Pittsburgh-based VR studio Schell Games has confirmed a second wave of layoffs in 2024, affecting roles across engineering, art, design, and QA. The developer behind I Expect You To Die and co-developer of Among Us VR previously cut staff in August for the first time since its 2002 founding. CEO Jesse Schell acknowledged the painful decision while noting the broader industry turbulence driving the move.
Xbox's first-ever chief operating officer Helen Chiang has left Microsoft after just three months in the newly created role, ending a 21-year tenure at the company. The departure comes as Xbox continues restructuring that could see 3,200 employees lose their jobs this year, while Arkane Lyon faces potential closure by mid-November if a buyer is not found.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly told staff in an internal memo that the Game Pass strategy sent the division's balance sheet into freefall, but claims the business is now returning to growth after cutting prices and removing Call of Duty as a day-one title. Microsoft laid off nearly 2,000 employees in 2026 amid the restructuring.
Microsoft has confirmed Activision will develop the next mainline Halo game as part of a sweeping Xbox Studios restructure that includes 268 layoffs. The move effectively guts Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries, while folding Rare and World's Edge under the Call of Duty publisher's umbrella.
Tencent's Lightspeed LA studio has laid off 80 developers from Last Sentinel, a cyberpunk open-world game positioned as a Grand Theft Auto competitor. The project has burned through six years and hundreds of millions of dollars with little to show for it. Bloomberg reports the studio still cannot define a clear direction for the game.
Lightspeed LA has announced a major creative shift for its narrative-driven open-world action game Last Sentinel, resulting in staff layoffs. The studio confirmed the decision came after extensive internal reviews and play-testing showed early impressions fell short of expectations, though development continues with no release date announced.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has sold 3.5 million copies in its first 14 days, exceeding Ubisoft's annual expectations for the remake. The strong launch comes as the publisher reports a 9% year-on-year decline in net bookings and confirms a third round of layoffs affecting 380 employees across its studios.
Bungie has confirmed that the game director for its upcoming extraction shooter Marathon has left the studio. The departure arrives during a turbulent period marked by layoffs and leadership changes at the PlayStation-owned developer. Players waiting for the sci-fi revival will now watch closely for signs of how this shift impacts the project's trajectory.
Outer Worlds 2 director Eric Barone addresses the recent Xbox layoffs, reassuring fans about the game's development status. He dispels misinformation circulating online, confirming the project's ongoing progress. The game remains on track despite the industry upheaval.
Obsidian Entertainment's Game Director Brandon Adler responds to community concerns that the studio has lost its original talent and identity following recent layoffs and announcements, including a new Fallout project. Adler emphasizes the studio's consistent DNA from Knights of the Old Republic 2 to current games. The comments come as Obsidian navigates mixed reactions to its involvement in a new Fallout game, headed by Josh Sawyer, amidst thousands of layoffs across Xbox's restructured gaming divisions.
