The layoffs have already taken place following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard It caught the attention of the FTC. Now we know more about which supporting studios will take a hit. First informed with San Francisco Chronicle (through Eurogamer), listing 86 upcoming planned layoffs in California WARNING notices Skylanders Bob and 76 cuts for maker Toys Call of Duty: Vanguard Creator of Sledgehammer Games.
California requires companies to notify the state of impending layoffs thanks to a 1988 law that requires 60 days’ notice of layoffs (if they meet certain thresholds). The latest WARNING warning A report of 86 upcoming layoffs for Activision Blizzard in Novato, CA — suitable toys for Bob’s offices — effective March 30. Besides, San Francisco Chronicle Reports of a California state filing indicating the closure of Toys for Bob offices.
Toys for Bob is credited with pioneering the “toys to life” concept that Nintendo later adopted with its own design. Amiibos. Among the most successful projects of the Activision Blizzard subsidiary Spyro the Dragon series, Skylanders and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Player informed At the end of January, Toys for Bob would cut 40 percent of its workforce, for a total of 35 jobs.
In addition, 76 more Activision Blizzard employees will be out of a job (also effective March 30) in San Mateo, CA, which coincides with Sledgehammer Games’ headquarters. The studio has developed or contributed to several Call of Duty games, including Code: Modern Warfare 3 (2011), COD: Advanced Warfare (2014), COD: World War II (2017) and Code: Vanguard (2021). The studio was founded in 2009. Insider Gaming informed In January, Sledgehammer Games will close its offices and go away completely.
In late January, Microsoft said it would Cut 1,900 jobs across Xbox, Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax (Bethesda) teams. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint with a federal appeals court on Wednesday, arguing that the significant round of layoffs “contradicts Microsoft’s representations in this proceeding.” A government agency has asked for a temporary halt to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which was completely blocked after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. It approved the $69 billion purchase in October.
In 2023, approximately 10,500 gaming industry workers fell victim to layoffs. We have already seen 6,000 more workers in 2024. It’s been part of a devastating year-plus broader tech industry cuts.
