MCV‘s reporting that Xbox Live marketing boss Robin Burrowes has gone to Apple.

Burrowes, who’s a prevous vet of MSN and HMV, will lead up the charge of marketing the App Store for iTunes Europe, according to the site.

We spoke to him in Cologne at gamescom last year.

This is the third games industry vet that’s been snapped up by Apple in the past year, following the hirings of ex-Nintendo UK comms boss Rob Saunders and former Xbox PR head Nick Grange.

Saunders is now tasked with promoting apps for iOS devices, while Grange does hardware PR.

Apple’s declined to say anything on the Scot’s hiring.

Source: VG247

Microsoft’s confirmed that the next Xbox console won’t launch in 2012.

The news came from Cedrick Delmax, marketing director of Microsoft France, during an interview with Lepoint.Fr.

In a response to a question inquiring about the rumor suggesting the announcement of the next Xbox at E3 this year, Cedrick said:

“We’re in an industry that talks a lot, that likes to tell stories. I am not convinced things will happen this year. Xbox 360′s cycle is not at all finished. The proof is that we don’t see the logic in cutting the price this year. E3 is still premature. What’s certain is that there’ll be nothing new in 2012.”

Delmas said that Microsoft won’t be making any hasty moves in a bid of counter Nintendo as they prepare to launch Wii U.

“We’re not here to counter Nintendo and they’re not here to fight the other manufacturers. Nintendo has put itself in a different cycle, they’re advancing at their own pace.”

Rumors have been pointing towards a E3 2012 reveal for Microsoft’s next Xbox console.

Sony said today that it’ll “probably” be the last to announce its plans for the next generation.

Nintendo’s next console – Wii U – is preparing for a re-reveal at E3 2012, with a planned launch before Christmas this year.

Despite determined rumours about the onset of next generation machines from Microsoft and Sony, mounting evidence suggests we will see nothing of either console in 2012.

Source: VG247

It’s almost February game-sampling time on the Playstation Network. Sony and Eat Sleep Play are pushing through the Twisted Metal demo on Jan. 31.

Also coming Jan. 31: a demo for EA’s first-person shooter reimagining of Syndicate. Both demos will feature multiplayer play — Twisted Metal with you shooting other players, Syndicate with you teaming up with them to shoot digital people, as well as do other horrible and heinous things to them.

Syndicate’s demo is hitting Xbox Live on the same day (and a day later for both in Europe). Guess what, though — no Syndicate demo for PC. That just seems…well, stupid, EA. Just stupid.

Via Joystiq.

Source: Gaming Today

IGN has a report told to them by good old Sources about the GPU of the forthcoming Xbox console. Here’s what they said, followed by my sadness.

Following initial reports from tech blogs Fudzilla and SemiAccurate, our sources have confirmed that mass production of the system’s GPU will indeed begin by the end of 2012 but will not, however, be based on AMD’s 7000 series Southern Islands GPU. Instead, the processor will be derived from the 6000 series, which was introduced last year. More specifically, it will be akin to the Radeon HD 6670, which offers support for DirectX11, multidisplay output, 3D and 1080p HD output. The chip currently has a market price of upwards of $ 79.99.

It’s hard to figure out how to interpret that. Yes, the 6670 isn’t nearly as powerful as you would hope the next generation of console would be. Hell, I have a 6950 in my PC right now, and it’s been there for six months.

What this implies is that the increase in graphical capabilities will be only incremental from the current generation. That’s a maybe, though. The thing to remember is that the performance of the Xbox 360 probably already rivals that of a PC with a 6670 in it. Consoles, because they are dedicated gaming devices, get more gaming power out of hardware than a PC does.

But how much more can they get out of a 6670? That’s not even a top of the line card right now. IGN’s report also says Microsoft is planning a 2013 release for the new console, so you can imagine just how far behind they’ll be by the time it actually makes it into your home.

It’s hard to picture, though, CliffyB’s hopes for the next generation being realized on the back of a 6670. It’s also hard to imagine a 6670 pulling off physically based rendering. But we’ll see. Hopefully, the folks at Microsoft know what they’re doing.

Source: Gaming Today

IGN has a report told to them by good old Sources about the GPU of the forthcoming Xbox console. Here’s what they said, followed by my sadness.

Following initial reports from tech blogs Fudzilla and SemiAccurate, our sources have confirmed that mass production of the system’s GPU will indeed begin by the end of 2012 but will not, however, be based on AMD’s 7000 series Southern Islands GPU. Instead, the processor will be derived from the 6000 series, which was introduced last year. More specifically, it will be akin to the Radeon HD 6670, which offers support for DirectX11, multidisplay output, 3D and 1080p HD output. The chip currently has a market price of upwards of $ 79.99.

It’s hard to figure out how to interpret that. Yes, the 6670 isn’t nearly as powerful as you would hope the next generation of console would be. Hell, I have a 6950 in my PC right now, and it’s been there for six months.

What this implies is that the increase in graphical capabilities will be only incremental from the current generation. That’s a maybe, though. The thing to remember is that the performance of the Xbox 360 probably already rivals that of a PC with a 6670 in it. Consoles, because they are dedicated gaming devices, get more gaming power out of hardware than a PC does.

But how much more can they get out of a 6670? That’s not even a top of the line card right now. IGN’s report also says Microsoft is planning a 2013 release for the new console, so you can imagine just how far behind they’ll be by the time it actually makes it into your home.

It’s hard to picture, though, CliffyB’s hopes for the next generation being realized on the back of a 6670. It’s also hard to imagine a 6670 pulling off physically based rendering. But we’ll see. Hopefully, the folks at Microsoft know what they’re doing.

Source: Gaming Today

According to a source speaking with Inside Mobile Apps, Microsoft is planning to phase out its Microsoft Points system by the end of 2012. Microsoft using its points system as a virtual currency. It is currently being used on Xbox Live, Windows Phone and the Zune marketplace.

Microsoft will simply base all transactions on each region’s currency and will use real money for Windows Phone. Customers with Microsoft Points balances will have them converted to their local currency when the switch occurs. The change gets rid of the confusion between the dollar to Microsoft Point conversion as well as eliminating the need for customers to buy more…
Source: gamrFeed

Got questions about The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings trip to the Xbox 360? That’s okay, developer CD Projekt RED has you covered, live-stream style.

Come Thursday, CD Projekt is running a pre-release conference that it’s planning to live-stream on its Facebook page. The developer is going to answer fan questions about the game, reveal its release date and run down a few new features unique to the Xbox version, among other things. The live-stream starts at 1 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PST, 6 p.m. GMT) on Jan. 26.

We’ll be keeping our eyes on the conference as well as talking to CD Projekt’s devs this week about the game’s upcoming port. Check back Thursday for all the news on The Witcher 2′s Xbox 360 debut.

Source: Gaming Today

The Xbox Marketplace listing for Resident Evil 6 appears to contain some exceedingly juicy and entirely unannounced secrets about Capcom’s upcoming thriller. If the listing is to be believed, Leon and Chris’ latest adventure will include 2-player couch co-op, 6-player online co-op and 8-player “online multiplayer,” which we’re assuming will be some sort of group Mercenaries exercise.

What’s even more astounding is all of this information is just out there, floating around the Internet. We didn’t have to collect masks or unlock a blood-filled casket or find key cards or anything. For now, we’re cautiously taking everything we read with a grain of salt, even if it is the Xbox Marketplace. We’ve also reached out to Capcom for confirmation of these features.

Xbox Marketplace: RE6 features 6-player online co-op, 8-player online multi originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Joystiq

Since last August, Xbox Live has grown by another 5 million members to 40 million in total worldwide, helping to grow Microsoft’s second quarter financial earnings in the Xbox division by 15 percent from the previous quarter. So, what did the Xbox division pull in between October 1 and December 31 (its financial “Q2″) in terms of actual dollars? About $ 4.24 billion, says the company in its latest financial earnings statement. Not too shabby!

“In addition to the continued strength of our commercial business, this holiday season was the strongest in Microsoft history, thanks to good sales execution and compelling products like Xbox 360 and Kinect,” Microsoft COO Kevin Turner boasts in the release. He’s echoing numbers reported by Microsoft just last week during the company’s final Consumer Electronics Show Ballmernote, wherein the company announced record sales numbers for the Xbox 360 across 2011, but most especially during the holidays.

Perhaps more notably, the keynote was where no one mentioned a word about any upcoming Xbox 360 successor, despite rumors indicating as much. With numbers like these, though, it’s a bit more understandable why Microsoft isn’t looking to replace its big seller just yet.

Continue reading Microsoft’s Xbox division revenue at $ 4.24 billion in Q2, Xbox Live hits 40 million users

Microsoft’s Xbox division revenue at $ 4.24 billion in Q2, Xbox Live hits 40 million users originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Joystiq

If you’re looking to squeeze a little more fun out of those holiday titles, or if you’re craving some tower defense, the next batch of Xbox Live content is for you. First up, Magic: The Gathering -Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 will receive its third deck expansion tomorrow, January 11, for 400 MS Points ($ 5). January 17 will see the release of the previously announced “Fenix Rising” DLC for Gears of War 3 and the “Genkibowl VII” DLC for Saints Row: The Third at 800 ($ 10) and 560 ($ 7) points, respectively.

Meanwhile, the current Deal of the Week slashes prices on several tower defense games. Gold members can currently pick up Dungeon Defenders for 800 points ($ 10) or Orcs Must Die! for 600 ($ 7.50), while both South Park and Defense Grid have been marked down to 400 ($ 5).

Head over to Major Nelson to check out the full list of upcoming content.

Coming to Xbox Live: Saints Row 3 and Magic DLC, tower defense deals originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Joystiq