Microsoft is hosting a Solitaire tournament, and you’re invited

By Lulu Chang Published May 18, 2015

microsoft is launching a massive solitaire tournament in honor of its 25th anniversary — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft employees playing Solitaire aren’t wasting time, they’re doing their jobs. In honor of the popular game’s 25th anniversary, Microsoft is challenging the world to a Solitaire tournament, and you better believe you’re invited.

In preparation for the epic showdown, the tech company is currently in the process of finding the strongest Solitaire players within its own ranks, hosting an internal competition that pits Microsoft employee against Microsoft employee to answer the age-old question: who is the greatest Solitaire master of them all?

Recommended Videos

Once the best company players are crowned, they will then take on the public beginning June 5. If you’re interested in participating, you have a few weeks left to brush up on your Solitaire skills before going head-to-head with some of the best players at the game.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

In the two and a half decades since the game first hit PCs on May 18, 1990, Solitaire has undergone a series of changes and spawned a number of spin-offs, including Klondike, FreeCell, Spider, TriPeaks, and Pyramid. The tournament will allow you to try your luck against Microsoft’s best in those games too, but frankly, is there any game that can top the original Solitaire?

This 25th anniversary celebration somewhat makes up for the removal of the game with the release of Windows 8, during which Microsoft forced users to actually download the game from the Windows store in order to access its full glory. Recognizing the error of its ways, Microsoft reintroduced the game with Windows 10, as was its partner in crime, Minesweeper.

There is no word yet on what the prize for the ultimate champion will be, but let’s be honest, can anything really top bragging rights as the world’s best Solitaire player, or better yet, procrastinator?

Let the games begin!

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Gaming

UFO 50 isn’t the Spelunky follow-up you’re expecting. It’s even better

Key art for UFO 50 shows several retro characters.

When you create a game as important as Spelunky, players tend to pigeonhole you. Some fans of Derek Yu’s games likely expect his studio, Mossmouth, to put out 2D roguelikes that feature punishing gameplay and a deep well of secrets. But when people expect you to zig, that’s when you zag -- and boy is Mossmouth zagging with its next game, UFO 50.

Before I sat down for a hands-on demo of UFO 50 at Summer Game Fest, I didn’t know much about it. I was aware that it was some kind of minigame collection featuring 50 playable titles, but that was about it. It sounded like a surprising turn following Spelunky 2, but after playing it for myself, I completely see the connection. UFO 50 is just as ambitious as Mossmouth’s signature series, even if it's nothing like it. Even playing just a 10-minute snippet and speaking to Yu about it was enough to send it straight to the top of my Steam wish list.

Gaming

You’re going to want a great Xbox headset for Hellblade 2. Try this one

A Turtle Beach Stealth 600 sits in front of a green background.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is finally here, giving Xbox Series X owners the system's most impressive technical feat to date. The dark sequel is getting some mixed reviews due to its limited gameplay, but most reviewers seem to agree that its visuals are astonishing. It's biggest highlight, though, is its audio -- which should come as no surprise if you're familiar with the first game. When the makers of Hellblade 2 recommend you put on some headphones to play it, that's not something to be taken lightly. You're going to want a great audio solution for this one.

Like the first game, Hellblade 2 makes serious use of binaural audio to represent its protagonist's mental state. Senua is living with psychosis and constantly hears voices in her head that tear her in different directions. That's reflected in the audio design, as voices ping on all sides to disorient players. While 3D audio on the PlayStation 5 has been hyped up as one of its defining features this generation, Hellblade 2 gives Xbox Series X the most convincing use of that tech yet.

Gaming

If you’re not using PlayStation Stars, you’re missing out

Three phone screens with the PlayStation Stars app.

I wouldn't blame you if you forgot PlayStation Stars existed. In fact, I would guess the majority of people out there have no idea what that even is, but PlayStation's reward program deserves more attention than it's getting.

Launched in the summer of 2022, PlayStation Stars is a program meant to reward players for engaging with the PlayStation ecosystem. You can take on challenges to earn digital collectibles and, more importantly, coins that can be redeemed for games, store credit, and some premium in-game currencies.