Under the wave of layoffs in the US technology industry, Microsoft announced today that by the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2023, it will lay off 10,000 employees, accounting for about 4.5% of its 220,000 total employees.
According to Bloomberg News, Microsoft’s 10,000 layoffs have spread to the game department, including the developer of the “Elder Scrolls” and “Radiation” series – Bethesda Game Studios (Bethesda Game Studios), and the developer of “Halo: Infinite” – — 343 Industries.
In addition, it is reported that Microsoft’s HoloLens business and some engineering departments will also undergo layoffs.
Another report from Gaming Lords said that 343 Industries employees suffered “substantial” layoffs, which were said to be the most severe for “employees working in a single room”. Journalist Jason Schreier also corroborated the claim, with several employees saying the company had been “severely hit.” Kotaku also claims to have confirmed that some developers at The Coalition, a Vancouver, Canada studio formed by Microsoft, are being fired.
Gary Waliczek, Chief Engineer for Growth and Loyalty at Xbox, tweeted that “the gaming industry is being impacted by layoffs, possibly including people on my team,” before deleting the message.
Bethesda PR manager Renee Sogueco wrote: “Well, it happened! I was fired from Bethesda today due to layoffs at Microsoft, so I’m back in the market now… I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
Halo: Infinite senior designer Kevin Schmitt also confirmed that he was fired, along with 343 video producer Jesse Stipek and The Elder Scrolls Online community manager Sam Luanghot.
Microsoft claims the layoffs are “in response to macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities.” Microsoft is deliberately targeting employees it deems “underperformers” in at least some parts of the company, according to a report from Business Insider.
