- Microsoft lays off 650 employees from its gaming division
- Cuts target corporate and support roles post-Activision Blizzard acquisition
- No game projects or studios will be affected by this round of layoffs
The axe falls once more
Microsoft is cutting approximately 650 jobs from its gaming division, just eight months after a previous round of 1,900 layoffs.
This latest downsizing comes in the wake of the tech giant’s $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Reshuffling the deck
Xbox chief Phil Spencer emphasized in an internal memo that these cuts primarily affect corporate and support roles.
The move aims to align the post-acquisition team structure and manage the business for long-term success.
Game on, studios safe
Spencer assured employees that no games, devices, or experiences are being canceled, and no studios are closing.
This contrasts the previous layoffs, which saw the shuttering of several game studios, including Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin.