Earlier this week, Xbox announced that it would be shuttering several studios it had attained as part of its $7.5 billion purchase of Bethesda, including Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios, the last of which is being absorbed into another team. Collectively, the studios’ produced…
Game Pass Lacks Purpose After Latest Xbox Studio Closures
On May 7, Microsoft closed down four first-party development studios it had acquired from Zenimax Media in 2021 including Tango Gameworks, developer of The Evil Within series and 2023’s surprise hit Hi-Fi Rush. It’s the latest round of layoffs and closures that the gaming industry, and Xbox specifically, has seen in…
It’s Time To Stop Giving Xbox Boss Phil Spencer A Pass
On May 7, Xbox announced that it was closing four studios: Arkane Austin (Redfall), Tango Gameworks (Hi-Fi Rush), Alpha Dog Games (Mighty Doom), and support studio Roundhouse Games. The news is yet another example of Xbox—which has spent billions buying up studios—cutting costs, laying people off, and rearranging…
Microsoft Is Closing Four Of Studios Including Prey Devs Arkane
Xbox is shutting down four studios in its first-party stable, specifically ones that fall under the Bethesda/ZeniMax umbrella. The brutal cuts will affect Redfall developer Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, and Mobile Doom developer Alpha Dog Games. ZeniMax subsidiary Roundhouse Games will be…
Everything You Didn’t Know Your Xbox Series X Could Do
Don’t shoot the messenger, but even if you’ve played your Xbox consistently for the past four years and you think you know it inside and out, you may still be surprised by what your console is capable of. Just like the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S have a bevy of hidden…
Xbox Console Sales Are Tanking As Microsoft Brings Games To PS5
After months of debate about Xbox’s future as some of its big console exclusives jumped ship to PlayStation 5, we have our clearest evidence yet of why Microsoft is experimenting with a new multiplatform approach: fewer and fewer people are buying Xboxes.
Blizzcon Skipping 2024 Could Be Fine, Could Be A Bad Omen
One year after it came back, Blizzcon, Blizzard’s once-annual dedicated event, isn’t returning for 2024. While the Overwatch and Warcraft developer plans to show off more of its games at different events throughout the year, Blizzcon has been a center point for the studio’s community since it began in 2005. Blizzcon…
Overwatch 2’s Mirrorwatch Event Is So Good I’m In Mourning
Overwatch 2 has had a lot of bad news since it launched, such as the gutting of its PvE suite, and now the reported cancellation of its story missions. Every seemingly good thing that’s introduced, like a store to buy rare skins, comes with a caveat, in that case being egregiously expensive. The limited-time…
Ex-Blizzard Exec Suggests Players Tip Games Like Elden Ring
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra made waves recently when he suggested that gamers might want to start tipping their favorite games extra. “I’ve often thought ‘I wish I could give these folks another $10 or $20 because it was worth more than my initial $70 and they didn’t try to nickel and dime me every second,’” …
Blizzard Games Could Return To China With New NetEase Deal
In 2022, game studio Blizzard and Chinese internet provider and gaming giant NetEase failed to come to an agreement, ending their 14-year relationship and effectively pulling the former’s marquee titles from Chinese markets. It was a tough blow to both parties, whose partnership helped bring huge titles like World of…