Last week, the games industry was shaken once again by significant layoffs across Microsoft, including teams at Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and King. As someone currently working within this ecosystem, I felt the impact not just professionally but deeply personally.
I’m still fortunate to be working on an exciting project alongside a wonderful team. But it’s impossible to feel untouched when so many incredibly talented, passionate people are suddenly affected. Some were friends, former collaborators, or artists I admired from afar. Many had poured years of dedication into building worlds, refining pipelines, mentoring others, and making games better from the inside out.
This isn’t the first wave of layoffs we’ve seen recently, and sadly, it likely won’t be the last. And each one chips away at the stability and optimism we try to cultivate in this industry. It raises hard questions about sustainability, leadership, and the cost of growth. As artists, we often take on invisible work: building morale, adapting to shifting visions, carrying aesthetic cohesion across years of iteration. That kind of labor isn’t always captured in quarterly reports, but it matters.
I’ve seen firsthand how much these teams care. How they stay late to polish an interface that feels just a little better. How they fight for clarity in design meetings, or mentor juniors between milestones. These aren’t just names on a spreadsheet. These are voices, styles, instincts, and experiences you can’t replace overnight.
If you’re in a hiring position, or know someone who is, I hope you’ll look seriously at the many talented individuals now looking for new opportunities. Their value doesn’t disappear because of a restructuring decision. If anything, their resilience and perspective are more vital than ever.
To those affected: I admire what you’ve contributed. I’m hopeful that your next chapter brings you not only stability, but a place where your talents are truly seen.
And to those still standing: let’s support one another. Share portfolios. Make referrals. Push for transparency and empathy where we can.
Because this industry doesn’t thrive on tech alone. It thrives on people.
#GameIndustry #MicrosoftLayoffs #GameArt #GameDevCommunity #SupportArtists #SimonLocheArt
No comments:
Post a Comment