Microsoft is undergoing significant layoffs, impacting 4 percent of its workforce, including game developers within Xbox. 9,000 employees will be affected by these cuts initiated Wednesday morning. Although gaming divisions will see layoffs, they do not constitute the majority of the cuts, which will vary across regions and teams. CEO Phil Spencer emphasized the need for agility and effectiveness while noting the growth in players. Developers are encouraged to apply for other roles within Microsoft gaming, and some major projects, like Perfect Dark, have been canceled.
Major layoffs are rolling across Microsoft today, impacting game developers within Xbox across several studios and the projects they're working on, even as an executive at the company told staff more gamers are playing Xbox than ever before.
9,000 employees, or 4 percent of Microsoft's workforce, are affected by the cuts, which started Wednesday morning. The full scope of layoffs within Microsoft's gaming divisions are still unknown.
We continue to implement organizational and workforce changes that are necessary to position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace," Microsoft spokesperson Emily Pirt told WIRED.
Employees whose roles are being eliminated are being encouraged to apply for other positions across Microsoft gaming, "where their applications will be given priority review."
Collection
[
|
...
]