Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard business and news from across the web.
"We have found ourselves over extended", new Xbox CEO says amid reports of plans for major job cutsNew Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty are reportedly planning significant job cuts across the gaming division. Sharma cited declining revenues despite substantial investments and rising component costs as reasons for a business 'reset'. The planned layoffs follow Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard King and come amid reports of internal questioning regarding the company's broad strategy and complex infrastructure.
XBOX to Suffer Layoffs to Counter Falling Revenue in July – RumorA report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier suggests that Xbox is planning significant layoffs in July as part of CEO Asha Sharma's strategy to address falling revenue. The company has reportedly seen a nearly half-billion dollar decline in annual revenue over the past five years, excluding Activision Blizzard King. Alongside layoffs, budgets for marketing and other areas are expected to be reduced.
XBOX Leadership Outlines Five “Realities” Faced by the Company Going ForwardXbox leadership, including CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty, have outlined five key "realities" the company faces. These include fighting for player attention despite a large user base, a recent fiscal year decline due to investments, rising hardware component costs, the need to reassess investment priorities for game development, and an outdated platform infrastructure that requires rebuilding.
Xbox’s July Layoffs Could Involve Studio Closures – RumorA report from The Verge suggests that Microsoft's Xbox division may implement layoffs in July, potentially including the closure of a studio. This follows a Bloomberg report indicating major job cuts are planned by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to mitigate revenue losses. Sharma and CCO Matt Booty acknowledged a 3 percent accountability margin decline and discussed challenges with rising hardware component costs, necessitating a new business model for future projects like 'Project Helix'.
Xbox Planning Major Layoffs Next Month, Could Involve a Studio ClosureXbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs next month, potentially affecting thousands of employees and possibly including the closure of a studio. This comes amid reports of declining annual revenue despite substantial investments, leading to a reassessment of business strategies and a potential shift back towards console exclusives.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and executive vice president Matt Booty publish staff memo ‘Next 100 Days: Xbox Reset’Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and EVP Matt Booty have outlined a 'reset' plan for the company, acknowledging declining core revenue despite significant investment. The memo details challenges including a hardware component crisis and overextended studio systems, signaling potential major layoffs and restructuring to achieve profitability and a stronger market position.
Xbox posts new memo recapping CEO’s first 100 days, outlines “reset” for the companyXbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Mat Booty have outlined the company's strategic reset following Sharma's first 100 days. The memo addresses challenges including declining revenue, hardware component costs, and studio overextension, while highlighting recent successes in platform updates, Game Pass growth, and new exclusive game announcements like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond studio had to "buy back" its independence from Xbox "to get back to the games we were known for" instead of Call of Duty and OverwatchToys for Bob, the studio behind Skylanders and a co-developer for Call of Duty and Overwatch, has become independent from Microsoft. Studio head Paul Yan stated the decision was made to "buy back" creative control and return to developing games the studio is passionate about, rather than supporting larger IPs. The studio is now working on a new Spyro game, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, with a spring 2027 release window for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, and has an agreement with Xbox to publish it.
Major Xbox layoffs reportedly on the way as CEO Asha Sharma admits Microsoft's gaming division is "over…Xbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs and budget cuts across its gaming division, according to an internal email from CEO Asha Sharma. Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty cited over-investment in content and studios, which has not yielded expected revenue growth, as the reason for this "Xbox reset."- Xbox Reportedly Planning Big Layoffs For Next MonthMicrosoft's Xbox division is reportedly planning significant layoffs after June 30, following statements from new CEO Asha Sharma about the business's financial health. Sharma cited declining revenue, increased hardware component costs, and strategic overextension as reasons for the impending cuts. These layoffs come after a period of studio expansion under previous leadership.
Next 100 Days: XBOX ResetAn internal message to Xbox employees outlines a 'reset' for the business, highlighting early successes in platform updates, Game Pass growth, and community engagement. The message also addresses significant challenges including declining revenue, a hardware component crisis impacting console production, an overextended studio system, and outdated platform infrastructure, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments and innovation to become the number one gaming and entertainment company.
After a 'corporate mandate' demanded they help with Call of Duty, Toys for Bob studio head says it took 'many mini miracles' to buy their independence from ActivisionToys for Bob, the studio behind Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, has successfully bought back its independence from Activision Blizzard. Studio head Paul Yan stated that a 'corporate mandate' to support Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch 2 was not the right fit for the studio's identity. Following layoffs at Microsoft, Toys for Bob proposed a radical plan to spin out as a separate company, focusing on making the types of games they are best known for.
ESA says anti-deepfake act could 'devastate' video game industryThe Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has expressed strong opposition to SAG-AFTRA's proposed "No Fakes" act, arguing that its current wording creates significant legal uncertainty and could devastate the video game industry. ESA president Stanley Pierre-Louis stated that the act's broad definition of "digital replica" could lead to frivolous lawsuits and that the cost of litigation would be economically devastating, despite the industry likely prevailing in court.
$80 Games Are Already HereThe video game market is already seeing $80 games, with Nintendo leading the charge on titles like Mario Kart World and upcoming Switch 2 releases. This trend is fueled by rising development costs and inflation, with analysts predicting more publishers will adopt higher price points. While some companies like Sony and Microsoft have maintained $70 prices, others like Take-Two Interactive have successfully implemented price hikes, suggesting $80 could become the new standard for AAA games.
There's never been an easier time to boycott Microsoft, the most boring video game publisher in the businessThis opinion piece argues that Microsoft's gaming division lacks innovation and momentum, making it an easy target for boycotts. The author criticizes recent game announcements like Halo and Gears of War remakes, and highlights the company's perceived stagnation despite owning numerous studios and franchises. The article suggests that boycotting Microsoft is a small sacrifice given the company's broader business practices and the abundance of alternative games available.
Xbox CEO unsure whether Activision Blizzard merger is paying offXbox CEO Asha Sharma expressed uncertainty about whether Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been profitable, despite acknowledging the value of its franchises like Call of Duty and Candy Crush. The article notes that Microsoft has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs since the 2023 merger, impacting various studios and divisions, and that Xbox hardware sales have been in decline.
Nintendo Direct June 2026: Everything Announced!Nintendo held a surprise Nintendo Direct presentation showcasing numerous upcoming titles for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The showcase included new releases, ports of existing games, and DLC announcements across various genres, with many titles slated for release in late 2026 and into 2027.
Gears Of War: E-Day PS5 promo refutes Microsoft's claims about Xbox exclusivityAn official Xbox podcast trailer for Gears Of War: E-Day briefly showed PlayStation 5 and Steam logos, contradicting Microsoft's claims of it being an Xbox exclusive. Despite Xbox's vice president of games marketing Aaron Greenberg denying a last-minute pivot, the inclusion of the PS5 logo suggests it was initially planned for the platform. This incident adds to confusion surrounding Microsoft's evolving exclusivity strategy for its first-party titles.
Xbox is rethinking Project Helix amid the AI chip cost crisisMicrosoft's Xbox is reconsidering its future hardware plans, including Project Helix, due to the rising costs of AI chips and component shortages. Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball indicated that the company is exploring changes to the console model to ensure affordability and flexibility, acknowledging the ongoing supply chain crisis which may last for several years. This strategic shift comes as Xbox faces pressure on hardware specs and pricing, with current Xbox Series X consoles now priced at $650 in the US.
Official Gears of War: E-Day video gets taken down for including a PS5 logo, adding more fuel to the last-minute change theoryA PlayStation 5 logo was mistakenly included in promotional material for Gears of War: E-Day, fueling speculation about a last-minute platform exclusivity change. Xbox marketing VP Aaron Greenberg clarified that the decision was made internally about a month prior and was not a last-minute change, with knowledge limited to a small group.