Today, Microsoft has made 4% redundant of its total workload (or about 9,100 employees), and as part of this news, it has been revealed that there are significant cuts on several Xbox teams, including Rare and the initiative that has led to the cancellation of some of the most anticipated games.
The initiative is completely closed and therefore will be cancelled as work is stopped in Perfect Dark. Similarly, like EverWild Canceled, the rare and substantial cuts were made when head talent such as Gregg Mayles (over 35 at Rare) were fired by Xbox.
It is also said that several unreleased titles have also been discontinued, including the next MMORPG for Zenimax Online.
In a statement provided to employees by Matt Booty, he said:
“We have decided to stop developments for Perfect Dark and Everwild and close out some unannounced projects throughout our portfolio. As part of this, we will conclude our initiative, one of our studios, our commitment.
“Our overall portfolio strategy remains unchanged. We are building games that excite players, continue to grow the biggest franchise, and create new stories, worlds and characters. We have over 40 projects in active development, and the ongoing momentum for titles shipping this fall, and we have a strong slate headed for 2026.
“For those who are directly affected, we work closely with HR and studio leadership to provide support, including retirement, career transition assistance, and opportunities to explore roles in other teams where possible.
To everyone in our studio: Thank you. Your creativity and resilience continue to define who we are. I believe in the strength of our team and the direction we are on the road ahead. ” – Matt Booty, Xbox Game Studios”
This story still appears to be developing, so if any other major news comes up, I will continue to post it.
