Latest Xbox, multi-platform Game News & Updates
☁ Xbox, multi-platform News
639 articles
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformFallout New Vegas devs are finally making a new Fallout RPG
The makers of the critically acclaimed spinoff, Fallout New Vegas, are returning to Bethesda's franchise with a new post-apocalyptic game
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Kills Obsidian’s Avowed Sequel In The Wake Of Layoffs – Report
Xbox's big reset continues(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/), as the company has targeted RPG icon Obsidian Entertainment, laying off about a quarter of its staff and cancelling a sequel to the underrated 2025 action-RPG Avowed(https://www.gamespot.com/games/avowed/). According to a July 8 Bloomberg report(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-08/microsoft-s-xbox-to-shift-obsidian-studio-to-new-fallout-video-game?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4MzUzMzE2NSwiZXhwIjoxNzg0MTM3OTY1LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUSFZBWklWVFRDWk0wMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.9UWhy-Whti5Meu89-fQ5LQdZHqAtJVbXoWOcVtFkkU&leadSource=uverify%20wall), Obsidian Entertainment has cancelled "multiple projects" so that the California-based developer can focus on a bigger franchise: Fallout(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-fallout-game-is-new-focus-for-new-vegas-developer-obsidian-entertainment-report/). As part of the cuts, Avowed was a casualty, along with 52 workers, per a July 8 Game File report(https://www.gamefile.news/p/xbox-cuts-texas-california). As Bloomberg noted, progress on the Avowed sequel(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/if-we-get-avowed-2-itll-have-to-make-do-without-a-key-figure/1100-6531694/) was "going well" and "on track" to be announced in the next year. Obsidian Entertainment had even hoped to build upon the original game by developing the sequel more quickly using the already-created world and technology. Unfortunately, the project didn't fit into Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's overall strategy for Xbox, according to Bloomberg's sources. That said, it appears there is actually a small chance the project could be un-canceled. According to Bloomberg, some of the remaining staff will continue working on the Avowed sequel with the hope that Xbox may see a reason for the project's existence in the future. But that's up in the air, despite reporting in February 2026 stating that Obsidian Entertainment would focus on more games in Avowed's universe(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/obsidian-focusing-on-more-games-in-avoweds-universe-but-not-the-outer-worlds-3-report/1100-6537866/), which it shares with Pillars of Eternity(https://www.gamespot.com/games/pillars-of-eternity/). (Pillars of Eternity is also in a state of limbo, with the last game, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire(https://www.gamespot.com/games/pillars-of-eternity-ii-deadfire/), launching in 2018 and receiving little to no news since its release.) It's bummer news for fans of Avowed. Although the game didn't meet the sales expectations set forth by Microsoft(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-may-shut-down-obsidian-entertainment-too/), the high-fantasy RPG still reviewed relatively well following its February 2025 launch. GameSpot gave it a 6/10 in our Avowed review(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/avowed-review-too-close-to-the-sun/1900-6418335/), but it has a "mostly positive" rating on Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/2457220/Avowed/) and an 80 Metacritic score(https://www.metacritic.com/game/avowed/). I personally just finished Avowed after sinking more than 70 hours into the game, and I thoroughly enjoyed its mix of gunplay and melee combat. The narrative, while simple and predictable, was still enticing, and exploration was rewarding even if the world felt devoid of combat encounters after you've completed everything. It really is a solid amalgam of everything Obsidian Entertainment does well in a new setting. A sequel could've been something awesome. The narrative ends on a cliffhanger, so there's more than enough meat on the bone to dig into the game's storytelling. On top of that, the world itself is rich with characters and conflicts worth exploring. And the powers! I never enjoy magic in games, but the spellcasting in Avowed felt great. I mained a big sword and two pistols, but on the occasions that I whipped out my spellbook, I felt like a badass wizard of the Living Lands. Unfortunately, with this latest news, it appears that any hopes of an Avowed 2 have been dashed. The game's former director, Carrie Patel (who left in May 2025 to join the Netflix-owned studio Night Dive(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/if-we-get-avowed-2-itll-have-to-make-do-without-a-key-figure/1100-6531694/)), wants to see more Avowed(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/you-want-more-avowed-so-does-the-games-director/1100-6529664/), but Microsoft just isn't interested anymore.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft’s Xbox reset is pivoting Obsidian to make Fallout instead of Avowed
As part of Microsoft's big Xbox "reset," which includes layoffs affecting 3,200 staffers, jettisoning studios, and shifting investments to focus on "higher priority projects," Obsidian Entertainment is changing its plans. The studio, behind games like Grounded and The Outer Worlds, is starting work on a new Fallout title and has canceled "multiple projects," including a &8230;
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformIf Microsoft sold off Xbox, who would even buy it?
This week, Microsoft took a huge ax to its Xbox business. The company announced that it would be laying off 1,600 workers now, 1,600 more over the next fiscal year, and that it would be shedding four studios. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma hasn't been shy about why she's making such dramatic cuts, saying in a &8230;
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformNew anime Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games is going viral
Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games is new on Crunchyroll, and the painfully accurate anime is getting praise from the FGC
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformBernie Sanders Rips Microsoft For Xbox Layoffs And Price Hikes
Microsoft recently announced mass layoffs affecting 4,800 people(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/), including 3,200 at Xbox, and now US Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has ripped the technology giant for cutting staff at a time when it's making massive profits. Posting on social media(https://x.com/SenSanders/status/2074202502996582817), Sanders pointed out how Microsoft made more than $100 billion in profit in 2025, with CEO Satya Nadella getting paid $96 million. He also called out how US President Donald Trump's new tax plan would save Microsoft $12.5 billion. "Please don’t tell me corporate tax breaks create jobs. It never trickles down," he said, calling out the Xbox layoffs and the Xbox console price hikes. The latest Xbox console price hike brings the Series X up to a whopping $800(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-increasing-the-cost-of-xbox-consoles-again-starting-in-august/). https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/2074202502996582817 For the fiscal year that Sanders is referring to(https://news.microsoft.com/source/2025/07/30/microsoft-cloud-and-ai-strength-fuels-fourth-quarter-results/), Microsoft made $101.8 billion in profit (up 16%) on revenue of $281.7 billion (up 15%). Microsoft overall may have done well financially during the year, but Xbox was in a rougher spot, if commentary from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is to be believed. She has said the Xbox business is "not healthy" and that a variety of bets made by previous leaders Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond did not pay off(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-spent-80-billion-on-its-bet-for-xbox-game-pass-it-did-not-work/?thumbnailid=1813294). That's left Sharma in a position where Xbox's operating margins are 3-10x lower than what she said were "comparable platform and publishing businesses." Sharma said Xbox was operating as a business with 3% margins, which means for every $100 made, the company spends $97 and keeps $3. A business operating at that margin level could be fine, but Microsoft's other business units have 40%+ profit margins. Microsoft's stock price is down 19% so far this year and more than 22% over the past year. In fact, June 2026 was the worst month for Microsoft's stock price since December 2000(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/amid-xbox-reset-microsoft-is-having-its-worst-month-in-26-years/). Some of the bets that Xbox made that did not pay off as Microsoft envisioned included Xbox Game Pass, releasing games on rival systems, and buying up studios, Sharma said. For Game Pass, a recent report said some Xbox employees worried that the plan to launch new games into the service was not actually a smart move(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-spent-80-billion-on-its-bet-for-xbox-game-pass-it-did-not-work/?thumbnailid=1813294), but management proceeded anyway. In addition to mass layoffs, Xbox is divesting of five studios. Double Fine and Compulsion are regaining their independence, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are being sold(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-and-hellblade-devs-are-being-sold-but-buyers-remain-mysterious-for-now/). Arkane Lyon is in the "consultation" process(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-whats-going-on-with-marvels-blade-and-its-developer-amid-xbox-reset/) to determine its fate and the fate of the studio's upcoming game, Marvel's Blade. Image credit: Bernie Sanders YouTube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN4DXTt7f-4)
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformWorld Cup Star Erling Haaland Shows Off His Gaming Setup, Wants Xbox To Sponsor Him, And Is Excited For GTA 6
If you've been watching the World Cup or soccer in general, you're surely familiar with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, and now he's provided a deeper window into his life and specifically his gaming habits. In a "day in the life" video on his YouTube channel (via PureXbox(https://www.purexbox.com/news/2026/07/i-want-them-to-sponsor-me-world-cup-star-erling-haaland-reveals-his-love-of-xbox)), Haaland began by saying he's a big fan of Xbox, so much so that he even owns the Xbox minifridge(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/psa-the-xbox-mini-fridge-is-loud-and-annoying/1100-6498294/) and it's not just for show. As you can see in the video, he has it stocked with MTN Dew and Coke. "One day, Xbox, I want them to sponsor me," he said. Now might not be the time, though, as Xbox is facing its own string of major issues(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/). For what it's worth, there was also a DualSense controller sitting on his gaming table, so he seemingly plays games on PlayStation as well. Haaland also showed off his gaming space where he has LAN parties with friends. Additionally, he singled out 2009's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as one of the top three games ever. He said he's also a big fan of Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto, calling both of those his "desert island" games. Naturally, Haaland also talked about how excited he is for GTA 6. "I can't wait for the new one," he said. In a fun moment from the video, Haaland showed that one of the games in his Xbox library is FC 24, which features... himself on the cover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtHoTKk9iM The next Norway World Cup game is a big one, as Haaland and his squad will face off with England on July 11 in a quarterfinal matchup that should be exciting.
🎮 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Multi-platformBrigandine Abyss preview: A cult-classic series returns with Fire Emblem flavor
Brigandine Abyss is a new strategy RPG developed by Happinet and published by NIS America that mixes complex battles with Fire Emblem-style narrative.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformDoom Developer id Software Reportedly Loses Roughly Half Its Staff To Layoffs
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2025/05/14/69706085/doomthedarkages1.jpg.webp) In the wake of Xbox’s planned layoffs across its gaming division(https://gameinformer.com/2026/07/06/xbox-parts-ways-with-five-studios-over-3000-layoffs-announced), which will impact 3,200 employees, with 1,600 of those workers immediately let go yesterday, Doom developer id Software has been hit particularly hard. A new report suggests the legendary studio has lost roughly half of its staff. Game Developer(https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-around-half-of-the-id-software-team-have-been-laid-off) reports that, per its sources, id’s headcount has been reduced by around 50 percent. An affected senior employee corroborated this figure in a LinkedIn post(https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7480085627364114432/). The studio’s QA department was hit particularly hard, according to one of Game Developer’s sources. Most of id Software’s employees unionized last December(https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/id-software-workers-form-wall-to-wall-union-in-response-to-mass-xbox-layoffs), but it’s unclear how many of those employees were affected by the layoffs. id's most recent release is 2025's Doom: The Dark Ages(https://gameinformer.com/review/doom-the-dark-ages/believe-in-the-shield), which was released to positive reviews. It received a narrative expansion today called Revelations(https://gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/doom-the-dark-ages-is-getting-an-expansion-called-revelations-in). The Texas-based studio, founded in 1991, is one of the most prolific in video games for innovating and popularizing the first-person shooter genre, dating back to Wolfenstein 3D and series such as Doom and Quake. id was acquired by ZeniMax in 2009; ZeniMax was then purchased by Xbox in 2021. id co-founder John Romero shared his condolences(https://bsky.app/profile/johnromero.bsky.social/post/3mq2gpttmek2i) on social media, writing, "I know what it feels like to leave id while id goes on. It’s a strange and painful thing to step away from a place that holds so much of your work, friendships and history. The people at id have done a great job moving that legacy forward. DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein are not easy names to carry on, especially in today’s industry. The last few games showed real care, skill and respect for what those worlds mean to people." > I’m so sorry for everyone at id Software affected by these layoffs. > I know what it feels like to leave id while id goes on. It’s a strange and painful thing to step away from a place that holds so much of your work, friendships and history. 1/5 > > image or embed(https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:wdcs33d6dsvzvo4oytnlxcxs/post/3mq2gpttmek2i?refsrc=embed) > > — John Romero (@johnromero.bsky.social(https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:wdcs33d6dsvzvo4oytnlxcxs?refsrc=embed)) July 7, 2026 at 6:51 AM(https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:wdcs33d6dsvzvo4oytnlxcxs/post/3mq2gpttmek2i?refsrc=embed) The layoffs from Xbox's massive restructuring have impacted Bethesda/ZeniMax as a whole, from Bethesda proper to its subsidiary Arkane Studios being spun off from the company entirely. Xbox has also divested from Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Undead Labs, and Ninja Theory. Some have gone independent (Compulsion, Double Fine) while others have been sold to new owners (Ninja Theory, Undead Labs). Game Informer has contacted Bethesda/ZeniMax for comment and will update this story should we receive one. Source: Game Developer(https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-around-half-of-the-id-software-team-have-been-laid-off)
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformCollege Football 27 Is Pissing Everyone Off
Ask players what their favorite mode is in EA's revitalized College Football series, and most will tell you it's Dynasty or Road To Glory, which give players control of an entire school football program or a created player, respectively. Unlike Ultimate Team, EA's long-standing pay-to-win mode seen in all of its sports games, these modes have largely been untouched by microtransactions. But College Football 27 has crossed a line, according to many players who have voiced their frustrations online. Dynasty and Road To Glory now each allow you to pay to instantly improve your coach or athlete, rather than improve them over time through play. To hit the coach level cap of 100, players would need to spend 12,000 points, which equates to $100 if bought in bulk(https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/ea-sports-college-football-26-12000-college-football-points/9NSKQHHSGH54). The early-access Ultimate Edition of the game includes 4,600 points, meaning even the most expensive version of CFB 27 seems designed to ask players to fork over more money or else trudge through a remarkable grind, as one player on Twitter explained. You can see that breakdown below. https://twitter.com/SatStudiosGG/status/2074290001978769615 Infusing modes like these with optional microtransactions isn't unheard of. It's an annual pain point in my NBA 2K reviews(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nba-2k25-is-an-incredible-game-hurt-by-pay-to-win-tactics/1100-6526407/) and regularly annoys that community, too. Even Madden has begun letting players pay to upgrade their "Superstar," but CFB 27 takes this a step further by significantly changing the series' customizable XP settings. In the last two College Football games, players could adjust XP sliders for their coach or player to level up faster. This was a welcome touch, since some players don't want to play the mode for many seasons. Some players get their fill after just one or a few seasons, but still want to experience the full coach progression arc in that span. But tied to these new pay-to-level options in Dynasty and Road To Glory is the glaring absence of these options. Players can no longer tweak settings to level up "faster" or "fastest"; the speediest option is now the default in both modes, while slower options still exist in Dynasty. You'd have to be pretty naive to think these changes happening together are a coincidence. It seems in order to drive more in-game purchases, EA has slowed progression in CFB's most beloved modes, and players are responding as you'd expect. On Twitter, a popular CFB streamer is mobilizing players to boycott the in-game pay-to-level options using the hashtag(https://x.com/bordeauxyoutube/status/2074539816356565446?s=46&t=hTJu4Nj5n5bITjyAt004Hg) CFBPlayDontPay. At the time of writing this article, the hashtag is trending at 8 on the website. Meanwhile, on Reddit, some players are promising to skip the game(https://www.reddit.com/r/NCAAFBseries/comments/1uq2uir/notbuyingthenewgame/) because this new in-game-purchase scheme has rubbed them the wrong way. GameSpot has reached out to EA for comment, and I'll update this article if or when the company responds. With the game not even officially out yet--the basic version launches on Thursday--it seems likely the team will address the noise soon.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft Spent $80 Billion On Its Bet For Xbox Game Pass. It Did Not Work.
A new report sheds more light on the situation at Xbox that led to the big news this week that Microsoft was cutting 3,200 jobs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) at the gaming company, divesting from studios, and making other cutbacks to "reset" the business. Bloomberg reported(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-07/behind-xbox-s-big-layoffs-a-streaming-strategy-that-failed?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4MzQ0MTQ5NiwiZXhwIjoxNzg0MDQ2Mjk2LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUSFJPNVNUOTZPU0wwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJGRUIzODlCNUI2ODI0RTY0QjY5MENEODE1RTBDREZGRCJ9.pMbt4znt88aoSYKf-Vt1xxM2iZlpT-ehYpDmvBB-kJk&leadSource=uverify%20wall) that Microsoft spent "nearly $80 billion" in the past 10 years on deals to help revitalize Xbox and realize its dream for Xbox Game Pass, but those plans did not pan out the way Microsoft envisioned. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said this week that the big bets made under previous leadership--including Game Pass, acquiring studios, and putting its games on rival platforms--"did not grow at the pace we expected."(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-ceo-admits-game-pass-bet-has-not-worked-out/) Sharma said these efforts drove "meaningful value," but that wasn't enough with the growth piece. To that end, Microsoft said in a filing from the Microsoft-Activision acquisition proceedings that it was aiming to have 77 million Game Pass subscribers by the end of fiscal year 2026. That was on June 30. What was the number of subscribers? 30 million, a source told Bloomberg, following reporting by The Wall Street Journal(https://www.wsj.com/tech/microsoft-layoffs-xbox-59e7f6df) of the same number. That's 4 million fewer subscribers than Microsoft itself reported in 2024. "Growing concerned" According to Bloomberg's sources, Xbox employees "had been growing concerned" that Game Pass subscriber numbers had peaked. Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball revealed in June this year that "millions"(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-lost-millions-of-subscribers-after-massive-price-hike-in-2025/) of people canceled their Game Pass subscriptions after the 50% price hike was announced in October 2025. Sharma brought the price down to $23/month, but that was still higher than it was a year ago ($20/month), and it's not actually the discount you think it is(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-pass-price-cut-isnt-the-discount-you-think-it-is/1100-6539531/). So what happened with Game Pass? One theory is that the Netflix model of paying one price to access a huge library of content didn't work in the context of gaming due to documented player behavior. Data from Circana shows that the majority of US gamers buy a maximum of two games per year(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/majority-of-us-gamers-buy-a-max-of-two-games-annually-analysts-say/1100-6535300/). The suggestion here is that consumption patterns are very different between Netflix and Game Pass. To be sure, Microsoft never billed Game Pass as the "Netflix of games." Strauss Zelnick, the head of Take-Two, pointed out the difference between linear and interactive consumption in comments he made in 2021(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-ceo-doesnt-want-new-games-on-game-pass/1100-6494686/). “Consumers who are involved with interactive entertainment have different consumption patterns than those involved with linear entertainment. Linear entertainment consumers consume something like 150 hours of programming a month. That’s probably well over 100 different titles. In the case of interactive entertainment, consumers are consuming something like 45 hours a month, and that may be one, two, three, four titles. But it’s certainly not 100 titles. So from a consumer point of view, it’s not clear that a subscription model really makes sense, for the bulk of consumers,” he said. Zelnick said it makes no sense(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-ceo-says-launching-new-games-into-a-subscription-service-like-game-pass-makes-no-sense/1100-6509015/) to release new games directly into a subscription service like Game Pass. "Outside of the enthusiast core, few cared" Circana analyst Mat Piscatella weighed in(https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mq3b62c4ck2f) on the Game Pass situation, writing that Game Pass "failed" because Fortnite and other so-called "black hole games" taking up so much time, money, and attention. Beyond that, Piscatella observed that Game Pass was not appealing enough to the mass market audience. "The problem with Game Pass wasn't the service itself but rather the goal of selling subs and services, as Microsoft was aiming for across its business at the time," he said. Call of Duty launched on Game Pass and did not significantly boost subs, and had little impact on hardware. And that was that." $1 billion annually on third-party game deals Also in the Bloomberg piece, it was reported that former Xbox president Sarah Bond was the leader of Xbox's Game Pass strategy. The report said Microsoft was spending $1 billion annually for third-party game deals to help convince people to sign up for Game Pass. Other efforts to expand Game Pass, like offering it to the massive PC player userbase and streaming markets, failed to catch on as well(https://x.com/ZhugeEX/status/2074183838662578319). Regarding the $80 billion in spending in the past decade, this came from Microsoft's blockbuster acquisitions of Activision Blizzard ($75.4 billion) and ZeniMax ($7.5 billion), as well as the purchases of developers like Ninja Theory, Obsidian, and Double Fine. The idea, spearheaded by former Xbox executive Phil Spencer, was to ramp up the studio base to create more games that Game Pass members could play as part of their membership fee. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GamePass-2.webp) What's next for Game Pass? But people inside and outside of Xbox questioned the economic realities of this approach(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-is-a-new-paradigm/1100-6498307/). Sources speaking to Bloomberg said some Xbox staffers feared that putting popular, expensive-to-make games into Game Pass at launch "could devalue them and cannibalize individual, higher-priced copies." While there were some success stories of developers seeing a lift in full-game sales after coming to Game Pass, that wasn't always true. Black Ops 6, the first new Call of Duty game to launch into Game Pass, reportedly missed out on $300 million in sales(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-lost-300-million-in-sales-due-to-game-pass-report/1100-6535256/) due to its inclusion on Game Pass. Piscatella pushed back(https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mq3bf4kqis2f) against this number, saying it is "piracy math." "That anyone that played via Game Pass was a lost sale--which isn't true--just as every pirated copy is not a lost sale and does not take into account sub revs. But whatever, minor quibble," he said. Black Ops 7 launched into Game Pass in 2025, but this year's game, Modern Warfare 4, will be "windowed" for about a year. If people want to play it at launch, they have to buy it outright before it comes to Game Pass during the next holiday season. Divesting studios In terms of Microsoft saying goodbye to five development studios, Sharma said it is "neither possible nor desirable to own every great independent studio." She added that Microsoft has come to realize that, "We are not the best home for every type of studio." To make her point, she said that in a typical year, Microsoft lost 64 cents for every dollar it invested. Going forward, Microsoft has pledged that its spending on games will not decrease, but the company will instead re-focus and shift its spending to higher-priority areas(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-tells-workers-the-company-needs-to-change-course-and-focus-on-games-with-greatest-potential/) with the highest likelihood of capturing a positive return on investment. Double Fine and Compulsion Games are regaining their independence, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs have been sold to unnamed buyers. Arkane Lyon, meanwhile, has entered into "consultation," pursuant to local labor laws in France, and this process will decide the fate of the studio and its new game, Marvel's Blade(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-whats-going-on-with-marvels-blade-and-its-developer-amid-xbox-reset/). Microsoft laid off 1,600 Xbox employees this week, with another 1,600 people set to lose their jobs in the next year. The cuts were part of a wider pullback at Microsoft, which includes 4,800 total layoffs, amounting to about 2.1% of Microsoft's total global workforce.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformAfter Xbox Pulls Funding, Hitman Dev Is Closing A Studio And Laying People Off
Hitman and 007: First Light developer IO Interactive has confirmed(https://x.com/iointeractive/status/2074475151471571062?s=46&t=KA0eXy1Spm71dnMQdFC23A) that it is closing its Istanbul office, laying off staff in the process as part of cuts that the studio said were "necessary" to help the company stay afloat in the future. IO said it made these cuts after Xbox dropped out of funding Project Fantasy(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-007-first-light-studio-begins-layoffs-as-its-fantasy-rpg-project-suffers-setbacks/), the company's mysterious upcoming RPG. IO has now "regained full ownership of the project and our IP" related to Project Fantasy, and IO will now fund it independently. However, this meant that IO had to pull back in other areas, including efforts for "external projects and potential mobile game derivatives." "We had to find a new balance for the long-term future of the studio, focused on the success of our main internal core titles," IO said. "This has meant making changes as well as proposed changes across our studios: the closure of our Istanbul studio and starting a process to part ways with colleagues who have been a meaningful part of what makes IOI what it is." Closing the Istanbul office and laying off staff were "hard, but necessary decisions" made to "retain the long-term future of IO..." The developer said its structure as a fully independent AAA developer and publisher is a rarity in the modern gaming landscape. Making the cuts also gives Project Fantasy "the best possible foundation to succeed under our own passion and direction." In June, IO signaled that layoffs were coming due to Xbox pulling out of Project Fantasy(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-007-first-light-studio-begins-layoffs-as-its-fantasy-rpg-project-suffers-setbacks/), but this was the first confirmation of the details and the specifics regarding the closure of the Istanbul office. In addition to Project Fantasy, many want to see IO make a sequel to 007: First Light after the game's critical and commercial success, but it remains to be seen if that will happen.(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/007-first-light-sequel-sounds-like-a-matter-of-when-not-if/) Microsoft stopped funding Project Fantasy as part of its renewed focus on the games and franchises it believes will make the most money(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-focusing-on-highest-priorities-claims-its-not-cutting-back-overall-spending-on-games/). Microsoft said it is not reducing its overall investment in games, but what's changing is where the company is investing. Clearly, games like Project Fantasy, along with the next game from the creator of Assassin's Creed are not part of that vision(https://x.com/stephentotilo/status/2071619030390022284). Xbox was also going to fund the next game from Naughty Dog veteran Bruce Straley before backing out(https://x.com/kiwitalkz/status/2063395518135337147). For more, check out the story below: - Xbox Layoffs, Studio Changes, And Spin-Offs: Everything Announced In Big Shakeup(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/)