Microsoft looking to challenge Google and Apple with its own Xbox mobile store

San Francisco, Oct 20 (IANS) Microsoft is working on an Xbox mobile store to compete with Play Store and App Store.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently looking into Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and they have discovered the company's plans to create an Xbox-branded mobile game store, reports The Verge.

To build a gaming store, the tech giant might use the successful mobile games Candy Crush Saga and Call of Duty: Mobile, which are produced by Activision and King, respectively.

According to a graph from the company, the mobile game industry represents a much larger portion of the overall gaming market at 51 per cent.

Given Apple's restrictions on third-party app stores on iOS, it is impossible to see Microsoft store on iPhones. But it's obvious that doesn't stop it from planning an Xbox mobile app store.

If the company wants to succeed in this plan, it will need to recruit third-party developers, the report said.

By agreeing to a set of guidelines, the firm appears to be setting the framework for developers to independently manage their own app stores on its Xbox mobile platform and provide their own payment methods for handling in-game transactions. That is a feature that Apple does not provide.

(Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited)

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Gotham Knights Release Date and Time, PC System Requirements, Review Embargo, Gameplay, and More

Gotham Knights launches October 21, across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X. Set in the aftermath of Batman’s death, players must assume the role of Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, or the Red Hood, and establish order within the city. WB Games Montréal has also revealed Gotham Knights PC system requirements, and they seem quite demanding.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 PC System Requirements Announced, Campaign Preload Goes Live

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 system requirements are here, ahead of its launch on October 28. The PC version offers numerous advantages over its console counterpart, such as support for ultra-wide display and native 4K resolution. Those who pre-ordered the game can preload its campaign segment now, and get ready for early access later tonight at 10:30pm IST. Call of...

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Google Family Link now shows parents when their kids leave school premises: Heres how that works

Google has announced new updates to Family Link, which offer a range of options and help keep families safer online.

The new updates have already been rolled out and will be completed over the next few weeks.

In a new update to the "Location tab", parents can see all of their children on the same map with their device location. Also, parents can turn on notifications to be alerted when their child arrives at or leaves a specific destination like school or soccer practice, the company said in a blogpost.

Moreover, the "Highlights tab" will allow the parents to track the usage of their child's device by showing a snapshot of their child's app usage, screen time and recently installed apps.

"We're also adding resources from trusted partners like Common Sense Media, ConnectSafely and the Family Online Safety Institute to help parents navigate conversations around online safety at home," the company added.

For parents and children, Family Link will also be available on the web. With this, parents will be able to access online features even when they are away from their phones or don't have the app.

For children, the Family Link web experience will help them better understand their parental control settings.

Additionally, the "Controls tab" enables parents to monitor children with the ability to set screen time limits for individual devices or specific apps, as well as set content restrictions.

(Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited)

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PS5 DualSense Edge Controller Launch Date Set for January 26, Pre-Orders Go Live Next Week

PS5’s DualSense Edge wireless controller launches on January 26, 2023. Sony’s latest customisable controller is priced at $199.99 (about Rs. 16,467), and will be available to purchase from the PlayStation Direct website. The company will also sell replaceable stick modules separately, at $19.99 (about Rs. 1,646). Pre-orders go live next week, October 25, in select...

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Netflix expands cloud gaming by opening new studio

San Francisco, Oct 19 (IANS) Netflix has expanded cloud gaming by opening a new studio in Southern California.

The company's vice president of gaming, Mike Verdu, revealed two pieces of information concerning the streaming giant's entry into games, reports TechCrunch.

According to Verdu, the platform is "seriously researching a cloud gaming offering".

"It is a value add. We are not asking you to subscribe as a console replacement. It is a completely different business model. The hope is over time that it just becomes this very natural way to play games wherever you are," he added.

The company is expanding its internal studio in California in order to speed up game development.

Former 'Overwatch' executive producer, Chacko Sonny, will work as the studio's head in California. The 'Overwatch' was a huge hit at Blizzard Entertainment, earning billions of dollars.

"He could have done anything, but he chose to come here," Verdu was quoted as saying.

"You do not get people like that coming to your organisation to build the next big thing in gaming unless there's a sense that we're really in it for the long haul and in it for the right reasons," he added.

Since announcing its entry into the gaming market, Netflix has 35 games available and 14 more in development in its own studios, the report said.

Verdu said that it currently has 55 games in progress. These games offer both licensed IP like 'Spongebob Squarepants' and experiences based on original IP like 'Stranger Things'. Additionally, the company is making its original games.

(Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited)

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Dell Alienware m15 R7 arrives in India with AMD CPU and Nvidia GPU at 1,59,990: Here are the complete details

With an aim to woo users, leading PC and laptop maker Dell Technologies and its subsidiary Alienware on Tuesday unveiled a new gaming laptop, Alienware m15 R7, for Indian consumers.

Available at a starting price of Rs 1,59,990, the laptop is available across key online and offline stores.

"We will continue to up the ante and bring more powerful gaming devices that reflect our core principles of bold innovation, high performance, iconic design, and premium quality," Pujan Chadha, Director-Product Marketing, India Consumer, Dell Technologies, said in a statement.

The company said the device offers a USB4 port, delivering gamers multiple benefits that include faster transfer speeds and better management of video bandwidth.

With supreme performance and remarkable design, the laptop is equipped with the next-gen AMD Ryzen 6000 H series processors with support for up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU.

Moreover, to keep performance high and thermals under control, the new device offers "Cryo-Tech TM cooling technologies", including five tailored power state settings that ensure all sensors drive airflow where needed and as desired by the user.

Additionally, the "ComfortView Plus" low blue light technology which is integrated with the display offers hardware-based protection to reduce stress on the eyes without degrading picture quality or performance.

(Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited)

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