Overview
- Xbox content chief Matt Booty told The New York Times the company now competes more with TikTok and movies than with other consoles, underscoring an attention‑economy focus.
- Microsoft confirmed Halo: Campaign Evolved, a modernised remake of Combat Evolved’s campaign, will release in 2026 on PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.
- The company has expanded multiformat releases, bringing series like Gears of War Reloaded, Forza Horizon 5, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Sea of Thieves and Grounded to rival platforms.
- Reporting links the strategy to weaker Series console sales versus PS5, along with management pressure for above‑industry profit margins and restructuring that included roughly 9,000 layoffs, studio closures and project cancellations such as Rare’s Everwild and The Initiative’s Perfect Dark.
- Consumers face higher costs, with a 50% price increase to Game Pass Ultimate and two Xbox console price rises this year, as leaders like Sarah Bond describe platform exclusivity as “antiquated.”