This week, Microsoft came with several new announcements. The giant company declared that it will introduce less Windows data collection, Minecrat for Nintendo Switch and that it will cancel Scalebound.
This week, journalists have taken a look back at the past several days of news related to Microsoft. This look back includes details about Scalebound getting canceled, two employees suing Microsoft over PTSD claims, the StaffHub app getting added to Office 365, new features that will be included in the Windows 10 Creators Update, the reduction of 10 data collection, and in the end, the confirmation of the Game Mode in Creators Update.
So, let’s take it step by step.
We begin with the fact that the Xbox One exclusive “Scalebound” gets cancelled. This is probably bad news for gamers. It seems that Scalebound, which is known as a fantasy action game exclusive to the Xbox One and developed by Platinum Games, has been cancelled.
As we know, this game has been officially announced back in 2014, with a great trailed. But, this week, Microsoft has declared that Scalebound will be cancelled.
The company made this announcement in a statement to Kotaku:
After careful deliberation, Microsoft Studios has come to the decision to end production for “Scalebound.” We’re working hard to deliver an amazing lineup of games to our fans this year, including “Halo Wars 2,” “Crackdown 3,” “State of Decay 2,” “Sea of Thieves” and other great experiences.”
The second important thing that happened this week was the fact that Microsoft decided to reduce collecting usage data under “basic” setting.
We’ve further reduced the data collected at the Basic level,” has declared Terry Myerson, the EVP of the Windows and Devices Group at Microsoft, in a post.
This includes data that is vital to the operation of Windows. We use this data to help keep Windows and apps secure, up-to-date, and running properly when you let Microsoft know the capabilities of your device, what is installed, and whether Windows is operating correctly. This option also includes basic error reporting back to Microsoft,” he added.
When the changes will be applied?
When the Windows 10 Creators Update is expected to be released at the beginning of this year. To be added that Microsoft also released a new privacy dashboard. These features will allow users to control their activity data logged in various Microsoft services.
The third most important thing that happened this year is linked to Microsoft being sued by two Online Safety Team employees.
It seems that they are claiming that they developed PTSD. According to The Next Web, Greg Blauert and Henry Soto, two employees who worked for the Online Safety Team, had to review content involving murders or child sexual abuse for several years in purpose to determine whether it needed to be taken down and required action by authorities.
More specifically, when Microsoft’s automated software detected potentially controversial content, it had to be reviewed by humans. Greg Blauert and Henry Soto were two of those humans.
As a direct and proximate cause of Defendant Microsoft’s failure to provide a safe work environment, Plaintiffs Mr. Soto and Mr. Blauert sustained severe and permanent injuries,” says the court document.
On the other side, Microsoft has declared in a statement that:
Microsoft takes seriously its responsibility to remove and report imagery of child sexual exploitation and abuse being shared on its services, as well as the health and resiliency of the employees who do this important work.”
