Playground Games
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Rumour: SEGA apparently has a 2.5D Sonic game in the works for 2027
A rumor suggests that SEGA is developing a 2.5D Sonic the Hedgehog game internally, with a potential release in 2027. The information reportedly comes from a source at Playground Games.
Forza Horizon 6 Festival Playlist Challenges Guide – Series 3 Winter
This guide details the Festival Playlist Challenges for Series 3 Winter in Forza Horizon 6, which runs from July 30th to August 6th, 2026. It outlines the various events, point rewards, and specific cars needed to unlock seasonal rewards like the 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale and 2020 Ferrari Roma. The guide also offers tips for quickly earning Playlist Points by prioritizing challenges like the Photo Challenge and Treasure Hunt.
Where to find the Hokubu region Treasure Hunt in Forza Horizon 6
This guide details the location of the Hokubu region Treasure Hunt in Forza Horizon 6's Series 3 winter season. Players need to find a wooden house next to a snow-covered road near Shikisai-no-Oka. Crashing into the treasure chest rewards players with Festival Playlist points, XP, and in-game credits.
Fable Has Gone “Uncomfortably” Over Budget – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Playground Games' upcoming title, Fable, has significantly exceeded its development budget. While specific figures are unknown, the high cost is attributed to the game's scale, extensive content, and long development cycle. The game is slated for release on February 23rd, 2027, for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Xbox Game Pass isn’t "viable" with so few subscribers, says former Forza lead bracing for more…
Former Forza Horizon 5 director Mike Brown stated that Xbox Game Pass is not viable due to insufficient subscriber numbers, leading to recent studio layoffs. He believes the service's player-focused concept, while well-intentioned, has not met the necessary financial targets. Journalist Jason Schreier also noted that some Xbox studio leadership detest Game Pass, viewing it as detrimental to game value and the industry.
Xbox Game Pass was a good idea in theory, former Forza Horizon 5 director says, but "the reality is not enough people have subscribed"
Former Forza Horizon 5 director Mike Brown believes Xbox Game Pass was a good concept but failed due to insufficient subscriber numbers at necessary price points, leading to studio closures and layoffs. He noted that while the service was player-focused and funded many games and studios, the financial reality did not align with Microsoft's ambitious expectations. Brown also expressed admiration for former Xbox leaders Sarah Bond and Asha Sharma.
"The concept of [Xbox] Game Pass was good" despite its eventual faceplant now contributing to mass job losses, reckons Forza Horizon 5 director
Mike Brown, former creative director for Forza Horizon 5, believes the concept of Xbox Game Pass was fundamentally good, despite its current struggles leading to significant layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division. He suggests that while the service was a well-intentioned, player-focused idea, it failed to gain enough subscribers at the necessary price point to be financially viable. Brown also defended Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond, acknowledging their roles in the Game Pass push while noting the harsh criticism they face on social media.
Is Game Pass Still the Right Strategy for Xbox?
This article analyzes the current state and future strategy of Xbox Game Pass, questioning its sustainability and impact on game value. Despite initial excitement and acquisitions to bolster its library, internal sentiment appears negative, with reports of studios detesting the service and subscriber growth falling short of projections. While Game Pass remains a key, albeit paradoxical, component of Xbox's offerings, its future is uncertain amidst internal challenges and a need for renewed growth.
Game Pass Was A Good Idea But It Didn’t Work, Forza Horizon 5 Creative Director Says
Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown stated that Xbox Game Pass, while a good idea, failed to attract enough subscribers to be a viable business model, contributing to current struggles at Xbox. He expressed sadness over potential studio closures and job losses resulting from the service not meeting expectations, despite significant investment from Microsoft. Brown believes changes are coming to Game Pass, such as delaying the inclusion of new major titles to maximize initial sales.
After 15 years, I've got Microsoft's shunned Fable 3 port to work on PC – and it feels like a new RPG
Despite being 16 years old, the PC version of Fable 3 offers a surprisingly fresh RPG experience, especially when run at 4K resolution. The author argues that this version surpasses the current Xbox Game Pass streaming option and advocates for its preservation, suggesting it could serve as a suitable replacement for fans awaiting Fable 4.
Should you work on your own games as an external development studio?
This article explores whether external development studios should also work on their own original games alongside client projects. While some studios like Redcatpig and Lab42 see internal projects as crucial for team motivation, skill development, and creative outlets, others like Code Wizards and Airship prioritize their service-based business model to avoid resource drain and client competition. The consensus suggests that while internal projects can offer significant benefits, careful management and clear focus are essential to balance them with external work.
New Free Cars, Leaderboard Wipes Coming to Forza Horizon 6
Playground Games is introducing new Italian exotic cars to Forza Horizon 6 and will be resetting exploited leaderboards. This update aims to ensure fair competition and add fresh content for players.
Forza Horizon 6 Brings Italian Exotics, Leaderboard Fixes, and More With New Update
Playground Games has released a new update for Forza Horizon 6, adding four new Italian cars for Premium Edition owners and three more vehicles next month, including Lamborghinis and a De Tomaso Pantera GT5. The update also addresses leaderboard exploits, which will result in the wiping of existing leaderboard progress to ensure fair play.
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.
Xbox needs to make a choice, says former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden: be a publisher or a platform, but you can't be both
Former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden argues that Xbox must choose between being a major game publisher or a platform holder, stating it cannot effectively be both. He highlights the need for exclusive content to support a platform, contrasting it with the multiplatform approach required for a top publisher, a dilemma exacerbated by recent Xbox layoffs and strategic shifts.
No RPG Lets Players Be As Evil As Fable 2
Fable 2 is highlighted as an RPG that uniquely allows players to embody extreme evil, not just through traditional means but by exploiting its in-game capitalism and real-estate systems. Unlike other games with binary morality, Fable 2's mechanics, such as monopolizing housing and charging rent, subtly earn the player evil karma, emphasizing housing as a right. The Fable series, including Fable III and the upcoming Fable by Playground Games, is praised for its innovative and thoughtful approaches to player choice and morality.
You can now enter the 2026 UK GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards
Games companies in the UK can now submit entries for the GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards 2026. The awards, now in their ninth year, celebrate firms that support their teams, with a deadline of Friday, August 21st. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday, October 1st, following the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit.
10 Upcoming Games With The Highest Stakes
This article discusses ten upcoming video games with high expectations, including Grand Theft Auto 6, Marvel's Wolverine, and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. It highlights the potential challenges and anticipated successes for each title, considering factors like franchise legacy, developer ambition, and innovative gameplay mechanics. The games are set to release between late 2026 and early 2027 on platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
10 Best Looking Games of 2026 So Far
This article ranks the 10 best-looking games released in the first half of 2026, highlighting advancements in graphical fidelity and immersive world design. Titles like Resident Evil Requiem, RIDE 6, and Forza Horizon 6 are praised for their stunning visuals, character models, and environmental details, showcasing how current hardware allows developers to blur the line between reality and virtual worlds.
Xbox has lost five studios – so who is left to make new video games?
Xbox has undergone significant layoffs, impacting approximately 3,200 staff members and leading to five studios divesting from the company. Xbox leadership aims to refocus on core franchises and expand its daily audience to over a billion people through its services. The article details the remaining studios, their current projects, and their future prospects under this new strategy.
