Tag

Xbox Game Studios

All articles tagged with #xbox game studios

gaming4 days ago•2 min saved

Gears of War: E-Day Delivers Peak Combat but Stumbles on Repetitive Design

Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel set 14 years before the original, launches with strong critical praise for its combat mechanics but faces criticism for repetitive level design. The game features a squad of four soldiers fighting the Locust Horde during the initial alien invasion. While combat is described as the best in the series, the open-world structure is criticized for forcing players to backtrack and repeat areas. The title is available on Xbox and PC, with a full release on October 6, 2026.

via The Guardian|

#gaming #gears-of-war-e-day #prequel

gaming11 days ago•7 min saved

Minecraft Dungeons II Launches with New Dimension and Expanded World

Minecraft Dungeons II launches on September 29, 2026, introducing a new dimension called The Sift and a larger, interconnected world. The game shifts closer to vanilla Minecraft mechanics, including jumping and separate armor slots, while maintaining its action RPG core. Reviews highlight improved endgame builds but note a short main campaign and repetitive post-game content.

via Game Informer|

#action-rpg #gaming #minecraft-dungeons-ii

gaming16 days ago•9 min saved

Kojima Calls Physint His Biggest Potential Hit After Sony's Sudden Cancellation

Hideo Kojima states that his upcoming espionage game Physint is the highest-selling title he could create, expressing shock that Sony canceled it without explanation. The game is now being published by Xbox, with Kojima Productions confirming the studio remains financially healthy despite the abrupt shift.

via GameSpot|

#gaming #hideo-kojima #kojima-productions

business17 days ago•18 min saved

Kojima Productions Addresses Physint Publisher Speculation, Reaffirms Xbox Partnership

Kojima Productions issued a statement denying unverified rumors that Physint would switch publishers from Sony to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios, saying the claims weren’t official and that the studio’s relationship with PlayStation remains strong while PHYSINT development continues with Xbox, following Bloomberg’s report that SIE canceled the project due to budget and profitability concerns.

via Anime News Network|

#business #kojima-productions #physint

gaming17 days ago•8 min saved

Xbox Game Studios Restructures: Rare and Halo Move to Activision, Ninja Theory Closure Proposed, 268 Roles Cut

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios is reshaping its portfolio: Rare and the Halo IP will transfer to Activision, Ninja Theory is slated for closure after failed sale attempts, and about 268 roles have been cut across Halo Studios and other teams as part of a broader corporate reset, with Undead Labs moving to a new publisher to release State of Decay 3 and other studio realignments continuing.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#activision #gaming #halo

business1 month ago•5 min saved

Compulsion Games goes independent, regains IP after leaving Xbox

Compulsion Games has become independent from Xbox Game Studios, with leadership buying the studio and its staff to pursue independence. The studio regains ownership of its IP (Contrast, We Happy Few, South of Midnight) and its publishing rights, and plans to become self-sustaining while exploring partnerships. Some staff left during the transition, and Microsoft had previously laid off about 20% of the team, but CEO Guillaume Provost says the exit was gracious and the move keeps the team intact.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#business #compulsion-games #independence

business1 month ago•3 min saved

Blizzard Emerges as Xbox's Top Studio in FY26, Fueled by Diablo 4 and Overwatch

Leaked emails reviewed by Windows Central claim Blizzard was Xbox Game Studios’ top-performing unit in FY26, driven by Diablo 4 and Overwatch and marking Blizzard’s third-highest top-line revenue. Microsoft does not publicly disclose studio-level numbers, so the figures are unconfirmed, with Blizzard set to detail its slate at BlizzCon 2026 as it remains separated from the rest of Microsoft Games.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#blizzard #business #diablo-4

gaming1 month ago•7 min saved

Gears of War: E-Day's Limited-Access Beta Draws Big Crowd

The Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta drew a sizable crowd during its limited-access early weekend, earning a top-10 Xbox Top 40 rank and signaling strong launch potential. The full open beta begins August 13, 2026 for all Xbox players, with PC Game Pass subscribers and pre-orders eligible to join earlier; full achievements land on October 6, 2026 as the game eyes a major release later this year.

via TrueAchievements|

#gaming #gears-of-war-e-day #multiplayer

gaming2 months ago•6 min saved

Two August Gears of War: E-Day Betas Bring PvP, Horde Siege and Open Access

Gears of War: E-Day will run two beta weekends in August: Aug 6–10 for players with early access (preorder or Ultimate/PC Game Pass) and Aug 13–17 open to all on Xbox Series X|S and PC (via Xbox PC and Steam). The beta features Versus multiplayer and the new Horde Siege mode (12-player squads with objectives and extraction). The game launches Oct 6, 2026, with achievements available at release.

via TrueAchievements|

#beta-weekends #early-access #gaming

gaming2 months ago•6 min saved

Halo: Campaign Evolved glitch makes the toughest achievements a breeze

A newly discovered exploit in Halo: Campaign Evolved lets players max out in-game difficulty modifiers (Damage Resistance 2000%, Shield Recharge 200%, Damage Modifier 300%, Melee Damage Modifier 300%, and Bottomless Clip for infinite ammo) to complete the LASO (Legendary All Skulls On) and Remixed Mix Master challenges with little risk. After unlocking the LASO skulls, players can enable the modifiers to run through the campaign; progress trackers may require visiting Pillar of Autumn to re-register skulls for mission-by-mission progress. The studio may patch this in a future update as the game launches on Game Pass.

via TrueAchievements|

#achievements #campaign-evolved #gaming

business2 months ago•5 min saved

Xbox Studio Leaders Debate Game Pass Valuation

New reports claim some Xbox studio leaders detest Game Pass, arguing it devalues their games and harms perceived market value; critics say day-one availability signals titles can’t sell on their own, while proponents say Game Pass offers a steady revenue stream via engagement metrics, despite concerns about transparency and how bonuses are earned. The discussion comes as price changes and shifts in day-one releases for big titles like Call of Duty reshape the service’s economics and strategy for Xbox.

via TrueAchievements|

#business #engagement-metrics #game-pass

gaming3 months ago•4 min saved

Obsidian to Lead New Fallout Game Amid Xbox Restructuring

Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly developing a new Fallout title led by Josh Sawyer as part of an Xbox-wide restructuring that has affected 60–70 Obsidian employees. A small team will continue work on an Avowed sequel, with other staff focusing on DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2; Bethesda is expected to collaborate on the Fallout project. The broader layoffs hit Id Software and Bethesda Game Studios in Austin, among others, as Microsoft says it will support independent studios rather than owning every studio.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#avowed #fallout #gaming

gaming3 months ago•87 min saved

Xbox reshapes Arkane with MachineGames co-founder taking the helm

Xbox is undertaking a leadership reshuffle: Arkane Studios’ president Leonard Bendel resigns while MachineGames co-founder Jerk Gustafsson takes over Arkane’s operations, a move that could signal closer ties or a merger between Arkane and MachineGames. Blade development reportedly continues, even as Microsoft pursues a broader studio reset and cost-cutting that has spurred negotiations and potential restructurings across several studios within its gaming division.

via Windows Central|

#arkane-studios #blade-marvel #gaming

business3 months ago•7 min saved

Xbox weighs shuttering Undead Labs as part of a broader studio reset

Microsoft‑owned Undead Labs, maker of State of Decay and State of Decay 3, is reportedly at risk of closure as part of a broad Xbox studio reset that could trigger hundreds of layoffs if buyers aren’t found; Undead Labs alone could see around 110 jobs cut, with additional cuts at other studios, with layoffs expected to begin in early July.

via Eurogamer|

#business #layoffs #state-of-decay-3

business3 months ago•3 min saved

Compulsion Games Staff Allowed to Seek Other Jobs Ahead of Xbox Layoffs

Bloomberg reports that staff at Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight division have been given permission to openly seek new jobs ahead of anticipated Xbox layoffs in July; no dismissals have occurred yet, but leadership reportedly expects job losses, with potential outcomes including studio closure or spin-off under new ownership; other Xbox studios like Ninja Theory and Double Fine are in similar negotiations.

via Rock Paper Shotgun|

#business #compulsion-games #layoffs