Latest Multi-platform Game News &amp; Updates

Dishonored co-creator asks Xbox CEO 'how much' to buy Arkane

Arkane, the studio behind Dishonored and more, has its future in question as Xbox cuts 4 other studios and lays off 3,200.

Xbox Layoffs “Heavily Impact” The Accessibility Team, Too

As part of the 1,600 people being let go by Xbox during its big reset(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) on July 6, it appears that the company's Accessibility division has been hit pretty heavily as well. According to a now-deleted July 6 Bluesky post, a senior user researcher for accessibility at ZeniMax Media shared that they were caught in the blast zone, too. They also revealed that the "accessibility staff overall seems heavily impacted," with "multiple people on the Bethesda User Research Team" getting laid off. On LinkedIn, the researcher reshared a post(https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7478110140462804992/) by Zach Clothier, the accessibility test lead for the Microsoft gaming accessibility testing service, who announced his departure after nearly three years in his role. It's unclear how many other people have been affected, but according to that now former ZeniMax Media senior researcher, it sounds like the team has been decimated amidst these layoffs. This comes during Disability Pride Month, which is supposed to honor the history, achievements, and experiences of the disability community. A Microsoft spokesperson told GameSpot over email that despite the restructuring, the company plans to continue its work in making gaming more accessible for all. "Accessibility remains a priority for Xbox," the spokesperson said. "While we've made changes across the team, creating more accessible gaming experiences for players has not changed." Xbox's Accessibility Team is responsible for some wonderful features and technologies that make gaming easier for all players. This includes things like the Adaptive Controller(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsofts-xbox-adaptive-controller-went-through-a-unique-evolution-during-the-design-process/1100-6484917/) and its various attachments(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-adaptive-joystick-is-available-now/1100-6530210/), as well as accessibility options(https://support.forza.net/hc/en-us/articles/51644264237075-Forza-Horizon-6-Accessibility-Support) in games such as Forza Horizon 6(https://www.gamespot.com/games/forza-horizon-6/) to change everything from the way it looks to the way it plays. 1,600 people will lose their jobs on July 6, while another 1,600 will lose their jobs over the next 12 months. These cuts make up about 20% of Microsoft's staff. Some studios have been cut loose, with Ninja Theory and Undead Labs being sold to a mysterious buyer(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-and-hellblade-devs-are-being-sold-but-buyers-remain-mysterious-for-now/). Meanwhile, the fate of Arkane Studios is still unknown, and both Id Software and ZeniMax have lost staff(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-hit-id-software-and-zenimax-as-focus-shifts-to-bigger-franchises/) so that those studios could shift toward focusing on bigger franchises.

🎮 Multi-platform

Disney's Hexed directors explain why the film became a mother-daughter story

Hexed follows a rebellious teen discovering a magical world and her family's secrets.

🎮 Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion

Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie

Microsoft is spinning off four of its Xbox game studios - Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs - as part of the restructuring announced today. However, two that are going independent, Double Fine and Compulsion, will get to keep their franchises and games catalogs, according to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. "Compulsion &8230;

TheIndie, Newsabout 2 months ago

🍄 Nintendo Switch, Multi-platform

The Nintendo Switch will no longer be produced from 2027 onward

Nintendo is ceasing production of the original Switch in Europe from February 2027 onward, and the Switch 2 is getting a little heavier.

🎮 The Nintendo Switch

Undead Labs spent eight years as an Xbox studio and still didn't make State of Decay 3

As Xbox cuts ties with Ninja Theory, Compulsion, and Double Fine, Undead Labs' case is the worst but not the only case of mismanagement

🎮 New Xbox CEO Admits Game Pass Bet

New 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."

🎮 Multi-platform

GameStop raises its wild Pokémon 30th anniversary prices again and that's not even the worst part

Pre-order market prices are out of control for the September TCG set, and likely to get worse the release date gets closer.

🎮 Pokémon🎮 Pokemon

Xbox 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.

No 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.

🍄 Nintendo Switch, Multi-platform

Switch 2 Systems With Swappable Batteries Coming This Year, But Not In The US

The Switch 2 is going to get a bit heavier in Europe, thanks to a consumer-friendly change(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/switch-2-is-getting-a-consumer-friendly-upgrade-in-europe/) required by European Union regulations. That's because the hybrid system will be sold with a swappable battery starting this fall. Nintendo of Europe(https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Nintendo-Switch-2/Information-about-upcoming-battery-related-revisions-to-some-Nintendo-products-3132901.html?utmmedium=social&utmsource=twitter&utmcampaign=Nintendo%7CNULL%7CEUBatteryRegulationsAN%7CmidbL8LZMuzbM%7C3132901) has released new specifications on how Switch 2 and various accessories will be updated with user-replaceable batteries over the last half of 2026 and into 2027. Keep in mind that this isn't a recall or safety issue, so won't affect current owners. The revised Switch 2 will sport a 5172mAh swappable battery, which is 1% less in capacity than the current model. The system alone will also weigh 10 grams more at 411 grams overall. But once you add on the new Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Switch 2 will be about 14 grams heavier at 548 grams. Nintendo’s Top-Selling Switch 2 Games Of All Time !4692577-screenshot2026-05-08at10.53.20 am.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4692577-screenshot2026-05-08at10.53.20 am.png?w=825) !4692568-screenshot2026-05-08at10.43.37 am.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4692568-screenshot2026-05-08at10.43.37 am.png?w=1024) !4692569-screenshot2026-05-08at10.44.28 am.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4692569-screenshot2026-05-08at10.44.28 am.png?w=1024) !4692570-screenshot2026-05-08at10.45.34 am.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4692570-screenshot2026-05-08at10.45.34 am.png?w=1024) !4692571-screenshot2026-05-08at10.46.29 am.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4692571-screenshot2026-05-08at10.46.29 am.png?w=1024) !4692574-screenshot2026-05-08at10.47.26 am.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4692574-screenshot2026-05-08at10.47.26 am.png?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/nintendos-top-selling-switch-2-games-of-all-time/2900-7694/) The updated Joy-Con 2 controllers are planned to arrive in the winter for Europe, with no changes in battery capacity. However, each one will beef up by about 2 grams with the user-replacable batteries. Meanwhile, the Switch 2 Pro Controller will also arrive this winter in Europe but with a more notable battery capacity dip of 16%. The swappable 897mAh battery will also mean this controller feels lighter than the current one with 7 grams shaved off to total 228 grams. The Nintendo 64 controller for Switch and GameCube controller for Switch 2 are also receiving revised editions with swappable batteries early next year. The Nintendo 64 pad will only see a 1-gram weight increase, while the GameCube controller will have 5% more battery capacity and a 5-gram weight increase. The original Joy-Con controllers are currently getting replaced with new models across Europe, with no changes whatsoever regarding battery capacity or weight. Last month, Switch 2 officially celebrated its first anniversary(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-2-at-one-nintendos-biggest-wins-misses-and-surprises/). The Best Nintendo Switch And Switch 2 Exclusives Of 2025 !4619789-bestswitchlarge.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4619789-bestswitchlarge.jpeg?w=1024) !4619897-7369703955-46183.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4619897-7369703955-46183.jpg?w=1024) !4619898-1254103285-450937.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4619898-1254103285-450937.jpeg?w=1024) !4619899-7298170904-894e31aea85a473dab1ae289d03382f437289f5f3d5c51d43578dbe7014687b4.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4619899-7298170904-894e31aea85a473dab1ae289d03382f437289f5f3d5c51d43578dbe7014687b4.jpg?w=1024) !4619900-screenshot2025-12-09at2.51.44 pm.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4619900-screenshot2025-12-09at2.51.44 pm.png?w=1024) !4620485-3822834240-45325.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1179/11799911/4620485-3822834240-45325.png?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/the-best-nintendo-switch-and-switch-2-exclusives-of-2025/2900-7323/)

🎮 Switch 2 Systems With Swappable Batteries