# Xbox plans major layoffs under new CEO | Fortnite players pay real money for sprite creatures | EA launches in-game ad service

### Gies W24 | June 19, 2026

### Xbox Plans Significant Layoffs as It Transforms Under New CEO Asha Sharma
- [**Xbox**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-10/xbox-plans-significant-layoffs-as-it-transforms-under-new-ceo-asha-sharma)

### Fortnite Fans Obsessed With New Pokémon-Like Sprite Creature Collecting Are Buying Rare Species for Real Money on eBay
- [**Fortnite**](https://www.ign.com/articles/fortnite-fans-are-obsessing-over-its-new-pokemon-like-sprite-creature-collecting-with-rare-species-being-sold-for-real-money-on-ebay)

### EA is Launching an In-Game Ad Service
- [**EA**](https://www.dualshockers.com/ea-is-launching-an-in-game-ad-service/)

### Numbers
- [**Black Myth Wukong**](https://frvr.com/blog/black-myth-wukong-has-reportedly-sold-30-million-copies-reveals-chinese-youth-report/) has sold [30 million copies](https://frvr.com/blog/black-myth-wukong-has-reportedly-sold-30-million-copies-reveals-chinese-youth-report/), reveals Chinese Youth report.

### News
- [Weeks After Launching Luna Abyss, Its Entire Development Team At** Kwalee Labs**](https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/16/weeks-after-launching-luna-abyss-its-entire-development-team-at-kwalee-labs-has-been) has been laid off.
- [Dutch gamers file €220 million claim against** Valve**](https://nltimes.nl/2026/06/11/dutch-gamers-file-eu220-million-claim-valve-operator-game-platform-steam), operator of game platform Steam.
- [Hackers Are Hijacking Entire** Roblox**](https://www.404media.co/hackers-are-hijacking-entire-roblox-games-now/) games now.

### Industry Trends
- [**UK**](https://deadline.com/2026/06/uk-social-media-ban-under-16s-x-youtube-tiktok-reddit-1236956163/) brings in full social media ban for under-16s.
- [Inside** Xbox**](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/inside-xboxs-margin-crush)'s margin crush: A string of misses at Xbox Game Studios, misguided Game Pass decisions, and the memory rout at its core.
- [Microsoft CEO Says ‘There’s More Monetization of Xbox Games Happening on YouTube Than at Microsoft’](https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-ceo-says-theres-more-monetization-of-xbox-games-happening-on-youtube-than-at-microsoft).
- [**Final Fantasy Resonance**](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/final-fantasy/final-fantasy-resonance-lead-says-games-like-clair-obscur-expedition-33-are-leading-a-turn-based-resurgence-because-creators-who-grew-up-playing-jrpgs-are-now-making-them-themselves/) lead says games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are leading a turn-based resurgence because “creators who grew up playing JRPGs” are now making them themselves.
- [Before you place all the blame on** Sony**](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/before-you-place-all-the-blame-on-sony-former-destiny-2-cm-says-bungie-was-very-close-to-shutting-its-doors-before-the-buyout/), former Destiny 2 CM says Bungie was ‘very close to shutting its doors’ before the buyout.
- [20 hours is the perfect length for a video game](https://www.polygon.com/007-first-light-20-hours-perfect-length/).

### Rumors
- [**Don’t Nod**](https://www.thegamer.com/dont-nod-financial-trouble-shut-down/) is in trouble, and Tencent is reportedly uninterested in backing the studio anymore.
- [Report: Unannounced** The Witcher**](https://mp1st.com/news/unannounced-witcher-multiplayer-game-details-pc-mobile) multiplayer game slated for PC & Mobile; gameplay details revealed.
- [**Fallout New Vegas**](https://www.vice.com/en/article/fallout-new-vegas-remaster-might-have-been-leaked-by-new-toy-line/) remaster might have been leaked by new toy line.