XBOX reorganizes its entire video game division: the changes confirmed by Microsoft

Bethesda will focus its efforts on its main franchises

According to Bloomberg, Bethesda will strengthen its strategy around some of its most important intellectual properties.

The mentioned franchises include Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein.

In an internal email obtained by IGN, Jill Braff explained that the goal of the changes is to reorganize work to strengthen the business, better coordinate resources among studios, and prioritize franchises with the greatest growth potential.

Other Xbox teams were also affected by the changes

Reports indicate that the restructuring also affected the accessibility team of Xbox, including members of the user research area of Bethesda.

Microsoft assured that accessibility remains a priority for the company, although it acknowledged that modifications were made within the team.

Additionally, The Elder Scrolls Online will modify the roadmap planned for its upcoming content due to the internal changes communicated by ZeniMax Online Studios.

Xbox announced the most significant restructuring in its history, with thousands of layoffs, changes in its structure of studios and modifications in the development of several video games. The company confirmed that four studios will no longer be part of Microsoft and that some projects are facing a scenario of uncertainty.

The information was communicated by Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma. In addition to internal changes, the company will redefine its strategy with a greater focus on its main franchises.

How many employees will be affected by Xbox's restructuring

Microsoft described the measure as the most important restructuring in the history of Xbox.

According to Asha Sharma, about 1,600 employees will leave the company immediately and another 1,600 positions will be eliminated during the current fiscal year.

As part of the process, four studios will no longer belong to Microsoft, and one of them could be sold or closed if a buyer is not found.

What will happen to Arkane, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs

The future of Arkane Studios remains undefined. The company has initiated a process to evaluate various strategic alternatives, including a possible sale.

Raphaël Colantonio, founder of Arkane, posted a joking message asking "how much?" for the studio, a comment that quickly began to circulate among the developer's followers.

On the other hand, Asha Sharma confirmed that Ninja Theory and Undead Labs have started the process to incorporate new owners, with funding aimed at completing and expanding Senua and State of Decay 3.

What will happen with Game Pass and Xbox's main games

According to The Wall Street Journal, Xbox Game Pass currently has about 30 million subscribers.

The report recalls that previous reports placed the service between 34 and 35 million users, while documents related to the acquisition of Activision projected reaching 77 million by 2026.

Meanwhile, the future of titles like Marvel's Blade remains unconfirmed, while State of Decay 3 is expected to move forward under the new structure planned for Undead Labs.