Microsoft CEO Claims Company is ‘Thriving’ Amid Layoffs and Cancellations

Sure, here you go:

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So here we are again, talking about Microsoft. And, surprise! More layoffs. This time, 9,000 people shown the door. I mean, Satya Nadella’s out here saying Microsoft is “thriving” after pulling the rug out from under thousands. Thrive might mean something different to execs, I guess? Their version of thriving involves canceling new games too. You ever just feel off reading something like that? Yeah, me too.

And let’s not act like this is all on Microsoft, really. The whole video game industry has been playing this game. Sony, Embracer Group, and others keep trimming staff like it’s a seasonal ritual. Sure, some blame tight wallets, but look at Microsoft—they’re making cash hand over fist. So what’s the real story here? It’s like execs and employees live in two different worlds.

Right, quick side note before I forget—I saw this crazy picture online of an Xbox store shutdown. Just in case you were thinking of buying movies from them. No, seriously, they shut it down. But back to Satya. He’s bullish on artificial intelligence, describing it as Microsoft’s magic wand or something. His letter didn’t mention those rumors about AI taking over jobs. Convenient, huh?

Anyway—hold on, where was I headed with this? Oh yeah, some folks are labeling his optimism as tone-deaf. Others say it’s just business. Makes you wonder, are tough choices necessary or just sold to us that way?

But which studios got hit? A laundry list of them—Tango Gameworks, Turn 10, Zenimax, you name it. Even Blizzard. What a headache for them. Executives claim these cuts are for “efficiency.” But Nadella says longevity isn’t the goal, relevance is. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s more confusing—the layoffs or the reasoning behind them.

Feels like layoffs are the industry’s default mode these days. Innovate or cut costs, rinse and repeat. Whether Nadella’s vision pans out is anyone’s guess. I wouldn’t hold my breath, but who knows, right? Keep watching, or maybe don’t if it makes your head spin.

Or whatever. Just seems like there’s a lot swirling around, and nobody can really see where it’s heading. We’ll have to wait and see.