Xbox has been dealing with a major network outage for around 20 hours, and many players still can’t sign in, launch games, or access their libraries. No idea what’s happening, PlayStation was also down the other day for several hours. The outage has affected core Xbox services, including account sign-ins, the Microsoft Store, subscriptions, and game license checks. That means some players have been locked out of certain physical disc games. Microsoft says it’s working on a fix and services are slowly coming back, but there’s still no word on when everything will be fully back to normal.

Xbox and Ubisoft have launched a new “PC version included” program for select Ubisoft games. If you already own the digital Xbox version of an eligible Ubisoft game, you can now claim the PC version for free through Ubisoft Connect. The same applies if you buy one of the supported games going forward. At launch, the program includes 13 games, including: • Assassin’s Creed Mirage • Assassin’s Creed Shadows • Far Cry 6 • Star Wars Outlaws • Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 • Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora To claim the PC copy, you’ll need to link your Xbox and Ubisoft Connect accounts. This offer only applies to digital Xbox purchases of supported games and is not available for physical discs.

XBOX CEO Asha Sharma says some parts of the company had 14 layers of management 🎮 They will be reduced to no more than 5 layers — and in some cases, just 3 "That complexity has slowed decisions, blurred accountability, and made it harder to deliver for players. As we reset XBOX, we will simplify [it]"

XBOX is set to lay off 3,200 employees, 20% of its workforce, as part of a company reset. In addition, XBOX is spinning off and/or selling 5 of its first party studios: Arkane Lyon, Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says AI will not replace AAA games anytime soon. She pushed back against the idea that AI world models could take over traditional game development “I don’t necessarily see world models replacing 50 to 80 hours of gameplay.” Sharma explained that great games are more than just large worlds. They need strong stories, balanced gameplay, good level design, and memorable moments, elements that still require human creativity and careful planning. She made it clear that AI should help developers rather than replace them. “I’m not saying AI replaces creators,” the technology should be used as a tool to improve development. According to Sharma, AI can assist with tasks like creating assets, testing games, and speeding up workflows, but the people behind the games remain essential.