{"id":2031018,"date":"2026-07-07T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2031018"},"modified":"2026-07-07T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T09:00:00","slug":"xboxs-bold-plan-for-the-future-sounds-nearly-impossible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2031018","title":{"rendered":"Xbox\u2019s bold plan for the future sounds nearly impossible"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><main id=\"content\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"o1ls910 o1ls91 o1ls90 o1ls92g\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls911\" data-concert=\"tablet_leaderboard\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o1ls912 o1ls91 o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls913\" data-concert=\"desktop_leaderboard_variable\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<article>\n<div class=\"duet--article--lede duet--page-layout--standard-article\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--standard-lede h9mca10 _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"h9mca11 h9mca12\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e0\">\n<div 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href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\">See All <!-- -->Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class>\n<h1 class=\"cbn62f1 cbn62f0 cbn62f6 _19wv7tca _19wv7tc9\">Xbox\u2019s bold plan for the future sounds nearly impossible<\/h1>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup cbn62fh cbn62fg _19wv7tca _19wv7tc1\">\ufeffAfter decimating its gaming division, Microsoft somehow hopes to eventually reach \u2018more than a billion people each day.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"h9mca16\">\n<div class=\"h9mca17\">\n<div class=\"h9mca18\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">\ufeffAfter decimating its gaming division, Microsoft somehow hopes to eventually reach \u2018more than a billion people each day.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"h9mca13 h9mca19\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo21 _29pwo20\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo29\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-byline _19wv7tca _1p3b6390\"><span class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-author_byline_lead-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6393 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_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 _19wv7tca\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-07T12:00:00+00:00\">Jul 7, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo2n _29pwo2m\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo2y _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=\"_1e9wo7z1\"><title>Link<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Share article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z1\"><title>Share<\/title><\/button><\/li>\n<li>\n<div><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Gift this article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z1\"><title>Gift<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><span class=\"_29pwo223 _1044qizr _29pwo217\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo219\">\n<div class=\"o1ls98 o1ls90 o1ls92h\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls9f o1ls99\" data-concert=\"article_sponsorship_mobile_and_tablet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo21r _29pwo21z\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo21h\">\n<div class=\"o1ls98 o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls9d o1ls99\" data-concert=\"article_sponsorship_headline_above_desktop\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo218\">\n<p class=\"pf8b0f0 _19wv7tca\">If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. <a class=\"pf8b0f1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ethics-statement\">See our ethics statement.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"h9mca14\">\n<div class=\"_19dn9e80\">\n<div class=\"_19dn9e82 _19dn9e81 sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-image _1l4uy9l0\">\n<div class=\"_1l4uy9l1 _1l4uy9l2\">\n<div class=\"_1044qizn _1044qizx\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"SURVIVE\" 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\/SURVIVE.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1044qizm _1044qizx\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"SURVIVE\" 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\/SURVIVE.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmb5\">Image: Mojang Studios<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body-container j2p4kx0 _1044qiz3 _1044qiz16\">\n<div class=\"j2p4kx1\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body mebm7x0\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--standard-lede-bottom\">\n<div class=\"h9mca15\">\n<div class=\"waimqt1 waimqt0\">\n<div class=\"_15bq8c60\"><a class=\"_15bq8c61\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/959900\/xbox-reset-layoffs-studio-closures\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"_15bq8c62\">Part Of<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_15bq8c63 _1d77m8a0\">Xbox\u2019s \u2018reset\u2019: all the news about Microsoft\u2019s looming layoffs and studio closures<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_15bq8c64\">see all updates <\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"_4aoxp30 waimqt6\">\n<div class=\"_4aoxp33\"><a class=\"_4aoxp36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/andrew-webster\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andrew Webster\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"36\" height=\"36\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"_4aoxp34\" style=\"color:transparent\" 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=96\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"_4aoxp35\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-standard_article_details-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6393 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Andrew Webster<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MTk3-standard_article_details\" 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\"><\/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\">It\u2019s another bad week for the video game industry. Microsoft outlined a series of layoffs on Monday that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma described as \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/961546\/xbox-layoffs-studio-sales-2026\">the most significant restructure in Xbox history<\/a>.\u201d But buried in Sharma\u2019s memo was a curiously optimistic statement: \u201cI want Xbox to be one of the few companies that entertains more than a billion people each day and gives everyone the opportunity to create and connect,\u201d she wrote.<\/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\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/960600\/xbox-is-a-disaster\">Xbox has been a shambling mess<\/a> after Microsoft spent billions of dollars with little to show for it, and now it aims to reach a much bigger audience with a much smaller team, amid one of the most challenging times in the industry\u2019s history. Sharma\u2019s billion-person goal would sound outlandish at the best of times. Right now it sounds nearly impossible.<\/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\">The job cuts will see Xbox laying off 1,600 employees this summer, with another 1,600 expected over the next year. This is all part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/961528\/microsoft-layoffs-july-2026-sales-xbox\">broader restructuring at Microsoft<\/a>, though the gaming division has been hit particularly hard. Four internal Xbox studios \u2014 Double Fine, Compulsion Games, Undead Labs, and Ninja Theory \u2014 are also being spun out as independent developers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/961749\/xbox-layoffs-compulsion-double-fine-indie\">which is perhaps the one bit of good news<\/a>. Those studios were acquired over the years primarily to bolster the offerings on Game Pass, Microsoft\u2019s subscription gaming service, but now it seems that the company is moving in a different direction.<\/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\">What is that direction? Well, it isn\u2019t entirely clear. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\/945639\/xbox-exclusives-strategy-complicated-confusing\">Confusing strategies are pretty standard for Xbox of late<\/a>.) Xbox has been losing a lot of money \u2014 Sharma claims that \u201cin a typical year, we lost 64 cents for every dollar we invested\u201d \u2014 and now it seems like the goal is to focus entirely on major properties that have a better chance of being blockbuster hits. Sharma says the teams that remain at Microsoft will \u201cfocus on higher priority projects.\u201d That means not just those closely associated with the brand, like <em>Halo<\/em> and <em>Gears of War<\/em>, but also massively popular franchises under the Xbox umbrella, most notably <em>Minecraft<\/em> and <em>Candy Crush<\/em>.<\/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\">In fact, as part of the most recent restructuring, Helen Chiang \u2014 who previously oversaw the <em>Minecraft<\/em> franchise \u2014 has been promoted to a new role as Xbox\u2019s chief operating officer, reporting directly to Sharma. \u201cShe will bring our businesses together under one operating model, making sure we make clear investment decisions, learn from our successes and failures, and hold ourselves accountable for results,\u201d Sharma said of Chiang\u2019s upgraded role.<\/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\">With that focus on bigger projects, some of the changes at Xbox make a certain sense. If your goal is to reach a billion people each day, a game from a quirky studio like Double Fine about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/801563\/keeper-review-xbox-double-fine\">a sentient lighthouse<\/a> probably won\u2019t move the needle in comparison to expanding <em>Minecraft<\/em> or <em>Candy Crush<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1044qizj\">\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.390438\" id=\"dmcyOmltYWdlOjg0NTUzMA==\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/FalloutS2FLimage3_3000.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"1255\" data-pswp-width=\"3000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A still photo from the Amazon TV series Fallout.\" 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\/12\/FalloutS2FLimage3_3000.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmb5\">Image: Amazon<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\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\">But the reasoning for other cuts is much more opaque. If your goal is to lean into big games, why would you also be \u201cmaking reductions\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/aftermath.site\/microsoft-xbox-layoffs-2026-bethesda-obsidian-activision-blizzard\/\">at places like<\/a> Bethesda (<em>Fallout<\/em>, <em>Elder Scrolls<\/em>), id (<em>Doom<\/em>), and, perhaps Xbox\u2019s most prolific studio, Obsidian (<em>Avowed<\/em>, <em>The Outer Worlds<\/em>)? It seems more like those teams would need further investment \u2014 and at the very least, to not have to spend the next year wondering if they\u2019ll be hit by the next wave of layoffs \u2014 to create a major blockbuster at a time when the industry is as volatile and unpredictable as ever.<\/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\">You only need to look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/893294\/live-service-games-mess\">the sorry state of the live-service space<\/a> to see how poorly things can go when companies are simply chasing big numbers. The entire industry <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2024\/11\/4\/24288014\/fortnite-chapter-2-remix-snoop-dogg-times-square-music\">saw <em>Fortnite<\/em> become a money-printing cultural phenomenon<\/a> and hoped to re-create it for themselves, collectively spending billions of dollars in the process. The result was a graveyard of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/880206\/highguard-shut-down\">canceled games<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2024\/9\/4\/24235163\/concord-cancellation-live-service-games\">studio closures<\/a>. In 2026, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/900389\/live-service-games-mess-fortnite-layoffs\">even <em>Fortnite<\/em> itself is struggling<\/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 all makes Sharma\u2019s goal of eventually reaching \u201ca billion people each day\u201d seem all the more absurd. It\u2019s not clear what metric she is using to measure that number. It\u2019s extremely unlikely Xbox will reach that in terms of daily players even if you factor in mobile games and an expansion into China and emerging markets like India, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/2026\/04\/23\/we-are-xbox\/\">which Sharma is planning to do<\/a>. King <a href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com\/?id=1025X1701640&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.king.com%2Fcorporate-and-media%2F\" rel=\"sponsored\">says<\/a> that its lineup of games attracts more than 200 million <em>monthly<\/em> players, so you\u2019d need quite a few <em>Candy Crush<\/em> apps to even get close. And that\u2019s assuming that follow-ups will be as successful as the original, which is rarely the case (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2021\/11\/2\/22759677\/harry-potter-wizards-unite-shutting-down-january-2022-niantic-ar\">just ask Niantic<\/a>). Sharma really wants to continue to <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/xbox-25th-anniversary-hollywood-adaptations-cover-story-exclusive-12003252\">push the Xbox brand into Hollywood<\/a>, so maybe <em>Fallout <\/em>viewers \u2014 Amazon says 100 million people watched the first season \u2014 will count toward that goal. But even if you add up games, TV shows, and Game Pass subscribers, 1 billion people a day is a very large number.<\/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\">So instead of a clear path forward at a time of heightened uncertainty, Xbox has a vague and seemingly unattainable goal in front of it. And it\u2019ll be doing that with a team that is smaller and will continue to shrink. \u201cThese changes are about a bigger future for Xbox,\u201d Sharma claims, \u201cnot a smaller one.\u201d But it\u2019s hard to see how that\u2019s the case. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/883159\/phil-spencer-xbox-game-pass\">Xbox was already experiencing an identity crisis<\/a> heading into these layoffs, and this lack of vision isn\u2019t making things any clearer.<\/p>\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 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_1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Xbox<\/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\/microsoft-xbox\">See All <!-- -->Xbox<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _1044qiz13 _1csojp80\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0 bpecqn1\">\n<div class=\"bpecqni bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqnn bpecqnm _19wv7tc2 _1p81jqc0\">More in: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/959900\/xbox-reset-layoffs-studio-closures\">Xbox\u2019s \u2018reset\u2019: all the news about Microsoft\u2019s looming layoffs and studio closures<\/a><\/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\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd2 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/961834\/xbox-reportedly-cut-jobs-on-the-elder-scrolls-online-team\">Xbox reportedly cut jobs on the Elder Scrolls Online team.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Jay Peters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-06T19:07:25+00:00\">Jul 6<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd2 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/961749\/xbox-layoffs-compulsion-double-fine-indie\">Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Jay Peters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-06T16:22:34+00:00\">Jul 6<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd2 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/961546\/xbox-layoffs-studio-sales-2026\">Microsoft is selling off four Xbox studios as part of significant gaming cuts<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Tom Warren<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-06T13:31:24+00:00\">Jul 6<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--rail noh1q10 noh1q11\">\n<div class=\"noh1q12 noh1q14 noh1q18\">\n<div class=\"o1ls91w o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls91x\" data-concert=\"medium_rectangle_variable\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"noh1q12 noh1q15 noh1q18\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _1044qizg noh1q17\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0\">\n<div class=\"bpecqni bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqnn bpecqnm _19wv7tc2\">Most Popular<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div class=\"_1qu42rq0\">\n<div class=\"_1qu42rqd _126cdc20\">Most Popular<\/div>\n<ol class=\"_1qu42rq1\">\n<li class=\"_1qu42rq4 _1qu42rq3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/961528\/microsoft-layoffs-july-2026-sales-xbox\">\n<div class=\"_1qu42rqa _1qu42rq9\">Microsoft is laying off 4,800 employees<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1qu42rq7 _1qu42rq6 _1044qiz11\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"_1qu42rq4 _1qu42rq3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/961546\/xbox-layoffs-studio-sales-2026\">\n<div class=\"_1qu42rqa _1qu42rq9\">Microsoft is selling off four Xbox studios as part of significant gaming cuts<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1qu42rq7 _1qu42rq6 _1044qiz11\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"_1qu42rq4 _1qu42rq3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960916\/vizio-mini-led-quantum-tv-review\">\n<div class=\"_1qu42rqa _1qu42rq9\">Vizio accidentally made the best dumb TV on the market<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1qu42rq7 _1qu42rq6 _1044qiz11\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"_1qu42rq4 _1qu42rq3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\/960635\/partiful-app-event-planning-data-palantir\">\n<div class=\"_1qu42rqa _1qu42rq9\">Can Partiful keep the party going?<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1qu42rq7 _1qu42rq6 _1044qiz11\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"_1qu42rq4 _1qu42rq3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/960600\/xbox-is-a-disaster\">\n<div class=\"_1qu42rqa _1qu42rq9\">Xbox is a disaster<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"noh1q12 noh1q18\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"o1ls92a o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls92b\" data-concert=\"medium_rectangle_gamestop_desktop\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o1ls926 o1ls90 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class=\"_14xz0mvh\"><img data-native-ad-id=\"sponsored_logo\" src alt=\"Sponsor Logo\" class=\"_14xz0mvg\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"_14xz0mvj\" data-native-ad-id=\"title\">This is the title for the native ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_14xz0mvd\">\n<div class=\"_14xz0mve\"><img data-native-ad-id=\"thumbnail\" src alt=\"Sponsor thumbnail\" class=\"_14xz0mvf\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"noh1q12 noh1q18\">\n<div class=\"o1ls922 o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls923\" data-concert=\"btf_medium_rectangle_variable\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--article-recirc-color-container e3czlx0\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--article-recirc e3czlx1 _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"e3czlx3\">\n<div class=\"e3czlx4\">\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\">More in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\">Entertainment<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1hofmaw0\">\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie\" 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\/07\/ss_d78da4dbc35620193f7c14e0e5e68f7020adfd43.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%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\/games\/961749\/xbox-layoffs-compulsion-double-fine-indie\">Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie<\/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=\"Nintendo will stop selling the original Switch in Europe next year\" 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\/09\/jbareham_180301_2346_nintendo_switch_0094.webp?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\/games\/961632\/nintendo-switch-europe-discontinued\">Nintendo will stop selling the original Switch in Europe next year<\/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=\"What is Partiful selling?\" 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\/07\/268619_partiful_CVirginia_STILL0.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\/report\/960635\/partiful-app-event-planning-data-palantir\">What is Partiful selling?<\/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=\"Mr. Lif\u2019s Emergency Rations EP is post-9\/11 hip-hop at its most daring\" 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\/07\/Mr-Lif-Emergency-Rations.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\/961484\/mr-lif-emergency-rations-ep-post-9-11-review\">Mr. Lif\u2019s Emergency Rations EP is post-9\/11 hip-hop at its most daring<\/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=\"Xbox is a disaster\" 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\/07\/ss_b5ba5567b6da5c30f4825517750aad1c16c2806a.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%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\/960600\/xbox-is-a-disaster\">Xbox is a disaster<\/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=\"Flatbush Zombies\u2019 Erick the Architect misses his BlackBerry keyboard\" 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\/07\/Erick_Press_Photos4063.jpeg?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\/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>\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=\"Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie\" 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\/ss_d78da4dbc35620193f7c14e0e5e68f7020adfd43.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=21.875%2C0%2C56.25%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie\" 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\/ss_d78da4dbc35620193f7c14e0e5e68f7020adfd43.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%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\/games\/961749\/xbox-layoffs-compulsion-double-fine-indie\">Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Jay Peters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-06T16:22:34+00:00\">Jul 6<\/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=\"Nintendo will stop selling the original Switch in Europe next year\" 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\/09\/jbareham_180301_2346_nintendo_switch_0094.webp?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nintendo will stop selling the original Switch in Europe next year\" 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\/09\/jbareham_180301_2346_nintendo_switch_0094.webp?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\/games\/961632\/nintendo-switch-europe-discontinued\">Nintendo will stop selling the original Switch in Europe next year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Andrew Webster<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-06T14:15:48+00:00\">Jul 6<\/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=\"What is Partiful selling?\" 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\/268619_partiful_CVirginia_STILL0.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"What is Partiful selling?\" 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\/268619_partiful_CVirginia_STILL0.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\/report\/960635\/partiful-app-event-planning-data-palantir\">What is Partiful selling?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Mia Sato<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-06T14:00:00+00:00\">Jul 6<\/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=\"Mr. Lif\u2019s Emergency Rations EP is post-9\/11 hip-hop at its most daring\" 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\/Mr-Lif-Emergency-Rations.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=25%2C0%2C50%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mr. Lif\u2019s Emergency Rations EP is post-9\/11 hip-hop at its most daring\" 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\/Mr-Lif-Emergency-Rations.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\/961484\/mr-lif-emergency-rations-ep-post-9-11-review\">Mr. Lif\u2019s Emergency Rations EP is post-9\/11 hip-hop at its most daring<\/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=\"2026-07-05T18:30:00+00:00\">Jul 5<\/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=\"Xbox is a disaster\" 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\/ss_b5ba5567b6da5c30f4825517750aad1c16c2806a.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=21.875%2C0%2C56.25%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Xbox is a disaster\" 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\/ss_b5ba5567b6da5c30f4825517750aad1c16c2806a.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%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\/960600\/xbox-is-a-disaster\">Xbox is a disaster<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Andrew Webster<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-05T12:00:00+00:00\">Jul 5<\/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=\"Flatbush Zombies\u2019 Erick the Architect misses his BlackBerry keyboard\" 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\/Erick_Press_Photos4063.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=24.794791666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Flatbush Zombies\u2019 Erick the Architect misses his BlackBerry keyboard\" 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\/Erick_Press_Photos4063.jpeg?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\/entertainment\/960958\/flatbush-zombies-erick-the-architect-interview\">Flatbush Zombies\u2019 Erick the Architect misses his BlackBerry keyboard<\/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=\"2026-07-04T15:00:00+00:00\">Jul 4<\/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=\"2026-07-07T11:00:00+00:00\">An hour ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/960802\/3d-printed-gun-laws-ghost-guns\">Are you ready for what it takes to stop ghost guns?<\/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=\"2026-07-06T16:00:00+00:00\">Jul 6<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/961707\/smart-glasses-ai-wearables-meta-surveillance-privacy\">I spy<\/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=\"2026-07-06T14:00:00+00:00\">Jul 6<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\/960635\/partiful-app-event-planning-data-palantir\">What is Partiful selling?<\/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=\"2026-07-06T13:30:00+00:00\">Jul 6<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/961528\/microsoft-layoffs-july-2026-sales-xbox\">Microsoft is laying off 4,800 employees<\/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>Entertainment Close Entertainment Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. 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