Microsoft fires 1900 employees from Xbox and Blizzard gaming divisions
Microsoft has announced a new round of layoffs, following the elimination of thousands of staff last year. It appears like the layoff season has returned, as several prominent IT businesses are terminating large numbers of staff. This week, the business let go employees from Activision Blizzard and Xbox. While microsoft has reduced employment in the Xbox and Blizzard gaming sectors, it has eliminated around 8% of the whole microsoft Gaming division, which now employs over 22,000 people.
"As part of this process, we took the difficult choice to reduce the data-size of our gaming staff by around 1900 positions out of a total of 22,000 individuals on our team. "The Gaming Leadership Team and I are committed to navigating this process as carefully as possible," the corporation stated.
The layoffs go beyond just a decrease in labour; important executives within Blizzard are also leaving. Mike Ybarra, Blizzard's president, has decided to leave the firm after leading it through the purchase. Ybarra, who has over 20 years of expertise at microsoft, played an important part in Blizzard's leadership. Matt Booty, Microsoft's gaming content and studios president, confirmed the news in an internal message, stating that a new Blizzard president will be chosen next week.
The shake-up doesn't end there; Blizzard's chief design officer, Allen Adham, is also leaving the firm. Booty recognised Adham's considerable contribution as one of Blizzard's cofounders, and expressed optimism that his influence will continue via teaching future designers across the industry.
In addition to labour reductions and leadership departures, microsoft has taken strategic decisions about existing initiatives. Blizzard's previously planned survival game has been cancelled as a result of these organisational changes. However, Booty stated that the personnel formerly assigned to this project will be reallocated to promising new projects in the early phases of development inside Blizzard.
While these changes mirror a wider trend in the software sector, with numerous big corporations laying off employees, microsoft intends to simplify operations and focus on new projects with long-term potential.
"Looking ahead, we'll continue to invest in areas that will help us grow our business and support our strategy of bringing more games to more players around the world." Although this is a tough time for our team, I am as confidence as ever in your capacity to build and nurture the games, stories, and worlds that bring people together," the firm stated.
"As part of this process, we took the difficult choice to reduce the data-size of our gaming staff by around 1900 positions out of a total of 22,000 individuals on our team. "The Gaming Leadership Team and I are committed to navigating this process as carefully as possible," the corporation stated.
The layoffs go beyond just a decrease in labour; important executives within Blizzard are also leaving. Mike Ybarra, Blizzard's president, has decided to leave the firm after leading it through the purchase. Ybarra, who has over 20 years of expertise at microsoft, played an important part in Blizzard's leadership. Matt Booty, Microsoft's gaming content and studios president, confirmed the news in an internal message, stating that a new Blizzard president will be chosen next week.
The shake-up doesn't end there; Blizzard's chief design officer, Allen Adham, is also leaving the firm. Booty recognised Adham's considerable contribution as one of Blizzard's cofounders, and expressed optimism that his influence will continue via teaching future designers across the industry.
In addition to labour reductions and leadership departures, microsoft has taken strategic decisions about existing initiatives. Blizzard's previously planned survival game has been cancelled as a result of these organisational changes. However, Booty stated that the personnel formerly assigned to this project will be reallocated to promising new projects in the early phases of development inside Blizzard.
While these changes mirror a wider trend in the software sector, with numerous big corporations laying off employees, microsoft intends to simplify operations and focus on new projects with long-term potential.
"Looking ahead, we'll continue to invest in areas that will help us grow our business and support our strategy of bringing more games to more players around the world." Although this is a tough time for our team, I am as confidence as ever in your capacity to build and nurture the games, stories, and worlds that bring people together," the firm stated.