UPDATE: A statement from Microsoft (via IGN) has clarified that Asobo Studio is working on a new game with Focus Home Interactive (which was confirmed last year), not with Microsoft, and that the recent stories about the same have been reported due to a translation error.

Original story follows:

It was many years that Microsoft’s Flight Simulator series was on the shelf as the company’s focus shifted to other things, but 2020 saw its revival, and it was meet with much anticipation. If you doubt that, you can look to the game’s booming success on the Xbox Game Pass for PC as proof. If that isn’t enough, the game’s performance outside Game Pass may be able to convince you more.

As reported by Madinfinite, developer Asobo Studio has confirmed that the game has already sold over 1 million copies since its launch in August. That is sales, too, so not counting Game Pass subscribers (though obviously does include those who purchased after trying on Game Pass). Asobo is also apparently working with Microsoft on another project as well, though no details are given for what it is or when we can expect it.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is available now on PC with it planned to come to Xbox consoles at some point into the future. The game is continuing to get updates, with the next one looking to focus on the United States.

Next month we are primed to see the return of one of the most beloved flight simulation series out there, Microsoft Flight Simulator. The game has been looking gorgeous in screenshots for quite some time now, and PC users will get the first crack at it. And if you happen to be in Europe, you can also get a pretty slick physical version.

As reported by FSElite, there will be a full physical edition for the game in the region. While physical boxed releases of PC games aren’t uncommon, what is rather uncommon is the game will even come on 10 discs, so it’s not just a code in the box. Both the standard and premium editions include a manual with details on all the airports and planes in the game, with the premium edition also getting an extra user guide. You can check them out below. As of now, only plans for a physical release in the European region have been confirmed.

Microsoft Flight Simulator will come to PC for Windows 10 on August 18th. If you do want the physical copy, you will have to wait a few days as it will drop on the 21st. The games closed beta is scheduled to launch on July 20th. The game has also been announced for Xbox One, but as now no time frame for that version’s release has been stated.

When Ninja Theory was bought out by Microsoft, not many expected their first game to be a multiplayer-based combat title in the form of Bleeding Edge. The studio made a name for itself with single player action games, after all, but variety is the spice of life as they say, and we’re going to get our first look at Bleeding Edge very soon.

The first alpha testing for the game will start next week for those who have signed up and are invited. For more information on how to do that, you can read the official forms through here. The test will include Xbox/PC crossplay, meaning players from both systems are participating in the same alpha.

Bleeding Edge will release for Xbox One and PC, though as now no time frame has been revealed. The alpha will start on October 24th. If you’re curious about how the game plays before you try to get in the alpha, we do have 11 minutes of off screen gameplay for you.

https://twitter.com/BleedingEdgeNT/status/1184880712085835776

The upcoming newest installment in the Gears of Wars series, Gears 5, seems like it could be coming soon, and is looking to bring some new things with it (and not just dropping part of the title, either). Part of that may also be the multiplayer, and Rod Fergusson, Studio Head at The Coalition, says the game will be looking to the series’ roots to improve the future.

In the latest episode of Inside Xbox, he talked about the intention behind the game’s multiplayer this time, hoping to emulate a lot of what the team learned on working on Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (a remaster of the first title that came out on Xbox One and PC) to make the game more entertaining and watchable for the eSports audience.

“When we started back with the Ultimate Edition and we started going back old school, because you remember what Gears 1 was like when there was not really a way to view it, there was no spectator camera,” said Fergusson. “It was really the old school of the old school.”

“We’ve been trying to improve that, and improve that, and improve that, and make it more playable, make it more watchable, you know those better camera controls,” Fergusson continued. “I think as you’ll see where we’ll get to Gears 5, and then as we go to continue to improve that … That’s one of the things I love about the games that have a life beyond launch now, it’s not all about what’s in the box, but it’s about where you take it after that too. That’s gonna be true for eSports and Gears 5 as well.”

You may not think of Gears of War in relation to eSports, but the game definitely has a presence, the versus multiplayer for Gears 5 will debut at the ELEAGUE Gears Summer Series June 14^th. The game is announced for Xbox One and PC, but has no slated release date as of now.

https://youtu.be/5QHJ-QpFdMg

343 Industries was established in 2007 to head the Halo franchise after Microsoft and Bungie ended their business relationship. Since then, the company has been the gatekeeper to one of Microsoft’s key franchises and arguably the most important one to their history in the industry. However, the games spearheaded by 343 have been somewhat controversial. Some fans have been divided on changes the company brought to the series, both in aspects of gameplay as well changes to story and lore. Undeniably, the series’ popularity has taken somewhat of a tumble over the last decade, too. Whether that’s due to the quality of 343’s titles or the changing landscape of gaming is up for debate.

Sitting down for an interview Wccftech, executive producer at the studio, Kiki Wolfkill spoke openly about growing pains the company experienced after its formation – something the studio has openly talked about in the past as well – particularly in development of certain titles, such as The Master Chief Collection, which saw large scale technical issues. She thinks the company is on a good track now, and feels strongly about the franchise’s potential to reinvent itself to a new generation with the upcoming Halo Infinite and the TV show set to premiere on Showtime.

“I think as a studio, you know, we’ve kind of gone through our own growing pains over the years,” said Wolfkill. “And I think we’re all really energized with the things we’re doing with the Master Chief Collection. And bringing that on the PC and sort of really moving into a more of a service model with how we deliver content and updates with MCC and really, for the first time, moving on to PC very deliberately. And then at the same time, with Infinite and the TV show, this idea of really shepherding in this new generation of Halo is really exciting for us. Like it just feels like we have all these really great pieces that we’re incredibly excited about moving forward at the same time. So that’s crazy. As developers and also just Halo fans, we are really excited about the next few years.”

Halo Infinite is the next title for 343 Industries, currently announced for Xbox One and PC. On top of that, the aforementioned Master Chief Collection will also come to PC at some point this year.

The one area Microsoft sorely lacks in- and I am getting tired of repeating this all the time, over and over and over again- is their first party. This is usually thrown into stark relief every time there is a major first party release by the competition- such as with Horizon, Zelda, Mario, and now, God of War.

With the release of God of War, many Xbox fans are starting to feel antsy at Microsoft’s total inability to deliver those kinds of high quality exclusives. Responding to that sentiment on Twitter, Xbox boss Phil Spencer, noted that it will take Microsoft time to build up their first party, but promising that they will have a first party their “customers deserve”, which will also include first party games, noting that it took Microsoft time to get their services and hardware in place, and that their games will get there too.

The time argument is a good one to make- except it ignores that, with 17 years in the gaming industry, Microsoft has had all the time in the world to build up its first party. That they are so behind now is a problem of their making- and the complaints they get as a result will be ones of their choosing, too.

Our hardware took time, our service/platform/BC took time and continuing to grow our 1P will take time. A high quality and diverse 1P (yes, with SP) built the right way is our goal and what our customers deserve. We can have similar results to what we've seen in hw and platform.

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 13, 2018

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization

Dr. Mario

Miyamoto recently admitted that Dr. Mario is not a certified physician. So that must make him a plumber in a doctor’s coat that tosses oddly shaped pills at colorful, cartoonish viruses. We won’t ask for his diagnosis, but we will continue to use him in Smash Bros. to give the rest of the Nintendo universe a taste of their own medicine.

Apparently Microsoft has a sophisticated customer base the likes of which the average gamer doesn’t quite interact with on a regular basis. I assert this due to the recent recent release of the Xbox One gold plate sedition which is, as the name would suggest, plated in a layer of actual gold. The ostentatious consoled edition is currently retailing at a price of six thousand euros.

It seems that Mircrosft is relying on loyalists to boosts their numbers with a few hundred purchases of this ostentatious version of their latest console.

It’s a bold strategy to be sure. This version of the system completely forsakes the common gamer and relies on the the flashier, rich gaming demographic which, while certainly is not the most prevalent demographic, is undeniably a significant one. Who knows? It’s a bold marketing strategy that may well pay off in the end and provide Microsoft the extra boost it needs to win the next gen console war.

Source: Reddit