Call of Duty
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Former PlayStation head tells Xbox to either be a good publisher or make a good platform with exclusives: "Nintendo…
Former PlayStation head Shawn Layden advises Xbox to commit to either being a competitive platform with exclusive content or a major multi-platform publisher. He argues that trying to be both is a flawed strategy, citing Nintendo and PlayStation's reliance on exclusives. Layden also points to Microsoft's frequent layoffs and the confusing decision to acquire major franchises only to release them on rival platforms.
Former PlayStation boss thinks "we've lost a lot of the variety in games," and we can thank the "rising cost" of new titles for that: "We had so many crazy games on PS1"
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden believes the industry has lost game variety due to the rising cost of development, leading to lower risk tolerance. He argues that the high budgets of modern AAA games discourage the creation of unique or 'quirky' titles, citing examples like PaRappa the Rapper and Katamari Damacy, which were more feasible on the PlayStation 1 due to lower development costs.
Finally complete after 11 years, Angels Fall First delivers massive FPS space battles with old-school Battlefront vibes, at a must-have price
After more than a decade in development, Strangely Interactive has released Angels Fall First 1.0, an ambitious FPS that blends large-scale space battles with ground combat. The game, which was in early access since 2015, offers 64-player matches featuring infantry, vehicles, and capital ships with fully explorable interiors. It is available at a discounted introductory price.
Something for the Weekend – 11/07/26
This week's news includes Microsoft confirming significant layoffs affecting multiple studios, Palworld's 1.0 launch with a large patch, and matchmaking issues for Black Ops players on PlayStation 4 and 5. God of War Laufey is slated for a 2027 release, and a petition to save physical games has garnered over 285,000 signatures.
Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re Making
Xbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
Xbox needs to make a choice, says former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden: be a publisher or a platform, but you can't be both
Former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden argues that Xbox must choose between being a major game publisher or a platform holder, stating it cannot effectively be both. He highlights the need for exclusive content to support a platform, contrasting it with the multiplatform approach required for a top publisher, a dilemma exacerbated by recent Xbox layoffs and strategic shifts.
'If not PS6, then PS7' — Analyst says PlayStation ending physical discs was bound to happen as 'the console ecosystem is nearly entirely digital at this point'
Analyst Daniel Ahmad believes Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation disc production in 2028 was inevitable due to the significant shift towards digital sales, which now account for around 80% on PlayStation and over 90% on Xbox. This move aligns with Sony's strategy to create a high-margin, closed digital ecosystem, controlling all software sales and eliminating the used game market.
Analysts say that 'digital is just too lucrative' for Sony and that PlayStation 'will not reverse' its decision to end physical disc production even in the face of fans cancelling PS Plus subscriptions
Analysts believe Sony will not reverse its decision to end physical disc production by 2028, despite fan backlash and subscription cancellations. Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games stated that digital sales are significantly more lucrative for Sony, making the potential loss of 1% of PlayStation Plus subscribers insufficient to alter the company's strategy. The profit margins for digital sales, especially for first-party titles where Sony retains 100% of the revenue, far outweigh those of physical copies.
How Do Gamer Creators Spread the Word About Their Platforms?
Modern casino games are increasingly adopting features from video games, such as progression systems, skill-based elements, immersive visuals, and social features, to appeal to a generation of players accustomed to interactive entertainment. This trend, known as gamification, transforms the entire online casino platform into an engaging experience, blurring the lines between traditional gambling and mainstream gaming.
Paysafecard at Online Casinos in Ireland
Modern casino games are increasingly adopting features from video games to appeal to a new generation of players. This includes elements like progression systems, skill-based gameplay, immersive visuals, and social features, transforming the casino experience into a more interactive and engaging form of entertainment.
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.
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.
Opinion: Welcome to the house of pain, brought to you by Xbox
Xbox is facing significant layoffs and studio closures despite massive investments in mergers and acquisitions, including the $70 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard King. CEO Asha Sharma cited a failure to meet growth expectations for Game Pass and multi-platform strategies as reasons for the 'reset,' which has resulted in over 7,000 job cuts across the company since January 2024, with more planned.
There Is No Reason To Buy Another PlayStation Or Xbox
The author argues that upcoming PlayStation and Xbox consoles will be too expensive and lack compelling reasons to purchase, especially with the shift to digital-only distribution. Concerns are raised about the impact on the used games market, accessibility for players with poor internet, and the overall viability of the console market as attention shifts to mobile and other forms of entertainment.
Xbox retreats again – but to where? | Opinion
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees across various studios as part of a company 'reset' to focus on profitable franchises. This move raises questions about the future of Xbox's first-party strategy, its Game Pass subscription service, and the upcoming console generation, particularly given the high cost of components and the blurring lines between PC and console gaming.
Xbox has lost five studios – so who is left to make new video games?
Xbox has undergone significant layoffs, impacting approximately 3,200 staff members and leading to five studios divesting from the company. Xbox leadership aims to refocus on core franchises and expand its daily audience to over a billion people through its services. The article details the remaining studios, their current projects, and their future prospects under this new strategy.
Xbox Wants To Entertain 1 Billion People Every Day. It Can’t Even Explain How
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma outlined a goal for the company to entertain over one billion people daily, a target that seems ambitious given recent layoffs and the current reach of Xbox services. While mobile games like Candy Crush and Minecraft, along with other Microsoft titles, contribute to daily active users, they fall significantly short of the one billion mark. The strategy for achieving this goal, particularly through mobile gaming and potentially third-party titles, remains unclear.
Xbox Game Pass subscription numbers are reportedly well below where Microsoft wants them to be
Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers have reportedly fallen to 30 million, significantly below Microsoft's target of 77 million by 2026. This decline follows a substantial price increase for Game Pass Ultimate and a change in strategy regarding day-one releases for Call of Duty titles. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cited Game Pass growth troubles as a reason for recent job cuts within the Xbox division.
Xbox Moves On From 4 Studios and Layoffs Off Thousands of Others
Xbox has announced significant restructuring, impacting over 1600 employees and planning for another 1600 over the next two fiscal years. Four studios—Double Fine Productions, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs—will become independent or be acquired by new entities, retaining their intellectual property. Numerous other studios, including Zenimax Online, Id Software, Obsidian, and Bethesda Game Studios, are also undergoing substantial layoffs as Xbox refocuses on its major franchises like Call of Duty, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Halo, and Minecraft.
The Gaming Industry Is Eating Itself Alive
Xbox is undergoing a massive restructuring, including 3,200 layoffs, impacting numerous studios and divisions like Activision, Bethesda, and Blizzard. While some studios regain independence and first-party projects remain safe for now, the article criticizes Xbox's overall strategy, citing Game Pass's performance and declining hardware revenue. The piece also touches on PlayStation's similar issues with digital ownership and preservation, painting a bleak picture for the future of gaming costs and ownership.
