The Uncertain Future of Call of Duty Following Mass Layoffs by Microsoft
In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft announced on January 18, 2022, that it had plans to acquire Activision Blizzard for approximately $70 billion, with the deal being finalized on October 13, 2023. However, just four months after the acquisition, Microsoft made the unfortunate announcement of significant layoffs, affecting around 1,900 employees.
These layoffs have had a profound impact on various departments within Activision. According to data, Sledgehammer Games lost over 30% of its staff, Toys for Bob lost over 40%, and High Moon Studio lost over 10%. Additionally, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Raven, Solid State Studios, Beenox, and Demonware also experienced workforce reductions.
The Slowed Future of Call of Duty
The recent layoffs pose significant challenges for the Call of Duty development team, which could potentially affect the performance and results of future games and updates. There are plans to release a new installment of Call of Duty in 2024, as well as regularly provide new content and seasonal updates for Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. However, this requires constant monitoring and careful attention to ensure a seamless gaming experience for players. Unfortunately, with a reduced number of employees, the final product may encounter several issues.
Some observers even speculate that Call of Duty could mimic the path of Halo Infinite, which experienced a drastic 98% drop in popularity after Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees and faced significant development challenges. However, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has assured that game performance will not deteriorate, stating:
“We will continue to invest in areas that grow our business and support our strategy of bringing more games to more players worldwide. Though this is a challenging time for our team, I am confident, as always, in your ability to create and nurture games, stories, and worlds that bring players together.”
This is all currently known about the employment reductions at Microsoft. The question still remains how these layoffs will impact the future of Call of Duty and whether the games will be able to maintain their previous level of quality despite limited resources.
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The source of the article is from the blog procarsrl.com.ar