Square Enix has finally given up on its Pokémon GO-style mobile spin-off of Kingdom Hearts. The Final Fantasy publisher announced on Wednesday that it was cancelling Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, which began development back in 2019, because it didn’t think it could deliver on the live-service experience over the long haul. The change of heart comes as Square Enix commits to releasing fewer but better games. Suggested ReadingI Didn’t Play Final Fantasy XVI ‘Right,’ And That’s OK Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingI Didn’t Play Final Fantasy XVI ‘Right,’ And That’s OK Share SubtitlesOffEnglishMissing-Link was supposed to be a GPS-based RPG that integrated the real world into the series’ familiar action combat and storytelling, and it was originally supposed to launch in 2024. “We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service,” the publisher wrote in an update. “Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development.” Square Enix confirmed it’s still all-in on Kingdom Hearts IV, but noted in its latest earnings briefing that it plans to be choosier about what it greenlights going forward. On the back of a $217 million drop in net sales last year despite the outsized success of Dragon Quest III HD-2D, the company revealed a three-year plan to “reboot and awaken” long-term growth. It includes “various initiatives to improve productivity by utilizing AI” as well as releasing fewer games. “Under the new management structure, we reviewed all projects at our domestic studios, including HD and SD titles, and decided to discontinue development of some titles and invest additional funds in titles that require refinement, thereby steadily implementing a strategy of selecting and concentrating development resources,” the company wrote in its presentation. It also wants to “establish a mid- to long-term pipeline to achieve a shift from quantity to quality.”Square Enix had recently been flooding the zone with a ton of games—Chocobo GP, Forspoken, Valkyrie Elysium, Foamstars, Visions of Mana—many of which either severely underperformed or just never quite hit. Under this new approach, it looks like the publisher is following in the footsteps of other big gaming companies and retreating into its biggest franchises. The Final Fantasy machine will continue with the final part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, Final Fantasy XIV, and eventually Final Fantasy XVII. Alongside Kingdom Hearts IV, Dragon Quest XII also remains in development.It seems safe to expect that Square Enix will continue porting, remastering, or remaking other gems from its back catalog, and reportedly has a new version of cult favorite Final Fantasy Tactics in the works. But outside of its existing heavy hitters, it’s not clear where Square Enix will be pouring its resources next, and whether it still has any appetite for calculated but bold bets on new franchises. One new project might give us a clue. The publisher did reveal a partnership with Japan TV station TBS to “combine the experience and strengths they have cultivated in their respective fields to collaborate on the development of a completely new, original IP game for both domestic and international audiences.” It’ll probably be years, though, before we see what that game ends up being. .

After years in development, beta tests, and delays, Square Enix has finally canceled the next Kingdom Hearts game, Kingdom Hearts Missing Link. The development team behind Missing Link announced the game’s cancellation on the official Kingdom Hearts website.“Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development,” the team said in a statement.On a slightly more positive note, Square Enix said it is “hard at work” on Kingdom Hearts 4, which will continue Sora, Donald, and Goofy’s adventures in a new story arc.Here’s the developer’s full statement on Kingdom Hearts Missing Link’s cancellation:We have made the decision to cancel the development of KINGDOM HEARTS Missing-Link.We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service.Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development.We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who gave us their support and assistance with the multiple closed beta tests. We are truly sorry to have to make this announcement.The KINGDOM HEARTS series will continue. We are hard at work on KINGDOM HEARTS IV, and hope you’ll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates.Kingdom Hearts Missing Link was announced in 2022 alongside Kingdom Hearts 4. Missing Link was in development for Android and iOS devices, and was subject to multiple closed beta test since 2022. Square Enix last updated Kingdom Hearts fans’ on Missing Link’s fate in November 2024, when the publisher announced it has “made the difficult decision to delay the release” — which was originally intended for 2025.It’s unclear what, exactly, Square Enix couldn’t pull off with Missing Link, but the prospect of creating a compelling, sustainable, and profitable live-service mobile game in a crowded and entrenched market is daunting. Square Enix has also signaled it will “pursue a shift from quantity to quality” philosophy and “a regular launch cadence, focusing its development efforts and investments on titles with substantial potential to be loved by customers for years.” Apparently, Missing Link did not meet that bar.Square Enix hasn’t said much about how Missing Link tied into the overall Kingdom Hearts saga. But Square Enix has turned previous stories told through browser and mobile games into animated shorts and movies. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, for example, included the 60-minute movie Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover that recounted and added to story elements from Kingdom Hearts χ.See More:

Kingdom Hearts 4 gets new update as Square Enix cancels spin-off Adam Starkey Published May 14, 2025 12:52pm Updated May 14, 2025 1:36pm A kingdom far, far away (Square Enix) Square Enix has canned a previously announced Kingdom Hearts spin-off, as it looks to ‘reboot’ its business. It’s been over three years since Disney crossover Kingdom Hearts 4 was revealed, in April 2022, and we haven’t seen or heard anything about the sequel since. Square Enix also announced a mobile spin-off entitled Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link during the same 20th anniversary video. The GPS-based action role-playing game received a closed ‘prototype test’ in January 2023 and was originally supposed to come out in 2024, but it was delayed. Now, Square Enix has announced Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link has been cancelled entirely, which is surprising as its story was supposed to lead into Kingdom Hearts 4. ‘We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service,’ an announcement post reads. ‘Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development. ‘We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who gave us their support and assistance with the multiple closed beta tests. We are truly sorry to have to make this announcement.’ To sweeten the bad news, Square Enix provided an update on Kingdom Hearts 4, perhaps to reassure fans that it does still exist. ‘The Kingdom Hearts series will continue,’ the post adds. ‘We are hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4, and hope you’ll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates.’ While it’s unclear why we haven’t seen anything from Kingdom Hearts 4 for so long, Square Enix has undergone a major overhaul to its business over the past year. Lower than expected sales for Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth caused a shift in strategy at the company, towards a more selective, higher-quality approach, resulting in many cancelled projects. Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link appears to be another casualty of this pivot, but it is an interesting decision considering the spin-off was set to have ties to Kingdom Hearts 4’s narrative. In an interview with Game Informer from 2022, series director Tetsuya Nomura described Missing-Link as being ‘connected in many ways’ to the next mainline entry. In its latest financial results, Square Enix emphasised its intention to ‘reboot and awaken’ its business by promoting ‘multi-platform strategies’ and ‘rebuilding the domestic studios portfolio’, among other plans. ‘Under the new management structure, we reviewed all projects at our domestic studios, including HDG and SD titles, and decided to discontinue development of some titles and invest additional funds in titles that require refinement, thereby steadily implementing a strategy of selecting and concentrating development resources,’ reads the business plan. ‘We will continue to control the scale of development investment in a disciplined manner.’ More Trending As part of this three-year plan, Square Enix states its aim to ‘shift from quantity to quality’, with the intention of releasing ‘major titles mainly in key IP steadily’ after 2027. Square Enix has several games planned for the Switch 2, including Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade. Elsewhere in the plan, Square Enix announced it is working on a video game with TBS Television, the Tokyo-based network which is known for producing shows like Takeshi’s Castle and Ninja Warrior. While it’s unclear when we could get another glimpse at Kingdom Hearts 4, the next likely candidate is Summer Game Fest on June 6, 2025. The Missing-Link is now lost forever (Square Enix) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link has been cancelled by Square Enix, as the company continues with its development on Kingdom Hearts 4. The company said in a statement that "it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time". Read more

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Amid continued development of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl as the studio works to meet the game’s massive 2025 roadmap plans, GSC Game World has announced the release date for the Stalker: Legends of the Zone Enhanced Edition. Coming to PC, Xbox and PlayStation, the newly upgraded version of the Stalker Trilogy will arrive on May 20, 2025. Owners of the previous versions of the game on all platforms will also receive a free upgrade to the new enhanced edition. The new version of the game will include a number of new graphical features, bug fixes and new optimisations as well as changes to make the game “more modern and immersive” for modern gamers. Of course, PC players will still have access to the original versions if they prefer it. “Several key areas have received updates to enhance the visual experience compared to the original games,” the developer explained. “These improvements include updated skyboxes, enhancements to GodRays and the overall lighting system, and refined surface reflections, including effects for wetness, improved 3D models for NPCs and guns. Furthermore, the textures have been upscaled and upgraded for greater detail. Additionally, some UI elements have been updated to improve usability on both PC and Consoles.” GSC explains that the new remasters do not alter or add any content to the Stalker Trilogy. However, Yes, various controls were changed and adjusted to be more in line with current game practices. “some QOL features have been added to enhance the overall player experience and usability” and broken quests have been patched. As for modding, the Stalker: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition is not compatible with mods for the original games. Instead, mod makers will have to update their mods for the new version, but the games do feature Steam Workshop integration for users. “Existing mods are incompatible with the enhanced Legends of the Zone,” the developer said. “However, the mod community and stalkers who enjoy the modified Zone experience can still play modifications, as the original trilogy remains available in stores.” S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl Platform(s): PC Genre(s): Action, First Person, Shooter 8 VideoGamer Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

Minutes into my mission, I'm having second thoughts. Gunning down a dozen zombie-like enemies is a lot for a lowly office worker in the Federal Bureau of Control. At first, it's hard to have faith in my gear -- a backpack water jug with a cannon for drenching enemies. But then my fellow FBC squad mate (a secretary or middle manager, I forget which) uses his kit to zap all the soaked foes at once. With our third coworker slamming their wrench into anything that moves, we barely manage to fix up some broken fans before sprinting for the elevator as the doors close on the enemy horde.Welcome to FBC Firebreak. Media got a chance to play the game for a few hours in an online preview ahead of its release on June 17. Six in-game years after the events of Remedy Entertainment's seminal 2019 game Control, the FBC headquarters is still partially occupied by the otherworldly Hiss invaders. But the brave workforce of the FBC has stepped up, and as one of the agency's rangers or secretaries or middle managers, it's up to players to drive them out of the offices. FBC Firebeak is a departure for Remedy as its first game built to be multiplayer rather than its decades of single-player adventures. But the studio's newest title is a smaller-scope "AA" game, unlike the flagship AAA releases like Alan Wake II, Control and its other prior hits. However, Firebreak's $40 price tag (or $50 for the deluxe edition) that matches its more modest scope will be welcome to players reeling from the sticker shock of $80 games coming from Nintendo and Microsoft.In my preview, I could see how Remedy is attempting to blend its signature style of weird, funky gunplay into a multiplayer setting, and mostly succeeds. There's a lot of character to the world it's built, and players will likely enjoy taking on the role of supernatural emergency responders as a change of pace from the gunplay-heavy squad shooters they know. But diehard fans of the studio's storytelling-heavy approach will have to adjust to the new game's fast co-op pace.And they'll have to get used to its difficulty, because FBC Firebreak is hard.I'll give you an example: My two squad mates -- one of whom was CNET video editor Sean Booker --  and I dropped into one of the three missions available to us. We each picked a gun and one of three equipment backpacks, each offering unique tools that work best when combined -- a key way the game encourages teamwork. We set the mission to normal difficulty, and out we went. Remedy EntertainmentThe mission (or "job" in Firebreak talk) we chose was Paper Chase, wherein our squad is tasked with cleaning up a plague of supernatural Post-it notes. Like other areas of FBC headquarters, the offices we explored -- faithfully recreated with '60s shag rugs and retro decor from 2019's Control -- had been warped by the invading Hiss, making things even stranger. That meant we weren't just fighting Hiss-possessed FBC workers clawing and shooting at us -- we also had to gun down humanoid golems made of Post-its.Our third squad mate dropped out due to GPU compatibility issues, so our CNET twosome cleared out gobs of Post-its haunting the office floor, all while getting slammed with unending hordes of enemies. We ran out of bullets pretty quickly. My colleague Booker had a mechanic's kit with a mean wrench he could swing around -- it also let him repair gadgets scattered around the level faster. Meanwhile, my backpack water blaster did little more than stagger enemies, relying on a one-two combo with the shock kit carried by our now-dropped-out squad mate.With my weak melee and frequent deaths, Booker and I barely made it back to the elevator to finish the job. For the rest of our preview, we stuck to the easiest difficulty. The equipment kits, called Crisis Kits, come in three varieties (left to right): Jump Kit with shock area attacks, Fix Kit with a wrench and deployable turret and Splash Kit with a water cannon and healing humidifier. Remedy EntertainmentSquad up or die tryingTechnically, you can drop into a "job" all by your lonesome, but I wouldn't recommend it. They're built to be challenging for three people, and I can attest how it's a difficult enough experience with two, even on an easier setting. Four-person squads just weren't balanced, as Remedy developers previously told me, which made sense as I fought tooth-and-nail through narrow hallways, roomy offices and spacious mines that would've felt crowded with more than two other teammates.There are other tools at your disposal to take into jobs, like grenades, deployable equipment to use with your backpack kit and a rechargeable super ability (which we didn't get far enough along to tinker with) -- all gradually unlocked as you level up. Decked out in more gear, we stood a better chance of withstanding hordes of enemies. When I slammed down a jug filled by my water backpack that sprayed healing in a radius around it, we withstood waves of foes that had previously wiped us out.But we still weren't eager to tip the difficulty back up to normal, and how much players struggle may be a make-or-break point for Firebreak's player experience. It's a balance that could be tweaked in many ways before the game comes out in June, from enemy health and behavior to kit effectiveness and ammo availability. Remedy reinforced that the preview we saw was a work in progress, so I'd expect some tinkering to come, but the game walks a tricky line in encouraging (and borderline requiring) cooperation through its unique mechanics and tasks while allowing player flexibility -- after all, the strangers filling your online co-op squad will come in a variety of skill levels and attitudes.In its current state, getting swamped by wave after wave of Hiss while feeling my kit's inadequacy is a bit worrisome. The game shows promise with its unique setting, gameplay and niche in the multiplayer shooter space -- one that favors weirdness and intriguing mechanics over sweaty gunplay. Remedy EntertainmentCo-op in the Alan Wake universeAs the FBC Firebreak developers explained in our briefing before the preview, the game was designed with three core pillars. The most obvious of those was on display when we booted up the game: there should be as little standing between players booting up the game and getting to the action. No cutscenes, plot diversions or dense dialogue to get in the way of jumping into a job.That leads to the game's second pillar: every player gets the same content -- no progression roadblocks or paid DLC to split up a squad. For the $40 entry fee, players will get whatever the Firebreak developers introduce to the game -- which at the moment are two additional jobs coming sometime after the game's launch. This ties into one of my main annoyances during the preview: progression felt too slow to unlock enough items that made me feel effective in the field. It makes sense if Remedy wants a longer progression runway to keep players coming back -- for new equipment, better weapons and more cosmetics to outfit their Firebreak workers.The last pillar was the one I saw the least of -- mainly because we didn't see much of the game: that FBC Firebreak delivers action and moments found "only in Control." From the preview, this bore out in the reliance on kit equipment over guns -- even without my third squad mate following up with an electricity blast, I discovered my water gun could stagger enemies when charged up, leaving my other squad mate to batter them with his wrench. This mixes in a dose of absurdity with the frenetic terror of Hiss hordes. Remedy EntertainmentIn practice, FBC Firebreak feels like a mixture of Left 4 Dead and Ghostbusters, which is a fun and funky blend that shakes up the tired squad shooter genre. But its focus on quickly moving players in and out of jobs leaves little room for the kind of secret-hunting and lore-digging that defined past Remedy games. To that end, it's tough to imagine whether the studio's diehard fans will embrace Firebreak's loops running the same missions without heavy storytelling, let alone standout moments like Control's Ashtray Maze or Alan Wake II's We Sing musical sequence. Firebreak's developers previously told me they don't believe those memorable moments really fit in a multiplayer game, especially if it means forcing players to relive them repeatedly. They're probably right, but it means the new game will need to rely on emergent moments born from unpredictable, often ridiculous situations -- the kind of had-to-be-there memories that help a game stand out.With no more of FBC director Jesse Faden's story until Control 2, and no required story content in Firebreak, the new game seems poised to truly stand on its own. And without any detail on how Firebreak ties into the greater Remedyverse storyline shared across the studio's games, or how much lore it has tucked away waiting for players to discover, Firebreak will sink or swim based on how fun it is to run around as an office drone saving your workplace with wild gadgets and guns. A lot of that remains to be seen.  Watch this: I Attended the Public Nintendo Switch 2 Experience

Amazon has restocked Pokémon TCG: Prismatic Evolutions Surprise Boxes today... for $59.99. But is it worth it? Well, in the TCG community right now, you've got MSRP vigilants ($22.99), and those willing to pay at "Market Price" ($59.99). This Surprise Box is sold and shipped by Amazon, so it's what you'd consider market price; it's just way above MSRP. Whatever side of the fence you sit on, the debate is fascinating.Pokémon TCG: Prismatic Evolutions Surprise BoxIncludes 1 of 9 randomly selected foil promo cards with a special logo. Warning: MSRP: $22.99.$59.99 at AmazonLet's dig into whether it's worth paying $59.99 for this set. For starters, the box itself is nice, and it's cool to get stamped versions of the standard Eeveelution ex cards: Eevee ex, Vaporeon ex, Jolteon ex, Flareon ex, Espeon ex, Umbreon ex, Leafeon ex, Glaceon ex, or Sylveon ex.But you also only get one per box at random, and I'm not going to give myself an anxiety attack trying to work out the odds on hunting all of these down, but that's a big bag of bones going off Amazon's pricing.Is it a nice gift? Sure. Is it practical enough to buy a couple of boxes for just ripping open packs and hoping for your favorite Eeveelution? At $59.99... jeesh, maybe not.Prismatic Evolution Stamped Surprise Box CardsUmbreon ex - 060/131 (Prismatic Evolutions Stamp)But still, it's been a popular pick amongst IGN's Daily Deals readers, so who am I to judge? Make your own decisions when buying, just don't say I didn't warn you. Otherwise, you can also consider picking up the singles you might be chasing via trusted retailers like TCGPlayer. Let's explore the top Prismatic Evolutions cards available to pick up today as well.Umbreon ex - 060/131$59.99 at TCG PlayerEevee ex - 075/131$17.25 at TCG PlayerFlareon ex - 014/131$14.95 at TCG PlayerJolteon ex - 030/131$13.95 at TCG PlayerVaporeon ex - 023/131$14.89 at TCG PlayerEspeon ex - 034/131$12.99 at TCG PlayerLeafeon ex - 006/131$12.99 at TCG PlayerGlaceon ex - 026/131$11.25 at TCG PlayerSylveon ex - 041/131 (Stamped)$12.82 at TCG PlayerIf you're, like me, just interested in the Suprise Box for the promo cards, it might be worth just buying the cards standlone. The most expensive (of course it's Umbreon) is going for the same price as one of these boxes, with the rest coming in at well under $20. So for the price of two to three Suprise Boxes, you can get the complete collection. If you want to rip open packs and pull these promos yourself then go for it, but it'll cost you.Prismatic Evolution Chase CardsUmbreon ex - 161/131Sylveon ex - 156/131Leafeon ex - 144/131Espeon ex - 155/131Vaporeon ex - 149/131Flareon ex - 146/131Glaceon ex - 150/131Jolteon ex - 153/131Roaring Moon ex - 162/131Eevee ex - 167/131Dropping over a grand on a Pokémon card sounds mental, but this Umbreon SIR has come down quite a bit after release. Sitting at $1100, that's a fall of around $500 and change. All the other chase cards of Prismatic Evolutions have fallen to under the $500 mark, with my favorite Roaring Moon ex SIR dropping to $221 at the time of writing. These prices may very well fall more as the year goes on and attention shifts, but these are pretty good prices considering what the bloated Pokémon card market would have you believe just a month ago.Pokémon TCG: Best Deals TodayPokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions expansion for Scarlet & Violet has been crazy popular, sending Pokémania 2025 over the edge due to tough pull rates and having few opportunities to rip the set open.But, if you're trying to keep up with all the other Pokémon TCG without getting ripped off or left behind, here's where to start, including the latest update on what can be bought here and now from trusted retailers in the US.Surging Sparks Booster BoxMimikyu ex Box$49.99 at AmazonShrouded Fable ETB$66.86 at AmazonPaldea Adventure Chest$57.00 at AmazonPokéball TIn 3 PackAzure Legends Tin$42.49 at AmazonHoliday 2024 Calendar$33.92 at Amazon2024 Trainer’s Toolkit$33.97 at AmazonDestined Rivals Booster BoxSee it at AmazonDestined Rivals ETBSee it at AmazonWant to know more about the best single Pokémon cards out there right now? My weekly Crashes and Climbers articles do just that. Want to pay less? The Glory of Team Rocket Japanese set singles are going for great prices right now too.Looking to preorder the new sets Destined Rivals or Black Bolt/White Flare? We've also got you covered, alongside every upcoming release for Pokémon TCG in 2025. Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

Brightika expands to PC and console with $3m investment for indie devs Mobile publisher aims to support developers with funding, marketing, and platform operations Image credit: Brightika News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on May 14, 2025 Mobile publisher Brightika is expanding to PC and console with an investment of $3 million. The funding will be deployed over the next two years, during which it will fund indie developers by providing them with product support, marketing strategy, and global publishing operations. Its funding model will also include support in localisation, platform relations, and community building in addition to creating trailers and demos. Brightika has revealed it's already in talks with several indie devs, with their titles set to be announced during Steam Next Fest. "We've helped mobile studios reach tens of millions of players and generate sustainable revenue," said Brightika founder Alexander Rodichev. "The next step for us is to bring the same level of marketing science and publishing discipline to the PC and console space, where developers often lack access to funding distribution support." Brightika was founded in 2020 as a publisher of casual and hyper-casual mobile games. Its team is made up of workers with over two decades of experience in the games industry.

Microsoft has announced that it will be laying off around 3 percent of its employees across all departments, teams, and regions. According to a report by CNBC, this round of layoffs will affect around 6,000 employees from the various teams across Microsoft. Considering the far-reaching net cast by these layoffs, it is likely that employees from various game development studios under the Microsoft umbrella will also be affected to some extent. “We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace,” said a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement, who also said that one of the reasons for the layoffs was so that Microsoft could cut down on some of its layers of management. Microsoft hasn’t yet confirmed which of its teams is being hit by these layoffs, or whether its efforts to remove some of the layers of management across its divisions will also affect game development studios. This announcement of Microsoft is only the most recent round of layoffs that is hitting the games industry this year. Earlier this month, racing game developer Codemasters had announced a round of layoffs which it described as being done for the sake of “eliminating roles.” The announcement came alongside the fact that development on EA Sports WRC was ending, and work on future rally racing games was being paused. “As a business, we are constantly evolving to meet the growing needs of our players and driving greater focus across our portfolio,” a Codemasters spokesperson said. “This has led us to look at reducing some roles, while we redeploy as many as possible against our strategic priorities.” Back in April, EA had announced a round of layoffs affecting 300 employees across multiple teams, including Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi developer Respawn Entertainment. In its statement announcing the layoffs, an EA spokesperson said that the decision was being made in order to “align teams and allocate resources in service of driving future growth.”

Real-world journeys that blend digital, physical, and emotional touchpointsAt the very beginning, there were no templatesWhen e-commerce first took off, every website was a handcrafted experience. Brands hired developers to code their stores from scratch, pouring hours into every layout decision and line of code. It was messy, expensive, and full of quirks — but each site had a personality. No two stores looked alike, and that uniqueness helped brands stand out (for better or worse).Then came the era of standardization. Platforms like Shopify and Magento made it easy to spin up an online store in hours, not months. Templates took over, and with them came the rise of best practices, grid systems, and polished uniformity. This shift was supported by principles like Jakob’s Law, which tells us that users spend most of their time on other sites — so experiences should feel familiar. It was the golden age of efficiency — just not of originality. But now, the pendulum is swinging back. More and more brands are breaking free from the template mold, crafting distinctive, memorable experiences that turn browsing into something closer to brand theatre. Conversion matters — but so does character.Luxury is leading character-based e-commerceWhile living in Shanghai, I saw firsthand how luxury brands embraced digital experiences without compromising their identity. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Prada proved that people were willing to buy high-ticket items online, long before it became the norm. I still remember the buzz when someone in Shanghai bought a Ferrari online. It was a wake-up call: e-commerce had matured.Luxury brands, especially in China, began investing in beautifully crafted websites that didn’t just sell — they told stories. They became pioneers of what best-in-class online shopping could feel like. Before diving into broader industry examples, let’s look at a few luxury sites that show how to combine simplicity, usability, and brand immersion.Louis Vuitton offers a seamless journey through thousands of products while maintaining an elegant, editorial aesthetic. It’s a smart balance of information density and calm navigation that respects the user’s cognitive load.Celine made a bold move with a unique left-side navigation that breaks convention without breaking usability — bringing core controls within easy reach and inviting curiosity through layout.Dior invites you to explore the craftsmanship behind its products before nudging you toward e-commerce. This thoughtful sequence taps into the Peak-End Rule: people remember the emotional peak and the ending, not every step. Dior ensures both are on-brand and memorable.Louis Vuitton’s website combines seamless site loading with elegant visuals and best in class navigation.Celine came up with a unique left side navigation.Dior wants you to first see how their bags are handcrafted before even going into the ecommerce section.Delightful Experiences Powered by Modern TechToday (in 2025), designing great e-commerce experiences is both more challenging and more exciting than ever. Why? Because we now have more tools at our disposal — AI-powered chatbots, recommendation engines, immersive video, and more. But technology alone isn’t enough. It takes smart experience design to turn these tools into something customers truly value.Dior — Recovering from “Out of Stock” with GraceWhen a friend of mine rushed to Dior’s website after seeing their new foundation stick on TikTok, it was already sold out. Instead of a dead end, the site invited her to leave her email for a restock alert. The next day, she received an email with a direct link to her shade, picked “pick up in store,” and shortly after, got a personalized WhatsApp message from a Beauty Advisor. Dior turned a moment of friction into an orchestrated omnichannel success story — from anonymous browser to known customer (capturing someone’s email on your site should be one of your key objectives).Dior’s “Alert me” CTA leads to an email capture.Oysho — Communicating Lifestyle & QualityOysho is a masterclass in how to blend emotional connection with functional UX. The website immerses you in a world of wellness, movement, and slow fashion. It’s not just about the products; it’s about how you’ll feel wearing them. Their art direction — light-filled photography, calm color palettes, and minimal design — reinforces a brand identity centered on mindful living.From a UX perspective, the site is quietly brilliant. Returning users immediately see their order status, creating a sense of continuity (and reducing anxiety). Gift-wrapping flows and personalized messages add thoughtful delight, while back-in-stock alerts close the loop with zero friction.Gifting options on Oysho include a personal message, gift wrapping and not including the cost of the purchase. Very thoughtful.The site does an excellent job of communicating the functional benefits of their clothing — like breathable or high-resistance fabrics — using clean, unobtrusive icons. These subtle visual cues enhance decision-making without adding friction, creating a sense of trust and product clarity. It’s a design tactic Uniqlo also uses effectively, especially for their tech-enhanced basics, where innovation needs to be conveyed clearly but without overwhelming the shopper.Oysho strikes a perfect balance between inspire and shopping.In doing so, Oysho taps into the Aesthetic-Usability Effect — the perception that beautiful interfaces are more usable, which increases patience and satisfaction even when minor issues arise.Uniqlo — The Online/Offline QueenUniqlo continues to quietly disrupt the fashion world with a digital ecosystem that just works. The brilliance lies not in bells and whistles, but in a frictionless, service-oriented approach that integrates online convenience with in-store immediacy.Here’s what sets Uniqlo apart:Check store inventory in real-time, down to color and size — even when you’re in-store. Using the app, you can scan a product tag to instantly see which sizes or colors are available nearby.Reserve online, pick up in store the same day — a perfect blend of impulse and instant gratification.RFID self-checkout in physical stores is almost magical: just drop your clothes into the checkout tray, and everything is automatically scanned. No barcodes. No awkward folding. Just out.Membership benefits are effortlessly cross-channel — simply scan your member code from the app, and you’re recognized whether shopping online or in person. It’s a seamless loyalty experience that doesn’t ask customers to jump through hoops.Behind all this is a Uniqlo does this beautifully, absorbing backend complexity to offer a surprisingly intuitive customer journey.Making the checkout very simple while capturing the users membership information to connect offline to online experiences.Same day click and collect make it convenient to order online things that I can pick up later when I go out for lunch with is close to a Uniqlo store and don’t have to wait for it to be delivered to my home.Starbucks — Best-Value Membership ExperienceStarbucks has created a digital flywheel powered by simplicity and consistency. Everything revolves around one app. It’s your loyalty card, your payment tool, your order-ahead assistant, your offer inbox — and your direct line to perks. It all feels effortless, but that’s precisely the point. Compare that to other retailers who force you to log into a website just to check your points — assuming you even remember your password. Starbucks eliminates those micro-frustrations entirely.And because it’s a native app, it taps into core mobile capabilities — like GPS for finding nearby stores, integrated payment, and real-time push notifications — without ever feeling like it’s trying too hard. This kind of thoughtful integration is exactly what makes omnichannel UX feel natural, fluid, and genuinely useful.The loyalty system is brilliantly simple: earn one star per dollar, unlock rewards. That’s no accident — it’s the Endowed Progress Effect at play. By giving users visible progress toward a reward, they’re far more likely to stay engaged and repeat behavior.Even better, the app is context-aware. It remembers your preferences, tailors offers, and knows your go-to store. It’s a prime example of personalization that empowers, not overwhelms.Starbucks Loyalty Points System — You always get rewardedNike — Personalization at ScaleNike has been one of the standout players in making personalization feel purposeful. Their site and emails adapt to your browsing and buying habits, surfacing just the right styles, sizes, and drops at the right time.This isn’t just smart targeting, Nike speeds up decision-making and makes the experience feel curated rather than crowded.Nike Personalised Newsletter ScreenshotMovie Theatres — What Not to DoTo truly appreciate great digital experiences, sometimes it helps to look at the frustrating ones. Buying a movie ticket online can still feel like dropdown-menu bingo: toggle between times, dates, locations, screen sizes, and seat availability until you’ve clicked yourself into submission. Then brace for upsells, fees, and a confusing confirmation page.And yet — movies are all about emotion, immersion, and excitement. Why doesn’t the digital journey reflect any of that? Imagine a platform that knows your favorite genres and actors, recommends the perfect showtimes, remembers your seat preferences, and rewards you with season passes or early access to premieres. Why not offer family bundles, VIP red carpet nights, or mood-based movie suggestions?There’s so much opportunity here to create something magical. Instead, most theatre sites treat ticketing like a utility — transactional, impersonal, and joyless. It’s a missed chance to design for passion.Closing ThoughtsWhile we now have more advanced tools than ever — from AI and real-time data to responsive frameworks — great customer experiences still don’t happen automatically. It takes skilled UX and CX designers to ask the right questions, map the right journeys, and infuse every digital touchpoint with brand identity and human insight.The best e-commerce experiences today don’t just convert. They connect. They inspire. They make people feel something. And that’s where design makes all the difference.Great CX isn’t just built. It’s designed — thoughtfully, intentionally, and with the end user at heart.Here a couple of resources that are worth exploring.Blurring boundaries: The online-offline fusion in Tech & Durables retailIn-Store & Online: Designing For the Changing Behaviors of Today's ShoppersNielsen Bridges Online and Offline Behaviors with Innovative Cross-Platform Offering5 brands that nail the art of omnichannel UX was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.