Latest Xbox, multi-platform Game News &amp; Updates

Microsoft Refutes Notion That Foreign-Worker Visas Were Behind Mass Xbox Layoffs

Since news broke of Microsoft's recent round of mass layoffs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/:~:text=Microsoft%20has%20officially%20announced%20that,a%20%E2%80%9Crestructuring%E2%80%9D%20process%20at%20Xbox.)--which affected 1,600 people immediately and will reach double that number over the next year--a number of reports have claimed that mass approvals of foreign-worker visas were behind the decision. Now, Microsoft communications lead Frank X. Shaw has refuted what he calls "bad information." In a Twitter post, Shaw said that while there are Microsoft workers using H-1B visas, they are "not specific to Xbox and represent a small percentage of Microsoft's overall workforce. And the majority of the roles impacted were not American roles." https://twitter.com/fxshaw/status/2075637298046374135 "Recent workforce changes were made to restructure the Xbox business because it is not healthy. They were not made to replace employees with foreign workers," Shaw said. Shaw's comments come after multiple conservative news outlets pointed out that Microsoft was approved for more than 2,200 H-1B visas this year. Fox News(https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fury-erupts-us-brand-fires-1600-employees-after-securing-thousands-foreign-worker-visas) was told by Microsoft prior to publishing its story that H-1B employees were also among those affected by the layoffs. The recent Xbox layoffs are among the biggest we've ever seen in the gaming industry. Alongside losing roughly 20% of the Xbox workforce, Microsoft also made the decision to separate from five studios. Two of these--Double Fine and Compulsion Games--will return to operating as independent studios. Ninja Theory and Undead Labs, meanwhile, are being sold to a currently unknown buyer, and Microsoft is currently reviewing options with Arkane for its sale or separation. The studios that remain operational were still heavily impacted(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-after-the-layoffs-studios-left-and-what-theyre-making/) by the layoffs, however. Among the worst-hit, at least that we know of, was id Software, which lost roughly half its headcount(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-perfect-dark-co-op-doom-were-reportedly-in-the-works-at-id-software-before-mass-layoffs/) just as it launched the latest Doom: The Dark Ages expansion.

Doom studio id Software responds to Xbox layoffs reports

"We're going to keep building great games," id Software says in response to mass Xbox layoffs at the Doom and Quake studio.

Doom officially returns with an excellent brand-new release that's saddled with Xbox baggage

Doom's Revelations DLC is a great addition marred by the reality that its developer, Id Software, was decimated by layoffs the day before it came out.

Xbox Is Teasing Something Big For Next Week Amid Disc-To-Digital Rumors

The future is looking increasingly digital(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-gen-xbox-may-not-have-disc-drive-disc-to-digital-feature-coming-reports-say/) for next-gen video game consoles, but one method that might ease the transition is a disc-to-digital service that allows users to bring their libraries with them. While there is speculation that this feature will launch around the time that Xbox debuts its next-gen console, Project Helix(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-xbox-release-date-specs-display-price/1100-6525379/), a first taste of the future might be arriving sooner than expected. Xbox Insiders received a message in lieu of an update this week, with Xbox's program lead Brad Rossetti teasing that something big was on the way. "Xbox Insiders on console, as you have seen we paused flighting this week as we prep for week next. Thanks for being patient! The wait is worth the wait, I promise," Rossetti wrote online(https://x.com/WorkWombatman/status/2075389392991174773). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FatSqS3VYY This is widely rumored to be the first look at Xbox's disc-to-digital program, something that Windows Central editor Jez Corden--who has filed several reports on the feature--teased its debut(https://x.com/JezCorden/status/2075406833645223997) with a "positron cometh" tweet. This is reportedly the codename for the rumored disc-to-digital feature, with other reports claiming that Xbox Play Anywhere will give users the option to switch from physical to digital. While Xbox has yet to confirm if Project Helix will be an all-digital games console, its rival Sony has confirmed that it will stop manufacturing PlayStation discs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) in 2028, something analysts believe will lead to a discless PS6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-sony-is-killing-disc-based-playstation-games-and-the-implications-for-ps6-and-beyond/). The backlash was swift(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/profoundly-disappointed-is-this-companys-response-to-sonys-decision-to-end-disc-support/) and negative for Sony, with the company going radio silent(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-tries-to-change-the-subject-after-killing-playstation-discs/) on its social media channels for several days while people rallied against the company. Even with the negative publicity, Sony's reasons for ditching physical media make complete financial sense(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-is-sony-killing-discs-its-all-about-profitability-and-control-expert-says/?thumbnailid=1807886). Digital sales vastly overshadow physical sales, and Sony recorded its highest-ever quarterly digital game sales period(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-just-reported-a-new-record-breaking-high-figure-but-its-unsurprising/1100-6539856/) just before it made the announcement. Other companies like EA, Capcom, and Nintendo have also experienced a surge in digital sales(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstations-disc-based-game-sales-have-dropped-dramatically-in-recent-years/), which means those publishers and studios have less overhead to deal with, like covering the costs of pressing game discs or paying retailer fees. And as one analyst has said, player loyalty means nothing(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/your-loyalty-to-sony-or-xbox-means-nothing-analyst-says/) to these companies.

🎮 Xbox

Game Pass Gets A Few Freebies For This Weekend Only, Including One Where You’re A Teddy Bear Fighting Nightmares Come To Life

The weekend is here, and if you're looking for something new to play on Xbox but don't want to spend any money, you're in luck. The Free Play Days promotion is back this weekend, with three games offered up for the low, low price of $0, or at least nothing beyond the price of a Game Pass membership. MLB The Show 26, which is the newest entry in the professional baseball series, is free this weekend. The survival game The Alters is free as well, along with the FPS Stuffed, in which you play as a teddy bear and fight off the nightmares of a young girl. All of these games are free now through July 12, and you need a membership to Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential. If you want to buy the games after the free weekend, MLB The Show 26 is marked down to $35(https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/mlb-the-show-26-standard-edition/9NRLSFM01XTP), while The Alters is discounted to $17.50(https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/the-alters/9n0p25wjhm8c). Stuffed, however, is not on sale and sells for its normal $12.50 price(https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/stuffed/9N2XC0ML2K47). !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Stuffeda289d1.jpg?w=1024) A spooky scene from Stuffed. Beyond these free games, Gears of War: Reloaded was just added to Game Pass Premium tier (joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass) on July 9, while the arcade-style corridor shooter Tamashika came to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass on that day as well. For more, check out all of the new additions to Game Pass for July so far(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-new-games-for-july-revealed/). Xbox is facing challenging times of late, as the company recently laid off 1,600 people, divested from five studios, and cancelled games(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-after-the-layoffs-studios-left-and-what-theyre-making/). Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the changes were necessary because Xbox is not a healthy business currently. Sharma was recently appointed to a Federal Reserve task force focused on productivity and jobs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-ceo-joins-feds-task-force-to-help-with-price-stability-and-employment-after-she-raised-xbox-prices-and-laid-of-staff/).

🎮 Game Pass

Harry Kane And Erling Haaland, Best Known For Their Gaming Skins, Are Facing Off This Weekend At The World Cup

The 2026's Men's World Cup is heating up, and one of this weekend's most-anticipated matchups is between Harry Kane of England and Erling Haaland of Norway, who are of course best known for their gaming skins. England captain Harry Kane has a Fortnite skin, while Norway striker and noted Xbox fan(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/world-cup-star-erling-haaland-shows-off-his-gaming-setup-wants-xbox-to-sponsor-him-and-is-excited-for-gta-6/) Erling Haaland has his own Clash of Clans skin. On June 11, the two gaming skins who are also know for their sporting prowess will play to decide who gets through the semifinals of the World Cup. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.52.41-AM.png?w=1024) Erling Haaland in Clash of Clans. Kane came to Fortnite as a skin five years ago, while Halaan's skin in Clash of Clans arrived about two years ago. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.52.15-AM.png) Harry Kane in Fortnite EA Sports' World Cup simulation chose Spain to win(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/world-cup-2026-sim-by-ea-sports-predicts-an-expected-winner/), and they remain a popular choice to win the whole thing, only behind the overall betting favorite France. Spain plays Belgium today, June 10, and the winner will take on France on July 14. The World Cup wraps up on Sunday, July 19.

🎮 Fortnite🎮 GTA

🎮 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Multi-platform

A New Update For The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Fixes The Game's Most Annoying Feature

!The Adventures of Elliot The Millennium Tales HD-2D Team Asano Square Enix PS5 Xbox Series X/S PC Steam Nintendo Switch 2(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/10/ecb13f14/adventuresofelliotheader.jpg.webp) Octopath Traveler(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/octopath-traveler/an-arduous-but-rewarding-journey) series developer Team Asano launched(https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2026/02/05/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales-arrives-in-june) its HD-2D action RPG, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales(https://www.gameinformer.com/product/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales), last month on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Though many are enjoying the game, there is near-universal agreement that Faie, the companion fairy that accompanies Elliot on his adventure, talks way too much. A new update released today across all platforms lets you turn off Faie's voice completely, providing a fix for the game's most annoying feature. The Adventures of Elliot is, no doubt, aiming to be a Zelda-like adventure, and Faie can be seen as a stand-in for Navi. Despite general grievances with Link's fairy in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who finds Navi to be more talkative than Faie. Team Asano was seemingly aware of Faie's communication style, giving players the option to tone down how often she speaks in the game's options – which was available from the jump. However, listening to player feedback since the game's launch, today's 1.1.0 update allows you to completely turn off Faie's voice. The update's patch notes(https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3483510/view/680754149992695962?l=english) are short and sweet. In addition to adding an option to turn off Faie's voice, this update also "adjusts tutorial behavior," fixes FPS drops on some PCs when Faie is present, and fixes some minor bugs. The update is available to download right now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. In the meantime, read Game Informer's review of The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales/history-repeats-itself) to learn why we enjoyed the game, despite Faie's insistence on preventing any and all silence. After that, check out our reviews for Team Asano's other games, like Octopath Traveler 0(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/octopath-traveler-0/going-from-zero-to-hero), Octopath Traveler II(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/octopath-traveler-ii/two-is-better-than-one), and Triangle Strategy(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/triangle-strategy/powerful-conviction-shines-over-dark-times). What are your thoughts on Faie? Let us know in the comments below!

🎮 A New

GameNewsabout 1 month ago

Xbox CEO Joins Federal Reserve’s Productivity And Jobs Task Force Amid Tumultuous Time

The United States central bank, the Federal Reserve, has announced(https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260709a.htm) new task forces to "advance the conduct of monetary policy," and its board has chosen Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to help guide one task force pertaining to AI, as part of a wider effort to help create jobs and keep prices stable. The new Productivity and Jobs task force will look into the "economic impact of new general-purpose technologies," including AI, to help the Fed make better policy decisions. Sharma is joined on this task force by billionaire businessman and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, along with Stanford University economics professor Charles I. Jones--he is currently on leave from the university to become a scholar-in-residence at the AI company Anthropic. Fed chairman Kevin Warsh said the new task forces are part of the group's "commitment to price stability and maximum employment." !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AshaSharma-1.png) Asha Sharma is the new Xbox CEO. Sharma, for her part, recently oversaw huge Xbox price hikes(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-increasing-the-cost-of-xbox-consoles-again-starting-in-august/) and mass layoffs at Xbox(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) that people reacted negatively to. These dramatic changes came against the backdrop of the entire consume electronics industry managing the ongoing memory and component shortages that have eaten into margins. "We are in a hardware component crisis. When I joined as CEO in February, the price we paid for console storage components was over 2x as high as we paid last fall," Sharma said. "These costs have since doubled again. And as we plan for the 2027 holiday season, we expect another significant increase, taking us over 5x the prices we paid only two years earlier. Memory costs have followed a broadly similar trajectory. While the entire industry is facing a components crisis, we believe we have been impacted more greatly than many of our peers due to the choices we made over the last half decade. We are currently unable to make as many consoles as players want to buy, and we need a new business model and partnerships for hardware as we remain committed to Helix." On the AI part, Sharma, 37, comes from an AI background at Microsoft. She has promised no "soulless AI slop" at Xbox(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-boss-says-she-has-no-tolerance-for-bad-ai/1100-6538342/) under her leadership, and she has canceled some AI plans for Xbox already(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/copilot-is-kaput-on-xbox-consoles/1100-6539795/). The Fed's new task forces will "operate independently," the Fed said. They will attempt to "follow the evidence, provide candid feedback, and produce rigorous findings." The other task forces include ones dedicated to improving the Fed's communications, examining costs and benefits generally, bettering the quality and timeliness of key economic data points, and revisiting how the Fed tracks and reacts to inflation. The Xbox "reset" that was announced this week included 1,600 Xbox layoffs, with 1,600 more to come. Microsoft also got rid of five studios and canceled games, including Avowed 2(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-kills-obsidians-avowed-sequel-in-the-wake-of-layoffs-report/). This was all done because Sharma said the Xbox business was not healthy and was in need of major changes.

Xbox's Halo and Fallout strategy shows signs of following Marvel

Xbox's strategy of investing heavily into its biggest franchises seems like a plan destined to backfire

🎮 Halo🎮 Fallout

🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platform

Doom’s new expansion shows just what makes id Software special

This week should have been a celebration for Doom developer id Software. The studio just launched Revelations, a meaty expansion for Doom: The Dark Ages that adds a powerful new weapon and more demonic levels to blast through. Even though I hadn't picked up The Dark Ages for more than a year, it only took &8230;

🎮 s new

TheNewsabout 1 month ago

5 best stealth games like Assassin's Creed's older games

There are two types of Assassin's Creed games: the old stealthy games, and the new open-world RPGs. Here are 5 games like the old era of AC games.