XBOX Games Showcase 2026 thoughts?

[dhaabi]

Remember when Microsoft announced Ninja Theory's third installment in the Hellblade series just eight days ago? Now, they've announced that the studio is closing.

Double Fine Productions and Compulsion Games are also reportedly negotiating with Microsoft to avoid being shuttered. While I'm sure if that does ultimately happen it would result in the loss of many's jobs, I think it would ultimately benefit Double Fine particularly in the long-term future as they re-build themselves up as the indie studio they had been. If there's anything third-party studios have realized in the last few years especially, it's that being tied to a major publisher who only sees you as a disposable asset in this present moment isn't in your best interest.

Anyway, Xbox is so back.

[kamikazekeeg]

I believe something they said the other week or so ago they talked about the likelihood of there being firings and closures, but to do it to a studio that they just supported the new game announcement of is wild.  I mean, I never expected them to get another game as I thought the last one didn't do well, but still crazy to be discussing their closure after a new game announcement.  Feel bad for all the studios to see the hit and hope they get cut off from Microsoft instead of seeing a studio closure.

[weirdfeline]

From a business perspective in 2026 it doesn't make sense that Double Fine worked on and released Kiln, maybe before the new leadership took over it was approved as something new to be added to Game Pass but it never looked like something that would turn a profit. They seem to have been one of the only studios that were allowed to still make smaller projects and have multiple games in development at once instead of just going from Psychonauts 2 to the next large game.

Compulsion took eight years to deliver a new game and while I personally think it looks like an enjoyable game it doesn't seem to have reached much of a fanbase despite multiple awards.

Ninja Theory makes the least sense of the three. I just praised their turnaround time between titles and while Hellblade II also didn't seem to resonate with players like the first did their history shows they are capable of much more.

it's easy to hate XBOX for this but if they are open to letting them go independent that seems like a nice compromise. Asha seems to be doing whatever she can to save the XBOX brand and XBOX as a whole from Microsoft. Focusing on their studios that do deliver each time makes sense.