Microsoft's Gaming Division Undergoes Major Restructuring
Microsoft has announced significant changes in its gaming division as part of a broader restructuring effort, including layoffs and studio reorganizations. The company is consolidating studios under Activision Blizzard, moving the development of Halo to Activision, and shifting other franchises like Fallout and casual games under different subsidiaries such as Bethesda Game Studios and King. These moves are part of CEO Asha Sharma's 'reset' strategy for Xbox, which began with 1,600 layoffs in July. The goal is to focus on major titles like Halo, Minecraft, and Candy Crush while scaling back other operations. However, the changes have raised questions about the identity and future direction of the Xbox brand as it moves away from its traditional console-centric roots. The restructuring has left many employees uncertain due to ongoing layoffs and studio closures or spin-offs. While Microsoft aims for a broader reach—targeting over a billion users daily—the strategy remains ambitious, especially given recent cuts.
Topics: Activision Blizzard Gaming Industry Halo Microsoft Xbox Game Studios