Xbox cuts 268 jobs, hands Halo to Activision as restructuring continues
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Neutral summary
On September 22, 2026, Microsoft announced the latest phase of its sweeping Xbox restructuring, cutting 268 jobs, mostly at Halo Studios and in management roles. The company said it has completed “roughly three-quarters” of the planned 3,200 job cuts announced in July. The next Halo game will be developed by a new team at Activision, which has said it aims to create the “greatest Halo of all time.” As part of the shake-up, Obsidian, known for Fallout: New Vegas, officially moves under Bethesda, while Rare and World's Edge fall under Activision Blizzard. Ninja Theory, the studio behind Hellblade, may be closed if no buyer emerges, and talks continue over the future of Lyon-based Arkane. Layoffs have hit other teams as well: the creative director of World's Edge reported roughly half the studio was cut. Halo Studios' cinematic director Josh Daniels confirmed he was promoted and laid off within the same week. Reports also suggest the new Halo from Activision could be a full reboot of the franchise, ignoring previous games, though this remains unconfirmed. Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto said he was “shocked but not entirely surprised” by the news.
How it was framed
Outlets: 37. Countries: 14. Facts in the shared core: 3.
Publication timeline
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Игромания (outlet profile)
Xbox может сократить сотни сотрудников на этой неделе — Halo Studios под угрозой. Как сообщают различные источники, Xbox собирается сократить сотни сотрудников на этой неделе. Под угрозой — Halo Studios.
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VGC (outlet profile)
Xbox will reportedly ‘consolidate several studios’ in new major wave of layoffs. Microsoft is reportedly planning to cut hundreds more Xbox jobs this week
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Frandroid (outlet profile)
Xbox : nouvelle vague de licenciements en vue, des studios disparaitraient. Selon The Information, Xbox supprimerait plusieurs centaines de postes supplémentaires cette semaine et fusionnerait plusieurs de ses studios.…
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Vandal (outlet profile)
XBOX prepara otra gran oleada de despidos y reorganizará varios estudios, según un nuevo informe. Microsoft planea despedir a cientos de trabajadores de XBOX esta semana y consolidar varios estudios en una nueva fase de…
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DTF (outlet profile)
The Information: Xbox готовится провести вторую масштабную волну сокращений до конца сентября. Компания также намерена объединить несколько студий.
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Gamekult (outlet profile)
Xbox : des centaines de licenciements à venir d'ici la fin de la semaine ?. D'après le média The Information, Xbox s'apprêterait à abattre l'épée de Damoclès sur ses équipes — dont Blizzard — pour l'énième fois de l'ann…
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Numerama (outlet profile)
Xbox préparerait une nouvelle vague de licenciements et un regroupement de ses studios. Selon un rapport du média The Information, Xbox serait à nouveau sur le point de supprimer plusieurs centaines de postes cette sema…
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Exame (outlet profile)
Microsoft prepara nova rodada de demissões no Xbox após crise da divisão de games. Reestruturação prevê cortes de centenas de funcionários, integração de estúdios e foco em franquias como Minecraft e The Elder Scrolls
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Habr News (outlet profile)
Xbox планирует уволить сотни сотрудников и объединить несколько игровых студий. По данным The Information, Xbox собирается на этой неделе уволить сотни сотрудников и одновременно объединить несколько игровых с…
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StopGame (outlet profile)
СМИ: XBOX скоро проведёт ещё одно сокращение и объединит несколько студий. На этой неделе из игрового подразделения Microsoft уволят сотни сотрудников. Кроме того, XBOX планирует консолидировать несколько своих студий.…
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Eurogamer (outlet profile)
Second wave of Xbox cuts reported to be happening this week, with "several" studios apparently facing consolidation. Xbox is reportedly preparing to lay off hundreds more people this week as the company plans to consoli…
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3DNews (outlet profile)
Слухи: Xbox скоро уволит сотни сотрудников и объединит несколько игровых студий, а Halo уйдёт к Activision. Прокатившиеся летом по студиям Xbox в рамках реструктуризации подразделения массовые увольнения не станут после…
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Times of India (outlet profile)
Microsoft may announce layoffs in Xbox division later today
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GameSpot (outlet profile)
Xbox’s Second Wave Of Planned Layoffs Is Reportedly Starting As Studios Face Major Restructuring. The second wave of Xbox layoffs could be imminent, as new reports claim that Microsoft is also looking to further restruc…
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Flow Games (outlet profile)
Xbox deve promover nova onda de demissões. Com uma nova onda de demissões na divisão Xbox, o Halo poderia ir parar nas mãos da Activision Blizzard. Entenda o rumor!
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IGN (outlet profile)
Handing Halo to Activision Makes Business Sense, but Is That Enough to Save the Series?. The next Halo game will be developed by Activision, but is the slick Call of Duty development pipeline enough to save Master Chief?
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IGN (outlet profile)
CONFIRMED: Microsoft Hands Halo to Call of Duty Developer Activision as Part of Seismic Xbox Studios Shakeup. Microsoft has today confirmed that the next mainline Halo game will be developed by Call of Duty maker Activi…
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The Verge (outlet profile)
Activision is taking over Halo as part of a massive Xbox shake-up. Microsoft is announcing a massive restructuring of its Xbox studios today, months after laying off 1,600 Xbox employees and selling off studios. The lat…
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VGC (outlet profile)
Xbox officially announces more layoffs and widespread changes to its entire studio structure. Halo moves to Activision and Ninja Theory set to close as Obsidian, Rare and Turn 10 are affected by the shuffle
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The Verge (outlet profile)
Microsoft is laying off 268 Xbox staffers and Ninja Theory may close. Microsoft is laying off around 260 Xbox employees today, as part of an ongoing "reset" of its gaming business. 1,600 Xbox employees were impacted by…
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Business Insider (outlet profile)
Microsoft starts a new round of job cuts and the next phase of its Xbox 'reset.' Read the memo.. Microsoft started a new round of layoffs on Tuesday, primarily in its Xbox gaming division but also including roles in oth…
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Variety (outlet profile)
Xbox Lay Offs Continue With 268 Employees Cut; Activision to Develop Next ‘Halo’ Game as Part of Studio Reorg. Xbox has laid off an additional 268 employees this week as part of its previously announced job-eliminations…
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IGN (outlet profile)
Microsoft Signals Intention to Close Down Ninja Theory After Deals to Save the Hellblade Developer Fall Through. Microsoft has signalled its intention to close down Hellblade developer Ninja Theory after two deals to sa…
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GameSpot (outlet profile)
Halo’s Next Game Is Coming From An Unexpected Developer: Activision. Microsoft has officially announced a major change to its Halo franchise, as Activision will develop the next game in the series with a new, purpose-bu…
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Eurogamer (outlet profile)
Next major Halo game being developed by Activision, as Halo Studios all but closes as part of Microsoft's Xbox restructuring. Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) won't develop the next mainline Halo game because it's…
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Olhar Digital (outlet profile)
Xbox pode demitir centenas de funcionários e consolidar estúdios nesta semana. Nova rodada de cortes faria parte da reestruturação da divisão de games da Microsoft e pode envolver Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda e Activisio…
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Eurogamer (outlet profile)
Hellblade developer Ninja Theory to be shut down in new wave of Xbox cuts, as two separate agreements collapse. Ninja Theory - developer of the Hellblade series of games, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, DmC: Devil May Cr…
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DTF (outlet profile)
В Xbox началась вторая волна сокращений за 2026 год — Activision берёт под свой контроль Halo и Sea of Thieves. А Obsidian переходит под крыло Bethesda, а работы лишаться почти 270 сотрудников.
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Игромания (outlet profile)
Xbox увольняет ещё 268 сотрудников — серию Halo передают Activision. Xbox объявила об очередном этапе сокращений внутри компании — после июльских увольнений и планов на дальнейшее снижение численности сотрудников (в общ…
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Vandal (outlet profile)
XBOX anuncia oficialmente la fusión de varios estudios y más despidos: Halo pasa a ser de Activision. La división de juegos de Microsoft cambia internamente: se fusionan estudios, desarrolladoras de XBOX pasan a ser de…
Factual core
- Microsoft has announced new layoffs and a complete reorganization of Xbox.
- Activision is taking over development of the Halo series.
- Ninja Theory faces potential closure.