{"id":2027833,"date":"2026-07-05T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2027833"},"modified":"2026-07-05T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T09:00:00","slug":"xbox-is-a-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2027833","title":{"rendered":"Xbox is a disaster"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><main id=\"content\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<article>\n<div class=\"duet--article--lede duet--page-layout--feature-article _1se63890\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--feature-lede yrbje60\">\n<div class=\"yrbje61\">\n<div class=\"yrbje66\">\n<div class=\"_1xtd7xb6 _1xtd7xb4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1044qiz7\">\n<div class=\"yrbje62 _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"yrbje63 _1044qizp\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e0 _5s9d1e1\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e3\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"_1phh1th0\">\n<li>\n<div id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb_mobile-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjE2MzI=\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" 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aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q816 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Entertainment<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjU2-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Entertainment<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\">See All <!-- -->Entertainment<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb_mobile-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjYx\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q816 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Gaming<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjYx-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Gaming<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\">See All <!-- -->Gaming<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class>\n<h1 class=\"cbn62f2 cbn62f0 cbn62f8 _19wv7tcc _19wv7tc9\">Xbox is a disaster<\/h1>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup cbn62fi cbn62fg _19wv7tcc _19wv7tc1\">Major changes are looming for Microsoft\u2019s gaming division after years of bad decisions.\ufeff<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo22 _29pwo20\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo29\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-byline _19wv7tcc _1p3b6390\"><span class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-author_byline_lead_mobile-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6395 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Andrew Webster<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3-author_byline_lead\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1bw37384\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andrew Webster\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1bw37385 i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/author_profile_images\/195977\/akrales220919_5191_3621.0.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Andrew Webster<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\">\n<div class=\"_1bw37382\">Senior entertainment editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/andrew-webster\">See All by <!-- -->Andrew Webster<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw6 g4xafw1 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _19wv7tcc\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-05T12:00:00+00:00\">Jul 5, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo2m _29pwo2w\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo2x\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--share-buttons _1e9wo7z0\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"_1e9wo7zo\"><button aria-label=\"Copy link\" class=\"_1e9wo7z4 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Link<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Share article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z4 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Share<\/title><\/button><\/li>\n<li>\n<div><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Gift this article\" 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50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/ss_b5ba5567b6da5c30f4825517750aad1c16c2806a.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=21.875%2C0%2C56.25%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1044qizm _1044qizw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ss_b5ba5567b6da5c30f4825517750aad1c16c2806a.1920x1080\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/ss_b5ba5567b6da5c30f4825517750aad1c16c2806a.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=21.875%2C0%2C56.25%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"yrbje67\">\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\">Gears of War: E-Day.<\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmb5\">|  Image: Xbox Game Studios<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"yrbje63 _1044qizq\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e0 _5s9d1e1\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e3\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"_1phh1th0\">\n<li>\n<div id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb_desktop-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjE2MzI=\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q816 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Column<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjE2MzI=-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Column<\/div>\n<p 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class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-author_byline_lead_desktop-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6395 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Andrew Webster<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3-author_byline_lead\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1bw37384\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andrew Webster\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1bw37385 i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/author_profile_images\/195977\/akrales220919_5191_3621.0.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Andrew Webster<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\">\n<div class=\"_1bw37382\">Senior entertainment editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/andrew-webster\">See All by <!-- -->Andrew Webster<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw6 g4xafw1 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _19wv7tcc\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-05T12:00:00+00:00\">Jul 5, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo2m _29pwo2w\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo2x\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--share-buttons _1e9wo7z0\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"_1e9wo7zo\"><button aria-label=\"Copy link\" class=\"_1e9wo7z4 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Link<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Share article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z4 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Share<\/title><\/button><\/li>\n<li>\n<div><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Gift this article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z4 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Gift<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><span class=\"_29pwo225 _1044qizr _29pwo217\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo21u _29pwo21y\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo21h\">\n<div class=\"o1ls98 o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls9d o1ls99\" 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src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/author_profile_images\/195977\/akrales220919_5191_3621.0.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Andrew Webster<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/andrew-webster\">See All by <!-- -->Andrew Webster<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p> <span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _4aoxp37\">is an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pok\u00e9mon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"zephr-anchor\" class=\"_1044qiz13\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\"><em>This is <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/the-stepback-newsletter\">The Stepback<\/a><em>, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on the bleak state of the video game industry, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/andrew-webster\">follow Andrew Webster<\/a>. <\/em>The Stepback<em> arrives in our subscribers\u2019 inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for <\/em>The Stepback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/newsletters\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\"how-it-started\" class=\"_1gfm6td1 _1gfm6td0 duet--article--standard-heading _19wv7tc1\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">How it started<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Microsoft closed out Summer Game Fest with a bang. The company\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\/944191\/xbox-games-showcase-2026-news-trailers\">annual June showcase<\/a> was packed with crowd-pleasers: <em>Halo<\/em>, <em>Gears of War<\/em>, <em>Fable<\/em>, a translucent Xbox, and even some pleasant surprises like new <em>Persona<\/em> and <em>Crazy Taxi<\/em> games. It was the kind of event that harkened back to the boisterous days of E3, when the industry was in a healthier place and game reveals were cultural events.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">It was also a sham.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Just three days after the showcase, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/948142\/microsoft-xbox-layoffs-reset-asha-sharma\">new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma warned<\/a> of a \u201creset\u201d at Microsoft\u2019s gaming division, which would require \u201cmaking hard choices.\u201d The weeks that followed were filled with reports of impending layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. Ninja Theory <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/950204\/xbox-ninja-theory-shutdown-hellblade-senua\">is reportedly one of the studios on the chopping block<\/a>, despite having<em> just<\/em> revealed a new game at SGF. If all this comes to pass, Xbox will be a shell of its former self.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">After muscling its way into the console space nearly 25 years ago, Microsoft\u2019s gaming division is at its lowest point ever. And the fallout from some disastrous decisions is going to get very ugly in the coming weeks and months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">It wasn\u2019t always this way. With the arrival of the original Xbox in 2001, Microsoft seemed poised to be a viable contender in the space, with all of its resources helping it play catch-up with the likes of Sony and Nintendo. Major exclusives like <em>Halo<\/em> and a prescient foray into online play through Xbox Live helped to solidify this position for a time. But Microsoft flubbed the launch of the Xbox One in 2013 with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2013\/5\/21\/4350918\/xbox-one-microsoft-unveils-its-next-generation-console\">ill-fated push into non-gaming features like TV<\/a>, and the brand has never really recovered. With the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2024\/8\/29\/24231379\/xbox-strategy-hardware-confusion-notepad\">oft-confusing<\/a> Xbox Series X \/ S generation, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/809532\/xbox-sales-continue-to-tank\">the company only fell further behind<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">There are many reasons for this, but arguably the most damning was Microsoft\u2019s extremely expensive push into subscription services. On paper it made some sense: Streaming services like Netflix were upending the film and TV landscape, so maybe the same could happen for gaming. Microsoft made some absolutely gigantic bets on this unproven future, spending billions of dollars to acquire studios and publishers in an attempt to build out a large library of content for Game Pass that would lure subscribers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">And while Game Pass proved popular initially, it ultimately plateaued, which meant that Microsoft spent all of that money on a business that didn\u2019t grow anywhere near as large as it expected. (The service currently has around 30 million subscribers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2024\/2\/15\/23570040\/microsoft-xbox-game-pass-subscriber-numbers-34-million\">while Microsoft had hoped to hit 100 million by 2030<\/a>.) This misguided play also coincided with the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2024\/11\/14\/24296420\/microsoft-this-is-an-xbox-marketing-campaign-xbox-everywhere\">This is an Xbox<\/a>\u201d marketing campaign, which suggested that Xbox wasn\u2019t a single console but rather a suite of Game Pass-capable devices, leading to even more confusion around the brand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\"how-its-going\" class=\"_1gfm6td1 _1gfm6td0 duet--article--standard-heading _19wv7tc1\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">How it\u2019s going<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Just how bad are things? As Sharma and Xbox\u2019s chief content officer Matt Booty <a href=\"https:\/\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/2026\/06\/10\/next-100-days-xbox-reset\/\">wrote in the \u201creset\u201d memo<\/a>, \u201cExcluding Activision Blizzard King, over the past five years, we have spent over $20 billion on ongoing investments in our content, platform, and hardware subsidy, but our annual revenue has declined nearly half a billion during that time. Going forward, this cannot continue.\u201d The Activision deal, meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2023\/10\/13\/23791235\/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-complete-finalized\">cost $68.7 billion<\/a>. The company spent all of that money <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/883159\/phil-spencer-xbox-game-pass\">just to make it even less clear what an Xbox is<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">This past February, there was a major shake-up at the Xbox division. Former boss Phil Spencer, who oversaw the brand through the Game Pass push and its many costly acquisitions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/882241\/microsoft-phil-spencer-xbox-leaving-retirement\">retired<\/a>, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/882281\/xbox-sarah-bond-leaving-microsoft\">former president and COO Sarah Bond left the company<\/a>. Despite some uncertainty around her lack of experience in the world of gaming \u2014 her prior role at Microsoft was head of the CoreAI division \u2014 Sharma\u2019s early days provided some cause for optimism. She appeared willing to listen to fans on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/933328\/xbox-fan-feedback-exclusives-backward-compatibility-online-multiplayer\">things like backward compatibility and exclusives<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\/917485\/microsoft-return-of-xbox-no-more-microsoft-gaming\">scrapped the unpopular Microsoft Gaming branding in favor of just Xbox<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/924551\/microsoft-xbox-ceo-copilot-ai-asha-sharma\">moved the brand away from controversial AI features<\/a>. She also made some strange and superficial changes, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/931918\/microsoft-xbox-rebrand-caps\">restyling Xbox as XBOX<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">But it\u2019s clear the issues at Xbox run much deeper than a simple name change can fix. Sharma inherited a business that spent colossal amounts of money and had little to show for it, and now the bill is coming due. What makes this especially tragic is the sheer pedigree of the game studios that are being impacted. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\/959467\/microsoft-xbox-cancel-blade-game-arkane-studios-closure\">My colleague Tom Warren reported<\/a> that Microsoft was mulling over closing at least five studios, which includes the likes of Arkane \u2014 best known for the wildly influential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2016\/11\/23\/13719322\/dishonored-2-immersive-sim-serious-game-melodrama\"><em>Dishonored<\/em><\/a> series \u2014 and Double Fine Productions, a beloved team behind cult hits like <em>Psychonauts<\/em>, and more recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/801563\/keeper-review-xbox-double-fine\"><em>Keeper<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/918200\/kiln-review-double-fine-xbox-ps5-steam\"><em>Kiln<\/em><\/a>. That\u2019s multiple teams filled with talented individuals responsible for some of the most notable games ever made. Now they\u2019re being discarded because of poor decisions they had no part in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\"what-happens-next\" class=\"_1gfm6td1 _1gfm6td0 duet--article--standard-heading _19wv7tc1\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">What happens next<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">It\u2019s important to note that Microsoft currently exists within a video game industry that is perpetually on fire. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\/957288\/gta-6-xbox-ps5-price-hikes\">Hardware is getting more expensive by the day<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\/956880\/bungie-layoffs-destiny-2\">successful studios are being gutted<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/960212\/sony-playstation-killing-discs-digital-preservation\">anti-consumer behavior is the norm<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/900389\/live-service-games-mess-fortnite-layoffs\">major hits are crashing down to Earth<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">But even amid this apocalyptic landscape, Xbox\u2019s issues feel particularly existential. Its hardware and subscription businesses are both faltering, and now it\u2019s decimating its game development teams as well. Tom reported that the impending layoffs are expected to start next week, and it\u2019s not clear yet just how widespread they will be. Part of the uncertainty is that we don\u2019t know exactly what will happen to these studios; some may be hit with layoffs, some may be closed entirely, and some may be spun off as independent entities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Whatever happens, though, Xbox will look drastically different once it\u2019s all over. And given <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/926772\/nintendo-switch-2-price-hike-console-gaming-future\">the dire state of console gaming<\/a>, these might not even be the last changes for Microsoft\u2019s gaming division.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\"by-the-way\" class=\"_1gfm6td1 _1gfm6td0 duet--article--standard-heading _19wv7tc1\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">By the way<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1044qizi irzhn80 _19wv7tc1\">\n<li class=\"irzhn81\"><span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">Sharma has done a lot of work to clean up the messaging around Xbox, but plenty of confusion remains, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\/945639\/xbox-exclusives-strategy-complicated-confusing\">particularly when it comes to the company\u2019s console exclusivity strategy<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"irzhn81\"><span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">At the same time the Xbox is struggling, a new player is entering the space, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/952765\/steam-machine-review\">as Valve launches the console-like Steam Machine<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"irzhn81\"><span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">As always, Nintendo largely operates in its own parallel universe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/904653\/nintendo-games-industry-success\">that has allowed it to largely weather the current storm<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\"read-this\" class=\"_1gfm6td1 _1gfm6td0 duet--article--standard-heading _19wv7tc1\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">Read this<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1044qizi irzhn80 _19wv7tc1\">\n<li class=\"irzhn81\"><span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\"><em>Bloomberg<\/em>\u2019s Jason Schreier has done some excellent reporting on the turmoil at Xbox, and has also helpfully condensed everything into a video <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wfJ8qreLv8k\">on his YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"irzhn81\"><span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">Matthew Ball is Xbox\u2019s new strategy officer, and in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegamebusiness.com\/p\/matthew-ball-on-exclusives-turning\">an interview with <em>The Game Business<\/em><\/a> he explained how the brand is thinking about the next console, currently codenamed \u201cProject Helix.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"irzhn81\"><span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">Speaking of execs, <a href=\"https:\/\/gameinformer.com\/interview\/2026\/06\/10\/xboxs-matt-booty-talks-bringing-back-exclusivity-lessons-learned-and-the\">Booty talked to <em>Game Informer<\/em><\/a> following the SGF showcase to try and explain Xbox\u2019s ever-changing strategy around exclusives, saying that \u201cWe want there to be a reason to believe and a reason to buy Xbox.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tly2fw0\"><span class=\"tly2fw2\"><strong>Follow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"tly2fw3\">\n<li id=\"follow-author-article_footer-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q814 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89kf _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Andrew Webster<\/span><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3-article_footer\" 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_1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/960832\/optimizer-hydration-electrolytes-health-heat-wave\">Hydration isn\u2019t complicated: Just drink water<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Libby will filter out AI content, kind of\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/24148705\/PXL_20221028_153245856.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C5.7291666666667%2C100%2C88.541666666667&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/959433\/libby-ai-filter\">Libby will filter out AI content, kind of<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Meet the lawyer who beat Elon Musk \u2014\u00a0twice\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/268607_An_interview_with_William_Savitt_Elon_Musks_courtroom_nemesis_CVirginia.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/959270\/elon-musk-open-ai-bill-savitt-twitter\">Meet the lawyer who beat Elon Musk \u2014\u00a0twice<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Cube is Jim Henson\u2019s little-known proto-Black Mirror masterpiece\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/jim-henson-the-cube.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=12.5%2C0%2C75%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\/958757\/jim-henson-the-cube-black-mirror-tv-movie-review\">The Cube is Jim Henson\u2019s little-known proto-Black Mirror masterpiece<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ad-free streaming is a luxury now\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Severance_Photo_020104.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=18.88671875%2C0%2C62.2265625%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/958379\/streaming-industry-ads\">Ad-free streaming is a luxury now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sometimes, health tracking accuracy is overrated\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/268601_withings_bodyfit_AKrales_0166.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/957703\/optimizer-withings-dexa-body-composition-health-fitness\">Sometimes, health tracking accuracy is overrated<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1hofmaw2\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjj _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hydration isn\u2019t complicated: Just drink water\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/gettyimages-2283910763.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=17.167609618105%2C0%2C65.664780763791%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hydration isn\u2019t complicated: Just drink water\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/gettyimages-2283910763.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.751414427157%2C0%2C98.497171145686%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/960832\/optimizer-hydration-electrolytes-health-heat-wave\">Hydration isn\u2019t complicated: Just drink water<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Victoria Song<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-03T14:00:00+00:00\">Jul 3<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Libby will filter out AI content, kind of\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/24148705\/PXL_20221028_153245856.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=12.352941176471%2C0%2C75.294117647059%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Libby will filter out AI content, kind of\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/24148705\/PXL_20221028_153245856.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C5.7291666666667%2C100%2C88.541666666667&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/959433\/libby-ai-filter\">Libby will filter out AI content, kind of<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Janko Roettgers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-30T15:30:00+00:00\">Jun 30<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Meet the lawyer who beat Elon Musk \u2014\u00a0twice\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/268607_An_interview_with_William_Savitt_Elon_Musks_courtroom_nemesis_CVirginia.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Meet the lawyer who beat Elon Musk \u2014\u00a0twice\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/268607_An_interview_with_William_Savitt_Elon_Musks_courtroom_nemesis_CVirginia.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/959270\/elon-musk-open-ai-bill-savitt-twitter\">Meet the lawyer who beat Elon Musk \u2014\u00a0twice<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Elizabeth Lopatto<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-30T12:00:00+00:00\">Jun 30<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Cube is Jim Henson\u2019s little-known proto-Black Mirror masterpiece\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/jim-henson-the-cube.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=25%2C0%2C50%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Cube is Jim Henson\u2019s little-known proto-Black Mirror masterpiece\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/jim-henson-the-cube.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=12.5%2C0%2C75%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\/958757\/jim-henson-the-cube-black-mirror-tv-movie-review\">The Cube is Jim Henson\u2019s little-known proto-Black Mirror masterpiece<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Terrence O&#8217;Brien<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-28T16:30:00+00:00\">Jun 28<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ad-free streaming is a luxury now\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Severance_Photo_020104.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=29.2578125%2C0%2C41.484375%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ad-free streaming is a luxury now\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Severance_Photo_020104.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=18.88671875%2C0%2C62.2265625%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/958379\/streaming-industry-ads\">Ad-free streaming is a luxury now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Emma Roth<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-28T12:00:00+00:00\">Jun 28<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sometimes, health tracking accuracy is overrated\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/268601_withings_bodyfit_AKrales_0166.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sometimes, health tracking accuracy is overrated\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;filter: url(%23b);)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/268601_withings_bodyfit_AKrales_0166.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/957703\/optimizer-withings-dexa-body-composition-health-fitness\">Sometimes, health tracking accuracy is overrated<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Victoria Song<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-26T15:00:00+00:00\">Jun 26<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--ad--native-ad-linkset _14xz0mv4 _14xz0mv5 _14xz0mva hidden\" data-native-ad-id=\"container\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"visually-hidden\">\n<div class=\"dynamic-native-ad-native_ad_linkset_link\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_14xz0mv7\"><span data-native-ad-id=\"preamble\" class=\"_14xz0mv8 _14xz0mv9\">Advertiser Content From<\/span><\/p>\n<div><img data-native-ad-id=\"logo\" src alt=\"Sponsor Logo\" class=\"_14xz0mvg\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_14xz0mvj\" data-native-ad-id=\"title\">This is the title for the native ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"e3czlx6\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _75r1tr2\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0\">\n<div class=\"bpecqnj bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqno bpecqnm _19wv7tc2\">Top Stories<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjj _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T12:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960854\/ai-fanfiction-ao3-claude-detector\">The fanfiction community is at war with AI \u2014 and itself<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T07:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/961332\/qi-active-cooling-really-works\">Qi fan fan<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T15:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\/960958\/flatbush-zombies-erick-the-architect-interview\">Flatbush Zombies\u2019 Erick the Architect misses his BlackBerry keyboard<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T13:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960509\/ikko-mindone-pro-hands-on\">The square-ish phone that I wanted to love<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T14:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960837\/epomaker-rt98-mechanical-keyboard-modular-numpad-review\">Hey number pad lovers, this is a keyboard we can finally agree on<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Column Close Column Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. FollowFollow See All Column Entertainment Close Entertainment Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. FollowFollow See All Entertainment Gaming Close Gaming Posts from this topic will be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,250],"class_list":["post-2027833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-theverge-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2027833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2027833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2027833\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2027833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2027833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2027833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}