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Xbox Team is Working to Ensure Services Are More Resilient to Outages, Says CTO
Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet provided an update on recent service outages, attributing the issues to an underlying licensing service and a bug in the Xbox client software stack. The company has transferred ownership of the affected services to an in-house team and fixed the bug, aiming to improve resilience against future failures. Further updates on reliability improvements are expected in the coming weeks.
id Software dev says mass layoffs like Microsoft's are weakening the games industry, because developers 'don't have the incentive to care anymore'
id Software lead services programmer Chris Hayes argues that mass layoffs, like those seen at Microsoft's Xbox division, are detrimental to the games industry. He believes these actions weaken the industry by removing developers' incentive to care about their craft and the long-term quality of games, ultimately leading to mediocre products and a less healthy creative environment.
As GTA 6 anticipation builds and the games industry buckles, Take-Two boss says "I don't love winning by…
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick discusses the current state of the video game industry, marked by layoffs, acquisitions, and cancellations, while anticipating the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Zelnick expresses a preference for growth through innovation rather than attrition and highlights the benefits of being a transparent public company. He also touches on the increasing audience size and monetization potential within the gaming market.
Blizzard Is Reportedly Xbox’s New Top Studio
Blizzard Entertainment has reportedly been named Xbox's top-performing studio for the past fiscal year, according to internal emails from Blizzard president Johanna Faries. The studio achieved its third-highest revenue in history, driven by strong performance from Diablo 4 and Overwatch, and has seen consecutive years of growth since 2017. This news comes ahead of BlizzCon in September, where further announcements about Blizzard's future are expected.
Xbox's Forza Horizon 6 Controller Is Down to $75 at Amazon, Its Lowest Price Ever
The Xbox Forza Horizon 6 controller, noted as one of the best-looking controllers from Xbox, is currently available at its lowest price ever on Amazon. The controller is priced at $75.
Blizzard seems to be back on top at Xbox with Diablo 4 and the Overwatch relaunch
Blizzard Entertainment is reportedly experiencing a resurgence under Xbox, with Diablo 4's Lords of Hatred expansion and the relaunch of Overwatch 2 contributing to consecutive years of growth. While Overwatch 2 has returned to its 2022 performance levels, Diablo 4's expansion has been a significant success despite mixed initial feedback. World of Warcraft was notably absent from the positive performance review.
Leaked Emails: Overwatch and Diablo Pushed Blizzard to the Top of Xbox’s Studio Rankings
Leaked emails from Blizzard president Johanna Faries reveal that Blizzard Entertainment was the top-performing studio within Xbox's division in FY26, driven by the success of Overwatch and Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred. This marks Blizzard's first back-to-back years of growth since FY17, despite Microsoft's wider gaming division experiencing significant layoffs.
Doom dev criticises Xbox after studio layoffs: 'Morale has never been lower'
A lead programmer from id Software, Chris Hays, has heavily criticized Microsoft and Xbox following recent layoffs that significantly impacted the studio. Hays described the process as 'inhumane' and stated that morale is at an all-time low, making it impossible to develop AAA games with half the staff. He also criticized Xbox's understanding of the Game Pass business model and its impact on game development.
Blizzard is Microsoft's "top performing" studio, thanks largely to Diablo 4 and Overwatch
Blizzard Entertainment has been recognized as the top-performing studio within Xbox's division for the past fiscal year, driven significantly by the success of Diablo 4 and Overwatch. Blizzard President Johanna Faries highlighted that this performance marks the third highest fiscal year for top-line revenue in the company's history, with Overwatch achieving its strongest quarter since 2022.
Blizzard Was “Top-Performing” Studio at Xbox in Q4 FY26 – Rumor
A report suggests Blizzard Entertainment was the top-performing studio at Xbox in Q4 FY26, with Blizzard president Johanna Faries congratulating staff on growth and record fiscal performance. This success, driven by Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and Overwatch, contrasts with Xbox's overall revenue decline and recent layoffs.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and Overwatch's resurgence reportedly drove Blizzard to its "first back-to-back years…
Blizzard Entertainment is reportedly Xbox's top-performing studio, experiencing its first back-to-back years of growth in nearly a decade, largely driven by Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and a resurgence in Overwatch. Blizzard President Johanna Faries indicated that the company achieved its third-highest revenue in history, with Overwatch having its strongest quarter since 2022.
Blizzard is now reportedly Microsoft's top studio, according to leaked email
A leaked email reveals that Blizzard Entertainment was Microsoft's top-performing studio within the Xbox division for fiscal year 2026, driven by strong revenue from Diablo 4 and Overwatch. Despite industry-wide layoffs and ongoing protests, Blizzard achieved significant growth, with Overwatch experiencing its best quarter since 2022. The company is reportedly preparing for Blizzcon 2026 with potential new game announcements.
Blizzard Had Its Third-Best Year Ever as Xbox Struggled
Blizzard Entertainment achieved its third-best year in 2026, driven by the success of Overwatch and Diablo 4. This contrasts with Xbox's struggles, which were marked by significant layoffs and an ongoing restructuring.
'They Fundamentally Don't Understand Art' — Doom Dev Blasts Xbox After Microsoft 'Gutted' id Software With Layoffs
id Software lead services programmer Chris Hays criticized Xbox and Microsoft following recent layoffs at the studio, stating they "fundamentally don't understand art." The comments highlight ongoing tensions and concerns within the company after significant workforce reductions.
Doom developer slams Xbox after layoffs hit id Software: "They fundamentally don't understand art. They…
A lead services programmer at id Software, Chris Hays, criticized Xbox's management following significant layoffs at the Doom developer, stating they do not understand art or games. Hays expressed concern about the studio's ability to create games of similar scope with a reduced workforce, questioning how essential departments will be maintained. Despite these concerns, Doom: The Dark Ages director Hugo Martin refuted claims that the studio is in no shape to make games.
Quoteworthy
A former Id Software developer claims that Xbox does not understand the artistic aspects of game development. The article discusses the developer's perspective on the platform holder's approach to games.
Charity bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games nears $200,000 goal to support workers affected by layoffs
A charity bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games on Itch.io, offering 127 titles for $10, is nearing its $200,000 goal to support workers affected by recent layoffs in the US and Canada. The proceeds will go to a hardship fund established by the United Videogame Workers (UVW-CWA) union, which provides financial assistance for work-related or personal expenses, regardless of union membership.
Forza Horizon 6 Festival Playlist Challenges Guide – Series 3 Spring
This guide details the Festival Playlist Challenges for Forza Horizon 6 Series 3 Spring, running from August 6th to August 13th, 2026. It outlines various events, including seasonal championships, daily challenges, and photo opportunities, along with recommended cars and tips for earning Playlist Points and unlocking rewards like the Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder and Pagani Huayra R.
Fallout 76’s Alien Invasion Event, Invaders From Beyond, Drops August 18
Fallout 76's "Invaders From Beyond" in-game event, featuring an alien invasion theme and new boss General Zeta, will launch on August 18 as part of Season 25. This event is the only Fallout title with a confirmed release date, as other upcoming projects like Fallout 5 and remakes of Fallout 3 and New Vegas have uncertain timelines. Bethesda has stated that recent layoffs will not impact development schedules for its games.
Halo Studios hit by Xbox layoffs despite Campaign Evolved’s strong reception
Halo Studios has experienced layoffs despite the strong critical reception of its recent release, Halo: Campaign Evolved. Several employees, including producer Nick Treitman and scrum master Paul Morris, confirmed their departures via LinkedIn. This news comes as part of broader workforce reductions at Xbox, which previously announced plans to cut over 3,200 jobs across its studios.
