#microsofts

[steamandepic]

Former Forza Horizon 5 director Mike Brown says Game Pass didn't meet subscriber expectations 🎮 The concept was solid, but the user count was FAR below Microsoft's massive investments. Brown believes this triggered the restructuring of Xbox's gaming division. Xbox initially raised the price, then lowered it, while ditching day-one Call of Duty releases. Still, Brown praises ex-lead Sarah Bond as a smart and competent exec.

[steamandepic]

Xbox CANCELED the secret multiplayer project Project Ekur set in the Halo universe 🚫 It was an unannounced multiplayer game built on Unreal Engine 5, originating from the battle royale Project Tatanka. The cancelation was confirmed by insiders Rebs Gaming and Jez Corden. Microsoft's internal studios are still restructuring, and the flagship sci-fi franchise took a hit. RIP to the Halo multiplayer dream 😔

[steamandepic]

First half of 2026 was a record-breaker for Steam, $11.1 billion in revenue 🔥 Revenue grew nearly 5x over a decade, driven by China's expansion, higher game prices, and big publishers ditching their launchers. Top earners: Chinese studio titles. Meanwhile, console market's struggling, Microsoft's game revenue dropped 7%, Sony's exclusives sales keep sliding, plus disc-free consoles from 2028. Big oof for the green and blue teams 👀

[steamandepic]

Chris Avellone confirms Avowed 2 development is UNAFFECTED, the project is in an advanced production stage. However, the studio might be reassigned to a new Fallout amid the crisis under Microsoft's leadership. The designer criticized corporate policy, including pricing, which hurt The Outer Worlds 2 sales. Layoffs at Obsidian are just a sign of deeper issues. Project fates are in management's hands, but Avowed 2 is safe for now 🔥

[steamandepic]

After Microsoft's "bloodbath," Starfield is no longer Todd's golden child, ZeniMax is narrowing its focus to Fallout, Doom, and The Elder Scrolls. To streamline, they're axing a fifth of the workforce and selling studios, while Starfield support gets dropped from the priority list. The future? Betting on proven classics under a hard austerity regime 🥴

[steamandepic]

Rumors are swirling that Rare, the studio behind Sea of Thieves, might be SHUT DOWN 😨 Amid Microsoft's mass layoffs (over 1,000 people), Xbox boss Asha Sharma admitted the company has become sluggish. Some predict the legendary studio's closure, others hope its pirate hit keeps it afloat. Waiting on official word.

[steamandepic]

Sony is killing physical discs, but Nintendo isn't budging 🎮 Mat Piscatella from Circana says Sony's move to drop discs won't affect Nintendo's Switch 2 plans. Starting January 2028, new PlayStation games go digital-only. He predicts PS6 and Microsoft's Project Helix will also ditch discs, leaving Nintendo as the last major console maker selling physical games. The shift is ALREADY here, but it's still the symbolic end of an era. Retailers will keep selling collector's editions and boxes with download codes, but spending on traditional physical games will keep dropping.