A number of hours in the past, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer despatched out a company-wide e mail to all full-time staff underneath Microsoft’s gaming divisions. A duplicate of the e-mail was shared with Kotaku by a present Xbox worker, we have now confirmed its authenticity, and the total textual content has been transcribed beneath:
This has been a troublesome week throughout Microsoft, and right here, inside our groups. Now that lots of the 1:1 and crew conversations have occurred, I need to take a second to reiterate the message that you just heard out of your leaders.
This is a difficult second in our enterprise, and this week’s actions had been painful decisions. The Gaming Leadership Team 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. Thank you for supporting our colleagues as they course of these modifications.
Over the approaching weeks we may have many alternatives to attach and reply your questions, together with the Monthly Gaming Update subsequent week for groups who attend that assembly, and I’m in shut contact with groups at ZeniMax to supply assist. The GLT and I are dedicated to being as clear as we are able to. Moving ahead with ambiguity is difficult, however I’m assured that collectively, we are going to get via this troublesome second in time.
Xbox has a protracted historical past of success due to 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 crew, but in addition acutely aware that this can be 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 comparable to 343 Industries, The Coalition, ZeniMax Media, and Bethesda Game Studios. Xbox has struggled to launch first-party titles final yr, and is underneath large stress to ship flashy blockbuster titles comparable to Starfield. Some of the individuals who have misplaced their jobs embrace senior expertise, and occurred a yr 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 feels like something you send out on obligation,” wrote a present worker at Xbox over textual content messages to Kotaku. “I seriously doubt any of those monthly gaming updates or other meetings are going to do anything to make anyone feel better.”
The tech employees’ union CODE-CWA put out a statement on January 19, stating that their representatives have been in touch with Microsoft. The firm “recognizes its obligation to bargain over any proposed layoffs of CWA members at ZeniMax.” The ZeniMax union intends to barter on “alternatives to layoffs.”
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