Xbox
Xbox business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
The Elder Scrolls Online Studio Layoffs Affect 213 Employees
ZeniMax Online Studios has laid off 213 employees, a significant portion of its workforce, following Microsoft's broader layoffs impacting Xbox. This reduction has led to a shift in the content roadmap for the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online. Former employees expressed disappointment and concern over the impact on the game's development and the team's well-being.
id Tech is Still Part of Xbox’s Future Despite Layoffs – Rumor
Despite recent layoffs at id Software, the id Tech game engine remains a part of Xbox's future plans, according to a report. Many employees working on the engine's development were affected by the cuts. The engine is expected to be used in future projects at id Software and by MachineGames for their Wolfenstein titles.
New Fallout in the Works at Obsidian, Avowed 2 Cancelled – Rumor
According to reports, Obsidian Entertainment is developing a new Fallout title, potentially directed by Josh Sawyer, who previously worked on Fallout: New Vegas. This comes as Avowed 2 and other unannounced projects have reportedly been cancelled following an internal reset at Xbox. While Avowed 2 may continue development temporarily, the studio is shifting focus to the new Fallout game.
136 Layoffs at id Software
id Software has experienced 136 layoffs, with 96 employees affected at their Richardson offices and an additional 40 remote workers. These job losses are part of a larger trend impacting the company in 2026.
id Software Was Reportedly Considering Perfect Dark, A John Wick-Style Shooter And More Doom Before Xbox Layoffs
id Software experienced significant layoffs, leading to the cancellation of several projects including a new Perfect Dark game and an original IP. The studio's future creative direction is now uncertain following these workforce reductions.
Bethesda union says company HR forced staff to remove a display honoring their laid-off colleagues
The Bethesda Game Studios Union reported that HR forced employees to remove a display honoring colleagues who were laid off during recent Xbox job cuts. The union stated that common areas are typically used for various displays, but HR deemed the memorial inappropriate. This incident occurred amidst significant layoffs across Microsoft's gaming division, impacting numerous long-term employees.
Obsidian Is Working On A New Fallout Game, And Avowed 2 Cancelled
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly shifting focus to a new Fallout game, canceling projects including Avowed 2 amidst company layoffs. This strategic pivot occurs during a period of significant restructuring within Xbox.
UPDATE: id Software Has Lost 136 of Its 185 Employees
Xbox is undergoing significant layoffs, with 1,600 jobs cut across the company. id Software has been particularly affected, potentially losing a substantial portion of its staff, raising concerns about the studio's future projects and development capacity.
Your Loyalty To Sony Or Xbox Means Nothing, Analyst Says
Analyst Mat Piscatella states that consumer loyalty to platforms like PlayStation or Xbox means nothing to corporations, as profitability is the sole driver. With the projected high cost of future consoles and the significantly higher margins on digital game sales compared to physical discs, companies like Sony are prioritizing digital distribution. This shift is seen as irreversible due to the lucrative nature of digital sales, despite concerns about game preservation.
Fallout and Elder Scrolls union says Bethesda layoffs didn't hurt Microsoft's "14 layers of management" – "We lost dozens of programmers, artists, designers and testers"
Microsoft's recent layoffs significantly impacted Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax Online, Obsidian Entertainment, and id Software, affecting dozens of programmers, artists, designers, and testers, not just management. The Bethesda Game Studios Union expressed outrage, calling the cuts a "stressful annual routine" and urging fans to voice concerns through Microsoft's feedback portal to prevent future layoffs and studio closures.
Obsidian is reportedly making a new Fallout game headed by Josh Sawyer after Microsoft pulled the plug on an Avowed…
Obsidian Entertainment has reportedly cancelled projects including a sequel to Avowed and is shifting focus to a new Fallout game, led by design director Josh Sawyer. This news follows significant layoffs at the studio, with around a quarter of its workforce reportedly let go. Sawyer previously directed Fallout: New Vegas and has expressed interest in leading a new Fallout title under specific conditions.
Xbox Kills Obsidian’s Avowed Sequel In The Wake Of Layoffs – Report
Xbox has reportedly cancelled the sequel to Obsidian Entertainment's action-RPG Avowed and laid off approximately a quarter of the studio's staff. The cancellation is part of a larger strategic reset by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, with Obsidian now focusing on the Fallout franchise. While the Avowed sequel was progressing well, it did not align with Xbox's current strategy, though a small chance of its revival remains.
Fallout: New Vegas studio Obsidian reportedly working on a new Fallout RPG after forced pivot from Xbox kills Avowed 2…
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly pivoting to develop a new Fallout RPG following significant layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox division, which also led to the cancellation of Avowed 2. Josh Sawyer is said to be leading the new Fallout project, which may be related to a previously unannounced RPG he was working on.
Fallout TV Series Lands 10 Emmy Nominations For Season 2, But Actors Get Snubbed
Amazon's Fallout TV series has received 10 Emmy nominations for its second season, focusing on technical and performance categories like Production Design and Stunt Performance, though no acting nominations were given. This follows Season 1's 16 nominations and two wins. Meanwhile, news emerged of Obsidian Entertainment collaborating with Bethesda Game Studios on a new Fallout game, amidst recent layoffs at Xbox-owned studios.
Blizzard eliminates 'small number' of roles in China
Blizzard Entertainment has eliminated a small number of roles in China as part of an operational model evolution in the region. Studio president Johanna Faries stated these changes are intended to strengthen regional publishing and product management capabilities. This news follows broader layoffs announced by Xbox, impacting thousands of employees across Microsoft's gaming division.
Bernie Sanders Rips Microsoft For Xbox Layoffs And Price Hikes
US Senator Bernie Sanders has criticized Microsoft for recent layoffs affecting 4,800 employees, including 3,200 at Xbox, and for increasing the price of the Xbox Series X. Sanders highlighted Microsoft's substantial profits and CEO's compensation, arguing that corporate tax breaks do not create jobs and that these actions contradict such benefits.
17 years later, Minecraft is finally adding somewhere to sit
Minecraft is introducing craftable cushions and new straw beds in its latest preview build, allowing players new ways to rest. These additions come as Mojang, an Xbox-owned studio, is impacted by significant layoffs affecting numerous gaming companies.
Subscriptions, Clouds, and Streams
Xbox Game Pass has reportedly achieved less than half of its initial subscriber target. This news comes amidst discussions about the future of subscription services, cloud gaming, and game streaming within the industry.
Xbox's Bethesda layoffs include the artist responsible for designing Skyrim's khajiit and argonians, who had…
Christiane Meister, a senior character artist with 27 years at Bethesda who was instrumental in designing the Khajiit and Argonians for The Elder Scrolls series, has been laid off as part of Xbox's recent cuts. Meister's work spanned from Morrowind to Skyrim, and she was responsible for the creation and management of character art assets. Her departure highlights concerns about the industry's trend of layoffs despite significant revenue.
Doom's new Chain Spear weapon seems to be dividing The Dark Ages' audience - "I'm like an hour in and I can't wait to get the shield back"
Players are divided on the new Chain Spear weapon in Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations, with some finding it too complex and others struggling with its controls. Despite this, the expansion is generally well-received, with many praising its resemblance to a full sequel and its tribute to the Doom series' history. The game's director, Hugo Martin, acknowledged that the weapon may take time to master.
