Episode 216

Microsoft has laid off over 9000 employees, heavily crippling and outright killing some of their Xbox studios. Today, we discuss this tragic layoff, examining the ramifications for Xbox and where this leaves them in the broader games industry landscape. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter 4U, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach). This episode was recorded in July 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase (dylan.robert.chase@gmail.com).

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

6:21 - Microsoft Layoffs and AI Ambitions

12:51 - Perfect Dark Canceled and The Initiative Closed

17:46 - Everwild Canceled and Rare Crippled

28:29 - Project Blackbird Canceled

32:55 - John Romero's New Game Canceled and Turn 10 Cut Down

38:53 - Halo and Call of Duty Studios Have Layoffs

53:59 - Monster Hunter 4U, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, and Monster Hunter Wilds

1:05:55 - Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

1:18:32 - Streamer Support for Texas Flooding