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Microsoft comms lead says Xbox layoffs "were not made to replace employees with foreign workers" in response…
Microsoft communications lead Frank Shaw clarified that recent Xbox layoffs, affecting 1,600 employees initially and planned to reach 3,200, were not made to replace workers with foreign H-1B visa holders. Shaw stated the workforce changes were necessary to restructure the Xbox business, which he described as unhealthy, and emphasized that the H-1B visa figures mentioned are company-wide and not specific to Xbox. He also highlighted that Xbox is the largest employer of American workers in the gaming industry.
To Keep Xbox Alive, Does its New CEO Need to Revert to Exclusives?
Following Phil Spencer's retirement, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma faces the challenge of revitalizing the brand, with a key focus on the console's lack of exclusive titles. The article discusses whether reverting to a strategy of console exclusives, rather than multi-platform releases and the Game Pass subscription model, is necessary for Xbox to compete effectively in the console market, particularly against PlayStation.
New Xbox leadership commits to consoles and first-party games
New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty have stated that the Xbox console and first-party game development remain a priority. They addressed concerns about multi-platform releases and the future of the hardware, emphasizing a commitment to serving the core audience and protecting creative culture from excessive AI implementation. Hardware announcements related to this renewed focus are expected soon.
