Microsoft is cutting 268 jobs across Halo Studios and other first-party teams as part of its ongoing Xbox restructuring, while also consolidating studios under fewer publishing umbrellas. Activision will now oversee World's Edge and Rare and take charge of developing the next Halo title through a newly formed team separate from Call of Duty, leaving a smaller crew at Halo Studios to support existing games. Other changes include Bethesda absorbing Obsidian, King merging with Microsoft Casual Games, and Playground Games combining with Turn 10 to focus on Forza and Fable.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-22
Newly discovered internal account codes suggest T-Mobile is developing a system letting customers select their own subscription perk instead of a fixed bundle. The codes reference services including Apple Music, YouTube, SiriusXM, Paramount Plus, ESPN Plus, Xbox Game Pass, Google AI, and DashPass. T-Mobile has not confirmed the program, so details on eligibility, tiers, and rollout timing remain unknown.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-21
Newegg is selling Microsoft's black wireless Xbox controller together with a $50 digital Xbox gift card for a combined $80. Since the controller alone usually costs $50 to $60, the deal effectively prices it around $30 once the gift card value is factored in.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-21
Windows 11 includes an Xbox mode feature that replaces the desktop with a full-screen, console-like gaming interface, though it isn't enabled by default. Users can turn it on and access it through Settings, keyboard shortcuts like Win + F11, the Game Bar, or the Xbox app, and can exit back to the desktop just as easily.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-20
Testing from Polling Rate Test shows Microsoft's Xbox controllers report input at roughly the same 125Hz rate whether connected via USB cable or the proprietary Xbox Wireless Adapter, translating to about eight milliseconds of potential delay in either case. Bluetooth connections, by contrast, add an extra four to eight milliseconds of lag, varying with interference from nearby wireless devices.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-19
Xbox's new disc-to-digital feature, which converts physical game discs into digital copies by inserting them into a console, stems from a plan Microsoft made ahead of the Xbox One's 2013 launch to embed unique identifiers on discs. Sources say Microsoft was already exploring broader digital ownership concepts back in 2011, including gifting, recycling and swapping physical games for digital versions, though most of these ideas were shelved after backlash over the Xbox One's always-online requirement.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-17
Cloud gaming platforms from Nvidia, Microsoft, Sony and Amazon have survived a decade of tepid adoption since Google's Stadia collapsed in 2023, but rising demand for AI computing power is now driving up data center costs sharply. That surge is undermining the original pitch of cloud gaming: cheap, leased compute that let players skip expensive consoles or PCs.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-16
Microsoft revealed its September Xbox Game Pass additions, headlined by prequel title Gears of War: E-Day and Minecraft Dungeons 2, arriving alongside titles like RuneScape: Dragonwilds and Kernel Hearts. The rollout comes as Microsoft faces scrutiny over the service's costs, having already announced it will cap cloud gaming hours by tier starting in November instead of offering unlimited access.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-16
Sony has revealed its September 2026 PS Plus lineup, giving Extra and Premium subscribers access to RuneScape: Dragonwilds, a cooperative survival RPG, and WWE 2K26, a wrestling simulation featuring a CM Punk-focused Showcase mode. RuneScape: Dragonwilds becomes available on Tuesday, with WWE 2K26 and additional titles rounding out the month's offerings.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-15
Sensor Tower data shows 88.5% of PlayStation and 90% of Xbox pre-orders for GTA 6 are for the pricier Ultimate Edition, far above the usual 10-20% share for premium tiers. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed pre-orders are leaning toward the premium option but wouldn't share exact figures, and Sensor Tower expects the split to even out closer to launch as casual buyers join in.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-14
Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions have struck a new publishing and development deal with Microsoft after Sony decided to stop funding his upcoming titles, including Physint and OD. Sony reportedly canceled its backing of Physint, prompting a three-month search that ended with Xbox stepping in to finance the games through to release.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-11
SteelSeries unveiled the Aeon Pro, a $260 wireless controller featuring patent-pending QuickSwitch technology that lets it toggle instantly between a PC and Xbox console without re-pairing or reconnecting. The controller ships with a QuickSwitch Dock System, swappable rechargeable batteries for continuous use, and an OLED display for monitoring power and customization.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-11
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