Microsoft Games General Thread

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Game Leaks are a hot topic right now. Perhaps no story is more crazy than the Xbox 360 and its PartnerNet service. In this episode we take a look at the story of how Microsoft were unable to control game leaks on the Xbox 360 because of critical security flaws within the PartnerNet service - the Developer version of Xbox Live , and how thousands of unauthorized users were able to access PartnerNet and download and leak pre-release beta games months before official release.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Are you ready for some OG Xbox emulators?

Xbox and Windows NT 3.5 source code leaks online

The source code includes parts of the original Xbox operating system

Microsoft’s original Xbox console source code has leaked online, alongside code for a version of Windows NT 3.5. The Xbox source code includes the kernel for the operating system on the original console, a custom version of Windows 2000. We can confirm the leaked Xbox OS is genuine, and appeared online earlier this month. “We’re aware of these reports and are investigating,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge.

While the Xbox OS leak includes some build environments, the Xbox Development Kit, emulators used for testing, and internal documents, we understand this kernel and source code has been passed around privately among enthusiasts previously. That means it’s unlikely to help further homebrew and emulator efforts for original Xbox games.

A number of emulators exist for the Xbox, including CXBX, XQEMU, and CXBX Reloaded, but most have struggled to emulate the original Xbox OS and kernel. Microsoft developed the first Xbox with x86 hardware in mind, but the Xbox kernel was based on a custom and stripped down version of Windows 2000 with DirectX 8 support.

Unofficial emulators have tried to replicate this kernel for years, but so far only around 40 games have limited emulation support compared to the 900 games available for the original Xbox. Microsoft has its own proprietary emulation for Xbox and Xbox 360 games, but it’s only currently available on Xbox One consoles and not on Windows PCs.

Alongside the Xbox leak, source code for a near-final version of Windows NT 3.5 has also appeared online. The source code includes all the necessary build tools, and should allow enthusiasts to dig into the old operating system. As Windows NT 3.5 support ended in December 2001, the operating system is only used in a small number of systems worldwide so a source code leak isn’t a significant security issue.

Microsoft has largely protected its proprietary Windows and Xbox source code over the years. Partial Windows 2000 and NT 4 source code leaked back in 2004, and even some Windows 10 source code was posted online in 2017. We asked Microsoft to comment on the Windows NT 3.5 source code leak, but the company says it has nothing to share about this particular incident.

Source: The Verge

[melancholy]

Are you ready for some OG Xbox emulators?

Reading the article, it sounds like this leak won’t help at all with emulators.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Reading the article, it sounds like this leak won’t help at all with emulators.

It will help if someone decides to reverse engine the source code. It will be an illegal emulator, but it should work better than the legal ones.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Hawq]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Xbox Series X can add HDR and 120fps support to older games

Some games will double in framerates

Microsoft is planning to automatically add HDR support to games played on its upcoming Xbox Series X console. While existing games will automatically play better on the Xbox Series X, Microsoft is also doing some work to add HDR support and even improve some games from a 30fps locked framerate to 60fps, or 60fps to 120fps.

“In partnership with the Xbox Advanced Technology Group, Xbox Series X delivers a new, innovative HDR reconstruction technique which enables the platform to automatically add HDR support to games,” explains Jason Ronald, a partner director of program management for the Xbox platform team. “As this technique is handled by the platform itself, it allows us to enable HDR with zero impact to the game’s performance and we can also apply it to Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles developed almost 20 years ago, well before the existence of HDR.”

Ronald doesn’t explain exactly how Microsoft is adding HDR to existing games, but the company has, in the past, added HDR support to older games like Mirror’s Edge on the Xbox One X. Microsoft’s new “HDR reconstruction technique” is applied at the platform level so it requires no work from developers. Microsoft may simply be upscaling and processing games in HDR, similar to how Apple forced all non-4K content into 4K HDR for its Apple TV 4K.

Microsoft is also planning to improve and preserve some older games that run on the Xbox Series X by upping framerates. “The compatibility team has invented brand new techniques that enable even more titles to run at higher resolutions and image quality while still respecting the artistic intent and vision of the original creators,” says Ronald. “We are also creating whole new classes of innovations including the ability to double the frame rate of a select set of titles from 30fps to 60fps or 60fps to 120fps.”

Ronald doesn’t reveal exactly how Microsoft is achieving this, and simply promises to share more closer to launch. It’s likely that Microsoft will unlock its Xbox emulator further on the Series X, thanks to the increased power in the CPU and GPU architectures. That alone could improve framerates in certain games, allowing some to remove caps and go beyond CPU or GPU limitations that may have been holding titles back previously.

Alongside these game improvements, Microsoft is also revealing that its Quick Resume feature for the Xbox Series X can be enabled on existing backward compatible titles. Quick Resume is a feature that lets you quickly switch between multiple games, resuming where you left.

All of these improvements are part of Microsoft’s continued backward compatibility work that allows original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games to run on the Xbox Series X. Microsoft says games will run without needing a boost mode and there’s no downclocking involved. Microsoft is now planning to show off some of its plans for first-party next-gen games in July, and Ronald teases “our 15 Xbox Game Studios teams are ha

Source: The Verge

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[pixel]

Sweet, I've been on the fence about trying No Man's Sky. Also, it makes me uncomfortable to see Kingdom Hearts on Xbox.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

A Beyond3D forum user known as “eastman” stated that the Xbox Series X would only be $400 USD and the Xbox Series S would be an astonishingly cheap $200 USD. This could be a really big problem for Sony's upcoming PlayStation 5.

[Skynet]

I was on the fence about the next gen but those prices aren't bad, assuming legit. New PC build is the next major gaming upgrade for me, however.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

If the Xbox Series X ends up being A$700 or less, that's a pretty good price with how powerful it is.

[Skynet]

Agreed. $400US currently is about $582AU. Add 10% GST brings us to ~$640AU. Round it up to $699AU with the Australia tax

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Summer Spotlight 1



Hey! It's video number one in our Summer Spotlight series for summer 2020.

We're all missing out on big events like E3 this summer that have been cancelled due to Covid 19, so we wanted to shine a light on what's brewing this year at ID@xbox. We kick off in this video with an animal/skater mashup, a spellcasting battle royale with squad and solo modes, an epic fantasy air combat game, and more. We hope you're as stoked about summer as we are. We get to play more games!

Featured games:

SkateBird
Spellbreak
The Falconeer
The Forgotten City
Trash Sailors
Call of the Sea
Dead Static Drive
Welcome to Elk

Summer Spotlight 2



In number 2 of our Summer Spotlight series, devs discuss secret worlds, abominable monstrosities and lots more.

We're throwing down in-depth looks at all the cool stuff emerging from the universe of independent gaming, as we partner with clever, innovative and pioneering devs we are stoked to support as part of the ID@Xbox program. Have fun and play more games!

Featured games:

Carrion
Ary and the Secret of Seasons
Atrio: The Dark Wild
Black Book
No Straight Roads

Summer Spotlight 3



Our showcase continues with a crowdfunding success story, an innovative action-packed side scroller, and lots more.

Bummer that the biggest summer events won't happen until next year, but that's not stopping our dev friends from creating more worlds for you to explore and more games to discover. Enjoy our 2020 Spotlight series, and grab your controller for more adventures.

Featured games:

Everspace 2
Foregone
Going Under
Hitchhiker – A Mystery Game
Paradise Lost

Summer Spotlight 4



Number 4 in our showcase dives into some serious roguelike action, a new twist on an old favorite and lots more.

We're super excited to roll out this showcase of ID@Xbox games we're bringing to the platform this year. Kick back and enjoy!

Featured games:

ScourgeBringer
Phogs!
Psikodelya
Sail Forth
Super Meat Boy Forever

Summer Spotlight 5



We're deep diving into our dev showcase in video 5 with a unique hybrid action/RPG, a super tasty party game, and more.

We're having a blast with this video showcase, and looking forward to a summer of awesome gaming!

Featured games:

The Ascent
Cake Bash
The Riftbreaker
The Universim
Cyber Shadow

Summer Spotlight 6



We're going out with a bang in video 6 of our Summer Spotlight series with a handful of awesome titles.

Check out a trippy first-person survival game, a power-packed physics-based party game, and lots more.

Featured games:

Knight Squad 2
Boomerang Fu
VoidTrain
Wintermoor Tactics Club
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII
Backbone

[Dr. Zoidberg]