Microsoft news – Page 31

Posted on September 8, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Watch the /twitchgaming: ID@Xbox Fall Showcase Sept. 14

Good things are bound to happen when you mix [email protected] and /twitchgaming! Here we are once again to showcase updates and new announcements of amazing games coming to Xbox from independent developers.

You can watch the /twitchgaming: [email protected] Fall Showcase exclusively on Twitch at Twitch.tv/twitchgaming or Twitch.tv/xbox.

This year we’d like to kick off the showcase with a pre-show by Black Girl Gamers. They’ll be showing us some exciting gameplay of Versus Evil’s multiplayer deception madness game, Eville. The pre-show will kick off on Wednesday, September 14 at 9:30 a.m. PT and can be watched directly at twitch.tv/blackgirlgamers or during the co-stream on Twitch.tv/twitchgaming or Twitch.tv/xbox.

The main showcase itself will feature updates for Metal: Hellsinger, You Suck at Parking, and more. Look out for new announces and trailers, what’s coming soon to Game Pass, a deeper dive with developer interviews, and gameplay of Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed (plus a couple other fun titles). Catch this part of the show on Wednesday, September 14 at 10 a.m. PT on Twitch at Twitch.tv/twitchgaming or Twitch.tv/xbox.

For all you Twitch streamers, this event is open to co-streaming. Here are directions on how to do just that!

We hope you can join us for this 90 plus minutes of exciting news and debuts on Wednesday, September 14 at 10 a.m. PT for the /twitchgaming: [email protected] Fall Showcase! For all the latest [email protected] news, be sure to stay tuned to Xbox Wire and @ID_Xbox on Twitter.

Posted on September 7, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 evolving with more ways to play like a pro

With the launch of the original Xbox Elite controller in 2015, we wanted to give gamers a new way to play at their full potential. We developed a premium gaming controller that offered unparalleled levels of customization to allow you to play with a specific setup that works best for you.

Today we are excited to build on that legacy with the announcement of the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core in white. It’s designed to meet the core needs of today’s competitive gamers, putting exceptional performance, customization, and durability where it matters most — in your hands. We are giving fans more choice than ever before with two Elite controllers to meet your needs:

The new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core in white at $129.99 USD MSRP includes the essential components you need to unleash your best game. Experience adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks. Enjoy limitless customization with exclusive button mapping options in the Xbox Accessories app. Stay in the game with up to 40 hours of rechargeable battery life¹ and refined components that are built to last.
The current Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 in black at $179.99 USD MSRP includes all the Elite Core features plus it comes with premium interchangeable components to fit your preferred gaming style, including different thumbsticks, D-pad, and paddle shapes. The carrying, case allows you to keep the controller and components secure and organized. Charge the controller either inside or outside the carrying case with the included braided USB-C cable and charging dock.

Since Xbox Design Lab debuted in 2016, the number one fan request has been to include Elite controllers in our unique customization program to empower further personalization of that premium experience. Today we’re announcing that coming this holiday, you will be able to do just that when we bring Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 to Xbox Design Lab! We’re excited to bring more choices to gamers around the world and can’t wait to see how fans reimagine what it is to be Elite.

Add even more customization to the Elite Series 2 – Core or replace components on other Elite Series 2 models with the Complete Component Pack for $59.99 USD MSRP. Tailor the controller to your preferred gaming style with interchangeable thumbsticks, paddle shapes, and D-pad. Includes carrying case, charging dock, and USB-C cable.

We’ve heard players loud and clear and have continued to improve Elite Series 2 controllers to be more reliable than ever before with refined components that are built to last. For added peace of mind, Elite Series 2 controllers come with Microsoft’s 1-year limited warranty². The best part is that Elite Series 2 controllers are designed to be fully customizable, so you can play with a specific setup that works best for you.

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core in white and the Complete Component Pack are available for pre-order today in select Xbox markets worldwide for $129.99 USD MSRP and $59.99 USD MSRP, respectively. Visit Xbox.com or your local retailer, including Microsoft Store, for more information.

To celebrate the newest member of the Xbox Elite family, the Xbox Gear Shop is excited to announce the new Xbox Elite Jersey. This premium gaming jersey includes both styling and technical features, including a zippered sleeve pocket and magnetic chest strip to keep your Elite components ready for action. The Xbox Elite Jersey is available for purchase today from the Xbox Gear Shop for $99.99 USD MSRP.

¹ Battery life varies with usage and other factors.² Microsoft’s Limited Warranty is in addition to your consumer law rights.

Posted on September 6, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Meet Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro, at the crossroads of working in person and remotely

The future of work is flexible. Now more than ever organizations need a single, integrated experience that makes working together easier and more engaging for their employees whether they are all in the same room, remote, or—for many of us—a mix of both.

At Microsoft, we are committed to bridging the gap between physical and digital workspaces. More than 60 percent of the Fortune 500 have already chosen Microsoft Teams Rooms to connect employees across the hybrid divide and active Teams Rooms devices have more than doubled year over year.¹

Enabling truly great hybrid meetings and collaboration has gone from nice to have to must have. Because of this, Microsoft is happy to announce changes to Microsoft Teams Rooms, making it easy to start your hybrid journey.

What is Microsoft Teams Rooms?

Meeting space solutions play a vital role in enabling effective hybrid collaboration, but many of today’s rooms systems are focused on the people who are physically present. In fact, less than 8 percent of the 90 million conference rooms worldwide are video enabled.²

Microsoft Teams Rooms help remove the barriers between spaces, places, and people and are designed to deliver inclusive meeting experiences with all participants in mind. Teams Rooms can turn any room into an easy-to-use and inclusive meeting space where everyone can fully engage and participate, no matter where they are. Teams Rooms is an ecosystem of Microsoft Teams software and certified partner hardware devices that provide flexibility for your meeting needs.

Get started today with Teams Rooms

Enable everyone to be seen, heard, and fully participate from anywhere.

Introducing Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro

Meet Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro. Teams Rooms Pro is a new offer that brings together the value of our existing Teams Rooms features, new innovations, and the Teams Rooms managed service platform—all in one license. Teams Rooms Pro simplifies the purchasing process for our customers and delivers the collective benefits of our advancements in both hybrid meeting experiences and device management.

Teams Rooms Pro will deliver the latest hybrid meeting experiences with a focus on inclusivity, ease of use, flexibility, security, and management. Let’s look at some of the features available or coming soon to Teams Rooms Pro.

Intelligent audio and video: To help everyone be seen and heard, we combine high-quality audio and video from Microsoft Teams-certified devices with video layout options like front row, noise suppression, and bandwidth optimization. Advanced camera capabilities use AI to help remote attendees feel like they are in the room with automatic framing to capture the active speaker.
Increased engagement: Beyond audio and video, one of the best ways for remote participants to establish their presence in a meeting is to engage with ease. We’re bringing popular features from the personal Teams meeting experience to Teams Rooms Pro—including features like wirelessly sharing content, raise hand, and live reactions. And when using the classic video grid layout, chat bubbles alert in-room participants to the conversation happening alongside the meeting, so nothing gets missed.
Powerful collaboration: Real-time collaboration can be a part of every meeting for every attendee through Microsoft Whiteboard, Microsoft Surface Hub 2S, and the intelligent capture of an analog whiteboard. Easily add a touch display to enable multi-user, shared whiteboarding, or add a content camera to share an intelligent, augmented whiteboard view into Teams meetings.
Management and security: Great meeting experiences start behind the scenes with strong security and operations. Teams Rooms Pro provides essential enterprise-grade management and security, including access control, remote configuration, and device analytics, as well as IT service management (ITSM) integration. Teams Rooms Pro also includes the Teams Rooms managed service platform, which provides AI-driven operations that automate updates, problem detection, and resolution at scale.

Teams Rooms Pro is available now at USD40 per user/month.

Updates for Teams Rooms managed service

Teams Rooms managed service enables customers to scale and optimize their rooms deployment. Building on our learnings delivering on this value for the past several years, today we are announcing an evolution to one of the Teams Rooms managed service workflows. Starting October 1, 2022, incidents will automatically remediate or route to the customer’s IT department or designated management partner, without the intermediary involvement from our engineers.

The Teams Rooms managed service platform will continue to provide all the platform value Premium customers know and use today, including all-day monitoring, update ring configuration, incident diagnostics, inventory planning, and advanced incident analytics.

We will focus our approach moving forward on growing and deepening the value of our managed service software platform by increasing our feature investments. Additional support for Teams Rooms issues will move to our standard processes for customers across their Microsoft products.

For customers who are seeking additional help managing and supporting their meeting rooms, we have partners with strong technical expertise and deep experience working with Microsoft Teams Rooms.

Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic

Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic makes it easier for small businesses to create hybrid meeting experiences. Teams Rooms Basic provides foundational Teams meeting experiences like scheduling, joining meetings, and wireless content sharing. For customers needing core management and hybrid meeting features, we recommend Teams Rooms Pro.

Teams Rooms Basic is included with the purchase of any certified Teams Rooms device at no additional cost purchased on or after September 1, 2022. Customers can apply up to 25 Basic licenses to their tenant.

Learn more

Learn more about Teams Rooms Licensing.

As the new way of work demands ever greater flexibility, Microsoft is committed to providing inclusive meeting experiences and seamless device management. We believe these features will enable organizations to support their employees and help them to thrive in the hybrid workplace.

We are excited about the role Microsoft Teams Rooms plays in this mission and the roadmap of innovation ahead.

How to get Teams Rooms Pro

To get started, check out Teams Rooms Plans and Pricing.

¹Microsoft FY22 Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call, Brett Iversen, Satya Nadella, Amy Hood, Microsoft. July 26, 2022.

²Brace yourselves: Hybrid work is hard. Here’s how Microsoft Teams and Office 365 can help, Nicole Herskowitz, Microsoft. September 9, 2021.

Posted on September 2, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Sea of Thieves’ Talk Like a Pirate-themed Community Day coming Sep. 17

Summary

Sea of Thieves’ next Community Day will take place from September 17 (10am UTC) to September 18 (10am UTC).
Community Day takes place during a long weekend of celebrations for Talk Like a Pirate Day, including a Pirate Emporium sale and login gifts available from September 15 to September 20.
For the first time on a Sea of Thieves Community Day, reaching the top Community Emissary Grade will raise more Ancient Skeletons across the seas.

We’re thrilled to announce that Season Seven Community Day will be arriving on Sea of Thieves’ shores on September 17! As a Talk Like a Pirate Day special, this event is going even bigger on the rewards available across the weekend, with a stunning smorgasbord of in-game and out-of-game delights primed and ready for your pirating pleasure.

This latest Community Day will feature a generous Renown boost from the very beginning, speeding up your progress through Season Seven’s 100 levels of earnable rewards. But as with our very first Community Day, it’s gold and reputation that will be significantly boosted by our community tweet-along this time. That multiplier will be in your hands as all players work together to raise the Community Emissary Grade. Everyone using the #SeaofThievesCommunityDay Twitter hashtag from 10am UTC on the day will be contributing to that effort, with the maximum level of Community Emissary Grade Five offering a handy two-and-a-half times the amount of gold and reputation until the end of the event.

Not only that, but for the first time ever, Grade Five will unlock an increased spawn rate for Ancient Skeletons for the rest of the event! When smashed, these particular skeletons drop a random number of Ancient Coins that can be claimed by you and your crew. These can be spent in the Pirate Emporium, where the stock ranges from amazing ship sets and weapon collections to costumes, pets, and even emotes – so you won’t want to miss your chance to slash some of those high-value skellies on the day! Especially as our Pirate Emporium shopkeepers will also be slashing their prices for the occasion.

More Gifts and Goodies

From September 15 to September 20, players will be able to pick up a stunning array of celebratory fireworks from the Merchant Alliance – and even just logging in will earn you a free emote. The Arrrgh! Emote will go straight into the Vanity Chest of all sailors who play Sea of Thieves during the event period, and you’ll also find the Ranting Rogue Emote available to pick up for free when you visit the Pirate Emporium during that time. Perfect for all your Talking Like a Pirate needs.

Of course, Community Day brings a themed login bonus of its own, with the free Season Seven Community Day Flag ready to be hoisted high for September 17’s event. Our Rare merchandise store sale returns for Community Day too, with a Season Seven commemorative T-shirt and flag available to buy for a limited time over the weekend. And all you pirates who love real-world loot can use the discount code COMMUNITYDAY to get 30% off Sea of Thieves items!

With Community Day also comes a celebration of our amazing artists, players, creators and community MVPs – so as is customary, we’ll be scouring our channels and the #BeMorePirate hashtag for amazing Sea of Thieves stories from now until the end of the big day. Wow us with your creations and adventures this Community Day, and worthy winners will be awarded the Hat of Unfeasibly Glorious Fame! So if you think you or one of your crewmates deserves attention, as well as a particularly rare and fetching hat, you know what to do.

Twitch will also be getting in on the party, with the Gilded Phoenix Hull available via Twitch Drops between September 17 (10am UTC) and September 18 (10am UTC). Watch any participating streamer play Sea of Thieves for an hour to spruce up your ship with this glorious golden hull – and anyone can offer this Drop, not just Sea of Thieves Partners! Meanwhile, if you’d like to spend some time watching Sea of Thieves TV, we’ll be running an event stream of our own which puts you, the community, firmly in the driving seat of the broadcast. Tune in on the day to take control of our stream team as they venture out onto the Sea of Thieves and undertake a wild journey of your choosing…

While there’s a lot of gold and glory on offer, don’t forget: the real journey is the friends we make along the way to bagging big rewards. Community Day is the space in our calendar for coming together and celebrating everything that makes the Sea of Thieves so wonderful to sail upon – and that’s you, our players. We hope you can join us to share the love for the pirate’s life (and language!) over this special weekend, so mark your maps for Sea of Thieves Season Seven Community Day on September 17. We’ll see you on the seas!

Find Out More

For more information on Sea of Thieves’ regular updates, including full release notes, visit the Sea of Thieves website. Updates are available for free to all Sea of Thieves players who have bought the game on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 PC or via Steam, or players who have access to it with Xbox Game Pass. Simply download and install the latest Sea of Thieves update to get access.

New to Sea of Thieves? Find out about the latest free content updates on our What’s New page, get familiar with Who’s Who or pick up some gameplay tips from our Pirate Academy, which provides invaluable information on topics ranging from sailing to swordplay as you prepare for your maiden voyage. Learn more about Sea of Thieves here, or join the ongoing adventure at www.seaofthieves.com where you can embark on an epic journey with one of gaming’s most welcoming communities!

Sea of Thieves

Microsoft Studios

☆☆☆☆☆ 1139

★★★★★

$39.99 $31.99

Xbox One X Enhanced

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Live Gold membership required to play on Xbox One; sold separately. ========= About the game
Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right. With no set roles, you have complete freedom to approach the world, and other players, however you choose. Whether you’re voyaging as a group or sailing solo, you’re bound to encounter other crews in this shared world adventure – but will they be friends or foes, and how will you respond? A vast open world
Explore a vast open world filled with unspoiled islands, sunken ships and mysterious artefacts. Take on quests to hunt for lost treasure, seek out cursed Skeleton Captains or gather valuable cargo for the Trading Companies. Go hunting and fishing or choose from hundreds of optional goals and side-quests. Unforgettable stories
Play through the Tall Tales to experience Sea of Thieves’ unique take on a story-driven campaign. With 11 tales to play through across two epic storylines, these immersive and cinematic quests provide around 30 hours of the ultimate pirate fantasy. Become Legend On your journey to become a Pirate Legend you’ll amass loot, build a reputation and define a unique personal style with your hard-earned rewards. Adventurer. Explorer. Conqueror. What will your legend be? A game that’s always growing
With five major expansions and almost a year’s worth of monthly updates, Sea of Thieves is a service-based game that is continually growing and evolving. Check back each month to see what new content has been added.

Posted on September 2, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Xbox teams up with IHOP to serve up a full menu, unlimited games

Partnership will include collectible syrups and loyalty rewards inspired by Game Pass games

Today, Xbox announced a new and delicious partnership with IHOP to celebrate two things we love – a full menu and unlimited games.

Members of IHOP’s International Bank of Pancakes rewards program will now have more choice and value in how they redeem rewards with game offers, including a 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate trial, Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle, and full game download codes for Grounded.

IHOP is also rolling out limited-time Xbox-inspired meal combos, collectible syrup caddies and a restaurant pop-up event near Microsoft campus.

Xbox Menu Items:

Party Animals – Pancake Combo with 2 Cupcake Pancakes with pork sausage links, hash browns & 2 eggs over medium
Grounded – Big Brunch Steakburger with hickory-smoked bacon, fried egg, crispy potato pancake, American cheese and IHOP sauce. Served with a side of Buttermilk Pancakes
Forza Family Feast – Fuel your crew without having to hit pause with the exclusive Forza Family Feast. Enjoy 4 servings each of scrambled eggs and golden hash browns, 8 hickory-smoked bacon strips, 8 pork sausage links, and of course 8 world-famous buttermilk pancakes. Team up to take down this delicious feast today! Serves 4. Available for a limited time through IHOP ‘N Go only. Not available for dine-in.

Collectible Xbox Syrup Caddies: Xbox and IHOP have teamed up to create Iconic IHOP syrups with an Xbox twist. Held in a collectible caddy and bundled with a bright blue Xbox Wireless Controller to discover your next favorite Xbox Game Pass game anywhere. Stay tuned for details on how you can enter to win your very own through IHOP’s social channels.

Restaurant pop-up event: On Tuesday, September 13, fans in the Seattle area can stop by the IHOP at Bellevue Marketplace for the opportunity to grab a booth, a controller and grub while you game. The community can feel what it’s like to experience Xbox Game Pass and try the Xbox-inspired menu items in an IHOP restaurant.

Xbox will also be streaming live from this newly remodeled IHOP location on September 13. Tune in at Twitch.com/Xbox from 11am-12pm PST for a chance to win prizes including IHOP gift cards and PanCoins, which you can now earn from ordering delicious IHOP food and redeem for new offers, exclusive Xbox games, trials and more.

The limited-time Xbox menu is now available at participating IHOP restaurants nationwide through October 31. For more information or to find the nearest location, visit IHOP.com.

Xbox is excited to partner with IHOP in bringing Game Pass rewards to its rewards program, giving Xbox fans more ways to play and save at the International Bank of Pancakes.

Posted on September 2, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

AI helping vulnerable communities in India better understand heat wave dangers

As heat waves grow more common, frequent, and intense in India and around the world, researchers say it’s having a disproportionate effect on some of the world’s poorest communities.

In India, that harsher impact is being felt in the nation’s slums, which researchers say can be as much as 6°C (42.8°F) warmer than other parts of the city

“In the slums, it is so difficult to step out and find shade on a hot summer day,” Anshu Sharma said. “It is so congested. The houses are often made of tin sheets, which heat up much faster compared to other materials.”

Sharma is the co-founder of SEEDS, a New Delhi-based disaster response and preparedness non-profit organization, which has measured the temperature disparity between the slums and other parts of the city.

Since 2017, SEEDS has been working with communities most vulnerable to heat waves, to help people come up with solutions to beat the heat. And now, with the support of Microsoft’s AI for Humanitarian Action grant, SEEDS has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict the impact of multiple hazards like cyclones, earthquakes or heat waves in any given area.

The model, called Sunny Lives, has generated heat wave risk information for around 125,000 people living in slums in New Delhi, India’s sprawling capital, and Nagpur, a central Indian city susceptible to intense heat waves.

Here’s the story of how SEEDS married cutting-edge technology, shoe-leather surveys, and collaborative project management to raise awareness about what is often an invisible enemy.

An invisible enemy

a shot of a congested urban slum with tin-roofed shacks in delhi underneath a flyover — Most makeshift construction materials used in urban slums trap more heat, thus increasing the indoor temperature. The roofs are often made of tin sheets and houses are crammed together without windows or ventilation. (Photo: Amit Verma for Microsoft)

In humans, heat stress is known to cause higher blood pressure, extreme fatigue, and sleeping troubles. The risk of heat stress is highest outdoors, between noon and 4 p.m. But, alarmingly, in some cases staying indoors might be more dangerous.

Quite simply, if you don’t live in a house made from the right kind of materials, it could be hotter indoors than it is outdoors. Sharma shared some numbers to drive home the point.

“Suppose the outdoor temperature is about 38°C (100.4°F),” he said. “If you’re in a tin shack in a slum, the indoor temperature can be as high as 45°C (113°F). And it’s the older people, and young children, who spend the day indoors, that suffer.”

Central to the problem is the fact that most makeshift construction materials used in urban slums trap more heat, thus increasing the indoor temperature. The roofs are often made of tin sheets and houses are crammed together without windows or ventilation.

A study recently published in Nature examined the indoor temperature variations in different housing types across five low-income locations in South Asia. One of the key findings from the study was about the monthly temperature variation in tin-roofed houses in a village in the western Indian state of Maharashtra: in the months of May and June, the temperature was a good three or four degrees Celsius (37.4°F-39.2°F) higher compared to the outdoor temperature.

That’s been an especially concerning scenario this year.

Blazing summers in the Indian subcontinent are considered the norm, but even by the region’s own standards, the heat this year was intense and widespread. In mid-May, the India Meteorological Department reported record high temperatures between 45°C (113°F) and 50°C (122°F) in several parts of the country.

Experts say such intense heat waves are likely to continue. According to a study published in the Weather and Climate Extremes journal last year, India saw more than double the number of heat waves between 2000-2019 than it did between 1980-1999.

“In the future, these kinds of heat waves are going to be normal,” Professor Petteri Taalas, the secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said in a recent report.

Posted on September 1, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Communications Workers of America and Microsoft launch ‘Get Connected’ initiative to boost Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment

WASHINGTON and REDMOND, Wash. – Sept. 1, 2022 – The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and Microsoft are launching “Get Connected,” an initiative to boost enrollment in the Federal Communication Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program, at a community Labor Day festival in Atlanta, Ga. Additional events are planned throughout September and early October in Detroit, Mich., Memphis, Tenn., New York City, and rural North Carolina.

This partnership builds on the groundbreaking labor neutrality agreement between CWA and Microsoft, announced in June, which includes a commitment to collaborate on technology adoption and skill building programs.

In each city, CWA and Microsoft will work with local public housing authorities and other community partners to publicize the events and pre-qualify residents for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). On the day of each event, volunteers from Microsoft and CWA will help residents complete their ACP enrollment. Service providers that offer no-cost high-speed broadband plans to ACP enrollees will be available on-site to sign residents up for service. Volunteers will also collect school supplies.

“CWA members have a longstanding commitment to making sure that every household in America has reliable high-speed internet service, and we have been strong advocates for the Affordable Connectivity Program,” said CWA President Chris Shelton. “Microsoft shares this commitment, and we are excited to be able to combine our resources and expertise to help public housing residents enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program.”

“Broadband has become the electricity of the 21st century. It’s a fundamental right that should not be beyond the reach of anyone in America,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft President and Vice Chair. “We’re glad to be working with CWA to bring more broadband access to more Americans through the Affordable Connectivity Program.”

The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program is a benefit program geared toward helping households afford broadband. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. More information may be found at fcc.gov/acp.

About Communications Workers of America

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, video games, and other fields.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

For more information, press only:

CWA Communications Department, (202) 434-1168, [email protected]

Microsoft Media Relations, WE Communications for Microsoft, (425) 638-7777, [email protected]

Posted on September 1, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Gaming for everyone, everywhere: Our view on the Activision Blizzard acquisition

Game developers around the world are creating innovative and groundbreaking games. We think that we can do more to bring those experiences to the billions of players everywhere. Our announcement in January that we intend to acquire Activision Blizzard was an important milestone in our journey to do so. Since then, regulators, game developers and players have been asking what the acquisition means for the industry and, most importantly, for players.

While we love consoles, we recognize that they are not the only way that people play games. Today, the largest and fastest growing segment of gaming is mobile platforms. To reach the billions of players where they are and no matter what device they play on, we need to embrace choice. Giving players choice in how they play their games makes gaming more accessible and leads to larger, more vibrant communities of players. Choice is equally important to developers. Developers benefit from having a diversity of distribution and business models for their games. Choice unlocks opportunities for innovation and enables the industry to grow.

We are expanding choice in two ways: through the creation of Game Pass, which gives players a subscription option; and by bringing more games to mobile platforms, including through our cloud game streaming technology. Subscription services like Game Pass make gaming more affordable and help players from all over the world find their next favorite game. Game Pass empowers developers to bring more games to more players, not fewer. We intend to make Activision Blizzard’s much-loved library of games – including Overwatch, Diablo and Call of Duty – available in Game Pass and to grow those gaming communities. By delivering even more value to players, we hope to continue growing Game Pass, extending its appeal to mobile phones and any connected device.

Bringing more games to mobile platforms, however, requires new capabilities. The expertise that the teams at Activision Blizzard bring in developing games for mobile platforms will help us understand how to create games that engage players around the world. In addition, we hope that players will be eager to play traditional console games from Activision Blizzard on other platforms via our cloud game streaming technology. This promises to open up mobile gaming, creating new distribution opportunities for game developers outside of mobile app stores while delivering compelling and immersive experiences for players by using the power of the cloud. And we can extend the joy of playing to devices that people already own, including Smart TVs and laptops.

In doing so, we will pursue a principled path. We’ve heard that this deal might take franchises like Call of Duty away from the places where people currently play them. That’s why, as we’ve said before, we are committed to making the same version of Call of Duty available on PlayStation on the same day the game launches elsewhere. We will continue to enable people to play with each other across platforms and across devices. We know players benefit from this approach because we’ve done it with Minecraft, which continues to be available on multiple platforms and has expanded to even more since Mojang joined Microsoft in 2014. As we extend our gaming storefront across new devices and platforms, we will make sure that we do so in a manner that protects the ability of developers to choose how to distribute their games.

We will continue to engage with regulators with a spirit of transparency and openness as they review this acquisition. We respect and welcome the hard questions that are being asked. The gaming industry today is robust and dynamic. Industry leaders, including Tencent and Sony, continue to expand their deep and extensive libraries of games as well as other entertainment brands and franchises, which are enjoyed by players everywhere. We believe that a thorough review will show that the combination of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard will benefit the industry and players.

For all the players and game developers out there, you remain at the center of everything we do, and we will continue to listen to your feedback and do everything we can to nurture this industry we all love.

(Editor’s Note) For more information on the deal:

Posted on September 1, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Halo Infinite update: Sept. 2022

With the end of Season 2 drawing ever closer, we want to provide you with an update on the future of all things Halo Infinite.

Joseph Staten, Sean Baron, and Brian Jarrard sat down for a roundtable discussion about the current state of the game, priorities, and player experience goals. Also covered is the upcoming “Winter Update,” Season 3, and other features (such as the Forge Beta and Campaign Network Co-Op) which you can check out in the video below.

In addition, we have also updated the roadmap for what’s coming in the Winter Update and Season 3, featuring new maps, modes, weapons, armor, and much more.

Halo Infinite roadmap update for September 2022

We continue to be grateful for the community’s passion and patience as we look to what’s coming on the horizon. Nothing excites us more than being able to deliver the experiences of everything that’s coming on the roadmap (and beyond!), and for your creativity to soar when Forge is in your hands, knowing that our best days are yet ahead of us!

Posted on September 1, 2022 by sick skills — Leave a comment

New sidebar in Microsoft Edge helps you multitask smarter

At Microsoft Edge, we’re always thinking of ways to help you make the most of your time online – and often times, this involves multitasking. But, multitasking is hard to do well – you start with writing an email, and then you toggle to another tab to grab a link … and next thing you know, you’ve lost your focus and are buried in a new task. That got us thinking: how can Microsoft Edge help you strike the right balance of focus and function? And today, we’re excited to announce that we’ve introduced the sidebar in Microsoft Edge to help you achieve more without losing your flow.

The new sidebar in Microsoft Edge lets you access tools and features side-by-side within your browser, even as you navigate between tabs. From being able to search specifically within the page you’re viewing, to using tools to do quick math without opening another tab, we’ve found a way to help you be more productive without losing your place as you browse.

Today, these features include search, Discover, tools, Games, Office, and Outlook. We plan to add new features to the sidebar in the future, but for now, let us introduce you to the current lineup.

Quickly access your files with Office

Office gives you convenient access to all your productivity apps directly in your web browser for free. Also, it makes it easier to search for your files right from the sidebar; you can see your most recent files and even filter depending on the app you want to use. You’ll be automatically logged into your Microsoft account if you’re already signed into Microsoft Edge, so there is no extra step required. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account, you can get started for free right in the sidebar. Learn more about accessing your apps in sidebar here.

Microsoft Edge and Outlook work even better together

Outlook lets you monitor your inbox or check your calendar without having to navigate away from your browsing activities – and it’s even better when you need to reference content in your browser. Say, you’re planning a vacation with friends. You can easily check flight options next to your calendar. And when you want input on a few vacation rentals, you can compose an email while easily toggling between tabs to copy and paste links for their consideration. Voila, and bon voyage!

Explore more with Discover

Discover in the sidebar boosts your browsing experience and provides more relevant information as you search the web. Jump to a web page and with a simple click on the Discover button, you’ll get page-related facts, articles, and videos, designed to help you find more of the knowledge and inspiration you’re looking for, all at a quick glance. For example, have you ever found a recipe in a blog you’re really excited about, but when you go to check if you have the ingredients to make it, you have to scroll through lots of extra information to find them way at the bottom of the page? With Discover, you can save time scrolling and quickly find the information you need, plus explore other content like similar recipes, related blogs, and cooking videos.

One-click access to fun, free games from your sidebar

Recently, we announced new gaming features that make Microsoft Edge the best browser for gamers. Now, you can take a break and access the Games menu right from your sidebar. Simply click on the games icon on your sidebar to access a variety of free-to-play casual and arcade games.

Use tools for quick help without navigating away

If you find yourself flipping between browser tabs to convert units and do quick math, then tools helps you maintain focus by bringing these functions to the side, where they’re ready to use without cluttering your browser window. We even included an internet speed test, so you can quickly diagnose your connection if a site seems to be loading slowly.

Just like the toolbar in Microsoft Edge, the sidebar is meant to be all your own and customizable, so you can choose the features that help you multitask best. To customize the sidebar, just click the + button to add and remove features. Or, if you want it out of the way, you can hide it with the click of a single button at the bottom of the sidebar. The sidebar is available for users in English markets in the latest version of Microsoft Edge. The sidebar will show up automatically for some users; if you don’t see it, you can enable it by clicking Settings and more (…) and then “Show sidebar.”