Microsoft
Xbox PC App Redesign Launches With Up To 60% Faster Launch Times
Microsoft has rolled out a redesigned Xbox PC app to insiders, claiming up to 60% faster launch times and improved navigation, according to sources.
2 outletsBusinessUbisoft and Multiple Firms Explore Arkane Acquisition, Report Says
Ubisoft and at least two other companies are reportedly in talks to acquire Arkane Studios from Microsoft, according to Bloomberg reports.
2 outletsHardwareXbox Tests Two New Controller Options for Cloud Gaming
Xbox is testing two new controller options for cloud gaming, including a Wi-Fi-enabled Nano Controller and phone-based controls.
2 outletsGamesXbox Game Pass Adds Multiple Titles in November 2026
Xbox Game Pass announced new titles including Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School, Thronefall, Warhammer Survivors, and Vampire Crawlers for early to mid November 2026.
2 outletsBusinessUbisoft reported to have bid for Arkane Lyon acquisition
Ubisoft has reportedly offered to buy Arkane Lyon from Xbox, according to Bloomberg sources cited by multiple outlets.
2 outletsBusinessXbox Leader Asha Sharma Notes High Demand Amid 14% Hardware Sales Drop
Xbox leader Asha Sharma stated that 'more demand than consoles available' as hardware sales fell 14% year-on-year, according to Eurogamer.
2 outletsBusinessMarvel's Blade Development Faces Uncertainty as Arkane Lyon Approaches Closure Deadline
Arkane Lyon faces closure by November 13 unless a buyer or partner is found, with Marvel's Blade reportedly nearing completion amid Microsoft's search for alternatives.
3 outletsBusinessXbox COO Helen Chiang departs Microsoft after three months
Helen Chiang, Xbox's first chief operating officer, left Microsoft three months after assuming the role, according to an internal memo cited by The Verge.
2 outletsBusinessArkane Studios Faces November 13 Deadline to Secure Buyer, Le Monde Reports
Arkane Studios has until November 13 to find a buyer, according to reports.
2 outletsBusinessStudio Blocks Game Sale in Israel to Support Palestinian Cause
A game studio has restricted sales of its new title in Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinian communities and highlighting industry inaction on the conflict.
2 outletsHardwareMicrosoft Posts Job Listing for Xbox Games Supply Strategist, Raising Hopes for Physical Discs on Future Console
Microsoft has posted a job listing for an 'Xbox Games Supply Strategist' focused on physical games, sparking speculation about potential continued support for discs on future consoles. The role involves coordinating physical game launches across platforms, amid Sony's plan to stop producing new PlayStation discs in 2028.
2 outletsGamesShrek 2 Remaster Leaked with New Features and Co-Op Options
Shrek 2 Remastered, featuring improved graphics and co-op play, was leaked with a Microsoft Store page and a pre-order trailer, according to sources.
3 outletsGamesBig Walk Developer Explains Xbox Exclusion Due to BDS Boycott
Australian indie developer House House confirmed Big Walk will not launch on Xbox due to the BDS boycott targeting Microsoft. The co-op puzzle game's creators stated their decision aligns with the pro-Palestinian movement's goals, citing Microsoft's alleged complicity in Israel's actions. The game, released on PC, PS5, and Switch 2, has sold over one million copies since its August launch.
4 outletsHardwareMicrosoft Claims Windows 11 Up to 20% More Responsive for 8GB RAM Users
Microsoft states Windows 11 is up to 20% more responsive, with improvements particularly benefiting systems using 8GB of RAM, according to a report. The update focuses on smarter memory management to retain active data in memory rather than relying on slower storage.
2 outletsGamesGears of War: E-Day DDoS attacks cause server issues, studio confirms
The Coalition confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day experienced distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks over the weekend, leading to intermittent disconnects and login problems for players. The studio stated it was actively mitigating the attacks, which targeted the game's online services during its first weekend of release.
3 outletsHardwareNVIDIA RTX Spark Laptops Launch with Pre-Orders Live, Shipping October 16
NVIDIA's RTX Spark laptops, including the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra, are now available for pre-order, with shipping set for October 16, 2026. Prices start at $2,599, featuring configurations with up to 128GB RAM and high-end GPUs. The devices aim to compete with Apple's MacBook Pro and target AI developers and creatives.
3 outletsBusinessMicrosoft Restructures Xbox, Transfers Halo Development to Activision Amid Layoffs
Microsoft has announced further layoffs and studio reorganizations as part of its ongoing 'reset' of Xbox Game Studios. Halo Studios will transition to a support role for existing games, while Activision takes over development of the next Halo title. Additional layoffs affect 268 employees across multiple studios, with further consolidations involving Rare, Obsidian, and others.
6 outletsBusinessKojima Productions Addresses Physint Publisher Shift and Development Concerns
Kojima Productions has responded to reports about Physint's development challenges, stating the studio is 'healthy and profitable' and urging skepticism toward unverified claims. The studio confirmed development continues with Xbox as publisher, while maintaining a strong relationship with PlayStation.
4 outletsBusinessSony Reportedly Dropped Kojima's Physint Over Budget, Deadlines and Death Stranding Sales
A Bloomberg report, cited by multiple outlets, says PlayStation canceled Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear successor Physint due to missed deadlines, ballooning costs, and disappointing returns from the Death Stranding series. The project has since moved to Xbox.
4 outletsBusinessNintendo Funds 'Customer Appreciation Sale' With Tariff Refunds, Drawing Criticism Amid Lawsuit
Nintendo of America is using part of a $300 million tariff refund to fund a storewide sale rather than compensating Switch 2 buyers who paid higher prices, a move critics say sidesteps an ongoing class-action lawsuit.
2 outletsBusinessMicrosoft's September Patch Tuesday Fixes Nearly 1,000 Vulnerabilities, Including Two Actively Exploited Flaws
Microsoft's September security update addressed close to 1,000 vulnerabilities across Windows, Office, Azure and other products, with two zero-day flaws already being exploited in the wild. Sources differ slightly on the exact total number of vulnerabilities patched.
2 outletsBusinessNintendo Announces 'Customer Appreciation Sale' Funded by Tariff Refunds It Won't Give Back to Players
Nintendo says a new storewide discount event was made possible by $300 million in tariff refunds, even as it fights in court to avoid passing that same money back to customers who paid higher prices.
4 outletsGamesLeaker Releases Alleged Prototype of Project Dream, the Canceled SNES RPG That Became Banjo-Kazooie
A prototype build of Rare's canceled SNES RPG Project Dream, an early ancestor of Banjo-Kazooie, has surfaced online. The leaker says they released it now to protest Microsoft's treatment of Rare and the games industry at large.
2 outletsBusinessMicrosoft Slashes Xbox Cloud Gaming Hours to as Low as 5 a Month, Sparking Backlash
Microsoft announced new monthly Xbox Cloud Gaming limits ahead of its TCL TV expansion announcement. Starting in November, Game Pass tiers will include 5, 10 or 15 streaming hours per month, with extra time available for purchase.
2 outletsBusinessData Center Water Use Sparks Outrage in Two Separate Incidents
A condemned Bitcoin mining facility in Oklahoma leaked 3 million gallons of water, while a Denver data center faces scrutiny for watering its lawn amid drought restrictions.
1 outletBusinessSony Clarifies PlayStation Disc Production Won't Fall to 10 Percent, Just by That Much
Sony has pushed back on reports that PlayStation disc manufacturing would be slashed to just 10 percent of current output, clarifying the real figure is a 10 percent decline by 2028 — as debate continues over the platform's disc-free future.
2 outletsGamesKamiya Talks Scalebound Revival, Then Threatens to Sue Fans Over Funding Rumors
Hideki Kamiya says he'd love to bring back the canceled Xbox project Scalebound, but he's also been sparring online with users who accuse him of diverting its budget to fund Bayonetta 2.
3 outletsBusinessTim Schafer Explains How Double Fine Survived Leaving Xbox
Double Fine founder Tim Schafer opened up to Bloomberg about the studio's departure from Microsoft, the layoffs that followed, and why he believes the studio's niche games could still find an audience.
3 outletsGamesStarCraft Teasers Mount Ahead of BlizzCon as Fans Speculate on New Game
A glitching official site, a mysterious gap in the BlizzCon schedule, and reports of a Nexon deal have fueled speculation that Blizzard is preparing a major StarCraft announcement — though it's unclear whether it will be StarCraft 3 or a shooter spinoff.
3 outletsHardwareMicrosoft to Expand Memory Integrity Protection to More Windows 11 PCs Starting in October
Microsoft says quality updates will begin automatically enabling its kernel-level Memory Integrity security feature on more eligible Windows 11 PCs, though devices where it has been manually disabled will keep their existing settings.
2 outletsHardwareMicrosoft Confirms Windows 11 Update KB5120998 Is Breaking Mouse Cursors and Wallpapers
Microsoft has acknowledged that its optional Windows 11 update KB5120998, released August 27, 2026, is causing cursor personalization settings to revert and, in some cases, wiping out custom wallpapers. The company says it is investigating, but the only current fix is to uninstall the update.
2 outletsBusinessDiscounted Windows 11 Pro Licenses and Office Bundle Offered Through Sept. 1
Two PCWorld listings detail limited-time offers for lifetime Windows 11 Pro licenses, including a standalone version and a bundle with Office Professional 2021, both requiring PC compatibility checks before purchase.
1 outletHardwareXbox CEO Calls Next-Gen "Project Helix" a "Family of Devices," Still Won't Confirm Elder Scrolls 6 Exclusivity
At Gamescom 2026, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma described the company's next-generation hardware plans, codenamed Project Helix, as a "family of devices," while remaining vague on whether The Elder Scrolls 6 will be an Xbox exclusive.
3 outletsHardwareWindows 11 26H2 Enters Release Preview as Microsoft Rolls Out Major Taskbar and Start Menu Customization
Microsoft has pushed Windows 11 version 26H2 to the Release Preview Channel while also releasing feature updates that bring expanded taskbar positioning, Start menu resizing, and search improvements to existing Windows 11 versions.
1 outletBusinessXbox Launches Disc-to-Digital Program, Signaling Path to All-Digital Next-Gen Console
Microsoft has confirmed a long-rumored disc-to-digital attestation program for Xbox One and Series X, letting players convert physical game discs into digital entitlements ahead of testing with Xbox Insiders on August 31.
2 outletsGamesRockstar Breaks Silence on GTA VI Leaks, Apologizes to Fans While Skirting Leaker's Demands
After a week of leaked gameplay footage from a source calling itself Cyberleek, Rockstar Games issued a public statement calling the leaks "heartbreaking" and apologizing for delays, even as legal efforts to unmask the leaker have so far failed to stop the leaks.
2 outletsHardwareXbox CEO Won't Confirm Whether Next-Gen 'Project Helix' Console Will Have a Disc Drive
Asha Sharma declined to say if Xbox's next-generation console, known as Project Helix, will include a disc drive, instead pointing to affordability and efficiency concerns as PlayStation moves to end new disc production by 2028.
3 outletsGamesRockstar Breaks Silence on Weeklong GTA 6 Leaks, Calls Them 'Heartbreaking' Ahead of Netflix Reveal
After more than a week of leaked Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay footage from a source calling itself 'Cyberleek,' Rockstar Games issued its first public statement, calling the leaks painful for its team and apologizing for delays in sharing official details, just ahead of a planned Netflix gameplay reveal.
7 outletsBusinessTake-Two Seeks Broad User Data From Discord, Microsoft in Hunt for GTA 6 Leaker
Take-Two has filed subpoenas against Discord and Microsoft seeking personal data on potentially hundreds of thousands of users as it hunts for the leaker behind recent Grand Theft Auto 6 footage. Discord says it has not yet been formally served.
5 outletsGamesGTA 6 Leaks Escalate: Nudist Colony Footage, Crypto Monetization, and a Rockstar Office Protest
A hacker known as Cyberleek has released a string of new Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay leaks over the past week, revealing new details about the game while pushing Rockstar and Take-Two toward aggressive legal action, including subpoenas targeting Microsoft, Discord, and X.
4 outlets