gamingWednesday, June 17, 2026

Xbox studios fight closure, PlayStation layoffs loom

Today's gaming news is dominated by studio closures and layoffs. Xbox studios are reportedly negotiating to avoid being shuttered, while a leak suggests PlayStation is planning mass layoffs and studio closures starting July. Meanwhile, the Stop Killing Games campaign failed to secure EU legislation despite over a million signatures. It's a grim day for job security in gaming.

Sources

#01www.nintendolife.comJun 17

Multiple Xbox Studios Reportedly In Active Negotiations With Microsoft To Avoid Closure

Multiple Xbox studios including Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine are reportedly in active negotiations with Microsoft to avoid closure. This follows recent studio closures and suggests internal turmoil at Xbox.

2 min readRead original

#02dropsdejogos.uai.com.brJun 17

Layoffs: PlayStation irá fechar estúdios e cancelar jogos

A leaked report claims Sony plans mass layoffs and studio closures starting July 1, 2026, with the situation described as a catastrophe for the market. If true, this would be one of the biggest restructuring events in PlayStation history.

2 min readRead original

#03www.dexerto.comJun 17

Stop Killing Games fails to secure EU law despite 1.3M signatures

The Stop Killing Games campaign failed to secure EU legislation despite 1.3 million signatures. The European Commission declined to propose rules requiring publishers to keep discontinued games playable, a major setback for consumer rights.

#04www.windowscentral.comJun 17

"The rumors are false": No, Microsoft isn't already looking to 'reverse course' on Xbox exclusives — but it's not hard to understand why these rumors spread

Microsoft denied rumors it plans to reverse course on Xbox exclusives, but the rumors spread because Xbox has been porting games like Halo to PlayStation while competitors double down on exclusives. The denial doesn't change the perception of a shifting strategy.

#05www.polygon.comJun 17

Hellraiser: Revival gets release date, joins clogged games lineup

Hellraiser: Revival gets an October 2025 release date, deliberately avoiding GTA VI's fall window. It's a smart move in an increasingly crowded late 2025 lineup.

Also today7

Federal President Steinmeier to Open gamescom congress 2026www.gamesmarket.global
German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will open the gamescom congress in 2026, marking the first time a Federal President has visited the event. He will also tour the convention, speak with developers, and try out games.

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