Microsoft’s head of gaming, Phil Spencer, has confirmed that 1,900 staff will be laid off across Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, and Xbox.
The decision was made after Microsoft and Activision Blizzard’s leadership teams set priorities, identified areas of overlap, and ensured alignment on the best opportunities for growth.
Alongside the layoffs, Blizzard president Mike Ybarra and chief design officer Allen Adham are leaving the company. Additionally, Blizzard’s previously announced survival game has been cancelled.
The layoffs come just three months after Microsoft’s completion of its $69 billion acquisition of Call of Duty owner Activision Blizzard.
Despite the layoffs, Microsoft plans to continue investing in areas that will grow its business and support its strategy of bringing more games to more players around the world.
The news follows a year on from Microsoft’s last round of layoffs and comes at a time when job losses across the games industry are widespread, with 9,000 layoffs estimated in 2023.
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