Microsoft will not support VR on the Xbox

When Microsoft announced Xbox One controller support for the Oculus Rift, it was speculated that Project Scorpio was going to work with the Rift as well. Guess that isn't happening.

Microsoft backtracks from earlier announcements and proclamations that they are going to have virtual reality headsets for the Xbox. Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer for Gaming Mike Nichols told Gamesindustry.biz that they “don’t have any plans specific to Xbox consoles in virtual reality or mixed reality.” He adds that he believes the PC is “probably the best platform” for virtual and mixed reality, while the Xbox will keep its focus on “experiences you would play on your TV.”

This is in complete contrast with what the company started announcing back starting 2016 when Xbox head Phil Spencer said its then upcoming Project Scorpio console would support “high-end VR” like with Windows PC. But it doesn’t come as much of a surprise especially with Microsoft seemingly changing its focus for its VR and mixed reality to something more business oriented.

Microsoft’s Xbox Live Creators Program is now open to all game developers

With Microsoft’s latest announcement, you can be a small indie developer and have your game available on the Xbox platform without going through the company’s existing channels. The new Xbox Live Creators Program lets any developer take a retail Xbox, which also serves as a dev kit, and use that to create and self-publish a game to the Xbox marketplace. The published game needs to be a Universal Windows App, meaning it would run on any Windows 10 device. Microsoft also reserves the right to remove the game from the store if it has “harmful or inappropriate content.” It also isn’t free as developers need to shell out a one-time fee that ranges from US$20 to $100. It isn’t clear how much developers will be charged.

Aside from those conditions, you can’t enable online multiplayer or access Xbox achievements features if you aren’t part of the ID@Xbox program. What you do have access to is leaderboards and party chat features. A downside is it looks like games published this way are kept in a separate section of the Xbox Store, which could minimize exposure of the game. The program is currently in its preview stage but is expected to open up to the public soon.

Source: The Next Web + The Verge

Microsoft Xbox Game Pass gives unlimited access to over 100 games, debuts in Spring 2017

Ahead of Microsoft’s holiday launch of its “most powerful console ever,” Xbox gamers are in for a treat. There will be a new gaming subscription service called Xbox Game Pass. For $9.99 a month, it’ll give you access to over 100 Xbox One and backward-compatible Xbox 360 games with titles including Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and Tekken Tag 2, to name a few. The service allows for better discovery of new games and if you want to make the title yours, Xbox Game Pass members gain access to exclusive discounts from the catalog. Microsoft plans to cycle games in and out of the service for a constantly-updating library of games.

The service will be rolling out to the broader Xbox community in the spring. But at the moment select members of the Xbox Insider Program will get an Alpha Preview of it. There will only be around 20 titles there and expect it to be buggy, as this preview program is meant to work out the kinks in the service.

Microsoft buys livestreaming service Beam to boost interaction on the platform

Microsoft’s latest acquisition might be giving them an advantage in the livestreaming space. Its latest buy is livestreaming service Beam, a platform that lets viewers interact in real-time with the streamers while they broadcast. This is in contrast with Twitch that only allows passive viewing. Beam’s SDK doesn’t just allow for simple chatting and streaming, it allows you to directly interface with the streamers and even get involved in the game. You can earn XP points, boosters, and emoticons based on how much and how often you watch.

Beam will be part of the Xbox team and its CEO Matt Salsamendi is viewing this as a positive for them as well. Salsamendi says, "As part of the Xbox team, we'll be able to scale faster than we've ever been able to before." 

Source: Engadget