Microsoft (MSFT) 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!

Microsoft patents a ‘real-time parental monitoring’ tool

With the advent of more children taking to private messaging and communication, Microsoft has patented a new tool that provides real-time parental monitoring, allowing parental control over the message contents, contacts and the type of message.

Microsoft Build 2017 is sold out, but you can still join a wait list

It didn’t take too long for tickets to Microsoft’s annual event, Build 2017, to sell out. Anyone wanting to get in will now need to join a waiting list.

Microsoft celebrates 15 years of .NET

This week marked 15 years of .NET since its initial introduction:

Since the beginning, the .NET platform has allowed developers to quickly build and deploy robust applications, starting with Windows desktop and web server applications in 2002. You got an entire managed framework for building distributed Windows applications, ASP.NET was introduced as the next generation Active Server Pages for web-based development, and a new language, C# (pronounced “see sharp” :-)) came to be.

Microsoft helping those with ALS by creating app that allows speaking with their eyes

Microsoft has been building an app called GazeSpeak. The app allows those with ALS to speak by using their eyes. It is somewhat inexpensive to get started, requiring only an iOS device to use the app.

Microsoft continues work on Teams, adding bots in channels and tab improvements

Microsoft’s competitor to Slack, Teams, is continuing to expand with new features and improvements. This week saw the addition of bots, as well as improvements to tabs.

That’s all the Microsoft news this week – we’ll be back next week with more.

Xbox Insiders on the Preview Alpha ring have begun complaining of severe issues with the latest build that released the other day. Reports are beginning to flood Twitter and the Xbox Forums that Insiders are unable to play online multiplayer games, with the issue affecting those wanting to play Destiny in particular.

Those on the Xbox Insider program are also raising issues with the lack of communication from the Xbox team, saying that it takes too long for them to respond to heightened issues and others calling for the option to be able to rollback an update if it causes issues.

As these reports continue to come in, prominent employee at Microsoft on the Xbox Insider team, Brad Rossetti (aka “WorkWombatman”) has took to Twitter to announce that the engineering team are working on the issues:

Xbox One Insiders – Preview Alpha users MP update. Engineering is working on a fix. Need to test internally and will keep you updated.

— Brad Rossetti (@WorkWombatman) February 19, 2017

The issue was first raised over 20 hours ago.

With those on the Insider program now being stuck in limbo until a fix is released, many are calling for a rollback option to be added and being stunned at the lack of one already existing. In the private Xbox Insider forum, one Insider said:

This preview update for Alpha ring is atrocious and going on about 16 hours now and still no patch, very little communication, and there is pretty much nothing we can do but wait.

The preview team should have been rolled back the alpha update once they were notified it was affecting AAA titles like Destiny and Battlefield 1, but nothing has been done and there was no alert about this.

Another said they didn’t want to be on the Alpha ring, but have no option to switch to the Beta ring, while agreeing with the option to rollback:

I agree, we need some kind of update. They’ve not said anything. I’d love a rollback to the prior update. I never wanted alpha and have been waiting for the option to opt into Beta like they said would be coming.

Are you experiencing issues with the latest Xbox Insider build? Let us know below!

Fans of Xbox and in particular, Xbox One, have long-called for more role-playing games to come to the platform, especially those from Japan. The console suffers from a distinct lack of titles from this genre, to many fans’ disappointment. Xbox’s Phil Spencer, however, is fully aware of this hole in the game library for Xbox and is heading to Japan next week to try and bring more to the platform.

On Twitter, when asked specifically about Kotor, Spencer said that he’s “not the person to talk about it’s [sic] future.”

I loved Kotor but it wasn't a first party game so I'm not the person to talk about it's future, sorry.

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) February 19, 2017

Later, Spencer was asked about more JRPG’s for Xbox, to which he said he is visiting Japan to meet with third-party publishers for this very reason:

I'll be in Japan next week talking to 3P publishers. It was great getting FFXV, I know people want me to deliver more.

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) February 19, 2017

While we don’t currently have confirmation that any JRPG’s will be coming to Xbox in the future, it is good to see that Spencer is working to build ties with game publishers in Japan to try and bring more to the platform.

Are there any specific games you’d like to see on Xbox? Let us know below!

Microsoft’s goal has always been to empower people to do more. With their latest app, GazeSpeak, they’ve opened the door for people afflicted with ALS to easier communicate with the people around them. The app helps people communicate only using the movement of their eyes, and could make a big difference in the lives of people who have had the disease for a while.

For those who don’t know, the ability to move one’s eyes is one of the last things to be affected by the disease – as a result, an app that utilizes eye functions to help communication is something that could prove exceptionally valuable. Beyond this, it’s also important to note that this app is the first tool of its kind that is affordable and simple to use. Other eye-tracking devices are bulky and expensive, while GazeSpeak only requires an iOS device.

Microsoft will be presenting this app and all of the research that came as a result of it at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems this May. The app will be made available on the App Store before this conference happens, and the app’s source code will be made open source for other developers who want to build on this work.

Google’s Project Zero has found a vulnerability in Windows 10, and they’ve taken it upon themselves to expose it. The vulnerability lies in the gdi32.dll file that is used by a significant amount of programs. To go over the gritty technical details would be overkill, but if you’re the sort of person who can comb through programming jargon, you’re free to read the full report here.

For those who don’t know, Google’s Project Zero is a group in Google dedicated to identifying zero day vulnerabilities in the hopes that they can find them before truly malicious people can. In the event that Project Zero finds a vulnerability, they report it to the software manufacturer and give them 90 days to fix the issue. If the issue isn’t fixed in that time frame, Project Zero will make the report publicly available so that users can protect themselves.

Microsoft hasn’t yet commented on the now-public report of the exploit, so we aren’t sure when a fix is coming. It’s entirely possible that the fix could have been on its way in this month’s Patch Tuesday, but that patch has been delayed to March 14th.

This exploit isn’t particularly nasty, so – in theory – you shouldn’t have to worry too much about it. Hopefully, the hole will be plugged sooner rather than later so we can all feel a bit better about our safety on Windows 10.

Welcome to our weekly Xbox news recap series, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Xbox. Let’s get started.

Microsoft confirms the return of Fanfest

Fanfest is coming back during this year’s E3, offering Xbox users lucky enough to attend a massive party to celebrate our favorite console. Just like last year, Fanfest is going to be a huge party where fans can meet developers, take part in all manner of activities, and just generally have a good time. We don’t have much in the way of details regarding the event, but we do know it’s going to be awesome.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer looks forward to 2017 lineup

2017 won’t be seeing a true entry from one of Microsoft’s massive money making franchises, like Gears of War and Halo. This is a very good thing. As Phil Spencer points out, this lack of big established franchises means Microsoft has to lean on new IP to carry the console through 2017. This is the sort of climate that lets new massive franchises grow, and it’s going to be a breath of fresh air for gamers.

Xbox One Beam app rolling out to select insiders

If you’re an Xbox Insider, the addition of Beam to your console might be coming in the near future. Beam is coming to a select group of Insiders, and will be available to everyone on Xbox One when the Creators Update launches. The app will allow users to watch and interact with streamers, just like they can through the web – it will also supplement the broadcasting feature that’s being integrated into the console’s Guide button.

Bioware offers first in-depth look into Mass Effect Andromeda’s combat

Mass Effect Andromeda may well be one of the most anticipated titles of all time, and its release date is almost a month away. In order to give buyers a better idea of what they’re dropping their money on next month, the team at Bioware has released the first in a series of videos that will explain the game’s combat. If you’re looking forward to Mass Effect Andromeda, you should definitely check it out.

Nier Automata won’t release on Xbox One due to poor Japanese market share

If you were looking for Platinum games to fill the hole in your heart left behind by Scalebound, you’re going to be disappointed. The studio’s newest game, Nier Automata, won’t be releasing on Xbox One due to Japan’s low interest in the console. While it’s not impossible for the game to come to Xbox One some time in the future, we would certainly have to wait a long time to find out.

Play your Nintendo 3DS on Xbox One with UWPStreamer

It may just be novelty, but it’s some exceptionally cool novelty. The Xbox One app UWPStreamer allows you to, with some 3DS firmware, play your Nintendo games through your Xbox One console. It takes some ingenuity and some fiddling with settings, but it’s now possible to play games like The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask on Xbox One.

Thanks for joining us. To keep up to date with all the latest Xbox news, keep a close eye on our Xbox One news hub.

In an ever-more connected and mobile world, it is increasingly difficult for parents to be able to keep an eye on their children. Current tools are quite limited, such as requiring software to be installed, which can sometimes be removed by the child themselves or altered in some way or not providing the parent access to specific actions that are needing to be watched.

Microsoft, however, has recently patented a new tool called “Real-time Parental Monitoring,” that allows an administrator of a device to set boundaries. These boundaries can be used to control who someone can communicate with, contents of a message and the type. Additionally, it could also be used to check if a message is of a sexual nature. With this, it can send automated notifications to a parent if a boundary is breached.

While this tool is specifically titled towards parents, it appears that it could be used in a non-parental environment also, such as in the workplace, as it refers to device administrators and subordinate users, not just child users.

For some, this kind of monitoring could appear intrusive. What are your thoughts? Let us know below!

The Xbox Insider team have released another build to the Xbox Insider Preview Alpha ring. This latest update, released February 17th, brings additional bug fixes and also the addition of the Beam app.

With this build, the exact build number is 1703.170214-2312.

Here is the full changelog:

New features

Beam App
Beam is an innovative livestreaming service that gives viewers the ability to watch and interact with their favorite game streamers in real-time. Beginning now, the Beam app will be installed by default on Xbox One! To get started with the Beam app, navigate to My games & apps and search for Beam. Please use the Beam app and let us know if you encounter any issues via Report a problem.

Fixes

Beam Broadcasting
The camera can now be configured before starting a broadcast.
There are now better visual cues to notify when a broadcast is stopped or paused due to switching games.
Various improvements for audio.
Various fixes for chat display and controls in the Guide.
Stability and performance improvements.

Cortana
Resolved an issue which caused Cortana to be too responsive to phrases which sound like “Hey Cortana”.

System Update
When downloading a mandatory system update, selecting “Skip and go offline” should no longer cause the console to slowly become sluggish and unresponsive.

Networking
Fixed an issue which caused Moderate or Strict NAT type.

Sign-In
Fixed an issue which prevented the console from automatically signing in a profile with automatic sign-in enabled.

Known issues

Notifications
Some users may not receive certain types of notifications.

Game Clips
After capturing a game clip, the game clip fails to automatically post to the Activity Feed (if your profile is configured to do so).
Workaround: Manually view game clips in Profile > Captures > Manage captures and post to the Activity Feed.

Cortana
Cortana may take a long time to respond when activated while playing certain games.
Scheduled Cortana reminders will not provide a notification if the user who created the reminder is signed in, but not the current active user.
Using voice dictation sometimes causes the virtual keyboard to become unresponsive.

EA Access
The EA Access app may indicate you are not an EA Access subscriber when you are. This does not affect your ability to download or play games from the Vault, or receive discounts on EA titles.

Screen Dimming
The screen may dim after a short amount of time while viewing videos in certain apps (Hulu Plus).

Settings – Ease of Access
When enabling the Mono output setting in Ease of Access – Audio, Settings becomes unresponsive, crashes, and fails to launch on subsequent attempts.
Workaround: To launch Settings, perform a hard reset (hold down the button on the front of the console for five seconds until it fully powers down, then power it back on).

Settings – Display & sound
The Audio output page is under construction and some of the new settings are not yet functional. New support is planned for Dolby Atmos for home theater, Dolby Atmos for headphones, and more in upcoming builds. An announcement will be made when these new features are ready to try out; enabling these settings now will have no effect.

Wireless Display
The Wireless Display app fails to launch and immediately crashes to Home.

Xbox Insiders will be prompted to download and install the update automatically before being able to connect to Xbox Live. Let us know what you think of this build in the comments below!

Beam, the video game streaming service that Microsoft purchased last year is rolling out its new Xbox One app to select members of the Xbox Insider program today. Beam co-founder Matt Salsamendi made the announcement today on Xbox Wire, explaining that the app is already pretty much full-featured:

Starting today, the Beam app gives select Xbox Insider members the ability to watch, chat, and interact with their favorite game streamers in near real-time, just as we’ve done on the web. You’ll also be able to browse, search and follow your favorite game streams, as well as earn Sparks and Experience Points (XP) while viewing.

If you’re not familiar with it, Beam aims to push video game streaming to the next level by providing a low-latency technology to streamers and some interactive features to the audience (using the in-app currency called Sparks). If you’ve never tried the service before, you’ll be able to login on the Xbox One Beam app with your Xbox Live account and your Xbox Live gamertag will become your Beam username.

To be clear, Xbox One users won’t need the app to stream games: to do that, you just have to open the Xbox Guide, scroll down to the broadcast icon and then select “Broadcast your game.” For now, game streaming is only available for Xbox One Insiders and Windows Insiders (through the Game Bar). You can see how it works in the video below:

The Xbox One Beam app will be available to all Xbox One users later this Spring once the Creators Update rolls out to everyone. Salsamendi declined to say if a Windows 10 UWP app was also in the works, but the Beam website has just been revamped and works really well.

Could Microsoft push game streaming to the mainstream with Beam? “There are a lot of neat possibilities, and we’re eager to see how gamers continue to use Beam’s interactive capabilities,” explained Salsamendi. “We’ll have more share on this front at GDC 2017, so stay tuned,” he added.

If you didn’t spend all your money on Dell’s early access Presidents’ Day Sale already, then you should probably take a look at the Microsoft Store today: the company has just announced its own sale and you can take advantage of up to $1,100 discounts on select PCs, but you can also save big on Surface hardware, Xbox One S consoles and more.

Here are a couple deals that Microsoft highlighted in the announcement:

• Save up to $1,100 on select Windows 10 PCs, like the Alienware 15 gaming laptop, Dell Inspiron 13, Dell Inspiron 15, HP Pavilion x360, Lenovo Z50 (online only) and ASUS ZenBook Flip (online only)
• Save up to $200 on select Surface Pro 4 models, including the Surface Pro 4 i5 256GB
• Save up to $250 on select Surface Book models
• Save $50 on select Xbox One S consoles, and head over to Xbox Wire to learn about more deals on Xbox
• Save up to $30 on select Xbox games
• Save $200 on the HP Elite x3
• Save 50 percent on select Surface Pro 4 sleeves
• Save $10 on select Xbox Wireless Controllers

All deals will be available through Monday, Feb. 20 at local Microsoft Stores in the US and microsoftstore.com, while supplies last. Happy shopping, everyone!

Yesterday we reported that on a page talking about Cortana on official Windows website, a small text mentions hitherto unknown product name – Microsoft To-Do.

With integration of Office 365, Microsoft To-Do and your phone’s notifications, she’s there when you need her.

Soon after we published the post, the page has been updated and while everything stays the same, the two words – Microsoft To-Do – are removed now. So, looks like we were on to something there!

Microsoft has been silent on the progress of their simple task management, or to-do, apps. At the moment, there’s Wunderlist, Project Cheshire (in private beta at the moment), as well as Cortana Reminders. Windows users have been hoping that the long silence is a prelude to something big – a cohesive to-do app that is fully integrated with Cortana instead of duplicating functionality. Looks like, that is what Microsoft To-Do could be.

What are your thoughts on what could be the next, and better, to-do management app from Microsoft?

Microsoft East Africa and pan-African data, voice and IP provider Liquid Telecom have announced a new partnership to develop the access and use of cloud services across the continent (via TechTrendsKE). By combining Liquid Telecom’s large network and Microsoft’s cloud offerings such as Office 365 and Azure, both companies plan to improve the development of SMBs and startups with a more affordable cloud. The partnership will also lead to the creation of “Business in a box,” a bundle including various cloud services plus connectivity options for SMBs.

Frank McCosker, Microsoft’s General Manager of Affordable Access and Smart Financing 4Afrika explained that “we believe in the power and potential of businesses in Africa and we look forward to providing the best that cloud computing has to offer. In the age of digital transformation, we want to provide not only secure data storage, but the efficiency and scalability that businesses need to achieve more.”

Digital transformation is going to be an important topic for companies of all sizes in the near future, and the partnership could well speed up the adoption of cloud services in Africa. “Cloud computing is still gaining momentum on the continent, but we believe it has the potential to transform the way businesses of all sizes operate,” explained Ben Roberts, Group CTO of Liquid Telecom. “Through better connectivity, faster internet and secure cloud offerings, businesses will have the platforms and tools they need to grow and succeed,” he added.

Microsoft has announced today that it will hire 600 people in Ireland to join its new EMEA Inside Sales Center in Dublin, joining existing operations in the country. “New recruits will join the 1,200 people already working with Microsoft in the Dublin based EMEA Operations Centre, the European Development Centre, the Irish Sales and Marketing Subsidiary and at the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Data Centre,” explained the company.

This is pretty good news for the Redmond giant following the massive job cuts that happened last year: as a reminder, the company announced back in July that it would cut 2,850 jobs related to phone hardware and sales positions worldwide, in addition to the 1.850 layoffs that were announced two months earlier.

Mary Mitchell O’ Connor, Ireland’s Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation shared that “this latest investment, which brings an exciting new multi-skilled business activity to the company’s Dublin base, further enhances the company’s presence in Ireland and is vindication of the competitive advantage Ireland can offer. The extensive Microsoft operation in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years and we look forward to our very successful relationship continuing to develop in the years ahead.“

If you live in Ireland, you can learn more about the various jobs opportunities in customer sales, operations and more on Microsoft’s Careers website.

New footage for an upcoming action roleplaying game for Microsoft’s Xbox One console has been unveiled today in a new video posted on the official Xbox YouTube channel. The game is called Shiness (surprisingly pronounced “shyness” and not “shin-ness”) and features a variety of characters in an expansive anime-inspired world.

“Our action RPG Shiness is nearing release for Xbox One, so we wanted to introduce you to the game through a new Overview trailer taking you through the Lands of Life. The world of Shiness was born over 20 years ago, born of the pen strokes of Samir Rebib, Artistic Director of the studio,” says, Enigami CEO, Hazem Hawash. “The game’s journey however started on Kickstarter, allowing the project to grow and gain momentum, until it was embraced by Focus Home Interactive. Now the development phase is nearing conclusion, the indie studio keeps pumping all its energy and passion into Shiness, so that a child’s dream gives birth to an indie-RPG with a strong personality!”

No release date has been given yet for Shiness on Xbox One though it’s expected to be sometime in the near future. Do you like the look of this game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Microsoft has been silent on the progress of their simple task management, or to-do, apps. Much to the agony of Windows users, that is. It’s also a crowded mess out there.

There’s Wunderlist. Microsoft acquired 6Wunderkinder, the creator of the popular to-do app, in June 2015. Apart from progressive updates to the app since then, there’s not been a major refresh of the app and users have been clamoring for a new update since a while.

Earlier in 2016, Microsoft unveiled Project Cheshire, also known as Project To-Do. A to-do app again, the app has been in private beta since last few months. There’s not much information about it out in the open.

Then there’s Cortana Reminders, Outlook Tasks, and of course, some people just use OneNote for making to-do lists.

Windows users have been hoping that the long silence is a prelude to something big – a cohesive to-do app that is fully integrated with Cortana instead of duplicating functionality. Looks like, that is what Microsoft To-Do could be. On a page talking about Cortana on official Windows website, a small text caught the eye of one of our readers, Johnny G.

With integration of Office 365, Microsoft To-Do and your phone’s notifications, she’s there when you need her.

As a tired Wunderlist user who occasionally asks Cortana to remind about things, I’m looking forward to Microsoft To-Do. What are your thoughts on what could be the next, and better, to-do management app from Microsoft?

UPDATE: Microsoft has now removed the reference to Microsoft To-Do from that page. More here.

Tata Motors and Microsoft India have announced a strategic technology agreement to redefine connected and personalized driving experiences for Indian customers.

Tata Motors Limited is India’s largest automobile company and Tata cars, buses and trucks are marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, Australia, CIS, and Russia.

As part of the collaboration, Tata Motors will leverage Microsoft’s connected vehicle technologies that bring together artificial intelligence, advanced machine learning, and the Internet of Things capabilities on the global hyper-scale Azure cloud, to create a highly personalized, smart and safer driving experience across the digital life of a vehicle owner.

“We are excited to partner with Tata Motors as they embark on a new journey of innovation with Microsoft Azure cloud. Using IoT, AI and machine learning technologies, we will provide vehicle owners in India and across the world with a safe, productive and fun driving experience.”

– Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India

The first vehicle showcasing the vision of the enhanced driving experiences will be unveiled at the Geneva International Motor show on March 7 utilizing Microsoft enabled functionality like advanced navigation, predictive maintenance, telematics, and remote monitoring features.

“With the aim to develop innovative and technologically leading products that excite customers, we at Tata Motors, understand the need for a connected ecosystem that can integrate into the digital lives of customers. We are using Microsoft’s connected vehicle technologies on Azure intelligent cloud to bring the digital lives of our customers into the cars they drive. Making the most of fast-paced innovation cycle that Microsoft has to offer, we will create a fully connected and seamless driving experience for our customers.”

– Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors

There are several driving scenarios being explored for the future.

• Based on their profile and location data, vehicle owners can receive proactive point-of-interest, shopping and route assist recommendations enabling them to achieve more on the go.
• Pre-emptive service alerts based on vehicle health data will enable owners to avoid costly down time en-route on planned road trips.
• Using industry-leading firmware over the air (FOTA) and software over the air (SOTA) updates protocols, key vehicle settings can be updated remotely, over the cloud. These will help cloud based diagnostics and the ability to use insights from vehicle data to prevent warranty and recall issues, and offer new services that improve user experience.
• By capturing, analyzing and acting on live road conditions, vehicle owners will be able to increase safety, optimize vehicle performance by avoiding roadblocks and rough terrain. By unifying navigation, data elements like maps, weather, traffic, and parking the solution can deliver optimized routing and location based services to vehicle owners.

Using Microsoft technology will empower Tata Motors to provide connectivity features on mainstream, mass-market vehicles at affordable prices powered by Microsoft Azure cloud and services such as advanced analytics, machine learning, IoT, and artificial intelligence.

If you’re a Windows Insider, you’re more than likely familiar with the process of joining the program and getting new builds delivered to your machine. You may also realize that when joining the program after a fresh install of Windows 10, or after switching branches, it may take a day to join a PC to receive a Windows Insider build. One Microsoft watcher has finally come up with a solution as to why this is so.

So this explains the delay between switching to #WindowsInsiders Fast Ring and getting that first build to download. pic.twitter.com/XWA6tziZYv

— Richard Hay (@WinObs) February 16, 2017

Seen above, Richard Hay, who is a Microsoft MVP since 2010, explains that the reason for the day long wait is due to a “Compatibility Check.” According to a screenshot which Richard provided in his tweet, The “Compatibility Check” runs in the background, since there is no manual way to for the process to run. The process then allows for a discovery of your OS architecture (32 or 64 bit) and also your other settings such as build edition, languages, and country. After this is complete, the machine is then auto targeted for the next available flight on the selected ring, though this may take up to 24 hours.

Safe to say, this tweet finally answers the age old question of why you must wait one day to join a PC to the Windows Insider program. What do you think of this explanation? Can you come up with other reasons for why there is a day long wait? Let us know what you think by dropping us a comment below!

Today is February 16, which means that Xbox Live Gold subscribers can now get two new Games with Gold titles for free on the Xbox Store. For fans of racing games, Project CARS Digital Edition ($29.99 value) is now available to download on the Xbox One, and the game released back in May 2015 should be a pretty good alternative to Microsoft’s popular Forza Motorsports franchise.

It’s worth noting that you’re also being offered the game’s Limited Edition upgrade DLC pack, which includes five exclusive cars from the Touring, Road, Prototype, and GT disciplines. The official description notes:

Project CARS is the ultimate driver journey! The digital edition of Project CARS includes the Limited Edition upgrade DLC pack, unlocking 5 legendary cars drivable in any game mode and showcased with special one-make series within your career!• Ford GT40 Mk IV• BMW M1 Pro Car• McLaren F1• Sauber C9• Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Coupe DTM Guided, tested, and approved by a passionate community of racing fans and real-life drivers, Project CARS represents the next-generation of racing simulation as the ultimate combination of fan desire and developer expertise.

The Xbox 360 title Star Wars: The Force Unleashed ($19.99 value) completes this month’s Games with Gold lineup, and the free game is also backward compatible on the Xbox One. Don’t forget that you can also play Rocket League and NBA 2K17 for free during Xbox’s Multiplayer All-Access event, starting today!

Download
QR-Code

Project CARS Digital Edition

Developer:
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

Price:
Free

The Xbox team has just kicked off today a Multiplayer All-Access event, and all Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners can now play multiplayer games for free through Sunday, February 19. Even better, Xbox One gamers are also invited to download and play NBA 2K17 and Rocket League for free during these four days. Both games are excellent titles and the Xbox One version of Rocket League will actually celebrate its first anniversary tomorrow, February 17.

If you want to keep playing the vehicular soccer video game and the latest installment in the NBA 2K franchise after the end of the limited time unlock, it’s worth reminding that both games are being discounted through Monday, February 20 as part of Xbox’s Deals with Golds and 2K’s Publisher Sale: Rocket League will cost you just $14.99 (25% off) while NBA 2K17 is currently priced at $38.99 (35% off).

In the meantime, you can download both games for free from the Xbox One dashboard or from the download links below. Let us know in the comments if you’re looking forward to spend some quality time on your console this weekend.

Download
QR-Code

Rocket League® Limited Time Unlock

Developer:
Psyonix, Inc.

Price:
Free

Download
QR-Code

NBA 2K17 Limited Time Unlock

Developer:
2K

Price:
Free

Victor Vran: Overkill Edition has just been announced for release on Microsoft’s Xbox One video game console. “Players and fans can experience the all-action game in full alongside two brand new adventures: the ethereal Fractured Worlds – a challenging and empowering new expansion featuring a new chapter in the story of Victor Vran, and Motörhead: Through the Ages – a wild rock adventure inspired by, officially endorsed by, and starring the loudest band in the world,” the official announcement reads. “Players who already own the game on Windows PC will be able to purchase the Fractured Worlds and Motörhead: Through the Ages expansion packs separately, as will players who wish to purchase the standalone game digitally on consoles.”

Here’s the game description:

Journey to the Fractured Worlds , a dimension formed from the fragments of broken realms. A perilous place for even the most experienced of demon hunters, players will explore its unfathomed depths through new levels and endless dungeons where each step proves more dangerous than the last. Continue the journey as Victor and attempt to piece together the Astrolabe in this new, thrilling addition to Victor Vran.

Enter the world of Motörhead: Through the Ages – a wild tour through the mythos of the loudest band in the world! Harness the powers of the immortal Motörhead to defeat deadly new adversaries in three demon-infested worlds intertwined with the songs of the band.

No specific release date has been given for Victor Vran: Overkill Edition on Xbox One however it is confirmed for 2017. Have you been looking forward to this game? Let us know in the comments below.

Were you as impressed as us when Microsoft showed off the Surface Dial? If so, you may be interested to know that the company recently published a blog post that talks a bit more about the Dial, and what it’s capable of. For those more visual learners, Windows Blog editor-in-chief Mollie Ruiz-Harper put together a video that explains everything pretty well.

The video talks about some of the coolest features of the Surface Dial, and what kind of conveniences it offers.  Surface Dial items such as haptic feedback, its backward compatibility with so many PC’s, and its third-party support for programs such as Spotify are all wrapped up neatly in a bow. If you were looking for a convincing reason to drop $99 on the Surface Dial, this video is a good place to start.

Xbox Live members will be happy to know that there is extra incentive to go to E3 2017 this year. Not only will they get to take part in the big event, but Xbox Heads Aaron Greenberg and  Mike Ybarra have officially confirmed that there will indeed be an Xbox FanFest 2017.

Fanfest is on! https://t.co/2cLpmOt8be

— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) February 15, 2017

The fan-focused event originally debuted a couple of years ago and since then, it’s been a big hit. Basically, a limited amount of Xbox fans could buy tickets to gather and experience the Xbox Booth long exclusive from the crowd. Not to mention meeting developers and Xbox team leaders, take part in fun activities and even get some cool swag.

It’s likely we’ll see some of the same restrictions for the E3 2017 Xbox FanFest as we did before. This means fans will probably need to be an adult and tickets will be one per person with a ‘first come, first serve’ policy. Currently, it sounds like the team is still in the planning process. “More details to come soon!”, Greenberg promised in his tweet.

Currently, it sounds like the team is still in the planning process. “More details to come soon!”, Greenberg promised in his tweet. We’ll be sure to keep you updated about Xbox FanFest here at OnMSFT as E3 2017 draws nearer in June.

Last year’s E3 conference was quite the remarkable moment for Microsoft.  From the announcement of Forza Horizon 3, the upcoming next generation Project Scorpio Xbox console, and Xbox Play Anywhere, fans and industry watchers alike may recall that Microsoft made lots of noise at the annual video game industry trades fair. Though this year’s E3 conference is still 116 days away as of writing, Microsoft has just officially come out to announced that their Xbox E3 briefing will be on Sunday, June 11th at 2:00 PM PDT.

Mark your calendar: The 2017 E3 Xbox Media Briefing will be Sunday, June 11th at 2p. (Only 116 days to go) pic.twitter.com/c1aE9LqG5f

— Larry Hryb ????????☁ (@majornelson) February 15, 2017

As seen above, Larry Hyrb was one of the first Microsoft employees to make the announcement, and other Team Xbox members such as Aaron Greenberg shortly joined in with similar Tweets after. It will no doubt be interesting to hear what Microsoft has to offer up at E3, in 2017 and judging from the graphics in this tweet, we might very well end up hearing more about Project Scorpio at E3 2017.  We are planning to be on the ground in Los Angeles to cover the briefing, so be sure to keep it tuned to OnMSFT for all your Xbox news and information all year long.

Today, Microsoft Italy inaugurated the Microsoft House, its new headquarters located in the district of Porta Volta in the heart of Milan (via Plaffo). The subsidiary chose to move to the new building of Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli designed by architects Herzog & De Meuron, which looks really stunning. “The building is characterized by elements of linearity and transparency that perfectly match Microsoft’s vision,” explained Carlo Purassanta, Country General Manager of Microsoft Italy on LinkedIn. You can have a look at the building in the video below:

In the blog post, Purassanta explained that the move to new headquarters is also a reflection of the subsidiary’s comittment to the country and local ecosystem of businesses, startups, schools, nonprofit organizations and more. Additionally, Microsoft House will also be the home of a new Microsoft Technology Center in Milan. The exec added:

Microsoft Italy new location aims to be an accelerator of the inner potential and the best resources of Milan and the Country as a whole. We created Microsoft House to be the perfect place to engage in dialogues with our ecosystem. More than a half of the overall space is dedicated to customers, partners, students, startups, nonprofit organizations and consumers – who can discover the benefits of open innovation, now available to everyone.

If you speak Italian, Microsoft Italia did a live stream of the Microsoft House inauguration on Facebook Live and you can watch the 19 minutes video here.

Since Microsoft introduced the Windows Insider Program along with Windows 10 back in September 2014, millions of enthusiasts have signed up to test preview builds of the latest operating system for PCs and phones. The massive crowdsourcing program has been instrumental to gather feedback on new features and fix bugs before new updates roll out to consumers, but Microsoft is now looking for ways to get more IT professionals involved in the pre-release program.

Indeed, the company just announced the Windows Insider Program for Business (“WIP4Biz”) at its Ignite conference in Australia (via Neowin), a new initiative aimed at IT pros looking for better ways to test preview builds in their corporate environments. During the presentation, the company explained that a better understanding of IT Pro needs will help Microsoft improve Windows commercial deployment.

Details about the new initiative are still scarce for now, but the company is inviting IT Pros interested in the program to complete a pre-registration form on the Windows Insider website. On the dedicated page, Microsoft explains that Windows Insiders who fill the form will get access to new features in the coming months:

In the coming months, we’ll be adding additional features to the existing Windows Insider Program to better support you in your job. (…) Insiders may need to take additional action to access new features when they are made available. Instructions for accessing these new features will be communicated to Insiders who complete this pre-registration form.

According to Redmond, IT Pros are already a “large and critical group within the Windows Insider Program” and the company seems to be doing the right thing to address their specific needs. Sound off in the comments if you think the new initiative is a good way to expand the Windows Insider Program.

To celebrate the release of Halo Wars 2 on Xbox One and Windows 10, Microsoft has added several new Halo Wars 2-themed Gamerpics for Xbox users to choose from when playing on Xbox Live. These new Gamerpics can be chosen simply by editing one’s profile on either the Windows 10 Xbox app or on the Xbox One video game console.

Gamerpics are essentially static profile pics that can be chosen as an alternative to the animated three-dimensional Xbox Avatars. They can be changed at any time and there are an impressive number to choose from featuring Xbox video game characters and stylized artwork.

Currently, Xbox users are unable to upload their own images to use as their Gamerpics but this functionality is on the way and is expected to launch before E3 in June of this year.

Do you use an Xbox Avatar or Gamerpic? Let us know in the comments below.