Microsoft (Page 99)

The Halo 3 public multiplayer beta, which was open to gamers who purchased specially-marked packages of Xbox 360 title Crackdown, has come to an end.

Xbox Live executive Aaron Greenberg has defended Microsoft's decision to charge for multiplayer online gaming - and criticised Sony for failing to offer a "unified service" with PlayStation Network.

Microsoft's David Hufford has stated that there are no plans to reduce the price of the Xbox 360 in the near future.

Sales of Nintendo hardware continue to break away from the competition in Japan, with the DS enjoying sales of well over 100,000 units a week.

Hufford "well aware" of ideal price for family consumer

Microsoft is incorporating Xbox Live into its new Ignition program, offering free music to consumers via console, Zune media player and MSN.

Bill Gates has revealed that his vision for the future of gaming involves a new control system where players swing a bat or racket as they would in real life - but said it won't be the same as the Wii.

The Casual Games Association has announced that Xbox boss Peter Moore will deliver a keynote speech at the Casual Connect Conference, set to take place in Seattle this July.

Microsoft's entertainment and devices division - the same department responsible for Xbox 360 - has unveiled a new computer designed to be used without a mouse and keyboard.

Microsoft has revealed that the discovery of content featuring "partial nudity" was the reason the Windows Vista version of Halo 2 was delayed.

Microsoft needs to act now on hardware failures - or risk losing consumer support.

Microsoft's Peter Moore has paid tribute to Rare's recent product history, defending the developer against claims that its output has struggled to keep touch with the critical and commercial successes of its work prior to its acquisition by the Xbox platf

Microsoft has started to ban modified Xbox 360 units from Xbox Live, describing the move as "an important part of our efforts to try and maintain a fair gaming environment for the large majority of gamers that play by the rules".

Sales of Nintendo hardware and software continue to outsell the competition in the US, as the latest sales figure reveal even the humble GBA has outsold Sony's PlayStation 3.

Microsoft has released a new update for the Halo 3 beta after players experienced difficulties with downloading, announcing an extension of the beta deadline.

Following the re-emergence of rumours suggesting Microsoft may support Blu-ray in the future, the company has confirmed it has "absolutely no plans" to support any other optical formats.

Microsoft and Bungie have announced that Halo 3 will be released in North America on September 25, with a European release a day later.

Microsoft Game Studios' Shane Kim has attacked Sony's ambitious PlayStation 3 Home service, stating that he doubts the company can create a compelling virtual environment.

Microsoft games boss Peter Moore has indicated that the company would seriously consider running a research project similar to Sony's Folding@home initiative, on the Xbox 360.

Microsoft will today release the first of its biannual Xbox 360 updates for 2007, due to be available for download via Xbox Live from around 10am GMT.

Microsoft has announced that it is establishing a European base of operations for Microsoft Game Studios. The new publishing arm, based in Reading, will promote MGS games in Europe and manage its relationships with European developers.

The president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division has said he expects the company's console business to finally start making money next year.

Microsoft is finally moving to clamp down on people who set up foreign Xbox Live accounts in order to download content they can't access locally.

The Xbox 360 may still have the largest installed base of all the next-gen consoles in Australia, but the Wii is catching up - with 80,000 consoles sold since December.

Microsoft's chief financial officer, Chris Liddell, has confirmed that the company expects platform exclusive Halo 3 to boost Xbox 360 sales when the game hits the shops later this year.