The post Xbox may add advertisements to free to play games appeared first on Game News.
]]>As reported by Business Insider ($) (opens in new tab) (thanks, VGC (opens in new tab)), the megacorp – seemingly aware of the possible backlash from fans – is reportedly “moving cautiously” with its plans, but is considering creating “a ‘private marketplace’, where only select brands can insert ads into games in a way that doesn’t disrupt the gameplay experience”.
BI acknowledges that it was “unable to learn if Xbox will also offer other types of in-game ad units, like avatar skins or video ads that play in gaming lobbies” and was “also unable to determine if Microsoft has pitched the Xbox offer to advertisers yet”, so it doesn’t look like we’ll see ads in our games any time soon.
Interestingly, one of the sources that discussed the plans with BI pointed out that Microsoft “isn’t currently interested” in boosting its own revenue by taking a slice, but instead wants to support partners that make free-to-play games.
“One of the sources speculated Microsoft isn’t currently interested in collecting a cut of ad revenue because it wants to provide more money-making opportunities to developers who make free-to-play games,” Business Insider said.
Microsoft recently revealed that ID@Xbox has helped its indie partners generate $2.5 billion in royalties (opens in new tab) since the program launched nine years ago.
Microsoft says the results “have exceeded our wildest dreams”, with independent developers securing more than $2.5 billion in royalties, and the total revenue generated by ID@Xbox partners on Xbox almost doubling over the last three years. “These are staggering numbers, and it speaks to the power of independent developers,” Xbox said at the time.
Did you catch the news that a new Xbox-related product called “Keystone” has been datamined (opens in new tab)? Dataminer Tero Alhonen claimed they’d unearthed details of a new Xbox product codenamed “Keystone” and said it has been explicitly highlighted as a “product” in the datamine rather than an event or game.
There’s more good news for Xbox fans, too – it looks like Xbox is holding an E3-style showcase later this year (opens in new tab). Whilst not formally confirmed by Microsoft just yet, the rumor comes courtesy of an industry insider who recently claimed that the show’s organizers are talking to publishers about its own digital event expected to be held sometime in June.
Here are our picks of the best Xbox Game Pass games (opens in new tab).
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]]>The post 9 must-have Xbox Series X accessories for new console owners appeared first on Game News.
]]>Whether you’ve got a rough idea of what your ideal Xbox Series X accessories might look like, or looking for a place to start, we’ve covered everything below from the best Xbox controllers to the best Xbox Series X headsets and everything in between. We’ve considered most budgets here, so you’re bound to find something on the more affordable side of the scale to improve the quality of your gaming experience as well.
If you’re interested in more savings around your new system, then we’re also rounding up some of the best Xbox Series X bundles and deals. For a more general overview, however, we’ve got you covered with our Christmas sales guides as well.
Xbox Series X accessories in the Christmas sales
- Amazon: cheap prices on stands, cases, charging pads, and more (opens in new tab)
- Best Buy: up to $40 off Xbox Series X games (opens in new tab)
- Walmart: Xbox Series X headsets from just $24.95 (opens in new tab)
- Target: deals on headsets, controllers, and chargers (opens in new tab)
1. Xbox Wireless Controller
While your Xbox Series X does come with its own gamepad, you’ll need an extra Xbox Wireless Controller of some description in order to play co-operatively, or competitively with your friends and family. Fortunately, there are many colors and styles available to add a touch of personality to your setup, most of which retail for $59.99 though prices will vary based on design.
A few options available to you besides the standard black (opens in new tab) are shock blue (opens in new tab), electric volt (yellow) (opens in new tab), pulse red (opens in new tab), and robot white (opens in new tab). We’re personally quite fond of the 20th-anniversary special edition model for $69.99 (opens in new tab) with its translucent black shell showing the internals akin to the first system in the family.
2. Turtle Beach Recon 500
As great as gaming in front of the TV is, an Xbox Series X headset is instrumental for those wanting to hear and be heard in high fidelity. Out of all the options available on the market for Xbox accessories, the Turtle Beach Recon 500 offers incredible audio and microphone quality at a budget price. We’re comfortable recommending this model to anyone after a sleek looking, and high performing, headset. Keep in mind, however, it is wired.
3. PowerA Dual Charging Station for Xbox
With its modest asking price, the PowerA Dual Charging Station is a no-brainer for those wanting to keep their controllers juiced up and ready to go at a moment’s notice. There’s a neat LED light strip to indicate the battery percentage, which not only looks cool but is actually useful, too. If you’ve been after a convenient place to store your gamepads, then the PowerA Dual Charging Station will do the trick; it’s one of the more practical Xbox Series X accessories in our roundup, that’s for sure.
4. Seagate 2TB Game Drive for Xbox
We all love games, and in this digital age it seems like we just can’t enough of downloading titles to our console. The Seagate 2TB Game Drive for Xbox has all the space you need in order to store titles on without having to constantly make room for a new disc or download installation. While you will need to transfer game files over from the drive to the console, it takes far less time than downloading from scratch would.
5. Zadii Hard Carrying Case for Xbox
It’s a lesser-thought-about Xbox Series X accessory, but If you’re planning to visit friends or family with your new console, then the Zadii Hard Carrying Case offers ample space and protection for the system. There’s a specifically molded shell to gently accommodate the console and two controllers, with specific compartments for all accompanying cables. You’ll find it available for $71.99 / £90 at Amazon (opens in new tab).
6. Hori Fighting Commander Octa
Do you have a love of fighting games but can’t get on with the stock Xbox Series X’s D-pad? That’s where the Hori Fighting Commander Octa comes in. It’s been specifically designed for the platform to offer precision in a range of 2D and 3D fighters, especially with its 6-button layout, and octagonal D-pad. It’s perfect for those late night Tekken 7 bouts and vicious Mortal Kombat matches.
7. Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X 1TB
While it’s quite the investment as far as Xbox Series X accessories go, the Seagate Storage Expansion Card is an officially licensed memory unit designed to work effortlessly with the Xbox ecosystem. You can play all of your games on there which doubles the storage that the console ships with. If you’ve got the extra cash to make some substantial headroom on your system, then it’s a worthy option.
8. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3 months)
It’s arguably the best value proposition in gaming right now, especially considering the fact that tonnes of games are going straight to Game Pass Ultimate on day one, such as the recently released Halo Infinite. You’ve got instant access to hundreds of titles on the system, as well as PC, and even your phone via streaming.
Available at Amazon (opens in new tab) | Best Buy (opens in new tab) | Target (opens in new tab) | Walmart (opens in new tab)
9. PDP Gaming Remote Control for Xbox Series X
One of the best things about the Xbox Series X is its capabilities as the center of your home media setup. This is achieved through the Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, combined with the 4K streaming options available on the platform. The PDP Gaming Remote Control is a dedicated accessory specifically developed for the console to help navigate through the system’s menus with ease. What this means is that you can keep your Xbox Wireless Controllers charging while still being able to kick back with your favorite movies and TV shows. You’ll find it at Amazon for $14.99 / £20 (opens in new tab).
Maximize the visual capabilities of the console with the best TV for Xbox Series X and best monitor for Xbox Series X.
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]]>The post Best Xbox gifts guide 2021 – our top picks for the Microsoft fan in your life appeared first on Game News.
]]>Shopping for Xbox gifts at this seasonal time also presents the opportunity to browse the best games, peripherals, and setup-enhancing accessories from the past year or so – and given this has been the new consoles’ first year there’s plenty of new hardware and games to choose from. Plus, a lot of these products have seen prices fluctuate wildly over the past couple of months – meaning you could grab a tidy deal while Xbox gift shopping too.
Whether you’re looking for a headset to upgrade someone’s audio, one of the biggest games of the past year to make someone’s holidays, or something a bit more specialist like a charger or some storage, we’ve got it all here.
And what with there being such a wide range of gift options available, we’ve split this article into relevant sections below that’ll help funnel your search and give you some great options across the price spectrums for that lucky Xbox fan in your life. Happy Xbox gift shopping!
Christmas Xbox gifts – Best deals right now
(opens in new tab)Razer Wolverine V2 | $100 $79.99 at Best Buy (opens in new tab)
Save $20 – This is a wonderful price for a specialist third-party, fully-licensed Xbox controller from a respected and trusted brand. This gift will bring individuality to the recipient’s setup and is a quality controller that can offer a competitive edge. At this price, it’s a great deal too!
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Razer Wolverine Ultimate | $160 $80 at Best Buy (opens in new tab)
Save $80 – This is the predecessor to the above controller but it’s no slouch. Razer’s quality still shines through and for anyone looking for a different controller that can offer something edgy then this is still a strong contender. Ultimate taking it down to exactly 50% off today. It’s the second-lowest price ever for this controller too which means the value on offer is strong.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Back 4 Blood | $59.99 $24.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $35 – This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen on the brand new game Back 4 Blood, which is impressive considering this is such a heavy-hitting release. This is perfect for those looking for something to play online with friends and teammates, offering enjoyable chaos along the way.
Christmas Xbox gifts – Games
Let’s face it, if you’re looking for a straightforward but still excellent Xbox gift, one of the biggest and best games going is likely to hit the spot. And there have been some absolute bangers to come out on Xbox consoles over the past 12 months or so. While the latest and greatest may make up many a shopping list – we’re looking at you Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 – it’s also worth checking out some older titles that your loved ones may have missed. I’ve recently bought a friend Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to play on their new Xbox console, and that is possibly the perfect Christmas game going. One of the best Xbox One games or best Xbox Series X games is an ideal Xbox gift this year.
Christmas Xbox gifts – Headsets
A new headset can elevate someone’s gaming experience to exceptional new levels in one simple, fell swoop. And the great news is that the market is bursting at the seams: the best Xbox One headsets are still relevant and excellent, while the best Xbox Series X headsets and Xbox Series X wireless headsets can take a new-gen setup to an even higher level with a model straight out of 2021 and the main players’ latest ranges. Covering the entire price spectrum, a headset Xbox gift is an excellent choice.
Turtle Beach Recon 50
MSRP: $24.95 / £19.99
Starting off at a budget, entry-level point, Turtle Beach are known for making some great Xbox headsets that punch above their price point, and the Recon 50 line is just one of those. If a player is looking for a quick and easy hit from a headset then this line is an excellent choice. We’d probably argue that, if you’re looking for an Xbox gift to last, you’re better off investing a bit more money as the quality will shine through, but this is still an excellent starting point.
Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset
MSRP: $99.99 / £89.99
Arguably the best sub-$100 Xbox headset you can get from the entire market, the official Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset offers excellent quality, value, features, and that ever-attractive ‘official’ badge. This headset proves that you don’t have to throw money at an Xbox gift to get someone something truly excellent, and the headset is a worthy upgrade for anyone.
Razer Kaira Pro
MSRP: $129.99 / £129.99
If you’re looking at the premium end of the scale then the Razer Kaira Pro is definitely worthy of your attention. Razer is known for making some of the very top headsets for gaming, and this wireless model is currently the company’s premiere Xbox headset. It has all the features of a top product, and its audio quality is excellent. It’s also a great contender for a gift at the top-end of the range, because it has consistently seen discounts in recent weeks, meaning you can get even better quality for your money.
Christmas Xbox gifts – Controllers
Console owners will always slowly expand their controller collection, and often for many reasons. At a base level, it’s just eminently sensible to have more than one controller in your setup to fall back on (I always have a ‘one on charge, one in hand’ policy on the go). However, it’s also nice to have different colours and styles to personalise your setup a bit, too – fun colors and uniquely designed controllers are always worth a go. And, of course, there are some controllers out there that just offer something different, something specialist and something that can gain a player an advantage. That’s why controllers, like the ones below, make great Xbox gifts.
Turtle Beach Recon
MSRP: $59.99 / £49.99
The cost of controllers can spiral – like any quality Xbox gift range, of course – but before you get into the premium prices, you can find absolute gems like the Turtle Beach Recon Controller right in the cheap seats. We were really impressed by this wired controller this year – it offers an excellent third-party choice from a trusted manufacturer and something new over the go-to obvious choices. It has excellent customisation options, exquisite buttons, and punches well above its price point.
Xbox Wireless Controller
MSRP: $59.99 / £54.99
You can’t go wrong with official (again), and Microsoft’s own Xbox controller is an instantly excellent idea for an Xbox gift. Proven quality, proven longevity, and a proven reputation make this an easy purchase to make as a gift.
Xbox Elite Series 2
MSRP: $179.99 / £159.99
Cranking it up somewhat, if the recipient of this particular variant of Xbox gift is after something premium, something with bells and whistles, then the Elite Series 2 controller is the one to go for. It’s also official so offers confidence in design, build, and reputation, but also features coming out of its screw holes to ensure a player can get every edge, and play games exactly how they want to.
Christmas Xbox gifts – Accessories
And with more controllers, comes more need to ensure the charging situation is taken care of – there’s nothing worse, as we just mentioned, than running out of juice. Luckily, there’s a great range of accessories that can be vital providers of fuel in keeping an Xbox setup going. While perhaps not the most exciting of Xbox gifts, these can be lifesavers, and genuinely useful. No matter our setup, we’d be happy to receive one.
Venom Twin Charging Dock
MSRP: $24.99 / £19.99
Venom is now a household name in the third-party console accessory territory and their double charging dock is an easy recommendation to make – particularly at such a low price point.
Fosman Dual 2 Max Charger
MSRP: $29.99 / £24.99
This is one of our favourite third-party chargers and is a second iteration of a product that was already quite good. Building on its predecessor nicely the MAX edition provides excellent battery and charge time for controllers and is well worth the extra investment.
Christmas Xbox gifts – Storage
While the price of hard-drive-based Xbox gifts can get out of hand, there are also some perfectly priced options too. Given the storage of some Xbox One consoles, and the new Xbox Series S only begins at the 500GB mark, extra space to keep games at hand is crucial for some. That’s where external hard drives (for non-optimised Xbox games) come in very handy, and that’s where there are the most cost-effective solutions are. However, if you want to give the best storage-focused Xbox gift, the official Seagate expansion card is the premiere solution, ensuring no drop in performance or quality for the player. Models generally start out at 500GB, which is a little on the small side for longer term usage but is certainly still a nice to have if you’re shopping on a budget.
Crucial X6 1TB portable SSD
MSRP: $129.99 / £119
The Crucial X6 is a value-busting storage solution and makes a perfect Xbox gift for those whose games libraries need a bit more room to breath. Offering solid (if unspectacular speeds of transfer) it’s still an excellent portable SSD to add to the setup.
WD Black P50 external SSD
MSRP: $179.99 / £149.99
Taking the external SSD option up a notch, if you’re looking for premium performance for your money then the WD BLACK P50 external SSD gets our vote. It’s as good as having a high-powered PC-component on the end of a USB cable and ensures that games and files are always safe but accessed and moved speedily. One of the best.
Seagate Expansion Card
MSRP: $219.99 / £219.99
The Seagate Expansion Card is the best of the best for additional Xbox Series X|S console storage. Tailor-made to work with the new-gen consoles, this is literally the perfect companion for those needing a storage boost, slotting straight into the consoles’ hardware – directly. The capacities start at 512GB but the 1TB model – regularly seeing some discounts nowadays – offers better bang-for-buck value.
Christmas Xbox gifts – Subscriptions
You can’t have fun online without a subscription to Xbox Live, and without a subscription to Xbox Game Pass, a player loses out on access to hundreds and hundreds of games to play. This means such subscriptions are undoubtedly some of the best Xbox gifts you can buy someone. What’s more, they also stack – this means that no matter how long a player has to run on any given subscription, a new one can be added on top of it and it just extends their run. In turn, this means that such subscriptions can almost never be ‘bad’ gifts! It’s a total win-win!
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
MSRP: $44.99 / £32.99 for three months
Basically existing hand-in-hand with an Xbox console in 2021 (and going forward) is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The easiest, best, and highest value way of getting online with friends but also access to that enormous library of games, a Game Pass Xbox gift is a safe hit.
Xbox Live Gold
MSRP: $39.99 / £29.99 for six months
However, if the intended recipient doesn’t need this kind of game access and just enjoys playing online with friends, then a simple Xbox Live Gold subscriptions is a belter of an Xbox gift too.
Looking for some ideas for the other side of the console field? Check out the best PS5 headsets, best PS5 SSD and PS5 external hard drives, and best PS5 accessories for gift ideas.
If you’re in the UK, it’s also worth noting that the Boxing Day sales will be hitting the shelves later this month as well.
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]]>The post Microsoft is looking to acquire “small to big” Japanese developers appeared first on Game News.
]]>As reported by Bloomberg (opens in new tab) (thanks, VGC (opens in new tab)), Microsoft is looking to take on Sony on its home turf by strengthening its position in Japan. Whilst Nintendo reigns supreme and is unlikely to lose much ground to the Xbox Series X (opens in new tab), Microsoft is reportedly trying to reposition itself ahead of rival Sony by bolstering its portfolio of studios.
While Bloomberg’s sources wouldn’t expand on what the discussions had been about, nor the outcomes of them, it’s thought that one of the studios approached was Koei Tecmo. Bloomberg states that the company’s President, Hisashi Koinuma, stated that “if the U.S. company shows continued interest in Japan”, he was open to releasing more Koei Tecmo games on the Xbox family of consoles.
“The Xbox has a chance to make Japan its second-largest market after the U.S. if it takes the right steps for years to come,” commented Tokyo-based Ace Research Institute analyst, Hideki Yasuda. “Sony’s attention is drifting away and fans have started to notice that.
“Microsoft won’t be able to take Sony’s position as No. 2 [after Nintendo] in Japan anytime soon, but at least it has started to make changes. A big tide always starts with a small change.”
Jeremy Hinton, head of Xbox operations in Asia, wouldn’t comment on any prospective acquisitions but said Microsoft was “always open to discussions with creators that are a good fit”.
In case you missed it, we recently unveiled out hardware review of the Xbox Series X.
“The Xbox Series X is an unconventional next-generation console,” Josh wrote in his detailed review of the Xbox Series X (opens in new tab). “It’s arriving with thousands of playable games from day one, each of which appears to play better than they ever have on console, but the broad appeal of that offering will likely depend on where your allegiances have been for the last generation.”
Here are all the upcoming Xbox Series X games (opens in new tab) that we know of.
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]]>The post Wholesome news alert: Gamers are helping this person preserve an Xbox controller signed by his late mom appeared first on Game News.
]]>As the sweet message is written using sharpie, many users have cautioned against using anything containing acetone or solvents on the writing, as it would destroy it. Perhaps the best advice comes from user SyproGaming, who simply says “Put it on display, never use it again”, which seems like the most prudent suggestion, as nothing can replace an object with such sentimental value. Every now and again the gaming community does something that honestly brings a tear to my eye, just like now.
The good news is that there are plenty more stories like this: Veteran Halo players are planning to use their old Xbox Live gamertags to reunite with friends on PC (opens in new tab), Apex Legends’ worst weapon is inspiring thousands of players to donate to Mozambique’s flooding crisis (opens in new tab), and The Call of Duty Endowment charity has found jobs for over 54,000 veterans (opens in new tab). If this story made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, don’t forget to pass that feeling on and do something good for someone else today, whether it’s to do with games or opening a door for someone who’s just far enough away to make it if they break into an awkward jog-walk.
If you want more good news, last year Overwatch introduced a new type of skin for Mercy that benefitted charity (opens in new tab), or look below to see what’s going on this week in the world of games, TV, and movies!
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]]>The post Watch The Rock and Xbox do something nice in this garbage fire world appeared first on Game News.
]]>A photo posted by @therock on Oct 30, 2017 at 4:31pm PDT
A photo posted by @therock on Nov 1, 2017 at 12:24pm PDT
Johnson partnered up with Xbox to bring Murat, Emily and Maria a special Xbox One X (opens in new tab) (before its official release on November 7) customized with a holiday message and Johnson’s Brahma bull logo. He surprised them on the set of his new movie, Skyscraper, where his special guests also got personalized director chairs, a private tour of the set and exotic car rides.
“16 years ago, Dwayne Johnson was on-stage with Bill Gates to help announce the original Xbox. We’re excited to be working with Dwayne again to show there is no power greater than X,” says Aaron Greenberg, GM of Games Marketing at Xbox.
You can donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation here. (opens in new tab)
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