Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchMicrosoft announced the elimination of approximately 650 positions across Microsoft Gaming on September 12, 2024. The cuts primarily affected corporate and supporting functions as the company reorganized its gaming business after completing its Activision Blizzard acquisition. They came on top of approximately 1,900 Microsoft Gaming layoffs announced in January 2024.
This is a retrospective explanation of the September 2024 announcement, not a new layoff report. Microsoft later announced substantially larger Xbox restructurings in 2026.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What Microsoft announced
Xbox chief Phil Spencer announced the cuts in an internal memo to staff, which was subsequently reported by TechCrunch, Engadget and other outlets.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The memo said Microsoft Gaming would eliminate approximately 650 roles. Reporting based on Spencer’s message described the affected positions as mainly corporate and support roles, including functions involved in operating the expanded gaming organization. Some media reports characterized the reduction as roughly 3% of Microsoft Gaming’s workforce, but that percentage was a reported estimate rather than a separately audited figure published by Microsoft.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light but tactile.
Microsoft Gaming is broader than the Xbox console division. Its organization includes Xbox Game Studios, Activision Blizzard—including Activision, Blizzard and King—Bethesda and ZeniMax, Mojang, and shared publishing, marketing, business-development, customer-support and corporate functions. The public announcement did not provide a complete list of affected offices, teams, countries or job titles.
Why Microsoft said it was making the cuts
Spencer attributed the layoffs to aligning Microsoft’s post-acquisition organizational structure and managing the business after the Activision Blizzard transaction. In practical terms, that means consolidating an organization built from multiple companies and reducing overlap in corporate and supporting functions.
That is Microsoft’s stated explanation. It is reasonable to interpret the move as an attempt to impose a more sustainable cost structure on a much larger gaming business, but the September announcement did not establish that weak console sales, Game Pass performance or any single factor caused the layoffs. Nor did it show that the Activision Blizzard acquisition had failed.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #2
- Supported Multi-Platform:Switch/Switch 2 (NO support wake-up function)/iOS/Android/Windows PC (Notice:Not compatible with Xbox, PlayStation or GeForce Now, For game platforms not mentioned, please consult customer service before buying）
- Connection modes:Wired/Bluetooth/Wireless Dongle(Connect to PC via Bluetooth : Select iOS (phone) mode, but it's not recommended; Dongle is more stable)
- 【Innovative Intelligent Interactive Screen】Manba One V2 wireless game controllers create a new era of controller screens; Equipped with a 2-inch display, no App & software needed, you can set the pc controller directly through the screen visualization, More convenient operation
- 【Micro Switch Button】Manba One wireless controller has Micro Switch Button and ALPS Bumper; The 6-axis gyroscope function makes switch games more immersive
- 【Customize Your Own Controller】The intelligent interactive screen allows you to easily set vibrations, buttons, joysticks,lights, etc., without the need for complex key combinations; 4 configurations can be saved to unlock your own gameplay for different games; The 4 back keys support macro definition settings, and you can activate the set character's ultimate move with one click
The acquisition, widely reported at approximately $69 billion, gave Microsoft a significantly larger global publishing operation. It also created the difficult integration problem that often follows a major transaction: overlapping management, administrative and support structures may be removed even while the buyer expands its catalogue and workforce in other areas.
How the 650 cuts fit into Microsoft’s 2024 timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. |
| January 25, 2024 | Microsoft Gaming announced approximately 1,900 layoffs across Activision Blizzard and Xbox. Reuters reporting described the reduction as roughly 8% of the gaming workforce. |
| May 2024 | Microsoft closed Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks and Alpha Dog Games, while Roundhouse Games was reorganized and some staff moved to ZeniMax Online Studios. |
| September 12, 2024 | Microsoft announced approximately 650 additional role eliminations, primarily in corporate and supporting functions. |
Adding the January and September figures produces an approximate 2024 total of 2,550 positions. That is an arithmetic sum of two rounded, reported figures—not a precise official headcount. The groups affected by the broader Microsoft Gaming changes also overlapped, so it should not be treated as a perfectly disjoint employee total.
Were studios closed in the September round?
The September announcement did not announce another studio-closure wave. Its reported focus was corporate and support positions, which distinguishes it from the studio actions Microsoft announced in May.
Rank #3
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
That distinction should not be stretched into a claim that game-development teams were completely untouched. Corporate and shared-service reductions can affect how studios operate, and the public reporting did not provide a comprehensive team-by-team account. The accurate conclusion is that no specific studio closure was announced as part of the September 650-role reduction.
What severance was offered?
For affected employees in the United States, Microsoft said packages would include:
- Severance pay
- Extended health-care coverage
- Outplacement services
Packages outside the United States varied according to location and local law. Microsoft did not publicly establish one universal severance formula, and the available reporting does not confirm a complete set of eligibility rules or whether every category of worker received the same support.
Rank #4
- Multi-Platform PC Gaming Controller: Working with Switch, PC, Android, and iOS devices via Bluetooth, wired, and wireless dongle connections.
- Hall Effect Joysticks: Delivering enhanced recentering performance for smoother control and superior anti-drift capability. Plus, with anti-friction rings.
- 2-Way Trigger Lock: With trigger stops, gamers can toggle between short and long pull positions. Additionally, gamers can activate hair trigger mode by pressing M+LT/RT (triggers must be in the long pull position).
- 1000Hz Polling Rate: This ensures that your inputs are registered almost instantaneously, minimizing lag and maximizing your performance during competitive play.
- Mechanical Circular D-pad: Designed for quick reactions and accuracy in every direction, this D-pad elevates your gaming experience with superior responsiveness.
What did the layoffs mean for players?
The announcement itself did not establish the cancellation of a particular game, a change to Xbox console availability, the shutdown of Game Pass or the cancellation of first-party releases. It also did not announce a reduction in consumer Xbox support.
Players could reasonably view the cuts as evidence of greater cost discipline and centralization within Microsoft Gaming. Repeated reorganizations can raise questions about release schedules, support quality, studio autonomy and long-term investment. However, the September layoffs alone do not prove that games would ship faster or slower, that a specific project was at risk, or that Xbox was abandoning hardware or subscriptions.
For context, Game Pass remains part of Microsoft’s gaming strategy, combining subscription access with console, PC and cloud features. Its current plans, prices and availability vary by market; the official U.S. Game Pass page is the appropriate source for current product information, rather than the 2024 layoff announcement.
Best Value
- Platform Compatibility: This PC controller is designed for Windows PC, Steam, Switch, Android, and iOS. Xbox-style asymmetric stick layout for PC gamers. Three modes cover all your devices. Please check your device compatibility before purchase
- Three Connection Modes: 2.4G wireless, Bluetooth, wired USB-C. PC gets native XInput/DirectInput. Switch pairs via Bluetooth, no adapter. This gaming PC controller switches devices seamlessly. Stable wireless minimizes random disconnects during gaming
- Hall Effect Precision: Hall effect joysticks and triggers eliminate stick drift. This gaming controller for PC delivers smooth, responsive input with no dead zones. Built for FPS, racing, and action games. Long-term precision for competitive PC gaming
- Back Buttons & Battery: Two programmable back buttons map combos and shortcuts. Textured grips with dual vibration. 1000mAh battery delivers up to 20H playtime. RGB can be turned off. A solid PC controller for gaming with custom back buttons
- ABXY Layout Switch: Press B + Minus + Plus to swap between PC and Switch modes. Features: 1000Hz polling rate, RGB lighting, turbo. Note: designed without mic jack or gyro sensor
What happened later
Later developments should be kept separate from the September 2024 story. In July 2026, Xbox announced approximately 3,200 fiscal-year 2027 reductions, including about 1,600 immediate role eliminations, alongside a broader business reset affecting content, platform, hardware and services. Xbox also said four studios would move to new management. The company’s explanation for that later restructuring belongs to 2026, not to the original 650-job announcement.
Those later cuts make the 2024 announcement part of a longer period of Microsoft Gaming restructuring, but they do not change what Microsoft announced in September 2024: approximately 650 additional roles were removed, mainly from corporate and supporting functions, as the company continued integrating and reorganizing its expanded gaming business.
What is not publicly known
- The exact geographic breakdown of the 650 positions
- A complete list of affected teams and job titles
- A universal severance formula
- Whether particular contractors or subsidiaries were included
- A verified studio-by-studio impact assessment
Claims that all 650 jobs came from Activision Blizzard, that no developers were affected, or that the layoffs were caused solely by console sales or Game Pass would go beyond the available evidence.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
