Excerpt: With Kinect, Microsoft has a chance to capture the dumbed-down future of computing. Now, all a user needs to know is how to move a finger, how to say “Kinect: Do this,” “Kinect: Do that.” It could one day fundamentally alter the way people communicate with all their digital devices, from desktop computers to robot vacuums.
Suddenly, in the here and now, the only thing users (and, in some ways, creators) have to worry about is the experience.
The process of creating a traditional video game is usually split 80-20, with the minority of the time spent considering what the game experience should look and feel like, and the vast majority of the time spent actually developing the code. With a Kinect game, it’s the exact opposite. “Kinect made us think about what it’s like to be human beings,” says Joe Nickolls of Microsoft Game Studios. “And that makes us think about games differently.”
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
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.
One of the founding members of the Xbox team has questioned Microsoft’s multiplatform gaming strategy, and said they believe the Xbox hardware business is effectively “dead"
Think that rumor that they'll still make a new console but at a profit at $1000 will be true though. The series consoles will remain their cheap alternative throughout next gen I would say. Keep in mind that game pass and pretty much going 3rd party is their main focus. They want to bring xbox everywhere.
Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era
I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.
Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.
The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.
... at least not yet.
In the end, it will depend on the software that's coming out, and the experience gamers will have with it.
So far, those memorable experiences aren't here yet.
Personally, as someone who isn't into motion-gaming AT ALL, I don't really see anything on the horizon which uses Kinect in such a way that convinces me that I'm missing out on something cool.
Maybe that might still happen in a few years orso from now, and maybe in ways I can't imagine yet, but AT THE MOMENT, that interest from me just isn't there yet.
Just give me a normal controller and a couch and I'm good to go.
only if it's opposite day on n4g.
Maybe for the casual but its the 360 brand that has made them cool. Microsoft has always had trouble with their cool image. I remember a programme on the BBC that where looking at super-brands and they ask these kids about Microsoft and the 360. They said Microsoft is uncool but the 360 is cool and couldn't believe Microsoft are behind the 360. I think the 360 brand is helping Microsoft cred because that was flushed down when they released god awful Windows 7 party ads
maybe Bioware should merge with Microsoft game division as 'dumbed down' is what it's all about right now.
Yes, all the cool kids want grandma hip injury rehabilitation center games and games for 3-6 year old children.
I wish I was that cool,..
“Kinect made us think about what it’s like to be human beings,” says Joe Nickolls of Microsoft Game Studios. Yes because you definitely consider your self superior beings, to useless eaters,.. or what you call us,..?
MS you suck so bad,.. and it really is sad people don't see trough your BS and spin,..