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Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Microsoft to go into layoff mode again, Xbox and Sales hit 4th time in 18 months
Microsoft employees are going to be hit by another wave of layoffs as the tech giant undergoes a broader corporate reorganisation. Microsoft's fiscal year end is just days away. Buzz among Microsoft managers is that this will be a 'substantial' round of reductions. (REUTERS) According to a report by Bloomberg, the latest layoff will affect thousands of employees, with Microsoft's Xbox and Global Sales divisions mostly taking the heat. The company managers are buzzing that this will be a 'substantial' round of reductions. This will be the fourth layoff round in the company in just 18 months, especially for Xbox and the Global Sales and Marketing divisions. Ever since Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for a whopping $69 billion in 2023, the pressure on Xbox to perform has been enormous. Expectations have been high since the big acquisition, with the company needing more profits from what was called its growth engine. The previous rounds of layoffs have already impacted Xbox the most. Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees from the gaming division in January last year. Then, in September 2024, another 650 were let go. The tech giant has also closed several studios, including Tango Gameworks, best known for Hi-Fi Rush. Even Arkane Austin, the team behind Redfall, was also let go. Microsoft's Xbox division is developing its next-generation console in partnership with AMD, and reports suggest the restructuring is intended to prepare the division for that goal. According to a report by The Verge, the company is 'restructuring Xbox distribution across central Europe,' with some operations. The sales team also hit Microsoft's sales and marketing team, one of its largest divisions with around 45,000 staff, will also see heavy reductions in workforce. The company has already slashed 6,300 jobs in two phases in just the last month. These layoffs are part of a strategy to flatten the company's management structure and cut administrative overhead. Microsoft previously confirmed that it plans to eliminate around 3 per cent of its global workforce of 228,000 employees this year.
Metro
26-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Xbox layoffs expected to hit up to 2,000 people claims source
The next batch of Xbox layoffs could be the worst so far, with an industry insider predicting studio closures as well. It's been reported for some time that Microsoft is planning another major wave of layoffs throughout the company and a couple of days ago it was claimed that the Xbox division would be amongst those impacted. These layoffs will supposedly happen by the end of June, but previously no exact figures were given for how many people would be affected. If a new rumour is to be believed though, Xbox could lose upwards of 2,000 employees – approximately 10% of its entire workforce. The prediction comes from respected game designer George Broussard, who previously co-founded Apogee Software, better known nowadays as 3D Realms, and was one of the creators behind the Duke Nukem games. In a Bluesky post from earlier this morning, Broussard claims to have heard 'internal developer stuff' from within Microsoft, with anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 people expected to be let go. Not only that, but there are concerns that entire studios could be shut down, which is sadly all too believable. After all, Microsoft killed no less than three studios last year, including Tango Gameworks, despite its last game, Hi-Fi Rush, winning several awards and purportedly being a success in the eyes of Microsoft. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. News has reported imminent Xbox layoffs but I'm hearing internal developer stuff where people at most studios are anxious and worried. Word that entire studios may be shuttered. Expectation is 1000-2000 people. Xbox unit has about 10k people in it?, so 10-20%? Good luck to all involved. Brutal. — George Broussard (@ 2025-06-26T02:08:57.231Z Although Broussard estimates that Xbox has roughly 10,000 employees, our research puts the number at about 19,450, once you take into account subsidiaries like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. Regardless, the worst case scenario of Microsoft letting go 2,000 employees would take a hefty chunk out of the Xbox workforce, putting the total post-pandemic losses at well over 4,000. That includes 650 employees that were let go last September, and almost 2,000 job cuts at the beginning of 2024. So far, more than 2,500 Xbox employees have been let go since Microsoft finalised its $75 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard, which remains the most expensive acquisition in the history of the games industry. Even if the actual numbers are at the lower end of Broussard's estimate, the next round of layoffs will bring the total job losses at Xbox to more than 3,500. More Trending While some cuts were inevitable, to eliminate duplicate jobs post-acquisition, the sheer volume of layoffs is well above the normal and exacerbated by both post-pandemic bloat and Microsoft's enthusiasm for AI. Microsoft may also be looking to cut costs due to the Activision Blizzard purchase not being as lucrative as hoped, with the addition of Call Of Duty games on Xbox Game Pass barely improving subscriber numbers and the series as a whole still bleeding players. This combined with dwindling hardware sales is no doubt what made Microsoft decide to port Xbox exclusives to PlayStation and Nintendo platforms, in a bid to bump up its revenue. Yet despite its games reaching new audiences and performing particularly well on PlayStation, it doesn't appear to be enough for Microsoft, not if it's considering killing more studios to help save money. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Microsoft confirms next gen Xbox home and portable consoles with AMD partnership MORE: Xbox aggregated game library coming to PC with hints of Steam support MORE: Xbox VR headset officially announced and it's much more expensive than normal
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft Layoffs: Game over for Xbox jobs? Microsoft hits layoff button again, as staff braces for fourth layoff in 18 months
Microsoft Xbox Layoff News: Microsoft is preparing for another major round of layoffs in its Xbox gaming and sales divisions, marking the fourth such cut in just 18 months. This move comes amid continued pressure to increase profits after the $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition. The restructuring coincides with Microsoft's fiscal year-end and reflects a wider trend across the tech sector. As AI investment soars, companies like Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Amazon are reshaping their workforce to align with shifting priorities and economic uncertainty. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Xbox under the microscope after Activision deal Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Sales and marketing hit hardest Massive AI spend driving strategic cuts Tech layoffs ripple across the sector Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads IBM replaces HR roles with AI Microsoft will begin another wave of major job cuts next week, with its Xbox division and global sales teams expected to bear the brunt. According to Bloomberg, the cuts will affect thousands of workers and are part of a broader corporate reorganisation that aligns with Microsoft's fiscal year-end on 30 will be the fourth significant layoff at Xbox in just 18 months. Inside the company, managers are already bracing for what they call a 'substantial' round of once a growth engine, is now under scrutiny. Ever since Microsoft completed its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, expectations have shifted dramatically. The pressure to deliver profits has cost-cutting has already been sweeping. In January 2024, the company laid off 1,900 staff in the gaming division. Another 650 were let go in September. Several studios were closed—Tango Gameworks, best known for Hi-Fi Rush, and Arkane Austin, the team behind latest cuts come not just to reduce expenses but to prepare Xbox for its next-generation console. The Verge reported that Microsoft is 'restructuring Xbox distribution across central Europe,' with some operations shutting down sales and marketing team, one of its largest divisions with around 45,000 staff, will see some of the heaviest reductions. This move comes after the company already slashed 6,000 jobs in May and another 300 soon layoffs are part of a strategy to flatten the company's management structure and cut administrative overhead. Microsoft previously confirmed that it plans to eliminate around 3% of its global workforce of 228,000 employees this has not officially commented on the internal shift is not happening in a vacuum. Behind the scenes, the company is making enormous investments in artificial intelligence. It plans to spend up to $80 billion on data centres and AI infrastructure this fiscal year alone. This means tough decisions company is prioritising engineering and technical roles over administrative and legacy ones. As reported earlier, the job cuts aim to 'place greater emphasis on engineering capabilities over administrative roles.'Microsoft isn't alone in slashing headcount. Across the tech industry, over 61,000 professionals have been laid off in 2025, according to The reasons are familiar—sluggish revenue growth, inflationary pressures, and the disruptive rise of Google, hundreds of staff have been let go from Android, Pixel, and Chrome teams. This followed a merger between its Platforms and Devices units last year. In January, Google launched a voluntary exit programme that offered senior staff 14 weeks of severance pay, plus an additional week for every year has also made cuts, trimming around 100 roles from its Devices and Services team, which manages products like Alexa and is also pushing hard into automation. CEO Arvind Krishna recently told the media the company has embraced AI to streamline tasks and improve efficiency. He confirmed that IBM had removed around 8,000 roles—many from its Human Resources department—after introducing AI tools to handle those Krishna's words: 'Even with these technological advancements, IBM's overall headcount has increased,' highlighting how automation savings are being redirected into departments like marketing and software the scale of Microsoft Xbox division layoffs is striking, it reflects a broader industry reckoning. The tech world is entering a period where profits matter more than headcount. Innovation is no longer about how many people are building something—but how quickly and efficiently they can do it using the latest tools, especially those working in gaming or tech sales, the terrain is shifting fast. And it's unlikely to stop here.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft plans another round of layoffs in July 2025 — Which teams could be hit after 6,000+ job cuts already this year?
Microsoft's layoff for next month: Microsoft layoffs in 2025 are escalating again as the tech giant prepares for another round of job cuts, targeting its Xbox division and sales teams in early July 2025. Following May's culling of over 6,000 roles across engineering and product areas and subsequent cuts in customer-facing units, this marks Microsoft's third major downsizing this year. Driven by a strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence and massive investment in data centers, this workforce shake-up underscores the tension between innovation and human cost. As layoffs hit across divisions, employees and analysts are watching closely—will this reshape Microsoft's structure and culture? Stay tuned as we unpack the latest developments and what they mean for the tech landscape. Microsoft to fire more employees According to those familiar with the plans, Microsoft will carry out a larger company-wide restructure next week, including another round of significant layoffs in its Xbox gaming sector. This is the fourth major layoff at Xbox in 18 months, and managers anticipate huge cuts throughout the gaming department. Xbox will be responsible for any impending layoffs, affecting thousands of workers in sales divisions. According to Bloomberg, Microsoft has a history of making organizational changes during this time, and the layoffs coincide with the company's fiscal year ending on June 30. Pressure on Microsoft's gaming division's profits This could be the fourth major layoff at the company in the past 18 months | Credit: Pixaby Microsoft executives have been putting increasing pressure on Xbox to increase its profit margins before the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard concluded in 2023. Several staff reductions have occurred in the gaming division, including 1,900 layoffs in January 2024, 650 reductions in September, and the closing of other game studios, including Redfall producer Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks. According to sources, Microsoft is reorganizing Xbox distribution in central Europe, with certain regional offices completely shutting down. According to The Verge, these adjustments are meant to streamline operations and align the company with next-generation platform development. This year's third significant layoff at Microsoft will also impact the company's sales and marketing division After 6,000 layoffs in May and more than 300 more weeks later, the Xbox layoffs mark Microsoft's third significant employment decrease in 2025. The corporation has previously stated that it will lay off about 3% of its 228,000 employees to reduce expenses and flatter management. With some 45,000 employees, Microsoft's sales and marketing division will be most affected by the impending layoffs. The reorganization reflects the tech giant's ambition to balance operational efficiency across other business areas and significant AI investments, which are expected to total $80 billion for data center spending this fiscal year. Regarding the anticipated layoffs, Microsoft chose not to comment. For the latest and more interesting tech news, keep reading Indiatimes Tech.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
After 6,000+ job cuts, Microsoft plans another round of layoffs, and these employees could be fired next
Microsoft will conduct another round of major layoffs in its Xbox gaming division next week as part of a broader company-wide reorganization, according to sources familiar with the plans. Managers within Xbox are expecting substantial cuts across the entire gaming group, marking the fourth significant layoff at the division in 18 months. The upcoming cuts will target thousands of employees primarily in sales divisions, with Xbox bearing a significant portion of the reductions. Bloomberg reported that the layoffs coincide with Microsoft's fiscal year end on June 30, following the company's pattern of making organizational changes during this period. Microsoft's gaming division under profit pressure Xbox has faced mounting pressure from Microsoft executives to boost profit margins since the company's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard closed in 2023. The gaming division has experienced a series of workforce reductions, including 1,900 layoffs in January 2024, 650 cuts in September, and the closure of several game studios including Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and Redfall developer Arkane Austin. Sources indicate Microsoft is restructuring Xbox distribution across central Europe, with some regional operations ceasing entirely. The Verge reported that these changes aim to align the business for next-generation console development while streamlining operations. Third major cut this year at Microsoft; to affect sales and marketing division also The Xbox layoffs represent the third major workforce reduction for Microsoft in 2025, following 6,000 cuts in May and over 300 additional eliminations weeks later. The company previously announced plans to eliminate approximately 3% of its total 228,000-person workforce as part of efforts to flatten management structure and control costs. Microsoft's sales and marketing division, employing roughly 45,000 workers, will face the heaviest impact from the upcoming cuts. The restructuring reflects the tech giant's strategy to balance massive AI investments, estimated at $80 billion for data center spending this fiscal year, with operational efficiency across other business units. Microsoft declined to comment on the planned layoffs. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
