Rockstar Games offers a new look at GTA VI while Xbox layoffs near completion and Blizzard Entertainment reveals details on an open-world StarCraft shooter.

Rockstar Games unveiled new details for Grand Theft Auto VI on Sept. 25, leading a series of major gaming developments that included project updates from Blizzard Entertainment and ongoing restructuring at Microsoft's Xbox unit.

The publisher revealed its upcoming open-world crime title as main industry releases for the autumn season take shape. The announcement coincided with several key updates across major studios and independent developers.

Blizzard Details New StarCraft Project at BlizzCon 2026

Blizzard Entertainment lead developers shared details Sept. 25 regarding an upcoming open-world shooter set in the StarCraft universe. The update at BlizzCon 2026 followed earlier discussions by development leads Tim Jones and Nora Mills on Sept. 16 concerning a new operational era for World of Warcraft Classic.

The company has not provided an official launch window for the StarCraft title.

Xbox Layoffs Near Completion

Corporate restructuring continued at Xbox, where management confirmed Sept. 22 that staff reductions are roughly three-quarters complete. The statement follows consecutive workforce cuts across Microsoft's gaming division throughout the year.

Other major developers reported structural shifts during the same period. Bungie confirmed Sept. 21 that it plans to rebuild player trust following its decision to wind down active development on Destiny 2. Independent studio Heart Machine reported financial distress on Sept. 17 after an unnamed publishing partner withdrew from its latest title.

Major Autumn Game Releases and Reviews

Several high-profile titles reached consumers and critics in late September 2026.

• Control Resonant: Received an 8.5 rating on Sept. 24, praised for its narrative design and world-building despite changes to melee combat mechanics.
• Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave: Earned an 8.75 rating on Sept. 16, highlighted for its extensive campaign scale.
• EA Sports FC 27: Scored a 7.25 rating on Sept. 25, delivering familiar gameplay systems with incremental updates.
• Dune: Awakening: Launched Sept. 22 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Tokyo Game Show demonstrations featured early hands-on sessions with Final Fantasy VII Revelation and Fate/Extra Record, showcasing PlayStation 5 Pro performance modes and updated combat systems.