Xbox Layoffs and Restructuring Updates
On Tuesday, Xbox announced further layoffs as part of its restructuring plan, with 268 employees affected across Halo Studios and other first-party studios. This decision follows July’s announcement of 3,200 job cuts, contributing to the total anticipated 1,600 layoffs this year.
In a public memo, Matt Booty, Xbox’s Chief Content Officer, detailed these changes, emphasizing the need for a more streamlined operation among their studios. Key announcements include:
- Activision will take over development of the next Halo title, creating a new team separate from the ongoing Call of Duty projects.
- Bethesda will integrate Obsidian into its operations while continuing to support ongoing projects like Grounded and a new Fallout collaboration.
- Playground and Turn 10 studios will merge to focus on the Forza and Fable franchises.
Additionally, Compulsion and Double Fine studios have returned to management with their intellectual properties, while Ninja Theory is under a proposed closure following unsuccessful agreements.
Booty expressed gratitude towards departing staff and stressed the importance of supporting those impacted during this transition. An upcoming town hall is scheduled for October 6 to discuss the future of Xbox’s game lineup.
For a deeper dive into Matt Booty’s memo and insights about these structural changes, check the full memo here.
