A couple of hours in the past, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer despatched out a company-wide e-mail to all full-time staff beneath Microsoft’s gaming divisions. A replica of the e-mail was shared with Kotaku by a present Xbox worker, we now have confirmed its authenticity, and the total textual content has been transcribed under:
This has been a tough week throughout Microsoft, and right here, inside our groups. Now that lots of the 1:1 and workforce conversations have occurred, I need to take a second to reiterate the message that you just heard out of your leaders.
This can be a difficult second in our enterprise, and this week’s actions had been painful decisions. The Gaming Management Staff needed to make selections that we felt set us up for the long-term success of our merchandise and enterprise, however the person outcomes of these selections are actual. I do know that hurts. Thanks for supporting our colleagues as they course of these adjustments.
Over the approaching weeks we may have many alternatives to attach and reply your questions, together with the Month-to-month Gaming Replace subsequent week for groups who attend that assembly, and I’m in shut contact with groups at ZeniMax to offer assist. The GLT and I are dedicated to being as clear as we are able to. Transferring ahead with ambiguity is difficult, however I’m assured that collectively, we are going to get by this tough second in time.
Xbox has an extended historical past of success because of the work you do in service of gamers, creators, and one another. Your work is so deeply appreciated and valued in these occasions of change and is integral to our enterprise momentum. I’m assured in our future and proud to be a part of this workforce, but in addition acutely aware that it is a difficult time and I need to thanks for every part you do right here.
Phil
On January 18, Microsoft laid off 10,000 staff throughout the corporate. These layoffs included gaming studios similar to 343 Industries, The Coalition, ZeniMax Media, and Bethesda Sport Studios. Xbox has struggled to launch first-party titles final 12 months, and is beneath great strain to ship flashy blockbuster titles similar to Starfield. A few of the individuals who have misplaced their jobs embody senior expertise, and occurred a 12 months after the writer scourged up the pocket change to buy Activision Blizzard for $70 billion. Kotaku has reached out to Microsoft for an announcement, however didn’t obtain a response by the point of publication.
“This seems like one thing you ship out on obligation,” wrote a present worker at Xbox over textual content messages to Kotaku. “I severely doubt any of these month-to-month gaming updates or different conferences are going to do something to make anybody really feel higher.”
The tech staff’ union CODE-CWA put out a statement on January 19, stating that their representatives have been in touch with Microsoft. The corporate “acknowledges its obligation to cut price over any proposed layoffs of CWA members at ZeniMax.” The ZeniMax union intends to barter on “options to layoffs.”