Halo overseen by Activision as Xbox plans further job cuts
GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed
Push Square reports, citing a Fortune profile by Sebastian Herrera, that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has cut 1,868 jobs so far and that 3,200 total job cuts are planned, with further reductions reportedly scheduled this month, in November, and in January. Push Square says Microsoft has been reorganising its studios earlier this year and gives examples including Halo being overseen by Activision and Obsidian being placed under Bethesda. The outlet also states that Xbox Game Studios may not exist this time next year, presented as its assessment. Push Square notes many Microsoft developers currently make games for the PS5 and says there are questions about whether that will continue.
- What happened: Push Square reports, citing a Fortune profile by Sebastian Herrera, that CEO Asha Sharma has cut 1,868 jobs so far and that 3,200 total job cuts are planned, with further reductions this month, in November, and in January.
- Why it matters: Push Square highlights that Microsoft has reorganised studios this year—citing Halo now being overseen by Activision and Obsidian placed under Bethesda—which changes which teams control major franchises.
- Context: Push Square presents as its assessment that Xbox Game Studios may not exist this time next year and notes that many Microsoft developers make games for the PS5, raising questions about platform arrangements.
- What next: Push Square says more news about which roles will be cut is expected in the coming days and that additional rounds of cuts are scheduled for this month, November, and January.
What changed
- Push Square reports, citing a Fortune profile by Sebastian Herrera, that Asha Sharma has overseen the elimination of 1,868 jobs so far and that 3,200 total job cuts are planned. The report says further cuts are scheduled this month, in November, and in January.
Timeline
- Earlier this year: Microsoft carried out studio reorganisations that Push Square describes as shuffling developers around.
- Current reporting: additional planned cuts are described as occurring this month, in November, and in January.
Before and after
- Before: studios were organised under Xbox Game Studios and related groups.
- After (as reported by Push Square): some responsibilities have shifted—Push Square gives examples including Halo being overseen by Activision and Obsidian being placed under Bethesda.
Limits
- Push Square attributes the job numbers and schedule to a Fortune profile by Sebastian Herrera; the outlet frames the permanence of Xbox Game Studios and the future of cross-platform development for PS5 as open questions rather than confirmed outcomes. Specific studio-level or role-level details of upcoming cuts are not provided.