By “The Xbox user research group has been impacted significantly”
- by Ben Kerry
As you are likely already aware, Microsoft has been eliminating positions aggressively this week, and these actions stem partly from ‘streamlining’ the organization – or as Xbox executive Matt Booty states: “to realign priorities and concentrate resources”. It appears that these changes will be affecting the ‘Xbox User Research’ team quite severely as Microsoft’s QA initiatives are scaled back.
In a brief update from prominent Microsoft journalist Tom Warren at The Verge, Xbox is allegedly experiencing substantial reductions to the team responsible for ensuring quality across the platform through various methods. Here’s how Warren articulates it, while also revealing that the leader of Xbox’s family and child safety unit has been dismissed:
“Reports of Microsoft’s extensive layoffs today continue to emerge, as the corporation notifies around 9,000 team members about the reductions. I’ve learned from sources that the Xbox user research group has been significantly affected, with nearly half the team impacted. It’s an essential group that focuses on guaranteeing quality across Xbox games, the platform, and developer tools. Even the leader of Xbox family and child safety has also been let go.”
This news is another challenging detail to absorb. These types of developers are frequently the unsung champions of delivering console-quality games while also maintaining a positive overall user experience. We believe Microsoft has a plan for managing this situation after its significant restructuring, but actions like terminating your family safety head can’t be perceived as a positive development, really.
Moreover, it isn’t the first instance we’ve encountered “nearly half the team impacted” in a single day. Earlier today, it was reported that nearly 50% of Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios has been released, as the team persists in supporting its 2023 track-based racing title.
Do you have anything to share on what this might signify for the future of Xbox? Discuss this reported news with us below.
[source theverge.com]
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and enjoys action, racing, and straightforward shooting in any Xbox title he can access. When he’s not gripping an Xbox controller as if his life relies on it, Ben spends his free time listening to music that’s much older than him, watching football on television, and likely dining somewhere.