Xbox Game Studios
Xbox Game Studios business and news from across the web.
Halo dev accusing the studio of harassment fights "devs hate Halo" theories in tell-all post: "No one works a 60- or 80-hour week out of spite"A former Halo art director, Glenn Israel, has addressed fan theories about developers disliking the franchise amidst his harassment allegations against 343 Industries. Israel stated that the studio primarily hired fans and that the narrative issues in games like Halo 4 stemmed from an over-reliance on deep lore rather than developer spite.
Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly already sold 500k on Steam a month before launch, while my beloved Motorsport has crashed…Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly sold over 500,000 copies on Steam a month before its May 19 launch, indicating strong pre-release demand. Meanwhile, the mainline Forza Motorsport series, particularly the 2023 entry, is struggling, with reports of significant staff layoffs at developer Turn 10 Studios suggesting its future is uncertain. The article suggests the Horizon series' success, partly due to its multiplatform availability including on PlayStation 5, may now represent the future of the franchise.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 20 to 24This weekly feature highlights new games coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Game Pass between April 20 and 24. The list includes titles like Kiln, Vampire Crawlers, Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch, and many more, with details on their release dates and platforms.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Plans to Introduce Game Pass Tier With Only First-Party Games – RumorMicrosoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly planning a new, more affordable tier for the Game Pass subscription service that would exclusively feature first-party Xbox Game Studios titles. This move comes as Sharma has stated the current Game Pass model is "too expensive for players." Discussions are also underway with Netflix for a potential bundled subscription.
Fable’s Development Was Helped by Blizzard’s Cinematics TeamMicrosoft Gaming's chief content officer Matt Booty revealed that Blizzard's cinematics team assisted Playground Games with Fable's development. This collaboration is part of a broader initiative to foster synergy between Xbox Game Studios, with other examples including Compulsion Games using Activision's MoCap studio and Rare helping Double Fine with multiplayer features. Fable is slated for a Fall release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.- On SaleXbox Game Studios is holding a publisher sale on Steam, offering significant discounts on several titles. Players can save 50% on Roots of Pacha, 65% on Cat Quest: The Fur-tastic Trilogy, and 40% on Hello Kitty Island Adventure.
Blizzard is "helping out" with Fable cinematics, Xbox's Matt Booty casually reveals, which sounds…Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty revealed that Blizzard Entertainment is assisting Playground Games with the cinematics for the upcoming Fable reboot. This collaboration leverages Blizzard's renowned expertise in creating high-quality in-game cinematics, aiming to enhance the visual presentation of the highly anticipated RPG.
Cinematic Specialist Blizzard Helping Out on Fable's CutscenesBlizzard Entertainment is collaborating with Playground Games to assist with the cinematics for the upcoming title Fable. Xbox's chief content officer Matt Booty highlighted this partnership, noting that Blizzard's renowned cinematic expertise is being applied to Fable's cutscenes, which have already been showcased in trailers. Fable is expected to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC in Autumn 2026, though speculation suggests a potential delay to 2027.
Blizzard is assisting with Fable's cinematics, while the Sea of Thieves team is lending its expertise to quirky pottery brawler KilnXbox's studios are collaborating on various projects, with Blizzard assisting Playground Games with Fable's cinematics and Rare lending multiplayer expertise to Double Fine's Kiln. This cross-studio support aims to leverage unique strengths without compromising individual studio cultures, as explained by Xbox's chief content officer Matt Booty.
Call Of Duty Movie - Everything We Know About The Activision/Paramount Film Coming In 2028Paramount has announced a release date of June 30, 2028, for the Call of Duty movie, with Peter Berg directing and Taylor Sheridan writing. While the specific plot is undecided, Activision is considering fan input on whether to base the film on sub-brands like Modern Warfare or Black Ops, or create an entirely new story. This project marks a significant step forward after over a decade of development plans for a Call of Duty cinematic universe.
Xbox CCO details unified approach for next-gen Project Helix consoleMicrosoft's Xbox division is adopting a unified approach for its next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, with close collaboration between hardware and development teams. CCO Matt Booty highlighted early involvement from publishing and development in planning and specs, and cross-studio support, such as Blizzard assisting Playground Games with Fable. Xbox VP Jason Ronald mentioned the console will leverage new technology developed with AMD and aims for alpha versions by 2027.
After Wolfenstein, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle felt "very natural" to MachineGames since it involved…MachineGames creative director Axel Torvenius stated that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle felt like a natural fit for the studio, similar to their work on Wolfenstein, due to the prominent inclusion of Nazis as antagonists. He acknowledged the studio's history with similar enemy types but did not confirm if this was an intentional choice.
Starfield Sales On PS5 Don’t Look GreatStarfield sold 140,000 copies on PlayStation 5 in its first week, generating $7.7 million. While decent for a port, these figures are considered underwhelming compared to its Xbox launch and other recent Xbox titles released on PlayStation. The game has sold nearly 5 million copies across all platforms, with PC sales at approximately 3.7 million and Xbox sales around 1 million, the latter likely influenced by Game Pass availability.
Beat the Heat Update: How Obsidian Built King Dozer – Grounded 2’s Biggest Boss YetThe Beat the Heat update for Grounded 2 introduces King Dozer, the game's largest boss yet, inspired by medieval dragons and horned lizards. Obsidian Entertainment's Game Director Chris Parker discusses the design process for this formidable foe and the new environmental mechanics players will need to master. The update also adds the Sinkhole Anthill to explore and enhances the Buggy progression system, making these mounts more viable for combat and traversal.
Xbox reportedly discussing internally whether to return to exclusivesInternal discussions are reportedly underway at Xbox Game Studios regarding the future of platform exclusivity for their titles. While some games have appeared on Nintendo platforms, management is considering significant changes to their exclusive strategy. This comes amid speculation following Diablo IV's rating for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Xbox Game Pass "has become too expensive for players," new CEO reportedly admits in leaked memoNew Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma has reportedly acknowledged in a leaked memo that Xbox Game Pass has become too expensive for players. Sharma aims to evolve the subscription service into a more flexible system, suggesting a need for better value and potentially cheaper options in the short term.
Fable reboot is not delayed but Microsoft has a difficult decision aheadThe Fable reboot is reportedly not delayed and is still targeting an Autumn 2026 release, despite rumors of an internal pushback. Developer Xbox Game Studios is facing a difficult decision regarding its launch window, particularly in light of Grand Theft Auto 6's November 19 release date. Microsoft is considering options to avoid direct competition with major titles, which could impact the game's visibility and award potential.
As GTA 6 reportedly spooks Xbox into delaying Fable, Playground Games reiterates its RPG remains on track for Autumn…A new rumor suggests that the Fable reboot may be delayed from its Autumn 2026 release window due to concerns about launching near Grand Theft Auto 6. Developer Playground Games, however, has reiterated that Fable remains on track for its planned release. Xbox Game Studios is reportedly considering the impact of Grand Theft Auto 6 on other major releases.
Fable “Internally Delayed,” Could Launch in December to Avoid GTA 6 – RumorPlayground Games' Fable has reportedly been internally delayed to December to avoid a direct conflict with the November release of Grand Theft Auto 6. While Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan expressed confidence in their own game's timing, reports suggest Microsoft is strategically positioning releases to maximize opportunity before Rockstar's major title. An official announcement may come during the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7th.
Game Pass Goes Huge – Oblivion, Hades II And COD Arrive While GTA V LeavesXbox Game Pass is adding several major titles including Hades II, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Grand Theft Auto V will be removed from the service. New additions span various genres and platforms, including PC, Xbox Series X|S, and cloud.