Welcome to the latest chapter in the saga of Xbox’s struggles with its workforce. It seems like a never-ending cycle of layoffs, studio closures, and promises of rebirth that ultimately amount to nothing more than a house of pain for thousands of employees who have been deigned necessary by their corporate overlords. Since Microsoft’s massive […]

Cloudhead Games is on a mission to create its next big VR sensation. The studio behind the hit rhythm shooter Pistol Whip (2019) has been quietly working on a new project that promises to be “impossible to ignore.” According to a recent job listing, Cloudhead is seeking a Social & Community Strategist who can help

The VR world was abuzz yesterday when Meta’s chief architect, Andrew Bosworth (aka Boz), dropped a hint about some exciting announcements coming to Connect. The usually tight-lipped executive revealed that Meta is still hard at work on several headsets, including a next-gen mixed reality device codenamed Phoenix/Puffin/Loma. With the company’s economic sustainability focus in mind,

Meta has just rolled out a major update to its line of smart glasses that’s about to close a notorious privacy loophole. The company is disabling the onboard camera if the capture LED has been tampered with or destroyed – and we’re talking about a hardware kill switch, not just a software tweak. Since Meta’s

The dark side of the gaming industry has reared its ugly head again. Labor union CWA Canada is speaking out against Microsoft’s handling of layoffs at Bethesda Game Studios Montreal, where a dozen union members have been let go in the latest round of job cuts at Xbox. The shocking move has left employees feeling

Supercell’s Developer Grants Program: A Boost for African Game Development In a major move to support emerging talent in Africa, Supercell has launched a developer grants program, offering equity-free funding ranging from $20,000 to $200,000 to “exceptional” studios across the continent. This initiative is a significant step towards strengthening the gaming ecosystem in Africa and

HTC’s XR Ambitions Take Flight as Revenue Hits a Stability Milestone In a welcome sign of resilience in the ever-competitive world of extended reality (XR), Taiwan-based tech giant HTC has announced a stabilization of its revenue, marking a crucial step towards recovery for the company. With a consolidated revenue of NT$292 million (~$10 million) for

The Evolution of Embodiment in VR: Why Synapse Pioneered a New Standard In a landmark development that’s been redefining the boundaries of virtual reality (VR) game design for years, nDreams’ Synapse has been hailed as a masterclass in crafting immersive experiences that transport players into the heart of the action. Released three years ago on

Xbox’s Radical Overhaul: A Healthy Core is Key to Survival In a bombshell move that sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged that her company’s core business has “weakened” in recent years. To turn things around, Sharma outlined a bold plan to revamp Xbox’s business model and refocus on its core

IO Interactive’s Istanbul Studio Shuttered as Xbox Funding Dries Up In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the VR community, Danish developer IO Interactive (IOI) has announced it will be closing its Istanbul studio. The decision comes on the heels of Xbox pulling funding for Project Fantasy, an ambitious online RPG that had been in