Microsoft has restructured its Israeli office after an internal investigation into ethical violations, including the use of its cloud technology by the Israeli military. The move follows calls to boycott Xbox and other Microsoft subsidiaries. The company's Xbox brand is now under scrutiny as it prepares to relaunch under new leadership.
Microsoft Israel's general manager was removed amid an investigation into potential use of Azure technology to spy on Palestinians. The probe follows revelations that Microsoft's cloud services might have aided the Israel Defense Forces in targeting operations in Gaza. Xbox, in particular, faces an ongoing BDS boycott calling for divestment from Israel.
Forza Horizon 6, set to release on May 19, has suffered a significant leak, with players accessing the game early via unencrypted files on SteamDB. Developer Playground Games has vowed to take strict action, including franchise-wide and hardware bans, against those found playing the leaked build. The move has drawn a mixed response from the community, with some questioning the punishment given the leak's apparent origin from a review build mishap.
Discord's Nitro subscription now offers Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition, featuring over 50 games, 10 hours of cloud gaming, and rewards. Subscribers also get discounts on Logitech and SteelSeries hardware. This move aims to make Nitro a must-have for gamers, with more perks promised for 2026.
Forza Horizon 6, set to launch on May 19, has suffered a significant leak due to unencrypted preload files on Steam, exposing 155 GB of content, including thousands of assets. This breach jeopardizes the launch of Xbox's upcoming racing game, despite promising new features like Horizon Rush and enhanced audio. The leak may impact the game's profitability, echoing the precedent set by the 007: First Light leak.
Forza Horizon 6's unencrypted game files were briefly available on Steam, leading to early downloads and cracked versions. Pirates, including a content creator who shared gameplay, face severe penalties, including a 69,895,509-hour ban until December 31, 9999. Microsoft's history of banning pirates, such as the 2009 console modification crackdown and permanent bans for Gears of War Remake leakers, suggests a zero-tolerance policy.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's early access on Xbox via Walmart codes has led to playable leaks ahead of its May 22 launch, prompting fanbase-wide spoiler alerts. Deluxe edition owners officially gain access on May 19. The unexpected early playability has drawn comparisons to a similar preload error affecting Forza Horizon 6.
Celebrate the arrival of Mortal Kombat 2 in theaters by claiming the 2021 Mortal Kombat film for free, courtesy of Warner Bros. and Microsoft, through a Microsoft Rewards promotion that requires using Bing for seven days. Complete a series of Mortal Kombat-themed tasks to redeem your free digital copy. This offer is available until June 30.
Discover the most effective method to farm Silent Chests in Diablo 4's Season 13, crucial for completing Seasonal Challenges. Participating in Helltides events offers the best chances of finding these elusive chests. With at least 5 needed for challenges, learn how to optimize your grind.
Double Fine, the acclaimed studio behind Psychonauts and recent release Kiln, has filed a union petition with the CWA, seeking recognition from Microsoft. This move reflects the growing unionization trend in the U.S. games industry. With 42 workers involved, the studio's future within Microsoft's portfolio is under scrutiny.
