Microsoft has announced massive layoffs, affecting over 6,000 employees, mostly from its gaming and Xbox divisions. This is more than 3% of their workforce, and the company says it is an organisational change.
Microsoft spokesperson Pete Wootton said, “We continue to implement organisational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace.” But insiders say the layoffs have been done across many platforms inside the corporation.
Massive job cuts at Microsoft
In June 2024, Xbox faced massive layoffs due to a business strategy. It resulted in 1,900 job cuts and most of them from Xbox and Activision Blizzard. They also closed Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin. Last year, Microsoft's business strategy was changed overall, and due to this, Xbox has abandoned the idea of exclusive releases like the PlayStation 5.
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This also forced Xbox to sell its games to PlayStation. Games like Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, Indiana Jones, Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle became PlayStation's best-selling games last month.
Gears of War was also ported to PS5, but Avowed and South of Midnight remain exclusive to the Microsoft Platform. This also helped Microsoft to break the chain of Sony and Nintendo Platforms in the gaming industry.
The Game Pass of Microsoft is the best out there as it helps them gain more traction on their platforms compared with Sony and Nintendo. Gamers don't need to buy the game as the game pass allows them to try the game for some time, and only if they like to own they can select the option of buying.
Microsoft has been caught in controversies in recent times, with many employees accusing it of helping the Israeli army to carry out attacks in Gaza using their own AI technology. Even their chairman, Billgates was interrupted by an indian origin techie who questioned the corporation's help for Israel to kill innocent civilians in Gaza.
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