For a long time, there has been speculation, now it is official: Microsoft is laying off 9,000 employees, including many in the gaming sector or Xbox division and in the business sector. They explain the layoffs by stating that they want to position themselves better.
The English-language magazine TheVerge reports that Microsoft intends to lay off 9,000 employees. This is the fourth major layoff round at Xbox within 18 months and the second in 2025.
As reported by the Seattle Times, Microsoft has confirmed that the company will lay off up to 9,100 employees this year, which corresponds to about four percent of the workforce.
Xbox head Phil Spencer said in a message to the team:
To position gaming for sustainable success and to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or reduce work in certain business areas and follow Microsoft’s example by removing management levels to increase agility and effectiveness.
Those particularly affected include:
- Xbox teams across all departments, indicating a profound internal restructuring
- Sales and support functions, as Microsoft increasingly outsources sales for small and medium customers to external partners.
More precise information is not yet available, but should follow from Microsoft shortly.
