Microsoft Studios

Doritos Crash Course 2 crunches into XBLA tomorrow for free

by Sinan Kubba (May 7th 2013 7:45AM)

As free, corporate-sponsored games go, we enjoyed the 2D platforming approximation of Wipeout (the TV show) that was Doritos Crash Course. Also, it was, like most free, corporate-sponsored games, entirely free. This is rarely ever a bad thing. With all that in mind, it's cool to see a sequel coming ...

Ex-Cryptic, Gazillion CEO John Needham is new Lionhead boss

by David Hinkle (May 3rd 2013 7:30PM)

John Needham is now the new boss of Lionhead Studios. Needham's previous posts include CEO of Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online) for nearly three years and CEO at Gazillion Entertainment (Marvel Universe Online) for almost two years. "Our vision is focused on building innovative gaming services ...

Forza Horizon rolls out free 1000 Club DLC tomorrow

by Richard Mitchell (Apr 15th 2013 4:15PM)

Forza Horizon will get a free infusion of new content tomorrow. Entitled the 1000 Club, the DLC adds over 1000 challenges to complete, along with some new Achievements. The DLC will automatically suggest challenges based on whatever cars a player owns. Based on the trailer, the challenges offer ...

State of Decay gets new trailer, coming to XBLA in June

by Mike Suszek (Apr 13th 2013 7:30PM)

Undead Labs has announced a June release window for State of Decay on Xbox Live Arcade. The game, formerly known as Class3, features a whole mess of zombies and survival horror action. While State of Decay will come to PC in addition to XBLA, the release window announcement from Undead Labs only ...

Report: Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth no longer with company

by Jordan Mallory (Apr 10th 2013 9:00PM)

Adam Orth, the Microsoft Studios creative director who caused a stir among consumers last week by tweeting his opinions on "always-on" devices, is no longer a Microsoft employee, according to "two sources" speaking with Polygon. Last week, Microsoft publicly apologized for Orth's comments, saying ...

Microsoft Studios creative director dismisses 'always-on' console concerns

by Sinan Kubba (Apr 5th 2013 8:00AM)

Adam Orth, creative director at Microsoft's video game division, doesn't "get the drama around having an 'always on' console." Orth took to Twitter yesterday to publicly dismiss criticisms of always-online consoles, likely in response to Kotaku sources recently saying the next-generation Xbox will ...

Halo 4's second run of McFarlane toys includes exclusive DLC

by David Hinkle (Apr 2nd 2013 10:45PM)

McFarlane Toys' second run of Halo 4 action figures will include special vouchers for exclusive DLC in 343 Industries' game. Master Chief, Elite Ranger, Storm Jackal and two different Spartan figures will be offered – plus a deluxe nine-inch tall Didact figure, planned for the fall. In a blog ...

Halo 4 as a love story: The personal origins of Cortana's breakdown

by Richard Mitchell (Apr 2nd 2013 4:00PM)

The Halo universe's sentient artificial intelligence programs – smart AIs – have a limited lifespan. After seven years, they begin to break down, acting irrationally and eventually thinking themselves to death. This process is known as Rampancy and closely resembles humanity's own ...

Forward Unto Dawn and staying true to Halo

by Richard Mitchell (Mar 27th 2013 2:00PM)

You might think that the biggest challenge in creating Halo 4's Forward Unto Dawn series was translating one of gaming's most beloved franchises into a live-action film that was not only true to the source material, but also worth watching. You'd be right, of course, but for fans the biggest ...