Microsoft Laying Off Undisclosed Number Of Staff

by

Summary

  • Microsoft is laying off employees in gaming, security, and sales, impacting a small number of workers.
  • Layoffs not related to underperforming employees but focus on high-performance talent.
  • Last year, Xbox division cut 650 jobs, hinting at potential future layoffs due to rising development costs.

Microsoft, a prominent player in software development, has announced job cuts affecting its gaming (Xbox), security, and sales departments. However, the exact number of employees affected remains undisclosed.

As reported by a Microsoft representative via GamesIndustry, the upcoming redundancies will primarily impact a limited number of staff members. It’s important to note that this round of layoffs is unrelated to the previous job cuts, which were specifically targeted at employees who weren’t meeting performance expectations.

Microsoft Lays Off Employees For The Second Time This Month

Last week, Microsoft made a decision to reduce its workforce across multiple departments, impacting a yet-unspecified number of employees. This reduction in staff will account for less than 1% of the company’s total workforce. The layoffs are being carried out based on employee performance.

OR

Last week, Microsoft announced that it would be reducing its team across various departments, affecting an undisclosed number of employees. This reduction represents less than 1% of their overall workforce. The decision for these layoffs is based on each employee’s performance.

According to a Microsoft representative (as reported by CNBC), “We prioritize top-tier talent at Microsoft and continuously strive to aid individuals in their learning and development. If an individual is not meeting expectations, we address the situation accordingly.

In September of last year, approximately 650 positions were eliminated within the Xbox division prior to any announced layoffs for this month. This decision was preceded by a leaked internal memo from the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, that circulated online.

2024 proved to be a tough year for video game developers, with numerous studios closing down and thousands of positions being eliminated. The outlook isn’t much brighter now, even in January. Besides Microsoft, Rocksteady Studios – known for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – has also announced job reductions at the beginning of the year.

Our wish is for those impacted, whether they work in the gaming department or elsewhere, to find their footing swiftly.

Although I’m crossing my fingers that we won’t experience as many layoffs this year as we did last, it seems plausible that there could be more due to the increasing costs of video game development.

In other Xbox updates, we’re looking forward to the Developer Direct event coming up next week, which might include some exciting revelations. Additionally, Microsoft has acknowledged that they’re developing a handheld gaming device, but don’t expect it in stores anytime soon.

Read More

2025-01-16 16:18