Microsoft laying off 1,900 workers, extending tech job losses in early 2024

Microsoft is laying off around 1,900 workers in its gaming unit, extending tech job losses in early 2024.

The cuts represent roughly a 9 percent reduction at Activision Blizzard and Xbox from the 22,000 employees. The president of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Ybarra, is leaving the company, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Activision Blizzard is the developer and publisher of massive gaming franchises, including “Call of Duty.” The division’s mobile subsidiary, King, is the developer of the popular mobile game “Candy Crush Saga.”

Microsoft expanded its reach into the gaming market by making the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October. It was the company’s largest acquisition, doubling what it paid to purchase LinkedIn in 2016.

“Together, we’ve set priorities, identified areas of overlap, and ensured that we’re all aligned on the best opportunities for growth,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wrote in a memo Thursday. “The Gaming Leadership Team and I are committed to navigating this process as thoughtfully as possible.

Spencer added that Microsoft will provide support for departing employees, including location-dependent severance. 

Microsoft is the latest company to have layoffs in the new year. Tech workers are already coming off a rough patch with frequent layoffs in 2023. 

EBay laid off more than 1,000 workers, or about 9 percent of its full-time employees, earlier this week. TikTok laid off employees in the sales and advertising division. Google notified employees last week that “several hundred” of them would be laid off. 

Microsoft did not respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

Updated at 3:35 p.m.