Xbox Wire
Xbox Wire is Microsoft's official Xbox news site, covering console launches, studio acquisitions, store closures, game services and strategy announcements.
What HN says
HN links it as the primary source for Xbox announcements like the Muse AI model and the Xbox reset, while commenters question Xbox's finances.
Stats for nerds
116HN people shared it
105linked in comments
790story points
Jul 2026last shared
Top posts on HN
- 1Your Feedback Matters – Update on Xbox One3 people · 240 points · first shared 2013 · 227 comments on HN
- 2Microsoft Launching $10/month Xbox Game Pass1 person · 87 points · first shared 2017 · 45 comments on HN
- 3Xbox One Revealed1 person · 79 points · first shared 2013 · 91 comments on HN
- 4Microsoft now owns Minecraft2 people · 38 points · first shared 2014 · 17 comments on HN
- 5Welcoming the Talented Teams and Beloved Game Franchises of Bethesda to Xbox2 people · 35 points · first shared 2020 · 17 comments on HN
- 6Power Your Dreams with Xbox Series X2 people · 27 points · first shared 2019 · 6 comments on HN
- 7Resetting Xbox4 people · 17 points · first shared 2026 · 3 comments on HN
- 8Xbox Series X: A Closer Look at the Technology Powering the Next Generation3 people · 15 points · first shared 2020 · Discussion on HN
- 9Epic Games and Microsoft bring Fortnite to iOS via the browser2 people · 15 points · first shared 2022 · 4 comments on HN
- 10Welcoming the Legendary Franchises of Activision Blizzard to Microsoft Gaming1 person · 14 points · first shared 2022 · 1 comments on HN
What HN people wrote when they linked it
- ndiddyFeb 2025
From the Xbox press release (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/02/19/muse-ai-xbox-empowering-creators-and-players/):
> Today, countless classic games tied to aging hardware are no longer playable by most people. Thanks to this breakthrough, we are exploring the potential for Muse to take older back catalog games from our studios and optimize them for any device. We believe this could radically change how we preserve and experience classic games in the future and make them accessible to more players.
> To imagine that beloved games lost to time and hardware advancement could one day be played on any screen with Xbox is an exciting possibility for us.
To me this shows that they're just bullshitting to pump the stock price. There's no way that using generative AI to port nontrivial games based on gameplay videos and recorded inputs would produce anything more than maybe a tech demo at best. You wouldn't get anywhere near the accuracy of emulation or a direct source port, but saying "we're hiring emulation experts to improve our backwards compatibility" doesn't juice the stock like "we're using generative AI to preserve games" does.
- paperpunkJan 2024
For what it's worth I currently play flat games on Quest 3 via Xbox Cloud Gaming (i.e. streaming) [1], in passthrough mode (i.e. mixed reality with the virtual screen floating in the air) using a PS4 controller paired with the Quest 3, and it's definitely very playable, if much lower visual quality than just playing it on a 4K TV (30hrs into Starfield at the moment). But I like it because I can take my giant floating screen in any room of the house or in bed and don't have to stop when my partner wants to use the TV.
I'm pretty sure this will work on day 1 on Vision Pro since Xbox Cloud Gaming already works on Safari with PS/XBox controllers paired to Macs/iPads/iPhones, and with the supposed higher quality display, passthrough, and user interface (the Quest hand tracking is insufferable) I expect it will be even better.
[1]: https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/12/13/play-xbox-game-pass-with-meta-quest-3-today/
- gtirloniJun 2014
What sales figures? Xbox One without Kinect started to be sold today. I think it's a little early to tell if Kinect was the thing holding all those sales.
If you're comparing sales figures from XboxOne (w/ Kinect) versus PS4 (w/o Move), I think that adds too many variables to be object right now.
Let's see how this thing goes. Good thing is there is more option now. If you don't care about Kinect, you're not forced to buy it anymore. It doesn't change the fact it's an incredible piece of technology.
http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/xbox-delivering-more-choices
First, beginning on June 9th, in all markets where Xbox One is sold, we will offer Xbox One starting at $399. This is a new console option that does not include Kinect.
- starkparkerJul 2026
ZeniMax, the parent holding company of Bethesda Softworks/Bethesda Games, bought iD in 2009.[1] Microsoft bought ZeniMax for $7.5B in 2020 and assigned it to the Xbox division.[2] ZeniMax's board was subsequently dissolved, so it's entirely Microsoft.[3]
1: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/bethesda-parent-zenimax-acquires-id-software
2: https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/09/21/welcoming-bethesda-to-the-xbox-family/
3: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zenimax-board-of-directors-dissolved-after-xboxs-bethesda-purchase/1100-6488918/
- paulmdJan 2020
Ramping down, sure, but they'll keep going a long time for production for the developing world. Consoles have extremely long lifespans in places like South America, India, and Africa, where $600 might be your entire yearly income. You're not going to race out and buy a PS5 on that.
It can be somewhat surprising but PS3 production was only discontinued in 2017, Xbox 360 production was discontinued in 2016.
https://www.eteknix.com/playstation-3-officially-discontinued-sony/
http://news.xbox.com/2016/04/20/xbox-360-celebrating-10-years/
- ErneXJun 2026
In the hopes of selling more consoles and that didn’t work.
Not sure if you have seen the recent news but things are not looking great there. Gamepass is not making them a lot of money at all. Even after acquiring Activision their operating margin is 3%
Big layoffs / studio closures coming in July, on top of the previous ones.
Internal memo:
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/10/next-100-days-xbox-reset/Spinning off Xbox:
https://www.reuters.com/business/microsoft-has-considered-spinning-out-xbox-information-reports-2026-06-12/