Xbox's Doom, Wolfenstein Developers Working 'More Closely Than Ever' Following Xbox 'Reset' Layoffs

ign.com Oct 31, 2026

Xbox’s Doom, Wolfenstein Developers Working ‘More Closely Than Ever’ Following Xbox ‘Reset’ Layoffs

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 31, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Bethesda’s id Software and fellow Xbox studio MachineGames announced an intensified collaboration following the recent “reset” layoffs at id Software, which cut roughly half of its staff. Co‑director Marty Stratton said the remaining teams are “incredibly viable” and that the two studios are now working more closely on technology development, a partnership that began earlier this year. Both studios share the idTech engine, and the deeper tie‑up could accelerate future titles, including the rumored Wolfenstein 3, while Doom: The Dark Ages – Revelations DLC marks the last major Doom content for now. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has urged developers to double down on flagship franchises, a directive echoed by Bethesda head Jill Braff, underscoring the strategic push for faster, high‑profile releases.

💡 Why It Matters

· The joint effort could compress development cycles for Xbox’s marquee shooters, turning staffing cuts into a catalyst for delivering flagship games more swiftly.

Capsules Gaming

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Deep Fishing codes (October 2026) and how to redeem them for bait…

GamesRadar+ reports that new promotional codes for the Roblox fishing game Deep Fishing are available, offering players bait, luck boosts, and occasional cash rewards. The codes can be redeemed in the in‑game shop by entering them in the codes box at the bottom of the screen. Players must progress through rods and upgrades to use the bait effectively, while the codes help accelerate early progression. No codes have expired yet, but the site advises prompt redemption before they become invalid.

💡 The codes give players a tangible advantage in a game that rewards progression through incremental fishing successes, potentially shortening the learning curve and increasing engagement.

gamesradar.com · Oct 31

How to complete the Four Fierce Axes quest in Phantom Blade Zero

The Four Fierce Axes quest in Phantom Blade Zero requires players to locate scattered book pages across Weeping Creek Valley and other regions, culminating in a confrontation with the Axemaster, Peng Meng. Key locations include the Broken Puppet Valley Bell, a hut in the valley, and a building opposite the Outpost Courtyard Bell. Additional letters are found in the Axemaster’s Holding Cell, Sha‑Chi Tower, and Lady’s Cave, each unlocked by progressing through earlier quests. Completing the quest unlocks the Axemaster’s Blood Oath Dagger for soul tempering.

💡 The quest’s intricate navigation tests players’ exploration skills and rewards them with powerful gear, reinforcing the game’s emphasis on thorough world‑building and progression.

ign.com · Oct 31

Hideo Kojima Makes Surprise Cameo in New My Chemical Romance Animated Short

Hideo Kojima, the creator of Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid, makes a surprise voice cameo in My Chemical Romance’s newly released animated short “Prelude to The End.” The seven‑minute stop‑motion film, a dark fairytale based on Lauren Tsai’s The Dying World, serves as the 20th‑anniversary music video for the band’s opening track “The End” from The Black Parade. Kojima is credited as “The Teacher” and scolds protagonist Astrid for late Japanese homework in a brief voicemail before the audio cuts off. The short also features voicemails from Phoebe Bridgers and Billie Eilish. The cameo follows Kojima’s recent appearances in Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, and other side projects, while he continues work on OD, Physint, and the upcoming Death Stranding Isolations anime trailer.

💡 Kojima’s crossover with a seminal rock act underscores his cultural reach beyond gaming, drawing fans of both mediums into a shared narrative experience.

eurogamer.net · Oct 31

Forza director, who’d been with Turn 10 for 27 years leaves Microsoft,…

Dan Greenawalt, founder and long‑time director of Turn 10 Games, has retired after 27 years with Microsoft. His departure follows the merger of Turn 10 with Playground Games, part of Xbox’s broader restructuring that included 3,200 layoffs and four studio closures. An internal memo from Playground’s head, Trevor Williams, praised Greenawalt’s role in launching Project Gotham Racing, founding Turn 10, and creating the Forza franchise. The merger will see the combined teams collaborate on future Forza and Fable titles.

💡 Greenawalt’s exit marks the end of an era for one of Microsoft’s most influential game studios, underscoring the shifting priorities within the company’s gaming division. The consolidation with Playground Games signals a strategic pivot toward unified development pipelines for flagship franchises.

ign.com · Oct 31

Magic: The Gathering Designers Detail Reality Fracture’s Jace Arc, Echoed Pairs, and…

Reality Fracture, the latest Magic: The Gathering Universes Within set, reimagines iconic cards through the lens of Planeswalker Jace Beleren, who reshapes the multiverse to match his vision. Designers Yoni Skolnik and Meris Mullaley explained that the set draws inspiration from the 2007 Planar Chaos “What‑If” experiment and Marvel‑Spider‑Man collaborations, while focusing on characters plausibly active in the current timeline. Three distinct Jace planeswalker cards mark different stages of his power accumulation, and the Echoed Pairs mechanic guarantees one normal and one Echoverse version of legends such as Karn per pack, expanding the three‑legends‑per‑pack formula introduced in Dominaria. The product also includes a Secret Lair bundle featuring art and alternate‑universe foils, aimed at both veteran lore fans and newcomers seeking a narrative entry point.

💡 By letting players collect parallel versions of beloved legends, Reality Fracture turns each booster into a narrative puzzle, deepening engagement with Magic’s lore while testing a new pack‑distribution model that could reshape future set designs.

gamesradar.com · Oct 31

When Patrick Stewart starred in Oblivion, he was blown away by the…

Patrick Stewart, famed for X‑Men and Star Trek, voiced Emperor Uriel Septim VII in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bethesda supplied an extensive lore dossier, which Stewart praised as unprecedented detail. The story surfaced from a 2006 Collector’s Edition documentary, where Todd Howard showed the notes to Stewart, who expressed enthusiasm. Despite the character’s brief role, the developers celebrated Stewart’s performance, noting his delivery matched the game’s epic tone. The anecdote highlights the collaboration between Hollywood talent and game design.

💡 The exchange underscores how high‑profile actors can elevate narrative depth in video games, setting a precedent for future collaborations between film and interactive media.