 | Microsoft-NFL deal worth $400 million - Report May 22nd 2013, 15:41 As part of multiyear agreement, Microsoft gets rights to create "exclusive interactive experiences for Xbox One and Surface; branding will appear on-field during NFL games. 
The wide-ranging deal Microsoft and the National Football League (NFL) announced yesterday during the Xbox One event is worth an estimated $400 million over five years, according to sources speaking with the Associated Press. As part of the multiyear agreement, Microsoft will have the rights to create "exclusive interactive experiences" through Xbox One and its Surface tablet line. As shown yesterday during the Xbox One reveal presentation, the NFL on Xbox One will allow for new viewing experiences made possible through Skype and Xbox Smartglass. In addition, Microsoft said its deal with the NFL will be a boon for fantasy football enthusiasts. NFL on Xbox One will enable users to view live games and simultaneously interact with a personalized NFL destination that features player, team, and game information. "When we started working with [NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell] and the team at the NFL we knew that we could create great new experiences that fans would love," Xbox boss Don Mattrick said in a statement. "This partnership will redefine NFL experiences through exclusive and interactive content that you will find only on Xbox. For fans, the NFL on Xbox will provide the most complete way to enjoy live football by bringing the first fully-integrated fantasy football experience to the TV, exclusively through Xbox." The Microsoft-NFL agreement will extend beyond the TV screen and into the real world. As part of the deal, NFL coaches will be given Surface tablets to "enhance on-field communications, photo viewing, and play calling." Microsoft believes this could change the way the classic sport is played. "Microsoft and the NFL envision a sideline of the future with players reviewing in-game photos from different camera angles directly from the sideline and head coaches calling plays off connected Surface tablets instead of today's static paper products," Microsoft said in a statement. "With Microsoft technology, NFL coaches, players, and other personnel will have the technology they need to improve decision-making and on-field performance." Another result of the partnership will be Surface branding appearing on NFL sidelines on the hoods of the official on-field NFL instant replay stations. In addition, the deal reaffirms the Xbox as "The Official Game Console of the NFL," makes Microsoft "The Official Sideline Technology Sponsor of the NFL," and Surface and Windows will become "The Official Tablet and PC Operating System of the NFL." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Microsoft: We understand the importance of used games May 22nd 2013, 15:07 Publisher says supporting secondhand titles on Xbox One was a fundamental design criteria. 
Speaking with GameSpot at the Xbox One reveal event, executive Phil Spencer said Microsoft understands the importance of the secondhand market in the overall console ecosystem. He declined to go into specifics regarding how used games will be supported on the Xbox One, but did make clear that the secondhand market "is a design criteria" for the next-gen Xbox. "So we'll talk about some of the 'how' at a later date, but I will say that we understand the importance of the secondary market," Spencer said. "The secondary market was important in the current generation. We designed Xbox One understanding secondary market would be important in the new generation as well. We'll share more details, but people should know that it is a design criteria for us on the new box." Microsoft told Wired yesterday that the Xbox One will require secondhand users pay a fee to play used games. This fee has not been specified and Microsoft's official stance is that the platform has been designed "to enable our customers to trade in and resell games at retail." More from GameSpot's conversation with Spencer will be published later today. This interview was conducted by GameSpot executive editor Justin Calvert during the Xbox One announcement event in Redmond, Washington yesterday. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Microsoft hints at an 'important' role for Rare IP on Xbox One May 22nd 2013, 14:36 Phil Spencer says fans of Rare's games will be "pleased with what we're going to show at E3." 
Microsoft has suggested its iconic studio Rare could be working on a new Xbox One game based on one of its classic franchises. Microsoft Studios executive Phil Spencer told Polygon during the announcement of its next-generation Xbox One that "fans of Rare and Rare IP I think will be pleased with what we're going to show at E3." Xbox One will see 15 exclusives within its first year on sale, and 8 new IPs--some of which Microsoft intends to show off at E3 2013 in June. Spencer said that Rare remains important to Microsoft. "We had a limited amount of time today and a lot of story to tell. But Rare remains an incredibly important part of our development capability." "That historic IP that they've built I think can play a real important role on Xbox One," added Spencer, though he gave no clues as to what IP he was referring to. Microsoft last year announced that it has renewed the Killer Instinct trademark, the fighting series that saw its last installment in 1996 on the Nintendo 64. As for Rare's more immediate history, the developer released Perfect Dark Zero as a launch title for the Xbox 360, but the series has not continued outside of an 2010 XBLA version of the original Perfect Dark. The company also launched the Kinect Sports and Viva Pinata franchises on Xbox 360, as well as Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. For more information on Microsoft's recently announced next-gen console, check out GameSpot's Xbox One hub. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Microsoft teases 'huge' Xbox 360 announcement for E3 May 22nd 2013, 13:56 VP Phil Spencer says company will support current-gen platform for "years to come," hints at "surprising" announcement for E3. 
Though Microsoft's future is the Xbox One, the platform holder is not leaving the Xbox 360 behind anytime soon. Microsoft Game Studios executive Phil Spencer told GameSpot that the company will support the platform for "years to come" and even has a "huge" Xbox 360 announcement in the works for next month's Electronic Entertainment Expo. "I think the [Xbox 360] is going to be very vibrant for many years. In fact, we have a huge, I think it's huge, [Xbox 360] announcement for E3 that I keep wanting to talk about, but I can't," Spencer said. "I think it will surprise people. I loved what we did last year with Minecraft; bring Minecraft to the box; six million units later it's kind of a beast. I think there's a lot of life in the [Xbox 360] for years to come." Over 77 million Xbox 360 units have been sold worldwide to date and Xbox Live membership stands at over 46 million users. Microsoft is not the only company that plans to support current-generation platforms well into the future. Yesterday, Electronic Arts CFO Blake Jorgensen said the Battlefield and FIFA publisher will continue to support Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii through 2017 at least. More from GameSpot's conversation with Spencer will be published later today. This interview was conducted by GameSpot executive editor Justin Calvert during the Xbox One announcement event in Redmond, Washington yesterday. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Mortal Kombat hitting PC this summer May 22nd 2013, 13:00 Komplete Edition of NetherRealm's 2011 fighting game launching digitally July 3 with a physical release set for August 6. 
The much-praised 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot is coming to PC. Publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today that Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for PC will launch digitally July 3 with a release at retail slated for August 6. Exclusive images of the game are available below. Mortal Kombat on PC will include all previously released downloadable content, including warriors like Skarlet, Kenshi, Rain, and Freddy Krueger. In addition, all modes and features found in the console version of Mortal Kombat have made their way over to the PC iteration. The game also supports the Mortal Kombat Tournament Edition Fight Stick for "full controller capability." NetherRealm Studios handed off development on the PC version to High Voltage Software, the independent studio behind The Conduit, Kinect Star Wars, and various licensed games. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Xbox 360 controllers, accessories won't work on Xbox One May 22nd 2013, 12:38 Microsoft confirms that only Xbox One controllers and accessories are supported on next-gen console; Kinect requirement explained. 
Microsoft has confirmed over Twitter that only Xbox One controllers and accessories will be supported on the next-generation platform. The Xbox 360 controllers and accessories players already own will not work on the new platform. "To deliver consistent, meaningful gameplay to all users, only Xbox One controllers/accessories work w/Xbox One," Microsoft said. This is not much of a surprise, as the Xbox One boasts a redesigned and updated controller, as well as a next-generation version of the Kinect sensor. Microsoft also has addressed the Xbox One's Kinect requirement. In a Q&A blog post, the company said it is requiring Kinect with every Xbox One because the technology is "essential" to the next-generation platform. "The all new Kinect is now an essential and integrated part of the platform," Microsoft said. "By having it as a consistent part of every Xbox One, game and entertainment creators can build experiences that assume the availability of voice, gesture and natural sensing, leading to unrivaled ease of use, premium experiences and interactivity for you." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Xbox One games will need to check-in online, possibly once a day May 22nd 2013, 11:57 The Xbox One is "fundamentally designed to be expanded and extended by the Internet as many devices are today," says Microsoft's Phil Harrison. 
Xbox One requires an Internet connection and needs to check-in with the Xbox servers in order to continue functioning, Microsoft has clarified. Microsoft's official line on the Xbox One is that it requires the Internet, but does not require a constant connection. In an interview with Kotaku, Microsoft executive Phil Harrison attempted to clarify the position. The Xbox One "requires, at some point in the beginning and at various times through its on state, to connect to our cloud and to our Internet. That is to deliver Xbox Live functionality, that is to deliver download content to you, that is to deliver some of the innovations around TV and entertainment that we showed today." Harrison added that the Xbox One's need to connect to its servers "depends on the experience." "For single-player games that don’t require connectivity to Xbox Live, you should be able to play those without interruption should your Internet connection go down. Blu-ray movies and other downloaded entertainment should be accessible when your Internet connection may be interrupted. But the device is fundamentally designed to be expanded and extended by the Internet as many devices are today." But when asked how long players can go between having to check-in online with a single-player game, Harrison said "I believe it's 24 hours." In another interview with Polygon, however, a Microsoft representative explained Harrison's 24-hour claim as a "potential scenario" for the upcoming next-gen console. "While Phil [Harrison] discussed many potential scenarios around games on Xbox One, today we have only confirmed that we designed Xbox One to enable our customers to trade in and resell games at retail," said Microsoft. "There have been reports of a specific time period--those were discussions of potential scenarios, but we have not confirmed any details today, nor will we be." Speaking yesterday, Microsoft president Don Mattrick reiterated that players don't need to be always connected to play games on Xbox One. "No, you don't always have to be connected," he said. "Gamers can calm down; we've got you covered." For more information on Microsoft's recently announced next-gen console, check out GameSpot's Xbox One hub. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Xbox One, PS4 box art revealed? May 22nd 2013, 11:55 Official Battlefield 4 site posts what appear to be cover designs for next-gen games. 
The official Battlefield 4 website (via Kotaku) has posted what appears to be Xbox One and PlayStation 4 box art designs. It is possible that the images in question are mock-ups made by Electronic Arts, as neither Microsoft nor Sony have released official designs of yet. If the images are indeed genuine, it means Microsoft is carrying over its familiar green-hued design, while Sony is shifting to a new blue theme similar to its PlayStation Vita line. The Xbox One and PS4 are due out later this year, though pricing information and specific release dates have not been divulged. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Blizzard unveils Diablo III infographic May 22nd 2013, 07:59 Internal statistics reveal players have spent 2.8 billion hours playing Blizzard's action RPG. 
More than a year after the release of Diablo III, developer Blizzard has released an infographic showing statistics for the title. So far, players have spent over 930 years of real-world time in Diablo III. The highest number of daily players since launch has been 5.8 million, while the game averages 2.1 million players each day. The total number of hours played for the game has passed 2.8 billion, with an average of 8.2 million played per day. 67.1 million characters have been created worldwide since launch, with only nine percent made up of Hardcore mode characters. The most popular character choice was the Demon Hunter, followed by the Wizard, the Barbarian, Monk and witch Doctor. For more information, and to view the entire chart, check out the Blizzard website. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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