Microsoft's gaming division terminates employment of 1,900 workers

Microsoft's gaming division is set to lay off nearly 2,000 workers following its $69 billion merger deal. Xbox boss Phil Spencer sent a memo to employees stating that the company plans to cut 1,900 positions out of its 22,000-strong workforce. The decision comes three months after Microsoft acquired Activision-Blizzard, known for popular franchises like Call of Duty and Warcraft. Spencer describes the layoffs as a "painful decision" in the letter, which also suggests that staff within the Xbox division and Zenimax, which oversees studios like Bethesda and Arkane, will be affected. It has been reported that Blizzard's ongoing survival game project, Odyssey, has been cancelled as well. These layoffs come after a wave of job cuts in the video game and tech industries this year, including Riot Games' recent announcement of an 11% reduction in its workforce. Microsoft itself had previously announced 10,000 job losses in January.