New Offerings
Xbox launches Labs group to explore new gaming technology
The team plans to share its tools with developers across the industry
Company Profile
Xbox Game Studios
Website
www.microsoft.com/games
About
Microsoft Studios is a brand owned by Microsoft to represent the company as a developer and publisher of video games. Established in 2002 to coincide with the release of the Xbox, MGS develops and publishes games exclusively for the Xbox, PC, and Windows Phone platforms.
Articles featuring Xbox Game Studios
New Offerings
Xbox creates XP division to expand its gaming franchises
Kayleen Walters will lead the new division as president
Job News
Xbox appoints new leaders for Mojang and franchise experiences
Maria Angelidou-Smith will become CEO of Mojang and Minecraft on October 19th
Week In Views
Xbox's major reset continues and reflections on AppLovin's studio acquisitions | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Patents
Xbox patents ad-credit system for ads during gameplay
Players could receive ad-free play credits after viewing advertisements
Restructure
Xbox to cut 268 jobs as it shakes up studio structure
Microsoft Casual Games now reports into King as UK studio Ninja Theory could be shut down
Layoffs Imminent
Xbox plans hundreds more layoffs and studio consolidation
The cuts follow 1,600 Xbox layoffs announced in July
Hot Five
Hot Five: Monster Hunter Outlanders opens pre-registrations, Savvy Games Group CEO steps down, and Xbox Game Pass to launch cloud gaming limits
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Week In Views
Cloud gaming's broken promises, inside DoubleDown, and Pokémon's new movie | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
New Offerings
Xbox Game Pass to launch cloud gaming limits in November
The company expects the change to affect 4% of Game Pass subscribers
New Offerings
Xbox begins testing ad-supported game streaming
The trial is currently available to Xbox Insiders
Mobile Mavens
"The business logic is understandable. The human cost is devastating": The Mobile Mavens on Xbox's restructuring
The Mobile Mavens discuss the latest on the Xbox reset, what challenges are ahead and why King and Mojang could play a central role in the company’s future
Strategic Move
Xbox CEO says mobile to play key role as Microsoft restructures gaming business
Asha Sharma said the Microsoft games division spread its resources too thin
Leadership
Xbox appoints Helen Chiang as first chief operating officer
The appointment comes as Microsoft continues a broader restructuring of its Xbox business
Week In Views
Xbox’s search for direction and a closer look at Candy Crush All Stars | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Strategic Move
Xbox outlines platform overhaul in internal strategy memo
The company reported 1bn annual players across console, PC, mobile and streaming
Week In Views
Fortnite’s global return, Xbox’s uncertain future and the rise of Melon Sandbox | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Leadership Hires
Xbox hires Matthew Ball and Scott Van Vliet in leadership team expansion
Focus is on improving execution and speeding up product development
Week In Views
Xbox Game Pass’ value debate and Doki Doki Literature Club’s policy clash | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass "too expensive for players", as per leaked memo
New Microsoft Gaming EVP and CEO Asha Sharma’s internal memo has been leaked
Jobs Roundup
September 2025’s Movers and Shakers: Roblox's head of agency partnerships, Women in Games' new community manager, and Epic Games hires Supercell veteran
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Job News
Microsoft names Rare's Louise O’Connor as chief of staff at Xbox Game Studios
She will focus on driving collaboration across Xbox Game Studios while supporting its leaders and teams
Week That Was
Microsoft’s acquisition ambitions. Jordan's rising star, and Monster Hunter Now’s event success | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Hot Five
Hot Five: Wuthering Waves sails to $150 million, Scopely’s "megadeal" plan, and Xbox Android app is on the way
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Microsoft Triumph
Xbox Android app will start game sales next month
Players can use Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream titles they've purchased
Job Cuts
Microsoft cuts 650 jobs in its Xbox games division
The cuts will largely impact corporate and support roles within Activision Blizzard
Alternative App Stores
The Xbox Mobile Store lives… Or at least there’s a webpage for it
As their self-imposed July deadline draws to a close, could an official roll-out be imminent?
Mobile No Show
The Xbox handheld doesn’t exist (but everyone wants it to)
Even Xbox’s own Phil Spencer wants a portable machine. But he’s not getting it. Yet…
Week That Was
Week in Views - The hunt for the new Star Wars game, Xbox goes handheld, and cats versus monsters…
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Xbox Goes Mobile
Could a new Xbox handheld be revealed this Sunday?
A well-respected Brazilian YouTuber predicts that new portable Xbox hardware is about to break cover
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including internal leaks on the future of Xbox, Brawl Stars success, the expansion of Pokémon Go and more
New Hires
International Game Developers Association Foundation board appoints three new directors
Lisy Kane, James Lewis, and Sarah Spiers bring decades of experience to their roles
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
This week we consider football, Japan, and whether we are living in (Back to) the Future
Improved Experience
Xbox Cloud Gaming increased performance for iOS devices
Led to 35% increase in average play times
Mobile Master Chief
20% of Xbox Cloud Gaming subscribers use touch controls exclusively
Games include Hades, Scarlet Nexus, Dragon Quest XI and more
Power Your Dreams
The Xbox Game Pass app has generated 14 million downloads
Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now follow behind
Affordable Training
Hurry! Five essential MasterClass courses go up in price next week
Develop essential skills and discover new business practices from top games industry mentors - this is the time to book
Masterclass
Xbox Game Studios’ Crystin Cox on designing for liveops success
Success is more and more focused on effectively operating and caring for a live game
Mystery Box
Microsoft partners with Call of Duty: Mobile developer Timi Studios on mysterious project
Is another Xbox franchise mobile-bound?
Are We Live?
Xbox Game Studios' director of live operations Crystin Cox on the major trends to come in the next 12 months
"I think we will see community and social features take on a much greater importance in game design, especially for mobile games"
All Time High
Increase in subscription revenue offsets Fortnite decline for Microsoft as Xbox Live hits 65 million MAUs
Games cash drops 10 per cent year-on-year
The Iap Inspector
Dark Ages: The monetisation of Age of Empires: Castle Siege
IAPs from the players' perspective
Microsoft launches UK-based studio to deliver Windows 8 games
Targeting tablets
Microsoft appoints former Sony man Phil Harrison as Interactive Entertainment veep
Joins the old enemy