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Microsoft, Please Don’t Ruin Minecraft
Microsoft's new CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly looking to increase investment in Minecraft, drawing comparisons to Roblox's business model. This shift, occurring amidst significant studio cuts within Xbox, raises concerns that Microsoft may alter Minecraft's core gameplay and creative freedom to boost profitability, potentially moving away from its established identity as a sandbox for crafting and survival.
New Fallout Game Is New Focus For New Vegas Developer Obsidian Entertainment – Report
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly shifting its focus to a new Fallout game, potentially shelving a planned sequel to Avowed and other unannounced projects. Studio design director Josh Sawyer, who previously directed Fallout: New Vegas, is expected to lead the new project. This news comes as Obsidian recently experienced significant layoffs due to Microsoft's restructuring of its Xbox division.
Fallout and Elder Scrolls union says Bethesda layoffs didn't hurt Microsoft's "14 layers of management" – "We lost dozens of programmers, artists, designers and testers"
Microsoft's recent layoffs significantly impacted Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax Online, Obsidian Entertainment, and id Software, affecting dozens of programmers, artists, designers, and testers, not just management. The Bethesda Game Studios Union expressed outrage, calling the cuts a "stressful annual routine" and urging fans to voice concerns through Microsoft's feedback portal to prevent future layoffs and studio closures.
Obsidian is reportedly making a new Fallout game headed by Josh Sawyer after Microsoft pulled the plug on an Avowed…
Obsidian Entertainment has reportedly cancelled projects including a sequel to Avowed and is shifting focus to a new Fallout game, led by design director Josh Sawyer. This news follows significant layoffs at the studio, with around a quarter of its workforce reportedly let go. Sawyer previously directed Fallout: New Vegas and has expressed interest in leading a new Fallout title under specific conditions.
Elder Scrolls Online’s Season 1 rolls out today with brand-new Thieves Guild content
The Elder Scrolls Online has launched Season 1, introducing new PvE-focused rewards and a revamped Thieves Guild questline. Despite recent layoffs at ZeniMax Online Studios, the initial content for Season 1 is rolling out as scheduled, with future content updates potentially impacted.
Fallout: New Vegas studio Obsidian reportedly working on a new Fallout RPG after forced pivot from Xbox kills Avowed 2…
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly pivoting to develop a new Fallout RPG following significant layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox division, which also led to the cancellation of Avowed 2. Josh Sawyer is said to be leading the new Fallout project, which may be related to a previously unannounced RPG he was working on.
Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers dropped by four million after price hike
Xbox Game Pass has reportedly lost four million subscribers over the past two years, falling to 30 million. This decline is largely attributed to a significant price increase implemented last year for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft's initial goal was to reach 77 million subscribers by fiscal year 2027, a target that now appears unlikely to be met.
Blizzard eliminates 'small number' of roles in China
Blizzard Entertainment has eliminated a small number of roles in China as part of an operational model evolution in the region. Studio president Johanna Faries stated these changes are intended to strengthen regional publishing and product management capabilities. This news follows broader layoffs announced by Xbox, impacting thousands of employees across Microsoft's gaming division.
Bernie Sanders Rips Microsoft For Xbox Layoffs And Price Hikes
US Senator Bernie Sanders has criticized Microsoft for recent layoffs affecting 4,800 employees, including 3,200 at Xbox, and for increasing the price of the Xbox Series X. Sanders highlighted Microsoft's substantial profits and CEO's compensation, arguing that corporate tax breaks do not create jobs and that these actions contradict such benefits.
17 years later, Minecraft is finally adding somewhere to sit
Minecraft is introducing craftable cushions and new straw beds in its latest preview build, allowing players new ways to rest. These additions come as Mojang, an Xbox-owned studio, is impacted by significant layoffs affecting numerous gaming companies.
Comings and Goings
Atari has appointed Andreas Deptolla as the new president of Atari Europe. In separate news, Microsoft has conducted layoffs that include a long-serving employee responsible for Xbox backwards compatibility.
Morning Consolidation
Microsoft is reportedly considering making more of its first-party games exclusive to the Xbox platform. Separately, Nintendo has announced that Mario Kart Tour will become unplayable after an upcoming service discontinuation.
Rather than rip and tear id Software apart, Xbox should have put the FPS pioneers on Gears of War
Following significant layoffs at Xbox Game Studios, including a reported 50% staff reduction at id Software, the article argues that Xbox should leverage id Software's expertise for the Gears of War franchise. It suggests that id's talent for creating visceral first-person shooter experiences would be a better fit for Gears of War than continuing with their own struggling franchises like Quake Champions or Rage 2.
Opinion: Welcome to the house of pain, brought to you by Xbox
Xbox is facing significant layoffs and studio closures despite massive investments in mergers and acquisitions, including the $70 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard King. CEO Asha Sharma cited a failure to meet growth expectations for Game Pass and multi-platform strategies as reasons for the 'reset,' which has resulted in over 7,000 job cuts across the company since January 2024, with more planned.
MMO Business Roundup: Microsoft is why we can’t have nice things
Microsoft's recent wave of layoffs has significantly impacted its gaming divisions, including studios like Id Software, Bethesda Game Studios, and ZeniMax Online Studios, leading to concerns about the quality and release schedules of major franchises like The Elder Scrolls Online. The article highlights the negative consequences of these business decisions on employees, game development, and player experience, drawing criticism from industry figures and politicians alike.
After 37 years at Microsoft, veteran who led Xbox Backward Compatibility program has been laid off: "I look forward…
Kevin LaChappelle, a 37-year Microsoft veteran who led the Xbox Backward Compatibility program, has been laid off as part of the company's recent wave of job cuts. LaChappelle confirmed his departure on LinkedIn, highlighting his fondest memories leading the team that developed the backward compatibility feature for Xbox 360 games on Xbox One, which was first announced at E3 2015. He also led the team responsible for Xbox's Cloud Gaming product.
Doom: The Dark Ages DLC lands to rave Steam reviews as id Software reportedly faces losing half its staff: "It may very well be the last piece of good Doom content that we ever get"
The new Doom: The Dark Ages DLC is receiving positive reviews on Steam, with players praising its faster-paced gameplay. However, its release coincides with significant layoffs at developer id Software, with reports indicating around half of the studio's staff have been let go by Microsoft. Many reviews acknowledge the layoffs, with some expressing concern that this could be the last significant piece of Doom content.
Xbox boss Asha Sharma pins layoffs on Phil Spencer's regime spreading the company "too thin", while claiming a "a healthy Xbox" could weather the RAM storm
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma attributes recent layoffs and studio closures to a strategy of spreading resources too thin under Phil Spencer's leadership. Sharma suggested that a healthier Xbox would have been better equipped to handle the current hardware crisis, implying that the company's current struggles are a direct result of past strategic decisions.
Microsoft is reportedly considering making more of its first-party games exclusive to Xbox
Microsoft is reportedly considering making more of its first-party games exclusive to Xbox consoles to incentivize purchases. While major multiplayer titles will remain multiplatform, upcoming games like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are confirmed Xbox console exclusives, with The Elder Scrolls 6 potentially following suit. This strategy shift comes amidst significant layoffs and studio closures within Microsoft's gaming division.
Man behind Xbox backwards compatibility laid off as 25% of Obsidian devs cut
Microsoft has laid off Kevin LaChapelle, the key figure behind Xbox's backwards compatibility and cloud gaming features, as part of broader cuts affecting 3,200 employees. Several development studios, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine, have become independent or are being sold off. Approximately 25% of Obsidian Entertainment's staff has also been impacted by these layoffs.
