Well, one of the Sea of Thieves leads, who took a serious role to maintain the whole portfolio, is stepping down before major layoffs. I assume, he doesn't want to be associated with whatever happens next.

#XBOX@GameDEV

Arkane, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory were added to the list for closure in addition to Compulsion Games. They all apparently negotiate independence from XBOX.

They may at best be left without their IPs but with core teams on their own. Even as independent entities they will have to run through significant layoffs.

#XBOX@GameDEV
#Microsoft@GameDEV
#LayOffs@GameDEV

The request to add Russian to Fable is now the 6th most popular post on Microsoft Feedback Portal. Original Fable games were truly popular in the region (thanks to satire and freedom of choice)

#XBOX@GameDEV
#RPG@GameDEV

Zenimax is also hit by layoffs beyond Arkane, the procedure will take some time, but unless an employee is working directly on Fallout or Elder Scrolls, they are in danger.

Imagine buying billions upon billions of assets to now slowly kill the whole thing. It's heartbreaking.

#Microsoft@GameDEV
#XBOX@GameDEV
#Bethesda@GameDEV
#LayOffs@GameDEV

That's funny

How can you mess up that much? And why do you need multiple accounts for local co-op anyway?

#XBOX@GameDEV
#Halo@GameDEV
#PlayStation@GameDEV

The request to add Russian to the upcoming Fable has been eventually banned on the Microsoft feedback portal. It was one of the most popular requests ever but also gathered some negative reactions (which may have caused automatic removal)

Right before the removal it reached the top-5 with over 10500 upvotes and over 5000 mostly positive comments.

Microsoft and XBOX refused to provide any comments according to several media outlets who have tried to discuss the matter.

#XBOX@GameDEV
#RPG@GameDEV

Compulsion Games that is among Xbox studios under fire, now allowed people to find new job before the mass layoffs.

They are also the creators of We Happy Few that I liked a lot but somehow can't recommend widely.

#LayOffs@GameDEV
#XBOX@GameDEV

Analytics suggested that PlayStation and XBOX preorders of GTA VI are measured as 8-to-1, so Microsoft got angry about these reports and said that affiliate clicks on a very limited number of platforms do not represent the whole picture — they are having the record-breaking preorders and will share the data when it will be possible.

It's also estimated that the game already sold tens of millions of copies in just a few days. Before physical copies, before gameplay trailers, and before any proof that it's worthy.

#GTA@GameDEV
#XBOX@GameDEV

Undead Labs (State of Decay) is also set for sale or closure, apparently. The workers of XBOX are unionized in many cases but it seemingly not helping much.

At the least, hundreds of jobs are at stake. Double Fine Productions could lose 100 jobs if it is shut down. Undead Labs could lose 110 jobs. Compulsion could lose 90 jobs, and Ninja Theory could lose 135 jobs. All told, that’s about 435 jobs that could be lost.

It's expected that the total number across XBOX will be over 1000 people this time in addition to thousands fired in the last couple of years.

#XBOX@GameDEV
#Microsoft@GameDEV
#LayOffs@GameDEV

It seems that XBOX placed most of the new Game Pass deals on hold for now.

#XBOX@GameDEV
#Microsoft@GameDEV

Wait, do Asha plan to shut XBOX down or what? (the shot from The Verge)

#XBOX@GameDEV
#Microsoft@GameDEV
#LayOffs@GameDEV

• 1600 jobs are gone today
• 1600 more will follow soon
• Ninja Theory is sold (Senua)
• Undead Labs sold (State of Decay)
• Double Fine goes indie
• Compulsion Games goes indie
• Some of their IPs will be shared
• France blocked Arkane closure
• It is under "consultation" = soon
• More studios will be closed too
• Major cuts across XBOX
• Big cuts in ZeniMax (Bethesda)

• King and Mojang report directly to Asha now (the biggest cash cows)

#XBOX@GameDEV
#LayOffs@GameDEV

Yes, that's the paragraph I don't get and it will probably be explained as a bit of miscommunication.

That amount of desktop gamers in the era of economical decline and lack of hardware is literally impossible. Even with all the marketing in the world and significant market improvement, there's no chance for this scenario.

#XBOX@GameDEV
#Microsoft@GameDEV

And somehow they still have to make more Doom games with half of the team 🫡

#XBOX@GameDEV
#LayOffs@GameDEV

According to the reports, among fired people were the entire id Tech Engine team. Doom The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones may be among the last games made with id Tech 8.

Literally the technology behind first person shooters as the genre. You know, the family tree of this engine is responsible for not just Quake, Doom, and Wolfenstein, but for the whole Source Engine family + fork made for Titanfall and Apex Legends, almost all Call of Duty games, Dishonored and Deathloop, and many others.

The branches are safe for now, but it may be the sign that XBOX will end up with Unreal Engine. Their current experiments with Halo and Oblivion remasters were considered a success.

#GameEngines@GameDEV
#XBOX@GameDEV

Bethesda employees made a memorial for their fired colleagues to cheer them up and promise they will not be forgotten.

HR team instantly contacted the organisers and told them to "immediately remove all the items from the area of public usage", claiming they obstruct the work. Workers agreed and commented that previously there were fanart works and many other items that never caused any troubles before.

#Bethesda@GameDEV
#XBOX@GameDEV

🤔 deals were crazy

#XBOX@GameDEV
#Stalker@GameDEV

Time traveller: steps on a butterfly

The reality: Halo is the most anticipated PlayStation game of 2026...

#meme@GameDEV
#PlayStation@GameDEV
#XBOX@GameDEV
#Halo@GameDEV

XBOX is testing gaming time for ads. A limited library will be available for a number of XBOX Insider program members. 2 minutes of ads can give them up to an hour of gaming.

1. Ads will play before sessions begin.
2. The core game experience is unchanged.
3. This is optional. Players can choose other ways to play at any time.

Sounds odd to me as ad impressions are much less valuable. But here's the catch: they will only allow a very limited number of premium ads for now to boost the revenue.

#XBOX@GameDEV