Minecraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking Minecraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
UK software sales chart for the week ending July 4, 2026 – Rhythm Heaven Groove debuts in the top 5, Star Fox still going strong
The latest UK software sales chart for the week ending July 4, 2026, shows Rhythm Heaven Groove debuting at number 5 and Star Fox holding strong at number 4. EA SPORTS FC 26 leads the chart, with a variety of other titles from Nintendo, Capcom, and Electronic Arts filling out the top 20.
Xbox confirms mass layoffs, Double Fine Productions and Compulsion Games to go independent
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced significant changes, including layoffs affecting 3,200 employees and four studios becoming independent or sold. Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions are now independent, retaining their IP rights, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs have been sold to new owners. Sharma cited an unhealthy business model with low profit margins as the reason for these drastic measures.
Xbox cutting 3,200 jobs and parting ways with Double Fine, Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs
Microsoft has initiated a significant restructure of its Xbox division, eliminating 3,200 jobs and parting ways with four studios: Double Fine, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated the cuts are necessary due to underperforming bets on Xbox Game Pass and multiplatform releases, as well as a severe hardware crisis impacting component prices. The company aims to streamline operations, reduce management layers, and foster a more efficient development environment.
Xbox Layoffs, Studio Closures, And Spin-Offs: Everything Announced Today
Microsoft has announced significant layoffs and studio restructuring within its Xbox division, impacting 3,200 employees over the current financial year, with 1,600 layoffs starting immediately. Several studios, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions, are transitioning back to independent management, while others like Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are seeking new ownership. The company cited financial underperformance and a need to reset its strategy, focusing investment on higher-priority games and core IPs.
State of Decay 3 Could Skip Game Pass, Third-Party Funding Still Lives – Rumor
A report suggests that State of Decay 3 might not be a day one release on Xbox Game Pass, despite Xbox funding its development, as Undead Labs is reportedly under new ownership. The article also touches on the shifting priorities at Xbox regarding Game Pass funding for third-party developers and the perceived underinvestment in the Minecraft IP.
Xbox Appoints Helen Chiang as COO, Studios to Only Have Maximum of 5 Management Layers
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced significant changes to the division's operational structure, including reducing management layers to a maximum of five and appointing Helen Chiang as the new Chief Operating Officer. These changes follow recent layoffs affecting approximately 1,200 employees, with plans for further reductions. The restructuring aims to streamline workflows, improve accountability, and refocus investment for future growth, while four studios—Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, and Undead Labs—are being released from Xbox.
Epic Games makes peace with ex-Fortnite insider as huge leak lawsuit comes to an end
Epic Games has settled its lawsuit against former contractor Hayden Cohen, who was accused of leaking unannounced Fortnite content. The agreement permanently bans Cohen from sharing Epic's confidential information and does not include any public payment. The leaks reportedly revealed dozens of upcoming collaborations and development plans.
Nintendo Switch eShop charts – July 4, 2026 – Rhythm Heaven Groove on top
Rhythm Heaven Groove has topped the Nintendo Switch eShop charts for the week of July 4, 2026, overtaking Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. Moonlight Peaks also debuted on the charts following pre-load availability. The article lists the top 30 games overall and the top 30 download-only titles.
Nintendo reveals Japan’s best-selling digital games for June 2026
Nintendo has released the top-selling digital games for June 2026 on the Japanese Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch eShops. Star Fox led the charts for the Nintendo Switch 2, while Powerful Pro Baseball topped the list for the standard Nintendo Switch. The data includes a variety of new releases and popular franchises.
Top 20 Minecraft 1.19 Seeds
This guide highlights top Minecraft 1.19 seeds, featuring unique world generation elements like ancient cities, rare villages, and challenging biomes. It details specific coordinates for various seeds, including those with double blacksmith villages, ring mountains, and structures like jungle temples and ocean monuments.
Top 20 Minecraft 1.18 Seeds
This guide presents a list of top Minecraft 1.18 seeds, highlighting unique terrain generation, biomes, and structures such as villages, ruined portals, and caves. The article details specific seeds with coordinates and notable features, emphasizing the enhanced world generation introduced in the Caves and Cliffs update.
Which player-made build do you want to see in A Minecraft Movie Squared? It's time to pick.
Mojang is allowing the Minecraft community to vote on which player-created build will be featured in the upcoming movie sequel, A Minecraft Movie: Squared. The final three submissions are 'Lightning Rod Lighthouse,' 'Copper Badlands Castle,' and 'Tree Village.' Players can cast their vote within the Minecraft Bedrock Edition until July 6.
Famitsu software sales (6/22/26 – 6/28/26) – Top 30
Famitsu has released its latest Japanese software sales data for the week of June 22-28, 2026. Star Fox debuted at number one on the Nintendo Switch 2, while Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream continues to perform well on the standard Nintendo Switch. The data includes sales figures for both new releases and ongoing popular titles across multiple platforms.
Game Crossovers and Collaborations
The Minecraft Movie Build Challenge is holding a voting event for participants. This event highlights crossovers and collaborations within the gaming community.
Massively Overthinking: Unbundling the MMORPG genre, 12 years later
Industry figures like Raph Koster discuss the 'unbundling' of the MMORPG genre, where its core components like live services and subscription models have been adopted by other game genres. The article explores what truly defines an MMORPG in the current landscape, with contributors suggesting elements like persistent virtual worlds, community, and a unique 'glue' holding disparate game elements together, rather than just player count.
Överlevnadsgenren i backspegeln
This article traces the history and evolution of the survival game genre, starting with UnReal World in 1992 and highlighting key titles like Minecraft, DayZ, Rust, The Forest, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Valheim. It discusses how the genre has expanded from niche simulations to a broad category encompassing various gameplay styles and player engagement, emphasizing the core human drive for survival and adaptation as its enduring appeal.
Vote for the Winner of the Minecraft Movie Build Challenge
Xbox Wire is hosting a build challenge for a Minecraft movie, and readers are invited to vote for their favorite creation. The challenge focuses on community participation and creativity within the Minecraft universe.
Minecraft Movie Build Challenge Voting Event
Mojang Studios is holding a community voting event for the Minecraft Movie Build Challenge, allowing players to decide which build will be featured in "A Minecraft Movie: Squared." Voting takes place within Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and concludes on July 6th, with the winner announced on July 10th.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Rumors claim Xbox wants to close Obsidian, but Jason Schreier says otherwise
Recent reports suggest Xbox is considering closing or selling several studios, including Obsidian Entertainment, due to financial pressures. However, journalist Jason Schreier has refuted claims that Obsidian is in negotiations to avoid closure, stating Xbox intends to keep the developer. The article also touches on frustrations within Xbox regarding leadership's focus on profitability and the impact of underperforming titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
