#xbox

Microsoft launched Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC in early release on July 22, 2026, covering four original Xbox games on Windows 11 PCs and supported handhelds.

Bethesda’s July 17 note says Fallout 5 is in preproduction on Creation Engine 3, with Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas remasters also in development.

OneBGS said on r/Games that the latest Bethesda Games Studios layoffs were not just a management-layer reduction, but affected dozens of production staff tied to future games such as TES VI.

A Texas WARN notice lists 136 id Software-linked layoffs and 158 total ZeniMax cuts in the state, according to Game Developer.

Obsidian is moving onto a new Fallout project led by Josh Sawyer while Xbox cancels multiple projects during its wider reset, according to reports.

Microsoft’s July 6 Xbox reset moves Double Fine and Compulsion back to management as independent studios, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs enter new-ownership terms. The Verge reports 4,800 Microsoft layoffs, including about 1,600 Xbox employees.

Xbox console prices rise worldwide on August 1: Series S 512GB to $499.99, Series X 1TB to $799.99, with the 2TB model sunset and financing/refurbished options offered.

Xbox Series X has reached $800 in the U.S. while Lenovo says DRAM and NAND prices are unlikely to return to last year’s levels soon. The Reddit thread centered on used hardware, repair, and whether AI datacenter demand is crowding out consumer buyers.

Circana’s May 2026 U.S. data shows Xbox hardware had its worst May unit sales on record, while PlayStation unit sales fell 58% year over year. Average hardware price reached $502.

Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders open June 25 on digital storefronts and select retailers, with the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S release still dated November 19. r/Games discussion is centered on price, editions, and possible early-access bundles.

Reuters, citing The Information, says Microsoft has considered spinning out or restructuring Xbox as a wholly owned subsidiary, while Satya Nadella said Xbox must become a sustainable business after 25 years of investment.

No Rest for the Wicked version 1.0 is headed to PS5 in October 2026, but the Xbox version will not arrive alongside it. Moon Studios pointed to Series S work as the schedule problem, and Reddit discussion split over Microsoft’s lower-spec console requirement.