We’re still somewhat dismayed by the news we’re covering this afternoon, as Microsoft Gaming lays off approximately 1,900 workers. Almost 8% of a total of 22,000 jobs which mainly affected Activision Blizzard, in an adjustment that no one wanted to believe, but which was being prepared since the final takeover of the company by Microsoft and the subsequent dismissal of the CEO of Activision. Bobby Kotick. Phil Spencer himself informed employees of the deletion, which you can read precisely in our previous news.
But an exception must be made only for Mike Ybarra, the beloved former vice president of Xbox Gaming, who left his post to join Activision Blizzard, and who returned to the helm of Microsoft after the group’s acquisition in late 2023 Ybarra has been at the helm of the Blizzard side for several years and Just a few months ago, we saw him looking exceptionally excited at Blizzcon., where World of Warcraft showed itself with its new expansions for years to come. Something that contrasts with today’s news, his departure from Activision Blizzard.
Allen Adham, one of Blizzard’s co-founders, is also leaving
After more than 20 years at Microsoft, Mike Ybarra, it’s unclear whether motivated by layoffs, direction from his new bosses or some sort of agreed-upon deal, is leaving the company for the second time. In his last tweet, where he himself revealed his fate, he deplores the colleagues affected by the cuts.
https://x.com/qwik/status/1750527310493868293?s=46&t=AJFgo_KzOWOtOhGomLsLgw
And for this same reason, Blizzard has announced that the company’s announced survival game called “Oddysey” has been canceled.. Matt Booty communicated that Microsoft will transfer its employees to other promising new projects that Blizzard has in the early stages of development. The Microsoft effect and the reorganization of its resources have already experienced another important and perhaps too similar abandonment at Bethesda, in the figure of a great like Pete Hines, last October.
About Xbox Game Studios
Xbox Game Studios is a division of Microsoft dedicated to the creation and publishing of video games. The company is responsible for some of the most popular Xbox titles, such as Halo, Forza, Starfield, Grounded, Sea of Thieves or Gears of War.
How many studios does Xbox have?
Microsoft’s gaming division currently has 34 active studios, with Activision Blizzard King and Bethesda being its latest acquisitions. Studios such as Tango Gameworks, Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Machine Gun Games are now part of this division’s conglomerate.
