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“Our business did not grow with our audience”: post-layoffs, Xbox execs are trying to sell a gaming division bounce back by summer 2027
Microsoft’s Xbox division says it aims to return to financial growth by the end of its 2027 financial year, following recent mass layoffs and a weaker set of results. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the business had gained more than 200 million new players in 2026 but had failed to turn that audience growth into…
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Microsoft CEO says Xbox has “the best IP” and “talented studios around the world,” is confident it’ll “return” to growth after its worst quarter in years amid mass layoffs
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Xbox has “the best IP in the industry” and studios worldwide, expressing confidence that the gaming business will return to growth after a difficult period. His remarks matter because they follow a major restructuring and job cuts, while Xbox’s latest results lag behind Microsoft’s otherwise strong performance. Xbox content and…
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Pavarotti’s tailor caused his own £1million French wine collection to go mouldy by turning off ‘noisy’ fridges after neighbours complained, judge rules – as he is handed £110k court bill
A judge has ruled that Pavarotti’s former tailor was responsible for damage to his own French wine collection after switching off its refrigeration units because neighbours complained about noise. The decision leaves him facing a substantial court bill and rejects his claim for compensation over the mould-damaged wine. The collection was reportedly valued at about…
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Phil Spencer says Xbox must turn player growth into revenue
Xbox chief executive Phil Spencer said the company gained 200 million players during its latest fiscal year, yet its gaming revenue still declined. He said Xbox must “close that gap” by converting growth in its player base into stronger, more reliable income, highlighting the commercial pressure on Microsoft’s gaming business. The figure covers the broader…
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I Got a Free Meal From a Private Chef—Who Filmed It All to Train Robots
A WIRED journalist accepted a free three-course meal from Shift, a company that records skilled workers’ hand movements to create training data for robots. The private chef wore a camera mounted on his cap while cooking in the journalist’s home, illustrating how firms are extending data collection from online activity into domestic, physical tasks that…
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Grammys CEO reacts to BTS’ backing out in protest to Asian pop category
The chief executive of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr, has responded after BTS said they would not submit their album ‘Arirang’ to the Grammys’ new Best Asian Pop Music category in protest. BTS argued that music should be appreciated “beyond regions or languages”, while Mason Jr said he respected the group’s decision but stressed…
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Shell’s profits more than double after jump in oil and gas prices
Shell more than doubled its net profit in the second quarter of 2026, as Europe’s largest oil and gas company benefited from a sharp rise in oil and gas prices triggered by war in the Middle East. The surge in earnings has reignited criticism from environmental campaigners, who are renewing calls for a windfall tax…
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England’s 1966 World Cup heroes were fun, humble and unlike today’s stars
A Guardian columnist reflects on personal encounters with England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, marking 60 years since the triumph, portraying the players as down-to-earth and approachable in contrast with the wealth and detachment of today’s Premier League stars. The piece uses anecdotes involving Geoff Hurst, Alf Ramsey and the Charlton brothers to illustrate an era…
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Woke Wisconsin brewery gets brutal punishment for offering twisted Trump promotion
The article text provided only contains the Daily Mail’s site navigation, unrelated headlines, and a cut-off sign-up prompt (“Sign up to DC Insider HERE to get a front-row seat to the biggest stor…”) — it does not include the actual body text of the brewery story. I can’t responsibly summarise details that aren’t in the…
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Grammy chief expresses regret over BTS pulling out of awards
Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said he was saddened but respected BTS’s decision to withdraw from consideration for the 69th Grammy Awards. The group’s move was seen as a protest against the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which BTS said risked dividing music by region or language; Mason said the category was intended…