Microsoft has confirmed Activision will develop the next mainline Halo game as part of a sweeping Xbox Studios restructure that includes 268 layoffs. The move effectively guts Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries, while folding Rare and World's Edge under the Call of Duty publisher's umbrella.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 revealed its first campaign trailer during Tokyo Game Show 2026, giving fans a cinematic look at the next chapter in the rebooted series. The trailer premiered on September 17, 2026, via Xbox Wire as part of Microsoft's TGS showcase lineup.
A leak from a reliable ResetEra moderator claims Microsoft plans to remove day one game releases from Xbox Game Pass as early as next spring, introducing a two-tier model with an ad-supported $12.99 tier and a $19.99 ad-free option. Microsoft responded that it has nothing to announce today and has not finalized any changes. If accurate, the shift would fundamentally alter Game Pass's core value proposition.
Microsoft has unveiled its 25th anniversary celebration for Xbox, rolling out a commemorative hardware collection, new community-designed gear, and a FanFest tour across multiple cities. The lineup also includes a custom Gibson guitar collaboration tied to the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day. Here is everything announced so far.
Alleged Grand Theft Auto 6 leaker 'CyberLeek' released two new gameplay videos on August 22 showing supercar action and strip club cutscenes, defying Take-Two Interactive's DMCA subpoenas to Microsoft and Discord. The leaks continue as Netflix prepares to air an extended look at the game on August 27, while Rockstar reportedly still does not know how the breaches occurred or who is responsible.
A reliable leak reveals the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition will launch on Black Friday for $899.99, making it the most expensive Xbox console ever released. The translucent green anniversary console includes a special edition controller with original Xbox color scheme buttons and 1 TB of storage.
Leaked pricing details reveal Microsoft's 25th anniversary translucent green Xbox Series X will retail for $899.99 when it launches on November 27. The special edition console matches the PlayStation 5 Pro's price point and arrives just in time for Black Friday shopping.
Compulsion Games now appears as the publisher of South of Midnight on Steam instead of Xbox Game Studios, marking the apparent completion of the studio's independence. The change was spotted by indie developer Michael Klamerus on Bluesky, while other former Xbox studios still show Microsoft as publisher on the platform.
Microsoft has removed two support documents that recommended 32 GB of RAM for serious gaming, a move that coincides with the reintroduction of 8 GB Surface laptops priced at $1,299. The deleted guidance conflicts with Microsoft's new hardware lineup, which fails to meet Copilot+ PC memory requirements while charging a premium for baseline specifications.
Microsoft's Project Helix could arrive as a Windows-based gaming PC hybrid rather than a traditional console, but rising hardware costs and a buggy Xbox Full Screen Experience threaten the vision. The device risks Steam Machine-level pricing if Microsoft cannot subsidize an open platform. Industry analysts remain skeptical that Sony's PS6 will hit similar price points due to stronger supply chains.
