• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

[Game File] Microsoft to cut 650 more gaming jobs

Elios83

Member
The gaming industry is in full course correction mode.
It's pointless to pretend to be shocked or act like these people will now live under a bridge and won't find another job soon anyway.
Still it sucks and it's hilarious that Microsoft will continue to claim that everything was already planned by Activision and it's not their fault.
 

Jaybe

Member
Imagine investing $80 billion in acquisitions in an industry that isn’t even growing. Bet Satya wishes he could CTRL+Z all this.
 

Northeastmonk

Gold Member
You’re fired, but no games were cancelled. You should be happy. It’s the irony of it all. That’s the worst part. Firing a bunch of people, but reminding them that they saved many games from being cancelled or shutdown.
 

M1chl

Currently Gif and Meme Champion
The majority of the cuts will impact people in those corporate and support roles at Activision Blizzard, according to a source familiar with the matter.

As in the OP.

I am too super concerned

Well, I am, but not about this
 

StueyDuck

Member
People in forums need to understand one thing: They are not representative.
Most gamers don't read about gaming, they just play their Fortnite or whatever. They will never hear about cutting jobs or aquisitions, never heard of Concord, have 0 interest in a Pro etc,
Yeah... no.

Gamers may not know the minutia of what goes on but not knowing about ps5 pro or a failed first party game, that person would literally be living under a rock . The ps5pro vid alone has almost 2 mil views.

You basically using the mobile gamer angle here which has been proven nonsense for quite some time now when it comes to the console gaming market
 
Because the competition isn't looking so hot currently either.

Concord + pro price softens the blow for MS.

Instead of 100% attention they might see less because people are still mad somewhere else
What a sad lil #sonytoo duck you are.
Toy Story Pity GIF
 

Woopah

Member
DEI is a detriment. It makes the companies more fragile in general
Depends on how it's done, that hasn't happened at my company for example.

Edit: Basically, the goal of DEI should be to cast the broadest possible net in terms of talent (while hiring the best person for each job) and achieving diversity of thought.

If you're taking a performative approach to DEI and treating as a tickbox exercise or numbers game, then you're fucking up.
 
Last edited:

Kokoloko85

Member
DaEShyf.jpeg


Maybe Microsoft can give them one of these. Great price, no complaints from there employees the VG media.

There cutting 650 jobs in the gaming department to fund more bogus shills
 
Last edited:

Rudius

Member
This has nothing to do with DEI.
I would not be so sure.

DEI and the like make companies less efficient, so they end up spending more to get less, in extreme cases wasting a lot to get nothing, like with Concord. It eventually comes to a point in which companies start running out of money to burn, and then we get the layoffs. The particular reasons might differ in each specific case, but If they were more efficient and overall more competent (by hiring always the best they can get) the whole industry would be in a better position.
 
Last edited:
MS --- "We can't compete with Sony. Let's buy up all the third-party publishers to take all the big 3rd party games away from them!!"
Common Sense --- "If you do that, MS, and make the games exclusive to your pathetic shrinking platform, and then put the games up for free on GamePass, those publishers will struggle to be profitable, and you won't ever recoup your investment."

MS --- spends an obscene amount of money buying up publishers
MS --- "Oh shit, our hardware platform am ded! Quick put all the games out on PS and Switch and start laying off people to reduce operating costs"

Common sense --- "I told you, Spencer, you fucking tard. You fuck around, and now your find out."
 
I would not be so sure.

DEI and the like make companies less efficient, so they end up spending more to get less, in extreme cases wasting a lot to get nothing, like with Concord. It eventually comes to a point in which companies start running out of money to burn, and then we get the layoffs. The particular reasons might differ in each specific case, but If they were more efficient and overall more competent (by hiring always the best they can get) the whole industry would be in a better position.

Man......acquisitions have been happening since we have had businesses, and so have cuts due to those acquisitions to eliminate redundancies. I know forced DEI sucks, but this more than likely ain't it.
Also, it's crazy that so many topics on this board eventually dissolve into DEI.....lol.

"Car didn't start this morning.........effin' DEI"
hehe
 

MMaRsu

Member
MS --- "We can't compete with Sony. Let's buy up all the third-party publishers to take all the big 3rd party games away from them!!"
Common Sense --- "If you do that, MS, and make the games exclusive to your pathetic shrinking platform, and then put the games up for free on GamePass, those publishers will struggle to be profitable, and you won't ever recoup your investment."

MS --- spends an obscene amount of money buying up publishers
MS --- "Oh shit, our hardware platform am ded! Quick put all the games out on PS and Switch and start laying off people to reduce operating costs"

Common sense --- "I told you, Spencer, you fucking tard. You fuck around, and now your find out."

You know they dont need 2 marketing departments or two PR departments ????

Fucking hell man
 

tmlDan

Member
Because the competition isn't looking so hot currently either.

Concord + pro price softens the blow for MS.

Instead of 100% attention they might see less because people are still mad somewhere else
I mean they also released Astrobot

Yeah... no.

Gamers may not know the minutia of what goes on but not knowing about ps5 pro or a failed first party game, that person would literally be living under a rock . The ps5pro vid alone has almost 2 mil views.

You basically using the mobile gamer angle here which has been proven nonsense for quite some time now when it comes to the console gaming market
Huh? You do know that 98% of gamers don’t pay attention, none of my friends even knew about concord and are avid gamers lol
 
Last edited:

Cakeboxer

Member
Yeah... no.

Gamers may not know the minutia of what goes on but not knowing about ps5 pro or a failed first party game, that person would literally be living under a rock . The ps5pro vid alone has almost 2 mil views.

You basically using the mobile gamer angle here which has been proven nonsense for quite some time now when it comes to the console gaming market
I got a huge circle of friends and acquaintances with more than 10 PS5 and Switch owners. They are the epitome of casuals. None of them know anything about the Activision aquisition, job cuts or whatever. Maybe some will know about the PS5 Pro, but just because of the ridculous price. If something goes not viral on the social media shit, casuals most likely won't know about it, because they are not actively looking all gaming related stuff up like the people here..
Ask 1000 casuals about Astro Bots and get 950 "What the fuck is an Astro Bot?". Why? Because Sony alsmot didn't market it.
 
Last edited:

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Looks like it’s tons of support functions getting the axe. To me, that’s typically non sales or marketing people. So it’ll probably skew to hr, finance, category, and the like. But you never know. That might means sales and marketing too in this case.

That tech hiring bloat and/or acquisition redundancies showing their colours.
 

MiguelItUp

Member
It really has been a rough year for the game industry, hell, software and tech too. So many folks have been looking for work, and many more will be as well. Here's to hoping everyone that's affected lands on their feet sooner than later.
 
Man......acquisitions have been happening since we have had businesses, and so have cuts due to those acquisitions to eliminate redundancies. I know forced DEI sucks, but this more than likely ain't it.
Also, it's crazy that so many topics on this board eventually dissolve into DEI.....lol.

"Car didn't start this morning.........effin' DEI"
hehe


Having bloated teams with staff not related to the core business is 100% due to DEI.
 
Having bloated teams with staff not related to the core business is 100% due to DEI.

I have no idea what you're talking about. This thread is about MS cutting jobs and as quoted in the OP, Spencer related this to their purchase of AB. This has type of thing has been happening forever and is more than likely due to redundancies. Even if I did try to parse together what you are saying, I'm still perplexed, because you could have a bloated team full of white males that look totally alike with some staff not related to the core business (not sure what that means in this context).
Is that 100% DEI?
 
Last edited:

Sooner

Member
They really seem to only care about IPs. The people who actually made those IPs valuable, in the first place, are expendable.
 

Trogdor1123

Member
Depends on how it's done, that hasn't happened at my company for example.

Edit: Basically, the goal of DEI should be to cast the broadest possible net in terms of talent (while hiring the best person for each job) and achieving diversity of thought.

If you're taking a performative approach to DEI and treating as a tickbox exercise or numbers game, then you're fucking up.
That makes sense. I did a bunch of engagement at my work when we did our inclusion policy and not one person asked for quotas, or special spaces (except for spaces to help disabled folks), or anything like that. They wanted to make sure that the net was being thrown out equally and they were right. I believe one person said equal opportunity is all they are asking for, or something along those lines. It was a great conversation I think I’m a better person for it.
 
Wait, wait, wait! You mean to tell me M$ acquired a bunch of other companies, didn't know how to utilize them properly, and has rendered them shells of their former selves?!

patrick-stewart-mild-shock.gif
 

CuNi

Member
To be fair, I think many studios need to cut some slack off.
Way too many people working on games nowadays, and they don't even proportionally improve the quality of any AAA game.
The budgets need to be slashed as well.

Nobody can tell me a well managed studio needs 100+ Million USD to create an entertaining AAA game.
 

Woopah

Member
That makes sense. I did a bunch of engagement at my work when we did our inclusion policy and not one person asked for quotas, or special spaces (except for spaces to help disabled folks), or anything like that. They wanted to make sure that the net was being thrown out equally and they were right. I believe one person said equal opportunity is all they are asking for, or something along those lines. It was a great conversation I think I’m a better person for it.
Exactly, this sounds like the right and smart way to do DEI.
 

Fess

Member
i just wanted call of duty in my gamepass, don't blame me
Yeah, I hadn’t played a Call of Duty since the 360 launch, had a great time playing through MW3 when it popped up on Gamepass. Hoping more of the old ones arrive soon, fans are saying it’s been going downhill for awhile so I want to experience the best ones. Looking forward to BO6 too!
 
Top Bottom