Xbox Xbox Announces Four Major Studio Changes And Cuts 286 Jobs

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Earlier today, rumours starting doing the rounds that layoffs were incoming at Xbox, and it's now been confirmed that 286 roles are being eliminated across "Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and the XGS management and central functions layer".

All of this is part of the 3,200 job cuts that were announced back in July, of which only 1,600 took place at that time.

Xbox is also restructuring its studios going forward, with four major changes taking place in this area - Activision is getting involved with Halo, Rare and World's Edge, Obsidian is joining forces with Bethesda, King is adding Microsoft Casual Games into its focus, and Forza developers Playground and Turn 10 are also combining into one.

Here's what Xbox says about each of these:

-Activision will expand its remit to World’s Edge, as well as Rare. Activision will also be developing the next Halo title, led by a new, purpose-built team that is separate from ongoing development and plans for Call of Duty. A small team at Halo Studios will continue supporting the Halo community and games in-market.

-Bethesda will expand its remit to include Obsidian, which will continue its current projects, including Grounded, as well as the new Fallout project made in collaboration with Bethesda Game Studios.

-King will expand its remit to include Microsoft Casual Games, uniting our two global leaders in casual game design and live operations.
Playground and Turn 10 will come together as one studio focused on the Forza and Fable franchises. These two studios have been creative and franchise partners for over a decade, and today’s changes will formally move their work into one team.

Finally, it's been confirmed that Undead Labs will still release State of Decay 3 on Xbox Game Pass at launch despite now being an independent company, but the situation around Ninja Theory seems much more dire, with "two separate agreements" having fallen through for that studio. Xbox is now starting to "begin consultation with employees on a proposed closure" of Ninja Theory, but is also "exploring other paths forward".
 
Huh, Activision might be the only studio to save Halo at this point, but I hope they let Rare do more fun games like in the past.
 
If I was Microsoft, I would've merged Toys for Bob into Rare, and keep RARE.

But these monkeys let Toys for Bob be independent, and now it's not possible, now. They are now a support studio.
 
Legend said:
If I was Microsoft, I would've merged Toys for Bob into Rare, and keep RARE.

But these monkeys let Toys for Bob be independent, and now it's not possible, now. They are now a support studio.
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I'm much happier that TfB is off on their own and doing their fun projects and not be tied down to the restrictions Rare has.
 
Demon_Skeith said:
I'm much happier that TfB is off on their own and doing their fun projects and not be tied down to the restrictions Rare has.
Click to expand...
The restrictions is on the part of Microsoft. Not Rare.

Rare is still a strong brand, I would just merge Toys for Bob in there, use the Rare name, and have them run around with their Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, Conker Bad Fur Day. I would say Killer Instinct, but we just had that with Double Helix.

Microsoft has a lot of IP's under Rare, but is not deciding to do anything with it. Toys for Bob is the perfect developer for it, the problem with Toys for Bob is they don't have the brand recognition. Rare Ltd has more brand recognition then "Toys for Bob."

Otherwise, by shutting down Rare Ltd. they just wasted $375 Million which is a drop of a bucket for Microsoft, but I'm not a fan of wasting money.
 
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