Earlier this month, the gaming scene was rocked byMicrosoft’s massive layoff of over 9,000 employees, which included a significant number from the Microsoft Gaming (read: Xbox) division.
One team that was gutted included ZeniMax, which was in development of a new game that,even if it impressed Xbox boss Phil Spencer, wasn’t enough to save the project and the studio members who were laid off.
Today, members of ZeniMax have spoken out about the layoffs, and based on what was shared, Microsoft didn’t just fire people; they also instilled anxiety and trauma.
ZeniMax Devs Lambast Microsoft’s Lack Of Communications
Multiple developers at the studio spoke toGame Developerabout what transpired, and while most spoke anonymously, a few current studio members weren’t afraid to speak their minds.
One ZeniMax developer who wished to remain anonymous discussed how they were blindsided by Microsoft’s move and the lack of communication. This developer was essentially left in limbo for hours, as they were locked out of the ZeniMax internal Slack channel, with even their email being frozen.
This tactic was echoed by another developer who mentioned how this incited panic among those who didn’t know their fate. Would they even have jobs at the end of the day? One anonymous developer said, “Considering we don’t have email now, I don’t know how they’re even supposed to contact us—I don’t know if they even have my personal email,” pertaining to Microsoft HR.
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It’s not just ex-employees who are speaking out. Current ZeniMax employee Page Branson described the day layoffs hit as “one of the worst days at a job I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
Branson added, “It was so sad seeing people so distraught and confused and not knowing if they would have a job by the end of the day—or even if the layoffs were done by the end of the day.” She added that the layoffs felt like a “betrayal of trust of the highest magnitude,” and it feels as if the company is now prioritizing shareholders over developers.
Another person who wasn’t scared to speak out even if they’re still employed by ZeniMax is senior QA tester Autumn Mitchell, who talks about the lack of communication from Microsoft.
“It’s not okay. It wasn’t normal. I don’t care how many times they do it to try and make it seem normal—it’s not. The way they do it is inhumane. I don’t care how much they say that it’s dignified or they want to do it in a respectful way—it’s not,” Mitchell said.
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Both Branson and Mitchell have some choice words for Xbox bosses Phil Spencer, Matt Booty, and Sarah Bond.
Mitchell said that it feels like Xbox leadership is “disconnected” from the reality of life at the company. Not only that, but she wants these same executives to start communicating with people in production, stating, “I would beg you—I would get on my knees and beg [you] right now—to please talk to people and ask them what this is like on the ground level before sending out the blast emails that you do.”
Branson, who has never interacted with any of Xbox’s top brass, asks for humanity. “These mass layoffs affect real people and real families and throw their lives into disarray. I wish for empathy, is the core of my messaging. I wish for people to be empathetic and think about the human cost when it comes to all of this,” she said.
It’s hard to humanize with your fellow employees if you’re up in the food chain, it seems, as one Xbox executiveeven had the good idea to suggest that laid-off devs ask AIfor job advice and what to do next.
It seems we haven’t heard the last of these Xbox layoffs and the people who were affected, so don’t be surprised to hear more horror stories surface. Don’t be surprised if another round of layoffs happens again, asa new report has recently surfacedthat mentions howXbox’s internal targets aren’t really realistic.
