Asger Risom
Despite widespread reports that Microsoft is preparing to shut down acclaimed first-party studios like Ninja Theory and Double Fine, the Xbox Game Pass service pushes forward with a massive late-June lineup featuring EA Sports FC 26 and Call of Duty: Vanguard.
The gaming community is currently bracing for what could be a massive restructuring at Microsoft, with rumors suggesting the imminent closure of several beloved first-party studios. Yet, despite the chaotic behind-the-scenes narrative, the company’s subscription service continues to march forward completely uninterrupted.
A stacked summer lineup
In a move that feels entirely disconnected from the broader corporate drama, Microsoft has officially unveiled the second wave of its June 2026 Game Pass additions.
According to the official announcement on Xbox Wire, the back half of the month is headlined by massive blockbuster franchises. Subscribers will be able to jump into the World Cup action with EA Sports FC 26, alongside the arrival of Call of Duty: Vanguard. The update also bolsters the indie and AA catalog, bringing titles like Junkster and the brinepunk roguelite Abyssus directly to the cloud and console ecosystem.
The elephant in the room
However, the impressive software drop is entirely overshadowed by the grim reality facing the teams that actually build these games.
As reported by IGN, multiple Xbox-owned studios—including Hellblade developer Ninja Theory and Psychonauts creator Double Fine—are reportedly in active negotiations to spin off as independent entities to avoid outright closure. These drastic moves are allegedly part of a massive 100-day “reset” initiated by the new Xbox leadership to curb spiraling costs. So, while the Game Pass library continues to grow with massive third-party additions, the future of Microsoft’s own internal creative teams has never looked more uncertain.
