I am the first to admit that I was not a fan of the Xbox One when it was first talked about early last year, the issues surrounding the original announcement have been well documented, but now six months after launch and with what feels like a complete 360 over nearly every feature and idea they originally talked about and Microsoft might finally be on the right track with the console. Focusing on what the public might actually have wanted to buy, an entertainment unit priced reasonably.
The previously rumored mass layoffs at Xbox are expected to happen on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, according to a new rumor.
They will have fired close to 20,000 people all up after this round of lay-offs coming, since the ABK deal announcement in January 2022. Shocking really
January 2023:
Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees, which was a significant workforce reduction.
January 2024:
Approximately 1,900 gaming employees were laid off following the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
May 2025:
Microsoft announced a further 6,000 layoffs as part of an organizational shift.
June 2025:
Additional layoffs, including 650 in the gaming business, focused on corporate and support functions
Let's hope its not as bad as socials are making it, good luck to those that unfortunately lose their jobs.
Could be not as bad could be horrible. But it's Ms so I'm expecting the absolute worst.
Sometimes I feel like they brought in Sarah to take the heat away from Phil.
Phil has always stuck his nose into everything Xbox related when it's something positive or at least neutral but as soon as they went the multiplatform root he's stood back and let Sarah do most of the talking in terms of PR. Now they are doing the same with layoffs.
The person who should be let go is Phil himself.
One of the founding members of the Xbox team has questioned Microsoft’s multiplatform gaming strategy, and said they believe the Xbox hardware business is effectively “dead"
Think that rumor that they'll still make a new console but at a profit at $1000 will be true though. The series consoles will remain their cheap alternative throughout next gen I would say. Keep in mind that game pass and pretty much going 3rd party is their main focus. They want to bring xbox everywhere.
Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era
I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.
Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.
The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.
They definitly are..atleast I've noticed that some of my pals (who wernt interested in the console before) are now looking forward to owning one.
While I still remain a PS fan and nothing probably will change that because I started with the amazing PS1 and the legendary PS2 after that I agree that MS is now pulling all the right triggers for me to make me buy a secondary console (which I already did). I am a gamer first. All console competitors should learn from each other and take the best part out of it to make their console the best for their fans! You gain nothing but praise from your fans for keep improving and admitting wrongs and doing things better and better!
The most important to come away with this is that they are giving us options that the majority have been craving for for the longest, so in that sense, they are doing it right.
-People complain about too much TV. Haven't heard a thing about TV ever since the first reveal in May of last year, it is all about games. checked
-People complain that apps shouldn't be behind paywall and a model similar to PSN+ regarding free games should be implemented. Checked
-People want discount of XB1 digital games. Starting in Jun, each month will have discounts on XB1 digital games up to 50-70% off. checked
-Gamers want a Kinect free sku at a cheaper price. checked
-Gamers want to use their own external hardrive, not forced into buying a more expensive proprietary HDD. checked and it is up to 16tb
We can keep saying 180 or they lost their original vision all we want and no doubt MS is doing this mostly to compete better and getting trust from gamers, but it is a good thing that they are listening and actually doing what they said they were going to do. That is a win in my book.
Make the games and everything else will follow. It's not rocket science.
Xbox One will be just fine. All the bad publicity will die down soon enough...and if it doesn't?
I'm sure it won't prevent X1 owners from enjoying the games/experiences.
Shame we all just can't move on now though.