Microsoft's Xbox and PC exclusive Pentiment will make its way to PS5 and Nintendo Switch, alongside the previously-leaked Hi-Fi Rush.
Microsoft Reportedly Laying Off 1,900 Employees Following Activision Buyout
25.01.2024 - 14:55 / thegamer.com / Phil Spencer
Microsoft is reportedly laying off 1,900 of its 22,000 video game staff following the $69 billion Activision Blizzard King acquisition.
As reported by IGN, Xbox boss Phil Spencer announced the news in an internal memo; "As we move forward in 2024, the leadership of Microsoft Gaming and Activision Blizzard is committed to aligning on a strategy and an execution plan with a sustainable cost structure that will support the whole of our growing business. Together, we've set priorities, identified areas of overlap, and ensured that we're all aligned on the best opportunities for growth.
"As part of this process, we have made the painful decision to reduce the size of our gaming workforce by approximately 1,900 roles out of the 22,000 people on our team [8.6 percent]. The Gaming Leadership Team and I are committed to navigating this process as thoughtfully as possible. The people who are directly impacted by these reductions have all played an important part in the success of Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and the Xbox Teams, and they should be proud of everything they've accomplished here."
Spencer adds that Microsoft will support those who are laid off with severance benefits in line with local employment laws and that the company is now notifying those who have lost their jobs.
"We ask that you please treat your departing colleagues with the respect and compassion that is consistent with our values," Spencer writes. "Looking ahead, we'll continue to invest in areas that will grow our business and support our strategy of bringing more games to more players around the world. Although this is a difficult moment for our team, I'm as confident as ever in your ability to create and nurture the games, stories, and worlds that bring players together."
Only one month into 2024, over 5,800 people have been laid off in the video games industry (as reported by Kotaku). As VGC documented, around 9,000 employees were laid off last year across 12 months, meaning that we've already reached over half of that number this year already.
Just three days ago, League of Legends and Valorant developer Riot Games announced that it was shutting down Riot Forge and letting 530 employees go. Unity also laid off 1,800 people and Twitch 500. It's an awful start to the year, but hopefully, things will quiet down soon.
The website gametalkz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Authors
Popular Topics
gadgets.ndtv.com
13.02.2024 / 10:36
Microsoft to Share Xbox Business Update on February 15, Will Reportedly Reveal Games Releasing on PS5, Switch
Microsoft will share an update on the Xbox business later this week, the company confirmed Monday after weeks of reports and rumours of its first-party games coming to rival consoles. The Xbox parent will reveal its plans for the platform in a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast on February 15 at 12pm PT (February 16, 1.30am IST in India), where Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, Xbox president Sarah Bond and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty will share details about the future Xbox roadmap. The confirmation comes after Spencer had promised last Tuesday that Microsoft would share its vision for the “future of Xbox” next week.
gamingbolt.com
13.02.2024 / 00:33
Microsoft to Discuss Xbox Business Updates on February 15th on Official Xbox Podcast
Microsoft has announced a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast for February 15th, noon PT. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, president Sarah Bond and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty will be present and provide “updates on the Xbox business.” Last week, Spencer said this would be a business update event to discuss the company’s “vision for Xbox’s future.”
eurogamer.net
12.02.2024 / 20:49
Microsoft expected to detail Xbox games on PlayStation, Nintendo in podcast this Thursday
Microsoft's gaming top brass are expected to lay out their plans to publish some Xbox games on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms via a business update released this week as a podcast.
gamesradar.com
12.02.2024 / 17:21
Ahead of business update expected to outline Microsoft's multiplatform strategy, Phil Spencer reportedly tells colleagues that Xbox will still make consoles
Xbox head Phil Spencer has reportedly told colleagues that the company has no plans to stop making Xbox consoles, and that the company's strategy will continue to involve multiple devices.
videogameschronicle.com
10.02.2024 / 14:13
Phil Spencer has reportedly reassured employees Microsoft ‘won’t stop making Xbox consoles’
Microsoft’s gaming division reportedly held an internal townhall meeting this week, to address reports it could be bringing some of its first-party games to other console platforms.
gadgets.ndtv.com
09.02.2024 / 17:37
Microsoft to Share Update on 'Future of Xbox' Next Week Amid Reports of First-Party Games Going Multi-Platform
A day after reports of multiple Microsoft first-party titles possibly making their way to rival platforms, the company said early Tuesday that it would host a business update event next week, detailing the “future of Xbox.” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer posted the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), promising more details to the Xbox community. While the Xbox chief did not confirm the agenda of the event, Microsoft reportedly will reveal its plan to bring its exclusive titles, said to include Hi-Fi Rush and others, to rival platforms from Sony and Nintendo next week.
eurogamer.net
09.02.2024 / 13:55
Microsoft layoffs "contradict" what was said in Activision antitrust trial, FTC claims
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has said the recent spate of layoffs at Microsoft «contradict» what was presented in the antitrust trial over the company's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
techradar.com
09.02.2024 / 10:31
FTC claims that Microsoft layoffs contradict ‘representations it made’ during the fight to acquire Activision
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a complaint against Microsoft to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit following the news of the company planning to lay off around 1,900 members of staff from across its Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and ZeniMax teams.
polygon.com
09.02.2024 / 10:15
The FTC isn’t too happy with Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard layoffs
Microsoft reneged on promises it made in court during its Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust trial in 2023 by laying off 1,900 employees in late January, according to the FTC. FTC lawyer Imad Abyad filed a letter with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday, effectively telling on Microsoft. “This newly-revealed information contradicts Microsoft’s representations in this proceeding,” the FTC lawyer wrote.
tech.hindustantimes.com
09.02.2024 / 09:30
FTC Dings Microsoft Over Activision Blizzard Layoffs in Court
Microsoft Corp.'s plans to cut 1,900 jobs from its video game division contradict statements the company made to a US court that it would operate the newly acquired Activision Blizzard Inc. independently, the US Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday.
gamerant.com
27.01.2024 / 01:05
Microsoft Becomes $3 Trillion Company After Mass Layoffs
Just days after laying off 1,900 workers under the recently acquired Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has become only the second company ever to reach a $3 trillion market value. The recent layoffs by Microsoft were met with inquisition from audiences concerned about the company's profits, though it would seem Microsoft is showing no signs of declining value.