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REPORTED · NEWSPublished Jul 7, 2026

Microsoft’s Xbox Division Lays Off Thousands, Drops Game Studios

EMPLOYEES AFFECTED
1,000
SHARE OF WORKFORCE
~0.4%
EFFECTIVE DATE
Jul 6, 2026
1,000 OF 228,000 EMPLOYEES

What we know

Location: Redmond, Washington.

Department affected: Xbox / video-game studios.

Based on news reporting.

Summary

Microsoft Corporation’s Xbox division carried out a major restructuring that resulted in the elimination of roughly 1,000 jobs and the closure or dropping of multiple game studios. The cuts, centered in Xbox’s game-development arm in Redmond, Washington, were part of a strategic reset aimed at refocusing resources away from some internally run studios and toward broader priorities. Microsoft cited business pressures and a need to streamline operations in its gaming unit as reasons for the layoffs and studio shutdowns. The move affects several teams within Xbox and is part of larger industry consolidation and cost-control trends in gaming.

Microsoft Corporation cut 1,000 jobs affecting its Xbox / video-game studios team as of July 6, 2026.

That is roughly 0.4% of the 228,000 people Microsoft Corporation employs.

LayoffTalk has tracked 51 layoff events at Microsoft Corporation since January 2023, affecting a combined 124,423 employees.

Comments (1)

Anonymous by default. Be kind — people reading this may be going through it right now.

LTLayoffTalk StaffStaff3 hours ago

Microsoft Corporation cut 1,000 jobs on July 6, 2026. Were you affected, or do you know people who were? How was it handled — severance, notice, which teams? You can post anonymously below.

SOURCE
News reporting
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M
Microsoft CorporationMSFT
Technology · 228,000 employees
51
EVENTS TRACKED
198K
AFFECTED SINCE 2023
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CREATED JUL 7, 2026LAST UPDATED JUL 7, 2026