Reports indicate significant developments for Xbox, with a high cost for the next console and potential job changes.
As mid-October rolls along, the gaming industry remains in a state of flux, with major players in the console market facing potential turbulence. The biggest news centers on Xbox, with reports suggesting that their next console, currently codenamed Project Helix, could arrive in 2028 with a hefty price tag of $1,200 to $1,800. This report by Destructoid raises questions about market viability if Microsoft chooses not to subsidize the cost, posing a possible challenge to consumer adoption.
Simultaneously, Xbox’s CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly enacting drastic internal restructuring. According to The Verge, Sharma plans for additional rounds of layoffs this month, November, and January, totaling a significant impact on staff across Microsoft’s fiscal year. This follows prior layoffs in July and September, reshaping the company’s strategy as Xbox faces speculation about a potential spin-off or sale.
Meanwhile, at Bungie—best known for Destiny 2—there are signs of recovery after previous upheavals. The studio is hiring an Interaction Designer, as reported by GamesHub, indicative of its efforts to stabilize and focus on game development following a wave of approximately 400 layoffs and an ill-fated shutdown plan.
Elsewhere, the Saros update for PS5 adds new layers to the gameplay of this shooter, as GamesHub highlights, with features like New Game Plus and Overlord Rush aiming to refresh the endgame experience. While for players interested in hardware, a refurbished Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike gaming mouse with significant discounts is available, offering a taste of haptic technology as detailed by The Verge.
Finally, Hideo Kojima shared his concerns about social media echo chambers—a theme eerily prophesied in Metal Gear Solid 2—highlighted in his conversation with filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, reported by Destructoid. This points to ongoing discourse around the impact of digital information spread in today’s society.
