WW 991: Strategically Repositioned Productivity Surface - Gaming Layoffs Signal a New XBOX Era

Microsoft's latest round of layoffs and game studio shakeups reveal deep cracks in the XBOX business, as years of unprofitability and missed expectations force the company into tough decisions. Are industry icons like Game Pass and big-name studios on borrowed time? Also, Paul's made major progress on the Windows 11 Field Guide updates! Plus, a desktop and mobile web browser that now blocks YouTube ads by default.

Layoffs

Microsoft announces 4800 layoffs, 3200 at XBOX

Analysis: What Sharma said and didn't say. Many interesting details revealed here. Many questions unanswered

Great outcomes for four studios, id Software reportedly laid off half its staff

Interesting alternative analysis: The Game Pass thesis, XBOX can't do everything

Windows

Four new builds yesterday, one major new feature: Cloud restore

Microsoft Edge is adding support for Google account sign-ins

Opera One adds clipboard attack prevention

Google and Samsung have announced new hardware launches, both with new foldables on the way - Apple's first foldable expected in January

AI