In the News

Last year’s excellent Ori and the Blind Forest will be getting a release at retail stores next month. What’s more, it won’t be just the Xbox One version that makes it to the high street, either Ori will become one of those increasingly rare PC games that will also be sold at brick and mortar stores. Nordic will be handling the PC release of the game, with a standard edition for $19.99 and a limited edition ($29.99). Meanwhile, Microsoft will handle the Xbox One physical release of the game, which will retail for $19.99 and also release on June 14th, 2016.

This year, when Microsoft displayed an early edition of its HoloLens augmented-reality goggles, it took the opposite approach: targeting the software developers it needs to make the device useful. The discreet launch reflects the daunting hurdles confronting the nascent industry of augmented reality (AR). Microsoft is taking measured approach to avoid the challenges that other AR devices faced.

Microsoft has announced that Skype for Business App SDK Preview is now available for download. This new SDK will help developers integrate instant messaging, audio and video into their custom iOS and Android applications. James Skay, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Skype for Business, Microsoft, said, “Businesses can leverage the power of their existing Skype for Business Server and Online infrastructure, including the familiar native clients they use today, to reach customers previously inaccessible.”

Microsoft said it will introduce changes in this summer’s Windows 10 Anniversary Update to simplify switching from Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) to Edge, and back. The changes will be aimed at enterprises; the only customer group Microsoft recommends running IE11 in the new operating system. Previously, Microsoft included “Enterprise Mode” in Windows 10, a feature that lets an IT staff limit IE11’s operation to specific legacy websites or web apps.

Microsoft has now released its Feedback Hub to all Windows 10 users. Originally built for Windows Insider users, the Feedback Hub app lets users report bugs to Microsoft, as well as offer suggestions for making Windows 10 better. They can submit their own idea or suggestion to Microsoft, up vote and comment on ideas from other users, receive news on the Windows Insider program, rate Windows 10 builds overall, and complete feedback quests and earn badges as well.

Monster games announced earlier this week it was going to bring NASCAR Heat Evolution to the Xbox One this September. The game is the first officially licensed NASCAR game to come to the current generation of consoles. Along with the announcement of NASCAR Heat Evolution, the developers have released a brand new trailer geared towards getting people ready for the arrival of the new title. NASCAR Heat Evolution launches on September 13.

Microsoft has tied up with a relatively less known Chinese search engine, Sogou, to launch a new English language search portal. The move comes soon after Microsoft announced it was pulling out its Chinese language MSN search service from June 7. Microsoft has not confirmed the deal. The US giant entered into a deal with Baidu, the biggest Chinese search engine last September to make Baidu.com – the default search engine and home page in China for users of Microsoft’s Edge browser.

Microsoft has announced that Forge – the map editor for Xbox One exclusive Halo 5 is coming to Windows 10 PCs later this year. Users can now use the comfy confines of the keyboard and mouse to create in-game masterpieces. In addition to this there will be support for increased resolutions including 4K and the ability to enlist the help of friends to test the maps. In the past, Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 have been released on Windows PCs. Having Forge available now is possibly just the tip of the iceberg before Halo 5 and possibly prior Halo titles come to Windows 10.

“Minecraft,” the popular Microsoft-owned world building video game, is heading to China. Microsoft announced a deal with NetEase, a Chinese online services company, to develop and sell mobile and personal computer versions of “Minecraft” tailored for the Chinese market. The company didn’t announce a release date for the games. Microsoft has a separate deal with China’s BesTV to distribute a version of “Minecraft” for the Xbox video game console too.

Microsoft said it will step up its commitment to reduce the impact its data centers have on the environment. That means using more wind, solar, and hydropower to generate electricity. Brad Smith, President and Chief Legal Officer, Microsoft, said, “Across the tech sector, we need to recognize that data centers will rank by the middle of the next decade among the largest users of electrical power on the planet. Today, roughly 44 percent of the electricity used by Microsoft’s data centers comes from renewable energy sources. Our goal is to pass the 50 percent milestone by the end of 2018, top 60 percent early in the next decade, and then to keep improving from there.”