Latest Xbox, multi-platform Game News & Updates
☁ Xbox, multi-platform News
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🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformNew Xbox CEO Admits Game Pass Bet Has Not Worked Out
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has outlined her plan to "reset" the Xbox business(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/), and it includes mass layoffs and selling off studios(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-and-hellblade-devs-are-being-sold-but-buyers-remain-mysterious-for-now/). In her memo announcing the dramatic shakeup, Sharma also talked about what led to this moment, and one piece is that the Xbox business is "not healthy" due in part to big bets that have not paid off, like Xbox Game Pass. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Xboxreset-2.png?w=1024) Xbox is undergoing a strategic "reset." She said Microsoft bet on things like Xbox Game Pass, releasing more titles on competing platforms, and a "broader portfolio of content" to help grow Xbox. Those efforts did indeed create "meaningful value," she said, but a publicly traded company like Microsoft is focused on endless growth--and those businesses "did not grow at the pace we expected." "As that happened, our core business weakened, and we added more teams, more investment, and more time, hoping for a better outcome. And now the industry is facing the most severe hardware crisis in its history," she said. "We must reset Xbox." Xbox Game Pass, launched in 2017, was a breakthrough, Netflix-like offering from Microsoft promising subscribers all first-party Xbox games and a growing library of other titles for a monthly subscription price. The membership proved popular, reaching more than 34 million subscribers. But all the while, many fans and experts like have questioned the viability and sustainability(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-is-a-new-paradigm/1100-6498307/) of the subscription model. Strauss Zelnick, the head of GTA 6 parent company Take-Two, has said launching new games into a subscription service like Microsoft does 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/) In 2025, Microsoft controversially raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by a whopping 50%, bringing it up to $30/month. This price hike led to a mass exodus of subscribers(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-lost-millions-of-subscribers-after-massive-price-hike-in-2025/), and Microsoft later brought it down to $23/month(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-pass-price-cut-isnt-the-discount-you-think-it-is/1100-6539531/). A At the same time, Microsoft announced a big change for Game Pass with new Call of Duty games no longer included with the service at launch. Game Pass Ultimate is still more expensive than it was a year ago, and the lower rate is not actually the discount people think it is(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-pass-price-cut-isnt-the-discount-you-think-it-is/1100-6539531/). In her memo, Sharma did not provide any specifics on how Xbox Game Pass could change further in the future. The executive specifically calling it out as a bet that did not fully pan out is leading some to believe further changes could be afoot. As for Microsoft's plans for releasing games on rival platforms, Sharma has backed away from that in some ways already by returning to situational exclusives like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution. These games are being sent out to die as exclusives(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/upcoming-xbox-exclusives-are-being-sent-out-to-die-analyst-says-xbox-pushes-back/), one expert said. Finally, regarding Sharma's line about investing in a "broader portfolio of content" being a bet that did not pay off, she said Microsoft will now shift its investment on "higher priority projects" that have the best chance of succeeding (though she did not name any outright). No first-party Xbox games that have been announced have been canceled(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/no-announced-xbox-games-are-getting-axed-in-microsoft-layoffs-company-says/) as part of the "reset."
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Layoffs Hit Id Software And ZeniMax As Focus Shifts To Bigger Franchises
It's a bleak Monday for Xbox(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/), as the division is losing five of its studios(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-and-hellblade-devs-are-being-sold-but-buyers-remain-mysterious-for-now/) and approximately 20% of its workforce will be laid off throughout the current fiscal year. These changes, referred to as "the most significant restructure in Xbox history" by Xbox boss Asha Sharma, will impact every corner of the business, including Id Software and ZeniMax Online Studios. While the two developers aren't shutting down, reports claim that they will be losing large portions of their respective workforces. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, a "significant" number of staff have been let go, as part of the initial wave of 1,600 layoffs today. Microsoft plans to shed another 1,600 Xbox employees in the months to come. Something Wicked Games CEO--and former Bethesda Studios project lead--Jeff Gardiner has also claimed that Id Software has lost 95 employees(https://x.com/jg93/status/2074141503484563594), while Bethesda Game Studios laid 35 of its workers(https://x.com/jg93/status/2074138847034687840) off today. https://bsky.app/profile/jasonschreier.bsky.social/post/3mpydldy43226 In an open letter, Sharma briefly mentioned that Xbox will focus on higher-priority projects at its studios, including Bethesda and ZeniMax. Schreier reported(https://bsky.app/profile/jasonschreier.bsky.social/post/3mpy7il55qs2a) that the two studios won't just be focused on Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, but will also continue to work on IP like Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake. As the Xbox reset continues, Sharma also mentioned that none of its first-party publicly announced games or projects would be canceled(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/no-announced-xbox-games-are-getting-axed-in-microsoft-layoffs-company-says/) as part of the reductions. According to the wording, InXile Entertainment's Clockwork Revolution(https://www.gamespot.com/games/clockwork-revolution/) and The Coalition's Gears of War: E-Day(https://www.gamespot.com/games/gears-of-war-e-day/), while Senua(https://www.gamespot.com/games/senua/) and State of Decay 3(https://www.gamespot.com/games/state-of-decay-3/) from departing studios Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are also still on track to be released. The status of those games could change when the new owners of those studios take over, and the future of Marvel’s Blade(https://www.gamespot.com/games/marvels-blade/) at Arkane Studios also seems murky for now.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformNo Announced Xbox Games Are Getting Axed In Microsoft Layoffs, Company Says
Microsoft has begun its big reset(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/), cutting 1,600 jobs right now and another 1,600 in the next 12 months. Despite this massive restructuring, the company claimed that these moves don't involve canceling any already announced first-party games. In a lengthy Xbox Wire blog post on July 6(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/06/resetting-xbox/), Microsoft announced that some studios (such as 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/) while others (like Arkane Studios) are still awaiting their fate. Tucked within the post was a line about the projects currently in the works at Xbox Game Studios, with the company clarifying that "none of our first-party publicly announced games or projects are being cancelled as part of these reductions." This means that games such as Clockwork Revolution(https://www.gamespot.com/games/clockwork-revolution/) (an action-RPG developed by InXile Entertainment), Gears of War: E-Day(https://www.gamespot.com/games/gears-of-war-e-day/) (The Coalition's upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter), Senua(https://www.gamespot.com/games/senua/) (the third installment in Ninja Theory's Hellblade franchise), and State of Decay 3(https://www.gamespot.com/games/state-of-decay-3/) (Undead Labs' next zombie survival game) are all still coming as of now. However, it remains to be seen what the fate of Ninja Theory and Undead Labs' games will be after they are sold. Microsoft may not have canceled any projects now, but any such decision will ultimately rest with their new ownership. The keywords here are "first-party" and "publicly announced." If Xbox doesn't have a hand in the game's development and it hasn't already been made public, then it's unclear what that project's future holds. It's also worth noting that the company recently pulled out of several projects it agreed to fund, including 1666: Amsterdam from the creator of Assassin’s Creed(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassins-creed-creator-reveals-new-witch-game-coming-before-acs-witch-focused-game/), something Sigil developer Romero Games was working on(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-doom-devs-confirm-romero-games-is-not-closed-despite-game-cancelation/1100-6533006/), and a fantasy RPG IO Interactive had been cooking up(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-007-first-light-studio-begins-layoffs-as-its-fantasy-rpg-project-suffers-setbacks/). It's hard to know what this means for Arkane Studios' Marvel's Blade(https://www.gamespot.com/games/marvels-blade/), though, given that it's a first-party, publicly announced Xbox game. There is a fear that Microsoft could close the studio and cancel the game(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-could-cancel-marvels-blade-and-close-its-developer/), but that remains to be seen. For now, the French studio is "beginning required consultation" as part of the country's labor laws so that Microsoft can "review potential strategic options." At any rate, any first-party Xbox game that we already know about seems to be safe. It's just a shame that the 3,200 people at Xbox--which makes up about 20% of the organization--are losing their jobs.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformState Of Decay And Hellblade Devs Are Being Sold, But Buyers Remain Mysterious For Now
As part of Microsoft's restructuring announcement today for Xbox(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) that is resulting in mass layoffs, the company also announced that it is selling off two of its development studios: Undead Labs and Ninja Theory. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said those two studios have "entered terms to join new ownership with funding" to help finish Senua (Ninja Theory) and State of Decay 3 (Undead Labs). Microsoft did not name the mystery buyers, however. Senua is a brand-new Hellblade action game that was only just announced at the Xbox Games Showcase in June. State of Decay 3, meanwhile, has been in the works for a very, very long time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoLOzgHvKxQ Additionally, Microsoft announced that Compulsion Games and Double Fine are becoming independent studios again and will retain their own IP and catalogs. Additionally, Microsoft is giving those teams "runway" funding for their "next games," Sharma said. What's more, Microsoft's Arkane studio in France is "beginning required consultation" as part of labor laws in the country. This is being done to "review potential strategic options," Sharma said. Beyond the changes to the Xbox studio structure, Microsoft announced that it is laying off 1,600 Xbox employees today and another 1,600 people in the next year. On top of those cuts, Microsoft is enacting layoffs beyond Xbox for a total of 4,800 layoffs across the entire company; that's about 2.1% of Microsoft's total workforce. Why is Microsoft doing this? Microsoft executive Amy Coleman said Microsoft is enacting these mass layoffs because of the changing business landscape. "The way technology is built, deployed, and used is transforming faster than at any point in my time here. Our customers’ needs are shifting, the business models that serve them are shifting, and that means the work itself--what we do, where we focus, and how we’re organized--has to transform too," she said. "Companies don’t get to choose whether their industry changes; they only get to choose whether they change with it. That means we will need to adjust resources and roles and shift how we operate so we can have the greatest impact for our customers." She also clarified that the jobs being cut "are not being replaced by AI." Microsoft is making significant investments into AI, with many believing it's a bubble that's set to burst, leading to further pain down the road. For her part, Sharma said the Xbox business is "not healthy," with Xbox operating at lower margins compared to its peers. She said Microsoft made a bet on Xbox Game Pass and multiplatform releases, along with a "broader portfolio" of content, but these efforts "did not grow at the pace we expected." "As that happened, our core business weakened, and we added more teams, more investment, and more time, hoping for a better outcome. And now the industry is facing the most severe hardware crisis in its history. We must reset Xbox," she said. Microsoft has made billions in profit this year Microsoft is the No. 4 biggest company on earth with a market cap of more than $2.8 trillion. That's down significantly over the past year, as Microsoft's share price has fallen, but the company remains truly gigantic, with revenue and profit levels reflecting that. For Microsoft's latest quarter that ended April 29(https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/investor/earnings/fy-2026-q3/press-release-webcast), the company pulled in $82.9 billion in revenue (up 15%) and made a profit of $31.8 billion (up 23%). Microsoft stockholders might not have been happy with the company's share price falling, but for the past quarter alone, Microsoft paid out $10.2 billion to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases. These are signs of strength and health for Microsoft. Xbox is a very small piece of Microsoft's overall business, but seeing such strong numbers coupled with the mass layoffs at Xbox is not sitting right with many.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Parts Ways With Five Studios, Over 3,000 Layoffs Announced
!Microsoft Gaming Xbox Series X/S CEO Asha Sharma Layoffs(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/11/b14c2ec5/Xbox%20New%20Logo.jpg.webp) Xbox has announced it is splitting from five of its development studios – Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and Arkane Studios – while announcing plans to reduce headcount by over 3,000 employees over the next several months. CEO Asha Sharma sent a lengthy message(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/06/resetting-xbox/) to the entire Xbox team detailing her previously announced plans(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/11/report-xbox-preparing-for-significant-layoffs-as-new-ceo-asha-sharma-details-xbox-0) for a “reset” of the brand and its operations in what she calls "the most significant restructure in Xbox history." “Our business today is not healthy,” Sharma writes. “We are operating at margins that are 3-10x lower than comparable platform and publishing businesses. We entered Gen 9 with a smaller install base and a higher cost structure. To grow, we bet on Game Pass, multi-platform, and a broader portfolio of content. While those businesses have created meaningful value, they did not grow at the pace we expected. As that happened, our core business weakened, and we added more teams, more investment, and more time, hoping for a better outcome. And now the industry is facing the most severe hardware crisis in its history. We must reset Xbox." !Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2025/04/07/79002c5b/southofmidnightrougarou.jpg.webp) South of Midnight Regarding certain studios that had reportedly been considered for closure(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/15/compulsion-games-and-other-xbox-studios-reportedly-at-risk-of-being-shut-down), they will either go independent or be sold to a new owner. “Since 2018, we have aggressively expanded our studio portfolio while the number of games created each month across the industry now outpaces the last ten years combined,” writes Sharma. “We now find ourselves competing not only with the largest publishers, but also with smaller independent studios. It is neither possible nor desirable to own every great independent studio. We have also learned that we are not the best home for every type of studio; in a typical year, we lost 64 cents for every dollar we invested. As we reset Xbox, we will help independent creators succeed by providing open development tools and audiences to realize their vision.” Compulsion Games (South of Midnight) and Double Fine (Psychonauts) will once again become independent studios and retain their IP and game catalogs. These developers were purchased by Xbox in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Compulsion Games(https://bsky.app/profile/compulsiongames.bsky.social/post/3mpy7kyn54s2k) and Double Fine(https://bsky.app/profile/doublefine.com/post/3mpyb5dufcj27) each posted messages confirming this news on social media. Ninja Theory (Hellblade) and Undead Labs (State of Decay) have "entered terms to join new ownership with funding to complete and grow Senua(https://gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/senua-is-an-action-adventure-game-in-the-hellblade-universe) and State of Decay 3(https://gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/state-of-decay-3-is-coming-to-xbox-pc-and-ps5-in-2027-check-out-its)," according to Sharma. Both of these titles are targeting a 2027 release. The specifics of this deal, such as the identity of the new owner(s) of Ninja Theory and Undead Labs, are unknown. It has been reported(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/17/a-new-report-claims-xbox-had-already-planned-to-close-ninja-theory-despite-senua) that Xbox had already planned to split from Ninja Theory before revealing Senua during the Xbox Games Showcase in June, and showed the game anyway to attract a potential buyer. State of Decay 3, first announced in 2020, also had a new trailer during that showcase. !Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/16/be7aa44f/senua-screen-1.jpg.webp) Senua The fate of Arkane Studios (Dishonored) is less clear. Sharma states the Lyon-based team has entered the required consultation in France with its Works Council to “review potential strategic options.” The studio is currently making Marvel’s Blade(https://gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2023/2023/12/07/marvels-blade-is-coming-from-the-makers-of-deathloop-and-dishonored), which has reportedly faced cancellation(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/30/report-microsoft-is-considering-shutting-down-arkane-studios-and-canceling-marvels-blade). Layoffs will hit other studios such as Activision, Bethesda/Zenimax, Blizzard, King, Mojang, and Xbox Game Studios. Approximately 3,200 employees will be laid off throughout fiscal year 2027; 1,600 employees will be terminated today. Despite this reduction in headcount, Sharma confirms none of Xbox’s publicly announced games or projects will be canceled. Mojang and King will also now report directly to Sharma. In a reset of operations, Sharma has announced the promotion of Helen Chiang, corporate VP at Microsoft and head of Mojang, to chief operating officer (COO) of Xbox. Chiang will replace the previous COO, Dave McCarthy, who is retiring today after a 17-year career at Xbox. To help streamline management, Sharma states that management layers will be reduced to no more than 5 and, where possible, 3. “Today, in some parts of the company, work passes through as many as 14 layers of management. Our platform teams are 40% larger than they were at the start of this generation, even as our player base and playtime have declined. That complexity has slowed decisions, blurred accountability, and made it harder to deliver for players. As we reset XBOX, we will simplify,” writes Sharma. Sharma ends her message by stating her ambition for Xbox to return to growth in 2027 and to become "one of the few companies that entertain more than a billion people each day and gives everyone the opportunity to create and connect.” “History is full of companies that mistake longevity for inevitability," Sharma writes. "We will not be one of them.”
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft announces Xbox Game Studios cuts, affecting 4 studios
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirms 4 studios are leaving Microsoft, with a fifth, Arkane Studios, fate uncertain amid mass layoffs.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox to lay off over 3,200 employees
Recent reports signaled Xbox would be laying off a significant number of employees in July. Today, it began those layoffs with more expected.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Layoffs, Studio Closures, And Spin-Offs: Everything Announced Today
Despite promises of a reset, the unveiling of a fancy new logo, and a charm offensive for its new leadership, the news at Xbox has been getting increasingly worse throughout 2026. Between massive price increases for Xbox hardware(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-increasing-the-cost-of-xbox-consoles-again-starting-in-august/)--and possibly another one soon(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-may-have-another-price-hike-up-its-sleeve-in-2027/)--the fluctuating price of Xbox Game Pass, and the cancellation of funding on several collaborative projects(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-007-first-light-studio-begins-layoffs-as-its-fantasy-rpg-project-suffers-setbacks/), it has been a tough time to be a fan of Xbox. Can the news get any worse? Yes, if you're an employee of the company--or a fan of its studios, really. In recent weeks, Microsoft has been talking about how the Xbox division needs to start pulling its financial weight, and it has long been rumored that Xbox layoffs will start on July 6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/). Following a buying spree(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-officially-acquires-activision-nearly-two-years-later-bobby-kotick-resi/1100-6516016/) in the late 2010s and early 2020s, Xbox amassed a sizable portfolio of studios and employees, but it looks like many of them will be in the crosshairs as the gaming division aims to slim down. Several studios are reportedly up for sale, but if a buyer isn't found, it could be the end of the road for them. On what could be the bleakest Monday in Xbox history, we'll be keeping an eye on all changes hitting the various studios today. Xbox is losing 20% of its employees Microsoft has officially announced that 3,200 people at Xbox will be let go throughout the current financial year. Of that number, 1,600 layoffs will start today and the rest of the affected staff will be phased out during a "restructuring" process at Xbox. "Our business today is not healthy. We are operating at margins that are 3-10x lower than comparable platform and publishing businesses," Xbox boss Asha Sharma wrote(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/06/resetting-xbox/). "We entered Gen 9 with a smaller install base and a higher cost structure. To grow, we bet on Game Pass, multi-platform, and a broader portfolio of content. While those businesses have created meaningful value, they did not grow at the pace we expected. As that happened, our core business weakened, and we added more teams, more investment, and more time, hoping for a better outcome. And now the industry is facing the most severe hardware crisis in its history. We must reset Xbox." Compulsion Games South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games will be leaving Xbox Game Studios and will once again become an independent studio. Compulsion Games will keep its IP and catalog of games when it exits. "Today, we're sharing that Compulsion Games will return to independent management following our time as part of Xbox," the studio wrote in an update. "As part of this transition, we will retain the rights to Contrast, We Happy Few, and our award-winning South of Midnight. We're grateful for the years we spent with Xbox, for the support they provided our team, and for the opportunity to bring these games to players around the world. As an independent studio, we're excited to continue building the distinctive games that define Compulsion while taking the next steps in our journey." Double Fine Productions Double Fine Productions is also exiting Xbox and will transition back into an independent game studio. The studio will retain its IP, catalog, and runway for its next game. Ninja Theory Discussions for a new owner of Ninja Theory are underway, and the studio will continue to work on the Senua franchise. Undead Labs State of Decay 3 developer Undead Labs is also in talks to find a new owner and continue working on its open-world zombie apocalypse series. Arkane Microsoft says that Arkane’s management has started consultation with its Works Council in France to review potential strategic options. Labor laws could see this potential sale of the studio delayed for some time. The future of the studio's next game, Marvel's Blade, remains unclear. Bethesda/ZeniMax Bethesda and Zenimax will face layoffs across the companies, and investment will shift to higher-priority games. According to Bloomberg(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-06/microsoft-s-xbox-to-cut-3-200-jobs-divest-five-studios-in-major-overhaul?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4MzM0NTE1OSwiZXhwIjoxNzgzOTQ5OTU5LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUSFI5TDNSS1YyVUIwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.SdJz9TqwVpnhHOTpLql1AJ5fjt-Exdkf2Z60UoNqqis), Bethesda will be overhauled and will focus on its biggest IP--Doom, Fallout, Quake, Wolfenstein, and The Elder Scrolls. Blizzard Blizzard will also be hit with layoffs, and like Bethesda, Microsoft is tasking the veteran developer to shift toward producing higher-priority games. King King will report directly to Asha Sharma, and it will also be hit with layoffs. Mojang Like King, Minecraft studio Mojang will also have to deal with layoffs and will report directly to Sharma. "These two studios have increasingly become platforms and are our largest by monthly active players," Sharma said. "They bring critical geographic, demographic, and differentiation to Xbox."
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft is selling off four Xbox studios as part of significant gaming cuts
Microsoft is laying off 4,800 employees today, and more than 30 percent of the job losses are in the company's Xbox division. The significant gaming cuts will affect nearly every part of Xbox and also involve four game studios being spun off to be run independently from Microsoft. Today's layoffs, which are being described as &8230;
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft is laying off 4,800 employees
A year after cutting around 9,100 employees, Microsoft is making further layoffs today as it begins its new financial year. The software maker is laying off around 4,800 employees today, approximately 2.1 percent of its workforce. Most of the employees affected by today's cuts are in Microsoft's commercial sales business or the company's Xbox division. &8230;
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformAfter PS5 Disc Controversy, Microsoft Confirms Halo: Campaign Evolved Will Come On A Disc
Following Sony's announcement that it will no longer support physical game discs starting in 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/), Microsoft has confirmed that Halo: Campaign Evolved's physical editions will include discs, including on PS5. Microsoft's announcement likely doesn't have anything to do with Sony's, however. In a Q&A(https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/july-community-qa-halo-campaign-evolved), Microsoft said people who buy a copy of the game will get a physical game case and disc "so that you have tangible items to add to your collection." This applies to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S editions of the game. The timing of Microsoft's announcement about Campaign Evolved coming on a disc is conspicuous given it happened just after Sony confirmed its all-digital plans. But Microsoft no doubt had been planning to release Campaign Evolved on a disc for a very long time now given the logistics involved. Sony's announcement that PlayStation will no longer support game discs starting in January 2028 might make business sense for the company(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-is-sony-killing-discs-its-all-about-profitability-and-control-expert-says/?thumbnailid=1807886), but it's also causing much consternation. While Sony's own data shows an increasing share of digital game sales, the company still sells many millions of physical, disc-based games every year(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstations-disc-based-game-sales-have-dropped-dramatically-in-recent-years/). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZFVVcEM38c A lot of people still enjoy and seek out physical media. The decision has also led to even more concerns about game preservation and fears that Sony will make gaming even more expensive by eliminating the secondhand market. For what it's worth, some are saying the next-gen Project Helix console from Microsoft may not have a disc drive(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-gen-xbox-may-not-have-disc-drive-disc-to-digital-feature-coming-reports-say/) in its own push toward digital. It's also been reported that Microsoft may soften the blow with a "disc-to-digital"(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-gen-xbox-may-not-have-disc-drive-disc-to-digital-feature-coming-reports-say/) program that will allow people to convert their discs to digital copies. Campaign Evolved is a remaster of Halo: Combat Evolved, and if that sounds familiar, it's because Microsoft already released a remaster of the original Halo in 2011 with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. Campaign Evolved is a campaign-only remaster of the original game, featuring brand-new prequel missions and a variety of graphical and technical improvements. The game launches on July 28 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but if you pay more, you can start playing early(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-campaign-evolved-release-date-and-global-launch-times-revealed/). For more, check out GameSpot’s Halo: Campaign Evolved buying guide(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-campaign-evolved-release-date-and-global-launch-times-revealed/Campaign%20Evolved%20buying%20guide).
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformWhere to preorder Grand Theft Auto VI
Rockstar's long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI is launching November 19th, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X consoles. The game will be available digitally at launch, with physical cases containing codes, not discs, so your options for preordering are straightforward. The preloading phase for the game begins on November 12th, which should give you &8230;