This week @Sarthetv and @RapidReacts join me to react to the big changes at Xbox and PlayStation this last week.

Xbox and PlayStation are both making big moves across their studios, and not all of them make sense. This week on Game Chat, we talk through the latest layoffs, studio cuts, restructuring, and what these decisions say about the future of Xbox, PlayStation, and the games industry as a whole.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is almost here, and Ubisoft’s remake of the 2013 fan favorite is looking a lot more ambitious than a basic remaster. The game launches July 9, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with rebuilt visuals, updated gameplay, new content, improved naval systems, and a full tech overhaul in the Anvil engine.

Get High on Life 2 on Steam for 33% off here

https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/2069250/

Squanch Games merch over at http://gear.SquanchGames.com

On Switch 2 Here https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/high-on-life-2-switch-2/?srsltid=AfmBOopJcMWaRuNbitlB2HhLct4ItTU_SOqAwkoHx1-cIk_SZImfZzsi

In this video, I’m taking a look at the newest Black Flag Resynced footage, screenshots, upgrades, and why this might be one of the more exciting Assassin’s Creed releases in years.

Video Clips

https://x.com/farzam_plays/status/2074101055701582273 https://x.com/farzam_plays/status/2074101056762527776 https://x.com/ACV__X/status/2074155157852696825 https://x.com/SynthPotato/status/2074121875001692536 https://x.com/ac_landmarks/status/2074131512979812755 https://x.com/SynthPotato/status/2074106683811315950 https://x.com/SynthPotato/status/2074128420536005042 https://x.com/SynthPotato/status/2074136472194547821 https://x.com/GermanStrands/status/2074177958281904503 https://x.com/kevincreednews/status/2074166555387318504 https://x.com/ACV__X/status/2074147379453018487

Xbox’s massive restructuring is now clearer: thousands of jobs are being cut, multiple studios are leaving Xbox, and teams like Double Fine and Compulsion are set to become independent again. Let’s break down what changed, what still isn’t clear, and what this means for the future of Xbox Game Studios.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma sent an internal email announcing what she called the most significant restructure in Xbox history. The plan includes approximately 3,200 job cuts throughout FY27, 1,600 role eliminations today, and four studios leaving Xbox for new management.

Former Xbox veteran Laura Fryer recently shared her thoughts on why Xbox studios keep struggling, arguing that “creative freedom” can become a trap when there isn’t enough structure, accountability, or clear leadership behind it.

Laura's Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BZBoBAZGsc

A major leadership change has happened at Arkane Lyon, the Xbox studio behind Marvel’s Blade. According to VGC, MachineGames co-founder and studio director Jerk Gustafsson has taken over leadership of Arkane, while former president Leonard Bendel has resigned. This comes amid ongoing reports about Xbox layoffs, possible studio closures, and uncertainty around the future of Blade.

Xbox is reportedly testing a disc-to-digital feature that could let players convert parts of their physical Xbox game collections into digital entitlements.

Xbox layoffs are still looming and though The Game Business reported Obsidian is on that list, that has been refuted

After reports that Microsoft was preparing more layoffs and that multiple Xbox studios could be affected, new details and clarifications are starting to come in. The Game Business reported that Xbox is divided internally over its future, with pressure around costs, Game Pass, hardware, and the company’s shift toward bigger franchises.

PlayStation just announced that physical disc production for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will end starting January 2028. Sony says new games after that point will be available through PlayStation Store and retailers in digital formats only, while games already released or planned before January 2028 in disc format are not impacted.Sony also announced major PlayStation Store changes for PS3 and PS Vita, with PS3 store closures beginning in select markets this year and global PS3 and PS Vita closures planned for July 2027. Previously purchased content will still be downloadable “for the foreseeable future.”So today we’re talking about what PlayStation actually announced, what it means for collectors, preservation, ownership, retailers, and the future of console gaming.

Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have reportedly been hit with a class-action lawsuit accusing them of restricting DRAM supply and fixing prices. DRAM is used across PCs, phones, servers, and game consoles, which makes this a bigger gaming story than it may sound at first. The allegation is that consumer memory supply was reduced while companies focused more heavily on expensive HBM memory for AI data centers, contributing to rising RAM costs. These are still allegations, but if memory prices remain high, that could put even more pressure on console hardware pricing heading into PS6, the next Xbox, and future Nintendo hardware.

Important note: this is a lawsuit and the claims are allegations. But RAM is a major cost in consoles, so if memory prices keep climbing, that could make future hardware even harder to price.