Latest news with #TheInitiative
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Stunning List Of Cancelled Xbox Projects, From ‘Perfect Dark' To ‘Everwild'
Perfect Dark While it was known before this that Xbox layoffs were coming this week, what wasn't known was their scope. It's not just that jobs that have been cut, but a number of high-profile projects, and others that might have been great if they were not killed early on like this. These news stories have been coming so fast that it's hard to keep track of everything that's been cut, so here's a list of the disastrous dissection of projects that have accompanying layoffs. Significant ones, in many cases. This is a running list, as more news may drop at any moment. Perfect Dark – The long-gestating shooter had reported troubled development despite Microsoft assembling a 'AAAA' studio, The Initiative, specifically to make it, eventually also bringing in Tomb Raider's Crystal Dynamics to help. That did not help, and what once was one of the most promising-sounding, large-scale games (alongside Fable) is now completely dead, and The Initiative itself has been closed down, resulting in significant job losses. On top of that, rumors are circling back around that the recent, flashy trailer Microsoft showed off for the game after years of silence may have been more or less faked and not actual gameplay. Everwild Everwild – Rare, the storied developer, was given a chance to develop a brand new IP, and now that chance has been erased, despite just months ago, Xbox exec Phil Spencer was singing its praises and talking about the time it needed: 'It's nice to see the team with Everwild and the progress that they're making,' Spencer said. 'It has been [a while] FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia LadderRomero Shooters – An unnamed shooter from Romero Games, of the legendary John Romero, has announced it has lost the funding it was getting from Xbox, and the game may never see the light of day. In addition to that, funding was lost for 'several other unannounced projects.' The developer is unequivocal about how devasting this all is. It's reported that other Bethesda-based projects have been scrapped, but there are few details there. ZeniMax MMORPG – This was supposed to be a new MMORPG from the team behind the long-running Elder Scrolls Online, codenamed Blackbird, which has been worked on for years. Warcraft Rumble – Layoffs with this Blizzard team mean that support for the Warcraft-themed mobile game will no longer produce new content, even if it continues to exist. Halo Infinite The Deep Cuts – The rest of these are a high-level series of layoffs that may not have specific projects announced as cut, but it's a wide range of developers. Team 10 has been gutted to the point where it seems questionable if there will be future Forza Motorsport games, only Horizon. Cuts hit Call of Duty studios Sledgehammer and Raven. King, Microsoft's purchase mobile giant, will cut 200 jobs. Specific social teams at Blizzard have been cut, with many roles now outsourced. Halo Studios lost some employees as the future of Microsoft's biggest IP remains in flux years after its last underwhelming release. And all of this is after more layoffs and shutdown 18 months ago which closed Arkan Austin, Alpha Dog Games and the developer of Xbox's best game in a while, Hi-Fi Rush's Tango Gameworks, which had to be saved by another company. All this, as Phil Spencer pointed out in his layoff note, for some reason, comes at a profitable time for Xbox which says its expansion strategy is going well. Well, isn't that nice to hear. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Geek Culture
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Microsoft Cancels 'Perfect Dark' Reboot, Shutters Development Studio
Xbox studio The Initiative has been shut down amid the latest wave of Microsoft layoffs, killing the troubled Perfect Dark reboot along with it. According to IGN's sources, over 9,000 staff at Microsoft are set to lose their jobs. Apart from The Initiative, sources also state that beloved British studio Rare has also seen a hit to personnel, with its long-in-development title Everwild being cancelled as a result. Additionally, Bethesda's London office, as well as Candy Crush studio King, have also been affected by the layoffs. Perfect Dark Zero (2005) This unfortunate news comes via a series of memos sent to Microsoft gaming staff, the first of which was from Xbox boss Phil Spencer, which read: Today we are sharing decisions that will impact colleagues across our organization. To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft's lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness. Out of respect for those impacted today, the specifics of today's notifications and any organizational shifts will be shared by your team leaders in the coming days. While Spencer's message did not include specific details on which studios and staff were affected, a follow-up memo by head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty confirmed the cancellation of Perfect Dark and Everwild , and the shuttering of The Initiative, writing: Following Phil's note, I want to share more about the changes to the Studios business units. We have made the decision to stop development of Perfect Dark and Everwild as well as wind down several unannounced projects across our portfolio. As part of this, we are closing one of our studios, The Initiative. These decisions, along with other changes across our teams, reflect a broader effort to adjust priorities and focus resources to set up our teams for greater success within a changing industry landscape. We did not make these choices lightly, as each project and team represent years of effort, imagination, and commitment. Perfect Dark (2000) Perfect Dark originally released in 2000 for the Nintendo 64 and was a first-person shooter centred on agent Joanna Dark as she attempts to stop an extraterrestrial conspiracy. The Initiative, a studio formed by Xbox in 2018, was working on a modern reboot together with Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics. The first trailer for the Perfect Dark reboot was subsequently released in 2024 during the Xbox Showcase, featuring a sneak peek at gameplay, which featured a mix of slick traversal and first-person combat, alongside the reveal of returning protagonist Dark. The doomed project would then go radio silent, with a notable absence at this year's Xbox Showcase in June. It seems Microsoft is on a warpath as of late, making a huge number of cuts to its gaming teams since 2024, including laying off 1,900 staff in January that year, followed by the closing of developers Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin in May. Prior to the current layoffs, the most recent staff cuts occurred in May this year, when Microsoft let go of approximately 6,000 staff, amounting to 3% of its entire workforce. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Microsoft Perfect Dark The Initiative Xbox
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Microsoft cancels Perfect Dark Reboot production, closes studio behind the game
Microsoft has stopped development on two major Xbox game projects, Perfect Dark and Everwild, and is closing the studio behind Perfect Dark, The Initiative. This move is part of broader layoffs affecting about four percent of Microsoft's global workforce. Microsoft has cancelled Perfect Dark and Everwild games, and is closing studios and cutting jobs in its gaming division.(X) The decision was confirmed in a memo from Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios. According to the memo, the cancellation of Perfect Dark and Everwild led to the closure of The Initiative. Booty also mentioned that several other unannounced projects across Microsoft's gaming portfolio would be wound down, The Verge reported. Also read: Self-Regulation in Action: How Probo's Safety Features Promote Responsible Gaming The Initiative was created by Xbox in 2018 with the goal of reviving the Perfect Dark series. The game was to be co-developed with Crystal Dynamics, a studio known for the Tomb Raider series. Perfect Dark, a first-person shooter originally developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64 in 2000, had its reboot's first gameplay shown in 2024. However, the game did not appear in Microsoft's June 2025 showcase, where it had been expected to feature prominently. Also read: Apple reportedly planning to buy Perplexity AI to power future Siri upgrades and AI-driven search features Everwild Development Also Halted Everwild, a game by Rare announced in 2019, also faced development challenges. The project was restarted from scratch in 2021, but it is now also being cancelled. Rare itself remains active despite the recent changes. These cancellations come amid a larger pattern of layoffs and restructuring within Microsoft's gaming division. Since acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, Microsoft has repeatedly cut jobs. The company laid off 1,900 employees in January 2024, closed studios like Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks shortly after, and reduced staff again in September 2024 by 650 employees. In May 2025, Microsoft cut an additional 6,000 jobs, equal to about three percent of its entire workforce. This recent round marks the fourth major layoff affecting Microsoft's gaming operations in 18 months. Also read: Nintendo sells record 3.5 million Switch 2 consoles in four days Industry reports indicate that other Xbox studios may also face job cuts. For example, Raven, known for the Call of Duty franchise, and Turn 10, the developer behind Forza Motorsport, are also rumoured to be reducing staff. These moves come as Microsoft prepares to release next-generation Xbox consoles and maintain a strong presence at major gaming events like Gamescom. Mobile finder: Infinix GT 30 Pro LATEST price, specs and all details
See - Sada Elbalad
2 days ago
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Microsoft Announces Largest Layoff in Two Years
Taarek Refaat Microsoft has initiated its largest round of layoffs in two years, confirming on July 2 that approximately 9,100 employees will lose their jobs. This latest move, which affects about 4% of its global workforce, follows a similar round of 6,000 layoffs in May and marks the company's fourth major reduction since early 2023. According to internal sources and company filings, the decision stems from Microsoft's ongoing effort to restructure itself around artificial intelligence and cloud computing—sectors CEO Satya Nadella has repeatedly described as 'the company's future.' In official statements, Microsoft said the cuts are part of a "strategic realignment" aimed at streamlining operations, eliminating unnecessary management layers, and prioritizing engineering and product development roles in AI-related initiatives. The layoffs have hit several departments, but the most visible and controversial impact is within Microsoft's gaming division. Hundreds of employees across Xbox Game Studios, including teams at Rare, The Initiative, and Turn 10, have been let go. Multiple game development projects, including anticipated titles like Perfect Dark and Ever-wild, have been shelved indefinitely. Most notably, The Initiative, a Santa Monica-based studio launched with great fanfare in 2018, has been officially shut down. Beyond gaming, Microsoft's global sales and marketing divisions are undergoing extensive downsizing. Insiders report that around 45,000 roles are being reevaluated for redundancy, with many layoffs concentrated in customer engagement, partner support, and regional sales operations. Judson Althoff, Microsoft's Chief Commercial Officer and a central figure in its global enterprise strategy, is said to be taking a sabbatical as the company recalibrates its commercial strategy. The cuts are not limited to front-facing roles. Internal administrative functions, cybersecurity teams, and mid-level management have also been significantly affected. Employees described an increasingly algorithmic and impersonal layoff process, with performance data playing a central role in termination decisions. Some roles, particularly those tied to legacy services and slower-growing segments, are being eliminated entirely rather than relocated. Despite these significant reductions, Microsoft's financial performance remains strong. The company posted \$70 billion in revenue last quarter and nearly \$26 billion in net profit, reflecting robust demand for Azure cloud services and enterprise productivity tools. However, with competitors like Google and Amazon also investing aggressively in AI infrastructure, Microsoft appears determined to optimize its workforce for what it sees as the next wave of computing. Reactions within the company have been mixed. Some employees see the shift as a necessary evolution, while others express concern over morale, especially among creative teams in the gaming division. Anonymous posts on internal forums have criticized the process as 'cold,' 'data-obsessed,' and 'disconnected from the human side of innovation.' This wave of layoffs follows similar reductions in January 2023, early 2024, and May 2025, showing a consistent pattern of Microsoft trimming personnel while doubling down on automation, machine learning, and next-gen computing platforms. Industry analysts point out that while such shifts may boost efficiency and investor confidence in the short term, they risk undermining the company's diversity of talent and long-term creative capacity—especially in areas like gaming and customer engagement, where trust and innovation are paramount. Microsoft has promised to support affected employees with severance packages, career placement assistance, and reskilling programs, though details vary depending on region and role. For now, the company's internal message is clear: AI is the priority, and everything else must adapt—or be left behind. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence"
The Verge
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Blizzard is winding down support for its Warcraft mobile game
Microsoft's layoff of roughly 9,000 employees is continuing to have downstream effects at the company's subsidiaries. Aftermath reports that as many as 100 developers at Blizzard have been impacted, and as a result the studio is winding down development on its mobile tower defense game Warcraft Rumble. In an announcement, Blizzard wrote that while the game will not be abandoned entirely, the company will cease development on any new content. 'Moving forward, we'll continue supporting Rumble with updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes, but no new content. ' Blizzard continued, saying Rumble, 'struggled to find its footing relative to our ambition for its long-term success.' And while its developers worked to respond to player feedback that, 'ultimately wasn't enough to put the game on a path to sustainability.' Warcraft Rumble was the first mobile focused game in the Warcraft Universe. It launched in 2023 after nine years in development and was originally one of two mobile games Blizzard was working on, the other being Blizzard's take on Pokémon Go. That game was never officially announced by Blizzard and cancelled sometime in 2022. Warcraft Rumble joins a handful of other Blizzard games in development stasis along with Starcraft II and Heroes of the Storm. Earlier today, Xbox also announced that it was cancelling the Rare-developed Everwild, as well as the Perfect Dark remake, while shuttering The Initiative, the studio making it.
