Microsoft fired over 1,900 staff from subsidiaries, with layoffs at Activision Blizzard, Xbox, and Zenimax. As well as the layoffs, Activision Blizzard will also be losing President Mike Ybarra and Chief Design Officer Allen Adham. [Thanks, The Verge!]
In a statement obtained by The Verge, Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer promised to navigate the process "thoughtfully" and provide severance packages according to employment law. The firings work out to around 8.6% of the company's entire 22,000 person workforce, spread across several of the companies previously acquired by Microsoft in the past few years.
Activision Blizzard President Mike "Qwik" Ybarra will also be leaving, alongside Chief Design Officer and Blizzard cofounder Allen Adham. Ybarra's successor is expected to be announced sometime during the week of January 28, 2024. Additionally, Blizzard's in-development survival game has also been cancelled, with some of the personnel transferred to other projects.
You can read Mike Ybarra's farewell message in the tweet below:
As a reminder, Microsoft finalized its acquisition of Activision Blizzard back in October 2023, after the FTC injunction against the plan was denied. Blizzard also announced an upcoming expansion for Diablo 4, titled Vessel of Hatred, back in November 2023.
Over 1,900 staff members will be fired this week from Microsoft subsidiary companies, with the layoffs affecting people at Activision Blizzard, Xbox and Zenimax
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