Xbox Series X|SXbox One
Xbox Live Outage Blocks Sign-Ins and Downloaded Games
Xbox Live is down for many players, with the outage affecting account sign-ins, Store access and some downloaded games that rely on digital licensing checks.
Tag
#Microsoft
Stories tagged with #Microsoft.
Xbox Series X|SXbox One
Xbox Live Outage Hits Store, Cloud Gaming and Social Features
Xbox services are currently down for some users, with Microsoft acknowledging errors across key parts of the Xbox ecosystem. The outage is affecting areas including the store, social features, cloud gaming, games and apps.
Xbox Series X|S
Microsoft Denies Xbox Layoffs Are Replacing US Staff With Foreign Workers
Microsoft has denied claims that Xbox's latest layoffs are meant to replace US employees with foreign workers, saying the cuts are part of a wider restructuring of the gaming business.
DoomQuakeWolfenstein
id Software Says It Can Still Build Doom After Xbox Layoffs
id Software has responded after heavy Xbox layoffs hit the Doom studio, saying its team is about the same size it was during Doom 2016. The studio says it still has the staff needed to build its games and technology.
The Elder Scrolls
Bethesda Staff Fear Xbox Layoffs Will Hurt The Elder Scrolls 6
Bethesda staff reportedly fear Xbox's latest layoffs will have a cascading effect on The Elder Scrolls 6. More than 50 Bethesda Game Studios employees are said to have been affected, with staff warning of morale damage, crunch risk and possible delays.
XboxXbox Series X|SGame Pass
Bernie Sanders Criticizes Microsoft Over Xbox Layoffs and Price Hike
Bernie Sanders has criticized Microsoft over its planned 3,200 Xbox job cuts, connecting the layoffs to the company's profits, executive pay and upcoming Xbox console price hike.
State of Decay
State of Decay 3 Game Pass Launch Is Now Unclear After Undead Labs Sale
State of Decay 3 may no longer be locked to a day-one Game Pass launch after Microsoft agreed to move Undead Labs to new ownership. Xbox still lists the survival sequel for 2027.
Roundup
ZeniMax Overhaul Puts Fallout and Elder Scrolls at Center of Xbox Reset
Microsoft's Xbox reset is now reaching ZeniMax, with a new report saying the Bethesda parent will reduce management layers and lean harder on its biggest franchises. Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein are named as the key focus.
Roundup
Microsoft Plans 3,200 Xbox Job Cuts in Historic Restructure
Microsoft is cutting about 3,200 Xbox roles through FY27 as part of what Xbox CEO Asha Sharma called the division's biggest restructure. Several smaller Xbox studios are being spun out or moved toward new ownership.
Xbox Series X|SXbox
Xbox Project Helix May Still Drop Physical Discs
Xbox's next-generation Project Helix console may still launch without a disc drive, though Microsoft has not announced a final plan. The report arrives as physical game ownership faces fresh pressure across console platforms.
Halo
Xbox Is Reportedly Reassessing How Halo Is Run
A new insider claim says Halo Studios is not in danger of shutting down, but Xbox is heavily reviewing how the franchise is managed. The report arrives weeks before Halo: Campaign Evolved brings Master Chief back across Xbox, PC and PS5.
Fallout
Fallout Game Was Reportedly Canceled at Microsoft Studio
A Fallout project was reportedly in development at a Microsoft-owned studio outside Bethesda before being canceled earlier this year. The claim lands as Xbox is said to be refocusing investment around major franchises including Fallout.
FalloutGrounded
Obsidian Reportedly Negotiating With Xbox to Avoid Closure
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly in negotiations with Microsoft to avoid closure, putting the Fallout: New Vegas, Avowed and The Outer Worlds studio inside Xbox's wider reset. Microsoft has not announced any Obsidian closure.
State of Decay
State of Decay 3 Studio Reportedly at Risk in Xbox Layoffs
Undead Labs, the Xbox-owned studio behind State of Decay 3, is reportedly among several teams at risk as Microsoft prepares another wave of layoffs. The report comes weeks after Xbox gave the survival sequel a 2027 launch window.
Xbox Series X|SXbox OneXbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass Publishing Deals Have Reportedly Been Paused
Microsoft has reportedly paused new Xbox Game Pass publishing deals, raising questions about the subscription service's third-party pipeline. Existing deals should keep the catalog moving in the short term.
PaydayTomb Raider
Payday 2 Leaves Xbox Game Pass After Nine Years
Payday 2 is leaving Xbox Game Pass on June 30 after spending nine years in the catalog. Seven more games are leaving the service the same day, including Slay the Spire, Unpacking and two Tomb Raider titles.
Xbox Series X|SXbox Game Pass
Microsoft Has Reportedly Considered Spinning Out Xbox
Microsoft has reportedly considered spinning out Xbox or restructuring it as a wholly owned subsidiary. The report does not mean a sale has been announced, but it adds another layer to Xbox's wider reset.
Xbox Series X|SXbox OneXbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass Is Getting More Flexible This Summer
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says Microsoft will add more flexible Game Pass offerings this summer. The comment follows a price cut, subscriber losses and a wider Xbox business reset.
Xbox Series X|SXbox Game Pass
Xbox Layoffs Reportedly Loom After CEO's Reset Memo
Xbox is reportedly preparing major layoffs after CEO Asha Sharma told staff the business needs a reset. The exact scale of the cuts is still unclear.
Xbox Series X|SXbox Game Pass
Xbox Lays Out Reset Plan as Hardware Costs Squeeze Consoles
Xbox has published an internal reset memo that points to rising hardware costs, weak margins, Game Pass recovery and a fresh look at content priorities.
Sea of Thieves
Rare Retires Sea of Thieves Boatswain Role After Misconduct Allegations
Rare has retired the Sea of Thieves Boatswain role after online allegations against a former community ambassador. The studio says it will review how members are onboarded and evaluated across its community programs.
Xbox Series X|SXbox One
Xbox Elite Series 3 Leak Shows New Buttons and Removable Battery
A new Xbox Elite Series 3 controller may have leaked through Brazil's Anatel regulator. The images suggest new scroll-wheel controls, a cloud connection button and a smaller removable battery, but Microsoft has not announced the controller.
Xbox Series X|SXbox Game Pass
Discord Nitro Adds Xbox Game Pass as Xbox Subscribers Get Nitro Perks
Discord Nitro members are getting a starter edition of Xbox Game Pass in eligible regions. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will also receive Discord Nitro perks later this month.
Industry
Double Fine Workers Move To Unionize With CWA
Workers at Double Fine Productions have filed to form a union with the Communications Workers of America. The NLRB case lists 42 employees in the proposed unit at the Microsoft-owned Psychonauts studio.
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Brings CoreAI Leaders Into Gaming Team
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is adding several CoreAI veterans and other product leaders to Microsoft's gaming division. The reshuffle comes as Xbox looks to move faster, reconnect with players and developers, and return the business to growth.
PC
Xbox Mode Starts Rolling Out on Windows 11 PCs
Microsoft has started rolling out Xbox Mode for Windows 11 PCs in supported markets. The feature adds a controller-friendly full-screen interface for desktops, laptops, tablets and handheld gaming PCs.