Age of Empires Developer World's Edge Loses Nearly Half Its Staff in Massive Xbox Restructuring
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Age of Empires developer World's Edge reportedly lost nearly half of its staff during a massive Xbox restructuring and transition under Activision.
The gaming industry is reeling from another round of sweeping structural changes at Xbox. Recent reports indicate that World's Edge, the dedicated studio behind the modern revival of the Age of Empires franchise, lost nearly half of its staff during a chaotic transition that folds the studio under Activision.
Former creative director Adam Isgreen confirmed the layoffs on industry forums and professional networks, revealing that he was among the many talented developers let go. Isgreen leaves behind a legacy spanning over sixteen years at Microsoft, where he helped shape critical pillars of Xbox history, from early arcade titles to the triumphant return of classic real time strategy gaming.
This personnel reduction is part of a much larger, highly controversial corporate reshuffling across Microsoft's gaming division. With multiple studios merging, changing leadership lines, or facing severe downscaling, the community is left questioning the future stability of beloved franchises and the human cost behind these corporate strategies.
Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by these sudden layoffs. As the dust settles on these sweeping reorganization efforts, the real test will be whether the remaining teams can carry the torch forward while maintaining the quality players expect.
Tags: Xbox, Age of Empires, Industry News, Layoffs, Strategy Games
Original article: Eurogamer