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Xbox Game Studios
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- Confirmed Xbox Game Studios produces Gears of War: E-Day Oct 3 · source
- Confirmed Xbox Game Studios produces Halo: Campaign Evolved Sep 6 · source
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3d ago
Undead Labs, the developer of State of Decay 3, became independent through a management buyout after Xbox's plan to sell the studio fell through, studio head Philip Holt told GamesIndustry.biz. Holt called the period "a truly painful three months." The studio signed a contract with an unnamed publisher and expects to finish State of Decay 3 without outside investment. It also laid off a "considerable number" of staff and is moving to an employee-owned structure.
Oct 13
Xbox Game Studios released Gears of War: E-Day on October 7, 2026, with development handled by The Coalition. The action third-person shooter is set 14 years before the first Gears of War and covers Emergence Day, the Locust invasion that killed 25 percent of humanity on Sera. The campaign supports solo play, two-player split-screen co-op, and four-player online co-op, alongside a 12-player PvE mode called Horde Siege and a 4v4 PvP mode called Versus. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5. To mark the release, the official 4Gamer X account is running a giveaway through October 20 for one Gears of War: E-Day Xbox Wireless Controller. The controller carries a custom design by British heavy metal illustrator Luke Preece, with two crossed Chainsaw Lancers and a skull on the top case.
Oct 3
Xbox Game Studios began early access for Gears of War: E-Day on October 2, 2026, the same day it released a launch trailer for the game. Early access is open to buyers of the Premium Edition and to Game Pass subscribers who pay for the Premium Upgrade; the Premium Edition is priced at 14,000 yen including tax. Developer The Coalition built the game as a prequel set 14 years before the original Gears of War, covering Emergence Day, when the Locust emerged from beneath the planet Sera and killed roughly a quarter of humanity. The trailer shows a younger Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago alongside gameplay footage. The standard edition follows on October 7 Japan time for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Steam, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass support. At the time of writing, Metacritic sits at 87 from 52 Xbox Series X|S reviews and 84 from 27 PC reviews.
Sep 15
Microsoft has revealed the Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass lineup running from September 16 to October 6, 2026, a slate of 13 titles. Four arrive on day one: Kernel Hearts on September 17, Well Dweller on September 22, Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29, and Gears of War: E-Day on October 6. Rematch joins the Essential plan catalog on September 25.
Sep 10
Kojima Productions announced on September 10, 2026 that its new-generation action espionage game PHYSINT will be published in partnership with Xbox, ending its collaboration with PlayStation Studios. Hideo Kojima said Sony Interactive Entertainment notified him in mid-June 2026 that the in-production PHYSINT project would be canceled. Kojima wrote on X that PHYSINT is an important project for him and for Kojima Productions, so he spent about three months searching for a new partner and settled on Xbox, a party with whom he can share a vision for the future. The Xbox partnership expands on the existing collaboration behind OD, which is also set for Xbox Game Studios. Xbox division CEO Asha Sharma said Kojima's attitude of challenging conventional concepts is the kind of creativity Xbox wants to support. PlayStation Studios said it made the difficult decision to step away after careful consideration and continues to hold Kojima's vision for the game in deep respect. Release date and price for PHYSINT are undecided.
Aug 18
XBOX Game Studios released Halo: Campaign Evolved on July 29, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox. Developed by Halo Studios, the title is a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved from 2001. The release marks the series' first appearance on a PlayStation platform, with co-op support for up to four players.
Jul 17
Bethesda Game Studios published a detailed status update on its official X account on July 17, 2026, covering the development pipeline for its major franchises. The studio confirmed that Fallout 5 has entered pre-production and is being built using Creation Engine 3, the same engine powering Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI. In addition, remastered versions of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are in development. Bethesda also announced a new, unannounced Fallout project being co-developed with Obsidian Entertainment, the original creator of Fallout: New Vegas. The Elder Scrolls VI remains the studio's top priority, with development proceeding as planned. For Fallout 76, a major expansion called Raven Rock, set as a prequel to Fallout 3, is scheduled for 2027. The Fallout TV series is in production for a third season, and Fallout Shelter is receiving a new season of content. Bethesda stated that this year's Fallout Day broadcast will not be streamed, but a live event in Washington, D.C. is planned for 2027 to mark the series' 30th anniversary.
Jun 16
Multiple outlets report that several studios under Xbox Game Studios are at risk of closure, with Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, and Double Fine named as those facing potential shutdown or forced independence. According to The Verge, Ninja Theory staff were informed of the closure on June 15, 2026, and the studio hopes a buyer can be found. Bloomberg reports that Compulsion Games and Double Fine are in discussions to leave Xbox Game Studios. The reports follow the recent resignation of Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and Chief of Staff Louise O'Connor, as reported by The Game Business. These moves come after Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a business reset earlier this year, which included plans for large-scale layoffs and budget cuts. The studios in question were all acquired by Microsoft between 2018 and 2019. Ninja Theory had just announced a new title, 'Senua', at the Xbox Games Showcase days before the reported closure. Microsoft has not officially commented on the reports.
Jun 7
Atlus announced during the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 livestream on June 7 that Persona 4 Revival, a full remake of the 2008 role-playing game Persona 4, will launch on February 18, 2027. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC with Xbox Game Pass, and PC via Steam. Pre-orders are now open. The remake modernizes visuals, battles, and events, according to 4Gamer.net. The original Persona 4 followed a student who moves to a rural town, investigates the urban legend of the Midnight Channel, and solves a series of murders. The game later received a Vita port titled Persona 4 Golden and inspired spin-offs including Persona 4 Arena and Persona 4: Dancing All Night. Atlus previously released a remake of Persona 3, titled Persona 3 Reload, in February 2024. The announcement was part of a broader showcase that also revealed a release date for the Fable reboot, set for February 23, 2027.
Jun 7
Xbox Game Studios announced during the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 livestream on June 8 that State of Decay 3 will launch in 2027. The game is the latest entry in the open-world zombie survival series developed by Undead Labs. A new gameplay trailer accompanied the announcement, showing combat against hordes of zombies and narrative scenes. The trailer confirmed that the game will be released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one of release. The trailer focuses on gameplay footage, including battles against evolved zombie types. Players will lead a survivor community, making decisions about where to live, what to build, and who to welcome into their group. The announcement follows a six-year gap since the initial concept trailer for State of Decay 3, which was shown in 2020. That earlier trailer featured a zombie deer that the developers later said would not appear in the final game. The 2026 showcase provided the first substantial look at actual gameplay and a concrete release window.