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AppWizard
July 2, 2026
Robert Bowling, former strategist of the Call of Duty franchise, has co-founded a new studio called //18.bravo after the closure of his previous venture, Midnight Society, in 2025. The studio aims to foster a collaborative environment by aligning leadership compensation with employee success and introducing a royalty program for employees and profit-sharing with external talents. //18.bravo's debut project will not support live service models, focusing instead on creating a sustainable gaming experience with dedicated servers and optimized peer-to-peer architecture. This approach prioritizes longevity over immediate financial success, addressing gamer concerns about game shutdowns.
Winsage
June 30, 2026
Microsoft has released new preview versions in the Windows Insider channels, focusing on refining the taskbar in Windows 11. The latest Insider Preview versions include a new option called “Taskbar size” in the “Experimental” release channel (Build 26300.8758), with early screenshots indicating a default setting of “Small.” Users can also dock the taskbar on any side of the monitor. Improvements to system sounds in dark mode and more reliable thumbnail previews for cloud files in File Explorer's preview panel are also included in the Beta Preview (Build 26220.8754). Microsoft has restructured the Insider Preview Program, reducing it from four channels to two: Experimental and Beta, with the Release Preview channel remaining. Switching between Insider Preview channels has been simplified, allowing users to change channels more flexibly.
AppWizard
June 30, 2026
Robert Henrysson has announced his departure as CEO of Supermassive Games, two months after the launch of Directive 8020. He reflected on his tenure with pride, noting the studio's expansion and commitment to quality. Nordisk Games recognized his contributions and leadership during a transformative period. Directive 8020, part of the Dark Pictures series, received mixed user ratings on Steam but was praised by critics, achieving an 85% rating. Henrysson's leadership occurred amid industry challenges, including layoffs. He plans to spend the summer with his family while remaining open to future opportunities in the gaming industry.
AppWizard
June 25, 2026
Developers at Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight, are signaling their intent to seek new job opportunities amid impending layoffs. Many employees have updated their LinkedIn profiles to indicate they are "open to work," and studio leadership has allowed them to explore external job prospects. Reports indicate that at least a dozen employees, out of a workforce of approximately 90, are actively seeking new roles. This trend is occurring alongside broader concerns within the Xbox gaming division, where other studios may also face closures as part of an initiative acknowledging that Microsoft has overextended itself through acquisitions, potentially leading to significant layoffs and canceled projects.
AppWizard
June 21, 2026
Luna Abyss, a game that blends first-person shooters with bullet hell mechanics, has faced significant challenges following the announcement of layoffs affecting its entire development team. The news was shared by Hollie Emery, CEO of Kwalee Labs, on June 16, stating that the decision was beyond their control. As of now, the game has a concurrent player count of 43 and a peak of 317 players since its release on May 21. Despite its innovative gameplay, the layoffs have overshadowed its potential success.
AppWizard
June 15, 2026
Compulsion Games, known for titles like We Happy Few and South of Midnight, may be facing imminent closure as Microsoft’s gaming division undergoes significant layoffs and restructuring. Reports indicate that Compulsion and Double Fine are in negotiations to potentially spin off to avoid shutdown. Employees have expressed concern over job security, with many searching for new opportunities. Compulsion Games, founded in 2009 and based in Montreal, received critical acclaim for its recent title, South of Midnight, which won several awards. Despite previous praise from Xbox executives for the studio's achievements, the future remains uncertain amid corporate changes.
AppWizard
June 13, 2026
GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026. A potential PC version may be released as early as February 2027, according to claims from three individuals with alleged ties to Rockstar. Rockstar aims to release the PC version before the end of the fiscal year. Historically, the gap between console and PC releases for Rockstar games has been significant, with previous titles like GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 experiencing delays of nearly two years and one year, respectively. Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, stated that Rockstar prefers to launch games on consoles first to serve the core consumer.
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