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Xbox reportedly shutting down South of Midnight dev Compulsion Games
Xbox is reportedly shutting down Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight and We Happy Few. This closure, which could affect over 90 employees, comes amid broader financial challenges and restructuring within Xbox's gaming division under CEO Asha Sharma. The report suggests an official announcement is imminent.
Report: Two former Rare execs are leaving Xbox
Two former Rare executives, Craig Duncan and Louise O’Connor, are departing from Xbox. Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios, and O'Connor, chief of staff, leave amidst reports of a 'business reset' and potential layoffs within Xbox. These departures follow a period of significant changes and discussions about the future sustainability of the Xbox division.
As Xbox eyes layoffs, Microsoft's CEO says its videogames aren't monetised enough—so it's not the cancelled games or $68.7 billion deals or AI overspending, then
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company's video games are not sufficiently monetized, suggesting this is the core issue rather than cancelled projects or large acquisitions. This comes amid layoffs at Xbox, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma calling for a "reset" to better meet fan expectations. The article also touches on the rising costs of game development and the industry's struggle to find sustainable monetization models.
Xbox Loses Two More Senior Leaders As Craig Duncan Departs
Xbox is undergoing significant leadership changes with the departure of Game Studios boss Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O'Connor. These exits occur under the new leadership of CEO Asha Sharma, prompting speculation about potential shifts in the company's direction.
Xbox studios exec and former Rare boss resigns ahead of expected mass layoffs
Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O'Connor are leaving Microsoft amidst reports of impending mass layoffs within the Xbox division. Duncan, who previously led Rare for 14 years, cited his purpose in serving studios and teams. These departures come as Xbox undergoes significant changes, including a pivot back to exclusive games and potential restructuring.
Microsoft Boss Wants Xbox to Start Pulling Its Weight Financially
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that the Xbox division needs to become more profitable, acknowledging that the company has been subsidizing entertainment rather than monetizing it effectively. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is tasked with reassessing the division's strategy to ensure economic sustainability in game development and hardware.
Microsoft CEO says Xbox must become 'sustainable' as it reportedly considers major spinoff
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Xbox must become a 'sustainable' business, implying it has been subsidized rather than profitable. This follows reports that Microsoft is considering spinning out Xbox into a standalone unit, potentially to sell it or find a partner. The company also aims to speed up development for major franchises like Halo and The Elder Scrolls, while addressing challenges like memory chip price increases driven by AI companies.
Gears of War: E-Day system requirements are here and it might be bad news for GTX 10-series cards and, well, storage in…
The PC system requirements for Gears of War: E-Day have been revealed, with a minimum GPU requirement of an Nvidia RTX 2060 and a substantial 130 GB storage space needed. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma expressed excitement for the game's return to its early-days narrative. The game is set to launch on October 6th for PC and Xbox.
Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O’Connor to depart
Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O’Connor are departing the company. Duncan served in his role for over 18 months, while O’Connor served for over 11 months. Both previously held leadership positions at Rare. Their departures follow a period of successful game launches overseen by Duncan.
Chris Avellone says Xbox studios are increasingly concerned about layoffs
Veteran game designer Chris Avellone reports growing concern among Xbox first-party studios regarding potential layoffs, despite previous assurances. Employees are reportedly receiving conflicting messages about their future following recent leadership changes and a company-wide focus on efficiency and core franchises.
EA Announces New Plan To Launch Ads “Directly Into Gameplay” After Working On In-Game Ads For Decades Already
Electronic Arts has unveiled EA Advertising, a new platform designed to integrate ads directly into gameplay without disrupting the player experience. This initiative aims to reach EA's 120 million monthly players and comes amid financial pressures, including a potential $55 billion sale to an investor consortium. While EA claims ads will enhance gameplay, past attempts like pause-screen ads in EA Sports UFC 4 faced significant player backlash.
Xbox to pour more development into Fallout, Halo, and Elder Scrolls franchises, report says
A report indicates that Microsoft is shifting its focus for Xbox, prioritizing accelerated development and increased funding for future titles in the Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Halo franchises. This strategic change comes amid reports of potential major layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division and considerations about Xbox's future structure, including its potential separation as a subsidiary or even sale.
EA rolls out Advertising platform to let companies market "directly into gameplay"
Electronic Arts has launched EA Advertising, a new platform enabling brands to market directly to consumers through in-game placements like stadium signage and dynamic content. The company states this will enhance, not disrupt, the player experience, offering custom integrations and targeting capabilities. While in-game advertising is controversial, EA aims to integrate ads authentically, with brands like Visa and Red Bull already on board.
Microsoft CEO says Xbox must become a sustainable business
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company's focus for Xbox is shifting towards making the business financially sustainable, rather than continuing to heavily subsidize it. He noted that monetization efforts have not always been successful, with more revenue sometimes generated on platforms like YouTube than by Microsoft itself. Nadella also touched on rising hardware costs due to semiconductor shortages and the need to integrate PC, console, and mobile gaming experiences.
Microsoft may spin-off Xbox into separate business or team-up with rivals claims report
A report suggests Microsoft is considering spinning off its Xbox division into a separate subsidiary or forming a joint venture with rivals, though no immediate plans are in place. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the need to make Xbox a sustainable business, hinting at increased investment in key franchises like Halo, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls to improve monetization.
Following Gears of War: E-Day's declaration of Xbox exclusivity, Halo: Campaign Evolved is already climbing PlayStation pre-order charts
Halo: Campaign Evolved is seeing strong pre-order sales on the PlayStation Store, topping charts in several regions despite being an Xbox exclusive IP. This success, alongside other Xbox titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Sea of Thieves appearing on PlayStation, raises questions about Microsoft's console exclusive strategy. The remake is built on Unreal Engine 5 and has reportedly revitalized the original game's content.
Report: Microsoft weighing up spinning off Xbox
Microsoft is reportedly considering spinning off or restructuring its Xbox division as a wholly owned subsidiary to improve its financial sustainability. New Xbox boss Asha Sharma has reportedly received approval to increase spending on key franchises like Halo and Fallout to accelerate development, despite recent revenue declines and plans for further layoffs.
Xbox Wants Faster Fallout, Elder Scrolls Games to Bolster Business
Microsoft is reportedly looking to accelerate the development of new titles in its Fallout and The Elder Scrolls franchises to improve the sustainability of its Xbox business. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the need for Xbox to become profitable, while new boss Asha Sharma is tasked with streamlining game development. The company is considering various restructuring options for the Xbox unit, and future game releases may depend on the business's health, potentially impacting their availability on other platforms like PlayStation.
Microsoft CEO says Xbox needs to be more sustainable: "We've not been monetizing that entertainment"
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Xbox needs to become more economically sustainable and find better ways to monetize its entertainment offerings, as the company has been subsidizing rather than profiting from its products. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is leading a 100-day reset to address challenges including hardware costs, declining revenue, and the need for engineering self-reliance. While console exclusives are a focus, PC and cloud versions will remain available.
Sony pulling back from PC also means it's pulling back from China
Sony appears to be scaling back its strategy of releasing single-player PlayStation titles on PC, a move that has drawn scrutiny. Analysis suggests this shift may be driven by concerns over Valve's dominance rather than competition from Xbox. Data indicates that China represents a significant market for PlayStation games on Steam, with titles like Death Stranding 2 and Stellar Blade seeing substantial sales from the region, suggesting that PC releases can boost PlayStation sales and overall game visibility.
