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Bethesda Montreal developers reportedly received termination letters the same day Xbox announced new Fallout titles, despite assurances of continued employment until September. This news follows recent layoffs within the company.
Laid off Bethesda Montreal staff allegedly told they'd get "smallest severance legally possible" the same day as those Fallout announcements
Laid-off employees at Bethesda Montreal have claimed they were informed of receiving the minimum legal severance on the same day Xbox announced new Fallout projects. The union representing Bethesda Game Studios staff alleges that Canadian employees received termination letters stating they would get eight weeks of pay in lieu of notice and lose health insurance immediately. The union has filed a legal complaint against Bethesda for violating labor laws.
"Unconscionable": The day of Bethesda's Fallout reveal explosion, its laid-off Montreal devs were told they "would receive the smallest severance legally possible" and "immediately" lose health insurance benefits, union says
Bethesda's Montreal union, OneBGS, claims that laid-off developers are being offered the minimum legally required severance pay and are losing health insurance immediately. This is occurring despite parent company Microsoft's significant profits and investments in the intellectual property the developers helped create. The union has filed a legal complaint against Bethesda for alleged labor law violations.
The Elder Scrolls Online is struggling with "team bandwidth" after Xbox layoffs hit Bethesda and ZeniMax, leading devs to limit a store for in-game items
The Elder Scrolls Online developers are facing "team bandwidth" issues following layoffs at Bethesda and ZeniMax, impacting the game's features. To manage the workload, the Web Crown Store has been removed from the official website, though in-game purchases remain available. Changes are also being made to the Crown Store blog due to capacity limitations.
Bethesda reportedly canceled an unannounced PvP shooter, likely from Wolfenstein dev MachineGames
A former Bethesda employee revealed that the publisher canceled an unannounced PvP shooter, likely developed by MachineGames. This project, possibly codenamed 'Project Platinum,' was reportedly in development between 2021 and 2025. Despite this cancellation and recent layoffs, rumors suggest that Wolfenstein 3 is still in development.
We Need Physical Video Games
This opinion piece argues for the continued importance of physical video game media, contrasting it with the perceived downsides of an all-digital future. The author highlights personal experiences with physical games and discusses concerns about ownership, preservation, and the impact of digital-only distribution on the gaming landscape.
The History of Game Pass: How the Service Became Xbox’s Greatest Weapon
Introduced in 2017, Xbox Game Pass has evolved from a niche subscription service into a cornerstone of Microsoft's gaming strategy. By offering a vast library of games for a monthly fee, including all first-party titles at launch, it significantly lowered the barrier to entry and encouraged game discovery. Acquisitions of major studios like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard further bolstered its content, while cloud gaming expanded accessibility across devices. Despite challenges like licensing and profitability, Game Pass remains a key competitive advantage for Xbox, shaping the future of game distribution and player engagement.
Fallout 3's gunplay is "not good," admits former Bethesda designer, and we'll probably see "a lot of that work" that went into Fallout 4 when it comes to the remaster
Former Bethesda designer Bruce Nesmith admits that Fallout 3's gunplay was not good, even for its time, and expects that work done for Fallout 4's improved combat will be incorporated into a potential Fallout 3 remaster. He also mentioned that Fallout 5 is in pre-production and that Obsidian Entertainment is returning to the series for a new entry.
Alpha Dog Games founders reacquire studio from Microsoft following 2024 closure
Alpha Dog Games has reacquired its studio from Microsoft, returning to independent ownership after being shut down by Microsoft in 2024. Co-founder Shawn Woods expressed gratitude for Microsoft's cooperation during the transition and excitement for the studio's future, though specific projects are not yet being discussed. The Nova Scotia-based studio, founded in 2012 and previously acquired by Bethesda in 2019, is exploring new opportunities with partners.
Halo’s PlayStation Debut Could Also Be Its Farewell
Microsoft's Xbox division is undergoing a significant strategic shift, moving away from broad multi-platform releases like Halo: Campaign Evolved towards a renewed focus on console exclusivity. This change, spearheaded by CEO Asha Sharma, involves scaling back the Xbox division and potentially canceling unannounced titles, though games already expected on other platforms will proceed. The article analyzes the implications of this shift for future Halo titles and the broader gaming landscape, considering factors like sales, player acquisition, and potential exclusive benefits for Xbox players.
A modder has brought No Man's Sky-style seamless takeoffs to Starfield, and even in beta they look pretty great
A modder named 0xBobby has created a mod for Starfield called Seamless Planet Takeoffs, which aims to eliminate loading screens during planet departure sequences, similar to the transitions found in No Man's Sky. While the mod is currently in beta and primarily masks loading screens rather than removing them entirely, it significantly improves the immersion of space exploration. Seamless landings are not expected due to the complexity involved.
Modders remastering Fallout 3 in Fallout 4 are not bothered by Bethesda's official version: "Our project has been a community-driven passion project for almost a full decade"
A modding team known as the Fallout 4: Capital Wasteland Team has stated they will continue developing their Fallout 3 remaster within Fallout 4, even after Bethesda announced official remasters for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. The team emphasized that their decade-long project is a community-driven passion and will proceed independently.
XBOX and Meta: More Ways to Enjoy XBOX Game Pass
Xbox and Meta are expanding their partnership, integrating a starter edition of Xbox Game Pass into the Meta Horizon+ subscription. Eligible Meta Horizon+ subscribers will now receive access to over 50 games, 10 hours of cloud gaming monthly, and rewards. This builds upon existing access to Xbox and Game Pass on Meta Quest devices.
Fallout 3 is a masterpiece and I hope the remaster comes to Switch 2
The author expresses a strong desire for the confirmed Fallout 3 remaster to be released on the Nintendo Switch 2, citing it as a preferred entry over Fallout 4. They hope for enhanced features like reduced loading times and an improved inventory system, believing the game would be a perfect fit for the handheld console, especially with the recent success of the Fallout TV series.
Another former Xbox studio is "independently owned, again" after Microsoft shut it down in 2024
Alpha Dog Games, a studio previously shut down by Microsoft in 2024, has reemerged as an independently owned entity. Studio founder Shawn Woods updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect the change, indicating the studio regained independence in May 2025. This follows a trend of studios becoming independent after Microsoft's recent closures and layoffs.
It’s A Bad Time To Be A New Fallout Fan, But Things Are Looking Up
Bethesda has announced that four Fallout games are currently in production, including Fallout 5 in pre-production and remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. Additionally, Obsidian is developing a new Fallout title. This news aims to capitalize on the popularity of the Fallout television show and provide new and modernized experiences for fans.
Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 fans might dread the return of Creation Engine, but New Vegas lead Josh Sawyer once called it "incredibly easy" to work with, even if it is "buggy and unstable"
New Vegas lead Josh Sawyer described Bethesda's Creation Engine as "incredibly easy" to work with, despite its known issues with bugs and instability. His past comments resurfaced amid fan concerns about the engine's use for The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, suggesting it could facilitate faster development cycles.
Turns out Todd Howard is a full-time Reddit lurker just like the rest of us, says we'd 'be surprised how many…
Bethesda's executive producer Todd Howard revealed he frequently browses Reddit, stating that many developers do and that he receives numerous ideas from the platform. Howard made his second public comment on Reddit in three years to address the company's ongoing projects following recent layoffs at parent company Xbox. He emphasized that the team is listening to community feedback.
Union slams Microsoft for "unfair labor practice", alleging Xbox "unlawfully" laid off staff
Microsoft's Xbox division is facing accusations of unfair labor practices, including unlawfully laying off staff without proper union notification or discussion. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has filed complaints alleging refusal to bargain and coercive actions. Meanwhile, Netflix reported a 600% surge in kids' game engagement, driven by its dedicated mobile app, and expressed confidence in scaling its cloud gaming offerings.
After Doom director Hugo Martin denied reports that id Software had been gutted, "current and former employees" are disagreeing with his optimism
Current and former employees of id Software are disputing director Hugo Martin's optimistic statements following recent layoffs at the studio. Sources claim that a significant portion of the Doom (2016) development team was let go, contradicting Martin's assertion that the studio was not "gutted." These employees expressed disappointment, feeling their contributions were undervalued, and highlighted past struggles like the development of Doom 4 as evidence of the studio's fragility.
