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Xbox Planning Major Layoffs Next Month, Could Involve Studio Closures
Xbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs next month, which may include the closure of some studios. Employees were reportedly shocked by the cancellation of Gears of War. The publisher also announced several new games for the PlayStation 5, including State of Decay 3 and Senua.
Xbox reportedly planning more layoffs as "CEO calls for "Xbox reset"
Xbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs and budget cuts as new CEO Asha Sharma initiates a "reset" for the business. The company aims to become more self-reliant in engineering and re-evaluate investment priorities over the next five years. This comes amid declining revenue and a focus on exclusive titles and subscription service growth.
Comings and Goings
Xbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs next month, while Ubisoft is closing multiple studios, leading to approximately 380 job losses. These events highlight a challenging period for the gaming industry.
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 CEO Asha Sharma issues statement on restructuring following leaked email regarding layoffs
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has issued a statement confirming a restructuring and potential layoffs by the end of June, following a leaked internal email. Sharma cited overspending and the need to "reset" the business, emphasizing that the company has "over extended" in areas like live-service demands. The move comes as Xbox aims to re-evaluate its investment priorities for the next five years.
Xbox posts new memo recapping CEO’s first 100 days, outlines “reset” for the company
Xbox 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 Overwatch
Toys 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 Month
Microsoft'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 Reset
An 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.
Xbox CEO Believes Consoles Are Too Expensive And “Radically Different” Plans Are Needed
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma believes current console pricing is too high for mass audiences and that "radically different" business models are needed for the future. She acknowledged disappointing financial results and stated that Xbox will introduce exclusive content to improve its business health, citing Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution as examples.
Gears Of War: E-Day Skipping PS5 Means Reaching Fewer Players, And Microsoft Is OK With That
Microsoft's The Coalition has confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day will not be released on PlayStation 5, opting instead for an Xbox and PC exclusive strategy. Studio creative director Matt Searcy stated that the decision makes sense for the Xbox brand, despite reaching a smaller audience. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Matt Booty have emphasized a renewed focus on exclusives to drive platform sales and reward loyal fans.
Elder Scrolls 6 Was Announced 8 Years Ago Today, Here’s Why It Didn’t Show Up At Xbox Showcase
The Elder Scrolls 6, first announced eight years ago, was not featured in the recent Xbox Games Showcase. Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty explained that the team is waiting for the right moment to reveal more, stating the game looks amazing and is progressing well. Game director Todd Howard reflected on the early announcement, questioning if it was the best strategy.
Xbox Will 'Try to Do More' Console Exclusives if the Health of Its Business Improves
New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that the company will increase console exclusives if its business health improves, citing Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution as initial examples. Sharma acknowledged that Xbox's current business is not healthy, but emphasized the goal of making games available everywhere while also maintaining platform exclusivity. She also noted the high cost of components and hinted at radically different business models emerging later this year.
Xbox 'console exclusives' are strictly about console releases, Xbox exec affirms: Games will 'still show up on all the normal places where we sell the PC version'
Xbox executives have clarified that 'console exclusives' specifically refer to releases on Xbox consoles, not PlayStation. Games designated as such will still be available on PC and through Xbox Cloud streaming. This strategy aims to differentiate Xbox from PlayStation by ensuring titles are not released on Sony's platform, while still leveraging the synergy between Xbox and PC.
There's never been an easier time to boycott Microsoft, the most boring video game publisher in the business
This 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 gives rare update on The Elder Scrolls VI after years of silence
Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty provided an update on The Elder Scrolls VI, stating that he saw the game running internally at Bethesda Game Studios and that it is progressing well. While the game did not appear at the latest Xbox Games Showcase, Booty explained that the company prefers to wait until a polished demo is ready before revealing more to avoid showing it too early.
Despite reports and a video takedown, Gears of War: E-Day developers insist it was never in development for PS5
The Coalition has clarified that Gears of War: E-Day was never officially in development for PlayStation 5, despite a prior PEGI rating. Studio representatives confirmed the decision to make the game an Xbox and PC exclusive was made prior to its reveal, emphasizing its role as a flagship Xbox title. Developers also expressed confidence in the game's multiplayer matchmaking despite a potentially smaller player base.
Gears of War: E-Day is making big changes to one of the series' most iconic mechanics
Gears of War: E-Day is introducing significant changes to the series' iconic active reload mechanic, moving the indicator to the center of the screen for better visibility and increased usage. The Coalition has also confirmed that players will have the option to revert to the classic UI position. Additionally, some weapons will feature new reload mechanics, such as individual shell reloading for the shotgun, adding more depth to combat.
Fable delay was a "disappointment," Playground boss says, but avoiding GTA 6 can give the RPG "the…
Playground Games' general manager Ralph Fulton stated that the delay of Fable, initially a source of disappointment for the team, is seen as an opportunity to avoid a congested release window, particularly Grand Theft Auto 6. This strategic move aims to give the upcoming RPG a better chance to gain attention and recognition upon its February release.
