Latest Xbox Game News & Updates
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🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformYour Loyalty To Sony Or Xbox Means Nothing, Analyst Says
In response to Sony announcing that it will stop producing physical game discs for PlayStation starting in 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-tries-to-change-the-subject-after-killing-playstation-discs/), a lot of people have had a lot of things to say. One of those voices is Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, who offered a refreshing, if not brutal, reminder that your loyalty and love of PlayStation--or any other game console or franchise--means nothing to the corporate overlords controlling them. It's all about money, and it always has been. "You can love your preferred video game ecosystem, franchise, or whatever all you want. You can think your years of customer loyalty should/will be reciprocated. But these businesses don't love you back. Same with your job, fwiw. You're a number on a spreadsheet," he said(https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mq5emsdzqs2c). Piscatella also pointed out(https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mq5dcs7lcs2d) that, with forecasts for the PS6 and Project Helix to cost $1,000 or more (if they are ever released), console manufacturers like Sony and Xbox will "prioritize profitability" where they can. The thinking is that, if Sony can't convince as many people to buy a very expensive console, it can make up some of the difference by cutting out discs to improve margins. As reporter Jason Schreier breaks down in a great video(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sESfDf0My84), a company like Sony would take home about $45.50 from the sale of $70 game sold at retail on a disc. With digital games, Sony keeps the full $70. It's not hard to see why Sony is shifting to an all-digital future. Third-party games will go all-digital on PlayStation in 2028 as well, and this will help those publishers make more money (by way of improved margins), and Sony will make lots more money as well through collecting its platform fees. "Digital is just too lucrative" Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games said Sony is not going to reverse its decision on killing off physical game discs because the money to be made in an all-digital world is too lucrative to ignore. "I sympathize with physical media fans, but Sony will not reverse this decision," Toto told IGN(https://www.ign.com/articles/they-now-wait-for-this-storm-to-pass-ps5-owners-are-cancelling-playstation-plus-subscriptions-to-protest-sony-killing-discs-but-analysts-say-it-wont-make-any-difference). "They of course knew what the online reaction would look like, and they now wait for this storm to pass." "Sony has over 120 million active PlayStation users," he added. "Around 50 million people subscribe to PlayStation Plus. As a thought experiment, let's say 500,000 cancel in protest, that would be just 1% of that business gone--of course not enough to Sony to start rethinking. Digital is just too lucrative." The numbers According to IGN's accounting, a first-party PlayStation game sold on a disc at retail would see Sony keeping about 65% of the sale price, with about 30% going to the retailer; the other 5% is for the manufacturing costs. A third-party game sold on a disc at retail--say, a Call of Duty game from Activision--would provide Sony a licensing fee of about 15%. For a digital game, a first-party game sold via the PlayStation Store would net Sony all of the revenue. For third-party games, Sony would collect its 30% cut as the platform owner. That works out to about $21 for a $70 game. When all games go digital in 2028, Sony stands to make significantly more money, as you can see. What's next For what it's worth, while Sony has confirmed plans to kill discs, Microsoft has not yet announced plans, but many are theorizing the next Xbox will be all-digital as well. After all, the numbers show that the share of digital game sales only continues to grow(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstations-disc-based-game-sales-have-dropped-dramatically-in-recent-years/) at Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and third-party publishers. Sony still sells many millions of physical PlayStation game discs annually(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstations-disc-based-game-sales-have-dropped-dramatically-in-recent-years/), and there are many people who want to see physical media live on. There are also real game preservation concerns in an all-digital world. More than 225,000 people(https://www.change.org/p/don-t-kill-the-disc-tell-sony-to-keep-physical-playstation-games?recruiter=44035009&recruitedbyid=d3ab8940-6ed8-0130-66ee-3c764e049b10&utmsource=sharepetition&utmcampaign=psfcomboshareinitial&utmmedium=copylink&shareid=hFbcPxQ684) have signed an online petition calling on Sony to reinstate physical games. The obvious enthusiasm for physical media is unlikely to change the calculus for Sony for the main reason Piscatella and Toto laid out: money.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformNew Fallout Game Is New Focus For New Vegas Developer Obsidian Entertainment – Report
Obsidian Entertainment--the developer behind Grounded, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed--will reportedly shift strategies to work on a new Fallout game. That means that a planned Avowed sequel(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-kills-obsidians-avowed-sequel-in-the-wake-of-layoffs-report/) and other unannounced projects will get shelved in the process, according to Bloomberg(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). It's unclear whether this new Fallout game from Obsidian will be Fallout 5(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-5-release-date-trailer-news/1100-6522412/) or a spin-off similar to New Vegas. Fallout 5 was reportedly "greenlit" a year ago(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-5-is-now-reportedly-fully-greenlit/1100-6533153/), though there were no details about the lead developer. In 2023, Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart did express interest in the studio making another Fallout game(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/with-fallout-5-coming-obsidian-ceo-still-interested-in-making-a-new-fallout/1100-6510730/). Best Fallout Games, Ranked !4285119-4122873-newsfalloutnewvegas2rumors20230406v2.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4285119-4122873-newsfalloutnewvegas2rumors20230406v2.jpg?w=1024) !4285236-brotherhood.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4285236-brotherhood.png?w=1024) !4285237-fallouttactics.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4285237-fallouttactics.jpg?w=1024) !4285120-pinball.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4285120-pinball.jpg?w=1024) !4285238-fallout2.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4285238-fallout2.jpg?w=1024) !4285240-fallout.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4285240-fallout.jpg?w=1024) !4285124-fallout76.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4285124-fallout76.jpg?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/best-fallout-games/2900-5249/) Bloomberg adds that studio design director Josh Sawyer is set to lead this new Fallout project at Obsidian. Sawyer previously served as the director of Pentiment(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/pentiment-review-layers-of-history/1900-6417998/) as well as Fallout: New Vegas(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fallout-new-vegas-review/1900-6282605/). The report noted that Sawyer was in charge of another RPG at Obsidian with similarities to Fallout before being reassigned. Bethesda oversees the Fallout franchise and will be involved on this project. Obsidian was just hit hard by Xbox layoffs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/obsidian-hit-hard-by-xbox-layoffs-with-25-devs-cut-from-studio/) this week, with up to 25% of the studio's workforce fired by Microsoft. This was part of an Xbox reset plan(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) put in effect by Xbox boss Asha Sharma, which will lead to 3,200 jobs overall cut over this next year. Sharma also stated that no announced Xbox games were getting axed(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/no-announced-xbox-games-are-getting-axed-in-microsoft-layoffs-company-says/), but obviously, unannounced titles are being canned. In general, Xbox looks set on investing in its biggest franchises, such as Fallout(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-tells-workers-the-company-needs-to-change-course-and-focus-on-games-with-greatest-potential/). There have been rumblings about a Fallout 3 remake in the works(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/there-is-a-fallout-3-remaster-in-the-works-but-its-not-arriving-anytime-soon-report/1100-6530903/), though nothing official has been announced. Meanwhile, the Fallout TV series on Prime Video just received 10 Emmy nominations(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-tv-series-lands-10-emmy-nominations-for-season-2-but-actors-get-snubbed/) for the show's second season. Best Games Like Fallout 4 To Dwell In For 2026 !4496351-2f06f3367a8874a107c52de6817c4de6.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1745/17457013/4496351-2f06f3367a8874a107c52de6817c4de6.jpg?w=1024) !4496272-ss921ccea650df936a0b14ebd5dd4ec.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1745/17457013/4496272-ss921ccea650df936a0b14ebd5dd4ec.jpg?w=1024) !4496275-metro-exodus1080announce-scree.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1745/17457013/4496275-metro-exodus1080announce-scree.jpg?w=1024) !4496278-image.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1745/17457013/4496278-image.jpg?w=1024) !4496279-ssb2821283cb140cd5a6289a8160016.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1745/17457013/4496279-ssb2821283cb140cd5a6289a8160016.jpg?w=1024) !4630682-outer-worlds-2-gun.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1745/17457013/4630682-outer-worlds-2-gun.jpg?w=1024) !4496282-ss4695195fc9ac64c6b8d1e88607e31.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1745/17457013/4496282-ss4695195fc9ac64c6b8d1e88607e31.jpg?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/games-like-fallout/2900-6593/)
🖥 Xbox, PCObsidian is reportedly making a new Fallout game headed by Josh Sawyer after Microsoft pulled the plug on an Avowed sequel
25% of the studio's workforce was let go in the sweeping Xbox layoffs, and multiple games in development were cancelled.
🟩 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;
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, PCAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: How to get the Rope Dart
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/black-flag-resynced-rope-dart.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) In the original 2013 release of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/games/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag), the Rope Dart was an awesome weapon that let Edward Kenway snag enemies from afar, pulling them towards him for a nice sword thrust to the gut. Unfortunately, it only became accessible in Sequence 11 of the campaign, meaning that players had to wait a good number of hours before they could begin weaving it into their infiltration and assassination routines. Basically, it was an endgame tool that would've come in handy earlier. Black Flag Resynced fixes this grievous error, letting players obtain the Rope Dart much, much sooner. In this guide, we'll delve into how to get the Rope Dart in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and how to use it, ensuring that you won't have to wait long before you can start stringing up rival privateers from trees. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-how-to-get-the-rope-dart)
🟩 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, PCXbox's Bethesda layoffs include the artist responsible for designing Skyrim's khajiit and argonians, who had been at the company for 27 years
A staggering loss of institutional talent.
🖥 Xbox, PC, Multi-platformPalworld Reaches A Huge Player Milestone Ahead Of 1.0 Launch
After two and a half years in early access, the Pokemon-like game Palworld has reached 40 million players before its 1.0 release. Developer Pocketpair announced this milestone just days before the game's massive 1.0 update, which brings several major changes to overhaul the game. "Palworld passes 40 million players," the developer said(https://x.com/PalworldEN/status/2074659735366684929) on social media. "Thank you all so much for your incredible support! Over the last two and a half years, Palworld has grown alongside our community." Of course, hitting the 40 million mark doesn't necessarily mean Palworld has sold 40 million copies. Palworld often ranks high on Steam's top seller list(https://store.steampowered.com/charts/topselling/GB), but the game is also included in Xbox's Game Pass subscription. Having 40 million is still a major accomplishment, and the player count is likely to surge even higher with the 1.0 launch on July 10. Palworld's big update was first revealed at Summer Game Fest with a cinematic trailer(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/palworld-1-0-is-launching-sooner-than-you-expect/), and the developer also announced several major changes. These updates include several new Pals to catch, an improved combat system, and overhauled raid mechanics. Players can also expect revamped quests and main storyline missions to learn more about the world. It seems the developer was initially considering a price hike for its creature-catching game, but it has now announced that Palworld's price will remain the same(https://x.com/PalworldEN/status/2074841089324745046) beyond early access. "After much thought, we have decided not to raise the price of Palworld following the 1.0 release and will keep it at $29.99," the developer said. "We are incredibly proud of how far Palworld has come. Thanks to the amazing support of our players, it has become a success beyond our wildest dreams." Palworld is currently available on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The game is not available on either Switch platform, as Nintendo sued Pocketpair in 2024(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-is-suing-palworld-devs/1100-6526569/) on patent-infringement accusations. Palworld was updated in 2025 with altered game mechanics(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/palworld-update-adds-big-change-to-avoid-disruptions-amid-nintendo-patent-lawsuit/1100-6531394/) due to the legal matter.