“It genuinely breaks my heart”: Community reacts to Xbox restructuring

It has been a difficult week for Xbox as a second wave of layoffs hits its studios, alongside a major organizational overhaul. The restructuring effectively re-delegates studio management away from direct Xbox oversight to its publishing arms, Bethesda and Activision. Under this new structure, Obsidian has moved to Bethesda, while Rare, World's Edge, and Halo Studios have moved to Activision.

The most emotional fallout surrounds the impending closure of Ninja Theory. The timing has left many fans frustrated, especially since the studio only recently showcased their upcoming Hellblade title, Senua, at an Xbox showcase. Discussions on Reddit suggest a sense of confusion, with some speculating that the recent showcase was intended to bolster the studio's value for a potential sale rather than to secure its future.

The restructuring also moves Obsidian Entertainment under the Bethesda umbrella. While Bethesda has promised to preserve the studio's "creative identity and strengths," fans are questioning whether Obsidian will still have the scope to work on projects unrelated to the new Fallout game. While the studio continues to support Grounded, the future of titles like Avowed and Pillars of Eternity remains a topic of debate given the competitive landscape within Microsoft.

The move of Rare to Activision has sparked mixed reactions from the Sea of Thieves community. Some players fear aggressive monetization reminiscent of Call of Duty, while others express dissatisfaction with the game's current state. Notably, no significant layoffs have been reported at Rare so far, leaving the future of their upcoming projects uncertain.

Other changes include the merger of Playground Games and Turn 10 under the Forza division. Many fans of the Motorsport series view this as a sign of the end for the franchise, noting a perceived decline in Turn 10's activity. Meanwhile, substantial layoffs at World's Edge (the developers of Age of Empires) have led to fears regarding the long-term support of the series.