How Asha Sharma is trying to save Xbox through radical transparency

The US Department of Labor suspended eight IT firms, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft, and Adobe, from applying for permanent residency for foreign workers. This move, ahead of US mid-term elections, aims to address domestic political concerns. Existing applications are on hold, and new ones will not be accepted, impacting H1B visa holders' prospects for permanent residency.

Xbox's Gears of War: E-Day reportedly cost $500 million to develop, according to a Kotaku report. The game was developed by The Coalition, a studio with around 300 employees. This figure is higher than previous estimates and reflects the rising costs of AAA game development.

Xbox Series hardware sales dropped 27% year-over-year in September, hitting a new low, while PlayStation 5 sales grew 22% in units and 43% in dollar sales, according to Circana data. Nintendo's Switch 2 sales fell 12% year-over-year. Microsoft's multiplatform strategy and cloud gaming focus are cited as reasons for Xbox's decline, while Sony's market dominance is attributed to its marketing and upcoming game releases.

Microsoft has withdrawn from a UK AI data centre project with Nscale, which had secured Microsoft as its primary customer. The facility, planned for 2027, faced delays due to electricity supply issues. Microsoft's withdrawal impacts Nscale's plans to raise billions through a stock market listing, as Microsoft accounted for over 40% of its $103 billion in contracted revenue. This follows Microsoft's earlier adjustments to its global data centre expansion plans.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to invest nearly $40B to build data centers in Spain's Aragon region, with Microsoft and Blackstone also involved. The regional government supports the projects, offering tax breaks and fast-tracked approvals, despite environmental concerns and local opposition. AWS expects to create 6,200 jobs, but critics worry about water usage, energy demands, and impacts on wildlife.

NiSource Inc. and Microsoft agreed on a 20-year energy deal for Microsoft's Indiana data center. The agreement expands expected customer savings to $1.75 billion, with Microsoft funding all generation and transmission costs. NiSource will add 1,100 MW to its pool portfolio and 600 MW of battery storage, improving grid reliability. The deal starts in 2028, protecting existing customers from incremental costs.