Microsoft gutted the Age of Empires studio while folding it into Activision
"Our studio was reorganized to be under the Activision umbrella," former senior software engineer Andrew Martz said in a LinkedIn post. "As part of that reorg, our next project was canceled and a large chunk of our studio was laid off. I was part of that layoff." Read Entire Article
At Microsoft, the Age of Empires studio, known as World s Edge, has experienced significant restructuring after being folded into Activision. Nearly half of the studio's staff has been laid off, coinciding with the decision to place the studio under Activision's umbrella. Former employees report that the studio's next project was canceled during the transition.
World s Edge has been responsible for overseeing the Age of Empires franchise and working with external developers, allowing Microsoft to maintain multiple versions of the game series. The studio's role has shifted as the franchise expands beyond its original PC audience to support online multiplayer, regular updates, and console controls across various platforms.
However, the reduction in staff could make this task more challenging, particularly if Microsoft intends to release a new installment in the series. The layoffs are part of Microsoft's broader plan to cut 3,200 jobs this year, and the future of World s Edge under Activision remains uncertain.
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