Tag Archives: xbox gold

Xbox 360

Next-Gen Xbox LIVE Said To Be “A Little Like Twitter”

xbox_logo_2013

The next generation of Xbox LIVE, or what could possibly be ‘Xbox Gold’ or ‘Xbox Infinite’ is said to feature a great set of improvements to the social side of its functions as well as better Achievements. Also within the last week or so, rumours pointing to the Windows 8 core has surfaced again, but old news for us here at thisisxbox!

Polygon sources has confirmed that for Xbox LIVE there will no longer be a cap on the number of friends on your list: “The next-generation Live won’t have a cap on the number of friends a person can have. The way players add friends will also change. Now instead of it being a two-way friendship only, people can choose to follow one another, sort of like Twitter.”

Microsoft want to put more power in the hands of developers and publishers with Achievements, allowing more Achievements to be added after a games’ launch without the need for DLC. Polygon state the purpose of “this is designed specifically to allow developers to tweak player behavior, perhaps urging players to check out specific areas of a game or get past a difficult spot. Next-gen achievements can also be tied to broader events, like a weekend challenge or a communal goal, like contributing a set number of kills to the bigger goal of 10,000 kills over one weekend. Companies can also create cross-title achievements, like awarding points for finishing the first chapter in two different and unrelated games published by the same company. Some of these bigger, cross-title, communal achievements will be a requirement for all titles.”

Additionally Polygon sources said that in line with the Playstation 4 – the new generation Xbox will be able to capture video gameplay highlights with sharing options to social networks, and that it will be up to developers to decide if their games require an always on internet connection.

Microsoft hasn’t confirmed anything about the new improved Xbox LIVE and will announce the new hardware and its capabilities on May 21st 2013. If you would like to read more about what Polygon has to say about the new console then visit this direct link.

Xbox 360

Is The Road To Xbox Infinity Really Just Xbox Gold?

xbox8

It’s been long rumoured that Microsoft could call the next-generation Xbox console a range of names based on what has been spotted about it’s design or functionality. Xbox Infinity was the more strongest of the rumoured names for quite some time and with the recent logo discovery appearing online – it fueled those rumours even further.

Another interesting leak that goes back as far as early last year was the name Xbox 8, a way of bringing the next-gen console in line with Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 since all devices use the same core mechanics of the Windows 8 operating system. At the same time we were told of an Xbox 8 possibility the name Xbox Infinity came up in that it was meant to be an “Online Platform” – a way of integrating all the online functions of the next Xbox, Xbox on Windows and Windows Phone 8 together, a system in place that could also deliver apps to TV’s without the need of a console (somehow). Our Xbox Infinity information came our way February 2012 and since an 8 sign and infinity sign are very similar, only Microsoft has the answers. However with the likelihood of Windows this year being called ‘Blue’ a major update to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 it no longer seems feasible to have an Xbox named Xbox 8 for 2013?

More recently as noticed by Fusible, Microsoft has been out in force by taking ownership of domains that have XBOX GOLD in them. The latest acquisition XboxGold.org joins the new pile of internet domains that include: XboxGold.biz, XboxGold.com.co, XboxGold.us, XboxGold.at, XboxGold.ch, XboxGold.jp, XboxGold.mx, XboxGold.ru, XboxGold.tw and XboxGold.fr.

With the recently closure of the Xbox Gold Family Account on Xbox LIVE, the grabbing of domain names related to Xbox Gold could be due to an upcoming overhaul of the way that we pay for Xbox LIVE on the next-gen console, or that it’s going to be called Xbox Gold – which is a pretty bad name for a new console. Since all use of that name relates to a subscription service on current-gen, it’s more likely to relate to next-gen subscription services on the next Xbox because Microsoft would have taken these domains years ago. With the impending and long-overdue reveal of the next-gen Xbox, the timing of Microsoft acquiring these domains is pretty obvious.

Now for the speculation – if it does relate to a subscription service what we would like to see if the next-gen console does require an always-on connection to the internet, then how about a pay-per-console to Xbox Gold instead of pay-per-gamertag profile? With the decision on Microsoft’s part to cease without notice the Family Accounts – it would make more sense and a middle ground between becoming fairer in-line with the PSN Network to have each household connected to Live through the one console account?

Something is brewing up in Microsoft Corp’s HQ over Xbox Gold – and when the news of a next-gen announcement hit’s we’ll be sure to keep you updated.

Xbox 360

Microsoft Unveiling Next-Gen Xbox To Employees Next Week?

3 Comments

xbox720mock

Next week marks the start of a Microsoft “by invite only” event called START FY14 from March 4th – March 7th 2013 in Seattle, WA, US – and some information has come to light thanks to NeoGaf that shows the Xbox Gold and Entertainment team will be in attendance holding a “Deep Dive”, “Groups” and “Q&A” events for those invited. This is likely to mark the first official unveiling of the next-gen Xbox as Microsoft embark on their plans for the Fiscal Year 2014.

A website has been set up for the event which reads the following:

The purpose of START (Strategies, Tactics and Regional Targets) is to bring together all levels of employees from CCG to share high-level corporate direction as well as Business Group and segment product strategies and details necessary to build out timely, comprehensive and integrated business plans.

The Xbox agenda is as follows:

startfy14_cut

It is highly likely that once this event has been completed, the public announcement of the next Xbox will shortly follow.

Is it a wise move for Microsoft to trust the tight lips of all those attending – expect possible leaked information from next week.

Source: NeoGaf