April 19, 2024

Microsoft talks plans for premium content production, details Xbox 360’s transition to an ‘entertainment console’

Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, just sat down alongside Nancy Tellem, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft LA Studios, to kick off this year's rendition of D:Dive Into Media here in Dana Point, Calif. The first session of the evening is being piloted by AllThingsD's Peter Kafka, and naturally, … [Read more...]

Xbox 360 software at E3: FIFA 2013 / Madden 2013 gaining Kinect voice commands; Halo 4, Fable, Forza Horizon and Gears of War showcased

No new hardware for Microsoft at E3? No problem. Clearly, this year's all about software for the Xbox 360, with both FIFA 2013 and Madden 2013 confirmed for release with Kinect support. Aside from letting you flail to and fro in order to make plays, both titles will also support voice commands, right down to understanding multiple dialects in the … [Read more...]

Internet Explorer coming to Xbox 360 this year, Kinect / voice integration and all

Microsoft just confessed that while other outfits have brought web browsers to televisions, "no one is using them," because "keyboards don't belong in the living room." Aside from thoroughly slamming Google TV, MS just offered its own alternative: Internet Explorer on Xbox 360... with full-on Kinect / voice command integration. It'll hit later this … [Read more...]

Microsoft officially offering Xbox 360 4GB console for $99, two-year Live Gold subscription required

Whoa, Nelly! As rumored, Microsoft is indeed shattering the home console pricing paradigm by trying something that US wireless carriers have been doing for years. As of now, the official Microsoft Store is hosting up a coupon that'll enable prospective Xbox buyers to snag a 4GB console bundle for just $ 99 (a $ 200 savings versus the outright … [Read more...]

HBO GO teases vocal controls via Kinect, coming soon to Xbox 360 (video)

We knew it'd be arriving on April 1st, but now we're actually longing for it. HBO has just released a half-minute teaser propping up the impending release of HBO GO on Xbox 360, and while it's available on a plethora of other platforms, being able to verbally command HBO (through Kinect, of course) to play your favorite shows just takes the … [Read more...]

Microsoft shows off Xbox Live on Windows 8 (video)

Yeah, we knew it was possible, but knowing and seeing are two very, very different animals. Just before closing the doors at Build 2011, Microsoft's Avi Ben-Menahem took the time to briefly showcase what would be possible with Xbox Live and Windows 8. It's obviously in a very early state, but already we're seeing signs of cross-platform multiplayer … [Read more...]