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Saturday Legal Briefs
Microsoft is facing an antitrust class action lawsuit regarding alleged price-fixing with Steam. Separately, a lawsuit involving Palworld is reportedly nearing its end, with Nintendo expected to gain little from the proceedings.
Xbox Reportedly Speeding Up New Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Halo Games as Microsoft Leaves Spinning Off the Business on the Table
Xbox is reportedly accelerating development on new installments of The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Halo franchises. This comes as Microsoft considers restructuring or spinning off its gaming division, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly pushing for faster game releases.
Evening Metaverse
Microsoft Teams is reportedly introducing a new location tracking feature that is expected to be controversial among users. The feature's implementation raises privacy concerns and may be met with user dissatisfaction.
Evening Safety Dance
Microsoft has largely fixed a flaw in its Surface hardware that could render unprotected devices unusable with a single packet. Separately, a zero-day vulnerability affecting PeopleSoft is impacting hundreds of organizations.
We are all encouraging video game companies to make nothing but sequels - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses disappointment with recent gaming showcases, noting a prevalence of sequels and remakes over innovative new intellectual properties. The author argues that while games like God of War and Grand Theft Auto 6 are highly anticipated, they offer predictable gameplay. The article suggests that the industry and players alike are contributing to this trend, with nostalgia for older titles like Resident Evil and The Legend of Zelda also playing a significant role.
Xbox Could Become Its Own Entity, Claims Report
A report suggests Microsoft is considering restructuring or spinning off the Xbox brand due to financial losses on consoles. While investments in games are planned, upcoming layoffs are raising concerns about the future of the Xbox division.
Microsoft is looking to speed up development of future Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Halo games
Microsoft is reportedly considering significant changes for its Xbox division, including the possibility of spinning it off as a standalone company or forming a joint venture. The company has approved plans to increase spending on major game series like Halo, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls to accelerate their development.
Microsoft Flight Simulator Releases City Update 15: Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin Today - Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator has released City Update 15, focusing on the American states of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This free update for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 includes high-fidelity renderings of Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Milwaukee, among other areas. The update coincides with FlightSimExpo 2026.
New Xbox CEO reportedly pushing for faster Fallout and Elder Scrolls games as Bethesda crosses 8 years since The Elder…
New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly pushing for faster development cycles on major franchises like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Halo by providing additional funding to studios like Bethesda Game Studios. This initiative comes as The Elder Scrolls 6 approaches eight years since its announcement with little information released, and amid reports of upcoming layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division.
Microsoft considered cutting Xbox off entirely and making it easier to sell, report says
A report indicates that Microsoft considered spinning out Xbox as a separate subsidiary or even selling the brand entirely due to declining console sales and plateauing Game Pass figures. This comes amid internal acknowledgments of Xbox's underperformance and expected layoffs. The report suggests these considerations were internal discussions and no specific partners or buyers were identified.
Microsoft Considering Spinning Off Xbox, Speeding Up Elder Scrolls And Fallout Game Releases – Report
Microsoft is reportedly exploring options for the Xbox brand, including spinning it off into a separate company or operating it as a subsidiary. The company is also considering increasing investment to speed up development for major franchises like Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. While some games like Halo: Campaign Evolved may see PlayStation 5 releases, Microsoft aims to renew focus on console exclusives.
How Game Pass Culture Is Changing the Way Players Discover Low-Risk Digital Rewards
Subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus are fundamentally changing how players discover and engage with video games. This shift from traditional purchasing to subscription models has reduced financial risk, encouraging experimentation with new mechanics, genres, and digital rewards. As a result, players are more willing to try a wider variety of titles, and developers must focus on strong initial hooks and consistent engagement to retain their attention in this evolving landscape.
Asha Sharma faces tough decisions with limited room for manoeuvre | Opinion
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma faces significant challenges in turning around the division's financial performance and strategic direction. Despite positive initial messaging and decisions like cutting Game Pass prices, the company must navigate difficult choices regarding its next-generation console, Project Helix, and the future of exclusive titles. With declining revenues and pressure to improve profitability, Sharma's execution of these tough decisions will be critical for Xbox's future.
"Xbox will dissolve into Windows," ex PlayStation boss says, which is Microsoft's "strength"
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment president Shuhei Yoshida speculated that Xbox will be integrated into Microsoft's Windows platform, calling it Microsoft's strength. This prediction follows reports of significant layoffs within the Xbox division under new CEO Asha Sharma, amidst declining hardware sales and an increasing trend of Xbox titles releasing on PlayStation 5.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond studio CEO says there was no 'pushback' to becoming independent from Activision Blizzard, but the process and planning the game at the same time was 'complex' — 'I think that was the biggest challenge'
Toys for Bob, the studio behind Spyro: A Realm Beyond, has stated that neither Activision Blizzard nor Microsoft opposed their decision to become an independent studio again. Studio Head Paul Yan described the process as complex due to the simultaneous planning of the new game and navigating the legal and logistical separation from their former parent company.
Forza Horizon 6 PC players urged to check their Microsoft Gaming Services version, as Playground tackle disappearing saves
Playground Games is investigating an issue affecting Forza Horizon 6 players where save progress may be lost. For PC players, developers are advising users to ensure they have the latest version of Microsoft Gaming Services installed. Players are also recommended to exit the game properly and allow time for cloud sync before shutting down their PC.
Fallout: New Vegas remake rumors heat up as Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake leaker says previous reports are credible
Rumors of a Fallout: New Vegas remake have gained credibility thanks to leaker NateTheHate, who previously accurately reported on Nintendo news. Previous reports from Windows Central and court documents also suggested remakes for Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion were in development, with Oblivion already released. While a Fallout: New Vegas designer expressed skepticism about an Oblivion-style remaster, recent toy listings have further fueled speculation.
XBOX explains what “console exclusive” really means in 2026
Xbox clarified its definition of "console exclusive" for games like Gears of War: E-Day, stating it means the title will not be available on PlayStation. However, it will still launch on PC and be accessible via Xbox Cloud Gaming, reflecting Microsoft's broader ecosystem strategy. This approach prioritizes reaching a wide audience while maintaining brand strength through platform-specific releases.
Microsoft's Xbox games keep ending up as flops according to new report
A new report indicates that several Xbox games, including Avowed, Hellblade 2, and Forza Motorsport, have significantly underperformed Microsoft's sales and engagement expectations. This comes amid reports of expected layoffs and studio closures at Xbox, with CEO Asha Sharma acknowledging the company has 'over extended' its resources and needs to reassess investment priorities.
Even with PS5 Ports, Many of Xbox's Games Have Been Underperfoming
An internal memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma revealed that the division is operating at a 3% accountability margin, leading to layoffs. Many of Xbox's first-party games, even those with PlayStation 5 ports, have underperformed in sales and Xbox Game Pass engagement, failing to meet expectations.
