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GameStop stock takes hit following Xbox One used game story
Microsoft's plans for the used games market on the newly announced Xbox One were a roller coaster ride this afternoon, with GameStop being the one to lose its lunch on the ride. The company's stock started an immediate dip once the news began to circulate that the console wouldn't support used games, closing the day down five percent (down -1.98 to 36.78/share). Microsoft issued a statement after the market's close regarding Wired's report, stating the news wasn't accurate, but wouldn't detail exactly how the information was incorrect. "It doesn't help Microsoft to block, and will alienate consumers. They should stay out of the controversy," said Wedbush Security analyst Michael Pachter who attended today's reveal of the new console at the Microsoft campus. "It is a dumb idea for Microsoft to get involved." He continued, "They could just as easily invalidate a download if the same disc is subsequently downloaded to another Xbox One, and the seller of the game wouldn't complain. The article reaches a conclusion without foundation, and was irresponsible." As of this posting it's still unclear what Microsoft's plans are for the used games market. GameStop's pre-owned video game products represented $2.4 billion in sales, making up 27.4 percent of the company's revenue and $1.1 billion (48.1 percent) of company's gross profit in the previous fiscal year. [Image: nuttapol yupothong via Shutterstock]
Xbox One pre-orders, info lists live via Game, Amazon, Microsoft Store
We don't know when it's coming out, but the Xbox One is available for pre-order at European retailers Game and Zavvi. It's also up for "pre-order notifications" on Amazon, the Microsoft Store, GameStop and Best Buy. Best Buy's ad lists the Xbox One with a "holiday 2013" release window, though all we know officially is that it's coming "later this year." Game lists a pre-order holding price of £20 for the Xbox One, while Zavvi's pre-order down payment is £400. Zavvi also has a lineup of Xbox One games for £50, including Call of Duty: Ghosts and four EA Sports games.
Xbox One uses non-removable hard drive, supports external USB storage
Microsoft senior director of product planning Albert Penello confirmed with Engadget that the upcoming Xbox One console will ship with 500GB of non-removable, non-replaceable integrated storage. He assures, however, that alternative storage solutions are available. While users will be unable to service the Xbox One's internal hard drive or replace it with a larger-capacity device, Penello notes that external storage devices can be connected via one of the console's three included USB 3.0 ports. Connected USB devices will be capable of storing all content supported by the Xbox One's hard drive, including installed game data and downloaded software.
Huffpost Live tackles Xbox One with our reviews editor, Richard Mitchell [Update: watch the replay]
Update: The live segment is over, but you can watch the recording right here. Huffpost Live is diving into today's Xbox One announcement at 6:20 ET tonight – right now, even – for Tech Tuesday. Of course the Huffpost team needs an expert on the matter, so it brought in Joystiq Reviews Editor Richard Mitchell – after all, he spent the day immersed in Xbox One news. Watch Huffpost Live's "Tech Tuesday Talks Xbox, Apple & Microsoft!" right here, right now.
Xbox One: Everything from Microsoft's Xbox reveal event
Microsoft's Xbox reveal event went down today, where the company unveiled its next Xbox, called the Xbox One. It's a cloud-based machine sporting an improved Kinect camera, along with a redesigned controller with a new d-pad and integrated battery compartment. The console itself has a Blu-ray drive, 500GB of internal storage and an eight-core x86 CPU paired with 8GB of system memory. In many ways, it's similar to the make-up of the PS4.%Gallery-189003%
Microsoft's message to indies with Xbox One: 'It was sort of weird'
Microsoft's reveal of its next-gen console, the Xbox One, was high on broad entertainment apps such as Skype, interactive programming, media management and Kinect-powered features. Games saw a smaller showing, with two new announcements and a trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts. Indie games got an even smaller nod – that is, none at all. E3 is right around the corner, with the Microsoft conference on June 10. Maybe that's where all of the Xbox One games are hiding, along with the console's indie plan. We asked a handful of indie developers what Microsoft's presentation today said to them specifically, and what they want to see at E3. Below we have responses from Rami Ismail of Ridiculous Fishing fame, Octodad's Philip Tibitoski, DLC Quest's Ben Kane, Charlie Murder's James Silva, Retro City Rampage's Brian Provinciano and Fez's Phil Fish.
Xbox One can update Achievements in response to player behavior
The Xbox One's connection to the cloud can alter a game's Achievements in response to player behavior, Microsoft has revealed at its ongoing unveiling event in Redmond. Dan Greenawalt, Creative Director at Forza developer Turn 10 Studios, cited the "I took an arrow to the knee" meme as an example of how game makers might hinge their extrinsic rewards on post-launch reactions. The meme began with The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, in which droves of melancholic guards told the same story about an old injury. To extrapolate from Greenawalt's comment, it seems Microsoft is keen to further distance itself from the idea of the game as a static disc. Xbox 360 games had their Achievement lists extended with significant title updates and downloadable expansions, but the Xbox One is expected to update the rewards list more fluidly. Game creators may use Achievements to encourage comical or topical behavior, or use them to educate players if they're missing certain features or secrets.
Xbox One welcomes 1000 friends
Are you too popular for the Xbox 360? The Xbox One is here for you with an expanded friends list limit of 1000, as revealed by Microsoft Support's official Twitter account. That's ten times the limit on Xbox 360, so even the most beloved of gamers should be placated. [Thanks, Dan]
Battlefield 4 launching on October 29, both it and Destiny coming to Xbox One
Battlefield 4 has announced via its Facebook page that the game will launch on October 29 of this year. In addition to versions on the PC, Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4, the team has also confirmed the game will be coming to Microsoft's newly announced Xbox One console. The Xbox One doesn't have a confirmed launch date just yet, so it's possible that version will arrive later. Additionally, EA's announced Battlefield 4's first expansion pack, called China Rising. The pack will contain four extra maps, along with extra vehicles and weapons. It will be available at launch, and come free with any pre-order of the game. And speaking of confirmed Xbox One titles, Bungie has also made it clear that Destiny is due out on Xbox One as well. Stay tuned for more confirmations on next-gen titles for Microsoft's new console.
Xbox One lets you play 'immediately' during installs, suspend and resume games [update]
Info on Microsoft's 'Meet Xbox One' page reveals the newly unveiled console allows you to play 'immediately as games install.' The Xbox One can install games to the console's 500GB hard drive. According to one report the console may require games to be installed, with a fee required if you want to install them onto a second account. Either way, going by this, players can boot games as soon as they start installing them. In terms of instantly switching between games and the system's other functions like live TV and movies, as detailed during Microsoft's presser, the page confirms the Xbox One lets you suspend games "right where you left off, so you can resume instantly." Think how the Vita, Wii U, or 3DS work when you exit and suspend a game to use the systems' other functions. Except not with those systems, but with a shiny new Xbox. Update: Microsoft told our friends at Engadget that Xbox One 50GB Blu-ray discs automatically rip to the system's 500GB hard drive, although it's not clear if installation is mandatory or not. Also, Microsoft Support indicated via Twitter the report mentioned above about installing games to a second account was inaccurate.
Microsoft: Xbox One isn't always online, but requires internet connection
Xbox One, Microsoft's next-gen console, does not require users to be constantly connected to the internet, but it does require an internet connection, a Q&A post on Xbox Wire said. The post itself has since been removed. The answer said the Xbox One "does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet." Developers are able to use Microsoft's Azure cloud computing service with Xbox One – this could potentially shift certain computations to the cloud and require players to be online, even for single-player runs, Wired reports. For pre-owned games, the Xbox One is designed "to enable customers to trade in and resell games," Microsoft said in the same Q&A post, promising more details later. All games can be installed to the Xbox One's 500GB hard drive, removing the need for a disc entirely after the initial load-up, Microsoft tells Wired. If a second account wants to play that game the player will be asked to pay a fee and install the game on his own console. Whether this is a mandatory installation for every game, Microsoft says, "On the new Xbox, all game discs are installed to the HDD to play."
EA Sports' next-gen Ignite Engine shown off in trailer form
EA Sports' next-generation Ignite Engine was on display at the Xbox One reveal event at Microsoft's Redmond campus today. We have four trailers that demonstrate the engine's capabilities, three of which can be found after the break. EA Sports Executive Vice President Andrew Wilson told attendees of the Xbox One event that the Ignite Engine will perform "four times more calculations per second" than the publisher's current offerings. Wilson said the engine will allow for 3D crowds and dynamic sidelines. EA will launch four sports games for the console within 12 months, namely FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, EA Sports UFC and NBA Live 14. Each game will be powered by the Ignite Engine.
Xbox Reveal liveblog on Joystiq
Update: We've taken our seats and are about to roll over to our Xbox Reveal liveblog. The next Xbox is about to be unveiled in Microsoft's Redmond campus, and Joystiq will be there to scrutinize and document the whole presentation. It starts at 1PM EDT (10AM PDT, 6PM GMT), so get your glib reactionary .gifs ready before then. Once the event starts, we'll switch this post over to liveblog mode and unleash the flood of quotes, observations and ill-advised jokes about computer chips. (Note: The presence of chips in the new Xbox is a rumor until Microsoft says otherwise.) "Xbox, reveal!"
Xbox One and PlayStation 4 specs compared
Microsoft today announced the next generation of Xbox technology, called the Xbox One. Sony previously announced the PlayStation 4 back on February 20, so we now have a full look at just what both next-generation HD boxes will contain. After the break, we've assembled a chart comparing the two consoles and their various components. The two machines are surprisingly similar, with both using an eight core CPU, the same amount of RAM, and both containing a combo Blu-Ray and DVD drive. But there are some major differences, too: Microsoft has created its own chip for the Xbox One, and the PlayStation 4 controller contains that share button and the clickable touchpad. Prices for both units haven't been announced yet, but both will be available later on this year.
Xbox One not backwards compatible with 360 discs/XBLA purchases; Gamerscore does transfer
Microsoft's minty-fresh Xbox One will be unable to play Xbox 360 discs, nor will your multitude of Xbox Live Arcade purchases transfer to the new machine, our friends at Engadget have learned. The incompatibility is due to the fact that the Xbox One runs on x86 processor architecture, whereas the Xbox 360 ran on PowerPC. This fundamental difference in hardware architecture prevents the Xbox One from natively running Xbox 360 games, regardless of how powerful the thing may be. "We care very much about the investment people have made in Xbox 360 and will continue to support it with a pipeline of new games and new apps well into the future," a Microsoft representative told Engadget. Part of that investment will transfer, however: Your Xbox Live Gamerscore. Earlier this year, Sony also announced that its PlayStation 4 will make the jump to a processor built on the x86 platform.
Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed 4 confirmed for Xbox One
No surprises, but Ubisoft announced it's bringing Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and Watch Dogs to the Xbox One, hot on the heels of the console's reveal. Ubisoft says the duo are two of "at least six next-gen games" it's bringing to the Xbox One in the system's first year. "The next generation of consoles will reinvigorate our industry and make it possible for us to deliver incredible new entertainment to gamers," said Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot. "Our teams are using the innovations in connectivity, immersion and social gaming included in Xbox One to create original and memorable next-gen gaming experiences."
Xbox One may require game installs, close out used game market [Update]
Update [8:00pm]: In an attempt to further clarify the confusion, Major Nelson wrote on his blog: "While there have been many potential scenarios discussed, today we have only confirmed that we designed Xbox One to enable our customers to trade in and resell games at retail. Beyond that, we have not confirmed any specific scenarios." Fees, however, appear to be part of the plan, with Major Nelson noting that players will not have to pay a fee to play a game at their friend's house, so long as they are connected to the Xbox profile associated with that game. Presumably, that means games are locked to accounts initially. Joystiq will have detailed interviews with Microsoft executives to clarify this matter, once and for all. Original Post: The Xbox One may shut the door on the used gaming market, according to a report on Wired. Microsoft's new system will allow – and possibly require – games to be installed to the console's 500GB hard drive, which locks a piece of software to an account, the report states. Once installed, players do not require a disc to boot the software. If a game is used with a second account, that owner will be given the option to pay a fee and install the experience on their own console, Microsoft told Wired. Whether "account" means an entirely new console or another Xbox Live account on the same console, is unclear. Though Microsoft wouldn't get into specifics as to how this decision affects the used game market, the decision calls into doubt the viability of rental services such as GameFly and RedBox, and used game markets from major retailers such as GameStop, Amazon and BestBuy, with the Xbox One. Wired's feature says that Xbox One's always-on internet connection rumors were not unfounded, but not as draconian as gamers feared. Developers will have the option to create games that use Microsoft's Azure cloud computing service, which Wired postulates could be done to offload certain computing tasks in the cloud rather than processing them on the console. In this instance, the Xbox One would require a connection to the internet – even during single-player experiences. Microsoft says this is not a requirement for developers that wish to create offline experiences; however, Microsoft's Marc Whitten told Wired they "hope" developers utilize the tools. The Xbox One's sometimes needs to be on connection could evolve, throughout the generation, as an always-on machine. Update [4:50pm]: Wired has updated its original feature noting that Microsoft contacted them to clarify a plan is in place for used games, but did not detail it. One of Microsoft's official Xbox Support twitter accounts says there are in fact "no fees" associated with used games and the Wired feature is incorrect. Wired's updated article still makes mention of a fee. Joystiq is at the Microsoft event and will attempt to clear the confusion. Update [2:50pm]: In a post answering "top questions" about the Xbox One, the official Microsoft page notes the system "does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet." Additionally Microsoft notes that in the case of pre-owned software, the Xbox one is designed "to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We'll have more details to share later." The Q&A makes no mention of the fees confirmed by Microsoft to Wired. The Q&A post from Microsoft's official page appears to have been removed.
Hands-on with prototypes of the Xbox One and new Kinect sensor
We gasped our way through the liveblog. We brought you news of the specs and the software and all that other good stuff. But now it's time to take a deep dive into the Xbox One, Microsoft's next-gen console, and what it might mean for Earth's living rooms. Engadget was given exclusive access to the hallowed labs at the heart of this project and to the engineers who made it happen. We got to play with prototypes of the hardware and to discover firsthand whether Kinect 2.0 really can tell if we're winking. Read on past the break and we promise to spare you no detail.%Gallery-189016%
First shots of Xbox One
Our pals Alexander and Ludwig are in Redmond right now for the Xbox reveal event. They've totally stood next to the Xbox One and, having taken the less selfish path of lording it over the rest of the staff, decided to snap a few pictures for all you lovely folks. Check out Microsoft's next-generation console, the Xbox One, in our gallery below!%Gallery-189003%
Xbox One features NFL live broadcasts, Smartglass, fantasy football
Microsoft will build a new relationship with the NFL on Xbox One. On Microsoft's new console, users will be able to take advantage of numerous interactive features available only on Xbox. These include Smartglass integration and the ability for users to see their fantasy football stats updated automatically while watching live broadcasts of the latest NFL games. Users will also be able to call and taunt their fantasy football friends via Skype.
