Xbox Game Studios
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox Game Studios.
Microsoft's Xbox games keep ending up as flops according to new reportA new report indicates that several Xbox games, including Avowed, Hellblade 2, and Forza Motorsport, have significantly underperformed Microsoft's sales and engagement expectations. This comes amid reports of expected layoffs and studio closures at Xbox, with CEO Asha Sharma acknowledging the company has 'over extended' its resources and needs to reassess investment priorities.
Even with PS5 Ports, Many of Xbox's Games Have Been UnderperfomingAn internal memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma revealed that the division is operating at a 3% accountability margin, leading to layoffs. Many of Xbox's first-party games, even those with PlayStation 5 ports, have underperformed in sales and Xbox Game Pass engagement, failing to meet expectations.
Xbox Network appears to be down as players report connection issues worldwide – here’s what we know so farThe Xbox Network is experiencing widespread connection issues, affecting game launches, logins, and online services for players on console and PC. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem, with the official Xbox status page providing updates. The outage impacts various features reliant on the network, such as Game Pass access and cloud saves.
Forza Horizon 6 Space Port Photo Challenge locationThis guide details the location and requirements for the Forza Horizon 6 spring Photo Challenge, 'AstroToy'. Players need to photograph a 'Track Toy' car at the Irokawa Space Port in the Nangan Region. Completing this challenge rewards players with a Forza Link line and points towards the current season.
Free Play Days – Hell Let Loose, State of Decay 2, and Blasphemous 2Xbox is offering Free Play Days for Hell Let Loose, State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition, and Blasphemous 2. Hell Let Loose requires Game Pass membership, while the other two titles are available to all Xbox members with a timed trial for Blasphemous 2. These offers are valid from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, June 14.
Xbox preparing for mass layoffs as Project Helix implied for Christmas 2027Xbox is reportedly preparing for significant layoffs, potentially affecting around 1,000 employees, as the company faces declining revenue despite substantial investments. This comes as Xbox leadership discusses the high cost of console components and the need for new business models for the upcoming 'Project Helix,' rumored for a Christmas 2027 launch. The company has also seen multiple game cancellations and studio closures in recent years.
Xbox announces business 'reset' amid reports of layoffs and studio closuresXbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a business 'reset' for Microsoft's gaming division, signaling significant layoffs and potential studio closures following years of declining revenue. The memo cites a substantial increase in component costs for hardware and memory, exacerbated by past expansion choices, as a major challenge. Sharma and Xbox content chief Matt Booty aim to revive the company by evolving its business model and partnerships over the next 100 days.
"We have found ourselves over extended", new Xbox CEO says amid reports of plans for major job cutsNew Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty are reportedly planning significant job cuts across the gaming division. Sharma cited declining revenues despite substantial investments and rising component costs as reasons for a business 'reset'. The planned layoffs follow Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard King and come amid reports of internal questioning regarding the company's broad strategy and complex infrastructure.
'It Looks Amazing and It's Coming Along Well': The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Making ProgressXbox boss Matt Booty has stated that The Elder Scrolls 6 is progressing well and looks amazing, though it is still years away from release. He acknowledged that the game was announced too early and that Microsoft is considering its platform exclusivity strategy.
Fable Extended Trailer Showcases FeaturesA new extended trailer for Fable, set to release in February 2027, showcases features focusing on building an extraordinary life in a world that feels alive. The RPG will feature distinct NPCs with dynamic personalities, a robust Reputation System, and relationships that respond to player actions, emphasizing the impact of player decisions on the game world and its inhabitants.
18 embargoes from Summer Game Fest just lifted, so let's rank everything I saw in LAThe author attended Summer Game Fest Play Days and provides a ranked list of 18 games they saw. The article details hands-on and hands-off impressions of various titles, offering brief critiques and release window estimates, with N+ Infinity Times Two topping the list.
Minecraft Dungeons II Blows the Doors of the ARPG Wide OpenMinecraft Dungeons II is set to release on September 29, offering an expanded ARPG experience with a new story, an Overworld map, and enhanced customization options. The game aims for accessibility, making it suitable for both casual players and genre enthusiasts, with robust co-op features for up to four players. It will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, cloud, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, and included with Game Pass.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Hands-On Demo – It’s The Halo You Love, But Even BetterHalo: Campaign Evolved, a modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, offers a hands-on preview of the 'Assault on the Control Room' level. Creative Director Max Szlagor highlights significant visual and gameplay enhancements, including improved AI, expanded vehicle options, and streamlined level design, while preserving the original's core experience. The game launches July 28, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud, with cross-play and cross-progression support.
Halo: Campaign Evolved ‘Assault on the Control Room’ and third-person ‘The Silent Cartographer’ gameplay walkthroughsHalo Studios and Xbox Game Studios have released new gameplay videos for Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved. The videos showcase "Assault on the Control Room" and a new third-person camera perspective for "The Silent Cartographer." Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to launch on July 28 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series, and will be available on Game Pass.
Fable ‘Build an Extraordinary Life’ gameplay walkthroughXbox Game Studios and Playground Games released a 30-minute gameplay walkthrough for the upcoming Fable reboot, titled 'Building an Extraordinary Life.' The footage showcases the game's living population system, relationship building, family creation, and the impact of player choices on the world of Albion. Fable is scheduled for release on February 23, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC, and will be available on Game Pass.
The Fable reboot won't have horns and haloes because of its 'nuanced and complex' take on morality, and also because you're going to constantly reinvent yourselfThe upcoming Fable reboot by Playground Games will not feature a visible morality system with horns and haloes. Instead, the game will implement a more nuanced and complex approach where each Non-Player Character judges the player based on their own moral lens. Associate game directors Craig Littler and William Kennedy explained that this updated system allows for a more personalized player experience and a blank canvas for hero identity in each new settlement.
"It's coming" Gears of War: E-Day developer reassures multiplayer fans that more information is on the wayDevelopers for Gears of War: E-Day have assured fans that more information regarding the game's multiplayer modes will be revealed soon. Following the game's single-player focused reveal, lead developers confirmed that details about multiplayer mechanics, including the four-player squad format and the Siege game mode, are forthcoming. The game is confirmed as an exclusive for Xbox and PC.
Fable: How We Built the Living PopulationPlayground Games details the intricate 'Living Population' system in the upcoming Fable game, where over 1,000 NPCs possess unique personalities and schedules that evolve independently of the player. The developers opted for hand-crafted NPCs to ensure believability, allowing players to form relationships, become employers or landlords, and even face consequences for extreme actions like killing NPCs, which the game balances to avoid unrecoverable states. This system aims to create a deeply reactive world where player choices significantly impact individual NPCs and the wider game environment, including quests and settlement traits.- Project Mara Cancelled; Senua AnnouncedNinja Theory and Xbox Game Studios have announced the cancellation of Project Mara and the reveal of Senua, a new action-adventure game set in the Hellblade universe. Further details on Senua's gameplay and release are expected.
Xbox console exclusives are returning on a 'case-by-case' basisMicrosoft is re-prioritizing Xbox console exclusives, starting with Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution, to encourage hardware purchases. This marks a shift from the previous multiplatform strategy, with exclusivity decisions now being made on a case-by-case basis under new Xbox president Asha Sharma. Large multiplayer and live service titles will continue to be multiplatform.