Microsoft Corp.'s announcement of mass layoffs extended to its video-game division, including the developers of such hit titles as Starfield and Halo.
The Xbox maker said Wednesday it's cutting 10,000 jobs as it seeks to reduce costs amid a broader economic slowdown. Some people at Bethesda Game Studios, maker of the upcoming Starfield, as well as 343 Industries, the company behind 2021's Halo Infinite, were affected, according to people familiar with the matter. Some of those who lost their jobs were veterans who had been with Microsoft more than a decade…
The Flying Penguin wrote on Jan 19, 2023, 11:35:So true !, haha
https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2023/01/06/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-bing
Darks wrote on Jan 19, 2023, 00:36:Since when has any Bethesda game not been a buggy mess on release? Cutting staff months before release fits entirely within their MO.
I don't understand the Starfield layoffs when that game is getting close to release. The 343 I totally understand. Seems really odd they are laying off the starfield team to the point where its imp[acting the development of the game. Really odd!
RogueSix wrote on Jan 18, 2023, 21:19:
I also think it is really cool that they still want to buy Actiblizz. Firing 10K+ people but still being ready to splurge almost $70 billion buckeroos to buy another company... that makes some real hardcore sense right there.
DarkCntry wrote on Jan 19, 2023, 00:21:Prez wrote on Jan 18, 2023, 22:55:I know of a few people who were either part of or worked with those who were laid off. They said that the packages they obtained varied from complete severance to options all the way to obtaining re-employment in other divisions after X amount of time. The ones I know personally also alluded to them knowing for a while and the company assisting in getting settled elsewhere in the industry but didn't tell me much more because of various NDAs.
Not a good look after they spent $68 billion dollars acquiring Activision. Beyond that, 10000 people all looking for another job at the same time is not a good thing. That really sucks because a lot of them are either going to be unemployed for a long time or jump at any job that can at least provide food and rent. I really don't like corporations.
Pr()ZaC wrote on Jan 18, 2023, 21:06:
News of Starfield being delayed in 3...2...1...
Darks wrote on Jan 19, 2023, 00:36:It doesn't say specifically that they are on the Starfield development team, just that there's a non-zero number from Bethesda Game Studios, and I'd expect that any layoff would impact development across the entire board. Last I heard there were over 400 people employed by both Bethesda and 343.
I don't understand the Starfield layoffs when that game is getting close to release. The 343 I totally understand. Seems really odd they are laying off the starfield team to the point where its imp[acting the development of the game. Really odd!
Prez wrote on Jan 18, 2023, 22:55:I know of a few people who were either part of or worked with those who were laid off. They said that the packages they obtained varied from complete severance to options all the way to obtaining re-employment in other divisions after X amount of time. The ones I know personally also alluded to them knowing for a while and the company assisting in getting settled elsewhere in the industry but didn't tell me much more because of various NDAs.
Not a good look after they spent $68 billion dollars acquiring Activision. Beyond that, 10000 people all looking for another job at the same time is not a good thing. That really sucks because a lot of them are either going to be unemployed for a long time or jump at any job that can at least provide food and rent. I really don't like corporations.
Hardline Mike wrote on Jan 18, 2023, 20:27:SMITE wrote on Jan 18, 2023, 19:52:
No sympathy for those at 343 who dropped the ball so badly with Halo Infinite particularly after explicitly promising split screen co-op only to betray those fans who believed them.
What percentage of the people laid off do you think had anything to do with that decision?
Pr()ZaC wrote on Jan 18, 2023, 21:06:
News of Starfield being delayed in 3...2...1...