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Xbox Live Gold members get Forza 5 free all weekend long

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Driving, Microsoft, Xbox Live, Xbox One,

Forza 5 Free

Forza Motorsport 5 is going free this weekend for all Xbox Live Gold subscribers. You’ll also need an Xbox One to get in on the action, which starts at 12:01am on Friday and ends on Sunday night. During that timeframe, you’ll be able to download Forza Motorsport 5 and play it to your hearts content for the weekend, including all single-player and multiplayer content. DLC add-ons don’t come as part of the deal, but still, this is basically like a free rental.

All US residents who spend time playing Forza Motorsport 5 during the free weekend are entered to win a three-day trip to the Forza Motorsport Grand Prix Road Racing Class to be held at the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.

So, who jumping in to Forza to help pass the time until Destiny arrives next week?

For a peek behind-the-scenes of Forza Motorsport 5, check out our video after the break.

Click to continue reading Xbox Live Gold members get Forza 5 free all weekend long

Gallery: Xbox Live Gold members get Forza 5 free all weekend long


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GoPro app heading to Xbox One, Xbox 360

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox One,

gopro xbox one 360

We're big fans of crazy GoPro footage, and we know a lot of you are, too. Soon, you'll be able to access a bunch more GoPro content by way of Xbox Live. Today, Microsoft announced that it has teamed up with GoPro, and will launch a GoPro channel on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One for Xbox Live Gold subscribers.

“Our GoPro Channel app will make it easy for millions of global Xbox Live customers to watch GoPro originally-produced and ‘best of’ user-generated content on their televisions at home,” GoPro CEO Nicholas Woodman said in a press release. “We’re excited to align ourselves with Microsoft and the Xbox brand as we believe our customers share the same desire to enjoy the type of immersive, experiential content that our cameras enable.”

Wanna check out this library of cool content? You'll have to wait a bit--the GoPro Xbox 360 app will launch sometime this spring, while the Xbox One version won't arrive until the summer.

Gallery: GoPro app heading to Xbox One, Xbox 360


Will the next Xbox require game installs, killing used games for good?

Xbox Infinity Used Games

The big rumor on the street about the next Xbox is that Microsoft will block used games from working with the console. Reports from sources have hit various news outlets saying that the new Xbox, which should launch later this year, will require mandatory game installs to the hard drive of the console, and will require an activation code in order to get them to play. Once the code is used, that game is activated for that console specifically (or, maybe, that specific Gamertag,) and won't work on other consoles, effectively killing the used game market.

Click to continue reading Will the next Xbox require game installs, killing used games for good?

Read More | MCV India

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New Tiers added to Xbox Community Ambassador program

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Internet, Microsoft, Xbox Live,

Xbox Community Ambassador levels tiers

The Xbox Community Ambassador campaign now has five more tier levels added to it, which include awards ranging from free Avatar swag to the Xbox Live gamer spotlight. The Xbox Community Ambassador program rewards Xbox Live members who assist other members through chat or the forum, acting as a reputation system that awards XP that can be redeemed.

The new tiers are listed below:

  • Level 11, gold star avatar t-shirt.
  • Level 12, gold star avatar hat and 10 tickets for periodic ambassador sweepstakes.
  • Level 13, gamer spotlight, ilomilo on Xbox Live Arcade.
  • Level 14, one month Xbox Live subscription and 10 ambassador sweepstakes tickets.
  • Level 15, avatar spacesuit, 800 Microsoft Points.

If you're interested in becoming an ambassaor, you can apply here.

Read More | Xbox Community Ambassadors

Gallery: New Tiers added to Xbox Community Ambassador program


Xbox 360 Sells 750,000 Last Week, more than Wii U and Wii combined

Xbox 360 black Friday sales

If Major Nelson's calculations are correct, the Xbox 360, a seven year-old console, has outsold the Wii U and Wii combined during the week of November 18th. The Wii U sold 400,000 units during its launch week, and the old Wii managed to still sell 300,000. The Xbox 360 sold 750,000. This is a remarkably high number for a console so late in it's life cycle, and it begs the question, do we need new hardware anytime soon?

The number of Xbox Live Gold subscriptions also increased more than 50 percent compared to last year's Black Friday week, with over 14 million people logged into Xbox Live on Sunday alone.

Sony hasn't revealed its numbers yet, but it looks like the Xbox 360 will end up being the best selling console in the US for November. You can pick one up on Amazon.

Read More | Major Nelson via Neowin

Gallery: Xbox 360 Sells 750,000 Last Week, more than Wii U and Wii combined


Microsoft developing smaller Xbox set-top box

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Microsoft, Rumors, Xbox,

Xbox set top box

Microsoft is developing a set-top box as an alterntative to a fully-fledged next generation gaming device. The set-top will run on core components of Windows 8, offering casual gaming titles (most likely through Xbox Live) instead of the big productions you'll find on the next-generation of Xbox consoles.

Furthering the casual theme of the set-top box, Microsoft is planning on incorporating a chipset enabling the device to boot up practically instantaenously for quick and simple access to TV, games and other entertainment services.

The set-top box is but one step in Microsoft's plan to bring the core architecture of the next-generation across several devices, such as a phone capable of handling a complete Xbox Live experience.

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Microsoft slashes Kinect price by $40, now costs $109

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Hot Deals, Kinect, Xbox 360,

Kinect Sensor price drop

Today Microsoft has announced a permanent Kinect price cut, bringing the motion controller peripheral down to $109. The change in price is immediate, as you can buy it right now on Amazon for the newly-reduced price tag, which still includes Kinect Adventures, by the way. Kinect also sees price drops in Latin America and the Asia Pacific area, with the exception of Japan.

Read More | Major Nelson

Gallery: Microsoft slashes Kinect price by $40, now costs $109


Xbox Live is down

Xbox Live offline

Xbox Live has been down for the past 90 minutes or so, and Microsoft says it's doing its best to bring the service back online.

The outage appears to affect many (if not all) Xbox Live regions, as complains are coming in from outside of the United  States as well. Users who were connected to the service were disconnected from Xbox Live at the time of the outage, so this isn't just an issue where new players aren't able to connect.

As soon as Xbox Live is back, we'll update to let you know.

Gallery: Xbox Live is down


Halo 4 Limited Edition details announced

Halo 4 Limited Edition

The release date of Halo 4 is quickly approaching, as November 6 is less than six months away. Today Microsoft announced the Halo 4 Limited Edition, a $99.99 bundle that beings Halo fans a ton of extras:

  • War Games Map Pack Access – The Limited Edition includes access to nine maps – three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations, available for download post-launch on Xbox LIVE.
  • Specializations – Receive early access to six Specializations, available at launch on Xbox LIVE, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career. In addition to gaining access to new ranks, Specializations unlock new customization options. Purchasers of the “Halo 4” Limited Edition will get access on launch day, while others will have to wait as Specializations are released over time.
  • The Limited Edition also contains the UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet, which includes an armor customization schematic, a blueprint of the massive ship itself, and insight into what it means to be one of humanity’s finest warriors: the Spartan-IVs.
  • “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” Special Edition – An extended 90-minute version of the live-action digital series that will bring the “Halo” universe to life as you’ve never seen it, and provide an enthralling backstory leading up to the events of “Halo 4.”
  • Bonus digital content through Xbox LIVE:
    • Unique in-game Spartan-IV armor skin
    • Unique in-game weapon skin for the Assault Rifle
    • An exclusive in-game emblem
    • Xbox LIVE Avatar prop
    • Xbox LIVE Avatar Spartan-IV armor set

Definitely a lot of content in exchange for an extra $40 above the standard version of Halo 4. You can pre-order Halo 4 now.

Read More | Halo 4 pre-order

Gallery: Halo 4 Limited Edition details announced


Microsoft launches $99 Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle with 2-year contract

$99 xbox 360 2 year contract

Remember that $99 Xbox 360 Kinect bundle we mentioned last week? Well, Microsoft has just launched it. You can now buy a 4 GB Xbox 360 with Kinect sensor for $99 with two-year Xbox Live Gold contract, paying $14.99 per month for the course of the agreement. If you cancel early, you'll pay an early termination fee, which starts at $250 and decreases each month after the third month. Just head on over to your local Microsoft Store to  make it happen.

Read More | $99 Xbox Offer

Gallery: Microsoft launches $99 Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle with 2-year contract


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