Microsoft fires 1900 employees from Xbox and Blizzard gaming divisions, many senior executives leaving

Microsoft fires 1900 employees from Xbox and Blizzard gaming divisions, many senior executives leaving

Microsoft has announced a fresh round of layoffs after eliminating thousands of employees last year. It seems that the layoff season is back because many major tech companies are firing employees in big numbers. The company has sacked people who work at Activision Blizzard and Xbox this week. While Microsoft has cut jobs in Xbox and Blizzard gaming divisions, cutting roughly 8 percent of the overall Microsoft Gaming division that currently has around 22,000 employees.

The layoffs extend beyond a mere reduction in workforce, as prominent figures within Blizzard are also stepping down. Blizzard president, Mike Ybarra, has chosen to depart from the company after having seen it through the acquisition. Ybarra, with over 20 years of experience at Microsoft, played a crucial role in Blizzard’s leadership. Matt Booty, Microsoft’s game content and studios president, confirmed this development in an internal memo and stated that a new president for Blizzard will be appointed next week.

The shake-up doesn’t stop there, as Blizzard’s chief design officer, Allen Adham, is also bidding farewell to the company. Booty acknowledged Adham’s significant impact as one of Blizzard’s cofounders, expressing confidence that his influence will continue through mentoring young designers across the industry.

In addition to the workforce reduction and executive departures, Microsoft has made strategic decisions regarding ongoing projects. A previously announced survival game from Blizzard has been canceled as part of these organizational changes. However, Booty reassured that the talent previously working on this project will be redirected to promising new endeavors in the early stages of development within Blizzard.

While these changes reflect a broader trend in the tech industry, with several major companies resorting to layoffs, Microsoft aims to streamline its operations and focus on new projects that hold promise for the future.