{
  "id": 10249477,
  "title": "Latest Xbox layoffs reportedly devastated Age of Empires developer and canceled its next game",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/latest-xbox-layoffs-reportedly-devastated-age-of-empires-developer",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-27T16:14:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/latest-xbox-layoffs-reportedly-devastated-age-of-empires-developer-and-canceled-its-next-game/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Xbox's latest round of layoffs has reportedly devastated the developer of Age of Empires, leaving just under half of the studio employed. Former creative director Adam Isgreen shared on Resetera that the studio, World's Edge, was only partially spared from the cuts, with himself included. Isgreen also noted that their next game project was canceled as part of a larger reorganization, with the studio now reporting to Activision alongside Rare, developers of Sea of Thieves. Andrew Martz, a former senior software engineer at World's Edge, echoed these sentiments on LinkedIn, stating that their next project was canceled and a significant portion of the studio was laid off. Isgreen reflected on his time working on the RTS series, expressing pride in their accomplishments and the return of the genre, but lamented the lack of regard for the medium's history in Microsoft's \"reset.\"",
  "summary": "Microsoft continues to slash and burn the legacies under its banner.",
  "key_points": [
    "World's Edge, Age of Empires developer, severely impacted by Xbox layoffs",
    "Studio's next game project canceled amid reorganization",
    "Former employees express disappointment in Microsoft's handling of the studio"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "XDA Developers",
        "title": "Microsoft's latest Xbox layoffs have reportedly gutted the Age of Empires studio, cancelling its next game",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/microsofts-latest-xbox-layoffs-have-reportedly-gutted-the-age-of",
        "published": "2026-09-27T17:03:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}