Xbox is reportedly preparing a limited edition Gears of War: E‑Day Storm King controller, featuring volcanic textures and blood‑red accents, priced at $89.99.
A leaked document suggests Xbox’s Disc2Digital feature could launch this August, letting players convert physical discs into digital licenses with cloud and PC access.
Xbox is testing ad‑supported game streaming for Insiders, allowing players to stream owned titles for free with ads. Sessions last one hour, with ads shown before play begins, offering a new affordable way to access games.
Xbox introduces backward compatibility on PC, starting with four original Xbox classics — Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy. Enhanced features include resolution upscaling, graphics customization, and upcoming Achievements support.
Xbox executives Matthew Ball and Matt Booty confirm that Gears of War: E‑Day and Clockwork Revolution will be permanent exclusives, with more titles planned, as the brand pivots strategy under new leadership.
Id Software suffers 136 layoffs, with developers claiming the Doom and Quake studio has been reduced to support size and stripped of key tech teams.
Xbox unveils its “Resetting Xbox” strategy, outlining studio restructuring, leadership changes, and a renewed focus on multiplatform support and Game Pass growth.
IO Interactive confirms layoffs after Xbox withdraws from publishing Project Fantasy, but the studio vows to continue developing the fantasy RPG as its own IP.
Microsoft is weighing the cancellation of Marvel’s Blade and the closure of Arkane Studios, with at least five Xbox teams at risk as layoffs begin July 6.
Microsoft confirms a global Xbox console price hike effective August 1, 2026, citing rising component costs. The update includes $100–$150 increases, the end of the 2 TB model, and new financing and trade‑in programs.
Bloomberg reports several Xbox studios—including Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory—are negotiating independence to avoid closure amid leadership changes and incoming layoffs.