Media Says Microsoft's (XBox) Layoffs May be Record-Breaking
"D-Day" is likely tomorrow (Microsoft can choose to strategically delay to save face), but some mass layoffs have begun already [1], Blizzard may also be impacted [2] (way to scuttle what you paid a lot of "funny money" to buy), and the latest [3-5] viral claim is that we can expect historic numbers of layoffs, so think somewhere in the range of ~5000 for gaming/XBox alone. Don't pay too much attention to "official" numbers; they won't tell the full story. █
Related/contextual items from the news:
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Microsoft's Xbox job cuts extend beyond employees, vendor layoffs begin
Microsoft's reported restructuring of its Xbox business is beginning to affect companies beyond its own workforce. According to Bloomberg, Assembly, a public relations agency whose largest client is Microsoft, has started laying off employees after the technology giant began reducing vendor contracts linked to Xbox.
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State of Decay studio Undead Labs potentially up for closure, sources claim, with Bethesda and Blizzard also facing layoffs | Rock Paper Shotgun
Microsoft may close State of Decay developers Undead Labs as part of Xbox's imminent hewing back of projects and livelihoods, with Elder Scrolls studio Bethesda and World of Warcraft creators Blizzard also facing significant layoffs in the course of what an anonymous insider has called “the biggest single cut series for Xbox". To put that quote in context, the company laid off around 1900 Microsoft gaming workers back in January 2024. Xbox unions are even now haggling with management to protect jobs or at least, ensure decent severance packages for anybody affected by the margin-boosting cull.
The claims about Undead Labs, Bethesda and Blizzard are from Games Beat, who don't go into further details. A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that Xbox executives want to pump out Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles faster - I'm not sure thinning the ranks at Bethesda would help with that, but then again, it often feels like different parts of Microsoft leadership aren't on speaking terms.
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3D Realms Co-Founder Says Xbox Layoffs May Be the Biggest the Industry Has Ever Seen
Xbox layoffs are once again the subject of widespread speculation after industry veteran George Broussard claimed Microsoft could be preparing for what may become the largest single layoff event in gaming history.
In a series of posts on social media, Broussard said he had received information from internal sources regarding Microsoft’s reported restructuring plans, while stressing that the information had not been officially confirmed.
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Xbox cuts rumoured to be the ‘largest single layoff event’ in gaming history | Metro News
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Xbox Layoffs Could Become Gaming’s Largest Ever, and even Undead Labs May Face the Axe Despite State of Decay 3
Xbox's latest round of layoffs could become the largest in gaming history, and even Undead Labs may not be spared despite State of Decay 3.