What an exhausting week, irl work is currently a mess and I'm currently feeling not so well, normally gaming news hold me busy but posting about layoffs day in and day out makes something with you. It's hard to explain but it's simpmy exhausting and gets worse every week.

One day it will be over and everything will be more enjoyable again, just a little more shit before we get the sweet sunlight at the end of the shitty tunnel.

(AND I WILL FINISH MY FISH TANK THIS WEEKEND I'M SO EXCITED!)

Story of the week:

Rerverse Aquired

At the start of July of this year, Xbox started their plans to lay off 3,200 employees. Those job cuts are to be made throughout the financial year, estimated at as around 20% of Xbox’s workforce. Approximately 1,600 role were eliminated at the time.

Double Fine (Psychonauts) and Compulsion (South of Midnight) separated from Xbox Game Studios and continued as indie devs. They also kept their own IPs. Ninja Theory (Senua) and Undead Labs (State of Decay) were been announced sold but, before summer, the deals had yet to be completed. Arkane (Dishonored) is being divested, but no more details now than in July because of French law requirements.

This week the reset of Xbox business continued. 268 more jobs are being cut across studios and management.

Most of them at Halo Studios (a.k.a. 343 Industries). The rest are moving to Activision were a small team will keep supporting the current active Halo games. Rare (Sea of Thieves) is being integrated into Activision. As well as World's Edge (Age of Empires). Obsidian is being folded as is in Bethesda. They keep all their current projects as well as working on the Fallout IP. The Microsoft Casual Games (Solitaire) team is moving to King. Turn10 (Forza Motorsport) is being merged into Playground Games (Fable) after Forza Motorsport support ended and 70 people were laid off last year.

Undead Labs (State of Decay) as return to management. The previous deal fall through but they are now employee owned and have a publisher. That came sadly with some lay off. Ninja Theory (Senua) deal also fell through and then some. No solution yet, the studio is now facing closure.

In July, Asha Sharma said that no games or projects were impacted by the restructuration but 'Senua' will be the first game cancelled because of the Xbox reset. A game they announced also at the start of this summer. The number of studios under the Xbox brand is now only 2. The Coalition is releasing 'Gears of War: E-Day' soon, and InXile is in the last line of developpment for their brand new IP. What's going to happened to those two teams? I hope they're not the last part of the reset.

Continuing Our Reset

This message was just sent to Team XBOX employees globally. Team, I’m writing to share several updates as part of the XBOX reset outlined earlier this year. First, we are eliminating 268 roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and the XGS management and central functions layer. The actions completed since July, inclusive of the […]

XBOX WireJoe Skrebels, XBOX Wire Editor-in-Chief

Gaming News Recap

Week 39 | September 18 - 25, 2026 | Edition 193

This week's news categories: Xbox [04], PlayStation [03], Nintendo [01], Other News [17], Numbers [01], Cross-Media [03], Releases Infos [53].

Xbox

1. Xbox's new Mythic achievement details: simliar to Platinum trophy, only the 1,000 G from the base game counts and it's worth 0 G. Game art will get special decoration and the total count of Mythics will be displayed on your profile.

   Source
2. 'Candy Crush' developers won a collective bargaining agreement after announcing a strike earlier this week.

   Source
3. 'Quake Champions' is transitioning from a free-to-play model to a paid one on Steam only.

   Source
4. Microsoft Xbox lays off 268 employees again.

   • Activision is getting Rare, World's Edge and the Halo IP.
   • Obsidian joins Bethesda.
   • Playground games and Turn 10 are merging.
   • 'State of Decay 3' still coming to Game Pass
   • Ninja Theory is shutting down.

   Source

PlayStation

1. Bungie says they're not done with 'Destiny 2'. They're now working on restoring the previously vaulted content. And for 'Marathon' they want to evolve it beyond the genre constraints.

   Source
2. Lisa x PlayStation collaboration announced. A DualSense Lisa Limited Edition will be available for pre-order on October 2^nd.

   Source
3. [Rumor] According to Moores Law is Dead, Sony is reportedly asking developers in a new survey if they have a problem with Sony killing physical games in 2028.

   Source

Nintendo

1. Ubisoft Milan was reportedly working on a 'The Legend of Zelda' spin-off game with Ganondorf as protagonist. Nintendo rejected the prototype. Ubisoft tried to pitch other games like another Mario spin-off and a Star Fox game without success.

   Source

Other News

1. Jet Man got announced for 'Mega Man: Dual Override'.

   Source
2. Kojima Productions published a statement adressing Bloombergs earlier report. They said we should take of the record statements with scepticism and that the studio is healthy, profitable and the relationship with PlayStation remains strong.

   Source
3. Yuichi Tanzawa says he made multiple proposals for a 'Graffiti Kingdom' sequel over the last 22 years but everything got rejected. He is now working on its own spiritual successor to the series.

   Source
4. John Danganronpa the new character in 'Danganronpa 2x2' got its official name: Sakutaro Higashi.

   Trailer
5. Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka says Sega (Sakura Wars) wanted to cancel the entire 'Sonic' series at one point but the first movie saved the IP.

   Source
6. 'Unicorn Overlord' director Takafumi Noma goes indie and announced his brand-new action RPG 'DAWNGAZER' for PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. Launches in 2028.

   Source
7. The Pokémon Company released a one hour long video with music mix from the upcoming Game of the Year 'Pokopia' to relax, study and smoke some weed.

   Video
8. Meta has announced the Meta VR Glasses for $1,300.

   Source
9. New publisher PUBLSH announced its first game 'Pera Coda'.

   Source
10. Splash Damage nearly acquired Undead Labs (State of Decay) before the deal fell through.

    Source
11. 'GTA VI' The Goodtime State – Vice City Collection edition announced for $399. No game included.

    Source
12. Valve has added chicken raising to 'Counter-Strike 2' in its latest update. You can earn an egg in your weekly drop. After a week a baby hatches. If you feed and look after your baby chicken it can grow up to an adult chicken (comes in different skins).

    Source
13. Trophy Games has acquired Playrion (Airport Simulator: First Class) from Paradox Interactive.

    Source
14. 'Counter-Strike' co-creator Minh Le said Gabe Newell got obsessed with mongolian throat singing at Valve HQ, employees started to close their office doors to escape the noise.

    Source
15. 'Toada Brava' Kickstarter is now available! Escape from Santacrúz Dungeon! Join a ragtag team of heroes in a hand-drawn JRPG that feels like playing a cartoon.

    Source
16. Undead Labs has successfully divested from Xbox and became an independent employee owned studio but had to layoff a significant number of employees as result of the split.

    Source
17. Evil Empire says 'The Rogue Prince of Persia's Anniversary Update was its last.

Numbers

1. 'Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy' has sold over 5M copies.

Cross-Media

1. Lollipop Chainsaw is getting a live action R-rated action comedy movie prequel.

   Source
2. Roy Lee is reportedly working on a new Silent Hill movie.

   Source
3. Sony, A24 and The New York Times are interested to acquire Letterboxd.

   Source

Release Infos

1. 'Castlevania: Belmont's Curse' Demo launches October 1^st.

   Source
2. 'Meastro' is now available on Nintendo Switch 1&2.

   Trailer
3. 'Battle Princess Overdrive' announced for PC.

   Source Trailer
4. 'The Hollowing' announced for PC.

   Source Trailer
5. 'Wane' announced for PC.

   Trailer
6. 'The Rabbit Haul' launches September 21^st on PC.

   Trailer
7. 'Core Keeper' Riders of the Underground update launches September 21^st.

   Trailer
8. 'Lemonade Apocalypse' launches Q1 2027 on PC.

   Trailer
9. 'Virtue and a Sledgehammer' launches October 27^th on PC.

   Trailer
10. 'Toxic Frontier' launches Q1 2027 on PC.

    Trailer
11. 'Mycopunk' 1.0 launches October 20^th on PS5 and PC.

    Trailer
12. 'We Were Here Tomorrow' launches October 20^th on Xbox Series and PC.

    Trailer
13. 'Ball x Pit' Risen Ballbylon Expansion launches November 12^th.

    Trailer
14. 'Young Suns' launches November 3^rd on PC. Already on Xbox Series.

    Trailer
15. 'Let's Build a Dungeon' launches February 11^th 2027 on XBS and PC Early Access.

    Trailer
16. 'Fool King' launches November 16^th on PC Early Access.

    Trailer
17. 'TOKYO WALLED CITY' announced for PC.

    Trailer
18. 'Lufia 1 & 2 The Sinistrals Saga' is coming to PS5, Nintendo Switch 1&2 and PC in 2027.

    Trailer
19. 'Cairn' free DLC On the Trail launches October 29^th

    Trailer
20. 'Oboro No Ichi' announced for PC Early Access.

    Trailer
21. 'Nothing Lost' announced for PC. Made by a new studio formed by Black Salt Games.

    Trailer
22. 'Effulgence RPG' 1.0 now available on Steam.

    Trailer
23. 'Moylo' announced for PC.

    Trailer
24. 'Dressmaker' is the newest indie hit on Steam.

    Trailer
25. 'Laser Guy' announced for PC.

    Trailer
26. 'Cotton City' Alpha Demo available on Itch.io.

    Source
27. 'Mars Attracts' 1.0 version now available on Steam.

    Trailer
28. 'Deck of Haunts' launches October 8^th on XBS, PS5 and Switch 2. Already on PC.

    Trailer
29. 'Pokémon TCG Pocket' Deluxe Pack: Mega dropping on September 29^th.

    Trailer
30. 'Pixel Washer' launches October 15^th on PC Early Access.

    Trailer
31. 'PowerWash Simulator 2' free Caldera Chronicles - Bouncy Castle update now available.

    Trailer
32. 'Luma Island' is coming to Xbox Series and PS5. Already on PC.

    Source
33. 'BeamNG.drive' launches October 19^th on PS5 Early Access. Already on PC Early Access.

    Trailer
34. 'Arc Raiders' Frozen Trail update launches October 8^th.

    Trailer
35. 'Story of Seasons: Your Wonderful Life' announced for Quest 3 and Meta VR Glasses.

    Source
36. 'Heartworm' launches October 1^st on XBO, XBS, PS4/5 and Switch 1&2. Already on PC.

    Trailer
37. 'Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies VR' announced for Meta VR Glasses, Meta Quest 3/3S, Quest Pro, and Quest2.

    Trailer
38. 'Tetris Effect: Mixed Realities' announced for Quest 3 and Meta VR Glasses.

    Source
39. 'Theos: Cities Of Myth' launches November 4^th on PC.

    Trailer
40. 'Arcade Archives 2 Xevious 3D/G' launches September 24^th XBS, PS5 and Switch 2.

    Trailer
41. 'Console Archives Karate Champ' launches September 24^th on PS5 and Switch 2.

    Trailer
42. 'Panzer Deck' is now available on PC. Demo available.

    Trailer
43. 'MR. RECORDS' adds XBS & PS5 version to the announced Switch 2 & PC version. Demo available.

    Trailer
44. 'Middle-earth: Shadow Bundle' is coming to Nintendo Switch 2.

    Trailer
45. 'Forbidden Solitaire' DLC The Discarded announced.

    Trailer
46. 'Curse of Resthaven' launches October 29^th on Xbox Series, PS4/5 and PC!

    Trailer
47. 'Mercenaries Grace: Black Feather and the Golden Right Arm' announced for PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.

    Source
48. 'Tic Card Toe' announced for PC.

    Source
49. 'Tokyo Xtreme Racer' is getting a paid DLC & new Guest Rivals. More platforms under consideration.
50. 'Alpha Nomos' launches October 12^th on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC.

    Trailer
51. 'Trover Saves the Universe' got delisted on all platforms.

    Source
52. 'Armed Fantasia' has been cancelled by DigitalBros.

    Source
53. 'Blighted' delayed to 2027.

    Source

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ᴊᴏɪɴ ⁄⁄⋐ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴏʀᴅ ꜱᴇʀᴠᴇʀ

Game of the Week:

Dressmaker

Choose fabric, arrange and cut out patterns, sew garments and add decorations. Dressmaker is a cozy simulation game where every part of making a dress is under your control.

That's all for this week!

If you like this stuff please tell your friends about it, word of mouth keeps this ship sailing. 🙂

We also have a Discord server! If you want to talk about popculture or share my news with your own Discord server feel free to join!

See you next week!

Written by Knoebel & edited by viaz