After weeks of uncertainty, speculation, and nervousness, layoffs have unfortunately begun at XBOX as part of the company's "reset" under new CEO Asha Sharma.
Microsoft as a whole is eliminating 3,200 jobs, with 1,600 of those affecting XBOX, according to a post from Sharma. She also confirms that four studios will be leaving the XBOX family. Double Fine and Compulsion Games will become independent and return to private ownership under their original founders, as reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier. Compulsion confirmed on social media that they will retain the rights to games such as We Happy Few and South of Midnight. Ninja Theory and Unead Labs will be sold to new ownership "with funding to complete and grow Senua and State of Decay 3."
The future of Arkane Studios remains in doubt. Sharma says they are reviewing various strategic options over the next few months. That process has yet to begin, though, as Schreier points out that it will take longer due to French labor laws.
Today's layoffs come nearly one year to the date of major layoffs last year at XBOX that caused the cancellation of several anticipated games. Sharma confirms that "none of [XBOX's] first party publicly announced...
