{
  "id": 10251916,
  "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",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-27T17:03:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "XDA Developers",
    "slug": "xda-developers",
    "url": "https://www.xda-developers.com/microsofts-latest-xbox-layoffs-have-reportedly-gutted-the-age-of-empires-studio-cancelling-its-next-game/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Microsoft's recent layoffs have significantly impacted World's Edge Studio, the developer of the Age of Empires series. According to reports from former employees, the studio was cut in half, with nearly half of its staff let go.\n\nThe layoffs were part of a larger restructuring effort by Microsoft, which included Activision taking over the Halo franchise. The impact on World's Edge Studio was substantial, with a large chunk of the studio laid off and its next project cancelled, as reported by a former senior software engineer on LinkedIn.\n\nFormer World’s Edge creative director Adam Isgreen confirmed the layoffs on resetera and LinkedIn, stating that he was among those let go. Isgreen expressed pride in the studio's work on the RTS series, saying that the team \"delivered the goods\" for fans.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PC Gamer",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-27T16:14:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}