id Software
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Quake Champions ditches free-to-play and kills off its Microsoft Store version eight years after its original release
Quake Champions is transitioning from a free-to-play model to a paid product, eight years after its initial release. The Microsoft Store version is being discontinued, with the game now exclusively available on Steam for £8.99/$9.99. This change also marks the end of ongoing development for the game.
4 years after full launch, Quake Champions is a paid game on Steam with old content unlocked and microtransactions removed as devs announce an end to updates
Quake Champions has transitioned to a paid model on Steam, removing microtransactions and unlocking all characters and most vanity content. This change comes four years after its full launch and marks an end to further content updates for the game, with id Software and Bethesda Softworks citing structural changes within Microsoft's gaming division.
Following id layoffs, Quake Champions drops free-to-play nonsense and becomes a £9 game on Steam
Quake Champions has transitioned from a free-to-play model to a premium purchase on Steam, removing battle passes, loot boxes, and its in-game store. This change occurs in the context of significant layoffs at id Software, its developer, following Microsoft's acquisition of Zenimax. While the game will continue in some form, no further content updates are planned.
Quake Champions is No Longer Free-to-Play, Cosmetics Unlocked For Everyone
id Software has transitioned Quake Champions from a free-to-play model to a paid one, removing all microtransactions and battle passes. The developer has also made 30 seasons' worth of content available for free to all owners and confirmed no future content updates are planned. This change coincides with update 1.31, which introduced new weapons, features, and quality-of-life improvements, while also reducing server data centers.
Quake Champions takes a shower, shedding all its 2017 live-service grime and becoming a $10 game
Quake Champions has transitioned from a free-to-play live-service model to a one-time $10 purchase on Steam. The update removes all live-service elements, including Battle Passes, challenges, stores, and loot boxes, making all champions and most vanity content available to all players. While no further content updates are planned, the game is considered improved by shedding its live-service grime.
What the Hell is Going on With Halo and Xbox?
Xbox Game Studios has announced significant layoffs at Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries, with 268 roles eliminated. A smaller team will continue to support existing Halo titles, while a new, separate team under Activision will develop the next mainline Halo installment. This move is part of a broader strategy to accelerate franchise output and streamline development, though it has led to widespread criticism regarding job security and studio management.
What Is Xbox Game Studios At This Point?
Recent changes and layoffs within Xbox have led to a significant restructuring of its studios, questioning the identity and purpose of the 'Xbox Game Studios' brand. With only four studios remaining under its direct banner and others absorbed into Bethesda or Activision Blizzard, the publisher's internal structure has become complex and its future branding uncertain.
Xbox continues 'reset' with Halo Studios layoffs and Undead Labs divestment
Xbox has announced further layoffs, cutting 268 employees from various first-party studios including Halo Studios. This is part of a larger restructuring plan that has already seen divestments of studios like Undead Labs and Compulsion Games, and the proposed closure of Ninja Theory. Xbox is also consolidating internal studios and shifting development responsibilities, with Activision now set to develop the next Halo title.
Xbox’s Second Wave Of Planned Layoffs Is Reportedly Starting As Studios Face Major Restructuring
Xbox is reportedly initiating a second wave of layoffs, affecting approximately 1,600 employees, as part of a major restructuring of its gaming division. This initiative, led by Xbox boss Asha Sharma, aims to make the division more profitable and involves consolidating studios and potentially moving franchises like Halo to Activision Blizzard. Several first-party studios have also recently become independent or been sold off.
Xbox reportedly set to lay off hundreds more staff and "consolidate" several game studios in second round of major cuts this year
Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly preparing for a second wave of significant layoffs, with hundreds of employees expected to be affected. The company is also rumored to be consolidating several of its game studios, including those under Bethesda, Activision, and Blizzard. This follows earlier cuts in July and a shift in focus towards established franchises.
Second wave of Xbox cuts reported to be happening this week, with "several" studios apparently facing consolidation
Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly planning a second wave of layoffs this week, potentially affecting hundreds of employees and consolidating several studios. This follows a major restructuring in July and is part of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's plan to return the gaming division to profitability by focusing on major franchises. The news has reportedly lowered morale among staff.
Xbox reportedly set to announce second round of layoffs this week
Xbox is reportedly preparing for a second round of layoffs this week as part of an ongoing restructuring that includes consolidating several of its game studios. This follows an earlier round of 1,600 redundancies and the divestment of five studios. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cited spreading resources too thin and fragmentation as reasons for the changes, aiming for future growth.
Xbox to Undergo New Round of Layoffs Affecting “Several” Employees, Will Consolidate Studios – Rumor
Xbox is reportedly preparing for another round of significant layoffs, potentially affecting hundreds of employees across multiple studios, including Blizzard. This follows previous job cuts and a stated need to 'reset Xbox' due to weakening business margins. The company is also consolidating some of its studios, with Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, and Undead Labs being divested.
15 video game franchises that need to end - Reader's Feature
A reader argues that numerous long-running video game franchises have overstayed their welcome and should be retired to encourage innovation. Titles like Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Halo, and The Last of Us are cited as examples of games that have become repetitive and are primarily cash grabs, with the author suggesting developers should focus on new intellectual properties instead.
"A dried husk of a product": former Doom producer berates Microsoft for making Halo a "mid-tier" game and mourns the "financialisation" of AAA
Former Doom producer Andrew Willis criticizes Microsoft's management of franchises like Halo, arguing that the "financialisation" of AAA game development leads to a "dried husk of a product" and brand exhaustion. He contrasts this with Nintendo's perceived brand protection strategy and laments the displacement of creatives by executives focused on short-term gains.
Xbox Game Pass is "extremely poorly managed" and Doom should never have been part of it, says former producer
Former id Software producer Andrew Willis describes Xbox Game Pass as "extremely poorly managed" with a lack of foresight and understanding of the consumer market. He argues that Doom should not have been included on the service, suggesting its inclusion negatively impacted sales and contributed to id Software's layoffs. Willis believes Microsoft struggles to define and measure the success of Game Pass, leading to flawed business decisions.
Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie on the Evercade Nexus use the original Rare source code, which included 'a load of stuff' that the studio didn't even know about, Blaze Entertainment says
Blaze Entertainment discovered hidden features, including unreleased tracks and a level editor, within the original source code of Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie while developing ports for the Evercade Nexus. Rare provided the N64 source code, revealing content the studio itself was unaware of. These discoveries have been implemented in the new Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack for the Evercade Nexus.
The Games That Changed How We Play
This article celebrates National Video Games Day by highlighting games that have significantly impacted gameplay and the industry. It covers titles like Pong, PAC-MAN, Super Mario Bros, DOOM, and Minecraft, detailing their innovations in genres, mechanics, and player interaction.
'Ship a good game, learn from it, and build from there:' Lessons from going indie after a decade at id Software
Former id Software developers Tony Garza and Richard O'Neal discuss the lessons learned from leaving a major studio to found their own indie company, Turnkey Games. They emphasize realistic scope, bootstrapping, and focusing on core gameplay to overcome the challenges of independent development, especially in light of industry layoffs.
Blizzard union workers ratify historic contract covering 1,900 employees
Employees at Blizzard Entertainment, a subsidiary of Microsoft, have ratified a new union contract covering 1,900 workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The historic agreement includes protections for AI usage, layoff recall rights, improved severance, wage increases, and a three-day hybrid work week, setting a new industry standard.
