organizational change Archives

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Microsoft files patent for “ad-credit” system to show ads on PC and Xbox without disrupting gameplay

Microsoft has patented an "ad-credit" system to integrate advertisements into PC and Xbox gaming without interrupting gameplay. The patent, named 'Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access', identifies natural pauses in gameplay to display ads, rewarding players with credits for uninterrupted playtime after viewing. In 2022, Microsoft began testing ad-supported game streaming on Xbox. Additionally, new monthly cloud gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers will take effect in November 2026, with Essential subscribers limited to five hours, Premium to ten hours, and Ultimate to fifteen hours per month. Xbox has also announced layoffs affecting 268 positions across various studios as part of restructuring efforts.

AppWizard

October 19, 2025

Ubisoft vet Côté says he “did not make choice” to leave the company

Marc-Alexis Côté, the long-time leader of the Assassin's Creed franchise, has departed from Ubisoft after over two decades. He clarified that the decision to leave was not his own, as the company chose a successor closer to its organizational structure. Although he was offered another position within Ubisoft, it did not align with his previous responsibilities. Assassin's Creed is now under the newly established Vantage Studios, backed by Tencent. Côté expressed gratitude for his experiences and relationships at Ubisoft and compared his departure to a captain ensuring the safety of his crew before leaving. His departure signifies a significant moment in the franchise's history as Ubisoft transitions to new leadership.