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Alpha Dog Games founders have reacquired their studio from Microsoft following its closure in 2024. Additionally, Asha Sharma, who was appointed as Xbox's VP of engineering, has departed the company after only three months.
Following layoffs and muddy strategy shifts, Xbox announces Backward Compatibility on PC program, with Blinx and Conker leading the first wave
Xbox has launched a new Backward Compatibility on PC program, bringing classic titles like Blinx: The Time Sweeper and Conker: Live and Reloaded to PC and handhelds such as the ASUS ROG Ally. This initiative includes enhanced features like up to 4x resolution upscaling and is available through Xbox Game Pass or individual purchase. The program aims to revive Xbox's strength in backward compatibility, with plans for future updates and achievements.
Xbox launches new backwards compatibility program on PC, starting with four games from the early 2000s
Microsoft's Xbox division has launched a new backwards compatibility program for PC, making four original Xbox titles available on the Xbox app. These enhanced versions of Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Blinx: The Time Sweeper, and Fuzion Frenzy feature upscaled resolution and other improvements. This initiative is part of a broader effort to preserve Xbox's gaming legacy and bring classic titles to PC.
Xbox Reveals Four Classic Xbox Titles As Part Of "Backward Compatibility on PC"
Xbox has launched its "Backward Compatibility on PC" initiative, making four classic original Xbox titles available to play natively on PC with enhanced graphics options. The titles include BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy, all of which are also included in Xbox Game Pass. Future updates will bring achievements to these and other original Xbox games.
Play More of the Games You Love, Wherever You Play with XBOX Backward Compatibility on PC
Xbox Backward Compatibility is now available on PC, allowing players to access classic original Xbox games on PC and handheld devices like the ASUS ROG Ally. Initially launching with four titles, this feature is part of a broader effort to preserve older games and enhance them with features like resolution upscaling and customizable graphics settings. Future updates will include Achievements for select titles.
PlayStation "may as well eliminate the hardware" if Sony is ending physical discs, says creator of Disgaea RPG…
Sohei Niikawa, creator of the Disgaea series and former president of Nippon Ichi Software, has criticized Sony's decision to end physical game discs for PlayStation by 2028. He argues that physical editions are crucial for collectors, fans, and preserving game history, suggesting that if Sony eliminates discs, they might as well eliminate the hardware itself. This sentiment echoes concerns raised by other industry figures like Hideo Kojima and Yoko Taro regarding the future of physical media.
Xbox VP Of Engineering Leaves After 3 Months On The Job, Marking 3rd Executive Departure In 6 Weeks
Jared Palmer, Xbox's Vice President of Engineering, has departed the company after only three months. This marks the third executive departure from Xbox in the past six weeks, occurring amidst ongoing leadership changes and internal turmoil.
Here's your next batch of Xbox Game Pass games for July
Xbox has announced new games coming to its Game Pass subscription service throughout July and into early August. Headlining the additions are Halo: Campaign Evolved and Hell Is Us, with other titles like The Planet Crafter and Beast of Reincarnation also joining the lineup. Several games will also be leaving the service on July 31st.
Asha Sharma-appointed Xbox VP of engineering leaves just three months after moving over from Microsoft's CoreAI team
Jared Palmer, Xbox's Vice President of Engineering, has left the company after only three months to join AI firm Cognition. Palmer was part of a team led by Asha Sharma, who also recently moved to Xbox from Microsoft's CoreAI division. His departure comes during a period of significant restructuring and layoffs within Xbox.
South of Midnight wins Game and Experience of the Year at Games for Change Awards 2026
Compulsion Games' South of Midnight was named Game and Experience of the Year at the 2026 Games for Change Awards. The ceremony also recognized Hexecutable's Consume Me for Best Narrative and Best Gameplay, and Paintbucket Games' The Darkest Files for Best in Learning. Jenn Panattoni received the Vanguard Award for her significant contributions to the industry, including establishing the Xbox Social Impact team.
Union accuses Microsoft of unlawfully laying off staff in legal action
The Communication Workers of America (CWA) union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Microsoft, alleging unlawful layoffs and bad-faith bargaining. CWA Canada has also taken legal action regarding employee dismissals at Bethesda Game Studios Montreal. Microsoft stated they are committed to the bargaining process and supporting affected employees.
Forza Horizon 5’s ex-creative director pins Xbox’s turmoil on Game Pass
Mike Brown, former creative director for Forza Horizon 5, suggests that Xbox's recent turmoil, including layoffs and project cancellations, stems from Game Pass failing to meet subscriber and revenue targets. He argues that Microsoft invested heavily in the subscription service and studio acquisitions based on projections that did not materialize, leading to financial strain.
Alpha Dog Games returns to independence two years after being shuttered by Xbox
Alpha Dog Games, the developer of Mighty Doom, has returned to independent ownership two years after being shut down by Microsoft. Studio founder Shawn Woods confirmed the transition, expressing gratitude to Microsoft for enabling the return. The studio is updating its Unity-based engine and is in discussions with partners, though specific projects remain undisclosed.
'Not sure if I should keep buying games and software from Microsoft': Xbox users are questioning account safety due to ongoing recovery issues, ahead of a disc-less console future
Xbox users are expressing concerns about account safety and the future of digital game ownership due to ongoing account recovery issues and hacking incidents. These problems are amplified by the reported move towards disc-less consoles by both Microsoft and Sony, leading some gamers to question the security of purchasing digital software from Microsoft.
Xbox brings starter edition of Game Pass to Meta Horizon+
Xbox is now offering the starter edition of its Game Pass subscription service to Meta Horizon+ subscribers in supported regions. This partnership allows Meta Horizon+ users access to over 50 Game Pass titles and 10 hours of cloud gaming. The Meta Quest Touch controllers will also gain Xbox gamepad emulation capabilities in the coming weeks.
Alpha Dog Games founders reacquire studio from Microsoft following 2024 closure
Alpha Dog Games has reacquired its studio from Microsoft, returning to independent ownership after being shut down by Microsoft in 2024. Co-founder Shawn Woods expressed gratitude for Microsoft's cooperation during the transition and excitement for the studio's future, though specific projects are not yet being discussed. The Nova Scotia-based studio, founded in 2012 and previously acquired by Bethesda in 2019, is exploring new opportunities with partners.
Forza Horizon 5 Creative Director Says Xbox Game Pass Was “A Good Idea”
Former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown believes Xbox Game Pass was a good concept that ultimately failed due to insufficient subscriber numbers needed to sustain its business model. He expressed sadness over the potential studio closures and job losses resulting from this outcome. Brown also defended Xbox employees amidst criticism and recent layoffs, emphasizing that the core idea of Game Pass was player-focused, though it did not reach the scale required to justify major acquisitions like Activision Blizzard.
Xbox Backwards Compatibility for PC is Now Live With BLiNX: The Time Sweeper and More
Xbox has launched backwards compatibility for several original Xbox titles on PC, including BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy. These games are available for purchase and included with all Game Pass tiers, offering enhanced features like resolution upscaling and improved graphics. This initiative aims to preserve older Xbox games and bring them to PC, with plans for more titles and achievements to be added over time.
Halo’s PlayStation Debut Could Also Be Its Farewell
Microsoft's Xbox division is undergoing a significant strategic shift, moving away from broad multi-platform releases like Halo: Campaign Evolved towards a renewed focus on console exclusivity. This change, spearheaded by CEO Asha Sharma, involves scaling back the Xbox division and potentially canceling unannounced titles, though games already expected on other platforms will proceed. The article analyzes the implications of this shift for future Halo titles and the broader gaming landscape, considering factors like sales, player acquisition, and potential exclusive benefits for Xbox players.
Xbox's new VP of engineering quits just 2 months after taking the job
Jared Palmer has resigned from his role as vice president of engineering at Xbox and technical advisor to CEO Asha Sharma, just two months after his appointment. He has joined AI company Cognition as its vice president of engineering. Palmer previously held AI-focused roles at Microsoft and Vercel.
