Phil Spencer, head of the video game sector of Microsoft, addressed the issue of job cuts this week, telling staff it’s about “painful choices”.
On Wednesday, Microsoft confirmed its intention to lay off about 4.5% of the US tech giant’s 220,000 employees (about 10,000 people).
The layoffs were ultimately confirmed to affect the company’s gaming divisions, specifically the developer of Halo, 343 Industries, Bethesda Game Studios and marketing.
Phil Spencer sent out a company-wide email on Fridayobtained and published by Kotaku, in which he communicated to employees that the cuts would help ensure long-term success.
“This has been a difficult week across Microsoft and here, within our teams“, he wrote. “Now that many of the 1:1 and team conversations have happened, I want to take a moment to reiterate the message you’ve heard from your leaders.
“This is a difficult time for our company and this week’s stocks have been painful picks. The Gaming Leadership Team had to make decisions that, in our opinion, have enabled us to ensure long-term success of our products and our business, but the individual results of those decisions are real. I know it hurts. Thank you for supporting our colleagues in crafting these changes.”
The email continues: “We will have many opportunities over the next few weeks to get in touch and answer your questions, including next week’s Monthly Gaming Update for the teams attending that meeting, and I am in close contact with the teams. of ZeniMax to provide support.”
“The GLT and I are committed to being as transparent as possible. Moving forward in ambiguity is challenging, but I am confident that together we will be able to overcome this difficult moment.
“Xbox has a long history of success because of the work you do for gamers, creators and each other. Your work is deeply appreciated and valued in these times of change and is an integral part of our corporate momentum.”
Microsoft said Wednesday that the cuts were being made “in response to macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities.”
According to a Business Insider report released the same day, the company was deliberately targeting what it deemed to be “underperforming employees” in at least some parts of the company.
