Layoffs in the video game industry do not stop, and this time it was the turn of Microsoft Gaming. The company led by Phil Spencer announced an 8% cut in its staffwhich will have a direct impact on Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax Media (Bethesda) and Xbox.
Specifically, there are around 1,900 workers who are left unemployed as a result of this decision. But the changes are even more profound, considering that the departure of important managers such as Mike Ybarra and Allen Adhampresident and head of design at Blizzard, respectively.
To this must be added that the survival game that Blizzard was working on, and which still had no title, has been canceled. According to an internal message obtained by The VergePhil Spencer mentioned that these decisions aim to align strategy and execution of a plan whose structural costs are sustainable.
The leader of Microsoft Gaming called the layoffs at Activision Blizzard, Xbox and Bethesda a “painful decision,” and thanked those affected for their “creativity, passion and dedication”.
“The Games Leadership Team and I are committed to navigating this process as carefully as possible. Everyone who is directly affected by these reductions has played an important role in the success of Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax and the gaming teams. Xbox, and they should be proud of everything they’ve accomplished here.”
Phil Spencer, on the layoffs at Microsoft Gaming.
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