Skip to main content

Microsoft’s Xbox strikes back at Nintendo TVii with R2 acquisition

Microsoft continues to expand its home entertainment empire. The Xbox 360 is already positioning itself as the set top box of the future, growing its base of video and television apps at an increasing rate—Xbox Live saw 40 new entertainment apps released in December alone. Even though Windows 8 hasn’t yet connected with audiences, it’s positioned to link the world of Xbox console and PC for an all-encompassing home entertainment business. The Xbox 720 may be more than just a hub for entertainment in the home, though. Based on Microsoft’s latest corporate acquisition, it could be an interface for all home appliances.

The Wall Street Journal (via Venture Beat) reported on Thursday that Microsoft acquired the startup id8 Group R2 Studios for an undisclosed amount. The purchase ended a small scale bidding war for the company between Apple, Google, and Microsoft.

Related Videos

Those tech giants wanted R2 for its home automation technologies, as well as the patents related to them. Blake Krikorian, founder of streaming media tech company Slingbox, opened R2 Studios for business in 2012 moving into the realm of smartphone and tablet apps that control various appliances. R2 released just one app as an independent company, R2 Control for Creston, which turns handheld devices into remote controls for any Creston automation system. (Creston creates systems for controlling lighting, heat, etc. in homes and businesses.)

According to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft wants R2 first and foremost for the Xbox brand, likely to enhance the nascent Xbox Smartglass. More people would probably use Xbox Smartglass if it could control their home entertainment set up and even the lights in their living room rather than just showing them an IMDB page for movies rented from Xbox Video.

Microsoft’s interest in R2 and its patents is only logical. The video game console business has already started to push beyond content. Nintendo’s new Wii U console is a prime example. The GamePad’s most innovative feature is arguably its dual service as both game controller and television remote. The combination of television control, the fledgling Nintendo TVii service unifying both streaming and live television access, and game remote gives the Wii U great prominence in a family living room. With Microsoft’s grand designs on competing (or partnering with) cable companies, R2’s tech will likely be a key component of the next Xbox. 

Editors' Recommendations

2022’s Xbox and Bethesda Showcase is vital for Microsoft
Senua stares ahead wearing war paint.

On June 12, Microsoft will hold its second annual Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase. Following a series of delays and reports about development issues at Xbox studios, it is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal shows for Xbox ever.
Xbox had a strong showing in 2021 with critically acclaimed games like Forza Horizon 5, Age of Empires IV, and Halo Infinite, but has lost that positive momentum in the first half of this year. As debates rage over just how compelling Xbox’s 2022 lineup is now that Bethesda’s heavy hitters Starfield and Redfall have been delayed until 2023, Microsoft needs to prove why gamers should care about its platforms and services this year, and the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase is the right place to do that.
First-party woes
The back half of 2022 is looking pretty dire for Microsoft in terms of first-party games it's directly developing or publishing. Originally, it seemed like Microsoft was relying on Bethesda to provide it with two blockbuster titles, but that strategy went out the window when those games were delayed. While Microsoft has announced plenty of games since the Xbox Series X's reveal in 2020, none of them are publicly dated to release this year. It's relying on third-party exclusives like Warhammer 40K: Darktide and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, the latter of which could have its release date impacted further by Russia's war on Ukraine.

This isn't a good situation for Xbox, so the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase is the best place for the companies to reassure fans that first-party games are actually coming. So, what could possibly be in store? We know for sure that Redfall, Starfield, and Contraband won't release this year. State of Decay 3 and Perfect Dark also seems unlikely due to the reported development trouble both titles are facing. That said, other Microsoft titles could sneak in a 2022 release. To start, Grounded will likely leave early access this year. 
When you consider that Forza Horizon 5 wasn’t revealed until E3 2021 and managed to be one of the best games of the year, it seems likely, if unconfirmed, that Microsoft will put out the next mainline Forza Motorsport this year. The next entry in the series has been in development at Turn 10 for some time and is rumored to be beta testing.
As for its other first-party studios, it's possible that Senua's Sacrifice: Hellblade 2 or Avowed will actually manage to come out this year and fill the void left by Redfall and Starfield. Age of Empires IV and Deathloop could also strengthen the lineup if ported to Xbox consoles this year.
It's also possible that there are announced first-party games slated for this year, like the rumored non-combat RPG from Obsidian's Josh Sawyer, the leaked remaster of Goldeneye 007, or one of the many Xbox Game Studios Projects that were exposed via the Nvidia GeForce Now Leak last year. Xbox Game Studios Publishing could also help bolster the 2022 lineup if As Dusk Falls launches this year and they release some other unannounced games from second-party partners. If any of those guesses are true, this Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase is the place to confirm it. Microsoft can't afford to wait any longer to show us what's in store from them this year if it has anything at all.
Forza Motorsport - Official Announce Trailer
Other parties
If Microsoft is truly unable to provide that many compelling first-party exclusives this year -- which is a very real possibility -- then it will need to add some extremely noteworthy heavy-hitters to Xbox Game Pass on day one in the back half of 2022. In the 2021 conference, all but two games featured were to be included in Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft needs to repeat that this year, and it would certainly help if many of those games are launching in 2022. Managing to net some of this fall’s big titles like Saints Row, Sonic Frontiers, Gotham Knights, or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be on the service day one would make the lack of exclusives and first-party games would sting less for Xbox fans.
The worst-case scenario for Microsoft here is having no compelling AAA games launch day one on Xbox Game Pass this fall, first-party or not. It might be able to fall back on Xbox Game Studios Publishing, which has partnered with developers outside of Xbox Game Studios to create Xbox-exclusive titles. If Microsoft is not able to provide anything compelling for this year across the board, 2022 could be one of the most disappointing first-party years for Microsoft since 2017.
Gotham Knights would be a very compelling Xbox Game Pass title in 2022.
Whether it’s with secret first- and second-party exclusives or some compelling Xbox Game Pass deals, this is a very important showcase for Xbox. It has spent years acquiring studios to bolster its exclusive lineup but still doesn’t have much in the way of palpable results to show for it. In a tweet after Redfall and Starfield's delay, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer tweeted "These decisions are hard on teams making the games & our fans. While I fully support giving teams time to release these great games when they are ready, we hear the feedback. Delivering quality & consistency is expected, we will continue to work to better meet those expectations." 
While Microsoft having that mindset in the future is appreciated, it could come at a real cost of there not being that many compelling games on the system this year. And if it’s bad, the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase will leave us questioning if we can ever expect consistent results from Xbox. As such, Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda both need to come out strong during this showcase with lots of games. Not just ones for years to come, but for 2022 as well. 

Read more
Xbox’s new 2TB memory card costs more than a Series S
Xbox's new 2tb memory card being slotted into a console.

Xbox's newly announced Seagate memory cards give players access to either an extra 512GB or 2TB of storage, with the latter running customers a whopping $400 -- $100 above the market price of the Xbox Series S. That's right: If players want to boost their Xbox's memory by a whopping 2TB, they'll have to be willing to shell out a console's worth of money.

Like the console's regular 1TB card, these two cards are also made by Seagate and work seamlessly with next-gen games, meaning players won't have an issue running new titles off their expanded storage. The 512GB card, which costs $140, will launch in mid-November and is available for pre-order starting today. The 2TB model is set to launch in December and will be available for pre-order starting next month.

Read more
How to pre-order the Halo Infinite Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
Halo Infinite Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2.

During Gamescom 2021 Opening Night Live, Microsoft unveiled a boatload of information about the upcoming Halo Infinite. Aside from revealing the game's release date, a new Halo Infinite Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 was announced during the show. As you might imagine, this controller has already become difficult to find, despite being announced so recently. The nice thing is that there's still plenty of time ahead of its release, meaning there will likely be more retailers that open up pre-orders for the new controller.

It's currently sold out everywhere, but there are a few things you should know about the new Halo Infinite Xbox Elite controller. In this post, we'll detail what comes with each controller, its release date, and where you can find it.

Read more