The San Francisco Chronicle has reported on the details of Microsoft’s layoff of 1,900 gaming department employees. Microsoft has submitted documentation to state agencies in California.
They have laid off 86 employees in Novato and closed offices in the city. Additionally, 76 employees have been let go in Foster City.
The Foster City office is the headquarters of Sledgehammer Games, a studio responsible for the main Call of Duty franchise. There have been previous reports of layoffs at this studio. However, the interesting case is the Novato office, which belongs to Toys for Bob, a subsidiary of Activision. This studio is known for its work on game series like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Skylanders (and more recently, assisting with Call of Duty Warzone). This raises questions about the fate of Toys for Bob, whether it is just the closure of the office and remote work for employees or if the studio itself will be shut down entirely. Official answers to these questions have not yet been provided.
TLDR: Microsoft’s gaming division has laid off 1,900 employees, with 86 in Novato and 76 in Foster City. The closure of the Novato office belonging to Toys for Bob raises questions about the future of the studio and its employees. There is no official confirmation regarding whether the studio will shut down completely or if employees will continue working remotely.
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