It’s no shock that the numbers are high. In March alone, ChatGPT boasted around 600 million monthly active users. What’s intriguing is that this AI-driven chatbot managed to onboard a million new users within just an hour.
The action has sparked criticism from users, leading the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) to launch a petition urging Microsoft to rethink its plan to discontinue support for Windows 10. The group warns that this decision could negatively impact Microsoft’s sustainability objectives and potentially cause “the largest increase in discarded computers ever,” as it will likely result in a significant number of computers becoming obsolete.
In line with cost-cutting measures that are believed to support Microsoft’s planned $80 billion investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, certain future Xbox game development projects have been canceled or scaled back.
Many people, including myself, were taken aback when we learned that the game was not yet being discontinued, as it seemed to us that it had been shut down long ago due to poor performance in the competitive shooter market since its launch in February 2019 by BioWare and EA.
Overseeing this situation, it seems quite unusual for Microsoft Gaming not to address the potential issues regarding the extended development period, workforce requirements, or progress status of their recently cancelled projects – like Everwild from Rare and the Perfect Dark reboot by The Initiative. I find myself questioning why these concerns weren’t brought up during this meeting.
As an analyst, I’ve observed that, based on a report from The Seattle Times, Microsoft is strategically planning to trim its workforce in order to allocate more financial resources towards artificial intelligence (AI) expenditures. This move entails increased investment in AI infrastructure and technologies, which are crucial to their future growth plans. To finance these initiatives, the company is making adjustments across multiple departments and divisions.
Amidst all the disappointing news, there was one positive development: The unexpected reveal that Helldivers 2 will be available on Xbox. I had assumed it would never happen, considering Sony has never released a title from its PlayStation Studios on Microsoft’s platform before. However, it appears that a version of this much-loved 2024 co-op shooter is indeed coming to Xbox Series X|S later in the year, specifically on August 26. This new release will include cross-play compatibility with both PC and PS5 versions.
Currently, there’s a $50 discount on the Legion Go S (SteamOS). This offer applies whether you opt for the high-end model priced at $779.99, featuring the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, or the more budget-friendly one with the Ryzen Z2 Go, priced at $549.99. While we suggest the former, it’s always beneficial to have choices.
Since then, players have been steadily pouring into the 2017 FPS game, available on both Xbox and PC. This influx might be due to the game being included in Game Pass on these platforms, a subscription service that allows players to play the game for free who would otherwise have to pay $60. Regrettably, this anticipated resurgence of the “boots on the ground” shooter has been tainted by numerous reports of troubling RCE hacks during online multiplayer sessions.
