Microsoft’s latest Xbox restructuring reportedly affected World’s Edge heavily, with former employees saying that just under half of the Age of Empires developer was laid off and its next project was canceled.
Former staff describe the impact
The cuts were only briefly addressed in Xbox chief commercial officer Matt Booty’s announcement of the restructuring. Former World’s Edge creative director Adam Isgreen said on ResetEra and LinkedIn that he was among those dismissed, while former senior software engineer Andrew Martz also said he was laid off.
An unannounced project was canceled
Martz said the reorganization included the cancellation of World’s Edge’s next project, although the source does not identify the game or provide details about its planned release. The report therefore establishes the project’s cancellation through a former employee’s account, not through a published Xbox announcement.
The studio’s reporting line changed
The restructuring also placed World’s Edge under Activision, alongside Rare, the studio known for Sea of Thieves. That organizational change comes as Xbox continues what Microsoft has called a reset, with the effects reaching teams associated with established game series.
What remains unclear
The source does not give an exact employee count, identify the canceled project, or explain how the layoffs will affect future Age of Empires development. It also reports the staffing impact through former employees rather than an independently published breakdown from Microsoft or World’s Edge.
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Source: Latest Xbox layoffs reportedly devastated Age of Empires developer and canceled its next game
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