Latest Xbox, multi-platform Game News & Updates
☁ Xbox, multi-platform News
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🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox ponders closing Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and more in 'reset'
Microsoft is currently moving to close several of its most acclaimed studios including Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Compulsion Games.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformDouble Fine, Ninja Theory, And More Reportedly Trying To Spin Off From Xbox Game Studios
Earlier today, word broke that Microsoft is reportedly planning to close Compulsion Games(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-closing-we-happy-few-south-of-midnight-developer-compulsion-games-report/)--the studio behind South of Midnight(https://www.gamespot.com/games/south-of-midnight/), We Happy Few(https://www.gamespot.com/games/we-happy-few/), and Contrast(https://www.gamespot.com/games/contrast/)--as part of a larger round of layoffs and studio closures(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/). Now, there's word that a handful of Xbox Studios' smaller developers are taking some steps to avoid that fate. Bloomberg(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-15/studios-in-microsoft-s-xbox-division-brace-for-closures) is reporting that Compulsion, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and "several other studios" have started negotiations with Microsoft to spin off their companies from Xbox Studios and avert full studio closures. Potentially, this would give the studios a chance to buy out Microsoft's stake in their companies or allow them to find financial backers who could become the new owners. However, that may not be enough to save every developer at the affected studios. Bloomberg notes that "many employees will likely lose their jobs as a result" of going independent. Consequently, employees at some of the studios have reportedly been cleared to begin looking for other work. It appears this process may be further along at Ninja Theory, with The Verge(https://www.theverge.com/games/950204/xbox-ninja-theory-shutdown-hellblade-senua) reporting Microsoft has already opted to close the studio. The scope of the potential layoffs isn't clear, and there have even been reports that Microsoft is considering spinning off Xbox itself(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-considering-spinning-off-xbox-speeding-up-elder-scrolls-and-fallout-game-releases-report/) into a new standalone company. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently stressed the need for the Xbox gaming division to pull its financial weight(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-boss-wants-xbox-to-start-pulling-its-weight-financially/). Ahead of any big changes to Xbox itself, Craig Duncan, the head of Xbox Game Studios, has left the company(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-studios-boss-is-out-ahead-of-reported-layoffs-and-other-major-changes-to-reset-xbox/) after a 15-year stint with Microsoft. Duncan's chief of staff, Louise O’Connor, is also leaving Xbox.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox is closing down Hellblade creator Ninja Theory
Xbox is closing down Ninja Theory, the studio behind the Hellblade series, a source tells The Verge. Staffers were told on a call on Monday about the closure, but they are hoping the studio will find a buyer. The closure comes as "several" Xbox studios at Microsoft, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine, are in &8230;
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformCompulsion Games And Other Xbox Studios Reportedly At Risk Of Being Shut Down
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2025/04/07/79002c5b/southofmidnightrougarou.jpg.webp) Earlier today, Kotaku(https://kotaku.com/xbox-shuttering-south-of-midnight-peabody-award-compulsion-games-2000706065) reported that South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games may be closing its doors following a report from last week(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/11/report-xbox-preparing-for-significant-layoffs-as-new-ceo-asha-sharma-details-xbox-0) that Xbox is preparing another round of significant layoffs. Although we still have no official confirmation of Compulsion's status, it may not be the only studio at risk of being shuttered. Bloomberg(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-15/studios-in-microsoft-s-xbox-division-brace-for-closures?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4MTU1NDUzNiwiZXhwIjoxNzgyMTU5MzM2LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUR09XOTRLSVAzTE0wMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.qu5M4E4sve-8r60rLe-Xv-LrGJvIGgWiKLxMitTl5A) reports that Compulsion Games, along with other studios, including Hellblade developer Ninja Theory and Psychonauts developer Double Fine, are at risk of being shut down by Xbox. The news comes from sources close to the situation who have not been authorized to speak to the press. According to Bloomberg's sources, each studio is negotiating with Xbox to buy itself back and go independent, though that would result in significant job cuts. Bloomberg also reports that employees at these studios have been made aware of the situation and given permission to look for new work. If true, this information lines up with Kotaku's earlier reports that Compulsion’s leadership is negotiating with Microsoft over the studio’s future; the exact details of this alleged discussion are unknown. Microsoft has not officially confirmed Compulsion’s closure, and the studio has not issued an official statement on the matter. However, some studio employees, such as writer Bijan Stephen(https://bsky.app/profile/bijan.bsky.social/post/3modtgztcks2t) and senior writer Zaire Lanier(https://bsky.app/profile/zeestermeester.bsky.social/post/3modlhhdqzs2q), made social media posts today announcing they are looking for work. Last week, it was reported that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty were planning layoffs. A message penned by the pair(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/10/next-100-days-xbox-reset/) was sent to staff detailing an “Xbox Reset” to address ongoing issues at the company. Part of this message stated that Xbox “overextended” itself by acquiring so many game studios over the last several years, while acknowledging other challenges such as declining revenue, hardware component shortages, and systems described as "overly complex" and not ready for the years ahead. "For some of you, these realities will be surprising and even frustrating to discover. We won’t succeed by hiding hard truths, nor will we succeed by doing the same thing and expecting different results. Like the ‘everyday wins’ mentality from the first 100 days, we will sprint to make progress against hardware, content, experience, and services together," reads a section of Sharma and Booty's message. Microsoft announced its acquisition of Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory during E3 2018; at the 2019 show, it announced it had purchased Double Fine. Compulsion's most recent release was South of Midnight(https://gameinformer.com/review/south-of-midnight/a-toe-tapping-tapestry), which launched in 2025 to positive reviews. As noted by Kotaku, the studio had announced it was hiring(https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7442511014853533696/) only two months ago for work on a new IP. At the Xbox Games Showcase during Summer Game Fest last week, Ninja Theory announced a new Hellblade game simply titled Senua(https://gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/senua-is-an-action-adventure-game-in-the-hellblade-universe) and billed it as a pure action experience compared to previous entries. Senua is scheduled to launch in 2027. Double Fine launched its multiplayer party game Kiln(https://gameinformer.com/xbox-developer-direct/2026/01/22/double-fine-announces-online-multiplayer-pottery-brawler-kiln) earlier this year, and has shipped 2024's Keeper and 2021's Psychonauts 2 under the Xbox umbrella. Game Informer has contacted Compulsion Games for comment and will update this story should they respond. Keep in mind that this is a developing story and nothing has been confirmed. We'll be keeping an eye on the situation and will update the story as more details become available.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox in tumult as key executives leave, South of Midnight studio potentially shutting down
Things are not going well at Xbox, as it loses its Head of Xbox Game Studios and reportedly plans to shut down Compulsion Games.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Closing We Happy Few, South Of Midnight Developer Compulsion Games – Report
Microsoft is reportedly going to close the Canadian developer Compulsion Games, which is known for Contrast, We Happy Few, and South of Midnight. According to Kotaku(https://kotaku.com/xbox-shuttering-south-of-midnight-peabody-award-compulsion-games-2000706065), the cuts could affect more than 90 people. Another report, from Mike Straw of Insider Gaming, said Arkane is also set to be closed(https://x.com/MikeStrawMedia/status/2066555775720243583) as part of Microsoft's "reset" of the Xbox business. GameSpot has contacted Microsoft seeking comment on the reports. Microsoft acquired Compulsion in 2018 and took ownership of Arkane following its buyout of Bethesda owner ZeniMax. Arkane Austin was closed in May 2024. Arkane Lyon, meanwhile, is developing the upcoming Marvel's Blade game. As for Compulsion, the studio's latest release was the highly celebrated, Peabody Award-winning game(https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/south-of-midnight/) South of Midnight. A recent report said Microsoft will cut staff and potentially close studios in July(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/), following the end of the company's fiscal year on June 30. Xbox Games Studios boss Craig Duncan, and his chief of staff, recently left the company(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-studios-boss-is-out-ahead-of-reported-layoffs-and-other-major-changes-to-reset-xbox/). Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, meanwhile, recently made headlines for talking about making changes to Xbox to improve its economic stability(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-boss-wants-xbox-to-start-pulling-its-weight-financially/). In a blog post(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/10/next-100-days-xbox-reset/) announcing what's to come for Xbox in the next 100 days, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma alluded to major changes, and difficult ones. "For some of you, these realities will be surprising and even frustrating to discover," she told staff. "We won’t succeed by hiding hard truths, nor will we succeed by doing the same thing and expecting different results."
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox turmoil continues with a studio closure and executive departures
Last week, Xbox boss Asha Sharma sent a memo warning of an Xbox "reset" ahead of expected layoffs, and today, Kotaku reported that Xbox plans to shut down Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight. Since taking over in February, Sharma has made some big decisions, including cutting the price of Xbox Game Pass &8230;
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformHalo: Campaign Evolved Release Date And Global Launch Times Revealed
Microsoft's next big game is Halo: Campaign Evolved, which launches at the end of July for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Ahead of that, Microsoft has published the official release times for the game, which begins with early access on July 23. Read on to find out exactly when Halo: Campaign Evolved release where you live. The game is having a global launch, Microsoft said, which suggests the game will arrive in all regions at the same time. Halo: Campaign Evolved early access release times July 23 - 8 AM PT - 11 AM ET - 4 PM GMT July 24 - 12 AM JST - 1 AM AEST - 3 AM NZST Halo: Campaign Evolved global release times July 28 - 8 AM PT - 11 AM ET - 4 PM GMT July 29 - 12 AM JST - 1 AM AEST - 3 AM NZST To get the five days of early access, people need to buy the game's $70 Premium edition or the $200 collector's edition--however, the CE is currently sold out(https://shop.xboxgamestudios.com/products/halo-campaign-evolved-collectors-edition). There is no word yet on preloading or the file size for Halo: Campaign Evolved, but keep checking back with GameSpot for more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPrm70EK2f0 Halo: Campaign Evolved is a remake of the 2001 original Halo: Combat Evolved, and it's releasing this year for the franchise's 25th anniversary. It's coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC, as well as PlayStation 5, marking the franchise's debut on a PlayStation platform after more than two decades of exclusivity on Xbox. See at Amazon(https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Campaign-Evolved-Standard-PlayStation-5/dp/B0H27DX7HP/https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Campaign-Evolved-Premium-Windows/dp/B0H4MRNRCM/tag=gamespot-preorders-20) In addition to better graphics and updated features, Halo: Campaign Evolved includes Operation: Meteorite, which is a set of three prequel missions. For more, check out GameSpot's Halo: Campaign Evolved buying guide(Campaign Evolved buying guide).
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Game Studios Boss Is Out Ahead Of Reported Layoffs And Other Major Changes To “Reset” Xbox
Craig Duncan, the head of Xbox Game Studios, is leaving the company after 15 years at Microsoft, and so is his chief of staff. The changes come ahead of reported layoffs and possible studio closures at Xbox(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/) under the leadership of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who has vowed to "reset" the Xbox business. Duncan was the longtime studio head at Sea of Thieves developer Rare before he got promoted to overall Head of Xbox Game Studios in November 2024. He took over that position from Matt Booty, who was himself promoted to executive vice president and chief content officer at Xbox. Prior to his tenure at Xbox, Duncan was a development manager and director of product development for Codemasters. He also worked on the executive team at Midway Games until its closure in 2009. He then went to Sumo Digital before starting at Rare in 2011. Duncan's departure from Xbox came just 48 hours after he posted on LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7471266100387708930/) about how excited he was about the future of Xbox Games Studios and its many upcoming projects. Additionally, Xbox Game Studios chief of staff Louise O'Connor is on the way out from Xbox. She had been with Rare since 1999, starting there as an animator before working up to Head of Animation and then Art Director. She became chief of staff for Xbox Game Studios in August 2025. In a memo to staff obtained by The Game Business(https://www.thegamebusiness.com/p/xbox-game-studios-boss-craig-duncan), Duncan said, "I’m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches that drove business success for the company." Addressing O'Connor, Duncan said she "consistently championed the craft and supported our studios with clarity and care." Just recently, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talked about how Xbox has been struggling for some time and that it is imperative that Microsoft finds a way to "turn Xbox into a sustainable business."(https://www.gamespot.com/?posttype=articles&p=1791631&preview=true&thumbnailid=1791632) In other Xbox news, it was recently reported that Microsoft could spin off Xbox(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-considering-spinning-off-xbox-speeding-up-elder-scrolls-and-fallout-game-releases-report/) and accelerate the development of the next Halo and Fallout games.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft Boss Wants Xbox to Start Pulling Its Weight Financially
While the new Xbox leadership team under CEO Asha Sharma has been on a charm offensive lately--while also promising a "reset" for the division that suggests layoffs are on the way(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/)--Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella got down to brass tacks recently. During a panel at the New York Times Hard Fork event, Nadella spoke about how Xbox will have to find a way to become more profitable as it enters a new era. "No one can accuse Microsoft of not having invested for the last 25 years," Nadella said. "And now we have to turn this into a sustainable business that delivers what is fundamentally one of the best sources of entertainment. The challenge we have is that we've not been monetizing that entertainment. In fact, if anything, we've been subsidizing that entertainment. There's more monetization of Xbox games happening on YouTube than at Microsoft. "And so that doesn't mean we go do things that are unnatural. We want us to do what is really our job, which is to build great games, build great hardware, but we've got to do it in an economically sustainable way. I think Asha is really, 100 days in, and she put out a post saying in the next 100 days, she's going to take a fresh look and make sure we deliver on what our fans expect of us both on the hardware side or on the publishing side." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqEZyHkXgh0&t=276s With gaming consoles and hardware experiencing a major spike in prices due to various global factors and hardware shortages, partly driven by the rampant investment in AI technologies, Nadella also remarked how Microsoft will have to find a way to "deliver the games in which it is economically relevant" to customers, although the Microsoft CEO didn't have a solution for the dilemma. Recently, Sharma confirmed that Xbox's accountability margins only amount to a 3% profit, which isn't exactly great(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-xbox-fixable/) considering how Microsoft has invested billions of dollars in acquiring studios and publishers over the last couple of years. The return on investment is not looking good, especially when games are becoming more expensive and are sold to a much smaller playerbase when compared to the PS5 and Nintendo Switch, while recent Game Pass price hikes saw millions of people cancel their memberships(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-lost-millions-of-subscribers-after-massive-price-hike-in-2025/). So what are Microsoft's options to extract more profit from Xbox? One report claims that Xbox could be spun off(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-considering-spinning-off-xbox-speeding-up-elder-scrolls-and-fallout-game-releases-report/) into a separate company or a "wholly owned subsidiary" that would no longer operate as a Microsoft division. Microsoft is also said to be planning to increase investment in its biggest Xbox franchises--like Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout--and speed up development on new titles. The Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2026 !4499283-game-pass-2025.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4499283-game-pass-2025.jpg?w=1024) !4674631-absolum.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4674631-absolum.jpg?w=1024) !4517812-the-alters.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4517812-the-alters.jpg?w=1024) !4656146-avatar.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4656146-avatar.jpg?w=1024) !4451894-4356216-avowedscreencombatkaixaurip.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4451894-4356216-avowedscreencombatkaixaurip.jpg?w=1024) !4451893-4270078-sse32ac94d7d1d6be7dd015d78f2b52aeb4cc282ed.1920x1080.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4451893-4270078-sse32ac94d7d1d6be7dd015d78f2b52aeb4cc282ed.1920x1080.jpg?w=1024) !4474783-ssd04f2e766f538d3680b28574ec97f06b3274aafc.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4474783-ssd04f2e766f538d3680b28574ec97f06b3274aafc.jpg?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/best-xbox-game-pass-games/2900-4001/)
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformEA Announces New Plan To Launch Ads “Directly Into Gameplay” After Working On In-Game Ads For Decades Already
In an announcement that is sure to unsettle players but please investors, Electronic Arts has announced a new program to bring in-game ads to its games in ways that EA claims won't "disrupt" the player experience. EA Advertising, as it's called, is a new platform that EA says advertisers can use to reach EA's network of 120 million monthly players. That's indeed a massive scale, and some people in the video game industry have been surprised that this kind of program hasn't happened sooner given how much money there is to potentially be made. Recently, Xbox's chief strategy officer Matthew Ball talked about advertising in gaming(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-exec-advocates-for-something-everyone-hates-to-help-save-gaming/), while a former BioWare boss said product placement could help improve the viability and sustainability of gaming(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/product-placement-can-help-save-the-aaa-games-business-former-bioware-dev-says/). Not everyone agrees, of course, as there has been significant player pushback to the idea of in-game ads, and one top executive, Strauss Zelnick of Take-Two, has said in-game ads for full-price games are not fair to the consumer(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/in-game-ads-for-full-price-games-would-seem-unfair-gta-6-parent-company-boss-says/1100-6538831/). For EA Advertising, it's coming at a time when EA is trying to sell itself to an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia for $55 billion. This is a leveraged buyout--the biggest LBO in history--and it comes with significant debt. Given that, people are expecting major cuts at EA and new revenue streams, like EA Advertising, to help service the debt. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-9.01.49-AM.png) An example of an ad already in EA's FC series. EA, of course, has tried in-game advertising before (as have other companies). When pause-screen ads came to EA Sports UFC 4, players revolted, and EA cut the program swiftly(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-removes-in-game-ads-from-ufc-4-after-backlash/1100-6481859/). Years earlier, EA announced in-game ads for Battlefield 2142, Need for Speed Carbon, Madden 08, Skate, and others--EA has been on a mission to bring more in-game ads to games for decades. EA Advertising is the company's latest attempt at the market, but it's also not exactly new, as plenty of EA games already feature in-game ads. EA Advertising is the new banner under which this program will operate and potentially expand. EA said brands will be able to "integrate directly into gameplay through dynamic, real-time placements, from stadium signage to custom in-game content, designed to enhance, not disrupt, the player experience." EA went on: "In these interactive gameplay environments, brands become part of the game itself, reflecting how players engage with advertising in real-world contexts. Brands can activate across live environments, tailoring placements to meet campaign objectives, and update campaigns with ongoing optimization informed by aggregated engagement insights." EA is selling multiple types of ads as part of EA Advertising. This includes brands creating "custom integrations designed for specific games and audiences" through things like in-game challenges, "interactive moments," and vanity items. For EA's sports games, EA said it will sell native ad units for things like digital ad boards, scoreboards, and brand broadcast overlays, not unlike the kind of advertising people see when they watch a sports game on TV. What's more, EA said it is offering advertisers "advanced targeting" for their ads by way of a new proprietary ad server and SDK. Finally, EA said it's launching an EA Sports Partner Program within EA Advertising for a "select group of official partners" to team up for live events like the Madden Bowl, the annual Madden ratings reveals, and "social play experiences." Some of the first partners for EA Advertising are Visa, Lowe's Red Bull, Xfinity, Peacock, and Mountain Dew, which are already running ads in EA's catalog of sports games. Experts tend to agree that the AAA video game business is unhealthy and unsustainable, due in part to rising development costs and prices for new releases generally staying the same. Ball and others have said advertising could be a way to help companies make more money to avoid raising prices. However, there is no reason to believe companies like EA and others would not launching in-game ads while also raising prices to $80 or more(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/80-games-are-already-here/), along with a further acceleration of things like DLC, battle passes, and microtransactions.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformYou have just one more week to play Battlefield Hardline on console
Battlefield Hardline's PS4 and Xbox One servers are being shut down on Monday, June 22, so you have just one week to play it for the last time.