Xbox confirmed it is eliminating 268 roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and the XGS management layer, and is reorganizing studios so Activision develops the next Halo while Obsidian moves under Bethesda. Official Xbox Wire says the company is roughly three-quarters through its previously announced 3,200-role restructuring.
One reported example involves Halo's development potentially shifting under the Activision banner.
She described the business as not in a healthy spot, prompting the restructuring that includes the job reductions and studio changes.
Tap a lens to see what this story means for you.
Liked this? The Brief brings you the whole day in tech, verified, every morning.
Two minutes, free forever. What's in The Brief →
See what’s happening right now
The Feed runs all day — short, verified briefs the moment they break.
Open the FeedFollow @thecircuitry_
Every story we publish, as it happens. No noise between.
Reader-supported
The Circuitry is a passion project I've always wanted to build, and I love the work behind it.
Running it costs real money. APIs, hosting, time. To keep improving the site and growing this into something useful for everyone, those costs have to be covered.
Any contribution is appreciated. If not, no pressure. Thanks for reading.
Nearly 1,900 Blizzard workers have ratified their first union contract with Microsoft, requiring bargaining over AI use and adding recall rights plus extra severance after layoffs. The deal sets potential new standards for video game industry labor agreements at a time of widespread job cuts.
Sony's September 3, 2026 State of Play confirmed multiple third-party games for Xbox consoles with firm release dates through 2027. The announcements reassure Xbox owners that the PlayStation-focused showcase still delivered relevant multiplatform news.
Hideo Kojima revealed he learned of Sony's decision to cancel funding for Physint during a June Zoom call, leaving him in shock and immediately concerned for his studio's 200 employees and its 10th anniversary. The news comes after PlayStation publicly stepped away earlier this month and Xbox took over the project, highlighting the tough conditions across the game industry.
Hideo Kojima confirmed Bill Skarsgård as the lead actor in Physint and said development on OD is on schedule during an Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 presentation on September 17. The update is the first since Xbox took over publishing both games following Sony's departure from Physint last week.
Epic Games has officially confirmed a Kingdom Hearts collaboration for Fortnite, with a September 15 trailer showcasing skins for Sora, Riku, Kairi and Roxas during the Override season. The tie-in adds to a string of gaming crossovers while the season draws mixed reactions and a modest drop in player numbers.
