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Despite Huge Changes For The Series, Halo Fest 2026 Is Going Forward, And News Is Coming Soon
Halo Fest 2026 is proceeding as planned from December 11-13 in Seattle, despite significant layoffs at Halo Studios and the transition of future game development to Activision. Halo Studios director Tashi confirmed that news regarding the event and "relevant game info" for existing titles will be shared this week. The event will celebrate the Halo community and its 25th anniversary, featuring appearances from voice actors Steve Downes and Jen Taylor.
Hundreds of layoffs and many cancelled projects later, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly says 'we will not…
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly stated the company's commitment to creating new intellectual property and backing its strongest franchises. This comes amidst significant layoffs, studio reorganizations, and project cancellations, leading to confusion and criticism regarding Xbox's actual strategy.
Xbox Is Testing A New Streak Feature That Could Make Gaming Feel (More) Like A Chore
Microsoft is testing a new 'streak' feature on Xbox consoles for users in the Insider program, which tracks consecutive days of console usage. This feature, which could be tied to Xbox reward points, aims to increase user engagement but may become irritating if notifications are intrusive.
GTA 6 Will Reportedly Come To PC Much Earlier Than Expected
A new report suggests that Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch on PC within the first three months of 2027, a significantly shorter wait than previous Rockstar Games PC ports. This marks a potential shift in strategy for the company, as Take-Two Interactive has noted the growing importance of the PC platform. Rockstar Games has not officially confirmed PC availability, with only PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S listed as launch platforms.
Dwarf Fortress creator Tarn Adams is as tired of genAI in the industry as anyone else, and is pretty set on never using it
Dwarf Fortress creator Tarn Adams expressed strong reservations about the use of generative AI in the game industry, citing concerns about job displacement and the potential for poorly optimized, inefficient code. He stated that he has no plans to use AI in his own development and worries about potential future industry mandates, such as Microsoft's Copilot, forcing its adoption.
Xbox CEO: We Must Rely On The Past, But We Cannot Rely On The Past
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma emphasized the need for Microsoft's gaming division to balance reliance on major franchises with the creation of new intellectual property for long-term survival. While acknowledging the importance of established titles like Halo and Gears of War, Sharma stressed that innovation and new IP are crucial to reaching new audiences and preventing stagnation.
Asha Sharma reportedly tells rattled Xbox employees: "We have to find new ways, and courage, to have invention on new IP"
Xbox leader Asha Sharma reportedly stated that the company must innovate and create new intellectual property to survive, rather than solely relying on existing franchises. This comes despite recent studio closures and consolidations that have impacted developers known for creating new game ideas.
Xbox boss Asha Sharma says "we will not survive" without "enduring new IP," despite being in the middle of laying off 3,200 employees and parting ways with numerous studios
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that the company "will not survive" without creating new, enduring intellectual property, despite ongoing restructuring that includes 3,200 layoffs and several studios becoming independent or having projects canceled. Sharma emphasized the need for invention and reaching new audiences, while also acknowledging the importance of backing strong franchises. The company is set to publish Hideo Kojima's upcoming games OD and Physint.
Epic Games to make first big budget AI-only game with new Disney shooter
Epic Games is shifting to an 'AI first' development model, impacting an unannounced Marvel and Star Wars shooter. CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed the pivot aims to accelerate development using AI tools like Anthropic's Claude, with human input primarily for guidance. This move has reportedly caused concern among developers, with some expressing dismay at the prospect of AI generating game assets and code.
Xbox CEO Wants Studios to “Create Enduring New IP” – Rumor
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly discussed the division's future with employees, emphasizing the need to create enduring new intellectual property alongside strengthening existing franchises. Sharma also touched on hardware development for 'Gen-10', hinting at a 'family of devices' and a focus on affordability.
Gears of War: E-Day’s Reported Sales Raise Some Serious Questions
Despite critical acclaim and leveraging Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day's reported sales figures, particularly on PC and Xbox consoles, have raised concerns about its financial performance. The article suggests that Xbox's strategy, heavily reliant on Game Pass, may be hindering the profitability of its first-party exclusives, potentially impacting studio futures and leading to layoffs.
Does Blizzard's revival of its classic games signal a return of the 'old Blizzard?'
This opinion piece discusses whether Blizzard Entertainment's recent announcements, including new content for Heroes of the Storm and Warcraft 3: Reforged, signal a return to its former glory. While acknowledging the positive reception for some legacy game updates, the author notes that the company's approach to games like Diablo 3 and the overall corporate shift suggest the 'old Blizzard' may not truly be back, though a core passion for games still exists.
Forza Horizon 6 PS5 Pre-Order & Release Information
Forza Horizon 6 has officially confirmed its release date for January 26, 2027, arriving on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Steam alongside its first expansion. Pre-orders are now available, offering exclusive in-game bonuses like the Ferrari J50, with different editions providing varying levels of content and early access. The game will feature cross-platform play and cross-save functionality, set against the backdrop of Japan with dynamic open-world racing.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 pre-orders now include early DMZ access
Activision is offering early access to the DMZ mode for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to players who pre-order the game. This incentive aims to boost pre-order numbers following the negative reception of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7. The DMZ mode, returning from Modern Warfare 2, will be available three days before the full game launch on October 23.
Gears of War: E-Day DDoS attacks are to blame for "intermittent disconnects" and "login issues", The Coalition confirm
The Coalition has confirmed that distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks were responsible for intermittent disconnects and login issues experienced by players of Gears of War: E-Day during its launch weekend. The studio is actively monitoring and mitigating the ongoing attacks, which targeted the game's online services.
UK software sales chart for the week ending October 10, 2026 – Kingdom Hearts Collection [1-3] debuts
The UK software sales chart for the week ending October 10, 2026, shows Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] debuting at #5, with sales split between Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond remains on the chart at #13, while EA SPORTS FC 27 holds the top spot.
Baki’s Yujiro Hanma Is About To Turn Tekken 8 Into A Full-Blown Muscle Appreciation Simulator
Bandai Namco has revealed Yujiro Hanma from the Baki series as a new character for Tekken 8 through a trailer. While a release date is not yet set, he is slated for a winter release and will receive a dedicated trailer at the Tekken World Tour Finals. The article also touches on Tekken 8's technical advancements with Unreal Engine 5 and recent community backlash regarding balance changes and monetization.
The happiest man in gaming hates generative AI
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams expresses immense enthusiasm for game development, particularly the procedural generation of magic systems in the upcoming Myth and Magic update. However, he voices strong concerns about generative AI, fearing its potential to devalue human work and its bloated code. Adams also discusses the success of Dwarf Fortress on Steam, the community's incredible modding achievements, and the financial realities of running Bay 12 Games.
'Your washing machine is subject to more safety rules than AI' says Microsoft president
Microsoft president Brad Smith stated that Artificial Intelligence is currently subject to fewer safety regulations than everyday items like milk or washing machines. He called for global safety measures, including mandatory notification for AI-compromised systems and independent testing, highlighting the potential risks and benefits of AI.
Gears of War: E-Day server crashes and login problems are because of DDoS attacks, studio says
The Coalition has confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day is experiencing server crashes and login problems due to distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting its online services. While the studio is working to mitigate the activity, these issues have caused significant disruptions for players, impacting even campaign playability. This follows similar DDoS incidents affecting other games earlier this year.
