Xbox Game Studios
Xbox Game Studios business and news from across the web.
How to find Forza Horizon 6 Sky LanternsThis guide explains how to find the Sky Lanterns in Forza Horizon 6 for a Photography challenge. They appear at night during the Autumn season near the stadium, or can be found using custom EventLab challenges by searching for 'sky lantern'.
South of Midnight studio Compulsion Games are allowing staff to openly seek new jobs ahead of possible Xbox layoffs, according to reportCompulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight, has reportedly given some staff permission to seek new employment ahead of potential layoffs at Xbox Game Studios in July. While no layoffs have occurred yet, developers have begun posting on LinkedIn about their availability for new roles. This situation is occurring amidst reports that Compulsion Games' future is uncertain, with possibilities including closure or spinning off into independence.
How to smash Bamboo in Forza Horizon 6This guide details how to quickly complete the Bamboo Bash challenge in Forza Horizon 6's Autumn season. Players can find a dense bamboo forest in the Arashiyama Run Speed Zone, allowing them to smash through the required 30 bamboo plants in under a minute. Completing this challenge rewards players with Festival Playlist points and a Super Wheelspin.
How to find Temple of Nachi Falls in Forza Horizon 6 for the Temple of Zoom challengeThis guide explains how to find the Temple of Nachi Falls in Forza Horizon 6, located on the western edge of the Takashiro region. Players need to photograph a Ford from the 1980s at this location to complete the 'Temple of Zoom' daily challenge for the summer season.
Amid reports Xbox is preparing for significant layoffs, a wave of staff at South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games announce their departureMultiple employees have announced their departures from Compulsion Games, the developer of South of Midnight, amid reports of significant layoffs and potential studio closures within the Xbox division. These departures follow news that Microsoft is planning major restructuring across its gaming division, with Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory reportedly among the studios at risk.
Xbox Layoffs Appear To Be Starting With South Of Midnight Dev CompulsionXbox Game Studios has reportedly begun layoffs, with developers at Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight, being affected. This comes as part of a larger restructuring under new CEO Asha Sharma, which may see several Xbox Game Studios closed or become independent. Other studios like Double Fine and Ninja Theory are also reportedly in talks with Xbox to avoid closure.
As Xbox studios brace for a "reset," South of Midnight developers from Compulsion Games begin looking for workDevelopers from Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight, are leaving en masse as parent company Xbox Game Studios undergoes a significant business 'reset'. Multiple reports indicate potential layoffs or closures across several Xbox Game Studios, with Compulsion Games reportedly in talks to spin off independently. Several employees have publicly announced they are seeking new opportunities after years with the studio.
Age Of Empires Mobile: PC Edition Is A Different Kind Of Empire BuilderAge of Empires Mobile: PC Edition, a free-to-play version of the mobile strategy game, is now available on PC via the Xbox Store and Steam. This version is rebuilt for mouse and keyboard controls, featuring a faster pace and enhanced visuals, but is not available on Xbox consoles. It supports cross-play and cross-progression with the mobile version.
Undersökning - Tredje gången gillt med Indiespelklubben! Vad tycks?This article discusses the importance of indie games, highlighting titles like Paper Klay and Mina the Hollower. It also touches upon various game releases, remakes, DLC, and hardware news, including updates on Lords of the Fallen 2 and the Nintendo Switch 2.
Big companies told Hideo Kojima he's 'crazy' for making OD: 'it's something that no one has…Hideo Kojima revealed that major companies rejected his new horror game concept, OD, deeming it too unconventional. The game, co-written with Jordan Peele and published by Xbox Game Studios, is described by Kojima as a new game system unlike anything seen before. Despite initial skepticism from other companies, Xbox leadership, including Phil Spencer and Asha Sharma, supported Kojima's vision for the project.
Sea of Thieves is becoming a live-action movie, the Gears of War film apparently has a plot, and Microsoft's considering bringing the Halo TV show backMicrosoft is expanding its entertainment ventures beyond gaming, with a live-action Sea of Thieves movie in development and plot details emerging for the Gears of War film. The company is also considering reviving the Halo TV series. These projects highlight Microsoft's strategy to leverage its game franchises across various media platforms, even as the company faces potential restructuring and studio closures.
Netflix's Gears of War movie sounds like it will be set just before the events of the first gameNetflix's upcoming Gears of War movie will serve as a prequel, focusing on the origin story of Delta Squad and their fight against the Locust creatures. Xbox executive Matt Booty highlighted the 'Never Fight Alone' theme as a strong narrative starting point. The film's setting appears to precede the events of the original Gears of War game, potentially aligning with the timeline of the recently announced Gears of War: E-Day.
'They Said I'm Crazy': Kojima's New Single Player Horror Like Nothing Seen BeforeHideo Kojima described his upcoming single-player horror game OD as something unprecedented, aiming to push the boundaries of scariness. He hinted at a unique system designed to allow players to continue even if they find the game too frightening, a concept that initially led publishers to believe he was 'crazy'.
They're making a Sea of Thieves movie and the more I think about it, the more I'm into itA movie adaptation of the video game Sea of Thieves is in early development, with Destin Daniel Cretton set to produce. While a director has not yet been attached, Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty highlighted the game's social and cooperative community as key elements. The article contrasts this with the announcement of a Call of Duty movie, suggesting Sea of Thieves has a stronger premise due to its less defined narrative.
Hideo Kojima says OD goes "beyond the limit of 'scariness'" for video games, but if you chicken out there's a system to help you "keep going"Hideo Kojima stated that his upcoming game OD aims to surpass the scariness of existing video games, incorporating a unique system to help players persevere through intense fear. While details remain scarce, Kojima emphasized his desire to push horror boundaries in this single-player experience, drawing parallels to the fear-inducing nature of P.T. and contrasting it with games like Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.
Xbox Is Working On A Dozen Movies And TV Shows, Including Sea Of ThievesXbox is developing over a dozen film and TV adaptations of its game properties, including a live-action movie based on Rare's Sea of Thieves. Matt Booty, Xbox's chief content officer, highlighted the social and cooperative nature of Sea of Thieves as key elements for its adaptation. Other known projects include adaptations for Death Stranding, Gears, Fallout, and Minecraft.
Gears of War: E-Day brings back a feature the series hasn't supported in over 10 years, and The Coalition says…Gears of War: E-Day, launching October 6, 2026, for PC and Xbox Series X, will feature four-player campaign co-op, a feature not seen in the series for over 10 years. The Coalition is bringing back this mode to reflect the series' core DNA of squad-based storytelling, allowing players to experience the origin of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago's bromance from multiple perspectives. This ambitious entry will also support two-player split-screen co-op.
Mojang says that Minecraft Dungeons 2 has more overt "callbacks to vanilla Minecraft" than the last ARPG it…Minecraft Dungeons 2 aims to strengthen its connection to the core Minecraft experience with more "callbacks" and an expanded item rarity system. Design director Laura de Llorens highlighted changes like an interconnected world, four rarity tiers (Common, Rare, Special, Unique), and a more robust character customization system with four armor slots. The game is set to release on September 29, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X.
Active Reload may be an "iconic" Gears of War feature, but that isn't going to stop The Coalition from…The Coalition is making significant changes to core mechanics for Gears of War: E-Day, including the iconic Active Reload system. The game will feature greater mobility and verticality, with unique Active Reload effects for certain weapons. Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch on October 6 for PC and Xbox Series X.
5 promising games recently cancelled by MicrosoftMicrosoft has recently cancelled several promising game projects, including 'Odyssey,' 'Everwild,' 'Perfect Dark,' 'Contraband,' and 'Project Blackbird,' as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy under new CEO Asha Sharma. These cancellations have led to studio closures and significant layoffs, with former employees expressing disappointment over the loss of potentially exciting titles and the shift away from riskier, ambitious projects.