Tag: Xbox Game Studios
News Halo Made Its PS5 Debut, So Now It's Time for Xbox to Lay Off the Team That Made It
Standard
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a “heroic” remake of an iconic game, and it’s available for the first time on PS5. (Although it may not be setting the sales charts alight, according to early estimates.) Now with the project out of the door, it’s time for the Xbox grim reaper to hit the people that made it with a round of layoffs. It must...
News Halo's No Match for Activision's Barebones Digital-Only Black Ops PS5 Ports
According to estimates
Activision’s digital-only Call of Duty: Black Ops ports dominated the PS5 in July, according to estimates from analytics firm Alinea. The sales tracker claims that the two PS3 games – rereleased on modern hardware with no improvements – sold a combined 11.2 million copies on the PS Store, more than every other game on...
News Early Data Suggests Unspectacular Start for Halo on PS5
But story still to be written
How is Halo: Campaign Evolved doing on its PS5 debut? Fine – and we certainly need a lot more data to know for sure – but likely unspectacularly, all things considered. While the game is currently second on the PS Store best-sellers list in the US, it’s a bit lower in European countries like the UK, where it...
News Halo Fares a Hair Better on PS5 Than Xbox, with PS5 Pro the Best Place to Play
Welcome to the dark side, Master Chief
Tech experts Digital Foundry have released one of the more interesting console comparisons of the generation, featuring Halo: Campaign Evolved. The long-time Xbox system seller is making its PlayStation debut with this single player remake, and Sony’s console is actually the best place to play. If you’re...
Poll Did You Buy Halo: Campaign Evolved on PS5?
Green energy
It's still bloody weird, isn't it? Halo on PlayStation. But this is our new reality, because Halo: Campaign Evolved is out right now on PS5 — and I want to know if you're actually playing it. If you lived through the PS2 and original Xbox generation like I did, followed by extreme console warring of the PS3 and Xbox 360 era, then...
News Fable PS5 Has Run 'Uncomfortably Beyond Budget', Sources Claim
God of War Laufey invades RPG's "dedicated moment"
Microsoft first announced its new Fable game, a reboot of the satirical RPG series by Forza maker Playground Games, back at E3 2020. Seven years later, the title will finally launch on PS5. That’s a long ass time. To be fair to Xbox Game Studios, the title likely would have launched this holiday...
News 'See You in the Sequel': Halo 2 Remake All But Confirmed
Bonus cutscene in Legendary ending
Halo Studios has basically confirmed it's working on a remake of Halo 2, likely on the same scale as Halo: Campaign Evolved, via a new cutscene. If you beat the Halo 1 remake on Legendary difficulty, you will be treated to an additional cinematic, which I've embedded above. In the cutscene, Sgt. Johnson is seen...
News From Xbox to PS5: Halo's Incredible 25-Year Transformation Plotted in Graphics Comparison
Check out Master Chief's makeover
Few franchises are as iconic as Xbox’s Halo. Master Chief has defined Microsoft’s green machine since Combat Evolved launched alongside the Redmond firm’s first-ever console. Now, we get to take control of the legendary Space Marine on Sony’s system. Halo: Campaign Evolved is a “heroic” remake of the...
Review Halo: Campaign Evolved (PS5) - Xbox Icon Returns to Glory in This Heroic Remake
A space odyssey
Halo: Campaign Evolved is an interesting game for a number of reasons, and the fact you’re playing as Master Chief with a PlayStation controller might actually be the least controversial of the lot. What would have been considered absurd just a couple of years ago has become commonplace: first-party Xbox games release on PS5. Or...
News 'It Isn't Something Carved in Stone': Xbox Still Unclear on Future PS5 Ports
Single player games could still come to Sony's console
Xbox’s decision to return to console exclusivity was one of the defining stories of June, but it’s been somewhat overshadowed by Sony’s physical discs debacle and layoffs in Redmond. However, a big story published by GamesRadar has t
News Obsidian Is Officially Making a New Fallout Game
Bethesda shares the news
The Outer Worlds and Avowed studio Obsidian Entertainment is working on a new Fallout game, it's now been officially confirmed. Reliable rumours pointed to this being the case in the wake of Xbox's latest wave of layoffs and a reset of the business, but it's now been made public by Bethesda. A social media post shared:...
News Halo's Physical PS5 Disc Won't Play without a Download
Campaign devolved
If you were hoping to pick up a physical copy of Halo: Campaign Evolved on PS5, take heed: the game won't be playable straight off the disc. Another example of something that's becoming an increasingly common trend, you'll need to pull a "content download" before jumping into Master Chief's very first PlayStation excursion. This...
News Halo Ready for PS5 Debut, Campaign Evolved Goes Gold
Ahead of 28th July release
Master Chief is ready to make his very first appearance on a PlayStation console, as it's been revealed Halo: Campaign Evolved has now gone gold ahead of its 28th July 2026 release on PS5. The phrase "going gold" means Halo Studios has finished work on the 1.0 version of the game, and can now turn its full attention to...
News Avowed 2 May Still Happen, Obsidian Skeleton Crew Continues Work
Until new Fallout game needs them
There's a chance the Avowed sequel Obsidian has been working on could still see the light of day, despite the fact it has been cancelled internally and the focus shifted to a new Fallout game. Earlier this week, Microsoft confirmed it's laying off 1,600 Xbox employees (and an
News 'Staff Are Being Asked to Do More with Less': Brutal Xbox Layoffs Leave Those Spared in Limbo
Remaining employees on tenterhooks
Xbox may have avoided the PR disaster of studio closures this week, but by extending its layoffs over the course of the coming fiscal year, it’s leaving any remaining staff to work under a cloud. The company cut 1,600 jobs across its division on Monday, with a further four first-party studios being spun-off or...
Rumour New Fallout Game from Obsidian in the Works, But Has to Cancel Avowed Sequel
Other unannounced projects also scrapped
Microsoft developer Obsidian Entertainment has begun work on a new Fallout game, as part of a considerable overhaul of the studio, a
News Despite Eliminating 20% of Its Workforce, Xbox Wants a Billion Players Per Day
"I know we can achieve this goal"
Xbox wants to “entertain more than a billion people per day” as it moves forward with a dramatically downsized workforce. In a memo, CEO Asha Sharma said she “knows”
News 5 Xbox Studios Impacted in Microsoft Layoffs, But No Games Cancelled
All publicly confirmed projects remain in the works
As part of today's Microsoft layoffs within the Xbox division, it has been shared that five first-party developers are either being let go to return to independence, sold off to someone else, or are looking at other avenues. The studios and their fates are: Double Fine (Psychonauts) —...
News 'I Know This Is Painful': Xbox Confirms 3,200 Job Losses in Industry Bloodbath
Multiple teams exit Xbox Game Studios
Xbox has confirmed that an eye-watering 3,200 employees across the division will lose their jobs, in one of the most significant industry shake-ups of all time. This is part of a broader Microsoft downsizing, which will see 4,800 people out of work. According to the company, 1,600 jobs will be lost today,...
News Hideo Kojima's New Horror Game Not at Risk of Xbox Cancellation
OD isn't on the chopping block
Microsoft appears to be gearing up for an alarming number of layoffs, studio shutdowns, and game cancellations in the near future, with reports claiming the cuts will be confirmed next week. As many as five developers within Xbox Game Studios could be at risk of closure, including Arkane Studios, Compulsion Games,...
"The devastation is going to reverberate"
It’s a rough time for the video game industry at large – but especially so if you’re a developer working for a studio owned by Microsoft. Rumblings about layoffs have been swirling for several weeks now, and the full picture is set to emerge as the Redmond firm’s financial year comes to a close...
Rumour State of Decay 3 Dev Also Facing Xbox Axe, Just Weeks After Game Was Revealed for PS5
Looking for a buyer
As part of a wider report by Games Beat delving deeper into the union response to the impending Xbox layoffs, it sounds like a fourth studio is searching for external investment. State of Decay 3 dev Undead Labs allegedly faces a fight for funding, despite confirming its sandbox survival game for the PS5 at the
News Even Sea of Thieves Is Getting a Movie Adaptation, with a Marvel Filmmaker Involved
Just don't pirate it
Of all the video game properties available, I wasn't expecting Sea of Thieves to be one to get a film adaptation, but there you go. Xbox's online multiplayer pirate adventure is indeed coming to the big screen, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. According to the publication, a live-action Sea of Thieves movie is planned,...
News 'They Said I'm Crazy': Kojima's New Single Player Horror Like Nothing Seen Before
PT 2
It’s still not clear whether Hideo Kojima’s upcoming horror OD, starring Hunter Schafer among others, will release on the PS5 – it’s published by Xbox Game Studios at a time when the firm is once again revisiting console exclusivity, of course. But if it does, we can expect something truly groundbreaking, according to an exclusive...
News Halo PS5 Backtracks PS Plus Co-Op Demands, Says They Were a Mistake
PSN account needed for both players
If you are planning to play Halo: Campaign Evolved like the days of old in local split-screen co-op next month, make sure your mate brings their PS Plus membership with them. Despite being an offline mode, it's been revealed both players wanting to go through the campaign in local co-op need a PS Plus...
News PS5's State of Decay 3 Looks to Have All the Ingredients for Success
You're a survivor
State of Decay 3 has been a long time coming, and it’s still in Early Alpha, according to this exclusive gameplay footage. There’s no denying, however: the zombie survival game has all the ingredients required for success. This 72-minute video, presented warts and all, shows off a ton of early footage from the game. If you...
News 'There Are Other Xbox Studios in Trouble': Ominous Reports as Microsoft 'Bloodbath' Looms
Messed up
We’ve all read the rumours regarding Xbox’s incoming exodus, but things sound worse than initially imagined behind-the-scenes. In a revelatory recap video, Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier says there are more studios than just Ninja Theory, Double Fine, and Compulsion Games in trouble. All three developers, who’ve made multiple...
News Here's How You Unlock Halo's PS5 Platinum Trophy Next Month
The full Trophy list revealed
The release of Halo: Campaign Evolved doesn't just mark the first appearance of Master Chief on PlayStation, but also the first time you can earn a Platinum Trophy in the series. Halo Studios has published the Trophy list a month early, allowing aspiring Spartans the chance to chart their course to 100% completion well...
News New Senua Game Reveal Used as a Way to Sell Ninja Theory to Suitors
Xbox had decided to sell the studio before reveal
Microsoft allowed Ninja Theory to announce a new title in Senua while preparing to either shut it down or sell it off, and according to Game File journalist Stephen Totilo, that was all part of its plan. As part of a deep dive article covering the news of Xbox plans to rid itself of Ninja Theory,...
News Halo: Campaign Evolved Goes All-In on PS5 Pro Support as Xbox Bets Big on Rival Console
Green with envy
In a move that would have loyal soldiers of the Xbox 360 console war era questioning their sanity, Microsoft is investing an awful lot of resources into making it seem like PS5 Pro will be the place to play Halo: Campaign Evolved. Now, obviously, it makes sense for the Team in Green to prioritise PlayStation users in this instance...
News Hellblade Studio Hunting for Buyer, Days After Announcing New Game for PS5
It's barely been a week
A little over a week ago, Hellblade dev Ninja Theory announced Senua for the PS5 – but now it’s on the cusp of being closed down. The Cambridge-based developer – which previously worked with Sony on the PS3 game Heavenly Sword – was reportedly told by Microsoft that it will be shut down earlier today. But
News Several Xbox Studios at Risk of Closure, in Talks to Become Independent
Update: Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Compulsion named
This weekend has been awash with rumours about incoming Xbox studio closures, as new leadership wrestles with an almighty mess. While the speculation about the layoffs has been awful to witness on social media, Kotaku is now reporting that South of Midnight maker Compulsion Games will be among...
News Fable PS5 Looking Far Too Easy? Don't Fear, Harder Difficulties Will Be Available
"The guards haven't been drinking tea mid-shift"
While the response to Fable’s latest gameplay demo has been largely positive due to its in-depth life sim aspects, the game has come under fire for its “simple” combat gameplay. Fortunately, dev Playground has clarified that its latest video depicted ‘Story’ difficulty, the “gentlest way...
News Halo PS5 Poised to Sell Extremely Well, Topping PS Store Charts Around the World
Belief in Master Chief
It looks like Master Chief’s anticipated PS5 debut in Halo: Campaign Evolved is going to be a big hit, as the game is climbing the PS Store pre-order charts ahead of its release on 28th July. In several European countries, the title is already the most pre-ordered PS5 game by some margin, and it’s climbing the charts in...
News Even with PS5 Ports, Many of Xbox's Games Have Been Underperfoming
Tough times
There’s been a spate of stories coming out of Xbox this week – an overwhelming amount, if you will. While not all of it is relevant, the Redmond firm finds itself tangled up in the PS5 ecosystem; even with the return of two console exclusives, the company announced several new PlayStation games during its Xbox Showcase last week,...
News Xbox Planning Major Layoffs Next Month, Could Involve a Studio Closure
Employees shocked by Gears of War's cancellation on PS5
It’s been a crazy few days for Xbox, a major publisher of PS5 games. It announced several new titles for Sony’s system on Sunday, including State of Decay 3 and Senua. But it also confirmed the return of console exclusives, something it’ll “try to do more” of if the health of its...
News Halo's PS5 Debut Can Be Played Entirely in Third-Person if You Want
Cheers, Chief
Halo is the quintessential console first-person shooter, let’s be honest. Yes, games like DOOM released on the PS1 and GoldenEye 64 teased what was possible, but Halo: Combat Evolved refined the formula and made the genre finally feel at home on a controller. But us PS5 players really do like our third-person shooters, eh? And...
News Fable PS5's Innovative Life Sim Loop Has Me Smitten
This looks incredible
Regular readers will know I love Shenmue – it’s my all-time favourite game. And one of the things I love most about it is the way it embeds you in a living, breathing world. Characters follow routines: they wake up for work in the morning; they head for dinner at the end of their shift. I’ve always been obsessed with...
News Xbox Will 'Try to Do More' Console Exclusives if the Health of Its Business Improves
"Our business isn't particularly healthy"
In an interview with Fortune, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said her company will “look to try and do more” console exclusives if the health of its business improves. Quizzed on the topic, the executive admitted the division “isn’t particularly healthy” and so that’s why it’s starting with...
News Whoops! Xbox Accidentally Uploads Gears of War PS5 Trailer
You couldn't make this up
We now have definitive proof that the PS5 version of Gears of War: E-Day was cancelled last minute before the Xbox Showcase this weekend. In a delisted Xbox Podcast video, spotted by fans on
Rumour Halo PS5 Trailer Was Planned for State of Play, Sony Allegedly Angered by Removal
What a twist
After all that transpired over the past 24 hours, it’s odd to see a new Halo: Campaign Evolved trailer captured on PS5 Pro hardware today. But online scuttlebutt suggests this video may have actually been planned for last week’s State of Play, before last-minute changes saw Microsoft pull the plu
Reaction Mealy-Mouthed Microsoft Takes Us Back to 2023 with Mixed Messaging on Xbox Exclusivity
Aw sh*t, here we go again
2023 called, it wants its ambiguity back. I got a lot of criticism earlier in the year for describing Microsoft’s indecisive approach to exclusivity as tiring, but in the aftermath of last night’s Xbox Showcase, it looks like we have months of mixed messaging ahead of us. Actually, I was reluctant to even write this...
News As Xbox Returns to Exclusives, Halo Remake Embraces PS5 with PS5 Pro Gameplay Trailer
You Needler to see it
Still a little strange, isn't it? Halo on PS5. Especially now Microsoft is taking a step back towards console exclusivity. But we are where we are, with Halo: Campaign Evolved heading to Sony's console day and date with Xbox and Steam. What's more, we now have a glimpse of what it looks like on PS5 hardware. This latest...
News Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Is Now Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga
Now you know
Here’s a weird one: Ninja Theory has renamed its cinematic story game from Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 to Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga today. (No, I’m not using roman numerals, they’re bad for SEO.) I assume this change is designed to separate the sequel from the new game Senua, which sounds like it’ll be more of a...
News Halo PS5 Collector's Edition Instantly Sells Out, and for Good Reason
It's a strong offering
Halo: Campaign Evolved has been available for pre-order on PS5 for less than 24 hours, and that was more than enough time for its considerable Collector's Edition to completely sell out. The physical Collector's Edition has been an exclusive offering on the Xbox Game Studios Shop, and both the listings in the USA and Europe...
News Fable DLC Already Confirmed for PS5, Adds New Region
It's called Fable: Order of the Hero
Playground Games has just wrapped up confirming Fable for a PS5 release on 23rd February 2027, and with it, PS Store pre-orders have gone live. There's a £60 / $70 base version and a £90 / $100 Premium Edition on offer, with the latter revealing the action RPG will be expanded beyond launch with DLC. One...
More questions raised than answered
In an interview with Gamertag Radio, Xbox boss Matt Booty has shed a little more light on Microsoft’s ever-changing approach to exclusivity. In case you missed the news earlier today, the Redmond firm said both Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be
Port cancelled very recently
How recently did Microsoft cancel the PS5 version of Gears of War: E-Day? Apparently very recently. We all saw earlier today the release’s PEGI rating go live with Sony’s console listed among the platforms. There’s also a SKU for a physical PS5 version rattling a
News All Your Favourite PS5 Live Service Games Are Getting Big Updates
Everything you need to know
It wouldn’t be an Xbox Showcase without update trailers for a variety of different Microsoft owned games, almost all of which are available on the PS5. We’re talking Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, The Elder Scrolls Online, Age of Empires – you name it, they’re all here. Rather than split all this stuff up,
News Sea of Thieves Season 20 Puts You at the Helm with Custom Seas Mode on PS5
Make your own fun
Sea of Thieves is introducing Custom Seas, a new set of tools that allow players to turn the online pirate game into whatever they want. Launching as part of Season 20 on 18th June, here's a trailer that gives an overview of what you can do: Custom Seas will let you make your own modes, or spawn in whatever objects and enemies...
