There is a second wave of layoffs after the acquisition Activision Blizzard companies Microsoft. In internal communication Phil Spencer announced that it would be laying off another 650 employees in its gaming division. The first round took place earlier this year and was widely criticized. In contrast, studies and games in development are not interrupted this time.
Most of the approximately 650 laid off employees are expected to be in corporate and support positions. So it is still due to the association with the Call of Duty publisher. At Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, roles overlap in administrative and business positions.
“Over the past year, our goal has been to minimize disruption while welcoming new teams and allowing them to do their best work,” CEO Phil Spencer explains in an internal email.
“As part of restructuring our post-acquisition teams and managing our business, we have made the decision to eliminate approximately 650 positions at Microsoft Gaming – primarily corporate and support functions – to align our business for long-term success.” adds Spencer.
In it he emphasizes that none of the studios are closing as a result of the layoffs, and no games will be canceled. The goal is to align teams and resources for sustainable future growth.
Around 1,900 people lost their jobs at Microsoft earlier this year.