Xbox Live dumping Microsoft Points, ending 100-friend limit, adding Gold account sharing

xboxlive

Microsoft confirmed this morning that it will be shifting away from its Microsoft Points virtual currency for purchasing games and other items on Xbox Live. The company made the announcement as it released new details about the upcoming Xbox One console. “We’re moving from Microsoft Points to real money,” said Marc Whitten, the Xbox Live… Read More…

Ask Andru: Is Wii U really a next-generation console?

wiiu

Today we received a question about Nintendo’s upcoming console release, Wii U, with GeekWire reader Alex wondering why the company continues to release new peripherals for a console that’s seen better days. Question: What’s up with the Wii U? Why is Nintendo releasing yet another expensive peripheral for the aging Wii? Nintendo originally announced Wii… Read More…

Microsoft exec: Xbox 360 has ‘a lot more than two years’ left

xbox1

In an interview with GameSpot down at the E3 video-game convention in Los Angeles this week, a Microsoft Xbox executive made an attention-grabbing statement about the Xbox 360, saying that the console has “a lot more than two years” of life left in it. The quote from Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer doesn’t necessarily mean that… Read More…

E3: Microsoft ‘SmartGlass’ trademark filing hints at bigger ambitions for Xbox

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[Follow-up: Microsoft unveils Xbox SmartGlass, Xbox Music, IE for Xbox, and Nike+ Kinect] It’s going to be a big week for anyone who cares about video games, with the E3 convention happening in Los Angeles. And one of the biggest rumors to emerge so far is a juicy one involving Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console. The report… Read More…

GeekWire Podcast: Amazon’s strategy, Apple’s iCloud, and Nintendo’s crazy new controller

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This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we recap a big week in tech news — including Jeff Bezos at the Amazon.com shareholders meeting; Apple’s Steve Jobs at the Cupertino City Council; and Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo at the E3 video-game convention. Then we’re joined by journalist Glenn Fleishman to talk about the latest from Apple, including… Read More…

Sony’s new PS Vita handheld: $249 WiFi, $299 3G, on AT&T

psvita

Sony this evening unveiled the official name for the successor to its PlayStation Portable. Dubbed the PlayStation Vita, the new handheld will launch later this year, with a WiFi version retailing for $249 and the 3G model going for $299. The company made the announcement at the E3 video-game convention in Los Angeles. There were… Read More…

Xbox plans Live TV, YouTube, Bing search, hints at DVR

xboxlivetvs

Microsoft this morning confirmed plans to offer a live television service to users of its Xbox Live service, and hinted that it will include or connect to digital video recording features. The Xbox Live TV service was announced during the company’s briefing at the E3 video-game convention in Los Angeles. Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten… Read More…

Halo 4 in development, and other E3 leaks from Microsoft’s own site

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Halo 4 is “on the way.” That’s the (inadvertently) official word from Microsoft this morning. The company isn’t taking the stage at the E3 video-game convention for another half-hour, but its website was temporarily updated a short time ago with much of the news that the company is expected to announce, including another installment in the… Read More…

Name that Tech Tune: What is this classic video game theme song?

Megaphone

In honor of next week’s big E3 video-game convention, this week’s Name that Tech Tune contest digs into the archives for a true classic. Can you identify the game franchise associated with the song below? If so, you’ll have a chance to win a free ticket to the GeekWire launch bash, June 22 at the… Read More…