Latest Xbox Game News & Updates
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🖥 Xbox, PCMicrosoft doesn't know what to do about the memory pricing crisis Microsoft is causing
It's astonishing how much expectations are being lowered for the next Xbox.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox warns of a ‘reset’ as it prepares for layoffs
Microsoft's Xbox division will be hit with significant layoffs next month, according to people familiar with Microsoft's plans. The company has been preparing for the layoffs internally for weeks, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma hinting about "making hard choices" last month. Sources suggest the cuts could even involve a studio closure, or changes to the &8230;
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Reportedly Planning Big Layoffs For Next Month
Microsoft is reportedly planning major layoffs at its Xbox division next month--a move that comes shortly after new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma admitted its business "isn't particularly healthy(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-ceo-believes-consoles-are-too-expensive-and-radically-different-plans-are-needed/)." According to sources speaking to Bloomberg(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-10/xbox-plans-significant-layoffs-as-it-transforms-under-new-ceo-asha-sharma?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4MTEyNDkwOCwiZXhwIjoxNzgxNzI5NzA4LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUR0ZPUU5LSVAzUlYwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.cjHY4m0BuOULFpdYUKt2jmNBt-PDLWE6Vy-JsYLWvwI&leadSource=uverify%20wall), the layoffs will come sometime after June 30, which is when Microsoft's fiscal year ends. In an email sent to employees on Wednesday, Sharma emphasized that annual revenue had declined "nearly half a billion" over the last five years despite more than $20 million in investments across the Xbox brand, excluding Activision Blizzard King. "We expanded our studio system when we needed a pipeline of content to meet multiple strategies across subscription, streaming, and devices," Sharma said(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/10/next-100-days-xbox-reset/). "In the process, we found ourselves overextended as we executed on changing strategies in a landscape of more readily available content." Sharma also emphasized that Microsoft is in a "hardware component crisis," facing issues that have plagued much of the tech industry as more and more hardware is used for AI. "When I joined as CEO in February, the price we paid for console storage components was over 2x as high as we paid last fall," Sharma said. "These costs have since doubled again. And as we plan for the 2027 holiday season, we expect another significant increase, taking us over 5x the prices we paid only two years earlier." It remains to be seen exactly how drastic the steps will be, but Sharma's words suggest studio closures aren't out of the realm of possibility. Microsoft drastically increased its number of studios under previous Xbox boss Phil Spencer, acquiring developers like Compulsion Games, Undead Labs, and Ninja Theory alongside the behemoths Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. The upcoming layoffs, if accurate, are unfortunately not shocking. In late May, Sharma reportedly told staff that "hard choices(https://www.ign.com/articles/new-xbox-boss-asham-sharma-reportedly-warns-staff-hard-choices-are-ahead-but-insists-recent-game-pass-changes-are-helping)" were coming as the Xbox brand attempts a resurgence.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox CEO Believes Consoles Are Too Expensive And “Radically Different” Plans Are Needed
One of the first things that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma did after ascending to her position was to unveil the next Xbox, Project Helix(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xboxs-next-console-project-helix-officially-plays-pc-and-xbox-games/1100-6538610/). Although Microsoft has yet to disclose pricing details, early estimates suggest that Project Helix may cost $900 or more(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-project-helix-could-be-900-or-higher-says-analyst/1100-6538642/). Now, Sharma has indicated that Xbox may have to embrace "radically different" plans to thrive in the future. "I think what is needed for console, rather than just the most premium, high-performance console in the world ... we've reached a point where it will be hard to imagine that mass audiences can afford thousands of dollars to spend on a console," said Sharma during a recent live event hosted by Fortune(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0hMSekk4XE). "So I think we will start to see radically different business models that we never expected start to come into orbit later this year." Sharma has previously acknowledged some disappointing numbers(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-ceo-reacts-to-yet-another-disappointing-period-for-xbox/1100-6539711/) from Xbox's most recent financial year, and she offered another frank assessment of the business during her on-stage conversation. "It's hard to find examples of platforms out there that don't have exclusive services and content," noted Sharma. "And so this is a journey for us. Our business isn't particularly healthy, as you noted, and so we're starting by introducing one to two signature exclusives. And as the business is healthy, we will look to try and do more." That ties into the decision to make Gears of War: E-Day an Xbox console exclusive(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-ps5-version-canceled-report-says/). Clockwork Revolution has also been confirmed to only appear on Xbox and PC(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/clockwork-revolution-is-another-xbox-console-exclusive-coming-in-2027/). There's still a broader question of whether Xbox can be saved(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-xbox-fixable/) regardless of Sharma's new initiative. Microsoft's current console generation is lagging far behind Sony's PlayStation 5, and that means exclusives like E-Day may sell considerably fewer copies than cross-platform titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved(Campaign Evolved) and the eventual port of Forza Horizon 6(https://www.gamespot.com/games/forza-horizon-6/).
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformGears Of War: E-Day Skipping PS5 Means Reaching Fewer Players, And Microsoft Is OK With That
Gears of War: E-Day was reportedly planned for PlayStation 5, but Microsoft has opted to skip a Sony version. The decision was apparently not made at the last minute(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-denies-that-gears-of-war-e-day-skipping-ps5-was-last-minute-decision-but-no-one-believes-that/) as some suspected. In any event, the developers at The Coalition are OK with the game skipping PS5, even if it means reaching fewer players, and presumably making less money, overall. The Coalition studio creative director Matt Searcy told Eurogamer(https://www.eurogamer.net/gears-of-war-e-day-ps5-snub-smaller-audience-interview), that, "We never talked about" bringing E-Day to PS5 in the first place. That is true--the game was never even confirmed for PS5, but people suspected it would come to Sony's flagship console considering 2025's Gears of War Reloaded did and because Microsoft has been more receptive to launching its games on rival platforms in recent times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh5Swf5p4jo However, after Asha Sharma was named Xbox CEO, things seemingly changed, as Sharma began to shift back to exclusives(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-clarifies-its-exclusivity-strategy-moving-forward-wants-you-to-buy-an-xbox/) to help revive an Xbox brand that Microsoft said was languishing under the leadership of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-xbox-fixable/). Searcy went on to say that E-Day as an Xbox-exclusive game "makes a ton of sense," going on to say it's "an honor, and exciting" to be an exclusive next to Clockwork Revolution. The developer added that it would be "awesome" if more people got to play E-Day, "but for Xbox and PC, you've got what is out there." Art director Aryan Hanbeck, meanwhile, said, "We're not too concerned about the size of the audience. We've shipped to audiences smaller before, and there are great shooters on Xbox already." "Focus on the future" In an interview with Game Informer,(https://www.eurogamer.net/gears-of-war-e-day-ps5-snub-smaller-audience-interview) Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty addressed the exclusivity issue as well. He was asked if Microsoft is doing a disservice to fans by bringing Reloaded to PS5, getting those fans excited about Gears of War, and then making E-Day exclusive to Xbox. Booty didn't respond directly but suggested that things changed when Sharma took over as Xbox CEO. "We've had an opportunity with Asha coming in to really take a look at our strategy and, I'd say, put the focus on the future. I think that it's that focus out of which that decision came," he said. Microsoft's policy around exclusives going forward is that big, multiplayer live-service games will continue to be released on a multiplatform basis (except E-Day, which does also have multiplayer), while games that were already announced--publicly or otherwise--for platforms beyond Xbox will still come to those systems. With respect to new games, however, Booty said Microsoft is going to be "really thoughtful about what we do" for future exclusives. "I think, in general, you can look for us that when we put a date on something, we're going to put a platform on it. So that's going to be the approach. I think the thing that ties those two things together that you talked about is really a drive for that clarity," he said. "We want there to be a reason to believe and a reason to buy Xbox, and for there to be a reward for our loyal fans." For her part, Sharma recently told Fortune, "It's hard to find examples of platforms out there that don't have exclusive services and content." She added: "This is a journey for us. Our business isn't particularly healthy. We're starting by introducing 1-2 signature exclusives, and as the business is healthy, we'll look to try and do more." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0hMSekk4XE E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are not timed-exclusives for Xbox, Microsoft has said, suggesting they may never come to PS5. That being said, Microsoft said Starfield was not a timed exclusive for Xbox(https://x.com/aarongreenberg/status/1432466477945294849), and then it came to PS5. As for E-Day, the new Gears of War game releases in October, and a multiplayer beta is coming ahead of launch(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-open-beta-start-dates-and-how-to-get-in-early/). After playing the game at Summer Game Fest, we found it to be bigger, bolder, and more ambitious than we expected(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-is-bigger-bloodier-and-more-ambitious-than-we-expected/).
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformElder Scrolls 6 Was Announced 8 Years Ago Today, Here’s Why It Didn’t Show Up At Xbox Showcase
The Elder Scrolls 6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-6-release-date-trailer-news/1100-6492383/) was announced on June 10, 2018--that is now a full eight years ago. In the 2,920 days that have transpired, Bethesda has not released a single new image or trailer for it, or even discussed the game in an official capacity beyond small quotes here and there. The game did not show up at the recent Xbox Games Showcase(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-so-far/), prompting some people to wonder how it's coming together and when Bethesda may show it off again. Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty addressed this in an interview with Variety(https://variety.com/2026/gaming/news/xbox-exclusives-showcase-blade-elder-scrolls-6-matt-booty-1236771373/), saying one of the hard parts of his job is deciding what to show, and when, during high-profile showcases. "You want to get them excited early, but we also know that we want to wait till the right moment. And when you decide to show it, you want it to be the best you’ve got," he said. "And also that when you show the game, you’re also giving them a promise of, hey, it’s coming soon." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQcnDNd3P7Q Booty was speaking generally here, but he also talked specifically about The Elder Scrolls 6. He said he has sat down with game director Todd Howard as he played it, and Booty remarked that the game "looks amazing" and is "coming along well." As for when Bethesda may show the game again? The developer is waiting for the "right time," Booty said. Howard has questioned whether it was the right call(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/todd-howard-talks-elder-scrolls-6-and-retirement-i-want-to-do-it-forever/1100-6517168/) to announce The Elder Scrolls 6 so early. “I have asked myself that a lot,” he said. “I don’t know. I probably would’ve announced it more casually.” He later said announcing The Elder Scrolls 6 in the way that Bethesda did was "not my preference,"(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/todd-howard-on-elder-scrolls-6-just-pretend-we-didnt-announce-it-it-doesnt-exist/1100-6538842/) but it happened anyway. He went on to joke: “Just pretend we didn’t announce it. It doesn’t exist. No one has heard a word.” One of the reasons that The Elder Scrolls 6 might have been announced so early was for the purposes of recruiting staff to work on it. This is a common practice in gaming.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox CEO says RAM crisis means radical new business models needed for Project Helix
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma spoke about the need for the industry to think about payment plans, partnerships, less powerful consoles, and smaller games
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, PCXbox 'console exclusives' are strictly about console releases, Xbox exec affirms: Games will 'still show up on all the normal places where we sell the PC version'
Some much needed clarity from Matt Booty.
🖥 Xbox, PCAfter a 'corporate mandate' demanded they help with Call of Duty, Toys for Bob studio head says it took 'many mini miracles' to buy their independence from Activision
"We knew that it wasn't the right fit."
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformHalo Campaign Evolved preview: Xbox’s remake feels brand-new after 2 hours
Halo: Campaign Evolved, Xbox's big Halo 1 remake, changes just enough to feel like a brand-new game. Read Polygon's Halo preview for more.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformGears Of War: E-Day Is Bigger, Bloodier, And More Ambitious Than We Expected
Gears of War: E-Day(https://www.gamespot.com/games/gears-of-war-e-day/) made a big splash during the Xbox Games Showcase, as The Coalition dropped an action-packed preview on audiences. Not only is Gears looking better than ever, thanks to Unreal Engine 5 powering it, but several design choices are also adding up to make the game play better through fluid movement mechanics and levels that'll give you opportunities to put your skills to the test. GameSpot had the opportunity to take a closer look at the game and sit down with The Coalition's developers to learn more about the prequel. You can check out everything new that we learned from this interview that wasn't shown off in the initial preview in the video below. https://youtu.be/hh5Swf5p4jo Gears of War: E-Day is a fresh start for the franchise, and according to The Coalition, the developer started with an "empty hard drive" to rebuild Gears in Unreal Engine 5. The key location for E-Day is Kalona on the planet Sera, a city that will be devastated during Emergence Day when the Locust rise up to attack humanity. The Coalition says that the destruction will be felt throughout the campaign as environments change, and while E-Day isn't an open-world game, its large-scale arenas are combat puzzles waiting for players to solve them through smoother cover transitions(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-is-drastically-changing-movement-for-the-first-time-in-the-series/) and ultraviolence. Some missions will have tighter spaces to fight in, while others will give players access to entire neighborhoods to wage war in. The main goal is to make players feel like they're in a big-budget action movie as they slide and mantle over obstacles so that they can flank enemies. Other interesting tidbits from our time with The Coalition include the studio mentioning that E-Day has the longest campaign that it has ever designed--with the studio estimating that it'll take around 14 hours to complete--how E-Day was the story(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-happened-because-starting-over-sounded-more-fun-than-gears-6/) the studio wanted to tell next, and owners of PC gaming handhelds should expect to see it run just fine on those systems. Gears of War: E-Day launches for PC and Xbox Series X|S on October 3, but it’s not coming to PS5(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-ps5-version-canceled-report-says/).
🎮 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Multi-platformWo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition Hits Nintendo Switch 2 This September
!Wo Long Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition Nintendo Switch Announcement Trailer September 3 Release Date(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/10/787ab619/wolongcompleteeditionkeyart.jpg.webp) Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty(https://www.gameinformer.com/product/wo-long-fallen-dynasty) is a Soulslike action game from Team Ninja, the studio behind the Nioh(https://gameinformer.com/href) series, set during China's Three Kingdoms era, and it's a great time(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/wo-long-fallen-dynasty/razor-sharp). Team Ninja recently announced that a sequel, Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember,(https://www.gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/wo-long-is-getting-a-sequel-with-wings-of-ember) is due out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027, but ahead of that, you can hop into the upcoming Switch 2 port of the first game this September. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty launched on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC back in 2023 and has since surpassed 5 million players to date (selling 1 million copies in the process). The Complete Edition hit those platforms in 2024 and will now bring the base game, all three major DLCs – Battle of Zhongyuan, Conqueror of Jiangdon, and Upheaval in Jingxiang – and new endgame content to the Switch 2 on September 3. Check it out in the Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition Switch 2 announcement trailer below: The new endgame content, which is also coming to all platforms, is called The Thousand-Mile Journey and lets players enjoy additional scenarios featuring characters from the armies of Cao Cao, Sun Ce, and Liu Bei, alongside extra weapon types such as cestuses, long swords, and whips. Team Ninja says enhancements in this edition of the game include new difficulties, new stages, new Divine Beasts, and more challenging difficulty functions. It will also feature previously released collaboration DLC, adding equipment and stages from Nioh 2, Naraka: Bladepoint, and Lies of P. Plus, three in-game items included in the game's initial launch – Baihu Armor, Zhuque Armor, and Qinglong Armor – will be available in the Switch 2 launch edition, too. Finally, Switch 2 players will get the exclusive Xuanwu Armor set. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition hits Nintendo Switch 2 on September 3. In the meantime, read Game Informer's Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty review(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/wo-long-fallen-dynasty/razor-sharp), and then check out the reveal trailer for Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember(https://www.gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/wo-long-is-getting-a-sequel-with-wings-of-ember) after that. Have you played Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty? Let us know your thoughts on it in the comments below! !(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/entitybrowserthumbnail/public/2026/06/10/d26fb49c/wolongcompleteeditionscreenshot5.jpg.webp)!(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/entitybrowserthumbnail/public/2026/06/10/689733ff/wolongcompleteeditionscreenshot1.jpg.webp)!(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/entitybrowserthumbnail/public/2026/06/10/37712669/wolongcompleteeditionscreenshot2.jpg.webp)!(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/entitybrowserthumbnail/public/2026/06/10/81b21f85/wolongcompleteeditionscreenshot4.jpg.webp)!(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/entitybrowserthumbnail/public/2026/06/10/b3195ee3/wolongcompleteeditionscreenshot3.jpg.webp)