Xbox Entertainment Studios to close

Microsoft is shutting Xbox Entertainment Studios "in the coming months", bringing an end to original Xbox video content.

Plans for original TV programming were big on Microsoft's agenda last year - including a live-action Halo TV show - but the entertainment studio is closing due to job cuts.

The Halo TV show will still go ahead as planned, as will game/TV show hybrid Quantum Break, but everything else has been abandoned.

"Change is never easy, but I believe the changes announced today help us better align with our long-term goals," said Xbox boss Phil Spencer in an internal memo.

"We have an incredible opportunity ahead of us to define what the next generation of gaming looks like for the growing Xbox community.

"I have a great deal of confidence in this team and know that with clarity of focus on our mission and our customers we can accomplish great things together. We already have."

Microsoft is cutting up to 18,000 jobs worldwide.