Microsoft on Thursday announced layoffs affecting 1,900 workers from its gaming divisions three months after it bought Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft has around 22,000 employees, meaning the cuts constitute an 8.6% cut.
According to reports, an internal memo from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said the layoffs come after discovering areas of overlap amid the merger with Activision Blizzard, a gaming giant.
Blizzard President Mike Ybarra, who announced his departure from the company Thursday, thanked all those affected by the layoffs for their hard work.
“It’s an incredibly hard day and my energy and support will be focused on all those amazing individuals impacted,” he wrote on X. “This is in no way a reflection on your amazing work.”
The Communication Workers of America, which represents unionized Microsoft staff, said none of its workers are affected by the cuts.
“Today’s announcement by Microsoft underscores the importance of having a union voice on the job,” the CWA said in a statement. “With a union, employers are required to negotiate over the impact of layoffs.”
The cuts are another blow to the gaming and tech industries, which have already suffered job losses this year. This week, Riot Games announced over 500 layoffs following hundreds of firings at Twitch, Unity and Discord earlier in the month.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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