The Xbox Game Studio list of developers has seen some big changes in 2026, with the news that Microsoft is cutting 3,200 employees in a major restructure.
An Xbox Wire post detailing the Xbox Reset memo from CEO Asha Sharma confirmed that certain studios under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella are parting ways, with the likes of Psychonauts and Keeper developer Double Fine and South of Midnight Studio Compulsion Games set to be go independent. Elsewhere, Hellblade developer Ninja Theory (which recently revealed new game, Senua) and State of Decay 3's Undead Labs have "entered terms" to go under new ownership, but we've yet to get confirmation on the respective moves for each studio.
This comes after we saw mass layoffs impacting various teams that fall under the Xbox umbrella last year. The reports also came with the news of cancellation of projects, such as Rare's fantasy adventure Everwild. The Initiative studio, which was formed in 2020, was also shut down with the cancelation of its Perfect Dark reboot. For a recap, you can find a breakdown of the Xbox Game Studios list as it currently stands, with details on the upcoming Xbox Series games in the works and some more details on impacted studios.
Full Xbox Game Studios list
Every Microsoft-owned, first-party studio and what they are working on:
- Arkane Studios
- Beenox
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Bethesda Softworks
- Blizzard Entertainment
- The Coalition
- Demonware
- Digital Legends
- Elsewhere Entertainment
- Halo Studios
- High Moon Studios
- id Software
- Infinity Ward
- Inxile Entertainment
- King
- MachineGames
- Mojang Studios
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Playground Games
- Radical Entertainment
- Rare
- Raven Software
- Sledgehammer Games
- Treyarch
- Turn 10 Studios
- World's Edge
- Xbox Games Studios Publishing
- ZeniMax Online
Arkane Studios
- Notable releases: Dishonored (Multi, 2012), Prey (Multi, 2017), Deathloop (Xbox Series X, 2022), Redfall (Xbox Series X, 2023)
- Working on: Marvel's Blade
- Acquired in: 2021
Arkane Studios is known for building complex immersive sims, experiences that weave a reactive sense of choice and consequence right through the action. Arkane released Deathloop back in 2021. Arkane is now developing Marvel's Blade, a single-player action-adventure game following the half-vampire hero. Currently no release date has been announced, and amid Xbox's major reset, Arkane Studio's "management is beginning required consultation with its Works Council to review potential strategic options". What that will mean for the studio is unclear at this time.
Bethesda Game Studios
- Notable releases: Fallout 3 (Multi, 2008), The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim (Multi, 2011), Starfield (Multi, 2023)
- Working on: The Elder Scrolls 6 (TBC)
- Acquired in: 2021
By acquiring Bethesda Game Studios, Microsoft has added one of the most successful and influential outfits in the industry to its arsenal. This is the studio responsible for overseeing the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls franchises. While work on Starfield is believed to be on-going, the studio is fully focused on The Elder Scrolls 6. In the latest wave of layoffs at Xbox in July 2026, though, it's been reported that a number of staff have sadly been cut from Bethesda Game Studios.
Bethesda Softworks
- Notable releases: N/A
- Working on: N/A
- Acquired in: 2021
Microsoft also brought ZeniMax Media's publishing wing into the fold of the Xbox Game Studios list. That means that 'Bethesda' as you traditionally know it continues to exist, with Microsoft allowing it to work semi-autonomously where it will continue to publish the games that are born from its portfolio of partners.
Blizzard Entertainment
- Notable releases: Hearthstone (Multi, 2014), Diablo IV (Multi, 2023), Overwatch 2 (Multi, 2023), (Multi, 2025)
- Working on: TBC
- Acquired in: 2023
Blizzard Entertainment was acquired by Microsoft officially in 2023. This iconic studio is home to the Diablo and Overwatch franchises, so it's a massive win for sure. However, we are still waiting to hear what new titles they have in store. The last release from the studio was Overwatch 2 back in August 2023. With Xbox facing job cuts in July 2026, the Blizzard devs are said to be in the dark at the moment as to what's ahead.
The Coalition
- Notable releases: Gears of War 4 (Xbox One, 2016), Gears 5 (Xbox One, 2019), Gears of War: Reloaded (Multi, 2025)
- Working on: Gears of War: E-Day (PC, Xbox Series X, 2026)
- Founded in: 2010
When Microsoft acquired the rights to Gears of War from Epic Games in 2014, it was handed off to The Coalition. The studio now leads production on the franchise, pushing the scope of the series with each new installment. The Coalition's most recent release following Gears 5 in 2019 was Gears of War: Reloaded, a remaster of the original Gears of War entry. The studio is now working on Gears of War: E-Day, which is set to be a prequel to the main story in the franchise. It's also confirmed to be an Xbox Series X console exclusive.
Elsewhere Entertainment
- Notable releases: N/A
- Working on: TBC
- Founded in: 2024
Elsewhere Entertainment is an internal standalone studio that was launched by Activision in 2024. It's main focus is creating new narrative-based AAA titles. Currently no projects have been announced but the team is made up of folks with credits from working on The Last of Us, Uncharted and The Witcher, so we have high hopes.
Halo Studios
- Notable releases: Halo 5: Guardians (Xbox One, 2015), Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X, 2021), Halo Infinite (Multi, 2021)
- Working on: Halo: Campaign Evolved (Multi, 2026)
- Founded in: 2007
Previously known as 343 Industries, Halo Studios has stewardship over the Halo franchise. The studio most recently released Halo Infinite on 15 November 2021 for Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC. The studio is now working on Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of Combat Evolved, and shifting its titles to Unreal Engine 5 for future project development. "Multiple" Halo projects are said to be in the pipeline. However, we're still waiting on firm confirmations.
id Software
- Notable releases: Doom (Multi, 2016), Doom Eternal (Multi, 2020), Doom: The Dark Ages (Multi, 2025), Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations DLC (Multi, 2026)
- Working on: TBC
- Acquired in: 2020
They don't come more legendary than id Software. This is the studio that essentially created the first-person shooter with Wolfenstein 3D in 1992, Doom in 1993, and Quake in 1996, and is known for having the industry's greatest shotgun. id released the latest Doom game with Doom: The Dark Ages in 2025. Following the release of the Revelations expansion for The Dark Ages on July 7, 2026, reports sadly surfaced that id Software has been impacted by layoffs, and we're still awaiting word on the future of the studio as a result.
Infinity Ward
- Notable releases: Call of Duty (Multi, 2003), Call of Duty: Warzone (Multi, 2020), Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Multi, 2024), Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Multi, 2025)
- Working on: TBC
- Acquired in: 2023
Infinity Ward are the keepers of the Call of Duty franchise. Even though other studios on this list have developed some titles in the series (such as Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software), they were all assisted by Infinity Ward. Currently, there is no new project lined up for Infinity Ward that we know about so far.
inXile Entertainment
- Notable releases: Tides of Numenera (Multi, 2017), Wasteland 3 (2020, Multi)
- Working on: Clockwork Revolution (PC, Xbox Series X, 2027)
- Acquired in: 2018
inXile is a studio with specialty in c-RPGs, founded by Brian Fargo – director of Wasteland and executive producer of the original Fallout. inXile is now working on a brand new AAA RPG called Clockwork Revolution, a first-person action game with big BioShock Vibes – which is to say, a unique world and an unmistakable visual style. Clockwork Revolution is set to launch as a console exclusive for Xbox Series X, with a 2027 launch window.
MachineGames
- Notable releases: Wolfenstein: The New Order (Multi, 2014), Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (Multi, 2017), Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Multi, 2024), Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Order of the Giants DLC (Multi, 2025)
- Working on: TBC
- Acquired in: 2021
MachineGames was founded in 2009 by former members of Starbreeze Studios, before being handed the reins to the Wolfenstein series in 2010. The studio made a name for itself with its subversive and tightly designed first-person shooters. Recently, Bethesda collaborated with Lucasfilm Games to create a brand new Indiana Jones game, with MachineGames handling development. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was a smash hit, and got a DLC with the Indiana Jones and the Order of the Giants, which released in 2025.
Mojang Studios
- Notable releases: Minecraft (Multi, 2011), Minecraft Dungeons (Multi, 2020), Minecraft Legends (Multi, 2023)
- Working on: Minecraft (Multi, 2011)
- Acquired in: 2014
Mojang is the Minecraft company. Acquired by Microsoft in 2014 for 2.5 billion dollars, Mojang has been dutifully updating and evolving Minecraft across all of its supported platforms since. While the studio rarely operates outside of the core Minecraft experience, it did release a family-friendly dungeon-crawler in 2020 called Minecraft Dungeons, and collaborated with Blackbird Interactive on an action-strategy game titled Minecraft Legends which released in 2023.
Obsidian Entertainment
- Notable releases: Pillars of Eternity (PC, 2015), The Outer Worlds (Multi, 2019), Grounded (Multi, 2022), Pentiment (Xbox Series X, 2022), Avowed (Xbox Series X, 2025), Grounded 2 (PC, Xbox Series X/S, 2025), The Outer Worlds 2 (Multi, 2025)
- Working on: TBC
- Acquired in: 2018
Obsidian Entertainment is a legendary developer of RPGs. Whether it's action-heavy, like Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, or leaning more heavily into the strategy side with Pillars of Eternity, the name 'Obsidian' is a mark of quality. The studio released Pentiment a few years ago, with Avowed landing in 2025. That same year, the studio also released survival game sequel Grounded 2 in Early Access, followed by another sequel in space RPG, The Outer Worlds 2. As part of Xbox's job cuts in July 2026, Obsidian was one of many studios sadly impacted with layoffs.
Playground Games
- Notable releases: Forza Horizon 4 (Xbox One, 2018), Forza Horizon 5 (Multi, 2021), Forza Horizon 6 (Multi, 2026)
- Working on: Fable 4 (Multi, 2027)
- Acquired in: 2018
Playground Games was given the keys to the Forza franchise back in 2010, with Forza Horizon developed in collaboration with series stalwarts Turn 10. Ever since, Playground has consistently delivered open-world racing games that go above and beyond that of the competition. Following the release of Forza Horizon 5 in 2021, the studio is now fully focused on its reboot of an iconic Xbox RPG, Fable, which is slated to release February 23, 2027.
Rare
- Notable releases: Viva Piñata (Xbox 360, 2006), Sea of Thieves (Multi, 2018)
- Working on: TBC
- Acquired in: 2002
Rare is a legendary British studio. So much so, it's difficult to know where to even begin. So let's skip the history lesson and fast-forward to the present. Rare continues to support and update Sea of Thieves, one of the best multiplayer games out there right now. In fact, it even got a 2026 Edition revised version of the game, which brings in all of the permeant updates. The studio was also working on a new fantasy adventure with Everwild, but following reports of mass layoffs at Xbox, news surfaced revealing the project has sadly been cancelled.
Turn 10 Studios
- Notable releases: Forza Motorsport 7 (Xbox One, 2017), Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X, 2023)
- Working on: TBC
- Founded in: 2001
Ever since its formation, Turn 10 has been known for its meticulous attention-to-detail, working to create the most realistic and engaging racing sims imaginable. It's currently building a next-generation Forza experience for Xbox Series X. Boasting a stunning visual fidelity and commitment to performance, Turn 10 launched the next generation of Forza Motorsport back in 2023. Its new project hasn't been announced just yet.
World's Edge
- Notable releases: Age of Empires 4 (PC, 2021), Age of Mythology: Retold (Multi, 2024)
- Working on: TBC
- Founded in: 2019
While World's Edge isn't directly responsible for making new games, it has been positioned as a caretaker for one of Microsoft's biggest franchises. The studio coordinates development for Age of Empires, working to ensure external studios such as Relic Entertainment and Forgotten Empires are properly aligned. To that end, World's End helped to ship Age of Empires 4 in 2021 for PC, and is yet to reveal what it's working on next.
Xbox Game Studios Publishing
- Notable releases: N/A
- Working on: N/A
- Founded in: 2000
Xbox Game Studios Publishing is an internal group within the Xbox Game Studios group that supports external developers, and those under the wider first-party group. In the past, the global publishing team has worked with partners like Insomniac and Don't Nod to bring Sunset Overdrive and Tell Me Why to the platform. Previously, it was helping Avalanche Studios with its co-op smuggling game Contraband before it was ultimately canceled in 2025.
ZeniMax Online Studios
- Notable releases: The Elder Scrolls Online (Multi, 2014), Fallout 76 (Multi, 2018)
- Working on: TBC
- Acquired in: 2021
ZeniMax Online Studios is responsible for creating and overseeing Bethesda's online-focused games, such as The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76. The studio isn't known to have any brand new games in development, although it is continuing to support, develop, and grow Bethesda's MMORPGs. The studio was said to be working on a new MMO codenamed Blackbird, but amid mass layoffs at Xbox, it has reportedly been canceled.
For more, explore our Xbox exclusives list.
