Microsoft news covering Windows, Azure, Office 365, Xbox, Copilot AI, LinkedIn, earnings reports, and enterprise software developments.
For the second time in weeks, Microsoft packages were compromised with credential-stealing code, with 73 packages flagged as malicious on GitHub. The malicious packages were triggered when developers opened them in AI coding agents. GitHub disabled the packages citing a violation of terms of service. Microsoft did not acknowledge the possibility of infection until Monday, stating they were investigating.
Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball confirmed a 'reliable pipeline' of exclusives ahead, but reiterated that large multiplayer and live-service titles will remain multiplatform. He cited an internal framework for exclusivity decisions, noting that announcing Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution as exclusives together was intentional.
Xbox confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are console exclusives, not timed exclusives, marking a return to exclusive titles after a multiplatform push. Games already announced for multiplatform releases will remain on that plan.
Microsoft temporarily removed dozens of open source GitHub repositories after hackers injected password-stealing malware into the code. The malware targeted AI developers using tools like Claude Code and VS Code. Microsoft notified a small number of affected customers.
Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball revealed at Summer Game Fest that the October 2025 price hike for Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99 caused millions of subscribers to leave. The price was later reduced to $22.99 after CEO Asha Sharma admitted it was too expensive. Xbox is now reevaluating its exclusive games strategy to win back players.
Xbox's chief strategy officer revealed Game Pass lost millions of subscribers following a 50% price increase in fall 2025. New CEO Asha Sharma cut prices in April 2026 and announced future Call of Duty games won't launch on the service.
Microsoft announced at the Xbox Games Showcase that Fable will launch on February 23, 2027. A new story trailer revealed Hayley Atwell as a villain who believes she is Albion's true hero. The game was delayed to avoid competition with Grand Theft Auto 6 and other fall 2026 releases.
Microsoft announced the Xbox Series X25 limited edition console during its Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026, celebrating 25 years of Xbox. The translucent green design is inspired by the original Xbox, with 1 TB of storage and a special edition controller. Release is set for fall 2026; pricing and exact date are pending.
This commentary argues that Microsoft's strategy on Xbox exclusives has become increasingly confusing, as the company simultaneously announces new exclusives like Gears of War: E-Day while continuing to release other titles on rival platforms. The author contends that Microsoft's attempts to balance fan expectations and business interests have led to a muddled message.
A Walmart listing for a PS5 version of Gears of War: E-Day appeared and was removed, fueling speculation. However, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced during the summer showcase that the game will remain an Xbox Series X/S exclusive, reversing previous multiplatform plans.