Microsoft restructures Xbox studios, moving Halo to Activision and laying off many developers, while Sony considers the future of physical discs.
The big news in gaming this week is Microsoft’s decision to restructure its Xbox division, leading to significant changes for fans of the Halo franchise and those following developments at Xbox Game Studios. As reported by GamesHub, the restructuring involves moving Halo to Activision. Alongside this move, the Forza teams will merge, and Ninja Theory faces uncertainty following layoffs that cut 268 positions.
The shift of Halo to Activision is particularly notable given that Halo has been a cornerstone franchise for Xbox. The studio responsible for Halo’s development, now significantly reduced to “about two dozen developers,” according to Destructoid, suggests a challenging transition. This reorganization could potentially impact the gameplay and future development of upcoming Halo series titles.
In other news, Destructoid underscores that Sony is reportedly reaching out to PlayStation developers regarding its decision to phase out physical discs by 2028. This move seems influenced by community feedback, as seen after Bungie’s previous announcements about Destiny 2. The pushback from the gaming community appears to be forcing major companies to rethink their strategies concerning physical media.
Also making headlines, Discord is introducing a new global age assurance system that will automatically estimate users’ ages, aiming to better protect younger users by enforcing restrictions. According to The Verge, this rollout follows the discontinuation of Discord’s previous verification method, which had sparked privacy concerns.
Meanwhile, in more creative realms of gaming, Game Rant shared a fascinating story about a LEGO fan channeling their creativity by transforming a Toy Story Lotso set into the Pokemon character Slowpoke, demonstrating the enduring appeal and versatility of LEGO’s modular design.
Although other news includes specifics about game guides like the “Everlasting Echoback Song” quest in Aniimo from Game Rant and Bet365 receiving renewed approval in the Dutch gambling market (reported by GamesHub), these stories are not driving the broader trends in the gaming industry this week. Instead, the spotlight remains on the sizeable impacts of studio restructurings and the ongoing conversation about the future of physical gaming media.
