Microsoft news recap: Xbox Mastercard announced, Microsoft crowned World’s Best Company by Time Magazine, and more

Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!

EU may file formal complaint against Microsoft Teams’ bundling, despite latest efforts.

Microsoft is currently under scrutiny by the European Union due to concerns surrounding the bundling of its Teams app with other services. Despite Microsoft’s attempts to alleviate these concerns by offering Teams separately at a discounted annual rate, the EU remains unsatisfied, preparing to issue a formal complaint in the coming months. Furthermore, Microsoft is facing investigations regarding the licensing of its cloud infrastructure and the bundling of its OneDrive cloud system with Windows. The EU is also examining whether Microsoft’s Bing, Edge, and advertising services should be regulated under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act.

Starfield will soon get DLSS upscaling, FOV slider, ultrawide monitor support, and more.

A week following its full launch, Bethesda has released the first update for Starfield, hinting at more updates in the near future. The initial update focuses on minor stability and performance fixes, along with addressing some quest-related issues. Upcoming features, as indicated in the Steam patch notes, include brightness and contrast controls, an HDR calibration menu, and Nvidia DLSS support for PC users. Additionally, Bethesda is working on built-in mod support for Starfield, planning to launch this full support early next year, as well as support for ultrawide monitors and an ‘Eat’ button.

A new Xbox Mastercard is soon rolling out for Xbox Insiders members.

Xbox has announced the introduction of a new Xbox Mastercard credit card in collaboration with Barclays. This card will enable members to accumulate points through purchases, which can be redeemed for Xbox-related rewards. The card offers various benefits, including a bonus of 5,000 points after the first purchase and three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new members. The card, featuring contactless payments and digital wallet compatibility, will be available to Xbox Insider Program members in the US from September 21.

Time magazine names Microsoft world’s best company.

Microsoft has been recognised as the top company in TIME’s inaugural list of the World’s Best Companies. This accolade is based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors including employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and sustainability efforts. Notably, Microsoft secured the first position in employee satisfaction, indicating a positive work environment and engaged workforce. The company, along with others like Accenture, has been working towards improving diversity and inclusion within their workforce.

That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Microsoft news.