Pass game costs less than the monthly sub

It achieves more with a handful of sprites and some clever psychology than most AAAs do with infinite budgets.

EUROPEAN EXTREME

Microsoft could be hit with EU antitrust warning thanks to Activision Deal

It looks like the merger isn't going as smoothly as planned.

SPACEMAKER

Xbox in 2023: Starfield is Game Pass’ killer exclusive, and the barren years may finally be over

It’s been a slow start to the generation for Xbox, but the fallow years might finally be at an end as Starfield kicks everything off.

ONLY INSIDERS ATM

Xbox update will help reduce environmental impact by optimizing updates and downloads

The update will make Xbox the "first carbon aware" console.

INFORMATION TIME

Bethesda and Xbox to host Developer Direct presentation on January 25

Find out more on Redfall, Minecraft Legends, and more

NEW YEAR, NEW SHOW

Xbox Showcase reported for later this month, featuring Redfall, Forza, and more

The showcase is currently expected to air in late January.

THE FATHER OF MAGIC

The best time to make a new Discworld game was 10 years ago – the second best time is now

Britain’s best fantasy author is criminally overshadowed by its worst. But video games have the power to redress the balance.

FOR THE NORDS

Halo Infinite player has recreated Skyrim's Whiterun in Forge

With a lot of time and a bit of graft, Skyrim and Halo Infinite are together at last!

PASS THE GAMES

The 30 Best Game Pass Games on Xbox and PC [January 2023]

Our top picks of the greatest games on gaming's best subscription service.

PUBLIC OPINION

UK regulator details public responses to Microsoft’s Activision deal, with most gamers being in support

There were also plenty of excluded responses, due to “abusive content.” No surprise there.

DOM'S SUBS

Xbox Game Pass is already looking unbeatable in 2023

As Xbox Game Pass goes from strength to strength, Sony really needs to up its game with PS Plus' tiers.

Our Survey Says

Microsoft could be working on an ad-supported tier of Xbox Game Pass

No word on how official this might be as of yet.

THE ROGUE'S LEGACY

Sea of Thieves’ tenth adventure has you following in the footsteps of a "legendary thrill-seeker"

What is Tasha the tavern keeper's connection to legendary pirate Captain Briggsy?

COMPLAINT FILED

FTC seeks to block Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard alleging it will suppress competition

It believes the acquisition would give Microsoft the "means and motive to harm competition."

EIGHT MILES HIGH

Over 10 million folks have earned their pilot wings in Microsoft Flight Simulator

That's quite a lot of pilots.

SWITCH OF DUTY

Microsoft announces 10-year deal with Nintendo, which will bring Call of Duty to Switch

This is provided that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is successful.

A WEAK POUND

$70 console games are good for developers, but they’re getting harder and harder to swallow as a consumer

Xbox joins the publishers charging $70 for new, triple-A game – and that’s good. Until you consider there’s a cost of living crisis.

WINTERY FUN

ID@Xbox Winter Game Demo Event kicks off December 6 with over 20 demos of upcoming games

In partnership with The Game Awards.

KLINGON TO SANITY

VG247's The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.28: The best game to play while you wait for Starfield

It's time to boldly go and find another excuse to talk about Bethesda games that aren't out yet.

DECEMBER IS HERE

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Metal: Hellsinger, High on Life, more coming to Xbox Game Pass

11 games are also leaving the service.

ADDITIONAL THINGS

Minecraft update adds Spectator Mode and Experimental Features coming with update 1.20

Camels are adorable, until they spit on you.

IT'LL END IN TIERS

Sony Says PS Plus is struggling, so Xbox suggests it takes a key Game Pass feature

The PlayStation Plus revamp isn't quite landing as Sony wanted, so expect has some advice: 'just do what we're doing'.

THE TAMRIEL MCCOY

Shocking no one, Todd Howard knows something about The Elder Scrolls 6 release date

We don't know specifically when it's coming, but Mr. Bethesda wishes we all had it right now. Awhh.

YEHAW!

December Xbox Games With Gold offerings tackle westerns and Chinese mythology

2D side-scrolling action goodness.

Deals

Save 10% on 12 months of Game Pass Ultimate this Black Friday

Save over £13 when you buy a 4 pack of 3 month Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions.

Court of Fouls

VG247's The Best Games Ever Podcast: The 6-month Inquisition Special

After 26 episodes it's time to look back at some of the awful decisions Jim has made.

ESSENTIAL WORKS

Xbox Game Pass subscribers way ahead of PS Plus tiers, says Sony in latest attempt to make itself look small

PlayStation Plus might have had a fancy new upgrade this year, but Sony is still aware that it has a long way to go before it catches up with Game Pass.

START IN THEIR SIZE

The Elder Scrolls 6 is only a ‘mid-size’ game in Microsoft’s eyes

Xbox's biggest upcoming exclusive, Starfield, is only a mid-size game – as far as Microsoft is concerned.

GOD OF PHWOAR

PlayStation fans rejoice! Even Xbox reckons PS exclusives are better

Even Microsoft concedes Sony’s exclusives are ‘better quality’ than its own, per an explosive official document.

fight for the ages

UK Government publishes Sony and Microsoft's full arguments in Activision Blizzard acquisition case

We now have a clearer idea of what Sony told the UK Government to undermine Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision.

WELL-DONE STAKE

With Vampire Survivors, I finally get the appeal of Xbox Game Pass Cloud Gaming

Grinding away against hordes of the undead, I finally understood why Microsoft has been pushing this tech so hard.

BSOD fans represent

VG247's The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.26: The best game that crashed at the worst possible time

It's games that crashed. Don't get smart about this, James? OK?

NO STREAMING BOX YET

Microsoft's streaming device Keystone shelved because it was too expensive, says Spencer

A decent price point in its current iteration could not be met.

MORE FOR NOVEMBER

Dune: Spice Wars, Gungrave G.O.R.E., Warhammer 40K: Darktide, more coming to Game Pass this month

Another batch of games heading your way.

clear as day

Phil Spencer debunks all conspiracy theories about keeping Call of Duty off PlayStation

Microsoft's head of games has gone out of his way to reaffirm, in a few different ways, that he intends for Call of Duty to remain on PlayStation.

BUSINESS CLASS

Microsoft Flight Sim has doubled its players twice – and there's a plan to attract even more users

Microsoft Flight Sim just keeps attracting more players, and the devs know how to get more people on-board: with the ‘explosive’ growth of World Updates.

PELICAN-DO ATTITUDE

Microsoft Flight Sim boss confirms more crossover content like Halo's Pelican and Top Gun Maverick

Microsoft Flight Simulator boss Jorg Neumann talks about the future of Microsoft Flight Sim – and why deviating from reality is sometimes the best thing to do.