Craig Duncan, the pinnacle of Xbox Recreation Studios, has mirrored on a few of the momentous strikes Microsoft made in 2025, which included cancelling video games, shedding workers, and shutting down growth studios. Duncan stated in an interview with GamesRadar that the choice to cancel video games just like the Excellent Darkish reboot and Uncommon’s new sport Everwild was “tough,” however he stated it was additionally vital.
“Typically enterprise selections should be made, which have large attain and impression. We do not like doing that. So the lesson is: how will we ensure we do not have to try this? That is actually the objective there,” he stated.
A part of Duncan’s job is to carry out portfolio opinions, he stated, and generally these opinions result in tough outcomes for particular groups and initiatives.
“As an total portfolio, we’re at all times taking a look at how every part goes. At whether or not every part is ready up nicely. At whether or not now we have received the fitting assets to go and ship on our aspirations for all of our video games,” he defined.
Duncan’s feedback line up with what different Microsoft executives have stated about layoffs at Xbox. In 2025, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stated main cuts have been essential to protect the Xbox enterprise, regardless of concurrently acknowledging that Xbox’s total platform, {hardware}, and sport roadmap have been the strongest they have been within the firm’s historical past.
Microsoft will launch its subsequent quarterly earnings report on January 28, at which period the corporate is predicted to reveal particulars in regards to the well being of the corporate total, together with Xbox.
Along with Everwild and the Excellent Darkish reboot, Microsoft canceled a brand new MMO from The Elder Scrolls On-line developer ZeniMax On-line Studios. Longtime ZeniMax boss Matt Firor left the corporate after the sport was cancelled, saying it was the sport he waited his whole profession to make. “Having it canceled led to my resignation,” he wrote.
2026 is the twenty fifth anniversary of Xbox, and Microsoft goes huge with numerous main releases lined up for the yr. These embrace Forza Horizon 6, the Fable reboot, and Halo: Marketing campaign Advanced.