Xbox Game Studios
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox Game Studios.
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Free Play Days – Hell Let Loose, State of Decay 2, and Blasphemous 2
Xbox is offering Free Play Days for Hell Let Loose, State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition, and Blasphemous 2. Hell Let Loose requires Game Pass membership, while the other two titles are available to all Xbox members with a timed trial for Blasphemous 2. These offers are valid from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, June 14.
Xbox preparing for mass layoffs as Project Helix implied for Christmas 2027
Xbox is reportedly preparing for significant layoffs, potentially affecting around 1,000 employees, as the company faces declining revenue despite substantial investments. This comes as Xbox leadership discusses the high cost of console components and the need for new business models for the upcoming 'Project Helix,' rumored for a Christmas 2027 launch. The company has also seen multiple game cancellations and studio closures in recent years.
Xbox announces business 'reset' amid reports of layoffs and studio closures
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a business 'reset' for Microsoft's gaming division, signaling significant layoffs and potential studio closures following years of declining revenue. The memo cites a substantial increase in component costs for hardware and memory, exacerbated by past expansion choices, as a major challenge. Sharma and Xbox content chief Matt Booty aim to revive the company by evolving its business model and partnerships over the next 100 days.
"We have found ourselves over extended", new Xbox CEO says amid reports of plans for major job cuts
New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty are reportedly planning significant job cuts across the gaming division. Sharma cited declining revenues despite substantial investments and rising component costs as reasons for a business 'reset'. The planned layoffs follow Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard King and come amid reports of internal questioning regarding the company's broad strategy and complex infrastructure.
'It Looks Amazing and It's Coming Along Well': The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Making Progress
Xbox boss Matt Booty has stated that The Elder Scrolls 6 is progressing well and looks amazing, though it is still years away from release. He acknowledged that the game was announced too early and that Microsoft is considering its platform exclusivity strategy.
Fable Extended Trailer Showcases Features
A new extended trailer for Fable, set to release in February 2027, showcases features focusing on building an extraordinary life in a world that feels alive. The RPG will feature distinct NPCs with dynamic personalities, a robust Reputation System, and relationships that respond to player actions, emphasizing the impact of player decisions on the game world and its inhabitants.
18 embargoes from Summer Game Fest just lifted, so let's rank everything I saw in LA
The author attended Summer Game Fest Play Days and provides a ranked list of 18 games they saw. The article details hands-on and hands-off impressions of various titles, offering brief critiques and release window estimates, with N+ Infinity Times Two topping the list.
Minecraft Dungeons II Blows the Doors of the ARPG Wide Open
Minecraft Dungeons II is set to release on September 29, offering an expanded ARPG experience with a new story, an Overworld map, and enhanced customization options. The game aims for accessibility, making it suitable for both casual players and genre enthusiasts, with robust co-op features for up to four players. It will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, cloud, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, and included with Game Pass.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Hands-On Demo – It’s The Halo You Love, But Even Better
Halo: Campaign Evolved, a modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, offers a hands-on preview of the 'Assault on the Control Room' level. Creative Director Max Szlagor highlights significant visual and gameplay enhancements, including improved AI, expanded vehicle options, and streamlined level design, while preserving the original's core experience. The game launches July 28, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud, with cross-play and cross-progression support.
Halo: Campaign Evolved ‘Assault on the Control Room’ and third-person ‘The Silent Cartographer’ gameplay walkthroughs
Halo Studios and Xbox Game Studios have released new gameplay videos for Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved. The videos showcase "Assault on the Control Room" and a new third-person camera perspective for "The Silent Cartographer." Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to launch on July 28 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series, and will be available on Game Pass.
Fable ‘Build an Extraordinary Life’ gameplay walkthrough
Xbox Game Studios and Playground Games released a 30-minute gameplay walkthrough for the upcoming Fable reboot, titled 'Building an Extraordinary Life.' The footage showcases the game's living population system, relationship building, family creation, and the impact of player choices on the world of Albion. Fable is scheduled for release on February 23, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC, and will be available on Game Pass.
The Fable reboot won't have horns and haloes because of its 'nuanced and complex' take on morality, and also because you're going to constantly reinvent yourself
The upcoming Fable reboot by Playground Games will not feature a visible morality system with horns and haloes. Instead, the game will implement a more nuanced and complex approach where each Non-Player Character judges the player based on their own moral lens. Associate game directors Craig Littler and William Kennedy explained that this updated system allows for a more personalized player experience and a blank canvas for hero identity in each new settlement.
"It's coming" Gears of War: E-Day developer reassures multiplayer fans that more information is on the way
Developers for Gears of War: E-Day have assured fans that more information regarding the game's multiplayer modes will be revealed soon. Following the game's single-player focused reveal, lead developers confirmed that details about multiplayer mechanics, including the four-player squad format and the Siege game mode, are forthcoming. The game is confirmed as an exclusive for Xbox and PC.
Fable: How We Built the Living Population
Playground Games details the intricate 'Living Population' system in the upcoming Fable game, where over 1,000 NPCs possess unique personalities and schedules that evolve independently of the player. The developers opted for hand-crafted NPCs to ensure believability, allowing players to form relationships, become employers or landlords, and even face consequences for extreme actions like killing NPCs, which the game balances to avoid unrecoverable states. This system aims to create a deeply reactive world where player choices significantly impact individual NPCs and the wider game environment, including quests and settlement traits.
Project Mara Cancelled; Senua Announced
Ninja Theory and Xbox Game Studios have announced the cancellation of Project Mara and the reveal of Senua, a new action-adventure game set in the Hellblade universe. Further details on Senua's gameplay and release are expected.
Xbox console exclusives are returning on a 'case-by-case' basis
Microsoft is re-prioritizing Xbox console exclusives, starting with Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution, to encourage hardware purchases. This marks a shift from the previous multiplatform strategy, with exclusivity decisions now being made on a case-by-case basis under new Xbox president Asha Sharma. Large multiplayer and live service titles will continue to be multiplatform.
Date Everything wins two accolades at The Gayming Awards 2026
The Gayming Awards 2026 celebrated achievements in LGBTQ+ representation within gaming. Sassy Chap Games' 'Date Everything' won Best LGBTQ+ Indie Game and the Gayming Fan Favourite Award, while Compulsion Games' 'South of Midnight' took home Game of the Year. The ceremony recognized various categories, including voice acting, content creation, and contributions to esports, highlighting diversity and inclusivity.
Gears Of War: E-Day PS5 promo refutes Microsoft's claims about Xbox exclusivity
An official Xbox podcast trailer for Gears Of War: E-Day briefly showed PlayStation 5 and Steam logos, contradicting Microsoft's claims of it being an Xbox exclusive. Despite Xbox's vice president of games marketing Aaron Greenberg denying a last-minute pivot, the inclusion of the PS5 logo suggests it was initially planned for the platform. This incident adds to confusion surrounding Microsoft's evolving exclusivity strategy for its first-party titles.
Ninja Theory cancels Project Mara
Ninja Theory has cancelled its experimental horror title Project Mara to focus all studio resources on the third Hellblade game, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. Studio head Dom Matthews stated the decision was made to consolidate the expertise of their 85 creatives onto the Hellblade franchise. Project Mara was intended to be a realistic portrayal of mental terror, while Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and its sequel are recognized for their depiction of mental health experiences.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Preorders Are Here, Including A Massive Collector’s Edition
Preorders are now available for Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. The game features a remastered campaign with new missions and gameplay enhancements, and will be released on July 28. Multiple editions are available, including a Premium Edition with digital extras and early access, and a Collector's Edition with physical collectibles like a Master Chief statue.
