THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

The Verge: MS currently weighing closing at least five studios including Arkane Studio (Blade) and exploring options to sell Arkane Studio Xbox layoffs reportedly starting July 6th. "the layoffs will lead to studio closures or spinoffs, potential mergers of studios, and canceled games."

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma shares 'Important email' she sent to all employees at the company today Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a major company restructuring impacting thousands of employees. This significant initiative aims to reset Xbox's content portfolio and operating model. Four studios will transition to new management as part of this strategic realignment. The company is also reducing management layers and streamlining operations across various divisions. These changes are intended to foster future growth and a more focused business approach.

BREAKING: Xbox is planning major layoffs next month, Bloomberg has learned, as new CEO Asha Sharma confronts a bleak picture and plans what she calls a "reset" of the business www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Here's The Part Of The Big Xbox 'Reset' I Can't Make Sense Of Fallout Halo Obsidian Entertainment Xbox By Ethan Gach Published July 2, 2026 | Comments ( 42 ) | 𝕏 Copied! Microsoft The closer we get to mass layoffs at Xbox , which could reportedly be part of up to 5,500 layoffs across Microsoft more broadly , the more it sounds like everything is on the table when it comes to cuts. Studios that some fans might have believed couldn’t possibly be closed, or spun off, are now reportedly in active negotiations to fight for their future. So far, that growing list has included Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine, with the futures of Undead Labs and even Arkane Studios possibly being up in the air as well. Microsoft reportedly wants to accelerate the release of new blockbusters like Fallout , while leaving behind the experimentation with other genres and new IPs that flourished during the earlier years of Game Pass. The pivot is intuitive on paper, but doesn’t, by itself, solve Xbox’s larger problem of struggling to ship new hit games. Even Obsidian’s recent games, despite being excellent, have struggled to meet internal sales goals. “They’re not disasters,” studio boss Feargu…

🚨 BREAKING: Xbox's expected cuts have been revealed, with around 3,200 layoffs ⤵️ It'll be the single biggest staff reduction event in the platform's history — although no announced projects have been canceled, and no studios have been closed (so far).

BREAKING: Microsoft confirms Xbox cuts. 3,700 roles to be eliminated in FY27, with four studios being divested (not closed). No projects are being cancelled (for now). DETAILS: www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/...

Microsoft Xbox layoffs: CEO says 'We lost 64 cents on every dollar' Microsoft's Xbox division is eliminating approximately 3,200 jobs as part of a major business restructure. The company is resetting its strategy after experiencing slower-than-expected growth and rising costs. Xbox is also simplifying its management structure, reducing layers from fourteen down to five. Four studios, including Compulsion Games, will move to new independent ownership. Xbox expects to return to growth in 2027 and entertain over a billion people daily.

Microsoft hasn't ruled out spinning off Xbox - The Verge Gaming Business News Microsoft hasn’t ruled out spinning off Xbox Nothing is imminent, but nothing is off the table. Nothing is imminent, but nothing is off the table. by Terrence O'Brien Jun 13, 2026, 4:29 PM UTC Link Share Gift Asha Sharma. Image: The Verge, Microsoft Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget. Microsoft is preparing to lay off a significant chunk of its Xbox division and is reevaluating the plans for its next-generation Project Helix console. It’s apparently also considering dramatically restructuring its relationship with Xbox, and hasn’t ruled out spinning it off into a separate company. A new report from The Information suggests that Microsoft has considered some dramatic measures to make its Xbox unit more sustainable. That includes turning it into a wholly owned subsidiary, a joint venture, or even spinning it off entirely, with the possibility of selling the business. The report doesn’t suggest anything is imminent, but it does seem that new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella haven’t taken an…

BREAKING: In a surprise announcement, Microsoft's Xbox division will lay off all positions in the entire company and replace themselves with AI. "This will create value for gamers, and randomly give great recipes for risotto," said AshaSharmaGPT, the digital replacement for the now-former CEO.

Xbox turmoil continues with a studio closure and executive departures Last week, Xbox boss Asha Sharma sent a memo warning of an Xbox "reset" ahead of expected layoffs, and today, Kotaku reported that Xbox plans to shut down Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight. Since taking over in February, Sharma has made some big decisions, including cutting the price of Xbox Game Pass […]

BREAKING: Xbox will cut 3,200 jobs as part of a major reorganization, and divest from five studios: - Compulsion and Double Fine will go indie - Ninja Theory and Undead Labs will be sold - Arkane to enter consultation process Here's the full story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The incredible shrinking Xbox: Five studios, 3,200 employees let go Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Last month, Xbox executives laid out some “hard truths” about Microsoft’s struggling gaming division that they said would require a difficult “Xbox reset.” This morning, Microsoft revealed the brutal shape of that “reset,” announcing plans for 3,200 layoffs and the divestment of five smaller studios that the company has spent years acquiring and shepherding. Half of those 3,200 layoffs are effective today, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma wrote, while the other half will come by the end of Microsoft’s 2027 fiscal year (which runs through June 30, 2027). CNBC cites “a person familiar with the matter” in reporting that these cuts amount to roughly 20 percent of the Xbox division. When combined with 1,600 newly announced layoffs across the rest of Microsoft, the company as a whole is letting go of just over 2 percent of its workforce. But The Seattle Times reports that Microsoft’s total headcount has remained relatively stable thanks to other hiring. The newest Xbox cuts follow …

If Microsoft sold off Xbox, who would even buy it? This week, Microsoft took a huge ax to its Xbox business. The company announced that it would be laying off 1,600 workers now, 1,600 more over the next fiscal year, and that it would be shedding four studios. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma hasn't been shy about why she's making such dramatic cuts, saying in a […]

Microsoft Hasn't Ruled Off Spinning Off XBOX As It's Own Entity, It's ... Another new report has shed some light on the future of XBOX. XBOX is in a time of change. Asha Sharma took over as CEO of the brand following Phil Spencer’s retirement and Sarah Bond’s subsequent resignation. There was a wave of positive momentum in Sharma’s first few months as CEO. She’s been receptive to fan feedback and has openly discussed her vision for the brand’s future. However, the reality of recent difficulties is beginning to weigh on her as she faces tough decisions. Recently, she revealed that a restructuring is underway and that the brand will lay off employees in July. Now, a new report exposes more of what may lie ahead for XBOX. Halo, Fallout, and Elder Scrolls Games in the Works at XBOX A recent report from The Information (via ResetEra ) indicates that Microsoft is considering spinning off or restructuring the XBOX division into a wholly owned subsidiary. This move could facilitate an easier potential sale or lead to the creation of a joint venture with external partners. In news related to the gaming side of XBOX, the brand will be moving faster to develop new games from Top franchises, …

Xbox weighs canceling Blade game and shuttering Arkane Microsoft is set to announce a wave of layoffs for its Xbox studios and employees next week. Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans tell The Verge that the layoffs will lead to studio closures or spinoffs, potential mergers of studios, and canceled games. I understand Microsoft is currently weighing closing at least five studios, including the […]

BREAKING: Microsoft is spinning off four Xbox studios as part of significant gaming cuts. Double Fine and Compulsion Games are going independent, and Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are leaving Xbox to new management. Full details and Xbox CEO's memo here👇 www.theverge.com/news/961546/...

Microsoft Has Considered 'Spinning Out Or Restructuring' Xbox, Claims ... You can't have a quiet Friday night in the world of Xbox these days, can you?! Out of nowhere, the folks over at The Information are reporting today that Microsoft has considered "spinning out or restructuring" the Xbox brand, although it's not something that's said to be imminent (in other words, it might not happen). The report mentions how multiple options haven't been "ruled out", including turning Xbox into a wholly-owned subsidiary or creating a "joint venture with other partners". The article is paywalled, but here are a couple of key quotes from it: "As Microsoft gets ready to overhaul its struggling Xbox gaming unit, it hasn't ruled out spinning out or restructuring the unit as a wholly-owned subsidiary, which could make it easier to sell, or creating a joint venture with other partners, according to three people with direct knowledge of the discussions. Microsoft doesn't have any imminent restructuring plans, but those options are on the table, the people said." "Microsoft operates LinkedIn and GitHub as wholly owned subsidiaries, which could serve as one potential blueprint for Xbox, one of the pe…

Xbox's painful reset: 5 studios gone, jobs lost - Rolling Out The first day of Microsoft’s new fiscal year brought devastating news for thousands of workers, as the company began executing what industry insiders are calling potentially the largest single round of layoffs in gaming history. Termination notices went out today, July 6, across Xbox, sales and consulting divisions, while five of the gaming giant’s own studios face closure or forced sale. The cuts follow a remarkably blunt internal memo that admitted Xbox’s strategy had gone badly wrong. The studios caught in the restructuring share a striking profile. All are critically acclaimed, and none of that acclaim saved them. They are 1. Ninja Theory, the Cambridge studio behind the Hellblade franchise, told on June 15 it was closing just nine days after appearing at the Xbox Games Showcase, 2. Double Fine Productions, the San Francisco developer founded by Tim Schafer whose Psychonauts 2 remains one of the generation’s best-reviewed games, 3. Compulsion Games, the Peabody Award-winning Montreal studio whose South of Midnight drew more than a million Game Pass players in three weeks, 4. Undead Labs, the roughly 110-person te…

Xbox cuts 3,200 jobs, divests five studios in major Microsoft overhaul Microsoft's Xbox is cutting 3,200 jobs and divesting five studios as CEO Asha Sharma restructures the gaming business to cut costs and focus on bigger games.

The Verge: Microsoft could shut at least five studios as part of big Xbox layoffs starting next week, including Arkane (Marvel's Blade). "The layoffs will lead to studio closures or spinoffs, potential mergers of studios, and canceled games." ➡️ www.theverge.com/report/95946...

BREAKING: Microsoft confirms Xbox cuts. 3,200 roles reduced through FY27, with four studios being divested (not closed). No projects are being cancelled (for now). DETAILS: windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/...

📰 **The Verge: Microsoft weighing Arkane Studios closure, Marvel’s Blade cancelation** Xbox plans to announce a wave of layoffs leading to studio closures, spinoffs, potential mergers, … Source 📰 Source: Gematsu 🔗 Link […]

Breaking News: Microsoft said it would cut 20% of its Xbox staff and drop several video game studios, as the company prioritizes A.I. Posted by The New York Times ﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/t...

BREAKING: Xbox warns of a "reset" as it prepares for layoffs. Sources tell me there are major Xbox layoffs coming next month, and the cuts may even involve a studio closure. Details 👇 www.theverge.com/games/948142...

Microsoft to layoff 1,000 employes at Xbox as CEO Asha Sharma orders 'reset' Microsoft's Xbox division is bracing for major layoffs in July, with reports suggesting up to 1,000 jobs could be cut and a studio closure possible. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, in a blunt memo to staff co-signed with Matt Booty, called for a full business "reset," flagging a 3% margin, $20 billion in spending, declining revenue, and a hardware component crisis pushing console parts 5x higher.

Xbox To Lay Off 3,200 Workers, Every Studio Affected - Forbes Tech Xbox To Lay Off 3,200 Workers, And Five Studios Will Leave The Brand By Paul Tassi , Senior Contributor. Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. News and opinion about video games, television, movies and the internet. Follow Author Jul 06, 2026, 09:34am EDT Jul 06, 2026, 10:20am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: The new Microsoft Xbox One S console is announced during the Microsoft Xbox news conference at the E3 Gaming Conference on June 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. The One S is slated to launch in August. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Getty Images The industry has been bracing for large-scale Xbox layoffs in the wake of a new administration running the brand. Today, those layoffs have arrived, and they are some of the largest in video game industry history. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has announced that Microsoft will lay off around 3,200 workers over the next fiscal year, with 1,600 roles being affected today alone. The cuts touch every studio and effe…

Xbox upheaval news: Rumors, changes, and cancelled games in 2026 - Polygon Sign in to your Polygon.com account The last several months have been a roller coaster for Xbox. Microsoft's gaming division saw a major leadership turnover back in February, with CEO Phil Spencer abruptly leaving the company along with his heir apparent Sarah Bond. Incoming CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty moved quickly to reestablish trust in the flagging brand. They ditched the unpopular and confusing " This is an Xbox " advertising campaign. They cut prices on Xbox Game Pass after a 50% price hike sparked an exodus from the service. They reaffirmed that new high-end hardware was in the works, in the form of Project Helix . They boldly declared that their organization would no longer be called "Microsoft Gaming" (nerdish, uncool) and instead adopt an all-caps XBOX (shouty, uncool in a different way). Xbox hosted a barnstorming summer showcase on June 7, and gave away hundreds of translucent green Series X consoles to fans who attended live. It seemed like everything was going great! And then the wheels promptly fell off the wagon. Just three days after the showcase, on June 10, Bloomb…

Microsoft Studios Ninja Theory and Double Fine Also Reportedly Under ... Hellblade developer Ninja Theory and Psychonauts developer Double Fine are reportedly among the studios fighting to avoid closure as Microsoft makes significant cuts to the Xbox business. Bloombergreported that Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine are all negotiating with Microsoft to potentially go independent, although doing so would still likely result in significant layoffs. Earlier today,The Game Businessreported that Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan had stepped down, thenKotakureported that South of Midnight developer Compulsion was under threat of closure. Now, Bloomberg is reporting that pretty much all Microsoft-owned studios are concerned about what happens next, with Ninja Theory and Double Fine named as being in talks with their parent company. Just last week, new Xbox boss Asha Sharma warned of a company "reset" that most took as a signal that Microsoft planned big layoffs and studio closures.One analyst told IGN"the studios most exposed are brilliant for prestige and rotten for the spreadsheet." Microsoft was then said to bespeeding up development on new The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, an…

[The Information] Microsoft hasn't ruled out restructuring or spinning out ... RandomlyRandom67 Member Jul 7, 2023 6,361 https://www.theinformation.com/articles/microsoft-considered-spinning-xbox-plans-new-halo-fallout-games As Microsoft gets ready to overhaul its struggling Xbox gaming unit, it hasn't ruled out spinning out or restructuring the unit as a wholly-owned subsidiary, which could make it easier to sell, or creating a joint venture with other partners, according to three people with direct knowledge of the discussions. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Microsoft doesn't have any imminent restructuring plans, but those options are on the table, the people said. Click to expand... Click to shrink... In particular, Xbox will move faster on developing new games from beloved franchises it owns, including Halo, Fallout and Elder Scrolls, the people said. Fallout and Elder Scrolls are two particular areas of focus for Sharma Click to expand... Click to shrink... Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood have approved of Sharma's plan to spend more on top-tier games in the coming fiscal year beginning in July, although the budget is not yet locked in …

Xbox In Talks To Close Double Fine And Ninja Theory, Too - Kotaku hellblade Microsoft Psychonauts 2 Xbox By Rebekah Valentine Published June 15, 2026 | Comments ( 0 ) | 𝕏 Copied! © Xbox Three Xbox studios—Double Fine, Compulsion Games, and Ninja Theory—are currently in danger of closure, with employees able to seek new work as leaders negotiate to try and save what they can, according to a Bloomberg report . Earlier today, we reported that Xbox was preparing to shutter South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games , with studio leadership in active negotiations to determine the studio’s fate. Bloomberg has since reported that both Psychonauts maker Double Fine and Hellblade developer Ninja Theory are in similar situations, despite the latter having just revealed a new game for release next year . A potential outcome is that the studios could go independent, though this would likely still result in heavy job losses. All this comes just days after Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and Microsoft Game Studios head Matt Booty published an open email to the company in which the two highlighted numerous difficulties faced by the business, including that it had “over extended” itself in studio acquisit…

Xbox’s bold plan for the future sounds nearly impossible It's another bad week for the video game industry. Microsoft outlined a series of layoffs on Monday that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma described as "the most significant restructure in Xbox history." But buried in Sharma's memo was a curiously optimistic statement: "I want Xbox to be one of the few companies that entertains more than […]

Microsoft layoffs: First Xbox was put together with chewing gum and ... Xbox is cutting thousands of jobs. To understand why, we must go back to a scrappy team that built a console with "chewing gum and tape". Microsoft's gaming division is going through the biggest restructuring in Xbox's history. Around3,200 jobs in Xbox are set to go over the next fiscal year.About 1,600 positions are being cut immediately. Four studios are also leaving Xbox, either becoming independent again or moving under new ownership. According to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, the company believes it has no choice. Ironically, Xbox itself was born out of another high-risk gamble nearly three decades ago. In the late 1990s, Microsoft ruled personal computers. Windows was everywhere, Office dominated workplaces, and the company had little reason to jump into gaming consoles. Except one. Inside Microsoft, there was growing concern that living-room consoles like Sony's PlayStation could eventually become the primary way people consumed games, which could then reduce the importance of Windows PCs. ALSO READ:'World around is changing': Why Microsoft is laying off 4,800 people, overhauling Xbox A small group from M…

Xbox Layoffs 2026: Reset After $68.7B Bet - tech-insider.org Nadia Dubois June 11, 2026 13 min read Microsoft’s gaming division has entered its most turbulent stretch in a generation. On June 10, 2026, GeekWire reported that Xbox leadership had called for a sweeping “reset” of the business amid renewed reports of looming job cuts, capturing the moment with a blunt internal sentiment: “This cannot continue.” The phrase has become shorthand for a division that spent $68.7 billion acquiring Activision Blizzard, only to spend the following two years cutting staff, closing studios, raising subscription prices, and quietly dismantling the walls that once defined a “console war.” This news analysis breaks down the latest round of Xbox layoffs, what triggered the reset, the financial pressure behind it, and where Microsoft’s gaming strategy goes from here. The Xbox layoffs are not an isolated event. They are the visible edge of a deeper structural shift inside Microsoft Gaming – one driven by the economics of a $68.7 billion acquisition, a Game Pass subscriber base under pressure, hardware sales in decline, and a parent company aggressively reallocating capital toward artificial intellige…