Minecraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking Minecraft across the outlets.
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Matthew Ball was hired to help fix Xbox. Will gamers like what he prescribes?
Analyst Matthew Ball has been hired by Xbox as chief strategy officer to help revitalize the company's business. Ball, a proponent of the metaverse and user-generated content, is expected to influence Xbox's future direction, potentially drawing inspiration from platforms like Roblox and Epic Games' Unreal Engine. This comes as Xbox undergoes significant restructuring, including layoffs and studio closures.
Multiplayer sandbox Minecraft is finally adding the ability to sit in chairs
The latest update for Minecraft introduces the ability for players to sit in chairs, a feature previously absent from the game. While the update also includes a new biome and straw beds, the addition of sitting mechanics is highlighted as a significant technological advancement by developers and players alike.
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.
Id Software co-founder John Carmack "can’t muster anger or outrage" over Xbox gutting the Doom studio, but does say it'll "dampen the mood of the founder reunion"
Id Software co-founder John Carmack expressed sadness but not anger over the recent layoffs at the studio, suggesting that the company may have been a marginal business for Microsoft. He believes games need to succeed financially to continue being produced and that executives aren't always the problem, though he acknowledges the possibility. Carmack hopes the studio can recover despite the uncertain future.
id Software co-founder says "my 'Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the brand' statement isn't aging well" after the Doom maker lost 136 of its 185 staff to layoffs
id Software co-founder John Carmack commented on the significant layoffs at the studio under Microsoft, stating his previous belief that Microsoft would be a good steward of the brand is not aging well. He suspects id Software was a marginal business for Microsoft, with Minecraft's profits potentially subsidizing other studios. Carmack also reflected on game development needing to succeed financially, not just be beloved, and speculated on alternative strategies that could have improved id's financial performance.
'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.
Id Software founder John Carmack mourns layoffs: "Games need to succeed, not just be beloved"
Id Software co-founder John Carmack expressed sadness over recent layoffs affecting over half of the studio's workforce, attributing the cuts to increasing business pressures rather than executive malice. He reflected on the need for games to be commercially successful, not just critically acclaimed, to ensure long-term production, and pondered potential design or marketing changes that could have improved Id's financial standing.
Famitsu software sales (6/29/26 – 7/5/26) – Top 30
Famitsu has released its Japanese software sales data for the week of June 29, 2026, to July 5, 2026. Rhythm Heaven Groove for Nintendo Switch topped the charts with 393,378 units sold. Several titles, including Ganbare Goemon Daishuugou and R-Type Dimensions 3, debuted on the list across Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 platforms.
John Carmack reacts to massive layoffs at id Software: 'My 'Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the…
Co-founder of id Software, John Carmack, has commented on the recent layoffs at the studio, expressing disappointment that his previous statement about Microsoft being a good steward of the brand "isn't aging well." While saddened, Carmack stated he doesn't "muster anger or outrage," suspecting id Software was a marginal business for Microsoft. He also discussed hypothetical strategies that could have prevented the team's decimation, while co-founder John Romero expressed grief for those affected.
MMO Business Roundup: Marathon’s lawsuit, the Sony petition, TGS 2026, and Minecraft’s fate
This MMO business roundup covers several key events, including the settlement of a lawsuit filed by former Marathon game director Christopher Barrett against Sony and Bungie. It also highlights an online petition by PNP Games urging Sony to continue supporting physical media, which has garnered a significant number of signatures. Additionally, Nexon announced its presence at Tokyo Game Show, and an article from Gamespot questions Microsoft's strategy for Minecraft's future, suggesting a focus on competing with Roblox could be detrimental.
Famitsu sales (6/29/26 – 7/5/26) – first week sales revealed for Rhythm Heaven Groove
Famitsu has released its latest Japanese hardware and software sales data for the week of June 29 to July 5. Rhythm Heaven Groove debuted at the top of the software charts with 393,378 units sold on the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch family of consoles continues to dominate hardware sales, with the new Switch 2 model leading the pack.
YouTuber gets Minecraft running on an original Game Boy Color, and it even looks kinda playable
YouTuber Game of Tobi has successfully ported Minecraft to the original Game Boy Color, creating a functional 3D version of the game. While not the full experience, the port allows players to walk around and break/place blocks. A black and white version also runs on the original Game Boy.
Evening Reading - July 8, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several game updates and news items, including the Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review, EVE Vanguard's alpha playtest, and the upcoming shutdown of Mario Kart Tour and Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis. It also touches on Apple's chip testing and a new deal with Broadcom, mentions Obsidian Entertainment's potential pivot to a Fallout game, and highlights community creations in Minecraft. Additionally, it notes John Oliver's appearance on General Hospital and the announcement of the first four teams in the Women's Pro Baseball League.
Microsoft, Please Don’t Ruin Minecraft
Microsoft's new CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly looking to increase investment in Minecraft, drawing comparisons to Roblox's business model. This shift, occurring amidst significant studio cuts within Xbox, raises concerns that Microsoft may alter Minecraft's core gameplay and creative freedom to boost profitability, potentially moving away from its established identity as a sandbox for crafting and survival.
17 years later, Minecraft is finally adding somewhere to sit
Minecraft is introducing craftable cushions and new straw beds in its latest preview build, allowing players new ways to rest. These additions come as Mojang, an Xbox-owned studio, is impacted by significant layoffs affecting numerous gaming companies.
"We miss when genre wasn't a thing," say The Blood of Dawnwalker devs making their dream RPG: "We…
Developers at Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by veterans of CD Projekt Red, discuss their upcoming RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker. Game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz and environment artist Adam Payet share their personal journeys into game development and their vision for the genre, emphasizing the importance of deep lore and player immersion. They aim to carve out their own identity within the RPG space, moving beyond strict genre labels.
World Cup Star Erling Haaland Shows Off His Gaming Setup, Wants Xbox To Sponsor Him, And Is Excited For GTA 6
World Cup star Erling Haaland revealed his gaming setup, expressing a desire for Xbox sponsorship and showcasing his enthusiasm for upcoming titles like Grand Theft Auto 6. He also mentioned playing on PlayStation and highlighted Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Minecraft as favorite games.
Minecraft Is Adding A Highly Requested Feature It’s Been Missing For 17 Years
Minecraft is introducing a new craftable cushion feature, allowing players to sit down for the first time in the game's 17-year history. This update, confirmed by producer Gustav Höglund, adds 16 color options for the cushions, which are crafted using new wool slabs. The announcement comes amidst significant changes at Xbox, including layoffs at Mojang and a restructuring where Mojang and King will report directly to Xbox CEO Asha Shamra.
Minecraft finally adds seats after 17 years, but the potential for builders is even bigger
Mojang Studios has released new updates for Minecraft, introducing functional seats with the addition of Cushions and Straw Beds. These items, available in Java Snapshot 26.3 and Bedrock Preview 26.40.30, offer new creative possibilities for builders beyond their basic utility, allowing for more intricate decorative designs and functional resting spots.
