Microsoft news recap: AI-powered review summaries in Microsoft Store, Xbox 360 Marketplace to close, and more

Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!

Minecraft’s Xbox Series X/S Version Tease Sparks Speculations of Native Release and Ray Tracing

Minecraft has recently been classified for Xbox Series X and S consoles in Germany. This has led to speculation that a native version of the game for these consoles is in development, which would mean people not having to rely on the backwards compatible version, as is currently the case. Some fans are also hoping that the new version will support ray tracing, a cutting-edge graphics technology that can produce more realistic lighting and shadows.

Microsoft’s ‘Special Event’ in New York Next Month Hints at New Surface Hardware

Microsoft has announced that it will be holding a “special event” in New York City on September 21st. The event is rumored to focus on new Surface hardware, such as a beefier Surface Laptop Studio sporting an Intel 13th gen H-series processor, among other product updates. There’s also a chance of some Windows announcements focused on AI. One thing that’s unlikely to feature is the Surface Duo, following significant layoffs and other restrictions on that particular division.

Microsoft Store Now Offers AI-Powered Review Summaries, No More Scrolling Through Reviews

The Microsoft Store has recently added a new feature that automatically generates AI-powered review summaries for games and apps. These summaries are designed to give users a quick overview of the key points and sentiment of the reviews left, without the user having to read all of the reviews. Whilst this feature was initially being tested in the Insider program, it is now rolling out to users but is only available to those in the United States at the moment.

Xbox 360 Marketplace to Close in July 2024

Microsoft has announced that it will be closing the Xbox 360 Marketplace in July 2024. This means that users will no longer be able to purchase new games, DLC, or movies from the Xbox 360 marketplace. However, users will still be able to download and play games and movies that they have already purchased. The Microsoft Movies & TV app will also be sunset on Xbox 360 consoles.

That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Microsoft news.