ZeniMax reassures fans 🛡️ Ubisoft selective model 🔄 Halo Ekur cancelled ⚔️

Top Stories

The Elder Scrolls Online Dev ZeniMax Online Studios Insists It's Now the Same Size It Was When It Made Much-Loved DLCs, Moves to Reassure Worried Fans After Xbox Layoffs (4 min read)

ZeniMax Online Studios said it remains committed to The Elder Scrolls Online after Xbox layoffs cut 379 staff across Bethesda's Maryland offices. The studio claims it is now the same size as during the 2015–2018 era when it produced well-received DLC content. A revised roadmap is coming soon, though the developer confirmed the layoffs forced adjustments to planned content. (IGN)

Ubisoft pivots to "selective model" to reduce reliance on individual game launches (2 min read)

Ubisoft is shifting to a "more selective model" that reduces reliance on individual game launches, instead prioritizing its back-catalog and live-service titles for revenue, according to its 2025/26 annual report. The strategy comes as the publisher continues restructuring efforts that have included studio closures and layoffs. The company also acknowledged risks from team instability and key-talent departures, noting that sudden departures from core development teams could damage long-term editorial policy. Ubisoft Barcelona laid off 51 employees following the launch of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced. (GamesIndustry.biz)

Halo Studios reportedly cancels Halo multiplayer project Ekur, which had customisable Spartans and Elites and large player battles (4 min read)

Halo Studios has cancelled Project Ekur, a multiplayer title reportedly in development at Certain Affinity that featured customisable Spartans and Elites in large-scale battles. The cancellation follows "major development problems" with Halo: Campaign Evolved, which reportedly pulled resources away. Ekur was prototyped in Unreal Engine after an earlier battle-royale experiment called Tatanka was abandoned. (Eurogamer)

Business & Finance

Video-generation startup PixVerse raises $439M, valuation soars past $2B (4 min read)

PixVerse raised $439 million in a Series C extension, pushing its valuation past $2 billion. The Singapore-based video-generation startup now has 15 million monthly active users and plans to expand its R-Series world models for game development and world building. (TechCrunch)

Studios & People

Former Epic Games VP Steve Allison appointed chief business officer at Saber Interactive (2 min read)

Steve Allison, former Epic Games VP who led the Epic Games Store, joined Saber Interactive as chief business officer. Allison will oversee publishing, marketing, and revenue, reporting to CEO Matthew Karch as Saber prepares upcoming titles including Space Marine 3 and Jurassic Park. (GamesIndustry.biz)

Games & Releases

How Evil Trout aims to turn a cult free game into a Steam hit - again (7 min read)

Evil Trout Inc released The Incident At Galley House on Steam, a remake of the free itch.io game Type Help. It's the studio's second detective game adapted from an itch.io original, following The Roottrees Are Dead, establishing a strategy of polishing community-proven indie titles. (GamesIndustry.biz)

Culture & Community

Games Done Quick apologizes for partnering with Saudi-owned studio SNK (3 min read)

Games Done Quick cancelled a sponsored stream with SNK after community members raised concerns about the studio's ownership by Saudi Arabia's Misk Foundation, linked to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. GDQ said it failed to conduct adequate review and apologized for the oversight. (Game Developer)

gg! see you in game!

— [james](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrjennings/)