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Video Game Release Dates 2024
Elden Ring strategy guide
Shacknews Direct: Introducing Bubbletron!
Destiny 2 Complete Strategy Guide

'Bet on Black' is the next Shacknews Long Read, covers history of Xbox and Microsoft's PC games

Get a sneak peek of our biggest Long Read yet ahead of its publication in November.
David Craddock
David Craddock
3

Based on over 50 hours of interviews with dozens of developers, Bet on Black: How Microsoft and Xbox Changed Pop Culture is the next Long Read from Shacknews.

Covering five decades of history, Bet on Black plumbs the depths of classic Windows games such as Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Age of Empires 1 and II, tells the story of how a trio of evangelists created DirectX to lure game studios away from DOS and over to Windows 95, recounts the tumultuous process of marketing and building the Xbox, and examines various games across every generation of Xbox platforms. The Long Read also delves into interpersonal issues on development teams and examines how Microsoft approached evergreen issues such as toxicity in online games.

Our biggest Long Read yet, Bet on Black will be published on Friday, November 13--and it's one of many features Shacknews has planned to celebrate the launch of the Xbox Series X|S. Beginning Monday, November 9, check Shacknews each day to read exclusive articles and interviews, and relax with our newest documentary, "Going Green: Launching the Xbox." Check out a trailer for the Long Read and the documentary below:

Shacknews Long Reads are free to read for all our readers, but Mercury subscribers get access to epub versions to read at their convenience on tablets, phones, and e-reading devices. You can subscribe to Mercury for as little as $1/month, but other tiers include Shack swag like hoodies and t-shirts.

If you want a taste of our Long Reads ahead of Bet on Black's publication on Friday, November 13, browse our Long Reads section to learn about the making of Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal, EverQuest, Pillars of Eternity 1 and II, Crystal Dynamix's Tomb Raider origin story, and more.

Long Reads Editor
Long Reads Editor

David L. Craddock writes fiction, nonfiction, and grocery lists. He is the author of the Stay Awhile and Listen series, and the Gairden Chronicles series of fantasy novels for young adults. Outside of writing, he enjoys playing Mario, Zelda, and Dark Souls games, and will be happy to discuss at length the myriad reasons why Dark Souls 2 is the best in the series. Follow him online at davidlcraddock.com and @davidlcraddock.

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