Xbox
Xbox business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Xbox Partner Preview announced for Thursday
Xbox announced an upcoming "Partner Preview" presentation scheduled for Thursday. The digital showcase will highlight games from third-party developers.
Dungeon Bodega Simulator Released on Steam
Dungeon Bodega Simulator, a cozy fantasy shop game developed by Harrison under the Alien Fruit Games label, has been released on PC via Steam. The game, which features a 3-4 hour main story, allows players to run their own shop, grow crops, brew potions, forge weapons, and solve a dungeon mystery. Harrison, who was previously laid off from Xbox, developed the game as a solo project with contributions from several collaborators.
After a 90% discount, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has more players than the past few CoD games combined on Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) has seen a significant surge in players on Steam, reaching over 57,000 concurrent players during the Spring Sale due to a 90% discount. This player count surpasses that of newer Call of Duty titles housed in the Call of Duty HQ app and has also overtaken Battlefield 6's concurrent player numbers. The deep discount suggests Activision may be trying to re-engage players with the earlier Modern Warfare continuity before future releases.
Announcement Announcements
Xbox will host a Partner Preview event on Thursday to showcase upcoming titles from its third-party partners. The digital showcase will offer a glimpse into new games and updates from developers working with Xbox.
Xbox reveals Partner Preview event on March 26, featuring Stalker 2, The Expanse and more
Xbox will host a Partner Preview event on March 26, showcasing upcoming third-party titles including STALKER 2, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN. The stream will be available on YouTube at 5 PM GMT and will feature new reveals and content from various partners.
March Xbox Partner Preview Live Stream Announced
Microsoft Gaming announced an Xbox Partner Preview livestream for March 26, showcasing upcoming games from third-party developers like Sega, GSC Game World, and Owlcat Games. The broadcast will feature new reveals, world premieres, and Game Pass announcements for Xbox consoles and PC.
Two more leadership exits take place at Xbox
Two more leadership figures have departed Xbox: VP of partnerships, business development, and marketing, Lori Wright, and general manager of gaming AI, Haiyan Zhang. These departures follow recent exits from other high-ranking executives at Microsoft Gaming. Haiyan Zhang will be joining Netflix's gaming team.
Xbox Partner Preview: Join Us on Thursday to See What’s Next from Our Third-Party Partners
Xbox will host a Partner Preview broadcast on Thursday, March 26, showcasing upcoming games from third-party partners like Sega, GSC Game World, and Owlcat Games. The event will feature new reveals, world premieres, and updates on titles such as Stranger Than Heaven, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, all coming to Xbox consoles, PC, and Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox Showcase Announced For This Week With "Brand-New Reveals," Game Pass News
Microsoft has announced an upcoming Xbox Partner Preview event scheduled for March 26, featuring new reveals and news about titles from Sega, GSC Game World, and Owlcat Games. The showcase will include world premieres and Xbox Game Pass announcements, with confirmed games such as Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. This event marks the first digital showcase under new Xbox leadership with Asha Sharma as Microsoft Gaming CEO.
Fallout 3 Director Has “Warmed Up” to Remasters, Praises Xbox Backwards Compatibility Team
Todd Howard, director at Bethesda Game Studios, has expressed a softened stance on remasters, particularly praising Xbox's backwards compatibility efforts for titles like Fallout 3. While a Fallout 3 remaster is rumored to be in development with a focus on polish similar to The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, former developer Bruce Nesmith noted that the combat system would require significant work.
Two more senior Xbox leaders exit Microsoft
Two senior leaders have departed Microsoft's Xbox division: Lori Wright, corporate VP of partnerships, business development, and marketing, and Haiyan Zhang, general manager of gaming AI. Both individuals announced their exits on LinkedIn.
Two more senior Xbox leaders exit Microsoft
Two senior leaders have departed Microsoft's Xbox division: Lori Wright, corporate VP of partnerships, business development, and marketing, and Haiyan Zhang, general manager of gaming AI. Both individuals announced their exits on LinkedIn.
Microsoft Loses Corporate VP and Xbox General Manager of Gaming AI
Microsoft has seen several senior departures from its Xbox division, including corporate VP Lori Wright and general manager of gaming AI Haiyan Zhang. Zhang is joining Netflix to focus on its gaming initiatives, while Wright's future plans are unannounced. These exits follow recent changes in Xbox leadership, including the retirement of Phil Spencer and departure of Sarah Bond.
Two more senior Xbox leaders exit Microsoft
Two senior leaders, corporate VP Lori Wright and general manager of gaming AI Haiyan Zhang, have departed Microsoft after over a decade of service. Zhang will be joining Netflix's gaming team, while Wright's next steps are unannounced. These exits follow recent leadership changes at Xbox, including the retirement of Phil Spencer and the departure of Sarah Bond.
Amazon is reportedly working on a new phone built around Alexa
Amazon is reportedly developing a new smartphone, codenamed "Transformer," with a strong focus on its Alexa AI assistant. The device aims to simplify purchasing and media consumption through Amazon services and may bypass traditional app stores. The project is led by J Allard, former Xbox co-founder, and could result in both a traditional smartphone and a minimalist "dumbphone" model.
Former Xbox Boss Is Reportedly Making A Phone For Amazon, 12 Years After First Effort Failed
Amazon is reportedly developing a new AI-driven smartphone, codenamed 'Transformer,' led by former Xbox boss J Allard. This initiative marks Amazon's second attempt at the smartphone market after the previous Fire Phone failed. The device aims to integrate AI for personalization and push users towards Amazon's services, though the project's future and specific features remain uncertain.
Crystal Dynamics 'Fully Committed' to Tomb Raider Franchise Despite Fourth Redundancy Round in 12 Months - IGN
Crystal Dynamics has undergone its fourth round of layoffs in 12 months, reducing its workforce by 20 employees. The studio stated it remains fully committed to the future development of the Tomb Raider franchise, including the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst. This news comes despite the studio's acquisition by Embracer in 2022 and ongoing development of multiple Tomb Raider titles.
Sony Will Drop All PlayStation Network Branding This Year - Report
Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly phasing out the PlayStation Network and PSN branding by September 2026. This change is described as purely visual and will not affect core network features like multiplayer or trophies. The move is seen as a rebranding effort to encompass evolving digital services and follows similar marketing shifts by competitors like Xbox.
Hideo Kojima says a Hawaiian proverb led to the new Death Stranding 2 trailer, because what else did you expect: "I gave it the special title 'No Rain, No Rainbow'"
Hideo Kojima revealed that the trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was inspired by a Hawaiian proverb, 'No Rain, No Rainbow,' symbolizing that good things follow hardship. The trailer, released alongside the PC version of the game, incorporates this theme with lyrics and game elements. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to release on PC on March 19, with mentions of other upcoming projects like OD and Physint.
Available for Xbox Insiders: More Groups on Home, Custom User Colors, Quick Resume Settings, and More
Xbox is rolling out new features for Insiders, including expanded home screen groups, custom user colors, and per-game Quick Resume settings. Profile badges are also being highlighted in the Guide. These updates aim to enhance personalization and user experience on Xbox consoles.
