Report: Microsoft Preparing To Lay Off Thousands

[Dr. Pezus]

Holy shitballs that is a lot.

[Xevross]

A heck of a lot. Nokia is pretty much dead now, never liked them anyway

[Raven]

Now the question is, where did the other 5,500 layoffs hit?

[darkknightkryta]

Wow, Nadia really wants to clean up the mess all these execs made over the years...

[ethomaz]

Xbox saying good bye to Europe.

A source told MCV last night that as many as 75 per cent of full time Xbox EMEA roles in Reading were being cut - with staff having to reapply for the remaining 25 per cent of roles. The UK Xbox team has also been reduced slightly by 10 per cent and all contractor roles have also been cut. However, Xbox did not confirm or deny these numbers when contacted by MCV.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/deep-cuts-at-xbox-europe-as-nadella-swings-axe/0135568

[Dr. Pezus]

just before they launch in the rest of Europe. Nice

[Xevross]

Yeah good luck with Europe now xbox. Maybe they've just given already

[Raven]

But but but.... I was told by very reliable, completely unbiased sources on the internet that Microsoft's game development would not be affected at all by these layoffs.

Seriously, Microsoft just dramatically reduced their ability to work with independent studios outside of North America. I'm wondering what they mean by the Xbox UK team. Are they simply referring to the marketing team there or are they talking about all UK bodies that work on the Xbox brand? Because if they mean all UK bodies then that could include layoffs at Lionhead Studios, Lift London, and Rare.

[darkknightkryta]

Yeah, Nadella is gonna turn Xbox into those free to play games for their Windows Phone platform. 

Another interesting thing of note; Microsoft's Android money is apparently drying up.  It's very possible they're not gonna be able to get licensing money anymore and they're not gonna be able to cover up the billions of losses that the hardware division generates.  It explains why he's starting to shrink the division; starting with lost causes (Xbox in Europe, video content).