Microsoft Gaming Layoffs Impacting Game Developers
Nearly 2,000 employees have been laid off by Microsoft Gaming, affecting teams within Xbox, ZeniMax, and especially Activision Blizzard. Unofficial sources reveal that popular game developers like Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot have been hit hard by these layoffs.
Impact on Toys for Bob and Sledgehammer Games
Toys for Bob reportedly lost 40% of its employees, while Sledgehammer Games saw a 30% reduction in staff as part of Microsoft Gaming’s recent layoffs. These decisions were made to help the company achieve its goals, particularly in cost management, following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Insider-Gaming’s Tom Henderson shared that Toys for Bob let go of about 35 employees, and Sledgehammer Games parted ways with over 150 out of their 500+ staff members. These layoffs contribute to the significant number of job losses seen in the video game industry in 2024, with nearly 6,000 people already affected in January alone.
