World’s Edge, the XBOX Game Studios subsidiary behind the popular Age of Empires and Age of Mythology franchises, is facing massive layoffs after parent company Microsoft said yesterday it would push the studio under the Activision brand umbrella.
The cuts were first revealed in a related Reset Era comment (via Eurogamer) from longtime Microsoft employee Adam Isgreen under the account name Tempus Chaoti. “What a morning,” he wrote in a related thread. “FYI World’s Edge was not spared completely – just under half the studio was let go – myself included. Been fun, y’all!”
The Microsoft veteran also shared word of layoffs in a transparent new statement on LinkedIn. “Well, that’s that. I never thought that I’d work at Microsoft, let alone spend a significant amount of my career here – 16 years! – especially in a creative-first role.”
“I am of course disappointed that this is the way the time with World’s Edge and Age ends for myself and many of my talented teammates that were also impacted – we had some great plans for what’s next – and I hope the team that remains can rise to the occasion down the line.”
“What’s next? No idea. Maybe games? Maybe not? Pinball machines? Always loved the combination of design + art + engineering they represent. Something creative, whatever it may be. Happy to chat possibilities. Or just chat. It’s all good.”
According to LinkedIn, Isgreen served as Senior Creative Director at XBOX Game Studios’ World’s Edge subsidiary for more than 16 years and contributed to Age of Empires, Killer Instinct, and Fable, among other projects.
XBOX lays off hundreds, shuffles game studios in latest ‘reset’ strategy
News of World’s Edge’s layoffs follows XBOX Chief Content Officer Matt Booty’s Tuesday morning memo announcing the termination of 268 employees and sweeping studio changes.
“I’m writing to share several updates as part of the XBOX reset outlined earlier this year,” Booty wrote.
“First, we are eliminating 268 roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and the XGS management and central functions layer. The actions completed since July, inclusive of the studio divestitures, bring us roughly three-quarters of the way through previously announced restructuring. I am deeply grateful for what our colleagues have built, and I know how difficult today will be for those leaving and the teams around them.”
“Second, we are reorganizing our studios. The goal is to strengthen our franchises and games by operating fewer business units, aligning groups that already work closely together, and focusing our publishing expertise.”
As part of the “reset” — “razing,” more like — Booty announced that World’s Edge, Rare, and the entire Halo franchise would move to Activision.
Additionally, Booty said developers Double Fine and Compulsion Games “returned to management with their IP, back catalogs, and runway funding,” and said now-independent State of Decay studio Undead Labs “successfully transitioned on similar terms.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Halo, Rare, and World’s Edge to Activision,” Activision President Rob Kostich said in a statement. “It’s an honor and a responsibility that we do not take lightly. These teams and their games have inspired fans around the world for decades.”
This is a developing story. Stay glued to Outrun Gaming for more information as it becomes available.
Follow Outrun Gaming on MSN for more content you love.
RELATED →
- Nominees revealed for the Central & Eastern European Game Awards 2026
- Bungie isn’t finished with Destiny after all
- Discord relaunches controversial age verification policy for all users
