Halo
News, coverage and analysis tracking Halo across the outlets.
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Rather than rip and tear id Software apart, Xbox should have put the FPS pioneers on Gears of War
Following significant layoffs at Xbox Game Studios, including a reported 50% staff reduction at id Software, the article argues that Xbox should leverage id Software's expertise for the Gears of War franchise. It suggests that id's talent for creating visceral first-person shooter experiences would be a better fit for Gears of War than continuing with their own struggling franchises like Quake Champions or Rage 2.
Bethesda Tells Workers The Company Needs To “Change Course” And Focus On Games With “Greatest Potential”
Bethesda is undergoing a significant shift in strategy following recent layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox division. Company boss Jill Braff informed staff that Bethesda must 'change course' and focus on franchises with the 'greatest potential,' including The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, to ensure sustainable growth and continued investment in its games and players.
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.
The Games You Should be Playing in July – TheXboxHub Official Podcast #230
TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 330 discusses upcoming game releases for July and recent gaming industry news. Hosts Gareth, Paul, and Darren cover titles like Halo, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Grand Theft Auto VI, and more, alongside significant changes at Xbox and PlayStation's potential shift away from physical discs.
Ex-Xbox dev slams game execs as ‘money grubbing idiots’ in quote of the year
A former Bungie and 343 Industries developer, Dan Callen, has criticized game executives, calling them 'stupid detached money grubbing idiots.' Callen shared an anecdote about former Xbox executive Don Mattrick suggesting Halo 4 should implement a real money auction house for mech skins, a concept that had previously failed in Diablo 3. This criticism comes amid recent layoffs at Sony and Microsoft, highlighting ongoing issues within the games industry.
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.
Games Inbox: Is the Xbox doomed to failure?
Readers express concerns about the future of Xbox, citing recent studio closures and a reliance on aging franchises like Halo and Gears of War. The discussion also touches on the shift towards digital-only games, the impact on game preservation, and the potential for companies like Sony to influence Kickstarter campaigns.
The Xbox reset is not going to work if it’s just a retreat to the past
Microsoft's Xbox division continues to face significant challenges, marked by recurring mass layoffs and declining results. Despite the high volume of job cuts and studio closures, the company's future strategy remains unclear, with speculation that new leadership may be attempting to revert to past successes rather than innovate. The article questions the sustainability of this approach, especially concerning hardware sales and the exclusivity of major franchises like The Elder Scrolls 6.
Xbox Layoffs 2026: What Microsoft's Reset Means for Average Gamers
Microsoft's Xbox division has undergone a massive restructuring, cutting approximately 3,200 jobs in fiscal year 2027 and shuttering or spinning off five studios, including Ninja Theory and Arkane Lyon. This move comes despite Microsoft's overall profitability, with Xbox reportedly struggling with low profit margins and a failed attempt to achieve a 30% accountability margin. The article analyzes the business decisions, including Game Pass accounting and price hikes, that led to these layoffs and discusses the implications for gamers, including potential changes to hardware strategy and game exclusivity.
The $69 Billion Hangover: Every Xbox Layoff Since The Activision Blizzard Merger
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has been followed by significant layoffs and studio closures within its Xbox division. These cuts, described by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma as a "reset" due to an unhealthy business, have impacted thousands of employees and led to the cancellation of several game projects across various studios since January 2024.
Xbox cuts 3,200 staff as four studios to exit Microsoft – Arkane under review
Microsoft has announced significant layoffs affecting approximately 3,200 employees within its Xbox division, with 1,600 staff being let go immediately. Four studios, including Ninja Theory and Undead Labs, are becoming independent or being sold off, while Arkane Lyon's future is under review. This restructuring follows a period of rapid developer acquisitions and aims to refocus Xbox's business strategy.
Games Inbox: Is Nintendo Switch 2 and PC the perfect combination?
Readers discuss the potential of the Nintendo Switch 2 combined with PC gaming as a strong alternative to PlayStation and Xbox, especially in light of Sony's move towards digital-only releases. The conversation also touches on the importance of physical media for game preservation and the rising costs of PC hardware components like RAM and SSDs.
Halo Project Ekur Reportedly Cancelled, Team Shifted to Campaign Evolved in Summer 2025 – Rumor
Reports suggest that Halo Project Ekur has been cancelled, with its development team reportedly shifted to work on Halo: Campaign Evolved due to issues with the latter. The cancellation comes amidst rumors of layoffs at Xbox. Halo: Campaign Evolved is slated for release on July 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Halo’s Rumoured Project Ekur Has Apparently Been Cancelled, And It Sounds Like It Was A Lot More Interesting Than We Thought
The secret Halo multiplayer project, codenamed Project Ekur, has reportedly been cancelled. The project aimed to explore new gameplay ideas but ultimately did not move forward, leaving the future direction of Halo's multiplayer uncertain.
What on earth is happening to the video games industry? - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses frustration with the current state of the video game industry, citing issues like mass layoffs, Sony's focus on live service games, and Microsoft's acquisition strategy. Concerns are raised about the move towards digital-only sales and the potential high cost of future consoles like the PlayStation 6. Despite these criticisms, the reader acknowledges the strength of the indie scene and the resurgence of companies like Capcom.
Xbox is closing down studios to help fund more Halo claim insiders
Xbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs and studio closures as part of a strategy to reallocate resources towards key franchises like Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. Insiders suggest this move aims to revitalize struggling IPs and address issues with post-launch support, particularly for Halo Infinite. Several studios, including Ninja Theory and Double Fine, are rumored to be at risk.
Is yet another Microsoft studio, Obsidian, negotiating with Xbox to avoid closure? Conflicting reports emerge
Conflicting reports suggest that Obsidian Entertainment is negotiating with Microsoft to avoid closure, amidst a wave of layoffs affecting other Xbox studios like Arkane, Double Fine, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. While one report indicates internal sentiment blames poor Call of Duty performance for these decisions, another source denies Obsidian is in negotiations to shut down, stating the studio will be kept by Xbox.
Obsidian reportedly safe from Xbox studio closures despite fears the RPG powerhouse was in negotiations to avoid…
Despite earlier reports suggesting Obsidian Entertainment was negotiating to avoid closure, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier has confirmed the RPG developer is safe. The news comes amid widespread fears of mass layoffs and studio shutdowns within Xbox's gaming division.
Xbox May Shut Down Obsidian Entertainment, Too
New reports indicate that Xbox is considering shutting down or selling Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind games like Avowed and Fallout: New Vegas. This potential closure is part of a larger plan by Xbox to reallocate funds towards its major franchises, potentially affecting other subsidiaries like Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs.
Working as a Team: The Principle of Partnership
This article discusses how many game franchises are defined by a single protagonist, citing examples like Master Chief from Halo and Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. It contrasts this with Sony's approach of designing platforming mascots to undertake adventures as a team.