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Podcast Episode

Ep. 227 - Let's Talk About All The Horrible Stuff Xbox Is Doing

Spectator Mode Gaming Podcast··17 July 2026·53 min

About this episode

Send us Fan MailXbox had a rough couple of weeks, and honestly, "rough" might be underselling it. On this week's episode, Scott and Keith, break down the fallout from Microsoft's latest round of cuts, a gut-punch that cost an enormous number of people their jobs, sent four studios packing from the Xbox family, and left id Software a shell of what it used to be.We get into what actually happened, why it happened now, and what it says about where Xbox is headed as a platform. Simply put, this isn't just bad news for the people affected, though that's the part that matters most. It's a signal. And we're not convinced it's one Microsoft can walk back from easily. Timestamps:00:00 - Intro and episode focus 01:40 - Asha email and layoffs 04:52 - Senior talent losses discussed 10:25 - Projects spared, platform reset 17:46 - id Software and Bethesda fallout 23:46 - New Xbox structure and priorities 30:06 - Minecraft, digital future, preservation 43:02 - Reset timeline and sale rumors 45:46 - GTA 6 revenue tangent 52:01 - Final thoughts and sign-offThanks for listening, and please, if you enjoy the show, leave a rating on Spotify or Apple Music.Spotify – spoti.fi/2HsmTZ8Apple Music – https://apple.co/43Bz67AYouTube – Youtube.com/theouterhavenAmazon Music – https://amzn.to/3FE4bPMAnd if you have questions for us or want us to discuss a topic, let us know by contacting us at tips@theouterhaven.net. #xbox #gaming #idsoftware #pcgaming #gamingpodcast Support the showYou can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!Apple PodcastsYouTubeSpotifyAmazon Music