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id Software: Current Team is Same Size as for DOOM (2016)
id Software posted on X to address concerns about the studio's size following recent layoffs within Microsoft's Xbox division. The studio stated that its current team is the same size as it was during the development of DOOM (2016).
Evening Tech Bits
A long-standing Windows feature has been identified as a persistent cause of excessive RAM consumption for users. Despite being a known issue for years, Microsoft has not yet implemented a fix for this problem.
Matthew Ball was hired to help fix Xbox. Will gamers like what he prescribes?
Analyst Matthew Ball has been hired by Xbox as chief strategy officer to help revitalize the company's business. Ball, a proponent of the metaverse and user-generated content, is expected to influence Xbox's future direction, potentially drawing inspiration from platforms like Roblox and Epic Games' Unreal Engine. This comes as Xbox undergoes significant restructuring, including layoffs and studio closures.
'Surprised there was anyone left to post this': Fans react as The Elder Scrolls Online debuts seasonal content days after hundreds laid off from studio
ZeniMax Online Studios has launched its first-ever seasonal content, 'Return of the Thieves Guild,' for The Elder Scrolls Online. This launch occurs just days after the studio reportedly laid off 213 employees, more than half of its development team, as part of wider layoffs at Xbox. Player reactions on social media and forums have largely focused on expressing sympathy for the affected developers and criticizing Microsoft's timing and actions, rather than discussing the new content itself.
Multiplayer sandbox Minecraft is finally adding the ability to sit in chairs
The latest update for Minecraft introduces the ability for players to sit in chairs, a feature previously absent from the game. While the update also includes a new biome and straw beds, the addition of sitting mechanics is highlighted as a significant technological advancement by developers and players alike.
This Isn’t The First Time PlayStation (And Others) Tried To Kill Used Games
This article discusses how Sony's move away from physical media by 2028 is a culmination of past industry trends, specifically the 'online pass' system implemented by publishers like EA, Ubisoft, and PlayStation in the late 2000s and early 2010s. This practice required single-use codes for online functionality, effectively hindering the used game market and leading to consumer backlash. Despite initial justifications related to online service costs, the practice was phased out, and Sony even championed used games for the PlayStation 4. The article suggests that current market trends, favoring digital sales, now allow platform holders to reintroduce similar restrictions.
Microsoft responds to racist Xbox layoff conspiracy theory, says CEO Asha Sharma is 'American born, raised, and…
Microsoft's chief communications officer, Frank X. Shaw, addressed conspiracy theories claiming recent Xbox layoffs were intended to replace American workers with foreign H-1B visa holders. Shaw stated the workforce changes were due to the Xbox business's unhealthy state, not to replace employees, and clarified that H-1B figures are company-wide and represent a small percentage of the total workforce. He also emphasized that Xbox is the largest employer of American workers in the gaming industry and its CEO, Asha Sharma, is American-born.
Nintendo Switch 2 physical media is here to stay (for now) – here’s why
This article discusses the future of physical media for the Nintendo Switch 2, clarifying that not all games will be digital-only game-key cards. It highlights Nintendo's continued commitment to true physical releases for its first-party titles, contrasting this with third-party developers' increasing reliance on game-key cards due to rising memory costs. The piece also touches on broader industry trends like layoffs at Microsoft and Sony's phasing out of physical discs.
Microsoft Refutes Notion That Foreign-Worker Visas Were Behind Mass Xbox Layoffs
Microsoft communications lead Frank X. Shaw refuted claims that foreign-worker visas were the cause of recent mass layoffs affecting 1,600 people at Xbox. Shaw stated the workforce changes were due to a necessary business restructure, not to replace employees with foreign workers, and that H-1B visa holders represent a small percentage of the overall workforce and were not specific to Xbox.
Microsoft comms lead says Xbox layoffs "were not made to replace employees with foreign workers" in response…
Microsoft communications lead Frank Shaw clarified that recent Xbox layoffs, affecting 1,600 employees initially and planned to reach 3,200, were not made to replace workers with foreign H-1B visa holders. Shaw stated the workforce changes were necessary to restructure the Xbox business, which he described as unhealthy, and emphasized that the H-1B visa figures mentioned are company-wide and not specific to Xbox. He also highlighted that Xbox is the largest employer of American workers in the gaming industry.
ID software says team about same size as Doom 2016 team and they will continue on
ID Software has stated that its team size remains comparable to that of the Doom (2016) development. Despite recent layoffs impacting the studio, the company assures that it retains the necessary personnel to continue its development efforts.
id Software provides proof of life, says it 'still has the crew we need to build the games and tech we're…
Following significant layoffs at id Software, the studio has issued a statement assuring that it retains the necessary staff and technology to continue developing its signature games and the idTech engine. The company stated its current team size is comparable to when DOOM (2016) was in development, aiming to quell concerns about its future capacity and reliance on Unreal Engine.
Id claims it has "the crew we need to build the games and tech we're known for" following mass layoffs
id Software stated on X that it retains the necessary staff to develop its known games and technology, following significant layoffs across the Xbox portfolio. The studio claims its current team size is comparable to when DOOM (2016) was developed, emphasizing a flat, maker-focused philosophy. This comes after reports suggested the layoffs left the company unable to maintain its idtech engine.
007 First Light shows video games are better summer blockbusters than movies
Video games are increasingly outperforming movies as summer blockbusters, rejuvenating legacy franchises with compelling narratives and engaging gameplay. Titles like 007 First Light, Hogwarts Legacy, and RoboCop: Rogue City demonstrate games' ability to fulfill blockbuster fantasies better than their cinematic counterparts, marking a shift in the entertainment landscape.
As Xbox and PlayStation flounder, Steam is reportedly having another record year
Valve's PC storefront Steam has achieved record-breaking revenue in the first half of 2026, generating an estimated $11.1 billion. This growth is attributed to the strong performance of the Chinese market, higher new release prices, and the return of third-party publishers. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation divisions are facing challenges due to declining sales, increased hardware costs, and negative consumer sentiment.
Business and Finance
Microsoft is facing significant backlash following reports of approximately 4,800 layoffs and 2,273 H-1B visa approvals. The company's recent workforce adjustments have drawn criticism.
Summary: what's happening at Xbox?
Xbox announced a major restructuring involving 3,200 job cuts, with 1,600 immediate layoffs, primarily affecting ZeniMax studios like Bethesda and id Software. Several studios, including Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs, are being sold off or spun out as independent entities. This move aims to refocus on high-earning franchises and improve profit margins, impacting the development of upcoming titles like The Elder Scrolls 6 and potentially State of Decay 3.
Perfect Ten: 10 ways that Elder Scrolls Online quietly got good in 2026
Despite a shift away from its traditional expansion model and subsequent team reductions by Microsoft, The Elder Scrolls Online has seen significant improvements in 2026. Updates 49 and 50 introduced more base game content, a challenge difficulty system, class and weapon skill line reworks, subclassing options, and new event zones like the Night Market and Vengeance PvP campaign.
Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re Making
Xbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
Engadget Podcast: Xbox resets with layoffs
This episode of the Engadget Podcast discusses the recent layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox division. The conversation features Mike Futter of the Virtual Economy Podcast, offering insights into the situation.