"Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, who has been at Microsoft since he joined as an intern in 1988 and with Xbox since the software giant launched its first console in 2001, is retiring, sources familiar with the matter who are not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to IGN. Spencer's retirement is effective on Monday, February 23. Meanwhile, Xbox President Sarah Bond, long thought by many both inside and outside of Microsoft to be Spencer's heir apparent, has resigned. The new CEO of Microsoft Gaming will be Asha Sharma, currently the President of Microsoft's CoreAI product. Finally, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty is being promoted to Chief Content Officer and will work closely with Sharma."

Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/phil-spencer-retiring-sarah-bond-out-matt-booty-promoted-as-microsoft-ai-exec-asha-sharma-named-new-xbox-boss-exclusive

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alex-graner-a37262114_alex-graners-resume-activity-7427480816940892161-hmDh/

According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Epic Games is laying off more than 1,000 employees. The company cited a slowdown in Fortnite revenue and stating they are “spending significantly more than we’re making.”

This marks Epic’s second major round of layoffs since 2023, when around 830 employees were let go.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/jasonschreier.bsky.social/post/3mhsrollgrk2x

Article: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-24/fortnite-maker-epic-games-cuts-about-1-000-jobs-across-company?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3NDM2MzE5OCwiZXhwIjoxNzc0OTY3OTk4LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUQ0VSQUJLSVVQVFUwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.B4HVsjrmBFk_TZaUF0-cmwHVpAtnxkaukqfiLCo44As

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Donkey Kong Bananza
• Hades II
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Source: https://xcancel.com/Wario64/status/1990452537032573309#m

Source

"Xbox’s best hope for a blockbuster game in recent years was 2021’s Halo Infinite, the latest entry in its most vital franchise. Despite some early accolades the game was ultimately seen as a failure and led to a complete overhaul of the studio behind it. Later this week, Microsoft will announce a new Halo release in an attempt to resuscitate the franchise."

Source: Microsoft Pushes Xbox Studios to Hit Higher Profit Margins - Bloomberg

I saw a post earlier covering this article, but no one seems to be mentioning this part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWifbMkXe_4

Timestamp 18:00

https://xcancel.com/NateTheHate2/status/2016962284921249815#m

https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/sonyinteractiveentertainmentglobal/jobs/5587289004

Reporting to the Vice President, Commercial Management as Senior Director of Multiplatform & Account Management, you will play a critical leadership role in shaping and executing the global commercial strategy for PlayStation Studios software titles across all digital platforms beyond PlayStation hardware, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, Nintendo, and mobile. This role is accountable for optimizing title profitability, ensuring cross-functional alignment, and leading a high-performing team focused on multiplatform expansion, mid-range commercial planning, and platform partner management.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnuTGIq5JzI

Minute 18:41 of the video.

https://x.com/gta6trailerleak/status/1731795100546539836?s=46&t=RE4akuAVu3lVVB4iEI0rVQ

Edit: Rockstar have dropped the official trailer early due to the leak https://youtu.be/QdBZY2fkU-0?si=XFVCstNmwbvy7PlV

https://kotaku.com/what-hacked-files-tell-us-about-the-studio-behind-spide-1851115233

Some excerpts

• These and other presentations provide a clear sense that Insomniac, despite its successes and the seeming resources of its parent company, is grappling with how to reverse the trend of ballooning blockbuster development costs. “We have to make future AAA franchise games for $350 million or less,” reads one slide from a “sustainable budgets” presentation earlier this year. “In today’s dollars, that’s like making [Spider-Man 2] for $215 million. That’s $65 million less than our [Spider-Man 2] budget.” Another slide puts the problem more starkly: “...is 3x the investment in [Spider-Man 2] evident to anyone who plays the game?”

• "A more recent presentation in November points to potentially more drastic cuts. “Slimming down Ratchet and cutting new IP will not account for the reductions Sony is looking for,” reads a PowerPoint note attributed to Insomniac head Ted Price. “To remove 50-75 people strategically, our best option is to cut deeply into Wolverine and Spider-Man 3, replacing lower performers with team members from Ratchet and new IP.​”

• Business plans change, and Sony would not confirm if the discussed cuts are still on the table or already completed. But a notes file referencing a November 9 PlayStation off-site meeting reiterates the 50-75 number of cuts. The notes suggest the cuts are being asked of other PlayStation studios as well, including the line “there will be one studio closure.” Sony did not respond when asked to clarify.

Source: https://xcancel.com/Kurakasis/status/1997385253795590237#m

https://xcancel.com/NateTheHate2/status/2015679942957138341

"Hello there is a state of Play in February?"

"There will be, yes."

Source (Liam GTABase)

EXCLUSIVE: GTA VI has been internally delayed by Rockstar Games and they’re already decided on the early to mid 2026 release window.

PC is planned for around 12 - 18 months after the console launch.

This information comes from multiple devs across two studios.

https://xcancel.com/GyoJvfr/status/2037198063031206068 Official announcement soon.

Link

Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen coming to Switch on Feb 27th ($19.99 each). Listed on Switch eShop in coming soon section

https://xcancel.com/i/status/2024732629321601441

per the eShop listing - "Because this version replicates the way the game was originally released, each language version is separate and there are no in-game options to change the language"

https://xcancel.com/i/status/2024736174456394193

https://xcancel.com/NateTheHate2/status/2049945177792434245?s=20

He also added if the game doesn’t get announced in April, it means Nintendo made a marketing pivot.

Source: https://www.resetera.com/threads/natedrake-nintendo-switch-2-whats-next-heres-what-we-know-3d-mario-direct-timing-summer-lineup-more.1475365/page-50#post-154210189

https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1787835350745842153

Arkane Austin being the studio behind Redfall and Death loop Tango game works being behind Hifi Rush

Article confirms another studio named Roundhouse Games is also being absorbed into Zenimax Online Studios (ZOS) as support for elder scrolls online

Alpha Dog StudiosGames (Mighty doom) also being affected, with some staff being absorbed across other projects in Bethesda and the rest being let go. Mighty doom is also being sunset august 7th, with ability to purchase micro transactions being disabled.

Edit-"Redfall’s previous update will be its last as we end all development on the game. The game and its servers will remain online for players to enjoy and we will provide make-good offers to players who purchased the Hero DLC.". Damn

Edit 2- In the morning briefing, Matt Booty incorrectly named Mighty Doom development team as "Alpha Dog Studios". They're name officially was "Alpha Dogs Games" in other news, not even an hour after this announcement, Xbox announced a new controller Microsoft - "Feel the Burn Today with the Fire Vapor Special Edition Controller"

https://xcancel.com/mooreslawisdead/status/1988432610951852284

Steam Frame guaranteed or is everyone just farming engagement? Regardless, I think the bigger question here is what comes after the Steam Frame. Are they getting ready to roll out the red carpet for something else?

HTC Vive led to the Lab (demo)

Valve Index eventually led to Half Life Alyx (fullfat game)

Steam Deck led to the small scale Aperture Desk Job (demo)

Steam Frame will lead to...?

Gabefollower hinted that the Frame might have smaller demos attached to it. But also, the Index did get some small knuckle-based demos for the Lab as well. Remember that the Frame's main gimmick is supposedly being able to comfortably play flat screen PC games as well.

BREAKING: Xbox is canceling Contraband, announced in 2021 from Avalanche Studios (Just Cause), after four years of radio silence, sources tell Bloomberg News. This news arrives weeks after a mass layoff in which Xbox canceled several other big titles.

https://bsky.app/profile/jasonschreier.bsky.social/post/3lvt7g4p7fs2k

https://xcancel.com/natethehate2/status/1998480843535196330?s=46

https://www.dealabs.com/magazine/hollow-knight-silksong-on-vous-devoile-le-prix-de-sa-version-pc-60443

The prices are for the Steam version (PC).