Expect More Waves of Microsoft Layoffs This Month (at Least Two Rounds Confirmed Already)
Yesterday: Second or Third Wave of Microsoft Mass Layoffs in October 2025, This Time Portugal
There were more reports yesterday, e.g. [1], confirming the above. After mass layoffs in Beijing Microsoft did the same in the EU and in the midst of all this insiders suggest XBox is about to have another massive wave of layoffs. Last night some pundits [2-3] debated the issues with XBox, recalling recent Microsoft-connected layoffs in relation to Avalanche [4].
From what we can gather, assuming the recent rumours about XBox are true, there will be at least 3 waves of Microsoft layoffs this month alone. Last month was the same: at least 3 waves of Microsoft layoffs. █
Related/contextual items from the news:
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Microsoft Portugal laying off staff
Microsoft Portugal is currently laying off 68 employees, following the cuts the multinational has been making this year, which have affected thousands of employees globally.
Another source stated that the process involved a mass layoff involving 68 people, with positions being eliminated for customer account managers, cloud solution architects (specialists in cloud solutions for companies), and FastTrack teams (who help customers implement and make the most of Microsoft solutions).
Contacted by Lusa, the recently established Microsoft Portugal Workers' Commission (CT) referred clarifications to the company, as it is covered by a confidentiality agreement.
An official source from the multinational responded to Lusa that Microsoft is, globally, "implementing necessary organizational changes to better position the company for success in a dynamic market," reiterating the statement it has been making for several months.
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Ex-Call Of Duty Lead Developer Doesn't Think Microsoft Will Be Good For The Series
It's not been a heartening year for Xbox — layoffs, studio closures, price increases and project cancellations [...]
Glen Schofield, veteran developer and founder of Sledgehammer Games, recently had an interview with VGC where he expressed his "immense worry" about Call of Duty under Xbox.
"Unfortunately, once you're assimilated by one of those companies, I think you take on some of their traits," Schofield explained. "The other thing is, I don't know, but I would imagine the Call of Duty bonus system is out, and now you have theirs, and people are going to go 'that isn't that.'"
Schofield was the co-director of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Advanced Warfare and World War 2 before moving on to Krafton to head up Striking Distance Studios (a studio that has since been shuttered).
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Microsoft Is Repeating the Same Mistakes With Xbox Series X That Doomed the Xbox One
Microsoft repeatedly makes it hard to be an Xbox fan. With its track record of stellar games like Halo: Combat Evolved, Gears of War, and Fable, one would think it would be easy to retain fans. This may have been true of the console back in the day. Back when its brand represented boldness, it competed with Sony and Nintendo. But now, Microsoft is stumbling, potentially repeating critical mistakes that doomed the Xbox One. Mistakes that could see the Xbox Series X be its last console and seal its fate in the gaming industry.
During the Xbox One era, Microsoft lost the plot. It had a confusing reveal, an obsession with V integration, perhaps most damning of all, a restrictive always-online policy. These alienated fans and nearly cost Microsoft even diehard Xbox fans. Thankfully, it was course-corrected in time to save the console, but somehow, years later, it is going down that same path with the Xbox Series X.
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Avalanche closes UK studio as Contraband remains in limbo | KitGuru
In what appears to be the unfortunate fallout from the cancellation of a major project, Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios has announced a significant restructuring. The company is completely shutting down its Liverpool studio in the UK and will be making staff reductions across its remaining studios in Sweden.