Shuffling the deck chairs: Xbox continues its "reset" with dramatic restructuring
Activision gets Halo , Obsidian becomes part of Bethesda, and more internal shake-ups.
Microsoft's Xbox has embarked on a dramatic restructuring effort following a series of layoffs in July, aiming to streamline its operations and enhance collaboration among teams. The company's CEO, Asha Sharma, acknowledged that the existing challenges stemmed from teams, studios, and functions operating in silos, making it difficult to align towards common objectives.
In response, Xbox unveiled a significant overhaul of its internal studios, with the primary objective of reducing the independence that had previously hindered cohesive progress for some of gaming's most prominent franchises.
The most notable alteration concerns the Halo franchise, previously managed by 343 Industries, now under the leadership of Activision, the developer behind Call of Duty. Halo Studios, which recently delivered Halo: Campaign Evolved, will transition to a smaller support role focused on engaging the gaming community, while over 200 positions are slated for elimination as part of the broader restructuring.
Speaking on behalf of Halo, Activision President Rob Kostich emphasized the franchise's goal: to create the ultimate Halo experience that honors its legacy and continues to captivate players. Kostich affirmed that an innovative, high-caliber team is already being assembled to fulfill this ambitious vision and reinvigorate the franchise within the gaming community.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
