In a significant workforce reduction, Microsoft has announced the termination of 1,900 positions within its gaming sector, which includes staff from Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and ZeniMax. This substantial downsizing is part of a broader restructuring that will likely lead to game project cancellations.
Project Cancellation and Internal Shuffling
The repercussions of these layoffs have led to the cancellation of a previously unconfirmed survival game by Blizzard Entertainment. Microsoft’s Matt Booty has indicated that while some team members may be reassigned to other nascent Blizzard projects, many will face job loss as part of the cutbacks.
Development Discontinued After Six Years
The now-axed survival game had been under development for over half a decade and was only made public by Blizzard in the prior year. Rumored to be named “Odyssey,” the game promised a first-person adventure with enchanting storytelling elements.
These layoffs come amid other organizational changes, including the departure of Mike Ybarra, president of Blizzard Entertainment. This move marks a period of transition and uncertainty within the company’s leadership and creative teams.
