Discussion

• Pure Xbox Pure Xbox on x

  State Of Decay 3 Has Gone Quiet, But Apparently It's Safe At Xbox

• Gameranx Ryan Parreno on x

  Rumor: Halo Game Development Is Shifting Towards Contractual Studios

• @jasonschreier Jason Schreier on bluesky

  BREAKING: The new MMORPG project from Zenimax Online Studios, maker of Elder Scrolls Online, has been canceled as part of the Xbox layoffs, sources tell Bloomberg News.  The project, code-named Blackbird, had been in development since 2018.  Still more news to come this morning.

• @jasonschreier Jason Schreier on bluesky

  As one illustration of just how sloppy and chaotic today's mass Xbox layoff has been, some employees at Zenimax Online Studios are now watching their Slack accounts abruptly get locked out.  No message from HR, no word on whether they still have a job, just an ominous Slack deact…

• @vortexegg.com @vortexegg.com on bluesky

  They laid off the Xbox director of trust and safety and the head of Xbox family safety, at a time of increasing exploitation of children for sexual abuse and recruitment to mass violence is happening via video games and gaming communities [embedded post]

• @lukeplunkett.com Luke Plunkett on bluesky

  If you'd like to support our coverage of stuff like this:  —  aftermath.site/xbox-layoffs...  please consider subscribing (or even just signing up for our newsletter)

• @headfallsoff.com @headfallsoff.com on bluesky

  when the BDS boycott started i said microsoft would shut down their entire xbox division before abandoning a single military contract, does not feel good to be proven so correct so fast

• @zfighteramuro @zfighteramuro on bluesky

  i really don't think we need to give phil spencer a lot of benefits of doubt anymore  —  dude's been head of xbox for over a decade  —  yes some problems are out of his control, but he doesn't exactly have much to show for his tenure as the top exec of microsoft's gaming division

• @branzellan Brandon on bluesky

  “Based on the convos i've had, I think the future of Xbox overall is likely a combination of a handful of teams at the tier of Blizzard, CoD, and Minecraft, with a slow-bleed of every other team and studio slowly dying off as layoffs and budget cuts reduce everything as time marc…

• @jonathancovey Jonathan Covey on bluesky

  Every time i've heard a podcaster call whatever new inane initiative Xbox is doing as “really interesting,” i want to walk into the ocean.  The Activision buyout was so obviously poisoned, but everyone with a microphone and a webcam were just *salivating*  —  Anyway, rant over.  …

• @eplerjc John Epler on bluesky

  glad that Microsoft was allowed to buy so many other companies that's sure going super well for the industry

• @nhegelbagel @nhegelbagel on bluesky

  Earlier this year, I finally ditched Xbox.  I've been a diehard Xbox fan since the 360, but they've completely lost me as a consumer over the years.  Way too many dumbass decisions, no good exclusives, and one of the worst marketing campaigns I've ever seen telling people they do…

• @banjotranso @banjotranso on bluesky

  As someone who grew up with an Xbox 360 and currently owns a Series X... these are the days I feel awful about ever liking a brand.  —  And no, I don't use either anymore or pay for Game Pass/any other Xbox owned games.  Indies have been taking over my library for the last year n…

• @zfighteramuro @zfighteramuro on bluesky

  why are you guys so mean to phil spencer?  —  all he did was push for a giant multibillion dollar merger that shouldn't have happened to begin with, and condition xbox fanboys to not buy games.

• @charlieintel @charlieintel on x

  Xbox's Phil Spencer confirms layoffs impacting Microsoft Gaming unit in an internal memo shared with staff. “To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business.” [image]

• @nsupergamerguy Nathan on x

  I still laugh at the fact that some people really wanted this bum ass company to aquire SEGA when they still can't even handle their own studios first.

• @lusterly_ Autumn Rose Taylor on x

  Well, I was just hit with the unfortunate news that my time at Bethesda has come to an end. I'm endlessly grateful for the opportunity to work on such incredible titles. With that being said, I'm on the lookout for new games opportunities in marketing / publishing! [image]

• @rogersbase @rogersbase on x

  The cancellations of Perfect Dark & Rare's new IP have solidifed that I'll never own a Xbox again (though I haven't since 360) Nintendo + PC + PlayStation lets me play everything and, quite frankly, it's only a matter of time before GamePass shows up on the other consoles now.

• @jptellsyou @jptellsyou on x

  Keep in mind, Xbox cancelled 2 games and is set to release 12 games while Playstation cancelled 12 games and is set to release 2.🤣 [image]

• @coopercooperco @coopercooperco on x

  Is Xbox just, like, dead? Feels like they went on that buying spree to spend near a decade developing a bunch of games only to cancel them.

• @wario64 @wario64 on x

  Bloomberg News: “The new MMORPG project from Zenimax Online Studios, maker of Elder Scrolls Online, has been canceled as part of the Xbox layoffs” [image]

• @legacykillahd Michael on x

  “[Halo] Developer says Microsoft is trying their damndest to replace as many jobs as they can with AI agents.” How does one trust this company moving forward?! This all sounds horrible. And it sounds like every studio is being run into the ground. Great Xbox leadership!

• @_sikamikanico_ Jon Clarke on x

  I think the biggest problem a company like Microsoft has is a complete inability to enable and empower a creative-led industry against the financial desires of the corporation. I fear that for Xbox, especially post giant acquisitions, this will always be the case.

• @wario64 @wario64 on x

  “Many of Xbox's subsidiaries are getting hit by the layoffs this morning, including Call of Duty studios such as Raven. Big cuts at Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 - nearly 50% of staff, per source.” [image]

• @stealth40k @stealth40k on x

  A staff memo from Matt Booty confirms that Perfect Dark and Everwild are cancelled.  Team Xbox has 40 games in development.  “Following Phil's note, I want to share more about the changes to the Studios business units.  We have made the decision to stop development of Perfect Dar…

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  more on the Xbox layoffs. Microsoft has cut the head of its Xbox Family and child safety team, as well as gutting its key Xbox user research roles https://www.theverge.com/...

• @mr_rebs_ @mr_rebs_ on x

  Here's more information from Engadget who spoke to a Halo Studios developer: •At least 5 employees were laid off, they received an invite to a meeting with organization leaders, and two (very long) hours later, the Teams call began. •The mood at the studio is tense, especially

• @eyyitsfranklin Impurrator Frank on x

  @coopercooperco Weird position where they're trying to switch to being a publisher who occasionally makes hardware but don't think the other two will ever allow Game Pass which is the basket Xbox wants to put its eggs in

• @evankazoocovers @evankazoocovers on x

  I have been a halo fan since I got my Xbox in 2014. If Microsoft makes Halo Studios use AI to replace voice actors, or if Halo Studios decides to use AI of their own volition, I will not support any game that comes out until voice actors and actresses are given their jobs back.

• @tropicalmaku Maku on x

  I am absolutely disappointed with Xbox and Microsoft. So many people ended up losing their jobs, while their leaders continued to have theirs. Remember when Iwata took a 50% pay cut just to avoid company layoffs? Thats what you call a real leader.

• @kelskiyt @kelskiyt on x

  >Halo Studios hit with lay offs >One of their projects was already close to cancellation >General morale is very low >Huge AI push to replace jobs I feel such apathy towards Xbox and Halo at this point. Hard to even be mad, I just feel... nothing What is happening man ☹️

• @cromwelp @cromwelp on x

  Just a giant black hole sucking everything in, and spitting out bones. While I'm excited for more games, it's important to remember that behind all the PR and hype is the simple truth that they bought portfolios, not people. When you're bought, they're not buying *you*.

• @zaidjilani Zaid Jilani on x

  Microsoft's consolidation over the gaming industry is a disaster, they buy up studios, force them to make sequel bait, destroy them. Should've never let them buy Activision either.

• @bringbackbanjok @bringbackbanjok on x

  Microsoft buying Rare was the single worst thing to ever happen to the gaming industry

• @iloveairbagged @iloveairbagged on x

  Microsoft has a genuine talent in completely fumbling all of Rare's IPs

• @kiwitalkz @kiwitalkz on x

  Retro Studios released no games between Tropical Freeze(2014) and MPR(2023) and no layoffs, they're now about to release a GOTY contender with Metroid Prime 4. Devs arent going to work at 100% productivity when they have to worry about layoffs, Microsoft are asinine.

• @photoshop_gy @photoshop_gy on x

  Remember when Microsoft kept buying up all these game studios and people thought they were gonna save the gaming industry?

• @ultimashadowx @ultimashadowx on x

  Every other day Microsoft's sheer continued incompetence never ceases to amaze me.

• @kaiserbeamz @kaiserbeamz on x

  Microsoft utterly failing out of the games business would be a lot funnier had they not spent the past 15 years buying up a third of the industry.

• @synthpotato @synthpotato on x

  Microsoft and Xbox buying up so many studios just to cancel games, lay off a ton of their employees and slowly gut their entire identities is frankly everything wrong with this industry. Thoughts out to all the developers impacted by today's layoffs, hope you find a place soon❤️ …

• r/xbox r on reddit

  Warcraft Rumble to Cease Future Development

• r/technology r on reddit

  Developer says Microsoft is trying their damndest to replace as many jobs as they can with AI agents

• r/wow r on reddit

  Announcing Changes to Warcraft Rumble Support

• r/gamingnews r on reddit

  Developer says Microsoft is trying their damndest to replace as many jobs as they can with AI agents

• r/gamesEcultura r on reddit

  Perfect Dark e Everwild potencialmente cancelados

• r/halo r on reddit

  Even before the Xbox layoffs, there was ‘tension’ at Halo Studios

• r/Games r on reddit

  Even before the Xbox layoffs, there was ‘tension’ at Halo Studios

• r/xbox r on reddit

  Even before the Xbox layoffs, there was ‘tension’ at Halo Studios

• r/imdbvg r on reddit

  Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, Perfect Dark Cancelled

• r/ICGA r on reddit

  M$ con la mannaia...

• r/MMORPG r on reddit

  [Schreier] The new MMORPG project from Zenimax Online Studios, maker of Elder Scrolls Online, has been canceled as part of the Xbox layoffs. …

• Gameranx Dennis Patrick on x

  Xbox Reportedly Still Has Over 40 Projects In Active Development

• @jasonschreier Jason Schreier on bluesky

  BREAKING: As part of today's cuts, Xbox has canceled the troubled Rare game Everwild, according to people familiar.  News on the job cuts is coming in drips — not sure why Xbox didn't announce it all at once — but I'll report what I can as I confirm it.

• @yeetkunedo Yeet Kune Do on bluesky

  “Our overall portfolio strategy is unchanged: build games that excite our players, continue to grow our biggest franchises, and create new stories, worlds, and characters.”  —  whatever man, gonna go ahead and game pass on everything else you have in development

• @lightningarts Nate Horsfall on bluesky

  9000 layoffs today from microsoft.  —  Still waiting for AI to “make new jobs”  —  still waiting for the trickle down effect.  —  still waiting for their 75 billion dollar activision merger to benefit people other than the execs already making millions.  —  This nonsense is why r…

• @jamesdavismakes.com James Davis on bluesky

  I was part of a Microsoft mass layoff, which shortly followed another Microsoft mass layoff, and preceded another Microsoft mass layoff later that year.  And we were just hit with another another another Microsoft mass layoff, the second-largest layoff over the last... jesus, ove…

• @keithamus.social Keith Cirkel on bluesky

  Your regular reminder being laid off is not a condemnation of you or (likely) your manager, but instead a signal of incompetence from upper management.  Their job is to keep the business sustainable and they failed, and you get to pay the price.  —  www.theverge.com/news/693535/ …

• @brandrick Chris Brandrick on bluesky

  A solid chunk of these in the gaming division — Xbox seems increasingly lost as to what it wants to be.

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on bluesky

  Microsoft is laying off 4% of its workforce (9,000 employees) which is separate from the 6,000 in May, 300 in June and 2,000 laid off in January as low performers.  —  Today's layoffs are to reduce layers of management.  The company beat estimates with $26B in profits during its …

• @stephentotilo Stephen Totilo on bluesky

  Broader context is that Microsoft is cutting its overall workforce by 4%.  CNBC says that's about 9,000 people  —  Gaming is impacted for sure, but it's not alone  —  www.cnbc.com/2025/07/02/m...

• @nixCraft@mastodon.social @nixCraft@mastodon.social on mastodon

  Meanwhile: Microsoft to cut about 4% of jobs (9000 engineering talents) amid hefty AI bets.  This was announced hours ago https://www.bloomberg.com/... this job cut help offset rising spending on AI infrastructure/investments and reflect a greater push to use AI tools internally,…

• @jezcorden Jez on x

  It's ugly to take victory laps when people are losing their jobs, and even uglier to call for Xbox to shut down given there's still thousands employed there for better or worse. It's Microsoft top down that needs to change, and its attitude to its customers and employees.

• @dc_draino @dc_draino on x

  Wait, Microsoft just laid off 2,300 workers and now wants 6,327 H-1B workers imported? No

• @xmbgx @xmbgx on x

  I said in 2019, Microsoft sucks. I was tired of waiting for them to get it together when it came to gaming and decided to head out. Nearly 6 years later. I can still honestly say, Microsoft sucks.

• @ultraegyptian @ultraegyptian on x

  @Grummz I believe Microsoft will have to cancel Game Pass. It's untenable. Game Pass growth has been stagnant for a while now. Price increases will be the last nail in the coffin for a lot of people.

• @mr_rebs_ @mr_rebs_ on x

  Breaking: Halo Studios was affected by the Microsoft Xbox layoffs. #Halo [image]

• @dougmackeycase Douglass Mackey on x

  President Trump should drop the hammer. Start denying H-1B to companies like Microsoft and Apple.

• @derenicbyrd Derenic Byrd on x

  Microsoft has requested 14,000 H-1B visa workers from India and will lay off 9,000 Americans. This is a war on the middle class.

• @fuckyouiquit @fuckyouiquit on x

  Microsoft has one of the best profit margins imaginable too sitting at 36%. So much so they recently announced a $60,000,000,000 stock buyback program. Fucking ghouls.

• @demickyd Micky D on x

  Microsoft today really said [image]

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  Microsoft's Forza Motorsport developer has been hit hard by Xbox cuts. I am hearing more than 70 people will be let go at Turn 10. Also hearing that Microsoft has canceled Perfect Dark. Details 👇https://www.theverge.com/ ...

• @destinlegarie Destin on x

  Jason Schrier repots that Turn 10 has been impacted hard. “nearly 50% of staff” https://bsky.app/... [image]

• @_tom_henderson_ Tom Henderson on x

  We're really successful at the moment, but you're fired.

• r/BayAreaRealEstate r on reddit

  Microsoft laying off 9k again

• r/VivaPinata r on reddit

  Rare's game Everwild, which was reportedly mechanically similar to Viva Piñata, has been canceled by Microsoft

• r/SocialistGaming r on reddit

  Microsoft to Lay Off Thousands; Xbox Chief Says Gaming Division Cuts Will Remove ‘Layers of Management’

• r/gamingnews r on reddit

  Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well — joining Everwild and ZeniMax's new IP, and other unannounced projects

• r/crashbandicoot r on reddit

  Xbox's Matt Booty claims that in addition to canceling Everwild, Perfect Dark and closing The Initiative, they have also decided to “wind down several unannounced projects across our portfolio”.

• r/Spyro r on reddit

  Xbox's Matt Booty claims that in addition to canceling Everwild, Perfect Dark and closing The Initiative, they have also decided to “wind down several unannounced projects across our portfolio”. …

• r/gamernews r on reddit

  Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well — joining Everwild and ZeniMax's new IP, and other unannounced projects

• r/gaming r on reddit

  Mass layoffs at Xbox.  50% of Turn 10 laid off.  Raven CoD dev hit with huge layoffs

• r/giantbomb r on reddit

  Microsoft is closing down The Initiative, after 7 years.  The partnership with Crystal Dynamics will end, and “Perfect Dark” will be cancelled.

• r/LastStandMedia r on reddit

  Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well — joining Everwild and ZeniMax's new IP, and other unannounced projects

• r/BanjoKazooie r on reddit

  Perfect Dark is also cancelled.

• r/XboxSeriesXlS r on reddit

  Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well — joining Everwild and ZeniMax's new IP, and other unannounced projects

• r/centrist r on reddit

  Woke companies, MAGA and Conservative companies treat American Workers the same.

• r/Vinesauce r on reddit

  Perfect Dark is Cancelled

• r/TombRaider r on reddit

  Crystal Dynamics' Perfect Dark game has been canceled.  What does this mean for the next TR game?

• r/gamesEcultura r on reddit

  Perfect Dark oficialmente cancelado.  Estúdio The Initiative deixa de existir

• r/perfectdark r on reddit

  Matt Booty (Head of Xbox Game Studios) confirms Perfect Dark Cancellation

• r/gaming r on reddit

  Windows Central: Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well — joining Everwild and ZeniMax's IP, and ‘several’ other projects

• r/pcgaming r on reddit

  Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well

• r/Starfield r on reddit

  Microsoft lays off 9,000 workers, including at Bethesda

• r/microsoft r on reddit

  Microsoft is laying off as many as 9,000 employees

• r/BanjoKazooie r on reddit

  Sources: Everwild has been cancelled as Xbox layoffs hit Rare |  VGC

• r/pcgaming r on reddit

  Sources: Everwild has been cancelled as Xbox layoffs hit Rare

• r/kindafunny r on reddit

  Sources: Everwild Has Been Cancelled

• r/gaming r on reddit

  Bloomberg 10% of King employees cut.  US Xbox to follow by later today

• r/XboxGamePass r on reddit

  Sources: Everwild has been cancelled as Xbox layoffs hit Rare

• r/TwoBestFriendsPlay r on reddit

  Everwild cancelled, Rare hit with layoffs

• r/XboxSeriesXlS r on reddit

  Microsoft is laying off as many as 9,000 employees

• r/jobs r on reddit

  Microsoft lays off 9,000 employees after laying off 6,000 in May

• r/news r on reddit

  Microsoft laying off about 9,000 employees in latest round of cuts

• r/Layoffs r on reddit

  MSFT

• r/inthenews r on reddit

  Microsoft is laying off as many as 9,000 employees

• r/technology r on reddit

  Microsoft laying off about 9,000 employees in latest round of cuts

• r/gaming r on reddit

  Microsoft Begins Deep Job Cuts Across Xbox Division

• r/TwoBestFriendsPlay r on reddit

  Microsoft Begins Deep Job Cuts Across Xbox Division (200 people or 10% of staff laid off at King, developers of Candy Crush)

• r/pcgaming r on reddit

  Microsoft Begins Deep Job Cuts Across Xbox Division