Top Stories

"He truly cared about games, about the industry, and about the people making them" – The industry on Phil Spencer (11 min read)

Phil Spencer retired after 25 years leading Xbox, prompting industry figures including Strauss Zelnick, Yves Guillemot, and Peter Moore to reflect on his legacy. Common themes: Spencer was genuinely passionate about games, accessible to developers at all scales, and brought stability and long-term thinking to Xbox through multiple strategic shifts. His tenure reshaped Xbox from hardware-focused to ecosystem-driven, though his legacy remains complicated by recent studio closures and Game Pass impact. (Gamesindustry)

It looks like Netflix won't be acquiring Warner Bros. Games after all (4 min read)

Netflix will not be acquiring Warner Bros. Games, according to reporting. The deal's collapse marks a significant shift in the streaming platform's gaming strategy and consolidation patterns in the industry. (Game Developer)

Business & Finance

Splash Damage acquires Scum developer Gamepires from Jagex (4 min read)

Splash Damage acquired Gamepires, the developer behind survival game Scum, from Jagex. The move brings the studio and its player base under Splash Damage's publishing and development operations. (Game Developer)

Studios & People

Xbox's new boss could herald the changes the division needs | Opinion (7 min read)

Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond are leaving Xbox, with Asha Sharma (from Microsoft's CoreAI team) taking over as CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Her lack of gaming industry experience has sparked concern, though the piece argues that Spencer's passion alone wasn't enough to fix Xbox's strategic problems. Sharma's appointment may signal Microsoft's willingness to make the radical changes Xbox needs. (Gamesindustry)

Games & Releases

Could pre-launch open testing have saved Highguard? (4 min read)

An analysis of Highguard's failure examines whether pre-launch open testing could have prevented the game's struggles. The piece suggests that the studio's confidence and lack of external feedback during development—potentially stemming from hubris—contributed to undetected issues that emerged post-launch. The story underscores the value of early community testing for identifying problems before release. (Game Developer)

I won't lie, a Super Pocket handheld that pays tribute to one of the best N64 platformers of all time wasn't on my bingo card (6 min read)

Blaze announced a Super Pocket Rare Edition handheld featuring Banjo-Kazooie and 13 other Rare classics pre-loaded. The blue, red, and yellow device is available for pre-order at £49.99 in the UK, with US availability expected soon. (GamesRadar)

Yes, you can transfer Pokémon from the new Leaf Green and Fire Red ports to modern games as Home support confirmed (2 min read)

The Pokémon Company confirmed that Pokémon caught in the new Nintendo Switch versions of FireRed and LeafGreen can be transferred to modern games via Pokémon Home. The re-releases launched today and the cross-game compatibility addresses a key concern for fans about whether classic Pokémon would integrate with the broader Pokémon ecosystem. (Eurogamer)

Culture & Community

British Esports signs Armed Forces Covenant (3 min read)

The British Esports Federation signed the Armed Forces Covenant on December 4th, 2025, committing to support serving military personnel, veterans, and their families through esports initiatives. President Chester King signed the pledge, positioning the organization to promote the Armed Forces within the esports community. (Esports Insider)

gg! see you in game!

-james