{
  "id": 9258507,
  "title": "Microsoft's Xbox Cuts 268 More Jobs, Hands Next Halo Game To Activision",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/microsofts-xbox-cuts-268-more-jobs-hands-next-halo-game-to-activision",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T02:55:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/tech/microsofts-xbox-cuts-268-more-jobs-hands-next-halo-game-to-activision"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Microsoft's Xbox is implementing further job cuts, this time eliminating 268 more positions as part of its ongoing corporate restructuring. The company communicated the changes in an internal memo penned by Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty. The memo, titled \"Continuing Our Reset,\" detailed the layoffs affecting Halo Studios, other first-party teams, and management functions within Xbox Game Studios. These additional cuts bring the company closer to completing the restructuring it announced in July, which aimed to reduce Xbox's workforce by approximately 3,200 people by fiscal year 2027, with around 1,600 roles cut immediately. The July round of layoffs resulted in Double Fine, Compulsion Games, and Undead Labs becoming independent studios.\n\nOne of the most significant impacts of the memo is the shift of the next mainline Halo game's development to Activision. A specialized team from Activision will now take charge of the Halo franchise, while Halo Studios (previously known as 343 Industries) will focus on supporting the existing community and games. A smaller team will remain at Halo Studios for this purpose. The reorganization also expands the roles of studios such as Bethesda, Activision, and King, while consolidating Playground Games and Turn 10. Xbox confirmed that Ninja Theory will close down, with its fate undecided, and consultations over Arkane's future are ongoing, expected to continue through the end of 2026.\n\nMicrosoft's gaming division has been undergoing a series of restructurings since acquiring Activision Blizzard for roughly $69 billion in October 2023. This is the largest gaming industry deal in history. Layoffs have occurred in each of the subsequent years, with this year's cuts framed under the \"reset\" banner as an ongoing, multi-phase process. Employees are expected to participate in a company-wide town hall on October 6 to reflect on the restructuring and discuss the company's strong lineup of games.",
  "summary": "Xbox is eliminating another 268 roles as part of its ongoing corporate restructuring, the company confirmed in an internal memo. The memo, titled 'Continuing Our Reset' and authored by Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty, was sent to Team Xbox employees globally as an update on the reset the company outlined earlier this year. The layoffs span Halo Studios, other first-party teams, and the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}