Bilingual

The console wars have been lost
19 days ago
- Valve is winning the console wars by doing nothing while Microsoft and Sony self-sabotage.
- Microsoft is losing appeal due to Xbox exclusives, price hikes, and team layoffs, with few exciting games.
- Sony has stopped PC ports, raised prices, and plans to end physical media, reducing the incentive to buy Playstation.
- The author's household uses PS5 mainly for streaming, Switch 2 for Nintendo exclusives, and prefers Steam for most gaming.
- Valve's success contrasts with industry struggles, raising concerns about its future leadership change.
Steam sales reportedly topped $11B during H1 2026 due to shifting trends
18 days ago
- Steam's revenue in H1 2026 reached $11.1 billion, a 14.5% increase from H1 2025 and 8% higher than H2 2025.
- Growth drivers include a surge in Chinese players, higher game prices, viral co-op hits, and smarter back-catalogue strategies from publishers.
- Top-selling games like Forza Horizon 6, Resident Evil Requiem, and Crimson Desert each earned nearly $200 million in H1 2026.
- New 2026 releases accounted for only 21% of revenue, indicating increased reliance on older games compared to previous years.
- Discussions highlight debates over Steam's 30% commission, with comparisons to Apple and critiques of its market dominance.
Majority of id software to be laid off by Microsoft
22 days ago
- The application is interactive and requires JavaScript.
- The author expresses concern about potential harm to id Software's tech team.
- Recent news has led to a loss of faith in current leadership.
- The author is at a loss for words due to recent developments.
Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs, many at Xbox in a 'reset' of its gaming division
22 days ago
- Microsoft announces 4,800 job cuts (2.1% of global workforce), including 1,600 at Xbox.
- Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cites unhealthy business margins and a 'hardware crisis' due to rising console costs.
- An additional 1,600 job cuts are expected this fiscal year; four game development studios are being spun off.
- The layoffs follow Microsoft's $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition, which failed to meet growth expectations.
- Microsoft's chief people officer states the cuts are not being replaced by AI and are linked to changing customer needs.
Microsoft Lays Off Nearly 5K Employees Across Xbox, Commercial Sales
22 days ago
- Microsoft announced 4,800 layoffs (2.1% of global workforce), with Xbox and commercial sales hit hardest; Xbox lost 1,600 staff.
- Executives cited industry changes and AI transforming work, but stated roles are not directly replaced by AI, emphasizing need for skill adaptation.
- Xbox restructuring includes cutting management layers, refocusing on core pillars like Minecraft and Candy Crush, and transitioning four gaming studios.
- Layoffs correlate with Microsoft's AI investment, including a $2.5 billion Frontier Company unit, amid broader tech industry job cuts totaling ~154,000 in H1 2026.
- Microsoft reported redeploying over 4,000 employees into new roles in the past year, aiming to reskill and retain staff despite reductions.
Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs and shrinks Xbox in 'significant restructure'
22 days ago
- Microsoft announces 4,800 job cuts, about 2.1% of its workforce, with significant layoffs affecting Xbox, including over 1,600 immediate roles axed.
- Xbox CEO Asha Sharma describes this as the 'most significant restructure in Xbox history', involving spinning off four game development studios: Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, and Undead Lab.
- Microsoft executives cite the need to adapt to fast-changing industry and customer needs, with Amy Coleman noting AI is changing work processes, though not replacing lost roles with AI.
- The restructuring is part of a broader reset for Xbox, aimed at focusing on major IP and audiences, with Mojang and King now reporting directly to Sharma.
- Industry analysts highlight challenges for Xbox in defining its role across console, PC, cloud, and subscription platforms amid ongoing gaming industry layoffs and rising hardware costs.
Nintendo has raised its employees base salary by 10%
a month ago
- Nintendo raised its base salary for employees by 10% three years ago, as confirmed by President Shuntaro Furukawa.
- The company is investing in talent retention with salary increases and a new 121 billion yen R&D building.
- Discussions on Nintendo's Switch pricing and comparisons with other consoles like Xbox and PlayStation occur in the text.
- There is mention of identity confusion among users in online forums, possibly due to avatar appearances.
- Nintendo's approach contrasts with industry trends, focusing on game development and employee welfare over layoffs or AI.

gaming industry

The console wars have been lost

Steam sales reportedly topped $11B during H1 2026 due to shifting trends

Majority of id software to be laid off by Microsoft

Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs, many at Xbox in a 'reset' of its gaming division

Microsoft Lays Off Nearly 5K Employees Across Xbox, Commercial Sales

Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs and shrinks Xbox in 'significant restructure'

Nintendo has raised its employees base salary by 10%