Skip to main content

Will your Xbox 360 replace your cable box?

There’s already a wealth of options available for using your Xbox 360 in non-gaming capacities, but could it soon replace your cable box, too?

Digiday reports that deals between Microsoft and cable television providers Comcast and Verizon is close to happening, allowing 360 owners to subscribe to Comcast or Verizon’s Fios TV services through their consoles, and without the need for a set-top cable box.

Recommended Videos

While the report is entirely unconfirmed at this point and remains firmly in rumor territory, the digital media site indicates that anonymous industry sources have called the deals “imminent.”

Both Verizon and Comcast declined to comment on the story, though a Microsoft representative said of the report, “As we announced at E3, we are committed to bringing TV entertainment to Xbox around the world through partnerships with industry leading operator and content partners. We look forward to sharing more partner news in the near future, but we have nothing to announce at this time.”

Given the online capabilities of the Xbox 360, it’s likely that a deal with cable companies could also provide unique new services available to 360 owners and targeted to the gaming audience.

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
Closed Xbox studios pitched sequels to Hi-Fi Rush, Dishonored
Key art for Dishonored

Microsoft shocked its fans earlier this week with the closure of Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, and Mighty Dog Games. Now, we've learned more about what these studios were working on.

A new report from Bloomberg delved into the fallout of these closures by Microsoft. Its anonymous sources claimed that "Tango was in the process of pitching a sequel" to Hi-Fi Rush, the critically acclaimed rhythm action game that launched last year. That certainly comes as a disappointment, as what could've potentially become a new hallmark franchise for Microsoft and Bethesda was kneecapped before it could truly take off.

Read more
You should keep your eye on these promising Xbox indies
A girl picks up the phone in inKONBINI: One Store, Many Stories

While indie video games from smaller developers tend to get more attention on platforms like Steam or Nintendo Switch, that isn't for a lack of trying on Xbox's part. Since 2013, it has run the ID@Xbox program to help fund and highlight games from independent developers all around the world. While some Xbox fans feel uncertain about the platform's future because of Microsoft's multiplatform push, Microsoft reaffirmed its efforts to uplift indie game developers at this year's Game Developers Conference by highlighting some of its upcoming ID@Xbox titles.

At a hands-off presentation held just after GDC, I got a look at several ID@Xbox games coming soon. From more notable games like Still Wakes the Deep from British developer The Chinese Room to small, cozier titles like inKONBINI: One Store, Many Stories from Japanese developer Nagai Industries, these eight ID@Xbox titles are games to watch going forward.
Botany Manor (April 9)

Read more
Sea of Thieves confirmed for PS5 as Xbox details multiplatform rollout
Enemies in Sea of Thieves

Microsoft has finally laid out when people can expect Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Grounded to go fully multiplatform.

On Wednesday morning, Pentiment and Grounded were confirmed for Nintendo Switch during the February Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, and Hi-Fi Rush's PS5 release date leaked shortly thereafter. After all that, Microsoft put out an Xbox Wire post detailing which four of its Xbox console-exclusive games will go multiplatform and when they will do so. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer previously refused to do so during a podcast confirming Xbox's multiplatform plans on February 15.

Read more