Xbox Cuts 268 Jobs in Sweeping Studio Restructure
Microsoft confirmed 268 Xbox job cuts and further studio changes, including major shifts in franchise oversight. The restructuring adds to a year of upheaval across the gaming division.
Xbox Cuts 268 Jobs in Sweeping Studio Restructure
Microsoft confirmed another 268 Xbox job cuts alongside a broad restructuring of its gaming business. The changes include studio consolidations and shifts in management responsibilities.
Figure of the Day
268 roles - Xbox job cuts confirmed as part of Microsoft’s restructuring.
Activision Takes Over the Next Halo Game as Xbox Cuts Hit Halo Studios
Activision is taking charge of the next Halo game as Xbox reshapes the franchise’s development. The handover comes alongside deep cuts at Halo Studios.
Microsoft Moves to Close Ninja Theory After Buyout Talks Collapse
Microsoft is moving toward closing Ninja Theory after negotiations to sell the Hellblade studio fell through. The reports point to another major loss in Xbox’s restructuring.
Obsidian Moves Under Bethesda as Its New Fallout Game Continues
Obsidian Entertainment is moving under Bethesda’s management as Xbox consolidates its studios. Bethesda says Obsidian will retain its creative identity and continue its projects.
Yay
Resident Evil Film Opens to a Franchise-Record $108 Million
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie brought in an estimated $108 million worldwide on its opening weekend, setting a new box-office record for the film franchise. More on gamespot.com
Undead Labs Goes Independent, Confirms State of Decay 3 Is Still in Development
Undead Labs has separated from Xbox and become an independent, employee-owned studio. The move comes with significant layoffs, while the developer says State of Decay 3 remains in development.
Bungie Reverses Course: Vaulted Destiny 2 Campaigns Are Coming Back
Bungie has reversed course on Destiny 2 content vaulting and says it will restore previously removed campaigns. The move follows the studio’s admission that Marathon drew fewer players than hoped.
Nay
Gears of War: E-Day Story Director Laid Off Before Launch
The Coalition laid off story director Juan Vaca shortly after Gears of War: E-Day went gold, putting a spotlight on job cuts even as the Xbox title nears release. More on gamespot.com
Arc Raiders’ Frozen Trail Adds a Map, New Enemy and Weapon Upgrades
Embark is positioning Frozen Trail as Arc Raiders’ biggest update, with a new map and expanded gameplay features. The update also introduces a paid battle pass tier alongside a free option.
Discord Rolls Out Age Verification Despite User Backlash
Discord has begun rolling out age verification after delaying the policy amid user backlash. The company says most users will not need to confirm their age.
Quote
We lost trust, we lost incredible colleagues, and we lost sight of what we should be prioritizing most.
— Bungie leadership
Steam Workshop for People Playground Disabled After Another Malware Incident
People Playground’s Steam Workshop has faced another malware incident, prompting a shutdown of the feature. Reports warn that malicious code could put users’ personal data at risk.
Microsoft Patent Pitches In-Game Ads During Downtime
A Microsoft patent describes serving ads during downtime in PC and Xbox games. The filing outlines a system that could reward players with ad-free play time for watching commercials.
Kojima Says Sony Dropped Physint After a Zoom Call
Hideo Kojima says Sony ended its publishing involvement with Physint after a Zoom call. He says he still has a good relationship with PlayStation, while the game’s eventual platform remains uncertain.
Star Wars Zero Company Reaches an Estimated 1 Million Sales Amid Staff Furloughs
Industry estimates put Star Wars Zero Company’s sales at one million copies, with most sales reportedly on Steam. The milestone comes as questions remain over the debut studio’s furloughed development team.
IGN – Gaming
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GameSpot
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Polygon
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Kotaku
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PC Gamer
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Eurogamer
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Destructoid
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Rock Paper Shotgun
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GamesRadar+
- Genshin Impact's new character Vesna is one of the best 5-stars I've seen in 6 years of this game
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Push Square
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Nintendo Life
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Reddit
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