Following layoffs this January and studio closures in May, Microsoft is cutting more Xbox jobs this week, the Verge’s Tom Warren has claimed.
Yesterday, Xbox’s Jessie Thomas announced on X that her role at Microsoft was “eliminated”. After this post on X, Tom Warren responded that more Xbox layoffs will be happening this week. While many suspected that it was just Thomas that was let go, Warren has now clarified that more individuals at Xbox will be losing their jobs. “more Xbox layoffs happening this week”, Warren wrote some hours ago. “Microsoft laid off Jessie while she was on vacation”. For those in the unknown, Thomas has been with Microsoft since 2015, and served as Senior Business PM of Culture Programs as of 2022.
An hour ago, The Verge reporter clarified, “as per my tweet, it’s not just one person”.
While we haven’t seen messages from other Microsoft/Xbox employees having been laid off today or earlier this week, it’s likely that we’ll be hearing more in the coming days. As always, we’ll update you as soon as we learn more about this matter.
Earlier today we already reported that Tales of Kenzera ZAU Developer Surgent Studios was hit by layoffs as well. According to the studio, a dozen of people had to be let go.
Following the massive wave of layoffs at Microsoft this January, Microsoft announced the closure of three Xbox studios this May – affected studios included Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin and several other Bethesda Softworks studios. After the announced studio closures, we reported that its expected that Xbox will be cutting more jobs. Games Industry Analyst Rhys Elliott from MIDiA Research suggested that Xbox is refocusing on something more bigger. “Xbox, despite its smart PR over the past years, likely sees these studio closures as a ‘’you need to break a few eggs to make an omelet’’ kind of situation” he said back in May. “It is a massive shame that those eggs are some of the most talented developers in the industry, and now their lives have been uprooted. “