Xbox Lays Off 268 More People, Hands Halo Series to Activision

Xbox announced it is cutting 268 roles across its first-party studios, XGS management, and central functions, with Halo Studios significantly affected. In an Xbox Wire post titled Continuing Our Reset, Xbox content chief Matt Booty said Activision will expand its remit to World's Edge and Rare and form a new internal team to develop the next Halo title, while a small team at Halo Studios continues supporting the community and in-market games. The post also details studio reshuffles including Bethesda absorbing Obsidian, King taking on Microsoft Casual Games, and Playground and Turn 10 merging, plus divestitures in which Compulsion and Double Fine spun off, Undead Labs signed with a new publisher, and Ninja Theory and Arkane face proposed closures.