Latest Xbox layoffs reportedly devastated Age of Empires developer and canceled its next game
Microsoft’s latest Xbox restructuring has significantly impacted World’s Edge Studio, the developer responsible for the Age of Empires series. According to reports from employees on ResetEra and LinkedIn, approximately half of the studio was affected by the layoffs, including former creative director Adam Isgreen. The cuts were part of Xbox’s broader “reset” announced by CCO Matt Booty last Tuesday, though the impact on World’s Edge was only briefly mentioned in the official statement. The layoffs reportedly resulted in the cancellation of the studio’s next game project.
The departure of key talent like Isgreen, who served as creative director, represents a significant disruption to one of gaming’s most iconic real-time strategy franchises. The Age of Empires series has been a cornerstone of PC gaming for decades, and losing approximately 50% of development staff raises questions about the franchise’s immediate future and ongoing support.
This represents the latest chapter in Microsoft’s ongoing restructuring of its gaming division. The company has undertaken multiple waves of layoffs affecting studios under the Xbox banner, continuing a pattern of substantial workforce reductions across its gaming portfolio.