Latest news with #TheCoalition
Engadget
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Rod Fergusson leaves Blizzard after five years leading Diablo
Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo franchise for the last five years, is leaving Blizzard. Fergusson announced the move on social media, but didn't say where he's going next. Before joining Blizzard in 2020 to lead Diablo , Fergusson was studio head at The Coalition, where he oversaw Gears of War. "After five years driving the Diablo franchise with four big launches, it's time to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what's next," Fergusson wrote in a post on Bluesky . "I'm proud of what we've built and excited for what's ahead for Diablo, and for me." His departure comes after significant layoffs this summer at Microsoft , Blizzard's owner, which affected its gaming division . In a reply to Fergusson's announcement, Xbox head Phil Spencer posted, "You brought strength, hellfire, and vision to one of gaming's most iconic franchises. Playing Diablo IV with you was a blast—thanks for everything you gave to the game and the community."
The Verge
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Gears of War: E-Day is coming in 2026
Microsoft first revealed Gears of War: E-Day during its Xbox Games Showcase last year, and at today's showcase it's now putting a 2026 release window on the latest entry in the sci-fi shooter series. Developed by The Coalition, E-Day will release in a year that marks 20 years since the original Gears of War game debuted on the Xbox 360, and 25 years of Xbox. E-Day is set 14 years before the first Gears game, and 'tells the story of the first Locust emergence on Sera.' It's being billed as an origin story, and once again stars Marcus Fenix. E-Day is the first title in the series since Gears 5 debuted in 2019. Last month, Microsoft also announced a Gears of War remaster that also brings the franchise to PlayStation for the first time. Gears of War: Reloaded is launching on August 26th for Xbox Series X / S, PlayStation, and PC for $39.99. The remaster features 4K resolution, 120fps support, and cross-progression and cross-play for all platforms. Gears of War: Reloaded will also have two-player co-op for the campaign and 8-player multiplayer. Xbox chief Phil Spencer confirmed the E-Day release window during the Xbox Games Showcase earlier today, and also revealed a 'new Forza' is coming in 2026 too, as well as 'the return of a classic that has been with us since the beginning.' That classic may well be the .
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Xbox Game Pass is hitting the first-party release cadence subscribers deserve
2025 is shaping up to be one of the best years for Xbox Game Pass yet, thanks to a series of first-party acquisitions finally delivering exceptional day one titles. After years of stilted day one releases and disappointing exclusives, Xbox Game Pass has finally transformed into the excellent value offering it always should've been. Being an Xbox Game Pass member hasn't always been easy. While the concept of a video game subscription service that regularly updates with day one first-party releases (and the occasional third-party curio) was good in theory, rarely has its release slate been able to hit a good, reliable cadence since it initially launched back in 2017. Fast forward eight – yes, count them, eight – years later, and in 2025 the ducks that company head Phil Spencer and the rest of the Xbox higher-ups spent so long getting in a row now look to be finally paying off. This year alone has seen countless Xbox Game Pass treats available at launch, solidifying just how well the service can work when it hits a stride – at least on the consumer side. In truth, Xbox Game Pass received its proper supercharge at the end of 2024 with the launch of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in December. Whereas licensed games previously had a reputation for being a bit ropey and half-assed in terms of quality, this was the most recent example of what can happen when a studio truly understands the source material. More than a facsimile of the Indiana Jones concept, Machine Games' title put you in the shoes of cinema's most famous adventurer through the act of exploration, investigation, and yes, bashing Nazis over the head with whatever object is lying around. I honestly believe Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would have been a game of the year contender had it not been released so late in the year. A sentiment largely thought impossible for a first-party Xbox game just a few years ago – outside of the Forza Horizon series, of course. While Xbox's release calendar has shifted wildly in recent months to see its first-party titles now come to rival platform PlayStation not too long after, the value of Xbox Game Pass is still retained due to the high calibre of exclusives that have launched into the service this year. January was a tad quiet, but February treated members to another charming release in Avowed. In my review, I dubbed it an 'RPG let down by its progression system', but it was still a fun adventure, I'm glad players seeking that high fantasy itch could scratch. Since then, Xbox's recent first-party studio acquisitions have continued to pay off exponentially, with the likes of South of Midnight, The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remastered, and most recently Doom: The Dark Ages being instantly available to play. Admittedly, getting to this point hasn't been a cakewalk, and I honestly wish Xbox could have spent time assisting its existing family of first-party studios like The Coalition or Halo Studios (previously 343) to reach it. Instead, it spent its energy scoffing up a ream of independent developers like some sort of twisted all-you-can-eat buffet. Compulsion Games, Obsidian Entertainment, and Ninja Theory were all early acquisitions made during the end of the flailing Xbox One generation with the intention of bolstering the Xbox platform's release slate. It's certainly done that, but midway through the Xbox Series X |S generation, a lot of players are already looking ahead to the future. An X-traordinary start For now, however, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for a subscription service that has, up until now, felt like a slow drip feed of exciting games to play, as opposed to the full-fledged gush members have been led to expect. It's not just been great for first-party exclusives, either. By partnering with some of the year's surprise hits, Xbox has been able to bolster its lineup with more games that make the idea of subscribing even more enticing than it otherwise would be. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the most obvious example as one of the biggest surprise hits (and most critically acclaimed games) of the year, giving this quirky turn-based RPG about a doomed expedition trying to save their home a broader audience than it may not have been able to reach otherwise. For all the troubles Xbox Game Pass has experienced over the years, such as constantly delayed exclusives and splintering into an increasingly confusing list of tiers, it has always done a great job partnering with third-party publishers to help plug gaps. This year, that means heavy-hitters such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Atomfall, of course, but also smaller gems like Revenge of the Savage Planet and Blue Prince. I can't remember a time prior to now when Xbox Game Pass members (at least those subscribed to the Ultimate tier) have had such a great selection of additions to choose from. It only looks to continue throughout the rest of 2025, too, with high-profile releases like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, The Outer Worlds 2, and Remedy Entertainment's FBC: Firebreak also set to launch into the service immediately on day one. For years now, I've been one of the Xbox Game Pass model's biggest critics. And though I still believe that great art, which video games absolutely are, is worth paying for, there's no denying that 2025 has seen the service ascend to its strongest value offering yet. At a time when Nintendo has kicked off higher tier pricing in advance of the Nintendo Switch 2 's arrival, subscribing now to Xbox Game Pass this year would already see you well fed through to the end of 2025 – and that's not even including all the great day one releases to come. I doubt such a strong Xbox Game Pass release cadence will continue into 2026 (although I'm happy to be proven wrong). Until then, it's hard not to make the most of this strong flow of exciting games that before now has only ever felt like a stilted drip.
Geek Tyrant
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
David Leitch in Talks to Direct Netflix's Big-Budget GEARS OF WAR Movie — GeekTyrant
It looks like Gears of War is finally getting the cinematic firepower it deserves. David Leitch, who recently directed the The Fall Guy , is now in negotiations to helm Netflix's long-gestating feature adaptation of the legendary Xbox video game series. This marks a big move for Netflix, which scooped up the rights back in 2022 and has been quietly putting together the pieces for what it hopes will become a major franchise. Leitch will produce the movie alongside his wife and creative partner Kelly McCormick under their 87North banner. They'll be teaming up with The Coalition, the Vancouver-based studio that currently steers the Gears games. Gears of War is basically testosterone-fueled sci-fi warfare turned up to 11. The story is set on a dying planet where subterranean monsters called the Locust emerge to wage war on the last scraps of human civilization. At the center is Marcus Fenix, a grizzled, battle-scarred ex-soldier leading Delta Squad on what's essentially a suicide mission to save humanity. The movie is being written by Jon Spaihts, best known for Dune and Prometheus . With him handling the script, fans can expect a grounded, cinematic world that still captures the grit, madness, and scale of the games. Leitch seems like a natural fit for Gears . His action pedigree is tough to beat. Hhe's the guy behind Bullet Train , Atomic Blonde , Deadpool 2 , John Wick , and Hobbs & Shaw . He knows his way around an action scene, and more importantly, he knows how to make action feel personal, stylish, and character-driven. Netflix's plan is to lead with this feature film, follow up with an adult animated series, and expand from there… assuming audiences watch and like what they see. According to Gears of War head Rod Fergusson, the movie will not be set in the same reality of the game. It will be its own thing and tell its own story, a story that will not be dependent on the games. He previously explained: 'In order for the movie to be successful, it has to be a great movie first and a Gears movie second. Basically the way that we sort of reconciled that was, we said, 'oh the movie should be an alternate reality. It should not be dependent on the game story, nor should it influence the game story.'' Fergusson added: 'I've heard of other franchises who come with this really large story Bible and this really sort of, here are all the rules now go and deal with 700 pages of how you live in our world. 'When we did it, we were two pages. I was like, 'Here's two pages of thou shall nots and recommendations.' We want people to have the freedom to have new ideas and to take things differently.' It was also said that there are still certain staples of the franchise that will be true for the movie. Fergusson revealed that it should be set on Sera and that it should star certain characters that are familiar to fans. The gears are in motion. And with Leitch at the helm, there's a real shot this adaptation could be badass! Source: THR
Digital Trends
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
This Netflix movie based on a popular video game now has a director
Netflix is riding the wave of popularity for video game adaptations by commissioning a Gears of War movie. The streamer is recruiting a former stuntman turned director to helm the action spectacle. Per The Hollywood Reporter, David Leitch is in negotiations to direct Gears of War for Netflix. Jon Spaihts, the Academy Award-nominated co-writer of Dune, will pen the Gears of War screenplay. Recommended Videos Leitch and Kelly McCormick, Leitch's wife and creative partner, will produce the Netflix adaptation through their 87 North banner. Netflix will partner with The Coalition Studio, the Canadian video game developer, to produce the feature film adaptation. Netflix acquired the rights to Gears of War in 2022. The streamer has plans to make a blockbuster adaptation of the video game before expanding to other mediums, including an adult animated series. Released in 2006, Gears of War is a third-person shooter game set on the fictional Earth-like planet of Sera. With society on the brink of extinction, humans engage in a war with vicious underground creatures known as the Locust Horde. The game follows soldiers Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago of the Delta Squad in a fight to save humanity against the Locust forces. Gears of War became the fastest-selling video game of 2006 and one of the best-selling franchises for the Xbox 360. There have been eight Gears of War video games, which include the main series, spinoffs, and prequels. Leitch began his career as a stunt performer, doubling for Brad Pitt and then working on two Matrix movies. After working as the uncredited co-director of John Wick, Leitch helmed his first feature with 2017's Atomic Blonde. Since Atomic Blonde, Leitch has become a reliable action director backed by excellent stuntwork. Leitch's other films include Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy. Leitch's next movie is 2026's How to Rob a Bank, a crime thriller with Nicolas Hoult, Pete Davidson, and Anna Sawai.
