cancellations

Winsage
July 21, 2025
Microsoft has announced the cessation of sales for digital films and television shows on its Xbox and PC platforms, effective July 18. No refunds will be issued for previously purchased content, but customers can still redownload their existing shows and movies through the Movies & TV app. The company no longer offers new entertainment content for purchase on Microsoft.com, Microsoft Store on Windows, and the Microsoft Store on Xbox. This decision marks a departure from its previous strategy of positioning the Xbox One as a multimedia hub. Microsoft is encouraging users to explore third-party streaming services available on the Microsoft Store. Additionally, Microsoft recently announced layoffs affecting over 9,000 employees, and there have been cancellations of several gaming projects and changes in leadership at various studios.
AppWizard
July 8, 2025
The gaming industry has seen a trend of game cancellations from major companies like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, leading to frustration among gamers. In response, a grassroots initiative called Stop Killing Games has launched a petition that has collected nearly 1.3 million signatures, urging game publishers to fulfill their commitments to consumers. The organization raises legal concerns about publishers marketing expensive games without clear longevity, likening it to planned obsolescence, which undermines customer trust and complicates digital game preservation. They aim for the European Union to enact laws that strengthen consumer rights, potentially allowing defunct games to remain accessible through private servers, with hopes that similar protections could extend to the United States.
AppWizard
July 8, 2025
Microsoft announced a reduction of 9,100 employees, significantly affecting the Xbox division, following a previous round of 6,000 layoffs, totaling 27,600 positions eliminated since the beginning of 2023. Promising titles have been canceled, raising concerns about the future of gaming projects and workforce stability. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's compensation increased by 63% to million in 2024 amid these layoffs. Game Pass currently has around 35 million subscribers, falling short of the goal of over 100 million by 2030. The focus has shifted from hardware to services, with concerns about the sustainability of the Game Pass model and its impact on the gaming ecosystem. Rumors suggest the next generation of consoles may resemble PCs more than traditional gaming hardware.
AppWizard
July 8, 2025
Romero Games announced that funding for its first-person shooter, revealed in 2022, was withdrawn, coinciding with significant layoffs at Microsoft affecting 9,000 employees and leading to multiple project cancellations. The studio clarified on social media that it remains operational and is reassessing its staffing and operations amid concerns about its stability. While the publisher responsible for the funding withdrawal has not been disclosed due to confidentiality agreements, speculation arose regarding the timing of the decision. Former employees expressed fears of the studio shutting down or being sold. Romero Games hopes to attract interest from investors to support their ongoing development efforts.
AppWizard
July 7, 2025
Last week saw cancellations, layoffs, and discontent. The Summer Games Done Quick speedrunning festival began, with donations of around 9,000 benefiting Doctors Without Borders. Missile Command Delta reimagines the original game as a turn-based experience, releasing on July 8th. Mycopunk, a teampunk shooter, is set to release on July 10th. Occlude offers a unique twist on Solitaire, while Everdeep Aurora allows players to navigate an underground world. Islanders: New Shores features buildable archipelagoes. Dogwalk involves dragging a child through snowy landscapes, and Xenopurge is an autobattler set in alien hives. A remake of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is also in the works, along with the turn-based mech strategy sim Death Ring: Second Impact.
AppWizard
July 4, 2025
Romero Games, co-founded by Brenda and John Romero in 2015, announced that funding for their latest project has been abruptly terminated, resulting in layoffs within the company. CEO Brenda Romero stated that the publisher canceled funding for their game and other unannounced projects at various studios, a decision made at a high level within the publisher. While the specific publisher has not been disclosed, former employees suggest Microsoft may be responsible, coinciding with Microsoft's layoffs affecting 9,000 employees and project cancellations at several studios. The future of Romero Games is uncertain, with indications from some employees that the studio may close. The studio was previously working on a first-person shooter, which had been described as a significant new direction for them.
AppWizard
June 3, 2025
Zynga has announced the closure of Echtra Games, the studio behind Torchlight 3, ending development on future titles and reducing roles at the studio. This decision is part of a broader realignment of the company's resources and priorities. Echtra was acquired by Zynga shortly after the release of Torchlight 3, which received mixed reviews. The closure follows the shutdown of NaturalMotion's Star Wars: Hunters and reflects a trend within the gaming industry of companies reassessing their portfolios. Additionally, Take-Two Interactive, Zynga's parent company, has faced a workforce reduction of approximately 5% and sold its Private Division publishing division. The share price of Take-Two fluctuated after the delay of Grand Theft Auto 6, now set for a May 26, 2026 release on consoles.
AppWizard
April 6, 2025
DoD's acting Inspector General, Steven Stebbins, is reviewing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal app for operational airstrike discussions in Yemen to evaluate compliance with policies on commercial messaging for official communications and classification mandates. Concurrently, House Oversight Committee Democrats are investigating the Department of Government Efficiency's data usage, while OPM is directing agencies to revise performance review processes to prioritize adherence to presidential policies. The Defense Department has mandated public reporting of canceled contracts linked to Trump's efficiency initiatives. The SSA is tightening identity-proofing requirements for benefit applications, discontinuing phone verification options. During a nomination hearing, Trump’s nominees for OPM and OMB faced questions regarding federal workforce reductions. The Army has abandoned plans for a billion-dollar software development contract after feedback on draft RFPs. Employees at the IMLS have been placed on administrative leave amid concerns over the agency's future and grant disbursement obligations following Trump's executive order aimed at eliminating smaller entities.
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