Tech

These offline, disc-based games require an online check-in on Xbox Series X

Oh boy, my disc-based Xbox One game is “Ready to start” on the Xbox Series X! [credit: Xbox ] Disc-based Xbox One games and many cross-generational discs that rely on “Smart Delivery” require an online connection to play on the Xbox Series X, placing a limitation on the system’s ballyhooed backward compatibility. This limitation, which […]

Tech

At trial, Epic and Apple squeeze Microsoft over Xbox, xCloud restrictions

The monkey wrench of the legal system. (credit: Aurich Lawson) Microsoft Vice President of Xbox Business Development Lori Wright took center stage at the Epic versus Apple trial today. The executive’s testimony served up some interesting comparisons and contrasts with Epic’s complaints and addressed questions about the Xbox consoles’ closed, iOS-style app market and the difficulties […]

Tech

After years on PlayStation, MLB The Show hits Xbox Game Pass at launch

That “PS Studios” logo on an Xbox retail box still looks a bit weird… It’s been over a year now since Sony first announced it would be bringing the previously PlayStation-exclusive series MLB The Show to Xbox as early as 2021. Today, Microsoft announced even better news for Xbox-owning baseball fans: MLB The Show 21 […]

Sport

Sunday’s Best Deals: Ninja Hot + Cold Brew Coffee Maker, Solar-Powered Flickering Torches, Ergo Standing Desk Converter, Heidi & Oak Drawer Organizers, and More

A Ninja Hot and Cold Brew coffee system and a six-pack of Heidi & Oak drawer organizers lead Sunday’s best deals. Read more…

Tech

You soon won’t need to pay for Xbox Live to play free-to-play games

Xbox Live gamers will soon have a new reason to rejoice. (credit: Xbox) Xbox owners soon won’t need to pay for an Xbox Live Gold subscription to enjoy otherwise free-to-play games on their consoles. Wednesday’s update to the Xbox Alpha Insiders Update Preview program (version 2104.210323-0000) notes that “Multiplayer in Free-to-play games, Looking 4 Groups […]

Tech

Microsoft earnings: Xbox hardware sales shot up 86% with Series X/S

Enlarge / The Xbox Series X, which launched in November. (credit: Sam Machkovech) Microsoft delivered its earnings report for Q2 2021 yesterday, and the company has continued its sprint of very strong quarters, again driven primarily by Azure and the cloud. But that same old story isn’t the only one here: the report also tells […]