Major layoffs at Microsoft have also affected game development

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, announced major layoffs yesterday. By the end of March this year, the Redmond-based tech giant will cut 10,000 jobs, representing 4.5% of its total workforce of over 220,000.

If you thought it would be mainly secretaries, various assistants and the sales team, layoffs will also significantly affect the development of the game. Bloomberg learned from reliable sources that he is firing Bethesda Game Studios and 343 industriesand Kotaku adds that the studio is also losing staff Coalitionwho created the Gears shooter.

Jason Schreier of Bloomberg found that 343 Industries hit hard by layoffs. It is said that this team was responsible for the single player campaign of Halo Infinite. In the meantime, studio head Pierre Hintze emailed the staff that they had made the difficult decision to restructure positions within the team, resulting in the reduction of some roles. One of them is Joe Staten. He joined 343 Industries in 2020 to help bring Halo Infinite to the finish line. It is now returning to Xbox publishing.

Schreier’s information about the dismissal of developers from 343 Industries, The Coalition and Bethesda Game Studios is confirmed by Kotaku. In turn, Lords of Gaming writes about the departure of a significant number of developers from 343 Industries. It was supposed to be only in the Washington branch of Microsoft. at least 878 jobs eliminated.

A Business Insider report says that Microsoft should have fired employees who bosses thought were performing poorly.

Posts of some of the laid-off who are looking for a new job are beginning to appear on social networks. Among them are Gary Valichek (Xbox Principal Development Engineer), René Sogueko (Bethesda Communications Manager), Kevin Schmitt (Halo Infinite Senior Designer), Jesse Stipek (343 Video Producer), and Sam Luanghot (The Elder Scrolls Online Community Manager). ).

It is not yet clear how the new projects will affect. At 343 Industries, the focus is on support Halo InfiniteBethesda is hard at work on the upcoming space epic. Starfieldwho will have a solo presentation soon and they are in The Coalition dedicate the next part of Gears of War along with new branding.