Age of Empires Studio World's Edge Hit Hard by Massive Xbox Layoffs and Project Cancellation
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Microsoft's latest round of Xbox restructuring has reportedly hit Age of Empires studio World's Edge with massive layoffs and a cancelled game project.
Recent industry reports reveal that World's Edge, the studio steering the Age of Empires franchise, has lost nearly half of its staff amid ongoing corporate restructuring at Microsoft. According to details shared by affected developers on industry forums and LinkedIn, including studio creative director Adam Isgreen and senior software engineer Andrew Martz, the cuts formed part of a transition moving the team toward Activision. Sources indicate these layoffs also resulted in the cancellation of an unannounced project the team had in development.
While World's Edge primarily operated as a central stewardship team for historical real time strategy games like Age of Empires IV and Age of Mythology Retold rather than handling every line of code internally, the human toll is undeniable. Longtime franchise veteran Earnest Yuen voiced his support for the displaced developers online, reminding the community of the artists, designers, and engineers who poured years of passion into shaping these shared virtual spaces for millions of players.
These reductions are part of a wider series of operational shifts across Microsoft's gaming division under leadership changes. As large publishers continue to optimize corporate structures and shuffle studios around, the recurring cost falls squarely on the creators who build the platforms and communities we rely on for social connection and daily entertainment. For players invested in the future of strategy gaming, the hope remains that the remaining talent can protect the legacy of these beloved franchises moving forward.
Tags: Industry News, Xbox, PC Gaming, Strategy Games
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun