Microsoft has announced that it will be letting go of approximately 9,000 employees from different departments, with the Xbox division experiencing significant reductions – a tough decision that could significantly affect Xbox Game Pass in the future. Xbox Game Pass is crucial to Microsoft’s gaming strategy as it aims to provide day one games and immediate access to a vast collection of titles, striving to make Xbox Game Pass similar to Netflix for video games.
As a dedicated fan, I believe that for the Xbox Game Pass strategy to thrive, it’s crucial that Microsoft consistently delivers a fresh influx of exciting new game releases. To achieve this goal, they’ve taken bold steps in the gaming industry by making significant acquisitions, such as securing day one releases for Xbox Game Pass through highly-anticipated games like Bethesda’s open-world sci-fi RPG “Starfield” and Activision’s blockbuster first-person shooter “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6”. Moreover, Microsoft has also established its own studio, The Initiative, and encouraged its existing studios to develop new games for PC, Xbox, and Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass has been thriving lately, but Microsoft’s significant job cuts paint a grim outlook for the subscription service. I previously remarked that Xbox Game Pass was experiencing its own equivalent to the success of “Avengers: Endgame,” and voiced worries that this might be the service’s zenith. Similar to how the Marvel Cinematic Universe could face a post-“Endgame” decline, Xbox Game Pass may be heading towards a lull. The recent layoffs at Microsoft have left the future of Xbox Game Pass uncertain, with the reboot of “Perfect Dark” halted and its development team, The Initiative, disbanded without releasing any titles. Additionally, Rare’s highly anticipated project, “Everwild,” has been cancelled, suggesting that we may not see another game from them for several years, since their last release was in 2018 with “Sea of Thieves.
Canceled Xbox Games After the Microsoft Layoffs
- Everwild
- Perfect Dark
- ZeniMax MMO
It’s been a while since the announcements of both Everwild and Perfect Dark, with a demo of the latter’s reboot being unveiled last year. The cancellation of these projects by Microsoft is likely to dent consumer trust in their ability to fulfill commitments. This uncertainty might also affect the credibility of Xbox Game Pass, as resources and investments previously allocated for these canceled games are now rendered obsolete. To compensate, Microsoft may seek more partnerships with third-party developers, but it’s undeniably disappointing that these games were taken away before they could reach completion.
Additionally, prominent Xbox developers such as Bethesda Softworks, Halo Studios, Turn 10 Studios, and Blizzard Entertainment have also experienced redundancies.
The reported layoffs at Microsoft have also allegedly affected studios responsible for “Call of Duty”, such as Sledgehammer Games, High Moon Studios, and Raven Software. Notably, “Call of Duty” is among the highest-grossing games annually, generating billions in profits for Microsoft. However, these layoffs, deemed both unnecessary and harmful, have significantly impacted the Xbox brand and Xbox Game Pass, causing damage that could take years to rectify. Given an upcoming new Xbox console, Microsoft’s recent actions do little to encourage potential investors in its gaming hardware and may even leave some Xbox Game Pass fans concerned about the platform’s future.
Read More
- Top 8 UFC 5 Perks Every Fighter Should Use
- Jurassic World Rebirth Roars to Record-Breaking $300+ Million Opening: Can It Sustain the Hype?
- Cyberpunk 2077 Patch Tier List
- One Piece Episode 1135: Kuma’s Journey and Bonney’s Search for Truth – Release Date Revealed!
- USD ZAR PREDICTION
- All Suits, Hats, and Masks in Death Stranding 2
- Daemons of the Shadow Realm
- Tainted Grail: How To Find Robbie’s Grave
- How to Get All 22 Bromides in Lunar 2: Eternal Blue
- The Rise of the Ronin: Katanas Ranked
2025-07-06 18:36