Episode 216
Microsoft has laid off over 9000 employees, heavily crippling and outright killing some of their Xbox studios. Today, we discuss this tragic layoff, examining the ramifications for Xbox and where this leaves them in the broader games industry landscape. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter 4U, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach). This episode was recorded in July 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase (dylan.robert.chase@gmail.com).
Questions or comments? Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Bluesky at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn
Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening Banter
6:21 - Microsoft Layoffs and AI Ambitions
12:51 - Perfect Dark Canceled and The Initiative Closed
17:46 - Everwild Canceled and Rare Crippled
28:29 - Project Blackbird Canceled
32:55 - John Romero's New Game Canceled and Turn 10 Cut Down
38:53 - Halo and Call of Duty Studios Have Layoffs
53:59 - Monster Hunter 4U, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, and Monster Hunter Wilds
1:05:55 - Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
1:18:32 - Streamer Support for Texas Flooding
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