Pokémon Go: augmented reality game goes viral

If you’ve been on the internet lately, you may have noticed that a game called Pokémon Go is suddenly taking the world by storm. It may have you wondering what the hell is going on ?

Pokémon Go is a location-based augmented reality mobile game, developed by Niantic, published by The Pokémon Company, and part of the Pokémon franchise. It was initially released in July 2016 for iOS and Android devices, starting with Australasia, the United States, and parts of Europe, with Asian and other European releases to follow.

Well, after a few years lying relatively low, the Nintendo-owned Pokémon, which exploded in popularity in the late 1990s, is again taking the world by storm. This time, through Pokémon Go: the series’s biggest entry into the mobile space, now available for a free download on Android and iOS. It’s so popular that it’s now competing with Twitter in terms of daily active users on Android.

Unlike previous Pokémon games, it’s not for Nintendo’s handheld consoles; it’s a free download for Android and iOS devices but it supports in-app purchases of additional gameplay items. It also doesn’t play at all like previous Pokémon games: Although the goal is still to catch ’em all, Pokémon Go is  a location-based augmented reality mobile game — it mixes real-world elements with the game. 

The game allows players to capture, battle, and train virtual Pokémon who appear throughout the real world. Pokémon Go uses your phone’s GPS, camera and clock of compatible devices to decide which Pokémon appear in the game. If you’re at the park, more bug and grass types appear. If you’re by a lake, more water types appear. If it’s night, more nocturnal ghost and fairy types do. So Pokémon won’t just come to you; players have to traverse the real world to catch ’em all.

 

Pokémon Go also has gyms — where you can fight gym leaders — and PokéStops based on real-world locations, which create hubs where players can meet. (You can buy, with real money, items to lure Pokémon to these stops; that’s how Niantic, the game’s developer, makes money.)

So why is the game taking off now? Well, it just came out, so it’s new and exciting. But it’s also free, making it easy to pick up. And it taps into nostalgia for those who played Pokémon in the ’90s. 

Specifically, Pokémon Go realizes a vision Pokémon fans have had since the series came out: What if Pokémon were real, and inhabited our world?

It’s also exciting because it’s the first big augmented reality game. Although others (like Ingress and Life Is Crime) tried before, none reached the heights of Pokémon Go. But with Pokémon Go’s success, it’s something you can expect more of in the future.

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Xbox Play Anywhere program officially launches on September 13

Xbox Play Anywhere, which delivers certain games to the Xbox One and Windows 10 PC with a single purchase, goes live on Sept. 13, Microsoft confirmed to Polygon this week.

The new program was during last month’s E3 Microsoft press conference. Play Anywhere saves your progress to a single file, tracks a single set of achievements and won't cost any more than a regular game. It also means that any DLC you purchase will be playable on both systems. This includes game add-ons, season passes, consumables and in-game unlocks.

The service requires that you have the Windows 10 Anniversary Edition update on your PC, which hits on Aug. 2, and the the summer update on your Xbox One console. It only supports the download version of the game, not the disc version.

While Microsoft has already listed the launch titles supported by the service, they had been a bit unclear on when the service would go live. But earlier this week, they confirmed the timing.

"The Windows 10 Anniversary Update and the related Xbox update coming this summer

enable the Windows Store on Windows 10 and Xbox One to support Xbox Play Anywhere games,"

A Microsoft spokesperson told Polygon. "Then, beginning with the launch of ReCore this fall and continuing with Forza Horizon 3, Gears of War 4, Halo Wars 2 and others, when you digitally purchase a game that supports Xbox Play Anywhere, you have access to the game on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs for one price and your progress, game saves and achievements are shared seamlessly across both platforms."

Games that support Play Anywhere will be listed on the official site and include a Play Anywhere icon in the online store.

Here’s the existing list:

• Gears of War 4
• Forza Horizon 3
• ReCore
• Sea of Thieves
• Halo Wars 2
• Scalebound
• Killer Instinct Season 3
• State of Decay 2
• Ark: Survival Evolved
• Cuphead
• We Happy Few
• Crackdown 3

 Source: Polygon

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Microsoft Announces Project Scorpio, the next Xbox One console, arriving late 2017

Project Scorpio is official, and it’s coming in the holiday of 2017. Microsoft is calling it “the most powerful console ever.”

Microsoft pulled out a sizzle reel full of developers to talk about how excited they are to make games on Scorpio, and they’re saying that all future Xbox games will be compatible with both that and the older Xbox One and Xbox One S models.

Microsoft says the machine will run at a performance speed of six teraflops and support both 4K gaming and ‘high fidelity VR.’ They’re touting the new GPU’s power and speed, promising a major boost. “I think it’s gonna be magical,” Bethesda’s Todd Howard said.

Scorpio will compete directly not just against the PC but against Sony’s high-end PlayStation, codenamed Neo. Kotaku first broke news of Neo back in March, and Sony confirmed it last Friday, saying that they wouldn’t be talking about the so-called PS4.5 at E3 this week.

Here’s a video of developers talking about Scorpio:

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Microsoft reveals Xbox One S at E3 which is coming this August

That’s “S” for “slim.” Or maybe “svelte.” Or “skinny.” Or…”something.” As anticipated and later full-on leaked, the Xbox has slimmed down just in time for swimsuit season with the One S.

Microsoft revealed the upgraded console at its E3 kickoff event  in Los Angeles.

The system the company showed off  arrived in a bright white color (“robot white,” according to press materials), a lightening up of the previous console. The device will come with a vertical stand, so users can decide how they want to orient it on their shelf.

The Xbox One S is 40 percent slimmer than the last version. Inside you’ll find a hard drive sporting up to 2TB and an integrated power supply. The new console features a built-in IR blaster, front-facing USB port (there are still two on the rear) and does 4K video. The One S also features HDR video support, for a more vibrantly colored gaming experience and higher contrast between dark colors and light.

Along with the S, Microsoft is also introducing a new, streamlined Bluetooth wireless controller with increased range. The controller features a newly textured grip, designed for increased comfort for those long gaming sessions and a new, more accurate thumbstick that’s said to decrease wear. The controller can be purchased as a standalone for $60. The company is also offering up a free Kinect adapter for current One owners looking to slim things down a bit.




The One S will come in a number of different configurations, starting with the big ole 2TB version, which will appear in August. 1TB and 500GB versions will be arriving a bit later, running $349 and $299, respectively. Users can also buy the vertical stand on its own for $20.





Source: Techcrunch

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Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, to be released November 4

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, to be released November 4 on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, will see our heroes leave Earth and go gallivanting across the whole solar system. Development of the game will be “led,” Activision said Monday morning, by Modern Warfare development house Infinity Ward (that word choice likely meaning that any number of other developers are also on this too-big-to-fail project).


Besides the regular Normal Person edition of the game, Infinite Warfare will of course release in a wide variety of different special editions, each of which comes with a pretty substantial carrot: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, a next-gen do-over of the game that changed everything, Call of Duty 4. That sounds like enough to get many players to pony up an extra $20 and buy the game’s “Legacy Edition,” at least.



Source: Wired

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Minecraft is Now on Samsung's Gear VR headset

Oculus has announced that the open-world hit is now available on Samsung's virtual reality headset. Officially dubbed Minecraft: Gear VR Edition, the game is said to support the same features as the Pocket Edition, including its creative, survival and multiplayer modes, as well as the character skins your familiar with.

In addition to that, Minecraft: Gear VR Edition will let you pick between a first-person or theater view (which is the default), depending on how hardcore you feel when you're about to start building and exploring in virtual reality. Oculus CTO John Carmack, who last year revealed that this version was in the works, said in a blog post, "My strongest memories of being inside VR are from the time I've spent exploring Minecraft on Gear VR. Experiencing it in virtual reality changes it from an abstract activity to a visceral one."

If you have a Gear VR, Minecraft can be yours from the Oculus Store for $7.







Source: Oculus
Via : Engadget

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Introducing KOI, The First PS4 Game Made Entirely In China

Now that China allows game console sales across the country, local developers are finally getting a chance to shine: Oasis Games has the distinction of introducing Koi, the first PS4 game made entirely in China. The debut isn't a triple-A blockbuster, but it's an intriguing, philosophical title that has you purifying a koi fish pond by solving puzzles, opening lotus flowers and dodging predators.

Appropriately, it also has a "hypnotic" Chinese piano score to sooth your mind.

Koi doesn't have a firm release date beyond 2016 --i t's only getting its first showcase at the Game Developers Conference this month. However, its very existence could help open the floodgates for Chinese console game makers, especially indies. While console-friendly Chinese studios have existed for years, they tend to be satellites like Ubisoft Shanghai (which assisted on titles like Far Cry 4). Many existing studios tend to develop for the platforms that have long been legal, such as PCs and smartphones. This could encourage Chinese outfits to go it alone when working on consoles, or at least to work on games that cater to homegrown tastes.

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This new Xbox One Super Charger recharges your controller in 60 Seconds

Are you regularly running out of charge on your Xbox One controller and lack a long enough cable to help you out? Is the charging-time wait spoiling your mood and depriving you of precious time on your favourite game? California-based third-party gaming accessories manufacturer Performance Designed Products (PDP) wants to be of service.
In a post on video game news website IGN,Accessory maker Performance Designed Products (PDP) is coming out with a quick charger, called Super Charger, for the Xbox One controller. The Super Charger will be able to fully charge your Xbox One controller in under 60 seconds, which is a first for the video game industry, claims PDP. One full charge will provide 10-12 hours of gameplay.


“The Super Charger's unique ability to recharge the Xbox One controller in just seconds reduces interruption in game play sessions – a full recharge during a quick break provides convenience to all gamers,” says PDP chief technology officer Tom Roberts. The PDP Super Charger is a prototype that has not been licensed or endorsed by any third party, including Microsoft.

 Any further details are hard to come by, with the Super Charger to be unveiled at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, that is being held from January 6 to 9.

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Activision acquires eSports staple MLG for $46 million

Call of Duty and Hearthstone studio Activision Blizzard has acquired a majority of Major League Gaming's assets in a $46 million deal that essentially dissolves the professional gaming organization, eSports Observer reports. MLG Co-Founder and CEO Sundance DiGiovanni has left his role and is replaced by former CFO Greg Chisholm, the site says. Neither company has confirmed this report, though we've reached out to both and will update as we hear back.

MLG struck the deal without a stockholders' meeting and the sale has upset some investors, according to eSports Observer.

DiGiovanni and Mike Sepso founded MLG in 2002, and throughout the years it's regularly hosted professional gaming tournaments, broken into the streaming business, and helped bring eSports to television and the mainstream. In 2014, MLG opened the United States' first professional gaming arena in Ohio. It planned to open another eSports arena in China by 2017.

MLG's relevance has waned in recent years and in October, it lost the hosting rights to the Call of Duty World League's Pro Division to the ESL. Sepso himself joined Activision that same month as Senior Vice President of its new eSports division, overseeing pro franchises including StarCraft, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone.


Source: Engadget

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Final Fantasy 15 will be Launch in 2016

 Final Fantasy XV has been in development for what seems like an eternity. But according to a report, Final Fantasy XV and its all-dude bro'd-trip will release in 2016. The news comes by way of a Square Enix blog post written by none other than the game's director, Hajime Tabata. "In development, previous phases required wisdom and strength," he writes. "However, moving toward the final phase will focus on effort and willpower." Sure!

Here's more from Tabata's statement,"I vow to you all that every member in the team will do their best to the very last possible moment taking responsibility and pride in their craft. We will do everything we can do to finish FFXV to create an experience we are incredibly proud of and one that you will enjoy and treasure."
"The whole FFXV team appreciates all of the support from each and everyone one of you this past year. I cannot tell you how much it means to all of us."
The next Active Time Report, where more news about Final Fantasy XV is expected to be divulged, is scheduled for later this month.



Source: Engadget

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No new Call of Duty: Black Ops III maps for PS3, Xbox 360

Bad news today for Call of Duty: Black Ops III players on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Activision has officially announced the game's first DLC pack, titled "Awakening," which includes four new multiplayer maps and a new co-op chapter in the zombies mode. Unfortunately none of it is coming to the last-gen consoles, instead seeing release first on PS4, followed by Xbox One and PC.

This news is sure to sting for those playing Black Ops III on the older consoles, but it shouldn't come as a huge surprise, seeing as how the game's story campaign was already stripped from their version at launch. But since the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions were basically nothing but the competitive multiplayer modes, it still stinks that their map lineup isn't getting expanded.

To be fair, however, there was no promise from Activision that Black Ops III's DLC packs would be made available on the older consoles, plus there's the fact that a season pass — a pre-purchase of all four upcoming DLCs at a discounted price — was never offered for the PS3 or Xbox 360.

Awakening will be released first for the PS4 on February 2nd, with "other next-gen platforms" to follow about a month later. There's still a chance that future DLCs may come to the last-gen systems, especially since the three-year old Black Ops II still sees 12 million active players per month, but if development of content is already passing over the older consoles, it does seem unlikely.

Source : Activision
Via : Slash Gear

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Sony releases PlayStation Messages app for iOS and Android

Sony has released PlayStation Messages for iOS and Android. It's a simple PSN messaging app, and it's optimized for the iPhone 6S Plus. Also it has stickers. In a move reminiscent of when Facebook forcibly broke out Messenger, tapping "Messages" in the regular PlayStation app prompts you to open the new one. In this case, it's almost certainly for the best.

Sony has also updated the main PlayStation app today. It has a new, fashionably gradient-free icon, and it is still not optimized for the iPhone 6S Plus.


Source :The Verge

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Sony unlocked the 7th core in its 8-core processor for developers. So what does this all mean?

PlayStation 4 games already look and play great, but they're going to get even better pretty soon.

That's because Sony last week quietly rolled out a new software development kit (SDK) for developers that lets game makers access the 7th core in the console's 8-core AMD processor,according to GameSpot.

This news might sound a bit confusing and technical, so let's back up a bit.

When Sony and Microsoft first unveiled their respective gaming consoles a few years ago, both consoles boasted near-identical 8-core processors, but two of those eight cores were previously reserved to help the consoles function better and perform background operations. The other six cores were used to process the games you play.

But computing chips aside, the PlayStation 4 had afew notable advantages over the Xbox One: The PS4's graphics chip was roughly 50% more powerful than the Xbox One, and the difference in RAM led to a huge bandwidth advantage for Sony's console as well.

Since then, Microsoft has made some changes to try and close the performance gap. Last year, the company unlocked more graphics bandwidth for developers, as well as the 7th core in its 8-core processor. But Microsoft was forced to make trade-offs in order for that to happen: The company disabled Kinect functionality for several games, which meant turning off voice commands and other useful features exclusive to that console accessory.  

Even with those improvements, the frame rate and resolution of many Xbox One games doesn't quite match the quality on the PlayStation 4. Many popular titles, like "Star Wars: Battlefront" and "Metal Gear Solid 5," look better and play smoother on the PlayStation 4, according to GameSpot. 

And that was before Sony unlocked the 7th core in its 8-core processor for developers.

So what does this all mean?

Basically, it means PlayStation 4 games will start looking and performing better. Developers will be able to pack in more details into games, and get better performance out of those games, especially in terms of frame rate. But don't expect these changes to happen immediately, and don't expect this upgrade to affect many of the games you've already purchased. Unless a developer optimizes a game for the 7th core, which might be difficult if a game is already released, don't expect your game library to suddenly upgrade by itself.

Unlocking the 7th core will certainly help the performance of future PlayStation 4 games, but to what extent? That's uncertain. It's totally possible you won't notice the graphical or performance differences. And it might take awhile until the differences are actually noticeable: It takes a long time to create, build and release a video game, so we might not see significant changes in quality until this time next year. But in general, this is good news for the makers and players of PlayStation 4 games. Everyone wants a smooth, beautiful game-playing experience, and this move certainly helps that cause.

Source : Tech Insider 

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PS4 gets in-ear stereo headphones with noise canceling tech

While the PlayStation 4 ships with a single, mono-audio earbud, the only premium headphones for the console from Sony have been the over-ear type. Now there will finally be another option to choose from, as Sony has just announced the In-ear Stereo Headset for PS4. The earbuds plug directly into the headphone jack on the DualShock 4 controller, and they even feature AudioShield technology, which filters out unwanted background noise to let players focus on the game's audio.

As they are meant to be used as gaming headphones, the in-ear headset also has a built-in microphone on the cord with volume buttons and a mute switch. The noise-canceling tech is said to last 15 hours with a battery-powered controller at the end that plugs into the controller. A USB cable is also included for charging.

While they're not officially announced for the US just yet, the headphones are priced at around $120, a bit steep when Sony's own over-ear PS4 Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0, which has 7.1 virtual surround sound, can be had for cheaper. Still, for that price gamers will get a fancy woven blue fabric cable, and it can also be used with the PS Vita and a smartphone, of course.

As of now, the In-ear Stereo Headset will be released in the UK and Ireland on December 4th for £78/€90, along with Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, and Africa on December 9th.

Source : Sony 

Via :Slash gear 

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Windows 10 comes to the Xbox One 12th November

Let that sentence sink in for just a bit longer. Windows, an OS mostly associated with desktop and laptops, will be running on a gaming console. A few years ago, that concept might have been unthinkable. But with Microsoft's push to put Windows 10 on every device it can get its mitts on, that is the reality facing Xbox One owners in little over two weeks. Xbox's Phil Spencer announced that the major update will hit consoles starting November 12, bringing a revamped Windows 10 interface and much more.

And by "more", we really mean backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games. Even Sony was taken aback by this early Christmas treat for gamers, impressed with the engineering skill Microsoft was able to muster to make it possible. It is perhaps one of if not the most awaited feature of this Windows 10 update, nearly doubling the number of games available for the Xbox One console.

Of course, that's not the only change. It wouldn't be called "with Windows 10" if it didn't look the part. The entire home interface has been modified, rearranged, and prettified to resemble the same Windows 10 experience desktops and tablets, albeit fine-tuned for large screens. You've got an even heavier emphasis on text, a vertically scrolling home screen, and pull out side panels for notifications and shortcuts, just to name a few.

Microsoft also calls this the most social update to the Xbox One ever. Why? Well, probably because it puts social activity front and center, from your friends and messages to new Game Hubs for keeping track of what your gaming friends are playing. A new community area also a new Community area to keep in touch with the even bigger Xbox gaming world.

While the update does bring many more features, like Game DVR and Windows 10 streaming, not all promised features might actually make it to the cut. Microsoft earlier indicated that Cortana won't be available to the general public until next year, though some users have managed to wake her up from her secret slumber.

SOURCE: @Xbox

Via :slash gear 

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PlayStation Network was down for many on Monday morning

Sony’s Internet gaming service isn’t working for everyone right now.

PlayStation Network is experiencing an intermittent outage, according to hundreds of gamer complaints on social media. PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 owners are noting that they cannot access certain games on their consoles. This is causing issues with people trying to play online multiplayer games like Rocket League and Destiny, but it’s also preventing many from botting up primarily single-player games that authenticate with a third-party server.

Sony’s status website still says everything is running as normal, but it often takes a while for the company’s engineers to update that tool.

Gaming is just one feature not functioning properly due to these PSN errors. Many are having trouble booting up Netflix and Hulu Plus to watch video content.

This is a common issue for PSN. The service has gone offline repeatedly throughout this year without Sony ever commenting on a cause, and it was down most recently for around an hour on September 23.

While overloaded servers is a common problem for Web-based services, it’s something many consumers feel burned by because many pay a regular fee to enjoy the benefits of PlayStation Plus. Lots of gamers also worry that the system could go offline for an extended period of time like it did during the Christmas holidays as the result of a cyberattack.

But Sony isn’t alone in having troubles with its online service. Xbox Live has had almost as many outages throughout 2015 — and it has had a monthly fee for its Gold subscribers for a lot longer than PSN.

SouSource :Venture Beat 

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Minecraft is definitely coming to Oculus Rift and Gear VR

Big news, virtual reality geeks: John Carmack has gotten his wish, and Minecraft will absolutely, positively be coming to both the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR.

Carmack has been working the room since early 2014. He'd talked things over with Markus Persson face-to-face and gave him an early look at prototype hardware. Notch seemed to sour on Oculus after news broke that they'd been acquired by Facebook, but he later tweeted that he was over it and was more concerned about finding a hole in his favorite pair of socks. Determined, Carmack kept pressing. He coyly told Markus Persson on Twitter that all he had to do was “ship the source” and Carmack would “make sure it runs well on you-know-what.” Then Microsoft swooped in, threw bags of cash at Notch, and scooped up Mojang.

Then in November, Carmack tweeted “Who do I have to convince at Mojang[…]that Minecraft PE on Gear VR would be awesome?” Whoever it was, they didn't need too much convincing. At Oculus Connect 2 this week, we learned that Carmack's efforts had paid off. Minecraft Windows 10 Edition will support both the Oculus Rift and Gear VR.

Minecraft is believed by many to be the make-or-break app for Oculus. It's a sure-fire way to attract an insanely large number of users to the platform: over 70 million copies of Minecraft had been sold as of this June. Even if you cut that by a third (to very conservatively cover people who bought multiple copies) and then suppose that only 10% of those users are actually keen on VR, that's still around 2.3 million people.

“I think it's the single most important application that we can have to ensure we have an army of fanatic, passionate supporters,” Carmack says, and he's clearly not alone in feeling that way about Minecraft. One major reason Microsoft was willing to pay $2 billion for Mojang was so that they could use it to get people excited aboutHololens — and so far it's working.

Source :Geek 

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Microsoft will announce a new Xbox One bundle every day next week

Console manufacturers want to convince consumers they’re getting a good deal when they plunk down the cash for a new system, and Microsoft is doubling down on bundles to ensure that its Xbox One looks like a great value.

This morning, Microsoft announced that it will reveal a new Xbox One bundle every single day from Monday, September 28 through Friday, October 2 on its Xbox Wire website. That means the company will have at least five different games packed-in with various configurations of its system in addition to the Madden NFL 16, Forza Motorsport 6, and other bundles already on the market.

While five more different Xbox One on store shelves sounds like a lot, Microsoft has a good reason for doing this. Bundles are hugely popular with customers and they make up a huge portion of new systems sold.

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“Hardware bundles gained share of overall hardware sales in June,” The NPD Group analyst Liam Callahan said in a statement provided to GamesBeat in August

NPD, which is an industry-tracking firm, points out that 67 percent of all systems sold in 2015 have come packed with a game.

Microsoft didn’t even hint at what games you should expect to see bundles for, but we can tell you for sure what you shouldn’t expect. Sony has a comarketing deal with publisher Electronic Arts for Star Wars: Battlefront and one with Activision for Call of Duty: Black Ops III. And the PlayStation company has already announced PS4 bundles for those games, so do not expect Microsoft to announce anything with those major releases.

If we were to attempt to guess which games will get an Xbox One bundle, we’d first take a look at the Xbox One exclusives (or timed exclusives) that are coming to the system this holiday. Those include Halo 5: Guardians and Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Microsoft has already announced a Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition package, and today’s announcement very specifically says it’s about “unveiling a new Xbox One holiday bundle.” So unless the company is planning a variation its Halo 5 bundle that comes with more or less stuff, it’s unlikely that is one of the five games.

So Rise of the Tomb Raider seems like the only sure thing. Other guesses? Well, Microsoft does have a comarketing deal with Bethesda for Fallout 4, and that is one of the most anticipate holiday releases. If Microsoft is helping pay for commercials for the game, it seems like it would have tried to get the open-world post-apocalyptic blockbuster into a box with its system. But that’s not guaranteed.

Other possibilities include Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate or Rainbow Six: Siege. Microsoft has had an Assassin’s Creed bundle on sale for a while now, and it obviously has a close deal with publisher Ubisoft. It’s possible that it will want to refresh that package.

But even if all of the above ends up happening, that only accounts for four bundles (Tomb Raider, Fallout 4, Assassin’s Creed, and Rainbow Six). And I honestly don’t think I’m that good at guessing. Other possibilities for bundles could include publisher Square Enix’s Just Cause 3, EA’s Need for Speed, WWE 2K16, Rock Band 4, or Guitar Hero Live.

Source: Venture Beat 

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Xbox.com site gets a refresh, Window 10 beta app now live

Things are rolling for the Xbox One and they are rolling fast, all heading for the grand November update party. Just last Monday, Major Nelson revealed some of the latest and greatest features in the New Xbox One Experience that is rolling out to a select few testers. Now its time for other parts of the Xbox ecosystem to get a revamp. At the top of the list is the Xbox.com website, which now features two new capabilities. On Windows 10 as well, the Xbox app, still in beta, lands on the Microsoft Store.

The Xbox website isn't getting an overhaul in terms of design but it is getting two significant features. For one, now you can access your voice messages directly from the website. This means no more having to wait until you get home to your console just to hear that hopefully important audio snippet from your Xbox Live friends.

The website now also shows game demos as part of the search results instead of limiting it only to fully released titles. In addition to discoverability, this allows gamers to redeem or purchase demo downloads right from their browser, wherever they are. Again, less dependence on having to be in front of the console for things you can do elsewhere.

In addition to the web experience, Microsoft has also released the beta version of the Xbox app on Windows 10 for the public to try out. The app's features tie in with most of the New Xbox One Experience, particularly the social experience via real-time feeds on the friends' list.

Microsoft is ramping up development for its big update in November, where Xbox One users will gain access to features like compatibility with Xbox 360 games among other things. Much of the new experience is also being spread to Xbox on Windows and now even to the Web. Microsoft's barrage of preview and beta releases tie in with the company's renewed efforts to not only keep gamers abreast of changes but also solicit feedback, some of which eventually end up in the next previews.

Source : slashgear

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Xbox Boss Wants VR And Traditional Gaming To Co-Exist

With devices like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR all pegged for a release in the near future, it is safe to say that this will change the landscape of gaming. Will it be for the better? We suppose we will have to wait and see, but in terms of gameplay it will definitely change the way games are played and developed.

However in an interview with GameSpot, Xbox boss Phil Spencer states that he hopes that with the creation of virtual reality, that it does not completely replace traditional gaming and that he would like to see both virtual reality and traditional gaming exist side-by-side as he believes that games, especially when played with friends and family members can be a social experience.

Spencer was quoted as saying, “I love playing games in my family room with my kids. I love people coming together and watching what's happening on screen and laughing, and the kind of fun of what video games were always about.”

He also adds, “That doesn't mean that can't happen in a kind of socially connected VR environment, but to me it would be too bad if all gaming became people with head mounted displays on, headphones on […] for the sake of what gaming is, I don't think that should be the only way people play.”

It's an interesting observation from Microsoft especially since the Redmond company does not have any immediate plans to enter the VR market. In fact they seem to be going in a completely different direction with devices like the HoloLens.

Source :Ubergizmo 

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