CONFIRMED: Microsoft Hands Halo to Call of Duty Developer Activision as Part of Seismic Xbox Studios Shakeup

ign.com Sep 23, 2026

CONFIRMED: Microsoft Hands Halo to Call of Duty Developer Activision as Part of Seismic Xbox Studios Shakeup

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 23, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Microsoft announced that Activision will develop the next mainline Halo title, following a major restructuring of Xbox studios that includes 268 layoffs, primarily at Halo Studios. The cuts are part of Xbox chief Asha Sharma’s “reset” after earlier reductions that saw 1,600 employees depart in the summer, bringing the company roughly three‑quarters through its announced overhaul. Halo Studios will be reduced to a small team that supports existing Halo products, while a new, purpose‑built group within Activision will handle the franchise, separate from Call of Duty development. Microsoft also placed Rare and World’s Edge under Activision’s umbrella and continued reshuffling other studios such as Obsidian, Turn 10 and King. No release date or series reboot details were provided, currently pending.

💡 Why It Matters

· Activision’s stewardship could inject the franchise with its proven annual‑release expertise, potentially reviving Halo’s waning momentum.

Read full article on ign.com

Fun 2019 PS4 Action Game Delisted Without Notice, Players Upset

Squanch Games’ 2019 PlayStation 4 title Trover Saves the Universe was removed from the PlayStation Store and all digital storefronts this week without prior notice. The action‑platformer, known for its off‑beat humor, voice work by Rick and Morty co‑creator Justin Roiland, and optional PSVR mode, had maintained a Metacritic score of 76. No explanation was offered by the developer or publisher for the sudden delisting, prompting frustration among fans who can no longer purchase the game digitally. Physical copies remain available through retailers such as Amazon. The abrupt disappearance highlights the vulnerability of digital‑only titles to unexpected removal, even years after release. Players have taken to media, demanding transparency and fearing that licensing issues or disputes may have driven the decision.

💡 The silent pull exposes how quickly digital libraries can vanish, leaving owners and collectors without recourse.

eurogamer.net · Sep 22

Another Injustice 3 leak reveals two characters in the rumoured DC fighting…

A new Injustice title is confirmed after a stunt‑worker’s résumé revealed motion‑capture work for the unreleased game. Mackensi Emory’s CV listed Supergirl and Batwoman as characters he performed, confirming both will appear in the sequel. Supergirl’s inclusion aligns with her prominent role in Injustice 2, while Batwoman’s presence is unexpected because the character is dead in the series’ established canon. The roster addition suggests NetherRealm may reboot the storyline rather than continue the previous narrative. The résumé also named animator Jake Huang, a veteran of Mortal Kombat 1, as part of the development team. Although no official announcement or release window exists, the studio’s past cadence points to a possible 2027 launch, with a reveal possibly slated for the upcoming Game Awards.

💡 Introducing a dead‑canon hero forces the franchise to rewrite its continuity, offering fresh narrative angles and signaling a potential series reboot.

gamesradar.com · Sep 22

Activision prepares to “make the greatest Halo game ever” as it takes…

Xbox announced a reorganization of its first‑party studios, moving Rare and World's Edge under Activision Blizzard and assigning stewardship of the Halo franchise to the Call of Duty publisher. Halo, previously managed by 343 Industries (now Halo Studios) since Microsoft’s 2007 split from Bungie, will be developed by a formed team within Activision, while Halo Studios will shift to a support role and see staff reductions. Activision president Rob Kostich pledged to “make the greatest Halo game ever.” The restructure also places Bethesda in charge of Obsidian Entertainment and merges Playground Games with Turn 10 to shape the future of Forza, Fable and the ForzaTech engine. Matt Booty confirmed the new Halo team will operate separately from Call of Duty development.

💡 Placing Halo under Activision’s banner could fuse two of gaming’s biggest franchises, reshaping development pipelines and fan expectations for both series.

eurogamer.net · Sep 22

Blizzard layoffs are reportedly imminent, days after an exciting BlizzCon and a…

Blizzard announced a slate of new titles at BlizzCon 2026, including Diablo 5, a StarCraft open‑world shooter, a new World of Warcraft game and a Warcraft III campaign, with some releases slated as far as 2030. A week later, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier confirmed that layoffs at Blizzard are “imminent,” despite the studio’s recent showcase. Microsoft’s Xbox division is undergoing a second wave of cuts, having already eliminated 2,680 jobs and merged or closed several studios such as Ninja Theory and Halo Studios. An internal Blizzard email, verified by an Xbox representative, indicated that the World of Warcraft department is not affected by the latest announcements. Reports suggest Blizzard escaped the first round of Xbox layoffs and was labeled the division’s “top‑performing” studio, but its future staffing remains uncertain.

💡 The looming cuts could undermine Blizzard’s ability to deliver the ambitious roadmap unveiled at BlizzCon, threatening the momentum of its flagship franchises.

playstationlifestyle.net · Sep 22

Destiny 2 & Marathon Players Get Major Update on Their PlayStation 5…

Bungie announced a comprehensive update for its PlayStation 5 titles Destiny 2 and Marathon. The company will re‑release Destiny 2’s vaulted expansions—The Red War, Curse of Osiris, Warmind, and Forsaken—while outlining a new content pipeline. Marathon will receive a deeper survival experience with core updates and balance changes, maintaining PvE, PvP, and PvPvE options. The announcement follows recent layoffs and the end of Destiny 2 live‑service support, signaling a shift in Bungie’s studio strategy.

💡 By reviving legacy content and redefining Marathon’s gameplay, Bungie aims to retain player engagement amid a shrinking live‑service roster, reshaping the future of its flagship IP on PlayStation.

eurogamer.net · Sep 22

Bungie is freeing vaulted Destiny 2 campaigns after Marathon “did not reach…

Bungie announced that it will un‑vault several older Destiny 2 campaigns, locations, and raids, making them available to all players in the coming months after a period of internal restructuring and layoffs. The move follows the studio’s new leadership’s pledge to rebuild trust with its community and to focus on improving both Destiny 2 and its extraction shooter, Marathon, which has struggled to attract a large player base. Bungie emphasized that Destiny remains foundational to its future plans and that further content will be refined to meet current gameplay standards.

💡 By unlocking legacy content, Bungie aims to re‑engage long‑time players and demonstrate a tangible commitment to the Destiny community, potentially restoring confidence after recent setbacks.