The company shut down the studio responsible for Perfect Dark, cancelled Everwild, which had been in development for over a decade, and abandoned a new game from the creators of The Elder Scrolls Online. Almost half of the team behind Forza Motorsport was also laid off. Cuts also hit the Call of Duty divisions, and even King.
Yet the Xbox division isn’t stopping. According to The Verge, more than 40 games remain in development. Their production could slow down: Microsoft laid off half of a key technical department that doesn’t develop games directly, but helps studios with project optimization and adaptation. This department assisted internal studios and third-party teams alike.
Journalist Tom Warren clarified: the cuts hit the team studying user behavior and overseeing the quality of the platform and Xbox games. The head of child and family safety was also dismissed.
Gamers are already asking, “Is Xbox even making games anymore?” The answer is yes. At the June showcase, the company presented Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outer Worlds 2, Grounded 2, Clockwork Revolution, The Keeper, and an expansion for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. These projects are safe. The rest remain in question.
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Cover author: Xbox. Cover source: Xbox