MTV news writes: "On Monday, MTV News broke the story that Microsoft has been working on an Xbox 360 answer to the Wii remote since the summer. This story has provoked a lot of discussion and raised a lot of questions. How did we get these details? Why would Microsoft do this? Is this a late April Fools' Day hoax?
We can break it down for you and include some of your comments along way:
Q: Is this an April Fools' Day joke? "April Fools was a few days ago, guy." - BlackAdvent, commenting on gaming blog Kotaku
MTV News: MTV News has been doing background reporting on this story for several months, but only recently felt the facts were solid enough to file a report.
Q: Isn't that just a sketch made in MS Paint? There's no way that's a real Microsoft development sketch. (See the sketch for yourself.) "That pic is a joke. Nobody, let alone Microsoft, would file a patent or trademark with a pic like that." - Ron Workman, commenting on the MTV Multiplayer blog
MTV News: Correct. Our primary development source (who isn't an artist) couldn't produce a photograph of Microsoft's controller prototype without potentially compromising his position and studio. MTV News instead asked him to produce a sketch, to give us an idea of what the prototype looked like, which he then produced in MS Paint."
Its creator eliminated components that were not essential to speed up its development, such as the Bluetooth of the controls.
The previously rumored mass layoffs at Xbox are expected to happen on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, according to a new rumor.
They will have fired close to 20,000 people all up after this round of lay-offs coming, since the ABK deal announcement in January 2022. Shocking really
January 2023:
Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees, which was a significant workforce reduction.
January 2024:
Approximately 1,900 gaming employees were laid off following the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
May 2025:
Microsoft announced a further 6,000 layoffs as part of an organizational shift.
June 2025:
Additional layoffs, including 650 in the gaming business, focused on corporate and support functions
Replies(2)
"They will have fired close to 20,000 people all up after this round of lay-offs coming, since the ABK deal announcement in January 2022. Shocking really"
It's not that shocking considering these numbers aren't just Xbox numbers as you're deliberately trying to make it seem for some reason.
Interestingly, another no shocking fact is that whenever Microsoft releases its quarterly earnings reports, you're quick to point out that those numbers aren't exclusive to Xbox. Yeah... go figure.
They also fired around 2500 people across Microsoft's gaming divisions and Zenimax shortly after buying it, and before they closed down 4 studios including Arkane and Tango.
I remember Satya boasting about how compassionate he was for splitting the list 50/50 across the two companies.
"They also fired around 2500 people across Microsoft's gaming divisions and Zenimax shortly after buying it"
Bring your sources. I´ll wait.
Let's hope its not as bad as socials are making it, good luck to those that unfortunately lose their jobs.
Could be not as bad could be horrible. But it's Ms so I'm expecting the absolute worst.
Sometimes I feel like they brought in Sarah to take the heat away from Phil.
Phil has always stuck his nose into everything Xbox related when it's something positive or at least neutral but as soon as they went the multiplatform root he's stood back and let Sarah do most of the talking in terms of PR. Now they are doing the same with layoffs.
The person who should be let go is Phil himself.
"Phil has always stuck his nose into everything Xbox related when it's something positive or at least neutral but as soon as they went the multiplatform root he's stood back and let Sarah do most of the talking in terms of PR. Now they are doing the same with layoffs."
You have no idea what you´re talking about.
*IF* Microsoft decides to address the upcoming layoffs, Matt Booty will be the one in the spotlight since he is the president of XGS.
Phil will probably be on some bs drama later doing interviews telling people how "devastated" and "sorry" he is for those affected while wiping away his tears with money.
Sarah is the President of Xbox (hardware) so she will be better off taking care of hers business and let both Matt and Phil face the backlash.
The Outerhaven writes: Split/Second was the explosive arcade racing game that outshone Ridge Racer and Burnout. That is, until Disney shut it all down before a sequel could happen.
As a kid i had some heart attacks playing this game. The soundtrack right on point with those close calls. I love this game.
Agreed. I still love it and play it often. Still sucks that Disney was like, nah... this game didn't do well, when it did well against other racers and reviewed well.
Split/Second was one of the game I enjoyed playing. In fact it's still the most popular video on my YouTube channel. It's a gameplay of Split/Second posted 15 years ago. This past month 25 people viewed it. Split/Second is a favourite amongst racing gamers worldwide.
This game was super awesome and hella fun playing split-screen with the homie. Trashing your friend’s car during split-screen competition using one of those QuickTime events was so funny haha
I think its a terrific idea for MS to release a motion control.
Each of the console makers copy from each other. Sony is copying Second Life with Home. Sony is copying MSFT's achievements.
MS copies the waggle controller.
Everyone improves on the ideas of the others, its called competition and progress. Its how it works in every industry, and there is nothign new about this in gaming consoles. 3D motion control was available on PCs for years before Nintendo put on a console.
The more the merrier I say. I think its great news. Bring it on.
why cant Ms do both go after the casual and hardcore with this clone?
Fight Night with next-gen graphics and motion controls
a bad idea
by Microsoft. If this is true that they are try to broaden their gaming base then Sony needs to beware. This could work as well as provide a better way of controlling games.
Copy, modify, adapt ..... FTW.