Microsoft News
The latest Microsoft coverage curated for game developers.
Game Developer reports that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma drew a hard line on the brand’s future, saying Xbox is not for sale. The comment came during a New York Times …
XBox Wire says Gears of War: E-Day is in early access now for Premium Edition buyers and Game Pass subscribers with the Premium Upgrade. The launch trailer is live, and …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is pushing back on spin-off talk, saying flatly that “Xbox is not for sale.” The denial lands as Microsoft keeps reshaping the division …
XBox Wire says Minecraft Dungeons II is leaning hard into a connected overworld, with no-load-screen travel between biomes, side quests, and dungeons. The ARPG also adds deeper builds, more gear …
Game Developer reports that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is framing Xbox’s recent layoffs and studio closures as “streamlining,” even as the division has shed more than 5,750 jobs in three …
GamesIndustry.biz says Microsoft wants Xbox to find a “sustainable business model” as it pushes to reach more players across PC and console. Satya Nadella tied that goal to recent “streamlining,” …
GamesIndustry.biz says Xbox’s “reset” has turned into a rolling restructuring, with 268 more layoffs this week and no clear end date. Studios and IP are being shuffled under Bethesda and …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Microsoft has patented an ad-credit system for PC and Xbox games that would surface ads during natural pauses like loading screens or menus. Players would get ad-free …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Bethesda boss Jill Braff has told staff Obsidian Entertainment will stay a distinct team after Xbox’s studio shake-up. The studio keeps its leadership, Bethesda keeps Fallout, and …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Age of Empires studio World's Edge has been hit by layoffs after its move to Activision, with just under half the team affected. Former creative director Adam …
Game Developer reports that Undead Labs has made significant layoffs shortly after Microsoft signaled plans to divest the Seattle studio. The move adds more uncertainty around the State of Decay …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Undead Labs has completed its split from Xbox and is now an employee-owned studio, but the transition comes with a significant round of layoffs. State of Decay …
Ars Technica reports that Xbox is reshaping its studio structure again, with Halo moving under Activision’s control as part of a broader internal reset. Halo Studios will be reduced to …
Game Developer reports that Xbox’s ongoing reset is hitting more first-party teams, with layoffs at Halo Studios and a divestment at Undead Labs. The shake-up comes as Activision takes over …
GamesIndustry.biz reports Xbox is shifting Rare and the Halo franchise to Activision, while proposing Ninja Theory’s closure and cutting 268 more roles. The move folds more of Microsoft’s shooter and …
XBox Wire says Microsoft is cutting 268 roles across Halo Studios, first-party teams, and central XGS functions as part of its ongoing reset. The company is also reshuffling studios, with …
GamesIndustry.biz reports Xbox is preparing a second round of layoffs this week as Microsoft continues restructuring its game business. The move follows July cuts and could include studio consolidation across …
GamesIndustry.biz reports PlayStation stepped away from Kojima Productions' Physint over budget, profitability, and exclusivity concerns. Bloomberg sources say the game had already missed deadlines and was trending far over budget. …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that nearly 1,900 Blizzard workers have ratified their first union contract with Microsoft after more than two years of bargaining. The deal covers AI safeguards, crediting, remote work, …
Gears of War: E-Day’s achievement list is now public, and it telegraphs a campaign-heavy launch with a deep Horde Siege grind on top. The set includes co-op clears, collectible hunts, …