Xbox in Talks to Close Double Fine, Ninja Theory
Bloomberg reports the Psychonauts and Hellblade studios are negotiating to spin off as independent companies to avoid closure, days after Xbox moved to shut Compulsion Games.
Section
Gaming News
Treyarch Studio Head Mark Gordon to Retire
Gordon, at the Call of Duty studio since 2005 and its head since 2016, is stepping down to focus on his next chapter, with Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller taking over as co-heads.
Xbox to Close South of Midnight Studio Compulsion
The Peabody-winning studio's planned closure is part of broader Xbox cuts expected next month, with reports suggesting a second studio could follow.
Fable to have 1,000+ NPCs with 100 human actors
Playground Games said at Summer Game Fest that around 100 actors recorded the role-playing game's "Living Population" with no AI text-to-speech, as the reboot firmed its release for February 23, 2027.
Travis Willingham takes over as Sephiroth in FF7 Revelation
Square Enix confirmed the Critical Role co-founder is taking over from Tyler Hoechlin, who was unavailable for the trilogy's conclusion, after fans flagged a different Sephiroth voice in the Summer Game Fest reveal trailer.
Gears of War: E-Day Reportedly Cost $400 Million
Insider Tom Henderson put the budget at over $400 million, which would be more than 20 times the 2006 original's, adjusted for inflation.
Australian Video Game Retailers Claim Kingdom Hearts IV will Release in 2027
Identical product copy on JB Hi-Fi and EB Games listings for the October collection said it arrives "before the release of KINGDOM HEARTS IV in 2027." Both retailers have removed the line, and Square Enix has not commented.
Star Wars Jedi 3 Rumor Teases Older Cal Kestis and Time Jump
Insider Tom Henderson says Respawn's next Star Wars game will age Cal Kestis and skip ahead in the timeline, though EA has announced nothing.
Kingdom Hearts Cover Art Draws AI Accusations
Bluesky sleuths say an extra digit on Donald Duck and other anomalies in the October collection's key art point to generative AI retouching of Tetsuya Nomura's artwork. Square Enix has not responded to questions.
Microsoft Considers Selling XBOX, Report Says
Three sources tell The Information that Microsoft has considered spinning Xbox into a wholly owned subsidiary or a joint venture, structures that would make the unit easier to sell. The new Halo and Fallout plans in the same report are the friendlier half of the story.