Xbox Layoffs Hit Obsidian, Bethesda, id Software, and ZeniMax Online Studios
Recent developments indicate significant job cuts within Xbox's game development ecosystem. Information surfaced on social media platforms, specifically BlueSky and LinkedIn, revealing that Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind acclaimed titles like "The Outer Worlds" and "Pentiment," has been affected by these layoffs.
Among those impacted are long-standing employees. For instance, Daniel Alpert, who served as an Art Director at Obsidian for 21 years, and writer AK Fedeau are confirmed to be among the individuals who lost their jobs. The full extent of the layoffs across Obsidian and other affected studios under the Xbox umbrella, including Bethesda Softworks, id Software, and ZeniMax Online Studios, is still being assessed.
Fresh materials — Gaming News
Xbox Revenue Sees Significant Drop, Hardware Sales Down 29%
Microsoft's most recent financial disclosures highlight a considerable decrease in Xbox revenue. For the entirety of the fiscal year, Xbox revenue experienced a 7% decline. This downward trend continued into the fourth quarter, where revenue fell by 10% compared to the previous year. The prima
"People want to play arcade racers again" – How Wreckreation's developer transitioned from a redundancy notice to working on a sequel
The team at Three Fields Entertainment, led by Fiona Sperry, recently faced a company-wide redundancy notice in December. Despite this challenging situation, they are now working on a sequel to their arcade racer, Wreckreation. This shift in direction comes as a response to a clear demand from
Netflix Launches New App for Children's Games
Netflix has rolled out a new application exclusively for children's games, marking a significant evolution in its strategy for its gaming arm. This move underscores Netflix's commitment to expanding its presence in the interactive entertainment space, with a particular focus on younger audienc
Podcast: Call of Duty, Game Pass, and the Mario Movie
It's Friday, and we're back with another episode of the pre-alpha GamesIndustry.biz Podcast. This week, I'm joined by Lewis Packwood as we delve into the week's major talking point: Xbox's decision regarding Call of Duty. Specifically, we're discussing the move to remove the game from Game Pas
Epic Games Store Launches on iPhone in Japan
The Epic Games Store is now accessible on iPhones in Japan. This development comes shortly after the implementation of the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), which took effect in December 2025.
Magic: The Gathering Arena Developers Announce Unionization Plans
A substantial majority of the development team behind Magic: The Gathering Arena has declared their intention to unionize. They plan to affiliate with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). English Translation: A substantial majority of the development team behind Magic: