Ex-Xbox Coalition Dev Wishes Microsoft Spent $69 Billion On Keeping Workers Employed

Microsoft’s merger with Activision Blizzard has been brewing since last year, and many think it has played a big role in the giant conglomerate’s recent waves of layoffs that spanned across the studios under its umbrella. The former Xbox Coalition dev Shayna Moon wishes that the company spent its gigantic $69 Billion budget on ensuring that she and her coworkers were kept employed instead of the acquisition affecting the Xbox studios. 

I wish Microsoft had used that $69 billion to keep me and my fellow coworkers there employed.

— Shayna Moon (@qorquiq) July 11, 2023

The former Engine Producer at Xbox Coalition implies that Microsoft has the budget to invest in buying different studios, but it is failing to treat its employees correctly. The layoffs are certainly worrisome when the head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty once claimed that Microsoft has enough budget to go spend Sony out of business.

The dev boasts a giant resume, having worked on highly popular AAA entries like the recent God of War and its sequel. After accumulating expertise across many game studios, she joined the Xbox Coalition studio last year and toiled hard from January 2022 to March 2023 until a wave of layoffs hit her along with some of her coworkers. 

Developers across the studios and other Twitter users have sympathized with Shayna Moon, while others retorted and replied negatively. A bunch of Twitter users have defended the acquisition, saying it had nothing to do with the layoffs. One commenter said, “That wouldn’t help them advance anywhere. Microsoft is trying to break into new areas.” On the other hand, a few gamers stated they are just happy to get COD on Game Pass.

The Senior 2D producer at Arkane Studios, Sadie Boyd, also wrote a polemical remark about the billion-dollar merger. Sadie implies that she has not gotten a $3k raise despite repeatedly asking as the biggest merger in the gaming industry goes through. Her remark also generated a lot of controversy, attracting many negative comments. Some said that Sadie is earning enough already, while others questioned why she deserves a raise.

https://twitter.com/Wonder_Phoenix/status/1679146521298894850

It is not the first time Xbox game devs have raised voices against Microsoft’s leadership. Previously, the former Halo Infinite devs came forward on Twitter to express their disdain against the firings across the 343 Industries studio. Halo Infinite has been significantly impacted by the massive swath of dismissal that affected many core employees of the studio. 

There have been a number of layoffs across many of the Xbox Game Studios, which has impacted a plethora of talented developers in the industries who were suddenly fired because of the decision of the higher-ups. The affected studios include Bethesda and Xbox Coalition.

Microsoft fired over a thousand employees in the span of three months recently. The company CEO Satya Nadella has blamed the global recession and changing customer spending in the past as the reason for layoffs and reducing the workforce instead of the acquisition with Activision.

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