Microsoft Cuts Xbox Jobs

Microsoft is cutting about 268 Xbox roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, Xbox management and central functions. Activision Blizzard will take over development of the next Halo game, using a purpose-built team separate from Call of Duty work. The cuts extend an Xbox restructuring that began with roughly 1,600 July job losses, and Microsoft says the plan is about three-quarters done. Microsoft has said its gaming business was not healthy enough amid slow subscription growth and higher hardware and computing costs. The company says the changes will strengthen franchises through fewer business units and tighter publishing focus. Ninja Theory’s planned sale fell through, so closure talks are starting.