#microsoft-layoffs

#microsoft-layoffs

The team behind Doom: The Dark Ages is the latest to unionize as a wave of labor organizing continues sweeping across Microsoft-owned game studios. They join developers across Blizzard, Bethesda, and other Xbox teams in a move aimed at giving them a seat at the table in how things like layoffs are handled at the tech giant. Roughly 165 workers at id Software announced on Friday that they had unionized with the Communications Workers of America.

We're not starting at ground zero,

In May, after 14 years at Microsoft, Deborah Hendersen began to sense her time at the tech giant might be running out. Several colleagues on partner teams were among the roughly 6,000 employees laid off that month. The news made Hendersen, a user researcher in the company's Xbox division, worry that her group would be next. She said it eventually became the "worst-kept secret" that additional layoffs were coming, and that her team was likely to be affected.

Microsoft has raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by 50% and offered some additional perks like more games, access to Fortnite Crew, and better cloud streaming--but Microsoft is also removing a previous perk as well. CharlieIntel has discovered that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members no longer get 10% off Call of Duty Points or BlackCell bundles. The change appears to have gone into effect recently. This discount was a pretty nice perk for regular Call of Duty players who buy DLC.

More than 450 game developers on Blizzard's team have formed a union, making them one of the largest and latest groups of Microsoft workers to do so. The new union includes game developers, artists, designers, engineers, and support staff across the Diablo franchise, according to the Communications Workers of America (CWA) press release, which voted "strongly in favor" to be represented by the CWA. The Diablo team is seeking to improve compensation, job security, and workplace conditions under its Microsoft parent company.

Matt Turnbull suggested using AI tools like ChatGPT to help people cope with job loss in a post that has since been deleted.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a growth of 147,000 nonfarm payrolls in June, contradicting the ADP report indicating a reduction of 33,000 jobs.

Warcraft Rumble will continue supporting Rumble with updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes, but no new content will be developed.

Blizzard announced it will cease development on new content for Warcraft Rumble, although support will continue through updates focused on in-game events and bug fixes.

The Initiative, the Xbox studio developing a modern reimagining of Perfect Dark, is being shut down, and development of the game is ending due to Microsoft's major cuts.