Xbox Zenimax layoffs 🎮 premium mobile games surge 📱
2026-07-09 · 9 stories · 40 min read
Top Stories
Xbox has laid off 379 Zenimax workers in Maryland (4 min read)
Microsoft laid off 379 ZeniMax employees in Maryland, including 213 at The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios and 166 at ZeniMax Media Inc. in Rockville. The cuts take effect September 4, 2026, marking Xbox's fifth major layoff round in three years. ZeniMax Online Studios was also targeted in June 2025 and had 461 unionized workers as of 2024. The studio said it remains committed to The Elder Scrolls Online's Season One launch this week but will shift future roadmaps. (Game Developer)
Premium mobile games are back, with releases up 77% in 2025 (7 min read)
Premium mobile game releases surged 77% in 2025 to just under 750 titles, according to AppMagic data. While free-to-play still dominates at 96% of downloads, PC and console ports to mobile jumped from 7 in 2024 to 23 in 2025, with port revenue up 44.6% year-on-year. Balatro led growth with $21.3 million in mobile revenue and 3.1 million downloads; other successful ports include Slay the Spire ($13.1 million lifetime revenue), Human Fall Flat ($7.8 million), and Dead Cells ($6.5 million). (GamesIndustry.biz)
Business & Finance
网易两家日本工作室大结局：前《赛马娘》主创团队获Scopely投资，名越工作室解散
NetEase dissolved Nagoshi Studio (founded by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi) after halting funding in May, with employees receiving compensation. Studio AuKnow, a former NetEase subsidiary led by ex-Uma Musume director Takuma Akitsu, secured investment from Scopely after NetEase stopped funding it last year. (GameLook)
A risk-averse video game industry is failing marginalized developers (4 min read)
The Arab League of Misfits, a satirical card game by Arab developers, has pitched to nearly 50 funding organizations but faces repeated rejections. Creative director Nazih Fares says funders view the game's Arab identity as too risky, despite positive feedback on the prototype and gameplay. (Game Developer)
Studios & People
Bethesda HR Forced Staff To Remove Small Memorial To Laid-Off Colleagues (3 min read)
Bethesda HR forced staff at the Maryland office to remove a small memorial honoring laid-off colleagues after the studio was hit by Xbox's latest round of mass layoffs. The Bethesda Game Studios Union reported that HR cited the memorial's placement in a common area as the reason for removal. (Kotaku)
AI/Tech & Tools
PC shipments just fell for the first time in two years, thanks to the memory shortage (2 min read)
Worldwide PC shipments fell nearly 5% to 68.2 million units, the first decline in two years, driven by an AI-driven memory shortage IDC expects to persist until 2028. Despite lower unit sales, PC manufacturers are raising prices faster than demand is dropping, squeezing consumers. (Engadget)
Policy & Labor
Bungie and Sony settle lawsuit with former Marathon director for undisclosed amount (2 min read)
Former Marathon director Chris Barrett settled a lawsuit against Bungie and Sony over allegations they falsely damaged his reputation to avoid paying a $45 million bonus. The financial terms remain undisclosed, but Barrett's name has been added to Marathon's credits. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Culture & Community
Opinion: Welcome to the house of pain, brought to you by Xbox (6 min read)
Opinion piece critiques Xbox's five rounds of mass layoffs since the 2023 Activision Blizzard merger, noting Microsoft spent $70 billion on acquisitions while admitting uncertainty about ROI. The article traces layoffs from January 2024 through recent cuts and studio closures including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. (Game Developer)
Esports World Cup claims 100,000 tickets sold in Paris debut, but questions remain (4 min read)
Esports World Cup organizers claim 100,000 tickets sold for the Paris debut, relocated from Saudi Arabia due to geopolitical concerns. The seven-week event spans 25 tournaments across 24 games with a record $75 million prize pool, broadcast free-to-view by DAZN. (Dot Esports)
gg! see you in game!
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