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Microsoft has enacted widespread layoffs across its games division that includes around 200 job losses at King.
As reported by Bloomberg, people “familiar with the plans” claimed the Candy Crush Saga developer is cutting 10% of its staff. We’ve reached out to King for comment.
Other divisions impacted include ZeniMax in Europe, while US studios are said to be bracing for job losses.
Windows Central has reported ZeniMax Media’s marketing team in London has been hit by cuts, as well as its Marland, US office.
Video Games Chronicle, meanwhile, has news that Sea of Thieves developer Rare will also see layoffs as part of a broader restructuring at the studio. The famed UK game maker’s in-development title Everwild has been cancelled.
In an internal memo to staff, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said the company was ending or decreasing work in “certain areas of the business” and removing layers of management to “position Gaming for eduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas”.
Spencer did not share specific divisions impacted, and that affected staff would be informed in the coming days.
Deep Microsoft job cuts
The Seattle Times and CNBC have reported that Microsoft is laying off 4% of its staff, around 9,100 employees. The redundancies will impact teams around the world at various levels, it was reported.
As of June last year, the firm was said to employ 228,000 people worldwide.
The news comes after Microsoft said in May it was anticipating to cut 3% of staff, around 7,000 people.
In September last year, microsoft laid off 650 employees from its Xbox games division. Spencer said the job losses were part of the company’s plan to organise the firm for long-term success.
That news followed a significant round of cuts last January in which Microsoft slashed 1,900 positions across its games divsion. It also shut down Might Doom developer Alpha Dog, Arkane Austin, and Tango Gameworks. Roundhouse Games was merged with ZeniMax Online Studios.
This is a breaking news story.
