Microsoft’s Xbox has confirmed that it plans to release more permanent console exclusives as part of its long-term strategy, with senior executives saying exclusive titles remain essential to the growth of the gaming platform. The comments were made by Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty during an interview with…
Employees across Xbox-owned studios have been left reeling after Microsoft announced one of the biggest rounds of layoffs in the company’s gaming division, with many workers saying they were blindsided despite weeks of speculation. Morgan Goin, a senior encounter designer at Xbox-owned ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS), said staff knew cuts were coming but had no…
Microsoft has announced plans to cut approximately 4,800 jobs, representing about 2.1% of its global workforce, with its gaming division, Xbox, accounting for a significant portion of the layoffs. The company said the move is part of a broader restructuring aimed at adapting to changes in the technology industry and positioning the business for long-term…
Microsoft’s gaming division could be heading for another round of job cuts as the company grapples with rising costs, slowing hardware sales and growing pressure to redefine the future of the Xbox brand. Reports indicate that Microsoft may announce significant layoffs within its gaming business in the coming weeks, following comments from Xbox leadership suggesting…
Xbox has unveiled a new subscription tier, Game Pass Flex, a free offering that replaces traditional loading screens in games with full-screen advertisements. The proposed service is positioned as a budget-friendly alternative within the Xbox ecosystem, allowing players access to a selection of titles without paying a subscription fee. However, the trade-off comes in the…
Microsoft has officially confirmed that its next-generation Xbox console is in development under the codename Project Helix, marking the company’s clearest signal yet that future Xbox hardware will blend traditional console gaming with PC capabilities. The announcement came from Asha Sharma, who recently took over leadership of Microsoft’s Xbox division. In a brief update, Sharma…
The newly appointed head of Microsoft’s gaming division has acknowledged growing calls from fans for a renewed focus on Xbox console exclusives, hinting at a possible shift in strategy for the brand. Asha Sharma, who was named chief executive of Microsoft Gaming last week, responded on social media to a fan asking for the return…
Microsoft has dismissed claims that it imposed a 30% profit margin target on its Xbox gaming division, pushing back against reports that linked the figure to recent layoffs and project cancellations. The clarification was included in a new CNBC report, which cited discussions with Microsoft about several narratives that have circulated around the company over…
For more than two decades, the gaming industry has been built around a familiar trio: Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox. Each generation has reshuffled the pecking order, but the trio itself has felt unshakeable. Then Valve walked in with a shoebox-sized console and quietly asked a dangerous question: What if the living room doesn’t need Xbox…
Microsoft has dismissed growing speculation that it plans to abandon its Xbox hardware business, following reports that major U.S. retailers Walmart and Target were scaling back or removing Xbox products from store shelves. The tech giant’s clarification came after a weekend of confusion sparked by social media posts claiming Xbox consoles had disappeared from certain…
Microsoft has announced another round of price increases for its Xbox consoles in the United States, marking the second hike in just four months. The company attributed the move to “changes in the macroeconomic environment,” though the decision comes on the heels of a strong earnings report showing significant revenue growth. The new pricing will…
Sony is looking to expand the reach of its PlayStation titles beyond its own consoles, according to a new job listing for a senior director of multiplatform and account management. The position, which reports directly to a Sony vice president, will focus on shaping and executing a global strategy to bring PlayStation Studios games to…
Raphael Colantonio, founder of Arkane Studios and creative director behind acclaimed titles like Dishonored and Prey, has voiced sharp criticism of Xbox’s Game Pass subscription model, describing it as “unsustainable” and “damaging” to the gaming industry. In a recent post on social media, Colantonio questioned why the industry isn’t more openly discussing what he called…
Microsoft and Asus have officially launched two new handheld gaming consoles – the ROG Xbox Ally and the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X – after months of speculation and leaks. Designed for gamers who want access to multiple platforms on the go, both devices run on Windows 11 and support games from Steam, Epic…
Xbox has confirmed that it will increase the prices of its hardware and games, with first-party game titles set to reach $79.99 starting this holiday season. The price hikes, which begin immediately for Xbox consoles and accessories, are part of a global adjustment that Microsoft attributes to inflationary pressures and the growing costs of game…
Microsoft may be preparing to integrate Steam and other game launchers into the Xbox app on PC, signaling a major shift in how players access their game libraries. A leaked mockup image, briefly posted by Microsoft, showcased a redesigned Xbox app UI spanning across TVs, tablets, and handheld devices, with a Steam filter appearing alongside…
Microsoft’s Team Xbox has announced its role as a founding member of the Accessible Games Initiative, a new cross-industry effort aimed at improving accessibility in video games. The initiative, led by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), includes major gaming companies such as Electronic Arts, Google, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft. The initiative will introduce 24…
The 2026 installment of Call of Duty, rumored to be another Modern Warfare title, is reportedly being developed exclusively for the next-generation Xbox, according to a well-known leaker. The claim comes from TheGhostOfHope, a prominent Call of Duty insider, who shared the information on X (formerly Twitter) following news that Season 3 of Black Ops…
The gaming industry is experiencing a seismic shift, and at the centre of it is a surprising development – Microsoft, traditionally a rival to Sony, could end up publishing more games on PlayStation in 2025 than Sony itself. This unexpected reality has left gamers questioning the future of Xbox as a console platform and the…
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, has confirmed that more Xbox-exclusive games will soon become available on other platforms, including rival consoles like the PlayStation 5. The announcement came during an interview on Gamertag Radio with host Danny Peña, where Spencer discussed the brand’s evolving strategy and its focus on accessibility for players worldwide. Spencer…
Microsoft’s highly anticipated Xbox Mastercard, initially unveiled last year, has officially launched nationwide, extending its enticing benefits to all eligible US residents. Following a successful pilot phase with members of the Xbox Insider program, the Xbox Mastercard is now accessible to individuals aged 18 and above across all 50 states. Issued in partnership with Barclays,…
Recent revelations suggest that Microsoft is gearing up to enter the handheld gaming market with the launch of its Xbox handheld console, slated for release in 2026. Initial plans for the device surfaced last year through documents from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), hinting at Microsoft’s ambition to expand its gaming portfolio. While details have…
In a groundbreaking move, Xbox has joined forces with Boosteroid, a leading cloud gaming service, to extend the reach of Xbox PC games to a broader audience. Originally announced last year, this partnership has now culminated in the inclusion of a fresh lineup of PC titles on Boosteroid’s platform, including popular games such as “Deathloop,”…
Amidst a flurry of rumours swirling around the future of Xbox, speculation has intensified over Microsoft’s purported plans to venture into handheld gaming territory, akin to Nintendo’s wildly successful Switch. While these rumours remain unconfirmed, they have ignited anticipation among gaming enthusiasts eagerly awaiting official announcements from the tech giant. Reports circulating on the Xbox…
Recent leaks from industry insiders suggest that Microsoft is contemplating breaking away from the traditional console release timeline and launching its next-generation Xbox earlier than anticipated. While both Sony and Microsoft have historically synchronized the release of their gaming consoles, new information hints at Microsoft deviating from this pattern, potentially introducing a new Xbox as…
In a proactive move to combat toxic behaviour among its gaming community, Microsoft has unveiled a novel enforcement initiative for Xbox. The tech giant laid out the framework of this innovative program in a blog post, accompanied by a systematic diagram designed to clarify the application of penalties based on violations. This approach aims to…
In anticipation of Sony’s upcoming PlayStation Showcase, there have been numerous rumors circulating about potential appearances and announcements. One company that has garnered significant attention is Konami, especially after recent Silent Hill announcements. However, it appears that one of Konami’s other major properties may not remain exclusive to PlayStation. Insider Gaming reports that the highly…
Last week, Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of 2K Games, released its latest financial report, sparking interesting discussions about Xbox and Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. During a Q&A session, 2K CEO Strauss Zelnick shared some insights. In an interview with IGN, Zelnick expressed his support for the merger, suggesting that Microsoft’s investment would benefit…
In response to ongoing queries by the UK Competition and Markets Authority, which is currently investigating the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, both Sony and Microsoft have discussed the future of each company’s plans for the PlayStation and Xbox – and when to expect the next console generation. According to Microsoft, neither party is…
Despite its sales being shrouded in mystery for so long, Microsoft has finally admitted that the PS4 outsold the Xbox One by a lot, as reported by The Verge. Microsoft stopped reporting its Xbox One sales figures at the beginning of its 2016 financial year, focusing instead on Xbox Live numbers. The change meant we’ve…
Microsoft has posted the fourth quarter of its 2022 financial results, reporting revenue of $51.9 billion and a net income of $16.7 billion, as reported by The Verge. Revenue is up 12 percent, and net income has increased by just 2 percent. However, while revenue was up, Microsoft saw some of its core businesses, including…
