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Xbox Game Pass failed to hit subscriber targets because most people don't play lots of games, says analyst, and going indie won't save it: "I don't see a solution"
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella suggests that Xbox Game Pass failed to meet subscriber targets primarily because the average consumer does not play many games. He argues that focusing on indie titles would further alienate the mainstream audience and worsen the service's outlook. Piscatella believes that the subscription model itself faces significant challenges in the current market, stating he sees no viable solution for Game Pass's struggles.
After playing Halo: Campaign Evolved's prologue, I don't want another Halo remake – it's time for a…
The review of Halo: Campaign Evolved criticizes the game for being a "wasted opportunity" despite its strengths as a pure first-person shooter. While the new prologue from Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) effectively captures the essence of the original Halo's gameplay and introduces Master Chief well, the article suggests the focus should be on original content rather than remakes.
Taiwanese authorities detain Nvidia employee for alleged attempt to smuggle AI chips into China
An Nvidia employee in Taiwan, identified as 'Chang,' has been detained on suspicion of falsifying documents to export approximately 50 Super Micro servers containing Nvidia AI chips to China. This incident is part of a broader investigation into potential AI chip smuggling routes. Nvidia has stated that smuggling is unacceptable and that all sales comply with US export control rules.
How to play the Halo games in order: chronologically and by release date
This guide details how to play the Halo games in both chronological and release date order. It lists all major titles and spin-offs, providing their original release years and their place within the Halo timeline, including platforms where they are currently playable.
New data suggests layoffs will affect 14,259 people by the end of 2026, up 78% from first forecast of the year
New data from the ASGC Games Industry Layoffs Tracker forecasts that job losses will reach 14,259 by the end of 2026, a significant increase from earlier projections. This trend indicates an acceleration in layoffs, with North America and Europe being the most affected regions. The projected numbers for 2026 are expected to surpass the total for 2024.
Ubisoft is letting owners of its Xbox games play select titles for free on PC as part of a new partnership with Microsoft
Ubisoft and Microsoft have partnered to allow owners of select Ubisoft digital titles on Xbox to play them on PC via Ubisoft Connect at no additional cost. This initiative includes games like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Far Cry 6, with previously purchased titles expected to appear by August 4th. While DLC transfers, consumable items and in-game currency may not. Additionally, premium editions of several Ubisoft games are now available on the Xbox app for PC.
Xbox is back online, tech lead pledges "we'll do better" so similar failures "can't ruin your night again" after outage stopped fans playing digital and physical games
Xbox's Chief Technology Officer Scott Van Vliet has apologized for a recent service outage that prevented players from accessing their game libraries and digital titles. He pledged to improve services and transparency following the incident, which was caused by a failure in an external licensing service. The outage lasted several hours and has reignited concerns about the shift towards digital-only games.
Quest maker Meta is having its cake and eating it
Meta is partnering with BlackRock to build a new data center in El Paso, Texas, with an investment of around $14 billion. This facility will provide 1 gigawatt of compute capacity to support Meta's AI technologies and models, with operations expected to begin in 2028. The move comes as Meta faces component shortages impacting its VR hardware like the Meta Quest 3 and has seen significant losses in its Reality Labs division.
Microsoft’s Chaotic Server Outage Was Down To A Single Service Failure
Microsoft's Xbox network experienced a significant server outage that prevented players from signing in, making purchases, and accessing games. Xbox Chief Technology Officer Scott Van Vliet explained the failure was due to a single licensing service and detailed the steps taken to restore functionality. Microsoft is implementing measures to prevent similar single points of failure from impacting services in the future.
'I have been hunted down by HR reps, lawyers, and comms people:' Developers discuss the pain and prevalence of side work clauses
Developers discuss the prevalence and impact of restrictive side work clauses in the video game industry, where companies often claim ownership of personal projects. While some employees have successfully negotiated these terms, many face broad restrictions that hinder personal and professional growth. Legal experts note that clauses are generally enforceable if the side work falls within the scope of employment, emphasizing the importance of transparency and written agreements.
Xbox CTO explains what caused the Xbox outage, apologises to players, and outlines what's being done going forward
Xbox experienced a major server outage on Monday, impacting game purchases, downloads, and offline play due to a failure in an external licensing service. Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet apologized and explained that the issue has been resolved, with the company initiating a full review to prevent future occurrences and improve transparency with the community.
What is the exact release time of Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Halo: Campaign Evolved will launch globally on July 28 at 8 AM PT, with no local midnight release. Players who purchased the Premium or Collector's Edition received five days of early access. The game is described as a return to the roots of the first-person shooter franchise.
Xbox explains outage preventing players from accessing games, CTO says it will "do better"
Xbox's CTO Scott Van Vliet explained that a failure in a shared internal licensing service caused a widespread outage, preventing players from signing in and accessing their games. The issue also impacted publishing and store partners. Xbox is conducting a review to prevent similar failures and improve recovery times, with service restoration occurring unevenly across regions.
Xbox CTO pins Xbox Network downtime on external “licensing service”
Xbox Chief Technical Officer Scott Van Vliet explained that a recent Xbox Network outage was caused by an external licensing service failure, impacting game sign-ins, library access, and purchases. The company is implementing changes to prevent single points of failure and improve transparency during future incidents. The outage also highlighted ongoing concerns about restrictive DRM policies affecting game access.
Xbox Live’s Extended Network Outage Was “Unacceptable”, Says CTO
Xbox division CTO Scott Van Vliet apologized for a 15-hour network outage that prevented users from accessing games and services. The extended downtime was caused by an external licensing service failure, which cascaded into broader issues. Microsoft plans to improve its infrastructure to prevent similar incidents and increase transparency with users.
Halo Studios is Now Working on a New Multiplayer Game, New Campaign-Focused Game – Rumor
A new report suggests that Halo Studios is working on both a new multiplayer game and a remake of Halo 2, utilizing the engine from the recently released Halo: Campaign Evolved. While the multiplayer project is based on classic arena shooter gameplay, the Halo 2 remake is hinted at in the secret ending of Halo: Campaign Evolved. The studio's focus was previously on Halo: Campaign Evolved, with new mainline campaign games still in early concept stages.
Xbox outage is stopping even game discs from working as all-digital future bites
Microsoft is addressing a widespread outage affecting the Xbox ecosystem, preventing users from logging in, accessing their game library, and launching games. The issue impacts both digital and physical disc-based games, highlighting concerns about the reliability of an all-digital future. The outage began on Thursday, July 27, with engineers actively working on a resolution.
Xbox Live server status
This article provides information on how to check the server status for Xbox Live and the Xbox Network. It directs users to the official Xbox website and the Xbox Support X account for updates on outages and maintenance. If Xbox Live services are down, users are advised to be patient for Microsoft to resolve the issue.
Xbox is down, just days after PlayStation outage, and it affects both digital and "disc-based" games
Xbox experienced a significant outage affecting digital and disc-based games, occurring shortly after a similar PlayStation outage. The issues impacted account sign-in, game launches, store access, and app functionality. Microsoft has identified the cause and is working on a resolution.
Xbox service is down, with outages meaning players can't play any digital or physical games, after similar PlayStation Network issues last week
Xbox's online services are experiencing a major outage, preventing players from accessing digital and physical games, as well as signing in and viewing the store. This follows similar issues with the PlayStation Network last week, highlighting concerns about the reliance on digital ownership and DRM in the current gaming landscape.
