Xbox Restructures, Grand Theft Auto VI Builds Hype, Switch 2 Expands
September and early October bring an expanding Nintendo Switch 2 release calendar and a steady stream of Grand Theft Auto VI details, alongside extensive restructuring across Xbox and the wider industry . Major publishers also revise long-term plans and live-service games as studios respond to player feedback and disputes over development practices
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Xbox Restructures as Studio Layoffs Spread
Microsoft eliminates 268 roles in its Xbox restructuring and puts development of the next mainline Halo under a new Activision-led team, separate from Call of Duty, while Halo Studios shifts toward supporting existing games . The changes also move World’s Edge under Activision, Obsidian Entertainment under Bethesda, and merge Playground Games with Turn 10 Studios
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The upheaval reaches individual studios and projects: Ninja Theory enters consultation ahead of a proposed closure, while Undead Labs becomes independent and employee-owned but cuts staff as State of Decay 3 remains in development . Outside Xbox, Polyarc closes, Heart Machine lays off nearly its entire staff after losing funding for an unannounced game, and Don’t Nod warns that it may not be able to continue operating beyond January 2027 without external financing
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Nintendo Switch 2 Adds Major Games as Some Ports Slip
Nintendo’s Switch 2 schedule fills out with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time dated for November 5, Monster Hunter Wilds for December 4, and Metroid Ravenous for January 28, 2027 . Native Switch 2 versions of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 are also set for October 16
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The growing lineup comes with delays: the Switch 2 version of 007 First Light moves to March 2027 for further performance work, while Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 shifts to early 2027 . The calendar pairs a broad range of new releases and ports with continued work to bring some games to the platform
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Grand Theft Auto VI Builds Toward November as The Witcher 3 Returns
Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto VI previews add details on Leonida’s map, weather, activities, and radio, with the studio describing the map as twice the size of Grand Theft Auto V’s and the release set for November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S +2 Rating descriptions cite prominent drug use, sexual content, and decapitation, while Rockstar says the game favors broader social satire over direct references to current politics
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CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launches as a free upgrade for existing owners on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with more than 70 changes across gameplay, visuals, accessibility, and other systems The update drives the RPG to its highest-ever concurrent player count on Steam, though players report performance, audio, and visual issues
. Gears of War: E-Day also reaches full release on October 6 through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, following premium early access
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Blizzard Sets Long-Term Plans for Diablo and StarCraft
Blizzard announces Diablo 5 for spring 2029 and a new StarCraft open-world first-person shooter for spring 2030, setting release windows years ahead of launch The distant dates are deliberate, with Blizzard presenting them as evidence that the projects can ship on schedule
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The company also confirms World of Warcraft: Forever as its Classic+ project, whose beta draws more players than developers expected Together, the announcements combine far-off projects with renewed interest in established Blizzard franchises
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Bungie Reworks Destiny 2 and Marathon Around Player Feedback
Bungie plans to restore vaulted Destiny 2 campaigns, destinations, and raids, acknowledging that the removed content should not have been taken away The studio also delays Marathon’s Symbiosis update to December 8, with a permanent PvE mode, while moving away from its original strict seasonal schedule
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Embark Studios takes a related step with Arc Raiders, scheduling an opt-in PvE test that prevents players from damaging one another while leaving the game’s machines hostile Player trust is also at issue in generative-AI disputes: Jagex pulls a RuneScape 3 trailer after complaints about AI-generated imagery, and Level-5 apologizes after fans identify suspected AI artifacts in its promotional material