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Including people at Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax and Xbox
Image credit:Xbox
Image credit:Xbox
The move, which Phil describes as “a painful decision”, comes a few years after Microsoftbought ZeniMax(a nesting doll that included Bethesda, what madeStarfieldandThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim) but only about three months after Microsoft managed to acquire Activision Blizzard for a nearly-memetastic amount of $68.7 billion. It sort of makes sense. Shrinking headcount is often one of the first things a business does when it has eaten a smaller, weaker one. Plus, Microsoft have form on this. At almost the same time last year they announced a jaw-dropping10,000 layoffsover the whole company.
Also leaving but not, apparently, one of the unlucky 2k who have been sacked, is Mike Ybarra, now erstwhile president of Blizzard - although he only took on the job at the start of 2022. No word yet on where he’ll land, but The Verge say that Microsft will pick a new Blizzard president next week. In the meantime, Blizzard’spreviously-announced survival gamehas, well, not survived the changes.
These are just the latest in an extensive and ongoing number oflayoffsacross the industry. I wish I could say I didn’t think there will be more in 2024. If you’re a developer, I can only hope that your company doesn’t feel a need to grow any time soon.
