News Calm Now (July 4th), Time for Microsoft to Unearth First Batch of Mass Layoffs for July? (According to Microsoft's Media Operative, Tom Warren)

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Jul 03, 2024,
updated Jul 05, 2024

• More Xbox Layoffs at Microsoft Inbound This Week, Tom Warren Claims

  Yesterday, Xbox's Jessie Thomas announced on X that her role at Microsoft was "eliminated". After this post on X, Tom Warren responded that more Xbox layoffs will be happening this week. While many suspected that it was just Thomas that was let go, Warren has now clarified that more individuals at Xbox will be losing their jobs. "more Xbox layoffs happening this week", Warren wrote some hours ago. "Microsoft laid off Jessie while she was on vacation". For those in the unknown, Thomas has been with Microsoft since 2015, and served as Senior Business PM of Culture Programs as of 2022.

• Even More Xbox Layoffs Are Reportedly on the Horizon

  Even more layoffs across Xbox are on the horizon, an industry insider has said. The purported cutbacks would mark the third major round of Xbox layoffs since the turn of the year.

  Microsoft laid off approximately 1,900 Xbox staffers back in late January 2024. Those cutbacks affected not just its Xbox Game Studios division but also Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax Media, which continue to operate as standalone publishing arms. The company later cited concerns over a general lack of gaming industry growth as the reason for that decision. Come early May, Microsoft also closed down four ZeniMax studios: Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Games, Tango Gameworks, and Roundhouse Studios. The move saw its total number of 2024 layoffs reach approximately 2,100.

• Layoffs have once again impacted workers at Ubisoft and Microsoft

  We have the unfortunate duty to report that layoffs in the gaming industry don’t appear to be abating anytime soon, as there are new reports of job cuts affecting employees at both Ubisoft and Microsoft.

  We’ll start with Microsoft, which is once again seeing more jobs shed at the company’s Xbox division according to The Verge’s senior editor Tom Warren. One of the firings has affected senior business PM of culture programs Jessie Thomas, who confirmed that her role was eliminated after working with the company since 2015.

  According to Warren, “it’s not just one person” who has been let go, but there are no details about how many have been affected as of this writing, though Insider Gaming notes layoffs have also affected a senior product manager and technical program manager. It’s also unclear if these layoffs are related to redunandices planned for Azure and HoloLens employees.

• Another Round of Layoffs Hit Microsoft

  Throughout the past 24 hours, several people have taken to social media to announce that they have faced layoffs at Microsoft.

  It’s currently unclear the exact number of those affected or if they’re part of the 1500 estimated to be laid off in June. Insider Gaming has found four people announcing their departure from the company.

• Xbox Facing More Layoffs This Week – Rumor

  It’s been a rough year for the games industry with thousands of layoffs, including at companies like Microsoft. About 1,900 jobs were cut from Xbox, Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax in January, followed by the closure of studios like Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Studios and Tango Gameworks in May.

  However, Insider-Gaming reported on more recent layoffs, including senior product manager Angela Viness, design researcher Jessie and technical program manager Cory Ebert. Each took to social media to reveal their positions had been eliminated. Unfortunately, The Verge’s Tom Warren reports that more layoffs will be happening this week at Xbox and that Jessie was let go while on vacation.

• Rumor: More Xbox Layoffs This Week, After MCC/Halo Insider Program’s Founder Reveals Her Exit

  Jessie Thomas, who has worked at Microsoft for nine years, revealed she just learned that she was laid off herself. In her tweet she says this:

  “Sad to announce that my role with Microsoft has been eliminated.

  To all those who have been a part of Team Xbox. Thank you. Hope I made you proud. <3”

  Our review of her LinkedIn account reveals that her most recent role was Senior Business PM of Culture Programs. We’re not clear if she was a part of Team Xbox itself at this time, but in the seven years before this, she was bringing her specializations in neuroscience and UX research to do user research for Xbox.

• Microsoft Plans Further Layoffs At Xbox Division This Week

  According to The Verge’s Tom Warren, more Xbox employee layoffs are set to happen sometime this week. One such employee who has already been laid off is Jessie Thomas, former Senior Business PM of Culture Programs. She was on vacation when Microsoft informed her of the decision. She took to Twitter/X to thank all those who have been a part of Team Xbox, and hoped that she made them proud.

• Xbox Facing More Layoffs This Week After 1900 Job Cuts In January

• This week, Microsoft is set to start more layoffs for the Xbox Division

  According to the most recent report, Microsoft is planning to hire more employees at the Xbox division this week.

  Tom Warren from The Verge has stated that Microsoft will be laying off additional Xbox employees this week, and Jessie Thomas, former Senior Business PM of Culture Programs, is one such employee who was informed of the decision while on vacation. She wished her colleagues a happy retirement and thanked them on Twitter/X.

  The latest wave of layoffs in the Xbox division has left Microsoft with a serious challenger in terms of job security. We offer our condolences to those who have been and will be affected by these changes.

Update

More partisan slant:

• Another Round Of Layoffs Hits Xbox and Microsoft As Company Fully Embraces Woke Agenda

  Microsoft executives have rolled out another round of layoffs at Xbox as multiple employees have reported they no longer are employed by the company. All of this comes as the company fully embraces the woke agenda.

Some Microsoft sites too:

• Microsoft lays off employees in new round of cuts

  Microsoft conducted another round of layoffs this week in the latest workforce reduction implemented by the Redmond tech giant this year.

  The cuts impacted multiple teams and geographies. Microsoft declined to provide details about the number of employees laid off.

  Posts on LinkedIn from impacted employees show the cuts affecting employees in managerial roles.

  “Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.”

• Layoffs hit Xbox again; Microsoft to make more cuts soon

  Earlier this year, Microsoft laid off 1900 workers from its gaming division. This affected various teams including Xbox, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard. Additionally, it closed studios such as Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin as part of a strategy to cut costs.

  As recent reports have stated, the cuts continue and there are new layoffs at Xbox. This week, Jessie Thomas, Senior Business PM of Culture Programs, confirmed the elimination of her position and her departure from the company. In light of this, a reliable source stated that Thomas will not be the only one affected, so a whole round of layoffs is expected in the coming days.

More:

• Microsoft's Staff Reduction Continues as More Employees Depart

  While we are still in shock from the non-stop news from tech giant Microsoft, which laid off around 1900 employees from Activision Blizzard & Xbox in January and shut down four studios affecting around 1500 employees in May, it's not over yet.

  Several Microsoft employees have taken to social media in the past day to announce their departures. Among them are Angela Visness, a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, and Cory Ebert, a Technical Program Manager who has been with Microsoft for nearly 15 years. Jessabirdy who has been working for Xbox has also announced her role was "eliminated."

• Microsoft lays off an unknown number of team members as its new fiscal year begins

  Some of the affected Microsoft employees have posted their layoff announcements on social media. That includes Kenny Krosky on his X account who is now working for work as a front-end engineer and Cory Ebert, who posted on his LinkedIn account that he had been dismissed from his Microsoft job after close to 15 years at the company.

  The company has been going through a number of job cuts already in 2024. In early January, Microsoft revealed a large workforce reduction of 1,900 team members in its various gaming divisions. Later in the year, it shut down three of its game development studios from its Bethesda/ZeniMax division, which also affected a large number of team members, although Microsoft never revealed any specifics on how many employees were cut.

• Microsoft conducts another round of layoffs

  It's unclear how many jobs the Redmond-based tech giant has cut or which divisions are affected. Posts on the social platform X and LinkedIn suggest affected employees include project and product managers in the company's Xbox unit.

More official sources confirm today (July 4):

• Microsoft Carries Out Another Round Of Layoffs Across Teams And Geographies, Third This Year So Far

  Microsoft Corp. has reportedly carried out another round of layoffs, affecting various teams and regions. The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.

• Microsoft conducts new round of layoffs to optimise workforce and invest in future growth

  Microsoft has initiated another round of layoffs this week as part of its ongoing effort to streamline its workforce. The exact number of employees affected remains undisclosed, but it is clear that the cuts have impacted various teams and geographical locations. Posts on LinkedIn from those who were laid off indicate that the reductions included roles in product and program management, according to a report by Geekwire.

  A spokesperson for Microsoft told the publication that these "organisational and workforce adjustments" are a necessary and regular part of managing the business. The company continues to prioritise and invest in strategic growth areas to ensure future success and to support its customers and partners.

  These layoffs come on the heels of the conclusion of Microsoft's fiscal year 2024, which ended on June 30. It is not uncommon for the company to restructure parts of its business as it transitions into a new fiscal year. Just last month, Microsoft cut approximately 1,000 jobs across various departments, including its Azure cloud unit and HoloLens mixed-reality team.

• Microsoft announces new round of layoffs

  Microsoft has announced another round of job cuts, reports GeekWire. Microsoft’s fiscal year ended on June 30, 2024. As the company enters new fiscal year, it is common for it to implement organizational changes in various businesses units.

• Microsoft Layoffs Continue: Tech Giant Reportedly Lays Off Unspecified People From Various Departments and Locations To Focus on Future Investment, Increase Profit Margin

  Microsoft has announced a new round of layoffs to optimise its workforce and invest in future growth, according to reports. Last month, Microsoft layoffs affected around 1,000 employees in the Azure Cloud and mixed reality teams. The latest round of Microsoft layoffs has reportedly affected multiple teams and locations. With the latest job cuts, the tech giant will reportedly focus on growth areas such as cloud computing and AI while maintaining its current profit margins.

• Microsoft’s Xbox Branch To Reportedly Face Third Round Of Layoffs This Year

• Microsoft conducts another round of layoffs

  It's unclear how many jobs the Redmond-based tech giant has cut or which divisions are affected. Posts on the social platform X and LinkedIn suggest affected employees include project and product managers in the company's Xbox unit.

• Microsoft Lays Off Employees Under Product, Program Management

  Microsoft shared in a statement that organizational and workforce adjustments are part of the regular maintenance of the business. The company had concluded its fiscal year 2024 last June 30.

  A common practice among tech companies is to restructure before a new fiscal year. Microsoft revealed that it is continuously investing in strategic growth for its customers and partners.

  Last month, Microsoft sacked 1,000 jobs which affected the Azure cloud unit and HoloLens mixed-reality organization. In addition, 2,000 jobs were earlier dismissed under the gaming unit amid the Activision Blizzard acquisition.

And a handful more reports:

• Fresh layoffs at Microsoft, people terminated across verticals for ‘future growth’

  Microsoft has initiated another round of layoffs this week as part of its ongoing effort to streamline its workforce. While the exact number of employees affected remains undisclosed, it is clear that the cuts have impacted various teams and geographical locations. According to a report by Geekwire, several posts on LinkedIn from those who were laid off indicate that the terminated roles included those in product and program management.

• Hints of Microsoft’s New Layoff Plans Are Appearing Online

  Microsoft’s new layoff plans have hit Xbox for the second time this year. Among the many tech businesses, Microsoft’s employee reduction plans have been quite apparent over the last few months, and despite their many large-scale product and tool releases, they have been just as proactive with releasing employees. In January, Microsoft’s layoff had centered around its gaming division which included its Xbox and newly acquired Activision Blizzard team and over 1,900 employees had been let go.

• Tech Layoffs 2024: Microsoft's Latest Job Cuts Target Product And Program Management | Times Now

• Xbox plan more layoffs but perhaps a change in leadership is a better option

  More devastating news for the video game industry, as Xbox gear up for even more layoffs. This time, it begun with Jessie Thomas, a former Xbox Culture Lead let go by Microsoft just yesterday. Even more alarming, Thomas found out they were let go while on vacation.

  However, more lay-offs might be on their way. Industry analyst Tom Warren has alleged that “more Xbox layoffs are coming,” although no source was provided for this.

  With Tango Gameworks having been shut in the past few months, alongside Alpha Dog Studios and others, it’s not looked promising for Microsoft and Xbox’s portfolio. It’s even more alarming that Xbox are firing staff from its own in-house studio, which is not a good sign at all. 1,900 employees were made redundant in early January, and that’s before they even began the Bethesda subsidiary closures.

• Microsoft is starting a new fiscal fear with layoffs

  Once again, Microsoft is in the news as it prepares to decrease its workforce at the start of a fresh fiscal year. The tech giant has made this choice many times before, and it seems to mirror an overall pattern seen throughout the technology industry. Companies adjust their tactics to respond flexibly to continually changing technological and economic environments.

4 more:

• Why is Microsoft firing its employees—again? Third round of layoff is happening

  Microsoft started its fiscal year with quite a shocking opening. The Redmond-based tech giant, despite scoring another height at the previous FY with a bang thanks to AI and cloud, is now firing employees from various departments.

  Now-former Microsoft employees have shared their experiences with the layoff on social media. These former Xbox and Microsoft Senior Product Manager employees, for example, wrote that their roles had been terminated, and the number is expected to grow. No comments from Microsoft for now.

• Microsoft lay-offs continue

  Microsoft has not yet publicly announced any additional lay-off plans, so these could be leftover roles that are being cut now, after the initial restructuring effort got underway earlier this year. Microsoft may wait until its next earnings call to address this, which is scheduled to take place on the 23rd of July.

• Fresh Microsoft layoffs reportedly hit product and project management roles

  Officially, Microsoft has not announced a new round of layoffs. Instead, a spokesperson for Microsoft said that “organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business,” and that Microsoft “will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.”

• Microsoft layoffs: Fresh job cuts across verticals at Satya Nadella company for ‘growth’

  Microsoft said that it held another round of layoffs this week after reports claimed that the new job cuts will impact various teams and locations across the company. The layoffs, as per a report by Wired Geek, have mainly taken place in product and program management functions as per social media posts on LinkedIn. However, the Satya Nadella company has not disclosed the number of employees that have been impacted in the latest round of job cuts.

Now it's just very low-quality drivel, likelly a lot of chatbots:

• Microsoft conducts new round of layoffs to optimise workforce

  The exact number of employees affected remains undisclosed, but it is clear that the cuts have impacted various teams and geographical locations.

• Microsoft lays off more employees in fresh round of job cuts: Report

  Over the past 18 months or so, Microsoft has carried out significant layoffs, resulting in thousands of employees losing their jobs

• Microsoft confirms another round of layoffs across multiple teams

  Microsoft has announced another wave of layoffs this week, impacting various teams and locations across the company. As per reports, the layoffs have primarily affected product- and programme-management functions.

• Microsoft layoffs: Satya Nadella company terminates employees across verticals in fresh job cuts for 'future growth' [Ed: Lousy chatbot spew]

• Microsoft announces more job cuts across multiple divisions, locations

  Microsoft reportedly cut jobs earlier this week, affecting various teams and locations across the company, according to technology news publication GeekWire. However, the tech giant has not disclosed the number of employees impacted.

• Microsoft Layoffs: Company Announces Third Round Of Job Cuts Spanning Multiple Teams And Regions

  Microsoft hasn't disclosed the number of people affected by the latest layoffs. However, reports indicate that the job cuts span across multiple teams and regions. According to the report, several LinkedIn posts have revealed that employees in product and program management roles are among those affected by the layoffs.

• Microsoft announces 3rd round of layoffs as tech sector continues to bleed

  In June this year, Microsoft laid off more than 1,000 employees across different businesses. Many of the layoffs occurred within the strategic missions and technologies divisions. These specialise in offering Cloud software and server rentals to niche industries such as telecommunications and space companies.

  Reports revealed that jobs were cut across the Azure and HoloLens mixed reality divisions.

  In January, Microsoft announced nearly 2,000 job cuts in its gaming unit, months after acquiring Activision Blizzard in a $69-billion deal.

• Microsoft Conducts Fresh Round of Layoffs: Multiple Departments & Locations Affected

  Microsoft conducted a fresh round of layoffs this week. The total number of employees that will be affected by the layoff has not been revealed, but it’s been confirmed that it will affect different teams and locations.

• Tech layoffs: Microsoft’s 3rd round of job cuts this year likely in product and programme management roles, says report

• Microsoft announces new round of layoffs amid ongoing workforce streamlining efforts

  As per reports, Microsoft has initiated another wave of layoffs this week, as reported by Geekwire, in an ongoing effort to streamline its workforce. The tech giant's recent job cuts have affected employees in various roles, including product and program management, as revealed by several LinkedIn posts.

  Reportedly, the layoffs have impacted multiple teams across different geographic locations, although Microsoft has not disclosed the exact number of employees affected. A spokesperson for the company stated to Geekwire, “Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business. We will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.”