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Tech News
Microsoft told Team Xbox staff in a memo called 'Continuing Our Reset' that it is eliminating 268 positions across Halo Studios and other first-party studios, and forming a new team distinct from Call of Duty to develop the next Halo title under Activision. A smaller group at Halo Studios will remain to support existing games and the current community, ending its sole stewardship of the franchise since 2010.
Xbox has laid off 268 employees across Halo Studios, other first-party teams and Xbox Game Studios management, part of a previously announced plan to cut 1,600 jobs through July 2027. As part of the restructuring, Activision will take over development of the next Halo game and also manage Rare and World's Edge, while Obsidian continues working under Bethesda on Fallout and Grounded 2, and Playground and Turn 10 merge to handle Forza and Fable together.
Microsoft is cutting 268 more jobs across Xbox as part of the restructuring it began in July, with Halo Studios, first-party developers and central Xbox Game Studios functions most affected. A newly formed team under Activision will develop the next Halo title, while Rare and World's Edge also move under Activision's oversight, and Obsidian shifts to Bethesda. Compulsion Games, Double Fine and Undead Labs have been spun off as independent studios with funding and IP rights intact.
Microsoft is combining Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios into a single studio that will focus on Forza Horizon and Fable, according to a memo from Xbox content chief Matt Booty. The move effectively ends Turn 10 as an independent studio after it lost most of its staff in layoffs last year and had been largely maintaining Forza Motorsport since.
Microsoft is laying off roughly 268 employees across Halo Studios, other first-party teams, and Xbox Game Studios' central functions, according to a memo from chief content officer Matt Booty. Two prospective buyers for Ninja Theory fell through, so Microsoft is starting a consultation process on potentially shutting the Hellblade studio unless another buyer emerges. Undead Labs has completed its spinout to independence, while talks over Arkane's future continue under French labor law through year's end.
Music industry veteran Frank Babar, founder of NYC's Embassy Studios, shared his career journey and business philosophy in an interview for How Success Happens. He described signing a 25-year lease for his state-of-the-art recording facility during the pandemic simply because he had the leverage and opportunity to do so, tracing his path from warehouse worker to music mogul.
HBO Max released a mid-season trailer for DC Studios' 'Lanterns' show, previewing its final three episodes set to air in 2026. The footage shows John Stewart turning to fellow Green Lanterns Sinestro and Guy Gardner for guidance as the season's murder mystery plot advances.
Universal Studios Hollywood has launched Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a new outdoor roller coaster themed around the movie franchise. The ride sends replica muscle cars, including a version of Dom Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger, spinning along more than 4,000 feet of track at speeds up to 72 mph. A separate version of the attraction is expected to open at Universal's Florida park next year.
Spotify introduced Fresh Finds Forward, a program offering artists placed on any Fresh Finds playlist after January 1, 2026 a year of extra support. Benefits include free studio sessions at notable US studios, early access to Spotify tools, priority partnerships for tours and videos, software subscriptions from Landr and Splice, and six months of free therapy via BetterHelp.
At a Fast Company event moderated by Stephanie Mehta, Supergoop CEO Melis Del Rey, Bel North America CEO Peter McGuinness, and BBC Studios direct-to-consumer chief Robert Schildhouse discussed the challenges of stepping into top leadership roles. The three executives compared notes on managing employee expectations and public skepticism toward corporate leaders in the early stages of their tenures.
In a Fast Company interview moderated by Kc Ifeanyi, entertainer Bob the Drag Queen discussed how drag has grown from a niche art form into a mainstream cultural and commercial force. He detailed his approach to running his production company, Purse First Studios, and how he has turned his personal brand into a sustainable business.
Fox Entertainment has created Fox Creator Studios, a new division aimed at partnering with online content creators to develop shows and franchises. The initiative is led by Billy Parks under CEO Rob Wade, with creator Christina Richardson of C. Rich Media cited as an example of the talent Fox hopes to work with.