Bloomberg reports that Microsoft is weighing multiple acquisition offers for Arkane Studios, including from Ubisoft and at least two other unnamed companies, with a management buyout also under consideration. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the company is exploring options ahead of a December deadline but gave no further details. Arkane had been rumored as a possible target of Xbox's earlier layoffs and project cancellations.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-03
Microsoft is offering a voluntary exit package to roughly a quarter of its global workforce, covering eligible employees at level 70 or below in the US, India, Canada and the UK. Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said eligible organizations were chosen based on each business's priorities, customer commitments and workforce needs. This follows an earlier 2026 retirement offer to 8,750 US employees in April and July layoffs of 3,200 Xbox staff.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-26
According to Fortune, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is planning additional rounds of job cuts in November, this month, and January. The cuts would follow a July announcement of a broader
theverge.com
· 2026-10-20
Microsoft has cut close to half the staff at World's Edge, the studio behind the Age of Empires franchise, as part of a reorganization placing it under Activision. Former employees say the studio's next project was canceled during the transition. The cuts are part of 268 job losses across Xbox, contributing to Microsoft's planned 3,200 layoffs this financial year.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-27
Microsoft-owned King has agreed to a collective bargaining agreement covering its Swedish staff, signed with Unionen and Engineers of Sweden just a day before a planned strike. The deal, effective April 1, 2027, follows negotiations that began in May 2025 after King removed a private doctor benefit in 2024, prompting employees to unionize.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-25
Xbox has laid off 268 employees across Halo Studios, other first-party teams and Xbox Game Studios management, part of a previously announced plan to cut 1,600 jobs through July 2027. As part of the restructuring, Activision will take over development of the next Halo game and also manage Rare and World's Edge, while Obsidian continues working under Bethesda on Fallout and Grounded 2, and Playground and Turn 10 merge to handle Forza and Fable together.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-22
Microsoft is laying off roughly 268 employees across Halo Studios, other first-party teams, and Xbox Game Studios' central functions, according to a memo from chief content officer Matt Booty. Two prospective buyers for Ninja Theory fell through, so Microsoft is starting a consultation process on potentially shutting the Hellblade studio unless another buyer emerges. Undead Labs has completed its spinout to independence, while talks over Arkane's future continue under French labor law through year's end.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-22
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