Xbox is Killing Studios Without Shuttering Them
Live Archive
Published Jul 7, 2026 • Duration: 2:57:23
Description
Xbox is killing its legendary game studios without actually shuttering them. The massive July 2026 Xbox restructuring under new CEO Asha Sharma has kicked off, and breaking reports reveal that while the studio names are staying, the talent is being completely gutted. With half of id Software reportedly gone, including their vital engine coders, and Obsidian losing 25% of its workforce, Microsoft is quietly turning our favorite developers into "Ghost Studios."
In this live broadcast, we are diving deep into the leaked internal memos from Asha Sharma and Bethesda's Jill Braff to expose what this historic 3,200-person layoff wave actually means for the future of Xbox hardware, Game Pass, and upcoming games like Doom: The Dark Ages, Avowed, and The Outer Worlds 2.
What happens to the industry-leading id Tech engine when the engineers are fired? Is the Game Pass model officially a failure after Sharma admitted profit margins are 3 to 10 times lower than competitors? We’re breaking down the entire corporate shell game live.
🔍 KEY TOPICS COVERED
The 2026 Xbox Restructure: Analyzing the 3,200 job cuts across Microsoft Gaming and ZeniMax.
The Ghost Studio Era: Why leaving a studio open while firing its engineering team is worse than shutting it down.
id Software Layoffs: What the loss of core programmers means for Doom: The Dark Ages and the proprietary id Tech engine.
Obsidian Entertainment Cuts: Why the developers of Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 are being set up to fail despite delivering a perfect Game Pass slate.
Asha Sharma's Strategy: The terrifying realization that the global memo contains zero assurances for future Xbox console hardware or Game Pass stability.
Welcome to Reforge Gaming, your daily destination for gamers talking gaming. We go beyond the headlines to give you details and opinions not just the hate or hype.
🔴 JOIN THE LIVE DISCUSSION We are LIVE every day! Stick around for the interactive Q&A and drive the conversation.
🎧 Episode Chapters
0:00 Intro
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#Xbox #XboxLayoffs #idSoftware #Obsidian #GamePass #GamingNews #AshaSharma #Bethesda #gaming #reforgegaming
In this live broadcast, we are diving deep into the leaked internal memos from Asha Sharma and Bethesda's Jill Braff to expose what this historic 3,200-person layoff wave actually means for the future of Xbox hardware, Game Pass, and upcoming games like Doom: The Dark Ages, Avowed, and The Outer Worlds 2.
What happens to the industry-leading id Tech engine when the engineers are fired? Is the Game Pass model officially a failure after Sharma admitted profit margins are 3 to 10 times lower than competitors? We’re breaking down the entire corporate shell game live.
🔍 KEY TOPICS COVERED
The 2026 Xbox Restructure: Analyzing the 3,200 job cuts across Microsoft Gaming and ZeniMax.
The Ghost Studio Era: Why leaving a studio open while firing its engineering team is worse than shutting it down.
id Software Layoffs: What the loss of core programmers means for Doom: The Dark Ages and the proprietary id Tech engine.
Obsidian Entertainment Cuts: Why the developers of Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 are being set up to fail despite delivering a perfect Game Pass slate.
Asha Sharma's Strategy: The terrifying realization that the global memo contains zero assurances for future Xbox console hardware or Game Pass stability.
Welcome to Reforge Gaming, your daily destination for gamers talking gaming. We go beyond the headlines to give you details and opinions not just the hate or hype.
🔴 JOIN THE LIVE DISCUSSION We are LIVE every day! Stick around for the interactive Q&A and drive the conversation.
🎧 Episode Chapters
0:00 Intro
🤝 Support & Partnerships
You help power the show! Check out our great sponsors and affiliates:
Reforge Roast (Our Coffee Company!) COFFEE - https://reforgeroast.com/
SPRECHER - https://sprecherbrewery.com/?ref=LONO
GLASSES - Code LONO - https://gameradvantage.com/
INTO THE AM - Code LONO - https://intotheam.com/LONO
80STEES - Code LONO - https://www.80stees.com
AMAZON AFFILIATE - https://amzn.to/2YUOXR7
🎲 Reforge Gaming Community
The Reforge Gaming Community is built on unmatched audience interaction. Join our daily Live Video Game Podcast where we break down the biggest news, deliver expert analysis, and discuss your questions in real-time. Drop in, hang out, and drive the conversation!
MEMBERSHIP - https://www.youtube.com/ReforgeGaming/join
DISCORD - https://discord.gg/ReforgeTV
TWITTER - Https://twitter.com/ReforgeGaming
AUDIO - https://open.spotify.com/show/0FFSZQVL0dTcatnQKKOCNL
#Xbox #XboxLayoffs #idSoftware #Obsidian #GamePass #GamingNews #AshaSharma #Bethesda #gaming #reforgegaming