Xbox’s Hardware Problem: September Sales Drop To New Low Amid Sony’s Market Dominance

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.

Microsoft has withdrawn from a UK AI data centre project with Nscale, which had secured Microsoft as its primary customer.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.

Alphabet (GOOGL) shares fell 2% to $331.83 despite a 1% NASDAQ 100 rally. CEO Sundar Pichai stated Google Cloud is forgoing short-term revenue to prioritize AI development, impacting its cloud growth. Microsoft (MSFT) and Amazon (AMZN) shares also dipped slightly. The trade-off's financial impact remains unclear, with the next earnings report expected to provide clarity.