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Marvel’s Blade in limbo as Arkane Lyon faces uncertain future after Xbox reset
Microsoft has confirmed sweeping layoffs across its Xbox division, cutting thousands of jobs, shedding four studios and directing remaining teams towards established franchises as part of a “reset” led by new Xbox leader Asha Sharma. Amid this upheaval, the fate of French developer Arkane Lyon and its in-development title Marvel’s Blade remains unresolved, with the…
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Moth-watching cosy game invites players to explore whimsical woodland forests
This PC Gamer article is a “cosy game of the month” feature spotlighting a moth-watching simulation game in which players explore whimsical woodland forests and learn more about the fuzzy insects at its heart. The piece falls into the outlet’s relaxing, low-stress gaming coverage, recommending the title to readers who enjoy gentle exploration and nature-themed…
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Xbox job cuts reveal the risks of unchecked corporate expansion
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has published an unusually blunt statement acknowledging that Microsoft’s gaming business is “not healthy”, operating at margins 3–10 times lower than comparable platform and publishing rivals, and announced a major “reset”. The article argues that the crisis is the result of years of aggressive, poorly founded expansion under previous boss Phil…
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Arkane staff face uncertain future as other Xbox studios gain independence
Microsoft’s Xbox division has undertaken another major restructuring, spinning off five studios and cutting 1,600 jobs immediately with a further 1,600 layoffs expected over the coming financial year. While Double Fine and Compulsion are returning to independence with some Microsoft funding, and Ninja Theory and Undead Labs have been sold to undisclosed buyers, the fate…
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Semiconductor prices set to soar before SK hynix memory falls by late 2028
Analysts are forecasting a significant rise in semiconductor prices over the coming year before memory chip costs from SK hynix — covering both DRAM and NAND — are expected to fall by late 2028. The projection matters for PC builders and consumers, as memory pricing directly affects the cost of components such as RAM modules…
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Arc Raiders update overhauls the game’s matchmaking system
Extraction shooter Arc Raiders has released update 1.36.0, which reworks its distinctive matchmaking system in response to long-standing player feedback. The game uses an unusual aggression-based approach, assigning each player a hidden rating so that those who frequently fight other players are matched into more combat-heavy lobbies, while players who stick to fighting Arc enemies…
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Sony to end physical PlayStation game production by 2028
Sony has announced that it will stop producing physical PlayStation games in 2028, marking what appears to be the end of an era for disc-based console gaming. However, industry advisor Mat Piscatella of Circana argues that the move is less a sudden break than a continuation of trends that have been reshaping the industry for…
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Xbox aims to reach a billion daily users while cutting 3,200 jobs
Microsoft has announced what Xbox CEO Asha Sharma called “the most significant restructure in Xbox history”, cutting 1,600 jobs this summer with a further 1,600 expected over the following year. Yet buried in the memo announcing the layoffs was an ambitious stated ambition: for Xbox to become one of the few companies that “entertains more…
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State of Decay 3 no longer guaranteed a day-one Game Pass release
State of Decay 3 may no longer arrive on Xbox Game Pass at launch, following Microsoft’s decision to part ways with the game’s developer, Undead Labs. The studio is among those Microsoft is offloading after announcing 3,200 job cuts across its Xbox division. This matters because every prior trailer and update for the game, including…
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Halo 4 nearly had a real-money auction house, Don Mattrick reportedly urged
A former Bungie designer, Dan Callan, has shared an anecdote claiming that former Xbox boss Don Mattrick once suggested Halo 4 should include a real-money auction house for its campaign, similar to the one that damaged Diablo 3’s reputation. Callan, who was recently laid off from Bungie, posted the story on Bluesky, describing how he…