Microsoft Says H-1B Visas Not Behind Xbox Layoffs, Cites Studio Restructuring
TL;DR
Microsoft refuted claims that H-1B visas drove its Xbox layoffs, saying visa workers are a small share company-wide and the cuts are part of a broader Xbox restructuring. The plan includes separating from five studios (Double Fine and Compulsion Games becoming independent; Ninja Theory and Undead Labs being sold; Arkane under review) while id Software lost about half its headcount; 1,600 layoffs are immediate with total impacts projected around 3,200 over the next year.
- Microsoft Refutes Notion That Foreign-Worker Visas Were Behind Mass Xbox Layoffs GameSpot
- Update: 136 workers have been laid off at id Software Game Developer
- What Xbox's layoffs, massive reboot say about the gaming industry KUOW
- Microsoft cuts 4,800 positions, insists jobs 'not being replaced by AI' Fox Business
- 2026.28: XBOX On the Rocks Stratechery by Ben Thompson
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