Microsoft has made the decision to lay off approximately 1,900 employees in its gaming division, as confirmed in a company memo. This move follows the departure of Blizzard President Mike Ybarra from the company. According to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, these layoffs are aimed at minimizing areas of overlap within the organization.
The decision comes just a few months after Microsoft completed its acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard, which is famous for hit games like Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, World of Warcraft, and Spyro. Ybarra, who assumed the role of Blizzard President in 2022, expressed his gratitude towards those affected by the layoffs, acknowledging their significant contributions to their teams, Blizzard, and the lives of players.
“To the Blizzard community: I also want to let you all know today is my last day at Blizzard. Leading Blizzard through an incredible time and being part of the team, shaping it for the future ahead, was an absolute honor,” Ybarra wrote. “Having already spent 20+ years at Microsoft and with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard behind us, it’s time for me to (once again) become Blizzard’s biggest fan from the outside.”
It is worth noting that the layoffs in the gaming industry have been prevalent in recent times, with an estimated minimum of 6,500 job losses. Unofficial figures suggest that the count may be even higher.
For more information on this news, you can read the full article on F5 Magazine’s official website.
Disclaimer: This article is based on credible sources and is intended to provide information to readers. F5 Magazine is not affiliated with other brands mentioned in the article.