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Introducing XBOX LABS
Microsoft has announced the formation of Xbox Labs, a new initiative focused on exploring emerging technologies and their potential impact on gaming. Led by Scott, the group will investigate areas like AI, cloud gaming, and game preservation, aiming to make games more accessible and empower players as creators.
Xbox Announces Xbox Labs, Aimed in Part at Getting Improved Old-Gen Games Playable in Web Browsers
Xbox has launched a new initiative called Xbox Labs, designed to make games accessible in more places, with a specific focus on enabling play through web browsers. This effort also aims to improve the playability of older generation games in browser environments.
ID@Xbox Showcase Returns in October With 20 Games
IGN and Xbox are collaborating to host the ID@Xbox Showcase on October 20, featuring 20 upcoming games for Xbox and PC. The event will include exclusive reveals, trailers, and gameplay, with confirmed appearances from The Wolf Among Us Remastered and Critical Reflex Games. The showcase will be available on various IGN platforms and partner sites.
Hundreds of layoffs and many cancelled projects later, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly says 'we will not…
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly stated the company's commitment to creating new intellectual property and backing its strongest franchises. This comes amidst significant layoffs, studio reorganizations, and project cancellations, leading to confusion and criticism regarding Xbox's actual strategy.
Xbox CEO: We Must Rely On The Past, But We Cannot Rely On The Past
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma emphasized the need for Microsoft's gaming division to balance reliance on major franchises with the creation of new intellectual property for long-term survival. While acknowledging the importance of established titles like Halo and Gears of War, Sharma stressed that innovation and new IP are crucial to reaching new audiences and preventing stagnation.
Asha Sharma reportedly tells rattled Xbox employees: "We have to find new ways, and courage, to have invention on new IP"
Xbox leader Asha Sharma reportedly stated that the company must innovate and create new intellectual property to survive, rather than solely relying on existing franchises. This comes despite recent studio closures and consolidations that have impacted developers known for creating new game ideas.
Xbox boss Asha Sharma says "we will not survive" without "enduring new IP," despite being in the middle of laying off 3,200 employees and parting ways with numerous studios
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that the company "will not survive" without creating new, enduring intellectual property, despite ongoing restructuring that includes 3,200 layoffs and several studios becoming independent or having projects canceled. Sharma emphasized the need for invention and reaching new audiences, while also acknowledging the importance of backing strong franchises. The company is set to publish Hideo Kojima's upcoming games OD and Physint.
Xbox CEO Wants Studios to “Create Enduring New IP” – Rumor
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly discussed the division's future with employees, emphasizing the need to create enduring new intellectual property alongside strengthening existing franchises. Sharma also touched on hardware development for 'Gen-10', hinting at a 'family of devices' and a focus on affordability.
Gears of War: E-Day’s Reported Sales Raise Some Serious Questions
Despite critical acclaim and leveraging Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day's reported sales figures, particularly on PC and Xbox consoles, have raised concerns about its financial performance. The article suggests that Xbox's strategy, heavily reliant on Game Pass, may be hindering the profitability of its first-party exclusives, potentially impacting studio futures and leading to layoffs.
Gears of War: E-Day DDoS attacks are to blame for "intermittent disconnects" and "login issues", The Coalition confirm
The Coalition has confirmed that distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks were responsible for intermittent disconnects and login issues experienced by players of Gears of War: E-Day during its launch weekend. The studio is actively monitoring and mitigating the ongoing attacks, which targeted the game's online services.
This week in PC games: play a human-eating Katamari from outer space, take over a nature reserve in Planet Zoo 2, and battle Napoleonic body horror in Valor Mortis
This week in PC games features a variety of new and upcoming titles, including Planet Zoo 2, Valor Mortis with Napoleonic body horror, and a Katamari-like tentacle rolling game. Other notable mentions include a stealth game, a strategy game, a sheep herding simulator, and a space whale city builder.
Gears of War: E-Day server crashes and login problems are because of DDoS attacks, studio says
The Coalition has confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day is experiencing server crashes and login problems due to distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting its online services. While the studio is working to mitigate the activity, these issues have caused significant disruptions for players, impacting even campaign playability. This follows similar DDoS incidents affecting other games earlier this year.
Nintendo Exec Says There Are “No Plans to Ditch Physical”
Nintendo of America's Bill van Zyll stated that the company has no plans to abandon physical game media, emphasizing their agnostic approach and the Nintendo Switch's capability for both physical and digital formats. This comes amid industry discussions about the future of physical media, with Sony ending PlayStation disc production in 2028 and former Sony executive Shawn Layden expressing concerns about game ownership.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Had An Entire Team Dedicated to Writing Open-World NPC Chatter
Rockstar Games has dedicated an entire team of writers to crafting the background chatter for Grand Theft Auto 6's NPCs, aiming to enhance worldbuilding and immersion. Vice president of narrative Rupert Humphries and writing director James Horton emphasized that this dialogue is considered integral to the game's experience, not mere background noise. While pre-order figures reportedly favor the PlayStation 5 version, Xbox has reported record-breaking numbers for the title.
Shack Chat: What gaming series do you want to see get a racing game?
Shacknews staff members discuss which gaming series they would like to see adapted into a racing game. Suggestions range from PlayStation's first-party characters and Hollow Knight to F-ZERO, Destiny's Sparrow Racing League, Shovel Knight, Halo, Pokemon, and The Legend of Zelda.
Evening Reading - October 9, 2026
This week's gaming news roundup includes updates on Dead by Daylight, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Gears of War: E-Day, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. There are also previews for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode and Armatus, alongside news about Bungie's Marathon and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. The article also touches on video game maps, download deals, and speedrunning events.
Gears of War: E-Day Sold 230,000 Copies and Over 700,000 Premium Upgrades on Game Pass – Rumor
Gears of War: E-Day reportedly sold 230,000 copies, with a significant portion on Steam, while 1.7 million players accessed it via Game Pass. A substantial 722,000 players purchased the $30 Premium Edition upgrade. Despite generating an estimated $37 million in revenue, primarily from Game Pass upgrades, this figure falls far short of the game's alleged $400 million+ budget, raising concerns for The Coalition amidst Xbox's reorganization.
Weekend Console Download Deals for Oct. 9: PlayStation Player's Choice sale
This weekend's console deals include PlayStation's Player's Choice sale featuring titles like Saros and Marathon, Xbox Game Pass deals with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Nintendo Switch discounts on indie games from the Triple-I Initiative Showcase. PlayStation Plus members can also claim F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 for free.
Gears Of War: E-Day–How’s It Selling? Let’s Unpack Things
Gears of War: E-Day has sold approximately 230,000 copies across Steam and Xbox platforms, with a significant portion of players acquiring it through Game Pass. Analysts suggest that while direct sales are soft, the Game Pass model, including premium upgrades, generated substantial revenue, but questions are being raised about Xbox's overall strategy and its ability to drive console sales.
Gears of War: E-Day reportedly courts over 1.7m Xbox Game Pass players and makes over $37m since launch
Gears of War: E-Day has reportedly sold around 230,000 copies across Steam and Xbox consoles/PC, generating over $37 million including Premium Edition upgrades and microtransactions. A significant portion of its player base, over 1.7 million, engaged with the game through Xbox Game Pass, with many opting for the $30 Premium Edition upgrade for early access. The article also touches on player overlap with other titles and discusses the studio's confidence in the game as a foundation for future installments.
