During 2024, Microsoft made heavy job cuts across multiple divisions including Xbox, and a new report suggests that this culling of staff isn't stopping into the new year.
First reported on by Business Insider (paywalled) and shared by GamesIndustry.biz, Microsoft has reportedly laid off even more staff this year - affecting its gaming, security and sales divisions.
According to the original source, a spokesperson for Microsoft said that these layoffs would affect a small number of staff, but didn't go on to specify just how many jobs would be lost this time around. This is separate to another batch of Microsoft layoffs reported on by Business Insider last week, although it's unclear if those losses affected Xbox.
The last year or so has been a pretty grim one when it comes to gaming industry layoffs, including at Microsoft. The Xbox owner kicked off 2024 by letting go of 1,900 employees after the ActiBlizz acquisition, before cutting a further 650 jobs in September. We hope everyone who's lost their job at Microsoft lands firmly on their feet ASAP.
Keep it civil and drop your thoughts on this report down below.
[source businessinsider.com, via gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 17
And around and around we go. It never ends.
Most of the job cuts were from Xbox and Bethesda/Zenimax studios, give it a year or two until they really get onto ABK. There will be more.
I don’t understand why this is such a hot topic in the news or why everyone is acting so empathetic toward those losing their jobs. I’d say, focus on yourself. The gaming industry has experienced tremendous and ridiculously fast growth over the past 15 years. There’s a tipping point to what’s sustainable. With game budgets rising, it’s no surprise that developers and platform holders are looking to cut costs. Especially with Xbox and all the recent acquisitions, this was bound to happen since there’s too much overlap in positions anyway.
Wow, last night while in bed I was just thinking “hey, wouldn’t it be comical if the developer direct was just Microsoft announcing layoffs and old games going over to PS5?”
Tonight I’ll think about everyone getting their jobs back and Banjo Kazooie returning lol
@bazchillin yep, you ain’t wrong.
@Altaria_97 it’s not funny
@bazchillin i agree, it’s just how the industry goes sometimes, and i seriously doubt that people don’t really care
it’s understandable to feel sympathetic to people are losing their jobs but it’s just life and business
They cant manage all these studious. The pie is too big. Booty was saying they want to focus on certain franchises (like the top ones).
Remember when Phil was saying they allow smaller projects to shine on xbox and have more reach with GP. Hence games like pentiment. Forget these times.
2025 off to a good start then for the gaming industry, ugh.
Yet Spencer said they'll acquire more, amazing stuff.
Be no one left soon. Sad that people are again losing jobs in the gaming industry due to greed and AI,
Great PR firing people just before dev direct.. are featured devs allowed to thank their fallen colleagues?
First one to go should be Nadella.
@GuyinPA75 he is a great CEO making a lot of money for MS. do not confuse xbox consoles and MS business.
This is extremely sad, but is inevitable as Microsoft continues to let Xbox fail. It's going to get much messier going forward.
https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/activision-hasnt-helped-microsoft-grow-xbox-game-pass-says-report-2015392
Jobs in west, cut.
Those jobs outsourced to India and china.
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